Perseverance and Integrity Overcoming Adversity
John Smith is a keynote speaker whose readiness lies in sharing his seriously gripping story with all types and sizes of audiences. He delivers on awareness, allowing a deeper understanding of expectations and the consequences of ethical and unethical behavior. His thought provoking presentation includes his presidential pardon, a coming out on consciousness, implied integrity and poignant persistence.
John is the author of Embracing the Abyss a true story of unknowingly becoming part of a fraud scandal, receiving a presidential pardon, and being surprised by a spiritual awakening.
He has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Dallas Morning News, the The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Summit Daily News, the Summit Sentinel and local television stations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
(Un) Ethical Practices in Business and Impact of Ethical Decisions On Your Career and Your Life
John at Work
Latest Articles
Integrity Is Who You Are – Your DNA
Since we seem, once again, to be faced with another shortage of integrity coming from the direction of our elected ones in Washington D. C., it’s time we begin to speculate on what the cost would be, in case we need to arrange a transfusion of integrity to make right their deceptive souls. Buying integrity…
Oneness
Oneness, this ought to be easy, but often it’s not. “Being on the same page”, “getting in the same boat”, “waiting on the same count” are all sayings that sometimes are easier said than done. Why? Could be lots of reasons; some listening to a different beat, some having their own agenda, or some just…
Accountability?
Do you identify with any of this? Accountability? Have you found yourself as one of these types lately? So, let’s see if we can find out what’s going on here. One man denies it all, another can’t stand to hear about it and the man on the right makes sure everyone knows it wasn’t his…
In Your Best Interest?
Do you know this guy? Is he working in your best interest? I use to work for a guy like this – a guy, who consciously thought only about himself 24/7. If you look in the dictionary under the word narcissism, I’m sure you’d find his name. Turning a small, west Texas savings and loan…
The Abyss
The abyss is not something that you recognize right away. Because it’s a part of you that you don’t come in touch with very often it’s fuzzy at first. Know that this is an area inside you that’s parked a way’s away in a safe place resting under a do not disturb sign. It’s your…
Awareness and Intuition
Keynote Speech What a word this is — AWARENESS. Did you know it’s not even listed as a word in Dictionary.com or Merriam-Webster online? Sad but true. You can find the word aware – which alludes to awareness, but eventually we’re redirected to the word self-awareness. Hmmm, let’s see how this works. We are hereby…
Financial Fraud Deja Vu
It’s surprising to find that most people really don’t understand what fraud is. Sure, they hear about it, usually on a grand scale, but they don’t understand what really happens and the devastating effect it has on people, companies and economies. My discussion of the 57 varieties of fraud is eye opening and thought provoking;…
Humility Breeds Integrity
Some thoughts about the Wall Street protesters, a growing movement in a number of cities in the US. I believe we may have a group of well intentioned people aiming their anger in the right direction — but for the wrong, underlying reasons. “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate” said the prison captain…
The Spoken Word
“Thump” it went, then again….. a thought bouncing around inside my cranial shell; wondering if it should take flight and become something spoken, something important or simply remain unheard– confined to the self imposed restrictions of my silent awareness. Not yet to be shared in the spoken universe, lacking a basic confidence and a fear…
About John Smith
Perseverance and Integrity Overcoming Adversity
John Smith is a decorated Vietnam Veteran, after returning to the U. S. (welcome home John!) he was the Honor Graduate of his Drill Sergeant School at Fort Polk Academy, Louisiana. Obtaining an early release to attend college, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from North Texas State University with a BBA in Accounting.
What People Say About Me
From Texas Tech University, “Mr. Smith’s insight from personal experience makes him eminently qualified to speak on the issue of ethics, especially the impact that ethical considerations have on business decisions, careers and lives”.
Texas Texas University
“John Smith tells in dramatic fashion what can happen…...the reaction from my students was apparent, that he deeply impressed them” and “John Smith’s contribution to the education of these students is incalculable…...with remarkable candor about his involvement, he got across some things that neither I nor most other professors can accomplish in a whole semester….he can make a unique contribution to generations of students”.
William J. Morris, Jr., UNT, Associate Professor
“Thank you so very much for an excellent presentation, our Regional Chairman considered you the best speaker we have had.”
Ann Quinn, Team Bank
“Many thanks for your presentation to my graduate seminar. It was outstanding…..Your presence to us was an occasion of rare quality. We are indebted.”
Vincent P. Apilado, Professor of Finance, University of Texas at Arlington
“Rarely do we have the pleasure of hearing such a polished speaker touch on such a thought-provoking topic………we enjoyed your speech tremendously.”
Sue Strickland, UTA Accounting Alumni Association
“….thank you for the outstanding presentation….your interesting and informative presentation on ethics was right on target. I genuinely believe that yours was the best ethics presentation that I have ever seen…”