Calendar of Events
2013 Speaking Events
FEBRUARY
17-Developing life skills in young people. Parent workshop, Sugar Bowl (CA) Ski Team.
20-Two essential mental skills: mental imagery and routines. Athlete/coach workshop, Sugar Bowl (CA) Ski Team.
21-Prime business: The psychology of spectacular success. LPL Financial Due Diligence meetings, San Jose, CA.
27-Prime business: The psychology of spectacular success. Natixis Global Asset Management leadership meetings, Los Angeles, CA.
MARCH
14-Psychology of cycling. Osher UCSF Mini-Medical School for the Public on Cycling Medicine, San Francisco.
16-Psychology of ski racing success. Far West Ski Association Performance Camp, Sugar Bowl, CA.
23-24-Psychology of youth diving. Two-day educational program for divers, coaches, and parents. Whirlwind Diving, Fairfield, CT.
APRIL
13-Psychology of cross-country ski racing. Invited speaker, USSA Super Tour kick-off, Truckee, CA.
27-Prime leadership for 21st century business. Professional Develop Program workshop, Graduate School of Economics and Business Administration, St. Mary’s College (CA).
“Thanks for your excellent and very rewarding seminar for our Professional MBAs. I very much appreciated your thoughtful and comprehensive approach. I look forward to having you back with many more attending.” Shyam Kamath, Associate Dean of Graduate Business and Global Programs
MAY
9-10-Psychology of alpine ski racing. Two-day workshop for coaches and parents. British Columbia Alpine Ski Federation, Kelowna, BC.
OCTOBER
3-Positive pushing: How to raise a successful and happy child. Cultivate, Grow, Harvest: Young President’s Organization-Central US Regional Conference, Napa, CA.
4-Finding balance in an unbalanced life. Cultivate, Grow, Harvest: Young President’s Organization-Central US Regional Conference, Napa, CA.
2012 Speaking Events
JANUARY
10-Your children are listening: Nine messages they need to hear from you. Clairbourne School, Pasadena, CA. (attendance: 80)
“Dr. Jim Taylor’s warm and engaging style helps his audience to quickly settle into the deeper issues of confronting parents in these complex times. His well-balanced ideas are clear, organized, and delightfully specific in a way that allows parents to immediately put these ideas to use. Dr. Taylor will benefit school audiences everywhere.” Robert W. Nafie, Ph.D., Headmaster
“As in his two previous visits to our school, Dr. Jim Taylor’s presentation to our parents was timely, thought-provoking, and inspiring. His discussion of the important messages children need to hear from their parents and other adults was presented in a lively and engaging manner and we received a great deal of positive feedback from both parents and teachers who were in the audience. Highly recommended!” Gloria Stahmer, Assistant Head of School
22-Mental preparation for ski racing. Sugar Bowl (CA) Ski Team. (attendance: 80)
MARCH
20-Positive pushing: How to raise a successful and happy child. Stevenson School, Carmel, CA. (attendance: 85)
22-23-Prime business: Raise the bar for spectacular success. 2012 Transamerica Capital Coaching Forum, Boston. (attendance: 190)
“I was hoping to hear something inspirational and really needed some new motivational insight with respect to my business practices. Your meeting was perfect timing! Your presentation was clear and concise. Basically, your overview of your Prime Business pyramid made sense – especially, how all the categories relate to our personal and business lives. You provided a way for each person to manage, cope and excel within the complicated world that we live.” Frank Grasso, CFP, CLU, COGENT Wealth Management, Inc.
“I thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Taylor’s Prime Business presentation. His refreshingly simple, yet profound process gave me the step-by-step tools I need to have more mental balance and focus. I believe that having the right mindset will empower me to be more successful and Dr. Taylor’s techniques will show me the way. “ Stacy Clifford, Holistic Wealth Advisors
“Excellent stuff… Liked this a lot….The psychological aspect is so important and we don’t spend nearly enough time on this… Really liked this discussion…Tremendous presentation…very useful material…excellent!” Attendee comments
APRIL
9-Psychology of rowing. Marin Rowing Club, Larkspur, CA. (attendance: 25)
14-Applied sport psychology in action. 2012 Southwest Regional Sport Psychology Conference, Denver. (attendance: 70)
27-Prime business: Raise the bar for spectacular success. 2012 Transamerica Capital Coaching Forum, Los Angeles. (attendance: 180)
“I want to thank you for your presentation in Los Angeles last Friday. I found the material pertinent and entertaining. Your experience as a performance psychologist was relevant and is sorely needed in my industry (financial services). No doubt any individual would find the principles you present of immense personal value. I was able to jot down a number of great ideas from your presentation that I am confidant will increase my success with far less stress.” M. Brett Sutherland, LPL Branch Manager
“Very organized and impactful; Good reflective information; Good presentation; Enjoyed learning new skills; Practical information to improve mindset and thus grow business; Great, made sense, easy to understand; Excellent.” Attendee comments
MAY
1-Your children are listening: Nine messages they need to hear from you. San Francisco Parents of Multiples. (attendance: 24)
3-4-Prime business: Raise the bar for spectacular success. 2012 Transamerica Capital Coaching Forum, Dallas. (attendance: 200)
“Well organized and clear info; Great advice; Excellent presentation, made me really think about my personal and business habits.” Attendee comments
17-18-Prime business: Raise the bar for spectacular success. 2012 Transamerica Capital Coaching Forum, Minneapolis. (attendance: 195)
“A+; Really made me think to look at what I need to improve to enjoy success and grow with it; A great overall game plan; Good stuff, glad I attended; Great information with actionable items; Learned a lot; Very good; Great review of importance of mental attitude; Enjoyed; Great focusing meeting, good presentation; Good ideas; Different and refreshing; Useful-good personal and business development tools.” Attendee comments
25-Getting the mo’ going in your start-up. Stakeholders’ meeting facilitation. The Aspen Clinic, Colorado. (attendance: 10)
JUNE
13-Prime business: The psychology of spectacular success. Merrill Lynch Southeast Regional Optimal Practice Forum Two, Miami. (attendance: 235)
JULY
12-Achieving prime performance in sport, business, and life. Bohemian Club, Monte Rio, CA. (attendance: 160)
SEPTEMBER
28-30-Preparing young athletes for success in sport and life. Three-day workshop for athletes, coaches, and parents. Burke Mtn. Academy, VT.
“This year, we wanted to bring in an expert on Sport Psychology because we saw it as an opportunity to augment our already strong athletic programming. Jim was a natural fit because of his years of working with the unique challenges alpine ski racers face, in addition to being a former internationally ranked racer himself. The response from our coaches, parents and athletes has been nothing short of amazing. We couldn’t be happier!” Eric Harlow, Head international coach
“When Dr. Taylor met with the girls at Burke, he talked a lot about frustration, anxiety, and fear in ski racing. He explained to us the importance of positive self-talk and confidence in skiing, and gave really relevant examples of skiers who, just by being more confident, relaxed, and positive, have been able to take their ski racing to the next level. Every time he introduced a new idea he asked us how we felt about it or if we had experience with it, so it gave us an opportunity to make it personal and interact with him. When we talked at dinner that evening, we all thought it was helpful and relevant to skiing as well as the rest of our lives. I think confidence and positivity are things that a lot of girls, especially our age, struggle with, and it was great to get some resources to deal with them and hopefully will help us to improve in competition.” Tara Humphries, 18-year-old Nordic skier
“Gripping, thoughtful, witty, on point and poignant is how I felt about Jim Taylor’s lecture on parenting athletes. I learned a lot in 90 minutes. He succeeded in making me aware, and made positive, simple suggestions that I will definitely implement.” Charlie Humphries, parent
OCTOBER
15-16-Psychology of ski racing. Two-day workshop for athletes and coaches. Sugar Bowl Academy, Truckee, CA.
17-Raising generation tech: Prepare your children for a media-fueled world. Greenwood School, Mill Valley, CA.
“Your talk was a delightful and informative evening, and left me feeling grounded in an understanding both of the value and permanence of ever-evolving media and our need to address its ubiquitous presence with both an understanding of our children’s needs and a firm commitment to their health and safety. The tone was just right for those folks who are just beginning to question their boundaries around their children’s media use, and there was substance for those who already limit media use, but still appreciate reminders about how important it is to stay alert and strong.” Peggy Rock, Head kindergarten teacher
19-Your children are listening: Nine messages they need to hear from you. Menlo Park (CA) Atherton Education Foundation.
24-Mental preparation for alpine ski racing. Loveland (CO) Ski Team.
24-Mental preparation for alpine ski racing. Park City (UT) Ski Team.
NOVEMBER
6-7- Preparing for the rigors of the competitive race season. Two-day workshop, Sugar Bowl Academy, Truckee, CA.
7-Positive pushing: How to raise a successful and happy child. Lake Tahoe School, Incline Village, NV.
“As an experienced head of school who has observed parents become more and more confused over the years about their roles and responsibilities in guiding their children, I am delighted to have discovered Dr. Jim Taylor. Jim kicked off our Parent Speaker Series this year with a timely and humorous presentation that struck a chord in all parents present — and their children ranged in age from 4 to 17. He was wonderfully clear about the role of parents as adults, not as their children’s friends. He spoke directly to the complicated emotions and reactions we too often feel when our children are not “successful” in the ways we have anticipated or expected. He provided specific strategies for dealing not just with our off spring, but with ourselves. I found it particularly gratifying that he was willing to express opinions and approaches that firmly addressed the accountability of parents. I look forward to having him return and work with us again.” Ruth Glass, head of school
“I had the opportunity to hear Jim Taylor speak recently about Positive Pushing. He is a very charismatic and engaging speaker and his delivery is both humorous and compelling. More important is the message he gives about teaching our children self esteem, ownership and emotional mastery. After hearing Jim’s presentation, I am excited to implement his strategies to help guide my boys in learning to realize their full potentials.” Stacey F. Herhusky, parent
12-The use of technology in maximizing athletic performance. Panel discussion, Aspire4Sport International Sports Conference, Doha, Qatar.
“Jim provided significant insights into the area of sports psychology and sports science. He offered an interesting discussion of how sports psychology and sports science can improve an athlete’s performance and approach to their individual sports along with analyzing a number of aspects related to their performance and attitudes towards competition. In answering audience questions, Jim was able to easily focus on the essence of their questions and relate his answers to the ideas he had expressed in his initial presentation and also add new and valuable information. After the presentation audience members were eager to have individual follow-up discussions of the topics of the presentation with Jim.” Dr. Peter Bowman, director, Qatar Center of Excellence for Sports Technology
13-Prime sport: The psychology of maximizing athletic performance. Workshop, Aspire4Sport International Sports Conference, Doha, Qatar.
27-Raising generation tech: Prepare your children for a media-fueled world. Menlo Park (CA) Atherton Education Foundation.
DECEMBER
11-13-Getting psyched up for race season. Three-day workshop, Burke Mtn. Academy, East Burke, VT.
28-Positive pushing: How to raise a successful and happy child. Northstar Team Foundation, Truckee, CA.
28-Prime snowsport: Triumph of the competitor’s mind. Northstar Team Foundation, Truckee, CA.
“Dr. Jim Taylor is fantastic! He came to speak to our athletes, coaches and parents at the Northstar Ski and Snowboard Program. His presentation on Prime Snowsports was very engaging and the content extremely insightful. He made abstract qualities of top performance, such as motivation and confidence, accessible. He also gave our athletes concrete tools to enhance their success. An elite athlete himself and having worked world-wide with many accomplished athletes, his presentation is authentic and credible. The talk was well received and the athletes left inspired and fired-up! Five Stars!!” Melissa Huml, President, Northstar Team Foundation
2011 Speaking Events
FEBRUARY
9-Your children are under attack: How popular culture is destroying your kids’ values, and how you can protect them. Woodside Elementary School, Woodside, CA.(attendance: 40)
“Last night’s presentation with Dr. Jim Taylor was enlightening, sobering, comforting and humorous all at once! Dr. Taylor gave us hard facts and common-sense philosophies related to raising children in today’s world and, in addition, sent us home with practical advice and strategies we can implement at home. We left feeling empowered and motivated to take a more active role in monitoring our kids’ exposure to popular culture. It was an eye-opening experience and extremely thought-provoking.” Cindy Goldberg, mother of two
APRIL
5-Positive pushing: How to raise a successful and happy child. Trinity Pre-school and Kindergarten, San Rafael, CA (attendance: 20)
“It was a pleasure to be a part of Dr. Taylor’s discussion on positive pushing. In a style which is direct, witty and affable, he invited parents to join him in meeting the challenges which face our children today. His dedication to helping parents raise successful and happy children was inspiring. The audience was clearly engaged, entertained, and challenged.” Sarah Centeno, M.D.; Child psychiatrist; Mother of three
“We were very fortunate to have Jim present nuggets of wisdom from his book ‘Positive Pushing.’ His discussion was poignant and chock full of helpful anecdotes relating to parenting as a whole and raising children in this very hectic and competitive world. “Positive Pushing” is a must read for parents who want to raise happy and responsible kids. Because of Jim, we all feel more comfortable with the concept of “pushing” as a child-rearing tool and a tool for instilling self-esteem in our children.“Sarah Fonkalsrud, Parent speaker chairperson; mother of two
“I truly enjoyed Jim Taylor’s presentation on “Positive Pushing.”He brings a unique perspective to the art of child rearing. His unusual background as both a Ph.D. in Psychology and a competitive athlete supports his balanced approach to working with children and families. He encourages an empathetic and compassionate approach and simultaneously advocates for challenging children to reach their full potential.” Paige Cross, mother of two
6-Psychology of triathlon. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team-in-Training, San Francisco. (attendance: 50)
“Last night’s psych talk got me really fired up! All of Dr. Jim’s ideas really hit home. He is inspiring, funny, and, most important, he helps our ‘newbie’ triathletes become better prepared for the new challenges with which they will be faced in the coming months. And TnT really appreciates Dr. Jim donating his valuable time to our cause.” Samir Ghosh, Head Coach, San Francisco Tri-Team
21-Life skills for successful achievers. Branson School, Ross, CA. (attendance: 85)
MAY
10-Prime Business: How to raise the bar on corporate performance. Natixis Global Associates, Oakland. (attendance: 12)
“Dr. Taylor understands what it takes to get us to become our very best. We all have dreams of new heights of success, and Jim has the passion, intellect, and insight to guide us to those ends. If your goal is to achieve your goals, then don’t miss Jim Taylor.” Ted LeClair, Senior Vice President; Commander, 20-year veteran, U.S. Navy
“I attended Dr. Jim Taylor’s session and was delighted and surprised with the applicability of his remarks to both my professional and personal lives. Jim was engaging and shared specific ways our team could achieve stronger performances. His ideas on ‘stress mastery’ and ‘single tasking’ are two examples of areas where a person can make small changes to be less stressed and more productive/focused. Jim’s Prime Business Pyramid is a valuable tool that I have now posted on my wall – he pushes the envelope but delivers the information in a manner that is invigorating and easy to apply to the real world.” Jennifer Champion, Investment Consultant
18-Money and children: How teaching money sense now pay big dividends later. Private Ocean Wealth Management, San Rafael, CA. (attendance: 20)
“Jim offered powerful insights and practical advice during the webinar. He wove personal stories with the latest research to create a learning and sharing environment for all attendees.” Ralph Latza, Financial Advisor
JUNE
7-Raise the bar to spectacular success. Two workshops. 2011 Global Wealth & Investment Management Advanced Education Symposium, sponsored by Merrill Lynch. Orlando, FL. (attendance: 168)
22-Raise the bar to spectacular success. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Best of the Best Business Exchange, Kohler, WI. (attendance: 125)
27-Businesspeople are world-class “athletes.” Natixis Global Associates. Boston, MA. (attendance: 15)
SEPTEMBER
16-Preparing elite ski racers for Olympic success. One-day coaches clinic. British Ski Team, Manchester, England. (attendance: 30)
“Jim Taylor managed to engage a varied audience with his clear and precise presentation style that was thought provoking and enlightening. Whatever level of coach, there was information that was relevant and could be applied to developing athletes. I have never had such positive feedback on a presenter before and his input into the UK Snowsports conference helped to make sure it was a fantastic success” Tim Fawke, CEO, Snowsport England
17-18-Psychology of ski racing. Two-day coaches clinic. Snowsport England, Manchester, England. (attendance: 70)
“As the keynote speaker to the UK Snowsports Coaches Conference 2012, who also gave additional off- and on-snow workshops, Jim Taylor delivered everything we could hope for and then some more! The coaches were captivated by Jim’s enthusiasm, realism and very practical knowledge. Jim brought his expertise to the conference and delivered it in a simple understandable language which everyone could relate to. The feedback we received from our coaches has been fantastic and I would highly recommend Dr. Jim Taylor as a keynote speaker and educator to any organization–sport or business–that is looking to motivate and develop their members.” Robin Kellen, CEO, Snowsport Wales
20-Raise the bar to spectacular success. Two workshops. 2011 Global Wealth & Investment Management Advanced Education Symposium, sponsored by Merrill Lynch. Orlando, FL. (attendance: 185)
OCTOBER
15-Positive Pushing: How to Raise a Successful and Happy Child. Sugar Bowl Academy, Tahoe, CA. (attendance: 65)
“Dr. Taylor is a tremendously engaging and entertaining speaker. Most importantly, his message perfectly complimented our efforts to educate parents about our commitment to long term athlete development. Our parents were very grateful that we had brought in such a respected expert to help them support their children as athletes and as people.” Bill Hudson, Executive Director, Sugar Bowl Ski Team Foundation
NOVEMBER
2-Your children are listening: Nine messages they need to hear from you. Olentangy (OH) School District. (attendance: 156)
“After reading Your Children are Listening: Nine Messages They Need to Hear From You I was eager to hear from Dr. Jim Taylor himself on this relevant topic to both parents and educators alike. I respected Dr. Taylor’s message not only because it makes sense and works, but because of the wealth of knowledge and expertise he brought to the topic both as a professional working with families and children and as a parent himself. His parent talk and book were inundated with useful research to support his idea of healthy messages!” Lauren vanDoorn, School Counselor, Upper Arlington (OH) School District
DECEMBER
3-4-Psychology of ski racing. Two-day workshop for athletes, coaches, and parents. Multnomah Athletic Club Ski Team, Portland, OR. (attendance: 157)
“Your Dos and Don’ts for Ski Racing Parents was a real eye opener for our parents. Your talk on mental training to our athletes and coaches was really engaging for everyone. But your work on the hill with the racers was truly exceptional. Being able to put the mental skills into action while free skiing and gate training was what really sold everyone on the importance of the psychology of ski racing.” Jesse Scroggins, Head Coach
27-30-Psychology of ski racing. Three-day workshop for athletes, coaches, and parents. Collingwood, Ontario Ski Club. (attendance: 430+)
“We had the pleasure of having Dr Jim Taylor spend three days with our program. During that time he did workshops for parents, athletes and coaches. Every parent should hear Jim speak before they enter their children into sports. He helps to bridge the gap between coaches and parents to allow athletes to grow and learn valuable life lessons. Jim clearly understands the big picture for developing athletes and I would strongly recommend any sport body to bring him in for workshops. It’s well worth the investment.” Graeme Buckrell, Director
“Dr. Jim gave a fantastic speech to our 7 and 8 year old “rising stars” ski racers, their coaches, and parents. He was able to “young down” his vocabulary and main message to meet this age group and it was extremely interactive and effective. His discussion about life skills was exactly what these children needed to hear. It was the ideal starting point for us as parents and coaches to use some simple techniques that will assist them in their overall development.” Kevin Gosselin, Development Coordinator
“Your talk had many great “nuggets” for me as a parent and a ski coach of 9 & 10 year old kids. The idea of praising kids for their actions versus praising kids generically (i.e. “good job”) was an important reminder. As a parent, this is not as easy! I will have to be very conscious when I speak to my own kids after a ski race to ensure I choose an appropriate approach and the right language…..then train my husband to do the same!” Angela Gougeon, former Canadian ski team member, mother of 2, ski coach
2010 SPEAKING EVENTS
JANUARY
12-Positive pushing: How to raise a successful and happy child. National Charity League, Inc., Crystal Springs Chapter, Burlingame, CA. (attendance: 85)
“Dr. Taylor provided a thought-provoking talk injected with engaging humor that made him a captivating speaker. “ Cindy Domecus, Vice President
12-Positive pushing: How to raise a successful and happy child. Osher-Jewish Community Center/Brandeis School, San Rafael, CA. (attendance: 15)
“Jim Taylor is a dynamic speaker with a great message about the importance of giving children the right support and encouragement. He creates a lively dialogue and parents and educators came away with useful tools to guide them in their parenting and education.His ideas are appropriate to address issues confronted by a broad age range of children and adolescents.” Deborah Burg-Schnirman, Early Children’s Education Director, Osher Marin Jewish Community Center
“Dr. Taylor’s talk on Positive Pushing was truly enlightening and inspiring. His ideas were clear and supported by excellent & real-life examples. He is a comfortable & captivating orator, with a nice style of communicating his point. In fact, his talk has motivated me to change some of the ways I parent my kids (currently 3yo and 6yo); from how I praise and push them (or not), to the type of expectations I have of them (healthy vs. unhealthy). I have gained some new tools to help my kids achieve success and be happy about it. I have also found myself quoting his ideas to my fellow parent friends and teachers of my kids. It’s as if I’ve just been positively pushed to make a difference in my children’s lives.” Beatrice McMillan, mother of two
FEBRUARY
3-Mental preparation for young ski racers. Burke Mtn. Academy, VT. (attendance: 20)
“Dr. Jim Taylor’s presentation on Prime Ski Racing: Triumph of the Racer’s Mind was an exceptional learning experience for our group of 8- to 13-year-old ski racers. His message really inspired our group. Core to that message was the concept that mental skills can be learned with commitment and practice. Most young athletes understand the mental side of sports is as important as the physical, yet few, if any, spend time actually developing and implementing mental skills to enhance performance. Dr. Taylor’s presentation was fun for the kids and opened their minds to the power of mental skills by offering simple and easy-to-use mental skills and strategies.” Rich Graham, former ski racer, father of two ski racers
MARCH
4-Positive pushing: How to raise a successful and happy child. Woodside Elementary School, Woodside, CA. (attendance: 55)
“At our Positive Pushing parent-education event with Jim Taylor, the elementary school parents learned parenting tips, childhood warning signs that may predict pitfalls, and tried-and-true methods to improve the lives of our kids. We also learned that this type of parent education does not have to be dry, alarmist or boring. Dr. Taylor was especially effective in conveying his information by combining humor, light-heartedness and hard facts.His approach is unique and made a huge impact on the parent audience which was confirmed by the fact that parents referred to his lecture for many days following the event. Dr. Taylor is a fabulous speaker.” Cindy Goldberg, PTA President
8-Mental preparation for triathlon. AIDS Foundation Triathlon Training Group, San Francisco.
11-Positive pushing: How to raise a successful and happy child. West School, Hillsborough, CA. (attendance: 200)
“Jim is an outstanding speaker; his talk was both valuable and refreshing. Parenting is so difficult these days that Jim’s approach makes it a little easier to navigate. He provides a great roadmap to the vocabulary of dos and don’ts that makes sense.I can’t wait to read his book!”Carol Hee, parent and West Parent Group Board member, West Hillsborough Elementary School
“Taylor’s message is very important and parents need to hear it. Taylor gets the content across with a great use of humor including anecdotes and relevant cartoons.”Don Geddis, parent, West Hillsborough Elementary School
22-Psychology of Ironman. Trifiniti Training Group, San Francisco. (attendance: 20)
“It was a great talk. I’m glad that we had this and I think more people would benefit since I’m sure mental hurdles get in the way of a lot of people trying to do an Ironman.” Thomas Koundakjian
25-Psychology of ski racing. Diamond Peak Junior Ski Team, Incline Village, NV.(attendance: 35)
APRIL
7-Positive pushing: How to raise a successful and happy child. Menlo Park School District, CA. (attendance: 150)
“Bravo for a great, no-nonsense, meaningful presentation. I loved your thinking around this topic as a base for ‘what to do about it’. While the tools and techniques are great, you are the first to encapsulate why parenting is harder in the modern age. Thanks for an enjoyable and inspiring evening.” Russ Peterson, parent
8-Psychology of triathlon. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training, San Francisco. (attendance: 62)
“Dr. Jim was able to speak from not only great knowledge about the mental aspects of triathlon, but also deep experience competing in the sport. Our group had had a hard workout the weekend prior and was feeling rather negative about hard training because of hills and cold.His discussion on positive self-talk really helped people think positively about each and every training session.This past weekend our team suffered through two bike accidents and harsh weather, but always had smiles on their faces.The morale of the team and their mental readiness for our upcoming races is much higher now thanks to Dr. Jim.” Jeremy Schaub, head coach
11-Psychology of youth soccer. One-day program for players, coaches, and parents. Youth Soccer Center, Philadelphia. (attendance: 585)
“Dr. Taylor is an engaging speaker who immediately captures the audience’s attention with his easygoing style and comedic timing. His presentation was full of useful and important information. And he presented it in a clear and concise way so that it was easy to understand. I would highly recommend getting the chance to hear Dr. Taylor in person if the opportunity ever presents itself.” John Hackworth, Asst. Coach, Philadelphia Union, Major League Soccer
“Having coached soccer players at every level of distinction throughout the world I can say that Jim understands what it takes to develop young people through mental preparation and a ‘positive push’ towards maximizing their abilities. His views on developing the person, the student and the athlete are impressive to say the least. As an elite athlete he brings a perspective that is both unique and exciting. Simply put, Jim Taylor ‘GETS IT’!” Rick Jacobs, Head Coach, St. Benedict’s Prep, 6x National High School Soccer Champion
JUNE
14-Positive pushing: How to raise successful and happy children. San Francisco Parents of Multiples. (attendance: 25)
“Dr. Jim Taylor was very knowledgeable and an excellent speaker. I liked that he practiced what he preached with his young daughters.” James Donaher, President, San Francisco Parents of Multiples
19-Psychology of ski racing. Olin/Lacasse Ski Racing Camp, Mt. Hood, OR. (attendance: 25)
“Dr. Taylor has a unique ability to inspire even young audiences and get the shiest of kids to engage and participate. He presents his ideas in a clear and understandable fashion with passion and enthusiasm. Plus, the guy is very funny. My kids got a lot of his workshop and so did I. I even used his ideas the next time I went into my office. This stuff really works!” Kerry Godfrey, Director, Global Retail Marketing, Nike
AUGUST
25-Back to reform school: Public education in America. Bellingham (WA) City Club. (attendance: 180)
SEPTEMBER
21-Positive pushing: How to raise a successful and happy child. Presbyterian Day School, Memphis. (attendance: 250)
“Dr. Jim Taylor offers parents and educators wise strategies for assuring that we push children in ways that promote their healthy development. Using research, stories and humor, he helped our parents and teachers to think more deeply–and differently–about how we push and praise the children entrusted to our care. Dr. Taylor is clearly an expert and leader in this field, and he shares his message in a way that is accessible, engaging and relevant to his audience. Our community loved him, learned so much from him, and is eager for him to return. I highly recommend him to schools, parents, coaches and other groups and individuals who help to raise, educate and train children.” Lee Burns, Headmaster; Vice-President, Elementary School Headmaster Association
“Dr. Jim Taylor recently spoke to over 250 of our parents on the topic of Positive Pushing, a challenging message that our parents need to hear. As both a parent of three kids and a chaplain that deals with over 200 elementary school boys every day, his message resonated with me deeply. Jim’s use of humor and anecdotes, combined with practical information and tools created a captivating atmosphere for learning. In a culture that is pushing our children in the wrong directions, Dr. Taylor and his Positive Pushing message is a must hear and must read for all parents and schools.” Braxton Brady, Chaplain
23-Positive pushing: How to raise a successful and happy child. Ross Valley Mothers’ Club, Corte Madera, CA. (attendance: 25)
“It was so much fun to hear Dr. Taylor speak as a fellow parent about the privileges and pitfalls of being a parent. I really appreciated his very direct style which makes a lot of sense, is directly applicable to everyday parenting, and is founded on real research, his professional experience, and raising his own children. Dr. Taylor doesn’t pull any punches but you get the real scoop of if, how, and when to push your kids as a parent. I want my husband to hear him speak now.” Diana Wang, mother of two
“Thanks for the fantastic talk on Positive Pushing and engaging us with your positive energy!We have been inspired by your wisdom on such an important and challenging topic for parenting.We can’t wait to read your coming-up book and hearing more from you!” Ozlem Bishop, Speaker Series Chair
30-Psychology of new media. One-day symposium for mental-health professionals and educators. Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health, San Antonio, TX. (attendance: 75)
OCTOBER
12-Positive pushing: How to raise a successful and happy child. Woodland School, Portola Valley, CA. (attendance: 50)
“From a Head of School’s perspective, I greatly appreciated that the message in Dr. Taylor’s talk with our parent community effectively supported the values of our school.He clearly and articulately reinforced that only rewarding children for what they can control and that allowing children to take risks, fail, try again and eventually succeed are key parts of a healthy childhood.Our teachers and parents found his presentation informative, entertaining and helpful – even requesting that we have a repeat engagement right away!” John Ora, Head of School
“We were delighted to have Dr. Jim Taylor presentat our parents. His discussion on “positive pushing” was interesting and relevant, and presented in a way that we could all take something tangible away with us. What was particularly impressive was Dr. Taylor’s preparation ahead of time – he spent time on the phone with our Head of School to learn about Woodland School and our values and priorities, as well as to gain a good understanding of the types of issues that our children face. He tailored his discussion to best address the questions that were most immediate for us.” Christina Claure , Vice President, Parents’ Association
NOVEMBER
19-”Re-founding” an organization: Reconnecting with its identity, guiding principles, and promise. Greenwood School, Mill Valley, CA.
“Dr. Jim Taylor designed and delivered a highly productive workshop for the Greenwood School Board of Trustees aimed at helping our school reaffirm its identity, guiding principles, and promise to our community. His energy, insight and engaging style provided an excellent facilitation and the meeting generated valuable results that will benefit our school greatly.” Brian Chadbourne, Chairman
DECEMBER
4-5-Psychology of ski racing. Two-day program for athletes, parents, and coaches. Multnomah Athletic Club Ski Team, Portland, OR. (attendance: 110)
“I was really impressed with what you brought for our parents, athletes, and coaches. Very much worth the effort. Your workshops on mental preparation for ski racing were relevant and valuable for all of our athletes. Your talks were engaging and informative. Your experience and delivery gave the athletes simple tools that made sense by proving they really work. Very powerful stuff.” Jessie Scroggins, Head Coach
5-Positive pushing: How to raise a successful and happy child. Mt. Hood Meadows Junior Race Team, Government Camp, OR. (attendance: 35)
“I recently had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Jim Taylor speak at a new-parent get-together hosted by our junior race team. The content of Jim’s message was wonderfully inspirational and insightful, taking the serious topic of pushing our kids and blending honesty and humor to get his ideas across to our members and coaches. The value of Jim’s message has been extremely helpful in how I handle my kids and the responsibility for the kids I coach.” Sam Humphreys, Coach and parent of two
