Biography

After a failed business in 1992, Darren LaCroix took a dare and took the stage at an open mic night at a Boston comedy club. He bombed miserably. It was horrible. The headliner that night told him, “Keep your day job, kid.” Nine years later, he outspoke 25,000 contestants and became a World Champion. He is currently the only speaker in the world who is a CSP, an AS, and a World Champion.

With a focus on practicality and real-world application, Darren LaCroix guides serious professionals on a journey to overcome doubt, achieve breakthroughs, and gain momentum. His program, Better Stories, Better Business, is a powerful tool that empowers executives to wield more influence in less time, enhancing their professional capabilities and impact.

He’s the author of 17 Minutes to Your Dream and the co-author of Deliver Unforgettable Presentations. Through his live workshops and Stage Time University.com, he helps good presenters become UNFORGETTABLE.

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Videos

Who is Darren LaCroix? What do event planners say?

Ep 206 Nine Costly Corporate Presentation Mistakes

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Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

Better Stories, Better Business

Darren shows busy executives how to have more influence through the power of well-told stories.

You have a pivotal message to deliver, whether it’s in the boardroom, in front of potential clients or at a networking event. But, you struggle with inspiring your listeners to take action. Is your bottom line suffering? Maybe you are not closing the sale often enough?

Great communicators are great storytellers.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Why Stories Matter in Business Communication
- 5 Essentials to an Unforgettable Story
- Storytelling Secrets Most Executives Don’t Use
- How to Apply These Ideas in Your Industry

UNFORGETTABLE Presentations

Do you want to give a presentation? Or actually be heard?

Anyone can stand up and give a presentation, but how do you stand out from other presenters? How can you create a presentation that is truly unforgettable? If people don’t remember your message 3 months, or even 3 days later, you may have wasted both your time and theirs.

With the right process, you can develop and convey a powerful message.

ATTENDEES WILL WALK AWAY WITH:
- A 5-Step Proven Process to Create Unforgettable Presentations
- Little-Known Presentation Secrets to Making Your Message Stick
- 3 Critical Essential Techniques for Making Presentations Stand Out
- With these world-class techniques, experienced presenters can deliver an unforgettable message that leaves their audience wanting more.

17 Minutes to Your Dream

How to Get the Breakthroughs You Need

Kid’s dream-like rivers flow. Why did we lose that? Because well-meaning people trained the dream out of us.

Direct Sellers, Entrepreneurs, or anyone with a big dream, listen up! Whether you want to scale your business, inspire your team or quit your day job, this presentation is for you!

What would you say to a young kid who dreamed of making people laugh for a living but wasn’t funny?

– In 1992 Darren LaCroix, bombed miserably in a comedy club in Boston, MA. As he walked off stage, the headliner that night said, “Don’t quit your day job.”
– Without a funny bone in his body and a willingness to fail, Darren pursued his childhood dream of making people laugh.
– Nine years later, he out-spoke 25,000 contestants from 14 countries and was crowned the 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking with a very funny speech. Not only that, but people are talking about his “unforgettable” speech two decades later!
How did he do it? What was his strategy? 17 Minutes to Your Dream.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Overcome Doubt
- Build Belief
- Gain Momentum
- Experience Breakthroughs

From Chump to Champ

“We’ve had many speakers tell us what to do, but you’re different. You lived it.”

With his true-life underdog story, Darren LaCroix inspires attendees to defy the odds and reach their lofty goals.

Do your people feel overwhelmed and in need of a heavy dose of inspiration? Do they need to be re-energized? The one thing that makes an event special is the story that moves people forward and takes away any excuses. An unforgettable true-life story delivered with passion can be the catalyst that gets people rejuvenated and back on track. This keynote is perfect as an opener or closer for your event.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Inspiration to look at challenges in a new way
- A bigger belief in what is possible
- Action steps to create new habits

Testimonials

Meeting you at the District 47 Conference in Orlando, Florida has been quite an enlightening experience for me. In addition, listening to your story on the CD that I purchased from you makes me feel as if I am now sitting in the same seat you sat in while listening to Mark Brown at the Region VII Conference. I hung onto every word you had to say in your general session that Saturday and used those lessons that evening when competing in the District 47 International Speech Competition. I think that if I had not made the risky, last minute changes to my speech as a result of my general session with you, I would not have won that Competition that night …
– BRITISH COLONIAL HILTON
We raised the most money in the history of the event. Particularly in the ask, which is the place the story had the most significant impact. I appreciate your help with the story.
– CEO, SafeNest
I enjoyed the opportunity to meet you last week and can see why the team was so impressed at our sales conference that they wanted you back to share your insights with our customers. The feedback from the event was very positive and your talk was a highlight.
– Executive Vice President Head of Treasury Management Wells Fargo Bank
You were a big hit. The composite results from each participants’ evaluation forms, which covered every session and speaker scheduled over the three day conference, confirmed your presentation as the best. I highly recommend you to anyone considering you a speaker.
– Senior Vice President, Network Data Processing
Many attendees later wrote or said, ‘Bring Darren back again; he is terrific.’ You have shown our owners the opportunity to use humor as a tool for productivity and profit.
– President/CEO, Molly Maid

Booksby Darren LaCroix

17 Minutes to Your Dream

Amazon

Deliver Unforgettable Presentations

Amazon

Blog Posts

The One Life Question That Separates Victims From Victors

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How Elite Teams Prevent Catastrophic Failures Before They Happen (Teamwork Lessons From a Fighter Pilot)

Navy fighter pilot Jack Becker reveals how elite teams catch errors fast, protect blind spots, and perform under pressure using proven teamwork strategies.

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