Biography

Jim Craig is best known as the backbone of the 1980 Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team, whose ‘Miracle’ win was voted by Sports Illustrated as the greatest moment in sports history of the 21st century. Craig, who started every game in goal, was a leading figure in the team’s success. One of the enduring images of the 1980 Games was of Craig, wrapped in an American flag, searching the stands for his widowed father in order to share the gold-medal-winning victory.  

Before the Olympics, Jim was an All-American goalie at Boston University, leading his team to a NCAA national championship. After the ‘Miracle’ game, Jim went on to play professionally for three NHL teams, where he sustained a career-ending injury while playing for the Minnesota North Stars. He is enshrined in the Boston University Hall of Fame, the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and is a co-recipient of both the Lester Patrick award and the Sports Illustrated “Sportsman of the Year” award. He is also a graduate of Boston University and earned his doctorate in humane letters from Mercy College.  

Following Jim’s professional hockey career, he transitioned his success into the corporate world as a motivational speaker, powerful salesman and corporate consultant. He has been inducted into the Sales Halls of Fame for two different companies, having increased a sales territory from $300,000 to $50 million in annual sales. Following this role, Jim moved on to become the Vice President of a promotional marketing agency. Under his guidance, the agency increased annual dollar sales by 80 percent and its number of clients by 30 percent in just two short years. 

For more than 35 years, Jim has inspired, instructed and provided strategic and winning direction to some of the most prestigious companies across the world, including Kellogg’s, Bayer, Deloitte, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, and Disney, as the successful owner and president of his company, Gold Medal Strategies. Jim has been selected three times as one of the top five speakers on team building in the United States, and has evolved to not only deliver motivational speeches, but host immersive corporate training programs that teach participants how to think differently and believe in their possibilities. Jim is the co-author of the highly acclaimed business book, Gold Medal Strategies: Business Lessons from America’s Miracle Team and recently released his newest book and legacy piece, We Win! Lessons on Life, Business & Building Your Own Miracle Team. In addition to his role with Gold Medal Strategies, Jim serves as a board member of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, and he has a passion for leveraging his athletic and business success to help others achieve their full potential and lives in integrity with his mission every day!

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Testimonials

Jim Craig is one of the best speakers I have encountered. Jim brings to life his experiences in such a palpable way, you immediately get drawn into his story and the challenges that he faced. Through his stories, he shares with the audience a meaningful approach to tackling our own challenges, whether that is in our businesses or in our individual lives. His story on teamwork and winning is unique – great moments are born from great opportunities, when you are unafraid and willing to put in the work and have the right mindset. Our advisors were thrilled to have Jim speak at our conference. Jim is more than a gifted speaker, he is a gifted storyteller. He inspires the audience to think bigger, to go higher, to rise above challenges and persevere. Without a doubt, Jim started off our conference in the right tone. We are so glad we had the opportunity to have Jim speak at our conference!
– Co-President/Chief Operating Officer, Kalos Financial
Jim’s content and message resonated with the audience, and his energy started a momentum of positive feelings that carried throughout the entire conference. He was definitely a hit. We have had many long time members tell us that this was the best conference this organization has ever put on, and Jim was a big part of that.
– Director of Professional Development, Financial Planning Association
On behalf of World Financial Group, we express our deepest appreciation for helping us have the most exciting and successful convention in our history. The response we have received regarding your speech to our field force has been tremendous. Your message regarding outstanding individual efforts working together to achieve goals collectively was both inspirational and motivational. Your powerful words were exactly what our associates needed to hear, and I know they made a profound impact on all our field leaders. Following your example and talking your words with them, I know our associates have returned home to continue their outstanding efforts to move our company’s mission forward – helping create financially independent families so they too can realize their dreams.
– President, World Financial Group, Inc.
Jim's session was top shelf, you know, where mama keeps the cookies. He has a unique ability to translate the 1980 USA hockey “miracle on ice” experience into the everyday practice of running a business. He is engaging and thought-provoking. He will motivate and challenge your audience to be better. Consider using his autographed books, signed Miracle DVD's, pictures and Team USA jerseys as memorable gifts for those in attendance. If you are ready to take your business to a new level you can count on Jim to deliver another gold medal performance.
– Regional Director/ Midwest, Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
The story behind the 1980 US Olympic Hockey team and the efforts and preparation they went through to win the gold medal that year is absolutely unbelievable. It is arguably the most incredible display of teamwork anyone has ever seen. Jim did a beautiful job of taking their story of overcoming adversity and successfully tied that into our business world. To say that his keynote address to our top producers was both inspirational and motivating would be a gross understatement of his message.
– Vice President - New Business Development, SII Investments, Inc.
Your new book Gold Medal Strategies was a huge hit everyone enjoyed receiving a book. I find clients keep it in their office and bring it up in conversation every time I come in. It’s a great reminder of the evening.
– Director, Janus Capital Group
Jim Craig understands and embodies what it takes to create a “Gold Medal” experience in many ways. His recent appearance at our event certainly fit that bill. Between his obvious preparation, inspiring storytelling, and genuinely down-to-earth demeanor Jim was an absolute hit with my clients! It was a pleasure to have him at both our breakfast and on our main stage for the event and, if I could sum up the experience in one word, it would be “phenomenal.
– SVP Business Development, Cetera Financial Group
Jim Craig recently spoke to a packed room of our Advisors and their clients. As a memento, we utilized 4×6 autographed Jim Craig pictures…one was given to each of the attendees. They were a huge hit and really put a bow around the event.
– Vice President – Wealth Management, Complex Business Development Officer, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
The Gold Medal Strategies team was inviting, very professional, easy to work with, and committed to understanding our business and objectives specific to our event. Their willingness to spend time with us in preparation and to truly share our vision resulted in a uniquely personalized and special event that delivered the exact message we were looking to deliver. You must remember Jim’s background; Jim came from team environment…allow their team to become a member of your team. When working with Jim and the Gold Medal team, make sure you invest the time upfront and give serious thought and consideration about the message you are looking for them to accomplish. Allow their team to dig deep and understand who you are as an organization. Jim and his team do NOT regurgitate a set number of predefined scripts, allow them to build and deliver a message tailored for your event that is based on your message and definition of success. They will knock it out of the park.
– Chief Operations Officer, Axim Fringe Solutions
Jim’s speech was everything I hoped for and more. It is one thing to impart the right messages, but a true motivator inspires action and that Is what Jim accomplished. Having Jim as the keynote speaker for our team was a great decision with overwhelmingly positive results. I would strongly suggest to any company looking for a motivational speaker to make the same choice.
– Ethics & Compliance Manager, Procter & Gamble

Booksby Jim Craig

Gold Medal Strategies: Business Lessons From America's Miracle Team

We Win! Lessons on Life, Business, & Building Your Own Miracle Team

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Blog Posts

 

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