Lance Allred

First Deaf Player in NBA History, TEDx Star, Author at Sounds True, and Expert on Leadership, Perseverance and Grit

Topics: Leadership, Resilience, Inspirational & Motivational, Personal Development, Attitude, Sports, Teamwork, TED Speakers, Elite Performance, DE&I – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Productivity

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Biography

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With his 5 Principles of Perseverance, Lance Allred is the first deaf player in NBA History and an expert on leadership, perseverance, and grit.

Legally deaf, with 80% hearing loss from RH complications at birth, Lance was born and raised in a polygamist commune in rural Montana before his family left at the age of 13. Unable to play basketball with his hearing aids in and standing at 6’11, Lance is more than a basketball player as he didn’t begin playing until he was in 8th grade as a way of adjusting to his new life outside of his childhood upbringing.

As an international inspirational speaker, Lance’s story of being an underdog is for anyone who has ever felt a dream was just out of reach, as he travels the world sharing his “5 Principles of Perseverance” and journey of becoming the first deaf player in NBA history… at the age of 27, which took him seven years longer than the average NBA rookie.

Authoring five books, with his first one Longshot, published by HarperCollins in 2009, and latest, The New Alpha Male, with Sounds True Publishers, Lance is also the TEDx Star of “What is Your Polygamy?” which currently has over 4.6 million views. He is the first outside speaker the FBI has ever brought in for group training and consultation on leadership development, and has spoken to corporations such as Costco, Keybank, Coldwell Banker, CocaCola, and many others, including over 40,000 students across the United States.

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Videos

How to Give the Million View TEDx Talk- Free Training Webinar

Lance Allred- Inspirational Speaker

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

The Five Principles of Perseverance

Lance inspires a culture of COURAGE and GRIT in companies or schools with his presentation, The Five Principles of Perseverance (Accountability; Integrity; Compassion; Discomfort; A Leader of Your Own Life).

His presentation focuses on:
- Perseverance: How to pick yourself up whenever you get knocked down.
- Leadership: How to be a leader of your own life so you can lead others.
- Comfort Zones: How to find success which is just beyond your comfort zone.

Testimonials

Lance will inspire and entertain you at the same time.

– Dick Vitale

Lance recently was our motivational speaker and emcee for our awards dinner. His not was not only motivational, but touched our hearts. It gave purpose back to the attendees in reminding them that their work is meaningful. Lance was the real deal and he was an inspiration to all of us at Costco.

– Jill Olson, Event Director, Costco

Lance is truly an inspiration! Not only is he one of the most authentic individuals I have had the privilege of working with, he offers a unique perspective based on his powerful life experiences.

– Brandon Fugal, Chairman, Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisors

Lance Allred is the real deal! He was our keynote speaker at a facilities conference for almost 500 attendees. His down to earth style and relatability made a connection with everyone in the room. Lance’s story, his resilience and sense of humor instantly affect everyone that has the privilege of coming into contact with him. Lance is both personally and professionally inspiring, we are so grateful he has the courage to share his story!

– Jill Tuley, Event Coordinator, Michigan State University

Lance doesn’t just talk about inspiring leadership, he demonstrates it in the way he connects with his audience. After hearing him speak, I feel more focused on how I can be more authentic in all of my interactions, and how to be guided by the belief that anything truly is possible.

– Lisa Chapman, VP Franchise Leadership, Coca-Cola

I took a leap of faith in contracting with Lance as a keynote speaker because I had no prior experience in hearing him speak. Lance was a fantastic speaker for our group of 150 college students. He interacted with the students and was able to get a good feel for what we wanted and didn't use a canned message. He was able to tell his story, while really connecting to the students. He was funny, inspiring, empathetic and real. His content was thought provoking, motivating and really connected to many of the messages of the conference and the company. We look forward to having Lance back next year!

– Kristin Schmidt, Event Planner, Ernst and Young

Lance, simply put, is a rockstar in a button up shirt. When he speaks, the audience never takes their eyes off of him. He has the ability of carrying many streams of intricate thought without convoluting them and applying them to everyone in the room. Again… Rockstar.

– Kristi Worful, Director of Corporate Wellnes, VASA Fitness

For many people it will seem ironic that some of the basketball teams Lance played for asked their only legally deaf player to be their go-to media person. Ironic because you wouldn't expect a deaf man to be an effective communicator and a great storyteller. But Lance is masterful. He has the ability to observe the world around him, draw analogies, precipitate stories, and apply timely lessons in leadership, persistence, and achieving your dreams. I would gladly put every student, entrepreneur, and executive I know into Lance's audience. If you've ever felt like an underdog in life--and who hasn't--here's one deaf guy you've got to hear from.

– David Brake, CEO, The Grandview Group

Lance's approach to motivational speaking is the best I have ever experienced! Our entire audience was captivated from beginning to end and were left feeling motivated and inspired by his story. Lance is so personable, raw and honest throughout the entire presentation! Everyone could not stop raving about how much they enjoyed Lance and his message. Thanks for keeping it real Lance! Hope to hear him speak again in the near future.

– Nikki Firth, Event Coordinator, CaptionCall

Booksby Lance Allred

New Alpha Male

Longshot

How to Give the Million View TedX Talk

Basketball Gods

The Pesaro Poems

For Meeting Planners

Speaker Documents

One Sheet

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Blog Posts

Best Leadership Speakers for Financial Services Conferences (2026 Guide)

Planning a bank, fintech, insurance, or wealth management event? This definitive guide to the Best Leadership Speakers for Financial Services Conferences shows you what works now: selection criteria, vetted speaker ideas, comparison snapshots, sample agendas, buying tips, FAQs, and direct links to relevant resources on The Keynote Curators (TKC).