WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING…
BANKING / FINANCIAL SERVICE
Co-President/Chief Operating Officer, Kalos Financial
“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!”
Director of Professional Development, Financial Planning Association
“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.”
President, World Financial Group, Inc.
“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.”
Regional Director/ Midwest, Raymond James Financial Services, 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.”
Vice President - New Business Development, SII Investments, 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.”
Director, Janus Capital Group
“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.”
Senior Managing Director – Chief Sales Officer, NMI Holdings, Inc.
“You were a tremendous hit at our annual sales meeting. You are a great speaker and motivator. The tone has been set for the year for my team based on your cogent commentary. My team now understands the importance of shared dreams. They want to be the victor not the victim. They know, they “can always recover from the truth.” I really loved the concept that everybody always should “have to make the team every year”! Also, if I ever attend a Craig family reunion, I’m taking my steak to the bathroom too. You rocked the place but really focused on National MI’s journey. You took the themes from our introductory call and wove them skillfully into your presentation. Your message is timeless, a foundational message on what it takes to be successful as a team in sports and business. I’ll send you the final survey from employees which based on initial feedback will be outstanding.”
SVP Business Development, Cetera Financial 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.”
Complex Business Development Officer, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
“Jim, great to reconnect with you after so many years. A number of my advisors approached me after the meeting and expressed to me their gratitude in the stories and perspective that you shared. I look forward to working together in the future.”
Vice President – Wealth Management, Complex Business Development Officer, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
“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.”
Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Aflac Incorporated
“Winning a gold medal for your country is a rare accomplishment. Being able to listen to Jim Craig deliver a message on teamwork, meticulous recruiting and accountability is just as rewarding. To quote a few attendees “Best presentation I have heard in a long time” and “Wow, he had my attention the entire time.” Jim mixes a clear message on important topics in business with entertaining stories of the past. Fantastic speaker and even a better person to know. If you have not heard him speak, hire him.”
Aflac
“I had the distinct pleasure of hearing Jim speak at Aflac's Partner of the Year event, and thoroughly enjoyed his motivational speech to the Aflac group. Jim has the rare ability to combine humor, insight and personal experience to provide a thought provoking message to his audience. I would highly recommend Jim for any appearance where you want the combination of an excellent speaker, a true Olympic hero and someone with the first hand business experience to impart wisdom and knowledge to his audience.”
Sands Capital Management
“Jim Craig recently presented on the topic of TEAMWORK at an all-firm event. While preparing for the event, Jim proactively researched our firm, our industry, the people who run our firm, and the audience. Jim created a presentation that was both engaging and motivational in which he shared his own unique Olympic hockey team experiences but also relayed the lessons learned in a way that showed how they are applicable to any team. We hosted a cocktail reception following Jim’s presentation, and he made the effort to get around and speak to everyone in attendance. We have gotten many compliments on this event and people have been excited to receive a copy of Jim’s book. I would highly recommend Jim Craig as a speaker for a corporate (or other type of team) function.”
President & CEO, NBT Bancorp, Inc.
“Jim’s keynote address at our 2013 Annual Leadership Conference hit a “home run” with our audience of 500 bank officers. The audience was completely engaged the minute he stepped on stage! Jim has the uncanny ability to make you feel as though he is speaking directly to you not to a room of 500 people. Jim did his homework ahead of time to make sure his message was aligned with management’s expectations and objectives. His message about leading a group of individuals, to working together and achieving a shared goal was right on target with our bank’s philosophy and the group related instantly to his story. Jim was a pleasure to work with and went above and beyond to help us recognize a special employee. Jim was truly an outstanding speaker and I look forward to identifying future opportunities to work with Jim again.”
John Hancock
“John Hancock has worked with Jim Craig for several years, and we enthusiastically keep bringing him back. Jim is an engaging and charismatic speaker, and in compelling fashion he recounts one of the most feel good and inspiring sports episodes in U.S. history. But Jim also has more than 20 years of high-level success as a marketing and sales strategist and consultant. He knows first hand the challenges of building a winning business. And when Jim addresses our audiences, he integrates his success in athletics and his success in business to deliver messages and lessons that not only motivate and entertain, but also convey specific strategies and tactics that can help our advisors perform at a higher level."
HEALTHCARE / MEDICAL / AND PHARMACEUTICAL
President, BAYER Pharmaceuticals Market Access
“Sales training with Jim Craig was better than I could’ve ever expected. He takes the time and effort to really understand how our industry works and the obstacles we face. Our company really felt as if he was part of the team. He used anecdotes from his athletic and professional career that exemplified what it takes to be successful. He challenges you to think differently and hold yourself and your teammates accountable to grow to your full potential as a company.”
Senior Director, External Engagement, Quest Diagnostics
“If you're looking to motivate a team, then this is your guy. Jim spoke at our company's leadership meeting. He spent time understanding our company, tailored his presentation to our needs, and immediately connected with our team. His team was a pleasure to work with in the run up to the event. Can't say enough about our positive experience working with Jim.”
Senior Director, Intuitive Surgical
“While Jim is a fantastically dynamic speaker with a huge armament of great stories, I was most impressed with his preparation and the integration of my company's mission and goals into his talk. Jim took the time to understand us, our business, and our customers - he took that knowledge and personalized what could easily have been a one-size-fits-all talk and made it anything but. His messages reinforced key take-home themes from the broader meeting, and he had the audience's attention throughout the presentation. Jim and his team were a joy to work with, and I look forward to continuing our relationship in the future.”
Director, Communications at Philips / Volcano
“After having Jim speak to our commercial team at our annual sales meeting, we challenged the team with an additional incentive: we awarded each team member who reached their quota with a personalized, autographed replica of the jersey Jim wore in the Olympics. The response was overwhelming! We had more than 85% of our team members reach and exceed their goals, most driven in Q4 over excitement to get a jersey. The jersey has become a point of pride and a reflection of a successful year to see one hanging up in a person’s office! The jersey and the personal touch by Jim were an outstanding additional incentive to the organization! It was a fun and creative way to drive sales and performance and stand as a symbol and a reminder of the key messages Jim shared with the team: teamwork and leadership.”
Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships, Numotion
“Jim did an amazing job delivering his keynote address at our team building event. He spent the time to really understand who we are and our goals. He delivered on point with all of our employees engaged and energized. Jim and his team worked with us with some great gifting ideas that tied it all together. The Olympic hockey jerseys and the Miracle DVDs thrilled all of our attendees. The event was a huge success!”
General Manager General Imaging Ultrasound, GE Healthcare
“Just wanted to tell you guys how much I and the entire sales team appreciated your new book and I have been receiving great feedback! I find that I really enjoy a book that I fundamentally connect with the main points, they ring true with me to my core, yet you’ve articulated the strategies in a unique fashion with your experiences that really brings to light both the significance and impact in a personal way. Thanks for creating this great piece of work and all your support of our team!”
VP of Market Access, ViiV Healthcare
"Through the workshop, complacency, noise and individual agendas drop away and are replaced by a renewed passion, understanding and focus. Each participant is empowered to collectively dream, see the enemy, trust, set the time bound plan, believe, enroll others and GO. Care, commit & execute. A road map to live by professionally and personally. The experience changed my professional and personal life and I will be forever grateful. If you want to win in business, optimize your team and their leadership, improve how you contribute, the Gold Medal Training is the start to an incredible journey. Do you believe? Does your team? Do you win together? Do you adapt?"
Director of Sales, Pharmaceutical Industry
"The recorded audiocasts were the perfect way to spread the messages our leadership team were learning throughout the rest of our organization. While I wished my entire company could have attended the conference call trainings and executive level thinktanks, these were the next best thing! Jim worked closely with our leadership team to ensure the message was catered specifically to our organization, and they have been an incredible tool for both the leaders who did attend the training and the team members who did not, to listen to, reflect on, and implement new strategies into their everyday work. The recordings ensure Jim's training will never be lost, and I can't recommend them to any business enough.”
Channel Marketing Lead, Celgene
“Our team building experience with Gold Medal Strategies in Lake Placid was outstanding! During our time in the “North Country” Jim and Taylor were able to break through the layers of walls and personalities that exist on our team, and put us in the right direction with a completely customized meeting aligned to 3 key areas:
1). The Winning Underdog
2). Creating a shared dream
3). Preparing to Win vs Preparing to Compete
Below are some of the comments that came back from folks on our Market Access Leadership Team who attended…
“That was the best team forming leadership workshop I have ever attended.”
“We are so much more aligned as a leadership team.”
“I’m tired, that was hard!”
I can say with confidence we are a better team for having gone through this experience.”
Vice President Market Access, ViiV Healthcare
“After growing up knowing exactly where I was the moment USA won; with season Rangers tickets watching Pavelich, Silk, McClanahan at MSG; seeing my husband coach and sons play on the 1980 rink; watching Miracle so much we had to buy the CD 3x; and returning each summer to skate with friends and family, I thought I knew the story. I was wrong. The GMS Lake Placid Experience is just that, an experience. For 3 days in Lake Placid, Jim Craig, Taylor Megna and everyone at GMS went beyond expectations in their passion, time, and events to beautifully translate team effectiveness learnings to business through the 1980 gold medal journey. An experience that captured my mind, body and heart. The time from morning to night is all strategically engineered to shine the light on precisely where you are as a team, developing the vision for where you want to go and what you need to get there with enduring ways to pull through the vision long after you depart. This isn’t a few days to hear a sports story. These are exhausting and exhilarating days and evenings in many settings that teach you how to apply some of the greatest lessons in how to harness the incredible talent of individual business leaders to start to operate as a true collective unit that can achieve legendary business results against all odds. Jim Craig’s knowledge, ability to read people, see endless connections and anticipate the future all with an unsurpassed passion and caring make him one of the most compelling and inspiring individuals that I have ever encountered. Taylor Megna’s unique perspectives, strength of strategic thinking, focused execution, kindness and wisdom differentiates her from anyone else. Through the week, complacency, noise and individual agendas drop away and are replaced by a renewed passion, understanding and focus. Each participant is empowered to collectively dream, see the enemy, trust, set the time bound plan, believe, enroll others and GO. Care, commit & execute. A road map to live by professionally and personally. The experience changed my professional and personal life and I will be forever grateful. If you want to win in business, optimize your team and their leadership, improve how you contribute, the Lake Placid Experience is the start to an incredible journey. Do you believe? Does your team? Do you win together? Do you adapt?”
SVP, Head of Market Access, Celgene
"Jim created a custom conference call leadership program for my team following The Lake Placid Experience. It was a not only a great way to keep the momentum going, but we were able to continue to build on the concepts created. The executive conference call training is a great way to keep everyone on the same page. Once a month our leadership team looks forward to jump on a call with Jim to grow as leaders and strategize on how to continue to develop our own teams."
Sr. Vice President, Bayer Healthcare
“Jim spoke for my organization this week. It was by far one of the most authentic presentations that I have ever seen. Dynamic, humorous, but pointed. Jim took the time to truly understand my organizational challenges and tailored his talk to address each one.”
General Manager General Imaging Ultrasound, GE Healthcare
“Just wanted to tell you guys how much I and the entire sales team appreciated your book and the training, and I have been receiving great feedback! I find that I really enjoy a book that I fundamentally connect with the main points, they ring true with me to my core, yet you’ve articulated the strategies in a unique fashion with your experiences that really brings to light both the significance and impact in a personal way. Thanks for creating this great piece of work and all your support of our team!”
President, BAYER Pharmaceuticals Market Access
“Sales training with Jim Craig was better than I could’ve ever expected. He takes the time and effort to really understand how our industry works and the obstacles we face. Our company really felt as if he was part of the team. He used anecdotes from his athletic and professional career that exemplified what it takes to be successful. He challenges you to think differently and hold yourself and your teammates accountable to grow to your full potential as a company.”
Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, Byram Healthcare
“Our sales team was not only inspired, but were able to take this coaching moment and turn it into outstanding results. Byram Healthcare is experiencing one of the strongest starts to the New Year in its history. I know Jim has played a significant role in this accomplishment.”
Vice President of Sales & Account Management, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee
“He challenged us to do things differently, to not fall into the status quo way of thinking, to not be in the position of looking back and realizing we could have achieved success if only we had pushed harder and that failure isn’t fatal, it is a process. Jim’s message will resonate with any audience and I highly recommend him.”
Pharmaceutical Executive
“Through the virtual transformative leadership trainings with the GMS team, I was able to learn more about myself as a leader and my direct LT team in 90-minutes than I could have over 6 months, while giving them the opportunity to continue the messaging through their individual teams. Each member of my LT had the option to include me on the call or not, and the information I received from GMS after each call was invaluable to my leadership style and my overall goals for the company, and informed my decisions moving forward. I can’t recommend this program enough for people who are busy but value the development of their peers.”
Chief HR Officer, Hillrom
“I read We Win in one sitting. For me, the devotion between mother and son hit a nerve. For some readers, the ‘miracle’ is what happened on the ice in Lake Placid. For this reader, however, the miracle was the shared dream with Jim’s Mom, a dream that endured beyond her passing, and with her spiritual guidance catapulted Jim to greatness.”
Vice President, Pharmaceutical Industry
“A big and heartfelt thank you for this great initiative! I very much enjoyed reading the book and today's session with Jim. It is very inspirational and highly motivational, on both personal and professional levels. A great feel good moment in these tough times, THANK YOU!"
Senior Executive, Med. Tech Industry
“Thank you for an awesome ‘book club’ with Jim Craig! The timing and content were perfect for where we are and I am right now. The book is such a rich source of inspiration.”
President, Bausch & Lomb Vision Care N. America
“If you are looking for a bolt of lightning to energize and focus your sales teams, hire Jim Craig.”
Director Marketing Operations, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
“Jim is an amazing speaker! There’s no question why the US won gold with him on the team. He communicates a message that is so relevant that you walk out so motivated to accomplish any task in front of you. Jim is a down to earth man that respect the organization he is working with on an event. His excellent platform skills and communications leading up to the event is flawless. I really enjoyed working with Jim and look forward to partnering with him again.”
LifePath
“We were thrilled to have Jim speak at our event. We're a non-profit organization that provides homes and programs to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We invited Jim to be our keynote speaker at our annual Thanksgiving Benefit luncheon and to speak to a group of over 600 individuals. Jim was fabulous! Jim captured the attention of our over 600 guests intertwining stories and anecdotes about the Miracle on Ice team with the story of LifePath and its mission. Jim embodied the word, "hero" humbling himself to our population while still rising to the deliver a powerful and inspirational keynote address. Prior to the talk, Jim toured our facility and skillfully and patiently spent time with individuals in our program as well as board members and prominent supporters. Jim's presence helped us surpass our fundraising goals and helped to secure another year of trust from our donors.”
Senior Vice President, Tufts Health Plan
“Thank you for an inspiring presentation at our annual sales and marketing awards dinner. Your messages on teamwork, winning and value-based leadership were right on point. You have proven yourself a man with rare insight, able to transmit and effectively communicate your athletic accomplishments into business winning strategies. It was a great pleasure working with you. Thanks for making our event such a huge success.”
MD FACS, UT Physicians
“I found Mr. Craig’s visit to be the single most powerful personal presentation I have ever been witnessed. I attend a large volume of meetings and hear any number of keynote speakers. Mr. Craig’s message was honest, sincere and profoundly moving. Any further hyperbole would not do his simple message justice. Thanks so much for allowing us the privilege of his company.”
MD, Sacred Heart Health System
“It was great having Mr. Craig at our recent festival in Sandestin, FL. His presence shows his dedication for his cause to raise awareness of abdominal aortic aneurysms. By attending this function he raised curiosity of why he was in town he uses this curiosity to inform the public on aneurysm screening and treatment. Jim’s support and praise for what we do makes not only the physicians, but our entire staff feel like champions. We realize the sacrifices he makes in his personal life for this cause and are truly thankful for all that he does.”
National Sales Director, Abbvie
“I would fully recommend Jim Craig as a keynote speaker. Jim’s preparation and delivery were simply outstanding. He took the time to learn our business and built an inspirational and motivational story for our team. I plan to try to utilize Gold Medal Strategies again as it is a perfect fit for leaders in a competitive environment. Go Team USA!”
Interventional Cardiologist, Heart Care Centers of Illinois
“I am looking forward to Jim giving more talks with a focus on the importance of screening and will continue to grow this program. Jim has a wonderful way to utilize his celebrity, passion and knowledge for such a good cause. This was a great visit.”
VP Sales and Marketing, BC Technical
“The HBO documentary helped keep visitors in our suite. Once someone starts watching they get drawn in want to watch until the end. It also served as a “re-education” tool for those that may not have fully understood the significance of the accomplishment. Jim’s appearance, combined with the documentary and autographed materials significantly contributed to the success of our customer reception.”
President, Florida Vascular Foundation
“Jim is a dynamic and engaging speaker. Our audience enjoyed hearing him, and we had a successful fundraiser in terms of jersey sales. This audience was not the typical SAAAVE audience, as it was made up of the very individuals who diagnose and treat aneurysms. Basically, Jim and our group have an identical mission. We are pleased to have him out there spreading the word with regard to AAA screening. I think having Jim speak gave our efforts momentum, and I don’t think our fundraising efforts would have been as successful without him.”
VP Sales and Marketing, BC Technical
“The autographed materials were raffled off throughout the night at our hospitality suite. They not only helped keep people in our suite but they also drew people back for multiple visits. They were highly sought after items and created a lot of exstrongment.”
Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
“Thank you for joining us at our NSM. It was a pleasure for our troop to hear you speak. Your attitude, story commitment to hard work and focus on teamwork made you the perfect motivating speaker for your meeting. Please know you have a reference you can count on. Thank you again!”
Director of Strategic and National Accounts, Medtronic Advanced Energy
“We recently had Jim Craig come speak at our National Sales Meeting as he fit perfectly with the theme: Fresh Tracks. Given that Jim and his fellow Miracle on Ice team members did something that no one thought could happen I thought who better than to help us do the same. Jim fit in very well with the group as he is a humble, down to earth guy. I received a lot of feedback that he was among the best presenters they had seen and they loved how personable he was with his anecdotes and style. I also had the pleasure to read through Jim’s book and I was impressed with how well written it was, how solid the sales advice was and overall how much his story and attitude can continue to inspire to victory. I would certainly recommend Jim as a speaker as by the end of the conference, he felt more like part of the team, not a just a speaker.”
Vice-President, Sales Strategy, Outreach & Development, Sales Strategy, Planning & Operations (SSPO), UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement
“We had a great sales year, exceeding our goals and it all started with you kicking things off at our National Sales Meeting! You have been such a great partner throughout the years. We appreciate the way you have motivated our sales teams.”
Director of Special Events, Banner Health Foundation
“All were thrilled by Jim’s presence, and he created life-long memories with thoughtful, moving messages and a variety of timeless and fun stories. Frankly, our attendees clearly embraced him and we continue to receive tremendous feedback from a combination of corporate sponsors, VIP’s, donors and assorted guests regarding his appearance. My solid belief is that Jim would shine in front of any audience."
President and CEO, BioTelemetry, Inc
“I have heard Jim speak on three separate occasions and each event was more rewarding than the last.”
ELECTRONICS / TELECOM
Executive Communications, Dell Technologies
“Your message, and the way you wove in our leadership philosophy and our team’s vernacular, was just incredible. We sincerely appreciate your time – you and your team certainly “prepare to win” – and the impact you’ve made on OneNA. To say the team is fired up is an understatement!”
Midwest Area Sales VP, Enterprise Division Dell EMC
“We had Jim present to the Dell Technologies Central Division team (550 people) a few weeks ago at our annual sales kickoff meeting. Everyone I spoke to said it was the best kickoff ever due to Jim’s presentation. He took time with us on the phone and over dinner to really understand our company, go to market, and overall marketplace to tailor his message to us. He tied in his successful business career and his “Miracle on Ice” experience into the perfect message. We gave our sales winners signed USA jerseys and Jim even handed them out (which he didn’t have to do) to make it an amazing experience. Best corporate presentation ever!!!”
Senior Vice President, Dell Technologies, Enterprise Sale
“TEAM is doing GREAT! Our "kickoff" was a wild success. Wish you could have seen the close on day 2. Jerry, Scott and I did a take on the "Again!" scene. Jerry blowing the whistle after I challenged everyone on our priorities for the year. It ended with Scott yelling his name (Like Eruzione did in the movie) and saying he worked for DELL TECHNOLOGIES! We had fun and definitely motivated the team. Thanks again for all your help. Hope we can find the time to get together with the wives and play some golf.”
Regional Director/ Midwest, Raymond James Financial Services, 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.”
Senior Director, North America Global Compute & Networking Sales, Intel / Dell EMC
“I recently had the opportunity and honor to host Jim for my annual Leadership Planning meeting in San Diego. I have had many speakers attend prior developmental meetings with my team and Jim did not disappoint. Prior to the meeting, Jim along with his team, personally reached out and held an hour long briefing meeting with me to ensure his message was relevant to our current challenges in our business. It is rare that you actually get an opportunity to spend over an hour with a decorated athlete like Jim and with someone, yet, very humble. Jim nailed the presentation and his focus on "training to win" and what it takes to win was extremely motivating. One of my favorite quotes was, "taking the harder right over taking the easier wrong". It is so easy not to have the hard conversations in leadership and to not do the uncomfortable work or fooling yourself into thinking you are taking the harder right. This message hit home with our team and we have discussed it quite a bit since returning from our planning meeting, we are a tighter group because of it and I thank Jim for it! He taught us there is a certain grit and grind it out attitude you must have to win! In a challenging environment, like we are experiencing today, this message was perfectly timed. We are on our way now and know what it means to train to win not just to train to compete. On behalf of my entire Enterprise Global Compute & Networking Leadership Team at Dell Technologies, Thanks so much Jim for everything! We will certainly be in touch for future events. Believe!!!”
Ingram Micro
“Thanks Jim! You were absolutely fantastic. One of the most memorable parts of the conference for sure.”
Senior Director, Marketing at DuPont Fabros Technology
“Hiring Jim as our keynote speaker at Gartner was a winning strategy. Leading up to the event, Jim made himself available for multiple planning sessions. The event itself went off swimmingly, and the results exceeded our expectations. Jim has a unique gift as a storyteller. He’s a very perceptive speaker who can easily adapt his messages to the audience. We would welcome the opportunity to leverage Jim again in the future.”
SVP, Network Engineering & Sales, Bright House Networks
“I was thoroughly impressed with Jim’s recent presentation to our Sales organization during our annual kick-off event. With full disclosure, I am an avid hockey fan with fond memories of the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team, so I was eagerly anticipating Jim’s speech. But I was truly surprised at how effective Jim was in conveying his overall message. Jim is a natural storyteller, so there is an easy engagement and anticipation with the audience. Beyond that, Jim effectively translates the key message of his stories into a relevant business context. Jim took the time to meet with Bright House sales leaders ahead of time in order to understand our key company values and objectives, and then he interlaced these thoughts into his overall message. It was an effective mix of intriguing storytelling with a pertinent business message, presented with an overall sense of enthusiasm and energy that really motivated the audience. It truly was one of the best motivational speeches I have attended.”
Vice President Operations, AIN Group
“Jim was the essential keynote speaker for our annual conference this past January. Not only was Jim and his team professional, efficient and gracious, Jim took the time to understand our industry and our audience allowing him to tailor his message to maximize the presentation. We would recommend Jim Craig to any business looking to promote tools for success and wishing to cultivate a cohesive team attitude. We understand how he earned that gold medal years ago, but his greatest trait is that Jim continues to endorse that same winning demeanor. Wishing all continued success and gratitude for your services.”
VP Marketing, Avtex
“He was the best keynote speaker we have ever had and made our entire event a success. I had a stellar experience working with him and I am proud to call him a friend.”
CONSUMER PRODUCTS / RESOURCES
Senior Vice President, Morning Foods Marketing and Innovation, Kellogg Company
“Welcome again to Team Kellogg’s! On behalf of Kellogg Company, we wanted to thank you for a successful kick off to the “Kellogg’s Great Starts” athlete tour. Our employees were captivated by your journey to the Olympics and were inspired by your advice to get “comfortable with the uncomfortable”. As well, your personal anecdotes helped keep the group engaged and they were on the edge of their seats awaiting your next tip on how to succeed. As seen by our employee feedback, you were able to motivate the team to push for their personal best and step outside their comfort zone. Multiple people shared that you were the best speaker they have seen and you really raised the energy within our organization. For me, I will continue to inspire my team to be a “team of dreamers” so we can all reach our greatness. We look forward to seeing you soon.”
Ethics & Compliance Manager, Procter & Gamble
“I’ve received many extremely positive comments about Jim’s keynote speech at our Ethics & Compliance event last week. His 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 at our event 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.”
President, FTD
“Jim is an absolute pleasure to work with. He took the time to really understand our business and tailor his message to our company accordingly. He showed great personal interest and enthusiasm in the team he was speaking with, which made his impact immeasurable. Jim even won over the usual skeptics who never seem to get behind anything. Jim’s message is real. While his timeless story remains one of the most remarkable moments of our lifetime, his message is very current and meaningful to any company.”
SVP, Head of Zurich Direct Markets
“I can’t say enough about Zurich’s Direct Markets experience with Jim, his ‘conference call series’ and the relationship we have developed with him. We engaged Jim to speak to our leadership team through his call series where he provides his unique perspective on a new topic each month. From these calls, our leaders have been able to utilize Jim’s insights to help us build success as a customer-led organization. He has gone out of his way to understand our people and our culture and because of that, he has made us better at working together, and more motivated to put our customer relationships at the center of all we do. I promise there will never be a dull moment during his series calls and you will hang up feeling motivated and inspired!"
President, Summit Hotel Properties
“We decided on the Conference Call Series after we brought Jim in for a keynote address. Using Jim as a platform was the perfect way to continue his powerful messaging. The pre-work that the GMS team customizes alone was worth the program. Through my team’s answers I was able to understand them on a whole different level. If you are looking to build momentum and create sustainability, the Conference Call Series is a no brainer! Jim and his team are true professionals and we have exceeded our sales goal with Jim’s guidance and encouragement.”
VP, Diet Portfolio, Coca-Cola
It was a winning move signing Jim to endorse and promote Coca-Cola products. Of course he will always be associated with one of the most feel-good episodes in sports and entertainment culture of this nation. Add to this his charisma, energy and abilities as a public speaker, well, we were more than pleased in how Jim represented and promoted our company and its brand."
Chairman, President, & Chief Executive Officer, Summit Hotel Properties
“Working with Jim and the GMS team has gone far beyond my expectations. The conference call series, in conjunction with the book, was significantly more than motivational. It helped create consistent dialogue and interaction throughout the year. We are now a much closer team with greater understanding of ourselves, each other and most importantly share a clear vision for our future. Thanks Jim and team!”
Chelsea Castro, Moet Hennessy, 2019
“Jim spoke to our group up in Lake Placid, NY and he was absolutely wonderful. His energy, even at the end of a long day for all of us, was revitalizing. He really painted a great picture for our team of what it was like to be a part of such an iconic team in US History. His story telling was vivid and inspiring. From the pre-meeting on the phone, to the final good-bye Jim was a pleasure to work with and really made sure he geared his presentation to our company. If you are thinking about bringing Jim in for your next event, think no more- just do it- you won't be sorry.”
Executive Director Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association
“Jim Craig was a bit hit with my association. He not only has a great story to tell, he makes a point of learning about who he is speaking to and makes it relevant for our own challenges. I highly recommend his inspirational and educational speech.”
SiteOne Landscape Supply, VP, Marketing
“Jim’s program was much more than a keynote address to our customers and associates. It was an inspirational and energizing session that provided our attendees with the tools and insights to win with teamwork, while making sacrifices and holding others accountable.”
Lime Energy
“Jim spoke to Lime Energy’s Management Team during our integration of two industry-leading companies. He spent time researching our situation, which made his presentation very relevant, and he did a fantastic job of relating his athletic and business successes to Lime’s mission. Jim’s keynote message on teamwork and culture resonated with every participant at the meeting.”
Marketing Vice President, PSS
“After reviewing the surveys it is even more apparent that you had a huge impact on our audience and your story was perfect complement to our theme and message. The way you tied your life lessons to our purpose and business through your storytelling was very inspiring. The signed photos and DVDs are great additions that help capture the day and make a lasting impression.”
RETAIL / MANUFACTURING
Send Out Cards
“We are so grateful that we had the opportunity to work with Jim. We are still hearing incredible feedback on Jim’s appearance and speech. Jim did an incredible job customizing his speech to our company. We were so impressed by his preparation and knowledge of our company from how our business model works to the overall state of the company. Jim also had a very clear understanding of our CEO’s strategy for the future and customized his presentation to deliver that strategy in a way that our audience could relate to. When you combine this business knowledge with his fascinating stories from the 1980 Olympics, it is a winning combination that our audience related to and loved. It was evident very quickly how personally Jim took the task of speaking and motivating our audience and company. He cared deeply about what we needed as a company and delivered it in his speech. Jim was incredible to work with and he was also very respectful to our staff. Everyone who met Jim was impressed at how kind and personable he is. Jim’s staff was also incredible to work with. Lisa was very thorough and professional, but also very personable. She is a true extension of Jim’s personal brand. We are so extremely grateful to Jim for all that he did to make our annual convention a success. We sold out of Jim’s books before he even spoke! People gravitate to Jim and his message of what it means to be a team. We look forward to working with Jim again in the future.”
Vice President of Retail, Wireless Lifestyle
“Jim’s keynote speech was a resounding success! It was energetic, entertaining, and he hit on all of the keys points we discussed prior to the presentation. If that wasn’t enough, Jim was able to keep the audience engaged, attentive, and excited throughout the presentation. We have had a number of reputable keynote speakers for our annual National Meeting, but I have to say that Jim’s speech stood out above the rest! Wireless Lifestyle highly recommends Jim to any company or organization looking to drive motivation to their team.”
AVP Shopper Marketing Central Team, Supervalu
“We have heard from multiple Supervalu executives that their ‘favorite’ evening on the cruise was spent with Jim Craig. While he is an American icon, he was so personal and willing to engage with everyone in the group! He also did a remarkable job helping us understand how his experience can be linked back to a work environment! Thank you for the opportunity to have Jim join us at dinner…it was incredibly valuable to building our partnership with Supervalu!”
President, Independent Business, Supervalu
“Jim initially gained the audience’s attention based on who he is and kept their attention based on what he said. He used nostalgia and related that to real world business examples and situations to illustrate his points. Jim was very prepared—tying together sports, business and the theme of our conference masterfully—without overselling. We received a large amount of completely positive compliments on his appearance.”
President and CEO, Supervalu
“Jim’s keynote address really hit home with our theme of “Grow Stronger Together” by talking about true teamwork, respect and the mutual sacrifices that are made in order to achieve remarkable victories. The message really resonated with our diverse audience, and they closed the session with a standing ovation!”
President, Rochester Lead Works, Inc.
“The memorabilia were a huge hit. I would have missed this opportunity for a personal touch had you and your team not educated me.”
Western North America, Endovascular Sales, W.L. Gore & Associates
“Thanks for another masterful appearance. We truly enjoy working with you and we are all excited to be working with you for another two years.”
W.L. Gore & Associates
“Watching you work is a pleasure. You’re driven, you are committed, and the way you reach people is something special to observe. You have a wonderful way of weaving a story that captures the attention of your audience, and the lengths you go to personalize moments makes it all very special.”
Director of Engagement and Leadership, Big Y
“Jim was a special guest speaker for our fall 2017 store director and sales team meeting. He came prepared and well versed about our company and culture, which made his message of leadership, teamwork and execution spot on and resonate well with everyone. He truly hit the mark on many counts and connected well with stories that were motivating, yet sometime humorous, which provided inspiration to many. Thank you Jim…we appreciated your message and having you here!”
President & CEO, BlueLinx Corporation
“Jim used a mix of humor, life experiences and his business knowledge in a way that each person felt like his message was tailored to them.”
Senior Manager, Meetings & Events at BASE Corporation
“We decided the signed Jim Craig jerseys would be a wonderful addition to our event. We ordered 70 of these for our VIP customers to tie into the keynote speaker session. The jerseys are great quality and were really well received. We like to think that we went the extra step to give our customers an exceptional experience at the event. We would highly recommend Jim Craig as a keynote speaker and would also recommend both the jerseys and the signed posters, which we also used. A huge thank you to Gold Medal Strategies for organizing all of this for us and making it a smooth process.”
Vice President, Sales, Bemis
“The Miracle DVDs were sent to everyone who attended the meeting along with a letter from our President reinforcing our 1Team1Mission mentality and the importance of everyone performing with excellence in their individual roles as we work together as a team. It is critical for success, especially during crisis situations. We have received great feedback! Thank you!”
MEDIA
Partner, Plum Moving Media
“Fantastic!” “Awesome!” “Best Ever!” “These were just a few of the accolades I heard after our annual award recognition event. Jim’s easy presence on stage had everyone’s attention and the audience enjoyed every story. Every story was relatable. Every shot was a goal. Jim tailored his message to our meeting and our audience. I really liked the way Jim was able to put meaning into his stories, some inspirational messaging for the attendees to walk away with. And all of this was done with a great sense of humor. In the days following Jim’s presentation, the attendees were still buzzing. For me, the test of the quality of a speaker is simple; would you hire him again? With Jim Craig, the answer is absolutely yes.”
Director of Operations – PSAV
“Jim dazzled everyone this morning. He was energetic, positive, engaging and inspiring. You really undersold him. He has an incredibly natural command of the audience and he drew them in a took them on a journey. Every point in his presentation was perfectly focused to this group and the timing of his delivery really made everything hit home. It has been an honor to work with you- and to witness Jim's story of perseverance and triumph over self (and the Czechs!). Please pass our sincere thanks to Jim for being great.”
Global Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, PSAV®
“Given his US Hockey Gold Medal status, many in our company were already well aware of who Jim was. What they weren't aware of is his incredible ability to tell a series of stories, incorporated succinctly into our company's vision and strategies. It's a critical skill set to develop and hone...one Jim has done so in spades.”
BUSINESS SERVICES / CONSULTING CONSUMER SERVICES
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Customer Officer, Daymon Worldwide
Chief Revenue Officer, Automation Anywhere
“Jim’s message to our team was on the power of “Believing”. It has resonated through the organization as a rally cry. His witty remarks, lessons in leadership and personal experiences bring it all to life no matter where in the world you reside. His words of wisdom and passion in building winning teams are truly making a difference.”
“We had the privilege of having Jim Craig speak to a global audience of over 750 people at our FY22 Sales Kickoff Meeting. Jim did an incredible job of translating his message of athletic and business success to a diverse and widespread group of people, and WOW, was it effective and relevant. Prior to the event, Jim took the time to fully understand our objectives for the day and curated a customized presentation that spoke to everyone in attendance. I have worked with Jim in the past and continue to be impressed with his ability to motivate and inspire across boundaries, and can’t recommend him enough as a source of inspiration and motivation for your own team.”
Chief Business and Financial Officer, Daymon Worldwide
“Jim’s personal story and experiences were delivered in a way that resonated and deeply touched and amused our audience.”
CEO, Southwest Michigan First
“When it came time for Southwest Michigan First, a nationally renowned economic development agency headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to find someone to set the appropriate tone to kick off a meeting of its Board of Directors in the midst of COVID-19, Jim Craig stepped in to deliver the right inspirational message at exactly the right time. With most news around the globe being reported as bleak, Jim expertly drew parallels between the seemingly insurmountable challenges he has faced during his career and the economic challenges presented by the global pandemic. Referencing his experience on the U.S. Olympic hockey team, Jim credited that team’s success to Head Coach Herb Brooks and gave the 60+ C-level leaders in attendance a call to action: they must see themselves in a similar role of having the ability to inspire as today’s challenges can be overcome by strong leadership. Beyond the ice, Jim’s strong and proven track record in successful business ventures easily translates into a credible message to attendees—so much so, that our directors report repeating Jim’s message to their own teams and continue to request ongoing connection points with Jim.”
Senior Manager, Support Services, AARP
“We received several comments on the 4x6 cards. Some of our leaders really appreciated the nine points of establishing effective and successful teams. Great takeaways from Jim’s message. Each of the components really hit on the importance of reiterating expectations that we are all in it together. Just like our corporate theme, “Lets Own It – Better Together”.”
Young President’s Organization
“Gold Medal Leadership training challenged each one of our members to reflect on how they could be a better leader. Jim inspired them to get to the next level and created a workshop around the concept that ‘you have to make your team every year.’ The feedback I received from our group was amazing, we will definitely utilize Jim in the future. He is the perfect mix between keeping it light and entertaining while holding each and everyone accountable to be the best version of themselves. We were beyond impressed.”
Regional Tax Managing Partner, Northeast, Deloitte Tax LLP
“Jim recently addressed a group of our most senior leaders and clearly connected with them from the moment he took the stage. His messaging was completely on point with the theme of our meeting and his presentation served to both entertain and motivate our audience. The overall consensus from our leaders was that Jim was truly one of the best outside speakers with whom we have worked. In fact, our firm has engaged Jim more than once, truly a testament to his abilities.”
Chairman & CEO, Deloitte Tax LLP
“When I want to motivate and inspire a group of seasoned professionals, I know that Jim Craig will help make it happen. No one tires of the miracle on ice story, but Jim doesn’t rest on those laurels. He inspires with an understanding of business and his message of teaming and commitment. I have worked with Jim on two different occasions and have been impressed both times, not only with his inspiring story and message, but also with his personal commitment to understand my objectives and customize his messages to those. Jim and his staff are professional and organized, leaving nothing to chance and ensuring a compelling program that unites and energized my team.”
All American Entertainment
“Working with Jim and his team is an absolute pleasure! We consistently have an amazing experience and Jim always gets outstanding feedback from our clients. We highly recommend him to anyone who is looking for a phenomenal speaker!”
SVP, Distribution/Operations, AARP
“Your presence, delivery and motivational speech at the AARP “Ideas @ 50” annual convention was inspirational. You took it upon yourself to meet with each and every one individually, pose for pictures and were easily approachable for autographs, none of which you were required to do. Your presentation to the audience, both old and young was a message for the ages. I took special notice of the reactions of the group, and to say they were captivated would be an understatement. You have a special spirit that is contagious to those around you. I can go on with superlatives, but I am sure you have received them throughout your entire career. What stood out for me most and for how I rate a man, is the humble way you go about your daily life. You live honestly, with integrity and true Spirit.”
AARP SVP Distribution/Operations
“Your presentation to the audience, both old and young was a message for the ages. I took special notice of the reactions of the group, and to say they were captivated would be an understatement. You have a special spirit that is contagious to those around you. The “can do” attitude for award recipients who have dedicated a substantial part of their lives to giving back to their communities really hit home.”
President & CEO, ASRC Federal
“Jim recently spoke at an offsite meeting for my leadership team. The main purpose of our offsite was to work on our team - more specifically, strive for “higher performance,” and build a “winning locker room.” As widely known, Jim was a key member and leader of one of the greatest teams and locker rooms of all time - the 1980 U.S. gold medal men’s hockey team. Jim has an excellent ability to relate the lessons learned from being a leader on that incredible team (and its winning locker room) to business and to leadership teams striving to evolve their performance, commitment, and trust. Any organization that is focused on taking its leadership team to another level, while working better together to meet important business objectives, would greatly benefit from the wisdom and inspiration of Jim Craig as a guest speaker. I also highly recommend Jim’s book “Gold Medal Strategies,” which tells the story of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” and in doing so describes the evolution of this incredible team in a manner that meaningfully relates to what business leadership teams need to do in their ongoing journeys to high performance.”
President – Alliance, 2019
“Jim’s presentation was 100% on target with our corporate objectives; he was enthusiasm, had great presence and really carried the day. He did a fantastic job meshing our corporate theme into his experiences and strategies for success. Finally, I am still constantly hearing folks reference “If your dreams don’t scare you they aren’t big enough”, so he definitely left his mark on my teams!”
The Yukon Group
“We engaged Jim to host a dinner and make a booth appearance for us at a recent trade show that we have been attending for more than 10 years. We had heard attendance was down almost 40%, so we were looking for Jim to make an impact – and that’s exactly what he did from the moment he landed. He was a huge hit at dinner, meeting and talking with loyal and prospective customers. Not only did he talk about his career and accomplishments, but because he did his homework, Jim was a great Ambassador for our company and products as well.The next day in the booth, we played the video and had our people wear signed jerseys that we would raffle at the show. These actions worked together to build a buzz for when Jim would be in the booth. Then 5 minutes after Jim arrived, we had a line that wrapped around the corner of our booth. Jim spoke with people, signed his new book and posed for photos almost nonstop for an hour. For any marketing activity, we measure success in terms of leads, sales calls and closed deals. We are happy to share that Jim helped us generate twice as many leads as we had in previous years. And since the show, we’ve closed two major projects and scheduled three sales calls thanks to Jim’s efforts. It was one of the best marketing investments we’ve ever made. Thanks, Jim!”
Executive Vice President, Chempetitive Group
“I’ve had the good fortune to work with Jim over an extended period of time in developing and implementing a national campaign to raise awareness of the risks, symptoms, diagnosis and treatments of abdominal aortic aneurysms or AAA. Jim’s motivation comes from deep, and he is able to connect with people in a unique, compelling and personable way. His heart is in the right place, and I’ve yet to encounter anyone not moved by his tenacity, spirit and commitment to the mission. Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, High Integrity.”
President, CertaPro Painters
“Jim Craig was the keynote speaker at our most recent annual convention in Palm Springs in January 2017. Our goal at this conference was to inspire our network of franchise owners and staff to elevate our profession. Jim was instrumental in delivering our message. He brought to life key concepts from his life history and experiences as a gold medal winning goalie for USA Hockey. His story telling, points of emphasis, and charismatic delivery were a highlight of our opening plenary. Jim was a key part of CertaPro Painters delivering an extraordinary experience. However, what really sets Jim apart from any other motivational speakers is his commitment to getting to know the client. This isn't just a small token gesture but authentic interest in the company and our people. It made a difference in his delivery and our messaging without question. I emphatically recommend Jim to any organization looking to create memorable moments for your staff and network. He delivered on his promise to us and then some. Thank you Jim!”
President Ann Arbor Annuity Exchange
"Jim was the keynote speaker at our annual Top Producers Conference in Las Vegas in May 2017 and was an absolute hit with our top sales people from around the country. Jim made a point to fully understand who he was speaking to, and he tailored his inspirational remarks for maximum impact on his audience. Jim is a true sports hero, but a truly fine human being who really connected with our group. I would highly recommend him as a speaker to any business group."
Lead Visual Design, West Monroe Partners
“Jim spoke at our All Company Meeting celebration this past fall. His presentation was engaging and very quotable - many presenters from our organization quoted him in their later moments on stage. We were very happy to welcome Jim to our stage, and would particularly recommend him as a speaker for an audience that is even just moderately sports-oriented.”
VP of Association Relations, AMBA
“Olympic Gold Medalist, Jim Craig, was our key note speaker at the Association Member Benefits Advisors (AMBA) meeting Nov. 1-4, 2017 in Austin, Texas. AMBA invited our 200 Executive Directors and Presidents from our 55 client associations located in 35 states to come to Austin to learn more about how AMBA could help their associations grow by using our successful marketing techniques, along with our menu of insurance and other benefits endorsed by their associations. His staff called us and asked about the conference theme, and Jim styled his speech to fit our needs. AMBA sent Jim’s signed video from the movie Miracle to our guests before they heard him speak. He did a great job of reiterating this inspirational and highly entertaining true story about the 1980’s US Ice Hockey teams’ triumphant Olympic victory against the Soviet Unions, which was one of the greatest moments in sports history. Jim described how Coach Herb Brooks turned 26 undisciplined kids into a team that could achieve the unbelievable to win. Jim talked about motivation, success and what it means, and doing the impossible. In the Q &A, the audience asked many questions about leadership qualities needed to win. They were very engaged with the speaker, and said how it fit into the leadership rolls and decision making they had in their life. The group was comprised of retired and active educators and state employee associations. The audience loved him and said his message fit the conference’s message of Roadmap to Growth. I would highly recommend Jim Craig to your group as an outstanding motivational speaker and a great man.”
NPDP Founder & Consultant at Interesting Blazer
“I’ve heard Jim speak several times and recently engaged him to speak at a conference I had the privilege of chairing for PDMA and he has always delivered. The attendees at the PDMA conference were really inspired by Jim and several said they picked our event over a competing event because we had Jim as our opening keynote. Working with Jim’s team was painless and he devoted time to really understanding our organization and what we need to ensure that the message delivered resonated with the audience. I look forward to being able to engage Jim again in the future.”
SVP Marketing / GM – Dodge Construction
“It was an honor to have Jim as our lunch keynote speaker for Dodge Construction Outlook 2020 event this year in Chicago. Jim and his team at Gold Medal Strategies were a pleasure to work with throughout the planning process. Jim arrived a day earlier, happily signing over 400 hockey pucks, and then joined our opening welcome reception engaging with our top customers in attendance. Jim's keynote the next day was motivational and entertaining, and most importantly he seamlessly weaved in our theme and topics relevant to our industry in to his speech. Feedback on the event and Jim in particular has been overwhelmingly positive. And our customers loved their signed hockey pucks! Thank you Jim and the Gold Medal Strategies team!”
President and CEO, Paul Davis Restoration
“Jim’s story and quest to understand the needs of the audience puts him in another stratosphere.”
AUTOMOTIVE
Corporate Recruiter, Zeigler Automotive Group
“The value that Jim Craig has brought to our organization is undeniable. Jim challenges you in ways you would never imagine and has a true talent for helping others reach their full potential and create a winning team. Recently, Jim gave me a personal opportunity to shine and show my leadership skills in a discussion panel in front of our entire organization. His belief in me has helped me to grow as a leader both personally and professionally. Jim is thought provoking, intuitive, supportive and very witty. The GMS team and Jim Craig would be an incredible asset to any organization!”
Director of Talent Development, Zeigler Auto Group
“Jim Craig does an exceptional job of presenting to large audiences and challenging them to be their best through his personal stories of success.”
Director of Talent Development, Zeigler Auto Group
“We have been working with Jim Craig and Gold Medal Strategies for many years now. Jim always delivers more than we expect. He has a real talent for pulling greatness out of your teams. He has challenged me like no one else has and make me better as a leader. I highly recommend Jim Craig and team for your next event!”
General Manager, Zeigler Auto Group
Thank you for choosing me as one of the winners from our last call and for the autographed signature of your jersey for my son… I couldn't be prouder of him and the man that he has become. Your message to him hit home. It was inspirational and touching that you took the time to give him words of encouragement. He knew who you were and already has plans of putting your jersey in a frame and hanging it on his wall as a constant reminder that anything is possible when you believe, and you put the work in. Julian and I shared a special moment when I gave him the jersey. He knows I'm always talking about him, but to actually witness it through such a special gift from a gold medal Olympics winner with a personal message to him caught him off guard.. in a good way🙂. That moment was priceless! Thank you so much for the investment that you are making in me and my family. You are the absolute BEST Jimmy!!!!
Senior Vice President, Zeigler Auto
“Jimmy: Thank you for the signed Jersey. It is very cool! It will be framed and hung on the wall as a constant reminder that anything is possible when you have the right mindset, you prepare, and you never give up! It was an honor to host the call with you. I truly appreciate your support before and during the call. You showed me how to constructively challenge my team mate in a way that helps us become better without damaging our relationship. I received a lot of positive phone calls and text messages after our call with the team. Your support of me during the call actually help develop new relationships and strengthen the ones I had. Thank you Jimmy for this opportunity, for being patient, supportive, and taking a true interest in my leadership development. I am looking forward to more coaching sessions with you and more opportunities to help before, during, and after.”
Chief Financial Officer, Zeigler Auto Group
“Jim’s partnership with us on our Drive for Life campaign to raise funds for the American Cancer Society and other charitable causes was nothing short of amazing. Jim engaged a room full of hundreds of people to share his story and talk about causes that are bigger than any one of us. Together we raised over $300,000 and Jim’s consideration, caring and involvement brought great success to some very important causes.”
Corporate Recruiter and Trainer, Zeigler Auto Group
“Gold Medal Strategies has been working with our company for many years now. I have been a part of our coaching calls with Jim and his team for the last 3 years. Jim has challenged me to think differently and has motivated me to step out of my comfort zone. He continues to provide opportunities of growth for our team members and pushes them to be at their best. Mediocrity and complacency is not in Jim's vocabulary and he does a phenomenal job inspiring others to believe the same! I would highly recommend Gold Medal Strategies to any company that's looking to get the next level of greatness!”
Avis
“After we hired Jim as a keynote speaker at our leadership conference, we decided to extend our partnership by utilizing his conference call training. Our group was energized and motivated after his speech, so using him as a platform to keep the fire going was an easy decision. Jim and the Gold Medal Strategies team took the time to connect with us and understand the objectives we wanted to accomplish through the conference call series. After hand selecting the topics to focus on, Jim used his years of business and athletic experience to create a ‘winning locker room.’ Each call, Jim made sure everyone was engaged and held our team accountable. By the end of the series, we redefined what it meant to ‘win’ and have never felt more together…all working toward a shared dream. I would highly recommend this training to anyone who wants to take their team to the next level!”
President, Zeigler Auto Group
“Jim and his team put in the work to understand our organization & come so well prepared to these conference calls. Our employees absolutely can’t wait to get on the phone because they are always coming up with new ideas and are really challenging them to take our organization to the next level. Our goal was to get to $1 billion in sales and this year we will achieve that – Jim having a huge part in it. I would highly recommend the conference call series because it could make a dramatic impact on your organization as it has in ours!”
President, Zeigler Auto Group
“The Gold Medal Strategies team and especially Jim Craig have made a profound, positive impact on my organization. Jim is one of the greatest visionaries of our time. We have been using the remote, leadership conference calls for 6 years now and they have taken our leadership team and our organization to a level I never thought possible. I can’t imagine how much time Jim and his team spends prepping for our calls. They have taught us to think differently, learn from each other and brought us together as a team. These calls are one of the most powerful weapons we have as an organization!!! Jim has helped us grow the organization from $400 million in sales to almost $2 billion!!!”
Director of Talent Development, Zeigler Autogroup
“The leadership from our organization has been working with Jim Craig and Gold Medal Strategies in various ways for many years. The remote leadership conference calls have been very impactful for us. Jim and his team are experts at developing materials that are relevant to our leaders. Jim has a natural talent for pulling out greatness! He challenges you to think differently, push harder and develop exceptional work through these calls. Jim will push you and challenge your team. He has helped me grow my leadership exponentially and is an amazing performance coach! I highly recommend Jim and Gold Medal Strategies! I was impressed with Gold Medal Strategies from the first time I spoke with Lisa on the phone! We were looking for a speaker to engage our large automotive group and motivate them in their positions as a kickoff event for our training programs. I came across Jim Craig’s organization and did my due diligence in researching them. The conference call was set up prior to the event. The Zeigler Auto Group President and I sat in on the conference call and were immediately impressed with Jim and his knowledge of us personally and his research he did on our organization. He hit us with some tough questions to answer about our culture and organization. He wanted to learn everything he could about us, our expectations and our business to better enhance and tailor his presentation! When Jim came in for a dinner event the evening prior to his keynote speeches, we were again “wowed” by Jim’s down-to-earth nature and also his immediate bonding with our key leaders in the organization. Jim took a genuine interest in every person in this dinner group and did his research on them prior to the event. He was a true professional. Our team was excited about the personalized book, dvd and jerseys as well as the pictures we took!
Jim’s keynote was amazing and well-received by everyone in the audience! He gave great stories of his achievements and was able to correlate these with the business we run and being leaders in our organization. I look forward to working with Jim and Gold Medal Strategies in the future and would highly recommend them for any company event!”
AUTOMOTIVE
Corporate Recruiter, Zeigler Automotive Group
“The value that Jim Craig has brought to our organization is undeniable. Jim challenges you in ways you would never imagine and has a true talent for helping others reach their full potential and create a winning team. Recently, Jim gave me a personal opportunity to shine and show my leadership skills in a discussion panel in front of our entire organization. His belief in me has helped me to grow as a leader both personally and professionally. Jim is thought provoking, intuitive, supportive and very witty. The GMS team and Jim Craig would be an incredible asset to any organization!”
Director of Talent Development, Zeigler Auto Group
“Jim Craig does an exceptional job of presenting to large audiences and challenging them to be their best through his personal stories of success.”
Director of Talent Development, Zeigler Auto Group
“We have been working with Jim Craig and Gold Medal Strategies for many years now. Jim always delivers more than we expect. He has a real talent for pulling greatness out of your teams. He has challenged me like no one else has and make me better as a leader. I highly recommend Jim Craig and team for your next event!”
Director of Talent Development, Zeigler Auto Group
“We have been working with Jim Craig and Gold Medal Strategies for many years now. Jim always delivers more than we expect. He has a real talent for pulling greatness out of your teams. He has challenged me like no one else has and make me better as a leader. I highly recommend Jim Craig and team for your next event!”
Senior Vice President, Zeigler Auto
“Jimmy: Thank you for the signed Jersey. It is very cool! It will be framed and hung on the wall as a constant reminder that anything is possible when you have the right mindset, you prepare, and you never give up! It was an honor to host the call with you. I truly appreciate your support before and during the call. You showed me how to constructively challenge my team mate in a way that helps us become better without damaging our relationship. I received a lot of positive phone calls and text messages after our call with the team. Your support of me during the call actually help develop new relationships and strengthen the ones I had. Thank you Jimmy for this opportunity, for being patient, supportive, and taking a true interest in my leadership development. I am looking forward to more coaching sessions with you and more opportunities to help before, during, and after.”
Chief Financial Officer, Zeigler Auto Group
“Jim’s partnership with us on our Drive for Life campaign to raise funds for the American Cancer Society and other charitable causes was nothing short of amazing. Jim engaged a room full of hundreds of people to share his story and talk about causes that are bigger than any one of us. Together we raised over $300,000 and Jim’s consideration, caring and involvement brought great success to some very important causes.”
Corporate Recruiter and Trainer, Zeigler Auto Group
“Gold Medal Strategies has been working with our company for many years now. I have been a part of our coaching calls with Jim and his team for the last 3 years. Jim has challenged me to think differently and has motivated me to step out of my comfort zone. He continues to provide opportunities of growth for our team members and pushes them to be at their best. Mediocrity and complacency is not in Jim's vocabulary and he does a phenomenal job inspiring others to believe the same! I would highly recommend Gold Medal Strategies to any company that's looking to get the next level of greatness!”
Avis
“After we hired Jim as a keynote speaker at our leadership conference, we decided to extend our partnership by utilizing his conference call training. Our group was energized and motivated after his speech, so using him as a platform to keep the fire going was an easy decision. Jim and the Gold Medal Strategies team took the time to connect with us and understand the objectives we wanted to accomplish through the conference call series. After hand selecting the topics to focus on, Jim used his years of business and athletic experience to create a ‘winning locker room.’ Each call, Jim made sure everyone was engaged and held our team accountable. By the end of the series, we redefined what it meant to ‘win’ and have never felt more together…all working toward a shared dream. I would highly recommend this training to anyone who wants to take their team to the next level!”
President, Zeigler Auto Group
“Jim and his team put in the work to understand our organization & come so well prepared to these conference calls. Our employees absolutely can’t wait to get on the phone because they are always coming up with new ideas and are really challenging them to take our organization to the next level. Our goal was to get to $1 billion in sales and this year we will achieve that – Jim having a huge part in it. I would highly recommend the conference call series because it could make a dramatic impact on your organization as it has in ours!”
President, Zeigler Auto Group
“The Gold Medal Strategies team and especially Jim Craig have made a profound, positive impact on my organization. Jim is one of the greatest visionaries of our time. We have been using the remote, leadership conference calls for 6 years now and they have taken our leadership team and our organization to a level I never thought possible. I can’t imagine how much time Jim and his team spends prepping for our calls. They have taught us to think differently, learn from each other and brought us together as a team. These calls are one of the most powerful weapons we have as an organization!!! Jim has helped us grow the organization from $400 million in sales to almost $2 billion!!!”
Director of Talent Development, Zeigler Autogroup
“The leadership from our organization has been working with Jim Craig and Gold Medal Strategies in various ways for many years. The remote leadership conference calls have been very impactful for us. Jim and his team are experts at developing materials that are relevant to our leaders. Jim has a natural talent for pulling out greatness! He challenges you to think differently, push harder and develop exceptional work through these calls. Jim will push you and challenge your team. He has helped me grow my leadership exponentially and is an amazing performance coach! I highly recommend Jim and Gold Medal Strategies! I was impressed with Gold Medal Strategies from the first time I spoke with Lisa on the phone! We were looking for a speaker to engage our large automotive group and motivate them in their positions as a kickoff event for our training programs. I came across Jim Craig’s organization and did my due diligence in researching them. The conference call was set up prior to the event. The Zeigler Auto Group President and I sat in on the conference call and were immediately impressed with Jim and his knowledge of us personally and his research he did on our organization. He hit us with some tough questions to answer about our culture and organization. He wanted to learn everything he could about us, our expectations and our business to better enhance and tailor his presentation! When Jim came in for a dinner event the evening prior to his keynote speeches, we were again “wowed” by Jim’s down-to-earth nature and also his immediate bonding with our key leaders in the organization. Jim took a genuine interest in every person in this dinner group and did his research on them prior to the event. He was a true professional. Our team was excited about the personalized book, dvd and jerseys as well as the pictures we took!
Jim’s keynote was amazing and well-received by everyone in the audience! He gave great stories of his achievements and was able to correlate these with the business we run and being leaders in our organization. I look forward to working with Jim and Gold Medal Strategies in the future and would highly recommend them for any company event!”
OTHER
Bill Belichick
“Just as when he was defending the net or as performing as a sales executive, Jim Craig remains at the top of his game as a motivational speaker, sales and teamwork coach. Jim helps organizations build a solid foundation by recruiting, training and innovating at the highest level.”
Bill Belichick
“Jim Craig is as masterful at creating and communicating a path to greatness as he was achieving them himself. Jim has reached many pinnacles, raised the bar, made history and inspired generations, in sport and in business and his gifts will last for generations to come.”
Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL)
“Jim Craig far surpassed our expectations, and set a new bar during his visit to the Navy SEAL school house in Coronado, CA. We have had many distinguished guests speak to us during my 30 years in Naval Special Warfare, Mr. Craig’s ability to seize the attention of the audience, and effortlessly keeps their focus, with them holding onto every word, was unlike anything I have seen before.”