Get To^® Foundation Speaking Series

We Get To Inspire Series 2024 Keynote Speaker

Damon West "Be a Coffee Bean"

Damon West is a former college quarterback, sentenced to life in prison, who transformed his life while incarcerated. Now a world renown motivational speaker, best-selling author, and college professor, Damon shares his powerful story of redemption, resilience, and the transformative power of a positive mindset.
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During his time in prison, Damon embraced the philosophy of becoming a "coffee bean"—influencing and changing his environment rather than letting it change him. In a way, Damon shifted his perspective from “have to” to “get to", embracing the chance turn adversity into something positive.

Join us for the next Inspire Speaker Series event to hear Damon West's compelling journey and how his message of transformation and positivity can inspire us all to embrace every moment with gratitude and purpose.

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The Opportunity of a Lifetime

2023: Learn How To Live "Get To®"

Jon Gordon’s best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous Fortune 500 companies, professional and college sports teams, school districts, hospitals, and non-profits. He is the author of 27 books including 14 best sellers and 5 children’s books. His books include the timeless classic The Energy Bus which has sold over 2 million copies, The Carpenter which was a top 5 business book of the year, Training Camp, The Power of Positive Leadership, The Power of a Positive Team, The Coffee Bean, Stay Positive, and The Garden. Jon and his tips have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, The Golf Channel, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include The Los Angeles Dodgers, Campbell’s Soup, Dell, Publix, Southwest Airlines, Miami Heat, The Los Angeles Rams, Snapchat, Truist Bank, Clemson Football, Northwestern Mutual, West Point Academy and more.

As a part of the We Get To Inspire speaking series, the Get To® Foundation hosted Jon Gordon, National Bestselling Author & Keynote Speaker at Lawrence Tech University on Tuesday, October 17 2023. The event was FREE to all area 600+ students, coaches, teachers and families in attendance.

We are so grateful Jon could share his message with our group and leave a profound impact on all who were able to attend. His message emphasized the power of positive leadership and teamwork to overcome the challenges in our lives, finding the "Get To" spirit in each moment we encounter.

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2022 Keynote Speaker John O'leary

Reflections from our 2022 Keynote Speaker John O'leary

Words to live by...

John shared his lifechanging story with hundreds of students and and families in Detroit in August 2022. His words left us all "on fire" to live a more intentional, joyful, and impactful life.

Here are a few words about the event from John:

"Last night, I had the honor of joining hundreds of student-athletes and their families just outside of Detroit at an event put on by the Get To® Foundation.

The Get To® Foundation honors the life and legacy of Ben Jones who passed away in a car accident in August 2020 at the age of 30. Ben was a loving son, a caring brother, a trusted friend, and a hard-working football player and coach. And while that alone is worthy of celebration, what made Ben so special was the approach he took toward all areas of his life.

A specific motto of Ben’s life was “get to….”

His unwavering outlook was not that he “had to” do something, but that he had the opportunity and chance to “get to” do something special. It was a feeling of hope, a want to go into battle, and drive to take something on with enthusiasm.

My friends, ‘getting’ to do something is so much more liberating than ‘having’ to do something. So often in life, though, that simple notion of “I get to” degrades into “I have to.” I HAVE to go to work. I HAVE to make dinner. I HAVE to pick up the kids from school. I HAVE to forgive him or her.

But how would our lives- and the lives of those around us- be positively impacted if we looked at obligations and obstacles not as challenges to overcome but as opportunities to celebrate?

I GET to go to work.

I GET to make dinner.

I GET to pick up the kids from school.

I GET to forgive him or her.