After hearing John speak at the Central Coast Business Symposium I talked about his message for over a year. Bringing him to spend a full day training Cal Poly College of Science and Mathematics staff and managers was a dream come true. Little did I know John would go beyond my already high expectations! His training style is dynamic, captivating, engaging, and yet in his humility and uncanny understanding of people, he reaches beneath the surface to touch the emotions of each participant. It was amazing to watch a group of people begin the day prepared to passively listen to the dynamic force that is John Bates, move into the liberating realm of being actively engaged in communicating–really communicating–with each other. Tears flowed as we listened to the closing story of the day, given by a young professional who after years of working with another speaker training group FOUND her voice and moved the room full of colleagues to tears and applause. She connected with every person in the room through the powerful telling of her story. This is what John helps people to do: Find their voice. Tell their story. Tell any story. Truly connect.

Thank you for sharing your way of seeing and talking perspective of life. I have had plenty of opportunities to shine in different situations by telling the process that took me where I’am and how the heroes of my life (Other people) helped me to achieve my goals and how did my mess educate me the person who I’m today. You have also helped me to see different perspective of storytelling and I also enjoy more of other peoples success.

I really lucked out when I got John as my speaker coach for my TEDx talk. Apart from having truly mastered the craft of story telling and public speaking, John shows up 100% and deliver’s one thousand percent effort, insight and attention during each coaching session. The value he adds to helping you hone and deliver your talk is priceless. He really is “the drill sergeant for greatness.”

Love the “power tools” training John gave at Second Genome when we were preparing for external presentations. I hear his voice whenever I’m preparing a talk.