Let’s Move the Finish Line
What happens when the finish line you’ve spent years running toward no longer makes sense for you?
“It took me 80 years to build this body,” David Schulte tells the audience. It’s the first of several laugh-out-loud moments in a warm, candid keynote about what it takes to change direction.
David has helped business owners navigate turnarounds. He knows how hard it is to walk away from a deal you’ve fought to save or hand over the reins of a business you’ve spent years building, especially when people you care about will feel the consequences. He understands the loyalty behind the urge to hold on. Some of the funniest moments come when David admits that, even now, he still has trouble taking his own advice. Let somebody help you. Hear them out when the idea is theirs. And if they come up with a solution that’s actually better than yours, try to act half as pleased as you’d be if the roles were reversed.
Beneath the laughter, David gets honest about growing older in a changing world. It can sting a bit to realize that, after years of people putting their faith in your judgment, you might be wrong this time. It can also be a surprise to discover how much you still have to learn, and how much you still want to do. You’ve helped other people get where they wanted to go. Where would you like to go next?
Never give up. And when it’s time, know that you can move the finish line.
Inside the keynote
David opens with a confession: he’s never run a marathon. He’s spent decades chasing finish lines anyway, and he brings stories from those years to the stage, including a few times when taking his own advice proved harder than giving it.
What the audience takes away
- A question to ask when an old goal no longer makes sense.
- A way to think about what a successor needs to lead.
- A chance to sketch what a different finish line could look like.
For business-owner groups, leadership teams, and conferences. For an inquiry, share your audience, proposed date, and what you’d like the audience to take away.
David’s recorded introduction is coming soon.
Speaking Inquiry
Tell David about your event. The form opens an email draft with your details so you can review and send it. You can also email David directly.