8
By Michael Chamness
IASA Director of Communications
Here’s a quick trivia question:
What do the Atlanta
Falcons, the Campbell Soup Company, Southwest
Airlines and the IASA have in common?
Answer:
All have an interest in what Jon Gordon
has to say about leadership.
Gordon, a best-selling author and acclaimed
speaker, will be one of the headliners at the
upcoming IASA Annual Conference. His presentation
titled “The Power of Positive Leadership” will focus on
how and why positive leaders make a greater impact
and how to “weed the negativity that sabotages far
too many organizations and schools,” and how to
“neutralize energy vampires.”
Back to the trivia question, Gordon’s book “The
Energy Bus” – on the Wall Street Journal’s best-seller
list numerous times since 2007 – initially was written
for businesses, but it has resonated with a more
diverse audience, including educators, and became
required reading for the National Football League’s
Falcons. It also almost never got published.
“During the most challenging time in my life, when
everything seemed like it was falling apart, I asked
what I was born to do, and writing and speaking kept
coming to me,” Gordon said. “The idea for ‘The
Energy Bus’ came to me several years later on a walk
and I wrote the book in three and a half weeks. It was
rejected by more than 30 publishers.
“I initially wrote it for businesses, but it seems to
have had a far greater impact in the world of
education and sports. I love getting emails from
principals and teachers that have transformed their
school and classrooms with the message in the adult
version and children’s version.”
Gordon comes highly recommended as a
speaker. Consider these testimonials:
“Jon Gordon’s presentation on ‘The Energy
Bus’ to our U.S. sales organization was top notch. He
quickly engaged the group with his high energy
style…”
--Douglas R. Conant, President and CEO of
Campbell Soup Company
“
Jon’s presentation was regarded by many as
the best of our conference. ‘Super,’ ‘Inspiring,’ ‘Great
ideas,’
‘Phenomenal,’
Wonderful
uplifting
presentation’…and similar comments dominated our
attendee evaluations.”
--Ernie Mannino, Associate Executive Director,
National Association of Elementary School
Principals
(Continued on page 9)
Thursday, October 9
9:15 - 11 a.m.
Second General Session
The Energy Bus: Drive Your School District with Optimism, Passion, and Purpose
Author of ‘The Energy Bus’
out to neutralize ‘energy vampires’
