John Amatt is unusual amongst Adventure Speakers in that he did not reach the top of Everest on his celebrated expedition. Instead, he was a leader of a dedicated team that suffered four tragic deaths in two unpredictable accidents before placing six climbers on the peak.
John's mission in going to Everest was to place one of his team on top of the world's highest mountain. In his own words... "It didn't matter who reached the summit, because we believed that when one person stood on the highest point, the whole team had achieved the goal. I was totally fulfilled the day we reached the top and I would never go back to Everest, because my expectation as leader had been fully met".
John Amatt is a superb storyteller, who has delivered highly motivational presentations to some 1,750 audiences in 44 countries worldwide. After a career of 25 years, he is one of the world's most successful adventure speakers. An educator by training, he uses the lessons learned from his own life and death adventures in the world's most remote places to articulate down-to-earth strategies for meeting the challenges of challenging times.
John is the Founder of the world-renowned Banff Mountain Film Festival, Founder and President of One Step Beyond WorldWide, and has been called "The World's Best Adventure Speaker".
John's mission is to encourage people to push beyond self-imposed limitations, to be more personally accountable for the results of their own actions, and to embrace effective teamwork by valuing the contributions of others.
What clients are saying about John's programs
"Our guests were uniform in their high praise for your performance ... Through the skillful use of powerful visual images and an eloquent description of your central theme, you instilled in all of us a sense of what is possible and what it takes to achieve great things. You were terrific!"
Balboa Life & Casualty
"The tone that you set was inspirational and pertinent. Many of our attendees commented that they could directly apply your message to their everyday operations."
American Management Systems, Inc.
"John was an outstanding speaker — prompt, sharp, personable and highly accommodating. Combined with his stunning photos, John’s message riveted everyone's attention to the stage. I can't remember any previous audience following a speaker as intently as on this occasion."
MetLife
"One veteran senior executive described your presentation was the best he had ever heard. Other senior executives have suggested that everyone in our organization should have had the opportunity to participate in your dynamic presentations.
American Express Financial Advisors Inc.
"The dimension you brought was emphasizing that risk is an intrinsic part of life and should be transformed into business in order to progress. The way in which you brought out the effect of teamwork and employing cultural differences to best advantage was most impressive, particularly the way you emphasized that change is an essential part of life."
Libbey Owens Ford
"You were FANTASTIC, POSITIVE, and MOTIVATIONAL. You were everything we expected you to be. The audience loved you and admired you and received you with great pride as evidenced by the thunderous standing ovation."
Million Dollar Round Table
"I particularly appreciated your insight into the important contribution a team member makes towards the accomplishment of a goal. Your enthusiasm and joy for being part of the process vs. needing to be the one (or two) who were to climb the final steps, was sincere and contagious ... a lesson for us all. Sometimes in our personal pursuit of excellence and attainment of individual goals, we lose sight of the 'bigger picture' — that of the common goal. Thanks for reminding us. John, the demands of your travel must be great, and the compromises many, but you must know that your message touches lives. It reaches into places that some choose to ignore or are too hurried to consider. I am convinced that you, too, are touched each time you share it-you and Everest are of one spirit. Thank you for giving us a glimpse of it and of ourselves."
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas City
"Without qualification I can say that your presentation to the attendees at the American Optometric Association's Meeting was the most dynamic even given to an AOA group. Your artful integration of the principles of leadership into your narration of your dramatic mountain climb was superb."
American Optometric Association
"You have left us with a clear vision of what will be required of our managers, present and future: Commitment, resourcefulness, endurance, flexibility to meet the challenge of change, and above all, the courage to keep a clear perspective of the goals in spite of any adversities."
Air Canada