Jonathan Edison, M.Ed., is a talented teacher and motivator with the proven ability to inspire. Using a combination of life experiences, education and old-fashioned high-wattage charisma, Jonathan empowers his audiences with success-centered strategies that not only help them through difficult times, but rebound to even greater heights.
Jonathan knows what it takes to bounce back from adversity. Born into poverty in Detroit, Mich., by the age of five Jonathan's mother was removed from their home due to drug and alcohol dependency. Three years later his father moved out. He was raised by his grandmother until she passed away when Jonathan was only 13. His high school years were spent living in the basement of his aunt's house, working full-time as a dishwasher at a restaurant so he could pay $50 a month in rent. Not surprisingly, he graduated from high school with a GPA of 1.63 and completed his first year of college with a GPA of only 0.86 before dropping out.
With the odds stacked against him, instead of submitting to failure Jonathan found the strength, determination and resiliency to rise above his circumstances. Caring mentors helped him realize he was worthy of success and he went on to complete four college degrees in Education and Leadership Supervision. At age 27, Jonathan became the youngest assistant principal in the history of Detroit Public Schools. In 2002, he was named Wayne County Spokesman for Success. He also owned a successful personal training business.
Then, along with hundreds of other dedicated educators, Jonathan was laid off. He faced this setback by bouncing back to launch Edison Speaks International, a motivational and training development company, in 2004. Since then, Jonathan has spoken live to more than 300,000 people and been lauded for his dynamic and uniquely engaging presentations.
- Several Television Appearances
- A live appearance in front of millions of viewers on C-Span
- Outstanding Communicators Award 2004
- The 35 Under 35 Award by Power Brokers International
• Columnist for the Michigan Chronicle and Michigan FrontPage newspapers
Jonathan lives in a suburb of Detroit with his wife Karen, and their three beautiful children.
Jonathan's Speaking Programs:
MOTIVATION
How to Stay Motivated in Challenging Time
How would you describe the state of your company, organization or association? If the answer is "we're surviving" or "just getting by," America's Resiliency Expert, Jonathan Edison, will inspire you to do better.
Jonathan knows what it takes to go from merely surviving to striving to ALIVE. During this interactive presentation, Jonathan will instill a sense of PRIDE-Practice, Research, Integrity, Dedication and Energy-in your employees or members, emphasizing the importance of their roles and how their attitude affects everyone around them. Individuals who find the positive side of all situations are key to overcoming obstacles and lead to resilient companies and organizations who aren't just surviving, but thriving.
Tough Times Don't Last, Tough People Do
Pressure is a component of the business world that is inescapable, now more than ever. Pressure to produce, pressure to perform, pressure to meet targets and goals. If stress at work and in life is compromising your employees' ability to do their best, let Jonathan Edison put the ace you need to excel in their hands: resiliency. As America's Resiliency Expert, Jonathan encourages his audience to embrace and implement stress management techniques that result in the positive mental attitude necessary to bounce back from pressures, day after day, helping your team reach its full potential.
LEADERSHIP
Change Makes Cents
Companies are being challenged by a business climate unparalleled in history that's shifting almost daily. Effective leaders know that change is constant, but what about your employees? If you need strategies to deliver the message that change is a normal part of business growth and development, Jonathan Edison's successful approach to turning change into opportunity can help. As America's Resiliency Expert, Jonathan knows the coping mechanisms and effective tools that inspire employees to embrace change and react to it with resilience and innovation, improving your company's bottom line.
TEAMWORK
It Takes Teamwork to Make the Dream Work
Has downsizing taken a toll on the teams within your organization? Are you seeing breakdowns in the critical decision-making process that negatively affecting the success of your company? Then your team could benefit from Jonathan Edison, America's Resiliency Expert. Using T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves Miracles) concepts, Jonathan will inspire your teams to bounce back from challenges and reenergize their ability to make the best decisions, both as individuals and as part of a group. It takes teamwork to make the dream work-and produce the right decisions that lead to the right results.
