Christine Clifford Speaker Biography
Best-Selling Author, Award-Winning Professional Speaker, Top Sales Producer, Entrepreneur, and Survivor
Christine Clifford’s 8th book Let’s Close a Deal! Turn Contacts into Paying Customers for Your Company, Product, Service or Cause, solidifies her place as one of the world’s leading authorities on the art of sales and negotiation. She’s excited about helping your organization make more money and grow your business.
Executive
Her experience taught her how to market and sell products, services and herself. Now, Christine shares that message with others. Christine definitely cracked “the glass ceiling.” By 40, she was Senior Executive Vice President for The SPAR Group, an international merchandising and information services firm in New York.
Top Sales Producer
As the top salesperson in the multi-billion dollar retail services industry for over eight years, Christine’s accounts included Kmart, Toys ‘R’ Us, Wal-Mart, AT&T, Mattel Toys, and Revlon. Taking her company from a million dollar per year loss to over $54 million in sales, Christine signed the largest contract in the history of her industry with Procter & Gamble, doubling the size of her company overnight.
Surivor
Diagnosed with breast cancer in December of ’94, Christine went on to write eight award-winning, humorous portrayals of her story and her experiences. Christine’s newest book, Let’s Close a Deal! Turn Contacts into Paying Customers for Your Company, Product, Service or Cause was released April, 2013 by Wiley & Sons. She is currently writing the book Hunting the New Buffalo: Winners or Losers in the New Native American Economy?
Sales
YOU, Inc. The Art of Selling Yourself, released March, 2007 by Warner Books, was named a “Notable Book of 2007” by the American Booksellers Association. She is also a featured author in Masters of Sales (August, 2007).
Other Books
Other books by Christine include Not Now…I’m Having A No Hair Day!, Our Family Has Cancer, Too!, Inspiring Breakthrough Secrets to Live Your Dreams, Cancer Has Its Privileges: Stories of Hope & Laughter, and Your Guardian Angel’s Gift. Christine’s newest books, released in 2011, are entitled Laugh ‘ Til It Heals: Notes from the World’s Funniest Cancer Mailbox, The Clue Phone’s Ringing… It’s for You! Healing Humor for Women Divorcing, and How Can I Help? Giving & Receiving Kindness & Caring if You or Someone You Love Has Cancer (released April, 2018).
The Cancer Club
In 1994, Christine faced a life-changing experience and began her own company, The Cancer Club ®, now the world’s largest producer of humorous and helpful products for people with cancer. In 2010, after going through two divorces, she started Divorcing Divas which hosts all-day educational conferences for people facing divorce. She successfully sold that business in January, 2016.
Christine’s philosophies and strategies for becoming your industry’s leader are proven theories that have propelled her and the companies she’s worked with to the top of their fields. Ideas, action, results…
Chicken Soup Series
Christine is a contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Survivor’s Soul, Chicken Soup for the Golfer’s Soul, Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul, and is featured in the books The Courage to Laugh; The Triumph of the Human Spirit: Real Cancer Survivors, Real Battles, Real Victories; and Gifts from the Train Station: Healing Yourself by Helping Others.
Media
Featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Better Homes & Gardens, MORE, American Health, Golf Digest, as well as The Singapore Women’s Weekly and the Hindu in India, CNN Live called Christine “one of the world’s leading authorities on the use of therapeutic humor”. She also appeared on Lifetime Television Network’s New Attitudes show, and the Leeza Show.
Philanthropy
Host of The Christine Clifford Celebrity Golf Tournament, a benefit for breast cancer research, Christine’s inaugural event raised over $100,000, making it the most successful first-year event in the history of the American Cancer Society. Her total contribution has been over $1,000,000 and she has received the Council of Excellence Award for income development from the American Cancer Society.
Awards
In July, 2002, Christine was awarded The Order of the Delta Gamma Rose from the Sorority to confer special honor upon alumnae members who have made distinguished contributions to the nation or to the world through their individual efforts and talents and whose achievements have been given national recognition. It is the highest honor one can receive from the Sorority.
July, 2002 Christine was awarded her “CSP” (Certified Speaking Professional) designation from the National Speakers Association. The letters “CSP” following a speaker’s name indicate a speaking professional with proven experience who brings a proven track record of experience and expertise. Less than 7% of the 5,000 speakers who belong to the International Federation for Professional Speakers hold this professional designation.
Affiliations
Christine has served on the Board of the National Speakers Association- Minnesota Chapter, is a member of the National Speakers Association, and the American Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. She is listed in International Who’s Who of Professionals, International Who’s Who of Entrepreneurs, and International Who’s Who of Authors and Writers. She is also listed in Contemporary Authors and 2,000 Notable American Women. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Collegiate DECA, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Christine helped to launch an anti-aging multi-level marketing company in 2009 called LifeVantage.
Christine is grandmother to Katelyn and Kai, and lives in Minneapolis, MN and Bonita Springs, FL.
Christine Clifford Speaking Topics
Let’s Close a Deal! Turn Contacts into Paying Customers for Your Company, Product, Service or Cause
Our entire lives revolve around selling, regardless of our job descriptions. The question is not: “Am I a salesperson?” The question is: “How can I be more effective?” Christine articulates the intuitive process that identifies how and why a deal will appeal, and demonstrates in step-by-step detail how to present information so persuasively that it increases the likelihood of getting a “yes.” Christine explores everything from understanding where your client is coming from to packaging, customizing, marketing, connecting, partnering, pitching, and perk-o-lating your deals. Create Niche Notoriety™ and establish Loyals for Life™. Learn to close deals with major organizations or individuals who can propel your business to the next level.
You, Inc. The Art of Selling Yourself
Christine was the top salesperson in the multi-billion dollar retail services industry for eight years, and in 1994 signed the largest contract in the history of her industry with Proctor & Gamble, doubling the size of her company overnight. Yet Christine believes that it's not the product, service or cause that people buy from you or your company: It's YOU. And selling yourself is an art.
Laughter: It's Good Medicine!
If you are looking for a keynote address that will teach your audience a new way to look at life's adversities, this is it! Christine's immediate family has dealt with heart disease, diabetes, dialysis and kidney transplant, hepatitis, chronic depression and drug abuse. Her success stories are powerful and humorous examples of survival in the face of adversity. Don't forget to laugh!
An Afternoon of Hope, Laughter & Positive Thinking
Using her world-famous cartoons, stories and audience participation, Christine helps people release their tensions and relax into the moment. With a powerful message of hope and inspiration, Christine reminds us that we can't always change what has happened to us, but we can change our attitudes. Christine helps individuals rediscover the healing power of humor.
SELF ESTEEM FOR THE CANCER SURVIVOR'S SOUL
Cancer, and its subsequent treatments, can leave individuals concerned with their self perception and role in society. Learn to improve your quality of life with a program that provides experiences to enhance your personal development. Who you are makes a difference.
CANCER HAS ITS PRIVILEGES
It is not often we look upon a cancer experience as a 'gift'. Yet, eighteen year cancer survivor Christine Clifford, CSP believes 'cancer has its privileges'. Join Christine for her lecture on how to find the bright side of an often dehumanizing disease. Christine will demonstrate through the healing power of laughter and shared experience the privilege of family, friendship, love, and laughter. Don't forget to laugh!
Christine Clifford Books
Let’s Close a Deal: Turn Contacts into Paying Customers for Your Company, Product, Service or Cause
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Laugh ‘Til It Heals: Notes from the World’s Funniest Cancer Mailbox
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The Clue Phone’s Ringing…It’s for You! Healing Humor for Women Divorcing
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You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself
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Cancer Has Its Privileges: Stories of Hope and Laughter
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Not Now I’m Having A No Hair Day
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Christine Clifford Articles
Christine Clifford Speaker Testimonials
“Thank you for being a world class speaker! You were everything we could have hoped for and more. From our very first contact, your professionalism and warmth were evident, and you showed a genuine interest in what our organization is all about. You took the time to find out as much information as possible about us, and what we wanted you to convey to the audience. From a logistics standpoint, you could not have been easier to work with. We are pleased to give Christine the highest endorsement possible.”
- Cancer Center Council | VP Membership
“On behalf of the NEPA Women’s Health Alliance, I would like to thank you for your excellent keynote address. You had the audience laughing, crying and feeling emotions that were long ago suppressed. Our final count was 600 attendees. You certainly know how to pull in a crowd… and it was a cold, snowy night! We hope we will have the good fortune of working with you again.”
- NEPA Women’s Health Alliance | Executive Director
“We are still getting raves on your presentation. We feel the day was a fantastic success, and we look forward to sharing with you again in the near future.”
- Memorial Hospital | Asst. Director of Public Relations
“ Nearly 400 people arrived to hear Christine’s story and uplifting presentation about the healing power of humor. Ms. Clifford’s unlimited energy, and her willingness to share her personal story of triumph helped plant seeds of hope in hundreds of people that evening. I highly recommend Christine for any program where inspiration, hope, motivation, laughter and insight into life’s experiences are the message.”
- Community Foundation of Northwest | Director of Marketing
