Kevin Kelly Speaker Biography
Best-Selling Author and Leadership, Sales, & Entrepreneurial Success Expert
Born into a business family, Kevin began his sales apprenticeship in the family shop in the West of Ireland at the tender age of six. Very soon he became aware of the power of attention – different types of attention!
Sales
Barely able to see over the counter, he entertained customers a multiple of his age that were happy to tell their life story or – at least that’s how it felt. Then there were others who just couldn’t get served quick enough so they could get on with their daily chores. He quickly understood what type of customer wanted swift execution and which one wanted a counselling service!
Marketing
This upbringing and associated learning were the catalyst for his subsequent career in sales and marketing. On graduating with a Marketing degree, Kevin consistently broke sales records in each of companies he worked for, culminating in him being continuously head hunted. Finally in 1990, Kevin honored his entrepreneurial DNA and set up his own company, Advanced Marketing.
Book
The company dedicated itself initially to increasing the sales of small and medium business’s, in addition to exhaustively researching the area of personal and business potential. In 1996, Kevin committed to writing a Best Selling book on motivation, the first of its kind on the Irish market. How? When You Don’t Know How became a mega best seller.
Keynote Speaker
Kevin learned a very valuable lesson in terms of selling and execution: knowledge may give you enough reasons not to act but Do! it anyway, and be prepared to end up in a place you recognize and accept as better than your starting point. This book became the foundation on which he built his international speaking career. Since then he has written four more books.
Master Storyteller
Staying true to his Irish roots, Kevin is a master storyteller who has worked around the world with Fortune 500 companies and prestigious associations like the Million Dollar Round Table. Kevin’s keynotes consistently deliver an interactive conversation that engages, informs, inspires and empowers attendees with a toolbox of invaluable takeaways.
Kevin lives on the Wild Atlantic way with his wife, Deirdre and young son Conor. He is a passionate Liverpool FC supporter. At the weekend you will find him on the football pitch where he trains under age soccer and football teams. Nothing, apart from watching Conor play soccer, gives Kevin more satisfaction than delivering results for his clients.
Kevin Kelly Speaking Topics
Attention is Everything in Sales. Leverage your sales with the power of attention.
The sales environment has changed – more often than not several people have an influence on the buying decision e.g. purchasing, IT, department head, digital etc. The sales role has also evolved from a transactional focus to consultative. Buyers want trusted advisors, not product reps. Meanwhile with attention spans shortening and competition increasing, making your message stick is a massive challenge. But amidst all the changes, one thing remains the same –any successful sales campaign has to be based on one key building block – delivering quality attention to customers and co-workers. Attention is the most powerful sales drug in the world with no side effects. So no need to tear up the book and rewrite the rules, the basics are and will always be the same – authentic attention guarantees engagement which guarantees sales. Kevin Kelly understands the challenges more than most as over the past two decades he has sold cross cultures and across industries. He intimately understands the power of Attention to engage customers and convert them into advocates.
Attention is Everything in Sales (For Managers)
The sales environment has changed –A leader must collaborate across departments to make that sale. Sales is truly a team sport. In line with the emergence of the uberinformed customer, the sales role has evolved –as a leader you need to develop trusted advisors, not order takers. Meanwhile with attention spans shortening and competition increasing, making your message stick is a massive challenge. You must upskill your team with the tools necessary to persuade. Finally, In this changing and tougher sales environment leaders have to work harder to recruit and retain top sales personnel. But amidst all the changes, one thing remains the same –any successful sales campaign has to be based on one key buildingblock – delivering quality attention to customers and your sales team. Attention guarantees customer and employee engagement. Kevin Kelly has sold cross cultures and across industries – he understands the power of Attention to engage customers and collaborate within a team and ultimately sell more. Learn why Sales is now a team sport and why you should recruit on attitude, not aptitude. Learn why leaders must “mind the gap” - the integrity gap to truly motivate their team. Learn to benchmark off best practice in World Class Sales Organisation. Learn how to truly pay attention and how a sales person’s script should be dictated by what they see not by what you have prepared. Learn the one secret to breaking sales records across industries. Learn how sales people can convert customers into advocates. Learn how to develop a compelling narrative with your team using our HERO framework Learn how one leader used creating a compelling inclusive vision to drive internal customer engagement and create a $1 billion business.
How an Ordinary Idea is the New WOW … If You Execute
Aspiring entrepreneurs face many challenges before taking that vital first step, not least the intimidating myths that they must be a stand-out visionary, have a unique idea and work to a detailed, all-worked-out-in-advance business plan. Another factor, according to the Global Entrepreneurial Monitor, is that everyone deep inside has a fear of failure, cited as the number one reason why people fail to act upon their entrepreneurial dreams and ideas. In this keynote using his methodology of Xceptional Execution, Kevin Kelly highlights what makes startups and their leaders -which he dubs the “Xceptionalists” - succeed beyond all odds. Kevin uses cutting edge business cases such as Dwolla, Globant, Outfit 7 and Balsamiq to show that success doesn’t depend on the normal factors, moreover, it depends on your ability to execute with Xception.
Lead Like You Live It
In the leadership vacuum that exists around the world, it’s a challenge to find an Xceptional role model. In this keynote Kevin Kelly challenges future leaders to be the message, not just to communicate one. Using his methodology of Xceptional Execution, Kevin highlights how to mirror the mindset, attitudes and success strategies of the outstanding Xceptionalists he interviewed for his book “Do: the pursuit of Xceptional Execution.” From these exclusive interviews and over two decades working with companies, Kevin distils the attributes of the modern leader and shows how to create leaders at all levels.
The Innovation Fairy Tale
When people use the word innovation in corporate circles too often it conjures up the image of a Yogi levitating or a giant apple falling on someone’s head. This myth has helped to put innovation and creativity into the margins of business – as “their job!” The reality is that innovation/creativity comes through Xceptional Execution of an ordinary idea - no AHA moment, no levitating, oftentimes no WOW. Drawing on Kevin’s research with some of the most compelling new brands on the planet, participants will see that the new innovation is no more than incremental improvement of an existing idea; and in all modern organizations, everybody can contribute.
The Paranoid’s Guide to Xceptional Customer Service
Customer retention is the challenge for most businesses. A more informed and distracted customer requires a new approach to service if you want to build a more sustainable business. In this keynote Kevin highlights the elements behind a successful and Xceptional customer service culture.
Kevin Kelly Books
