No Barriers - Only Solutions: as presented to RCoB on May 25, 2017

As an award winning author, global investor, and adventurer, Neal Petersen delivers a powerful message incorporating the difficult challenges facing us all globally today.  It’s a captivating and interactive journey through his "No Barriers - Only Solutions" keynote - his life story.  Neal empowers his audience by using examples of how he overcame barriers by always turning them into opportunities, of knowing how to innovate and how it relates to success and the need to adapt to constant wind shifts and change.   He challenges his audience to think outside the box, to use this economic challenge to their advantage - it's an opportunity to excel by choosing a winning course, using the ever changing winds, fierce storms and unsettled seas to your advantage.  Most importantly, the need to clearly communicate the vision and the direction, then followed by the planning and the preparation, followed by determination and perseverance to achieve extraordinary results.

That is how Neal achieved his dream of racing solo around the world in the AroundAlone yacht race, 27,000 miles, 9 months, at sea ~ alone and in a boat he designed and built himself!

 
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Neal was born in Cape Town, South Africa, lived in Ireland for 5 years, resides in Charleston, SC, his keynote appeals to all cultures.  He travels the world working with global leaders, dignitaries, Premiers, Heads of State, CEO’s, wealth management companies – Brandes Investment Partners, IBM Canada Insurance, MDRT, Citi, JP Morgan Chase, in addition, Microsoft, IBM, HP, Intel, Lenovo, Cisco, CSC, Porto School of Business Management, YPO, World Trade Summit, Genentech, Guantanamo Bay military leadership, State & Local Government, Education, non-profits and associations.
Neal has vast experience at sea and in the business arena, others would have given up long before, it is Neal’s valuable content and unique manner of sharing his story (using a treasure chest and for larger audiences -lightening, thunder and fog) that captivates people and empowers them to think differently, with responsibility and accountability,  “With choice there are consequences - make your choices wisely.  
Neal is known for his unique delivery, high energy, humor, adaptability and most importantly ~ valuable content. He customizes every keynote – is extremely easy to work with, likeable, approachable and will always be found mingling with his audience following his keynote. He can do break-out sessions, team building, and is pleased to be included in lunches, dinners – receptions, photo-ops to maximize your investment.
 Neal’s messages include:
* Balancing risk with reward.
* The importance of realizing goals; perseverance, determination in reaching them.
* The role of social responsibility in corporate arenas
*Turning “perceived” disadvantages into advantages:
* The power of positive attitude and how it affects one’s performance.
* With choice there are consequences – choose wisely.
* Change is constant – it’s how you play the cards you are dealt.
 Neal’s powerful keynote provides the vision and the direction to navigate into the future, not only for success, but for significance!   This is in keeping with Rotary's four way theme and encourages service to others. He was a member of the Rotary Club of John's Island, Charleston, South Carolina in the US and is a Paul Harris Fellow. Rotary was a part of his around the world yacht race and featured him in The Rotarian Magazine in 1999. It was through Rotary that he met his wife, Darlene.