Anthony Trendl | SpeakerHub

Personal Details

Bio

I'll tell stories of redemption, like the time I had a knife at my throat or when I was almost mugged. I'll tell a fantastic and ridiculous tale about my failures and how I rebounded. Learn in one of my keynotes about the value of literature or the creative process.

Maybe I'll mix in Bob Dylan or Edgar Allan Poe quotes. In one speech, I work in the value of pi. In another, I show you how to have an entire conversation in five words (your half of the conversation, that is).

With three decades of writing speeches for the world's most influential people, I've got something to say. I cut through the nonsense. I say what needs to be said. I'll help you raise money, train your sales force, or entertain at an awards dinner. Commencement addresses, keynotes, fundraisers: I love them all.

My clients, using my words, have raised millions of dollars. Let me do the same for you.

Amsterdam, Taipei, Budapest, Mumbai, Dubai. Harvard. UCLA. Princeton. Amazon. Twitter. They've heard my speeches through my clients.

My B.S. is in English, with an emphasis America literature. My graduate studies were in international communications. I bring both into the mix.

Current position (1)

Speechwriter

American Speechwriter

Degrees (1)

English

Illinois State University

1985 to 1991

Presentations

Presentations (7)

Clarity of Message

How to speak efficiently.

Confidence Building

Your audience wants to hear from you. I’ll help your audience know it.

Creativity and the Creative Process

How does writing really happen?

Creativity isn’t magic. Mostly, it is work. In my talk, I explain my creative process and my influences. I de-romanticize the life of creative people. I show how those in the non-creative world can themselves be creatives. Sales staff, account managers, designers, customer service people all can benefit.

I include a look at art and music history to back up my point: Even the most flamboyant of creatives worked hard.

That hard work has focus and direction. The audience will understand the why and the how of creativity, and how, in all parts of life, creativity is a necessity.

So hold on. Be ready for an intense, inspiring and offbeat take on life lessons. You just might learn something.

The audience will be hungry to make changes in their lives. They’ll laugh as they recognize themselves in the quandaries

Failure as a Positive

Failure never stopped me. It didn’t even slow me down. I’ll explain why. Failure is your friend. I know what the bottom looks like. Chances are you’ve seen it too.

I’ll tell you my tale of misery but I’ll emphasize how I never gave up. I’ll talk about how I went from the bottom of the class to clients speaking at Harvard and raising millions of dollars.

Expect a riveting and sometimes silly journey back and forth as I describe what I wish I knew then. Speed things up for yourself. Skip the School of Hard Knocks and go the head of the class.

You’ve heard it all before: Failure is just the beginning of success. Now hear it in a way which will push you and your team forward out of mediocrity.

Storytelling: No Buzzwords

Get beyond the buzzword. Understand traditional literature in the context of speech writing.

What I’ve Learned as a Speechwriter

Decades of writing speeches for some of the world’s most influential people has taught me a few things.

In my exciting keynote address, I’ll show you how many of my speeches fall into one of a few categories. While each is unique, they draw from universal truths. I’ll explain lessons from each.

Find out what a blmblmblm is (really, it’s a thing) and why butt glue is good and butt cement is bad.

Ask yourself, am I that guy? How can I be that other guy? I’ll walk you through that as well.

So hold on. Be ready for an intense, inspiring and offbeat take on life lessons. You just might learn something.

Why Literature Should Matter to Math Students

I’m a writer who loves literature. That’s a fit that should surprise no one. What about math students? They should love literature too. I explain how reading can improve their personal and professional lives, and how knowing Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” might (but probably not) get their sweetie to marry them.

Numbers won’t answer all questions. In fact, not all the important ones. Some, not all.

I present the end of pi. That alone is worth the price of admission.

In this fast-paced, fun keynote, I connect Fermat to Petrarch, to the Beatles, Justin Bieber, Dylan Thomas, John Keats, and more.

The audience will enjoy the dramatic reading and stories while discovering that there just might be something to exploring the unknown through words.