International Speaker
Speaking
Motivational talks continue to be one of my most enjoyable business activities since the success of the Breitling Orbiter 3 project. This section contains the information necessary for prospective clients to judge if my message is appropriate for their needs. My personal profile, photographs and technical requirements may be downloaded and used as required. For further information please Contact me.
About the Talk
To fly a balloon around the world is no simple feat. Some may say that it depends entirely on luck. It doesn't. In ballooning, as in business, you create your own luck. You use your knowledge, skills, imagination and expertise to exploit the opportunities presented to you. Certainly you need to plan, but you must also respond rapidly and flexibly when unexpected challenges arise.
If the winds and weather that carried Breitling Orbiter 3 around the world are a vivid metaphor for the global business environment, then the Orbiter team and its two pilots are the epitome of the successful business team.
During my talk, the audience will draw on the strong parallels between my adventure and how their enterprise, and the teams within it, must operate in their chosen fields to achieve their goals. I speak from experience of both sides of the Breitling Orbiter endeavour. As project manager, I was acutely aware of the importance of careful planning, motivating the team and of getting things right first time - after all, many of the balloon's systems could only be tested after take-off! Then, as a pilot on the journey itself, I was called upon to show personal courage, determination and ingenuity, often in situations over which I had no direct control.
Bertrand and I are often referred to as heroes. Well, that's as maybe. But I will emphasise that it is the whole team that matters. I will highlight the contributions of the unsung heroes of the Breitling Orbiter team - like the meteorologists who, working with an innate understanding of their subject, made the crucial recommendation to take the balloon on a never before attempted southern route across the Pacific Ocean. In these circumstances it is not only expertise that matters, but trust.
"The chance to hear about your challenges and successes provided us with highly valuable insights ... the way you integrated our briefing points into your presentation was superb."
Credit Suisse
"It was the most engaging, moving and inspirational meeting we have had in the last five years. Our feedback results were the best ever recorded - and we continue to get comments, e-mails and people stopping by our office just to say, "Thanks! Brian Jones was great!"
Dow Chemicals
"After your excellent presentation, I saw stars in the eyes of my people because you brought them to believe that dreams do come true. You made a perfect link with some of the key conceps that we wanted to convey: team spirit, courage, passion, commitment. You truly contributed to giving a human dimension to our convention and I sincerely hope that we will have the opportunity to work together again."
Fortis Bank
"The feedback was excellent. Our clients, my colleagues and I thoroughly enjoyed your speech. Your story of how an ambitious if not impossible goal can be reached through a meticulous preparation, a strong belief in success, an impeccable teamwork and some luck was absolutely impressive."
Zurich Re, Switzerland