Today we’d like to introduce you to David Kendrick.
David, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started as a speaker in 2012. At the time, I was telling my story of overcoming my injuries in Iraq to veterans therapy groups. At the time I was still living in Rochester, New York working for a nonprofit organization. I wanted to move to a big city so in 2012 I decided to move to Atlanta. Before moving, I attended the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans at Syracuse University. This is a one week program for disabled veterans who want to start their own business.
I continued speaking for local organizations in Atlanta. My topics were: motivation, diversity and inclusion in corporate America, and overcoming tragedy in life. I started to have a lot of success in Atlanta. While earning my Bachelor’s degree I decided to officially start my own business. I named it Lion Speaking Agency.
I came up with the name Lion Speaking Agency while thinking about the wild. Many people have a story in life, but they are they do not know how to use their voice. In the wild this is compared to the squeak of a mouse: small and no one hears it. However, when you find your voice and find out how to spread your message you voice has the indistinguishable roar of a lion.
In 2017, I expanded my services. I now offer resume writing, interview preparation, and career guidance. Along with helping people find their voice, I like to help individuals find their perfect career. I now partner with United Way of Atlanta on their veterans board. I assist veterans here in Atlanta put together resume’s and find their perfect career after the military.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Some of the biggest struggles were getting companies to allow me to speak in front of their organization. During this time, I learned a lot about marketing, branding, and developing my message. When I approached organizations asking to speak they would ask “speak about what”? When asked this at first, I didn’t know to respond. This is when I relied on my education and dived into my books from college on marketing and branding.
Lion Speaking Agency – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The reason I started my business was not for myself. I stated Lion Speaking Agency to help those individuals who are struggling in life overcome their adversity. I love to bring out the courage in people that they did not now they had. I want to literally give people the heart of a lion. I don’t just speak for a paycheck, I love to speak people into action. After hearing one of my presentations an individual will be motivated into action.
What sets my company apart from the competition is how my company follows up with clients. It would be convenient to speak to an organization and fade away forever. What I like to do is send a follow up email later to see if the individuals within that organization have started to or have already accomplished their goals.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success by the number of people who reach out to me after one of my presentations. For example, I once received an email 5 months after speaking to an organization. In this email, an individual thanked me for sharing my personal story and told me about how they received a promotion because I motivated them into action.
Pricing:
- Resume Review and Resume Building – $75
- Resume Review, Resume Building, and Interview Preperation – $150
- Resume Review, Resume Building, Interview Preperation, and LinkedIn Set up – $200
- Public Presentation – $1000 – $5000
Contact Info:
- Website: http://lionspeakingagency.com/
- Phone: 585-851-7454
- Email: lionspeakingagency@yahoo.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LionSpeakingAgency/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LSALLC
- Other: http://lsallc.blogspot.com/
Retired Sergeant David Kendrick was the guest speaker at the Carlisle Barracks on Thursday morning during the U.S. Army War College National Disability Awareness Observation. David was shot in both legs during a ambush in Iraq in June, 2007. He endured 14 surgeries and eventually fell on hard times and was homeless after his discharge from the Army and was eventually enrolled into the Warrior SALUTE program. David now works for a company in Rochester, NY, that manufactures spices for the U.S. military.
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