Colleges and Universities:

'The E,B,C's of Aiki Conflict Transformation' keynote lecture or workshop:
Learn effective, simple, non-manipulative strategies for quickly resolving conflict with anyone (family member, coworker, boss, student, etc.). Participants will understand the philosophy of Aiki (ability to harmonize with opposing energy) and be able to implement the “E,B,C’s” (Enter, Blend, Control) of conflict transformation.

‘Mastering the Moment’ keynote lecture or workshop:
Imagine your audience roaring with laughter one moment, and listening in rapt silence the next, as Tommy comes ‘from the heart’ using stories, comedy, audience volunteers and bits of professional magic to open your student’s hearts and minds to life’s possibilities.

Students’ lives are filled with all kinds of ‘moments’ – moments of hope and of doubt, stress and boredom, love and heartbreak. Sometimes hurts from the past or anxieties about the future steal students’ attention from the richness and potential found only in the present moment.
     
       In this dynamic presentation, students learn how to realize the power of
       ‘This Moment’ to live a rich, meaningful, successful, and authentic life.
 
Students are taught practical strategies for:
* Overcoming hurts and heartbreaks
* Shaping and accomplishing personal and professional goals
* Increasing focus and improving academic performance
 
Mastering the Moment also weaves a very strong ‘retention’ message throughout a very entertaining real-world narrative that reminds students how integral their education is to future success. Tommy is able to tailor the program to meet the particular needs of your school.

‘The Way of Leadership’ keynote lecture or workshop: 
An ancient martial art applied to some of today’s leadership challenges. The martial art Aikido (translates as 'the Way of Harmony') teaches how to blend with and then redirect the energy of an attacker. In this fast-paced, interactive and practical training session, the physical techniques of Aikido are demonstrated and applied to our philosophical understanding of leadership: The E, B, C's
   Enter in to meet any challenge; not shrinking away from adversity.
   Blend with incoming energy; don’t struggle uselessly against it.
   Control the situation by directing negative energy in a positive direction.

Students learn team building, conflict resolution and leadership skills.
 

Professionals/Administration:

'Remaining Amateur in a Professional World' keynote lecture or workshop: 
The word ‘amateur’ originally meant ‘one who does because he/she loves.’ Too often in today’s world, the grind of ‘professional’ life robs us of our sense of joy and fulfillment; especially when it comes to our job. In Tommy’s program, Remaining Amateur in a Professional World, magic and the metaphor of the amateur athlete teach us how to recapture our “amateur” status and re-energize our life both in and out of the workplace. A leading sociologist found that people’s greatest regrets at the end of their life to be: not loving enough, risking enough, or doing enough things that will last after they are gone.

This popular keynote address inspires audiences to live in a such a way as to never have those regrets. (Remaining Amateur is particularly relevant for educators, social workers and other ‘helping’ professionals.)

'Using Contemplative Practice to Improve Classroom Performance Outcomes' keynote lecture or workshop:
A uniquely entertaining presentation filled with practical, research-based strategies for reducing stress and increasing energy, focus and concentration. Tommy Nugent shares the secrets of attention management learned as an award-winning magician and teaches techniques for concentration, relaxation, and mind-body harmony developed along his path to becoming a Shodan (1st degree black belt) in the martial art Aikido. Participants will be able to personally implement these strategies immediately and pass them on to students for increased academic achievement.


Youth Conferences:

'The Story' keynote presentation:
Each day is a new page of our life story. Too often circumstances and outside influences gain authorship of that story by default. In this high-energy, yet heart-touching talk, nationally acclaimed speaker Tommy Nugent inspires students to deliberately write powerful stories with their lives.

 ‘The Story’ is… 
   Entertaining: First thing’s first – connecting with the audience. Tommy provides a sincere AND very entertaining keynote experience. ‘The Story’ captures and holds the audience’s attention from beginning to end, through humor, real life stories, audience volunteers and even a few bits of very visual, contemporary magic (including a straitjacket escape finale). Tommy’s love for what he does shines through!
 
   Meaningful: Ultimately though, it’s the content that counts. Amidst the laughter and applause, students are inspired and given practical strategies on how to write a meaningful, successful, and authentic story with their life as they positively impact their community and their world.
 
We want your event to be truly memorable! (You may also increase the impact of ‘The Story’ by adding Follow-Up Workshops to your conference agenda!)


FOLLOW UP WORKSHOPS:

'The Way of Leadership'   The martial art of Aikido (the Way of Harmony) is used as a metaphor for ‘taking on’ life. Students will learn team building, conflict resolution and leadership skills.
 
'2Q: Decision MAGIC'    Students will learn about the “Two Questions” method, a simple, yet very effective technique for decision-making. This strategy is especially useful for making proper choices regarding substance abuse, non-violent conflict resolution and academic achievement.


K-12 School Assemblies & Youth Organizations Presentations:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (grades K-5) 
'R.E.A.L. Magic'
Elementary school students are magically motivated through this interactive and attention-getting presentation. Program covers such important topics as alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention, bullying reduction, and strategies to help with focus and concentration in the classroom. It's delivered in a very entertaining way using age-appropriate humor and magic with audience participation. Students learn the R.E.A.L. (Right choices, Effort, Attitude and Love) Magic of life. Single session: 35-45 minutes 

MIDDLE SCHOOL / JR. HIGH/ INTERMEDIATE (grades 5-8)
 'What’s Your Story?'
Each day a new page in the story of our lives is written. Too often circumstances and those around us gain authorship of that story by default. In this high energy talk, Tommy uses humor, examples from his adolescence, biographies of life’s winners and magic (including a straitjacket escape finale) to challenge and inspire young people to use daily “right choices” to “write” a powerfully story with their lives. (Attention is given to the “whys” of teen substance abuse and addresses bullying issues that have led to school yard violence.)

HIGH SCHOOL (grades 9-12)
 'What’s Your Story? The Next Chapter'
This was written over the course of a year specifically for Senior High students. I wrote it from this perspective – “If I had somehow had the power to go back in time to my high school and speak to myself and my friends, knowing everything I know now, what would I say?” Well, to boil this deeply affecting forty-five minute talk down to a few phrases, I would remind myself and those I care about that broken hearts heal, and pain fades over time. Hard work matters. Be gentle with other people’s feelings. Have less judgment and more empathy for other people. Make your decisions with an eye towards the future.
 
What’s Your Story? & The Next Chapter challenge and inspire young people to use daily “right choices” to “write” a powerful story with their lives.