Featuring Bryan Adams, CEO HappyDance
"I went back to the office, and I sat there with the door closed, alone for an hour, staring at my laptop, just into space and wondering what I was going to do, contemplating, like, maybe I should just close the business."
After a failed business pitch opportunity at a local networking event, HappyDance's founder and CEO Bryan Adams was overwhelmed. The product was solid, an answer to significant problems, but he struggled to tell his story. Public speaking, even in a small group, was his downfall.
Instead of blaming other people for his failures, he owned them and considered shutting down the business.
But then... a sign:
"And I clicked on the email inquisitively, and it said, are you struggling with public speaking? Would you like to find confidence?"
He took action. He didn't realize what he registered for was a stand-up comedy course, and when he showed up that first night he nearly walked right back out. But something about how that email arrived - the timing - made him stay.
That's when everything changed for Bryan.
After you've heard his story, it's your turn:
Did you pinpoint a moment where something really significantly changed for you, where you decided you needed help, you were going to find it, and then it felt like a sign came to you, and you took advantage of it?
Was there a time where the sign showed up, and you either didn't see it, you were in denial, or you chose not to take it?
I would love to hear your stories! Reach out to me, email, website, Instagram, LinkedIn, wherever you find me.
Highlights:
The Pivot Point: A public speaking failure at a networking meeting (Bryan froze) forced him to confront a fear that was stalling his business.
The Solution: A serendipitous email led him to a 6-week stand-up comedy course, culminating in a live 15-minute performance.
The Result: The experience transformed his confidence, enabling him to win major pitches and scale HappyDance from a regional firm to a global player in under 18 months.
The Lesson: Bryan's humility in seeking help and his belief that imposter syndrome is a sign of growth remain core to his leadership philosophy.
About Brian:
Bryan Adams is a global leadership keynote speaker, bestselling author and CEO of HappyDance. He is known for shaping employer brand and culture strategy for iconic organisations including Nike and Apple, and for helping senior leaders turn business ambition into shared belief and performance.
His book Give & Get Employer Branding is widely described as the bible of employer branding, establishing Bryan as one of the world’s leading authorities in the field. His TEDx talk, Culture Eats Competition for Breakfast, has been viewed more than 1.4 million times and continues to resonate with leadership audiences navigating complexity and change.
Bryan’s forthcoming book, Sell The Truth, reframes storytelling as a strategic leadership capability, arguing that competitive advantage belongs to organisations that articulate and live their truth with clarity and conviction. He speaks globally at conferences, leadership summits and executive offsites, delivering practical insight, strategic clarity and ideas that leaders apply long after the applause.
Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn and follow his work on his YouTube Channel.
After more than 430 episodes of this podcast, I was recently inspired to change the format of the show.
The new format for my show aligns with what I’m learning about narrative identity (how the stories we tell about ourselves internally and externally influence our identity) and demonstrates what I’ve been teaching for years: Sharing a story to reveal who you are and what matters to you.
My hope is that future episodes will offer more clarity about great storytelling and how to find and explore pivotal moments to demonstrate who we are.
About Sarah:
Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, TEDx speaker, DisruptHR speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening.
Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness.
Visit her website to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook.