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Award-Winning Motivational Speaker

Entertaining, Educational, Inspiring Presentations for Students

Honorable Mention

United States Senate

US Senator Tom Harkin recognized John Paul Engel’s speech on the 20th anniversary of American’s With Disabilities Act. Read More

Tom Harkin Blog

I can't thank you enough for speaking to my students. Your tips on studying made a strong impression on them. After your speech they have taken more personal responsibility for their work and I expect their grades will improve.

Lori MclarenAssociate DeanNortheast Community College

Have Message, Will Travel

Our mission is to help students realize they can be the change they want to see in the world. We will go anywhere there is an audience that can benefit from our positive practical advice. We have spoken to students across the United States and as far away as London and Tokyo. Here are just a few of our award winning programs or contact us if your students have a need for one that we can develop.

You Can Do It!

This award-winning speech takes you on the journey of an infant born with brain damage, addicted to drugs, and without a family who overcame great obstacles to achieve tremendous success in life. Through this presentation, you'll discover the most important thing you need to know in life.

See John's award-winning speech: You Can Do It!

Acing the Test: How Any Student Can Become an "A+" Student

John flunked kindergarten; yet he went on to earn academic scholarships to major universities and receive the highest academic award the University of Iowa confers on graduating seniors. How did a first generation college student, who worked full time, achieve this kind of success? In this presentation, John shares the specific study skills that enabled him to rise to the top of academia by becoming an "A+" student.

Achieving Your Dreams

(Even if You Don't Know Them Yet)

Many people, adults and students alike, wonder what their purpose is in life. Others dream of achieving greatness, but are never able to fulfill those desires. In this presentation, John shares his proven formula for defining and achieving dreams. This formula landed him his dream job at the Federal Reserve, on a corporate jet with a billionaire, and at a state function at the White House. Learn specific steps you can take to define the life of your dreams and how to begin achieving it today.

Fit For Life

Obesity is a growing problem in the United States and is a contributing cause to more deaths and illnesses than any other factor. As a nation, we are literally eating ourselves to death. One in every two children born after 2000 will suffer from Type II diabetes if current trends continue. In this presentation, John shares his story of how he went from a 135 lb. long distance runner to an obese 265 lbs couch potato. He teaches the lessons he learned to lose weight and gain strength so that he can now compete in triathlons. John shows you how to make better choices each day so you, too, can be fit for life.

Custom Presentations

John customizes a portion of every presentation to fit his audience. If you would like a combination of the above speeches, or something entirely different to convey a specific message to your audience, John will happily accommodate your request.