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In 1984, IBM invited Thomas Bubendorfer to speak about goal setting and self-motivation at a convention in Monte Carlo, Principality of Monaco. Thomas was not yet 22 years of age. He had just written a new chapter in climbing history having become the first climber to solo climb the infamous north face of the Eiger, the highest and hardest mountain face in the Alps, without ropes.
He delivered his IBM presentation in English, his preferred language for subsequent lectures he has been giving throughout Europe.
This first management speech triggered off a line of thought that has continued to preoccupy him to date: What are the lessons that a solo mountain climber learns under extreme pressure and in danger of his life? Are these lessons applicable to the modern business world? The values and qualities a solo mountain climber must live up to – are they identical with those that lead to success and guarantee survival in an ever-changing business world?
“The answer is yes, there’s no doubt about that”, he knows today. “There is only one truth. What is true for a solo mountain climber - the attitudes that help him to overcome adversity, anxiety and solitude and to deal with ever increasing risk, decision taking under pressure, crisis and zillions of other de-motivating factors - cannot be false for people in any other profession”.
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Over 500 key note speeches |
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Thanks to 500 keynote speeches and seminars organized by major multi-national corporations such as Alcatel in France, British Telecom in England, DaimlerChrysler, Porsche, Mercedes and Siemens in Germany, Bank Julius Baer and former Swissair in Switzerland, he has gained insight into the intricacies of modern business management.
Today, Thomas Bubendorfer addresses some 10,000 businessmen and women per year.
Thomas
Bubendorfer’s major speaking clients |
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Thomas Bubendorfer considers himself to be a “bespoke speaker”. After thorough consultation with the client, he tailors each presentation to the topic of the client’s conference: “Speaking is not a static business. You never stop learning. You learn from each audience you address, each book you read, each trip you make, and each mountain you climb. I never make the same speech twice. As in climbing, it is challenging the status quo that prevents one from losing one’s edge; it is playing with new mental approaches that help us to fulfill our ever-shifting potential.” |
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Thomas Bubendorfer emphasizes that man, the individual, is at the center of all his thinking. However, he does not deny the importance of the team. “Teamwork is vital. Trust and communication among team members are of the essence. Nobody can excel and achieve true fulfillment all by himself. Still, it’s not the team and the company you’re working for that are running your show. It’s you! Your success and your happiness depend primarily on yourself: on your positive attitude, your self-motivation, your commitment, your self-confidence, which is based on your achievements and excellence in your chosen area of expertise!”
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12 Vital topics of Thomas Bubendorfer’s speeches |
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“Companies don’t have ideas – people have ideas!”
For more than a quarter of a century, Thomas Bubendorfer has been learning under extreme pressure and exposing himself to considerable risks. His Vision and Passion‰ series of speeches is based chiefly on the following topics.
1 Quality
2 Crisis
3 Risk - Safety
4 Fear - Courage
5 Beyond each goal you reach
6 Vision and Passion
7 Change and Stability
8 Strategy and planning
9 Creativity
10 The Attainable Threshold Management‰
11 Motivation
12 Responsibility
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"Great authenticity!” A client |
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Juergen Bock, in charge of HRM and education at Otto’s, Germany’s #1 retailer, noted on one of Thomas Bubendorfer’s key note speeches in May 2002:
“Our executives found your speech extremely motivational and inspiring. What they admired most was your authenticity. Each of us believed you because we sensed that everything you talked about came from doing, from your personal, often hard-earned experience”.
Writes Christian Burger, Chairman of Danneman Cigars, in March 2003
“Never in my life, and I am into my seventies, have I heard anyone transport vital messages the way you did, inspiring listeners to follow your example. I sincerely hope we will work together for a long time”
Says Stephan Doeppler, of chemical giant Sanofi-Synthelabo, in January 2003
“Your input (at our sales conference) was perfect. The target we had set 100% achieved. Let me put it also this way: you are your money’s worth. I am glad I have met you!”
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“Vision and Passion”
Includes: The Source of Achievement, Vision and Goal (Setting), Learning from Crisis, Dealing with Set Backs.
“The Quality of the Next Step”
Includes: How to Shape our Future, Quality, Thinking under Pressure, Risk Taking, Risk Assessment, Zero Defect Action, Be At Your Best.
“Change”
On creativity, preparation and training for change, “playing”, the mastering of unforeseen obstacles.
Upon request Thomas Bubendorfer incorporates additional topics such as Creativity, Fear, Inner Balance, Emotion versus Ratio, Communication and Team Playing into his customized speeches.
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"You were spot-on. It was perfect. I can and will recommend you to
my colleagues.”
Siemens Automotive, November 2002
"You did a great job, Thomas”
APAX Partners, November 2002
"The insights into the different aspects of crisis and risk management
that you shared with our guests at the strategy session were most inspiring,
as was the ensuing discussion with our guests”.
Goldman, Sachs, 2002
"Your message on goal-setting and dealing with crisis and set-backs
was perfect. Our colleagues in Austria and Germany are as fascinated as
we are”.
Pfizer, 2002
"Great inspiration, you are a role model in terms of determination,
motivation and calculated risk-taking”.
Amgen, 2001
”Thank you for your most impressive and motivating speech at the
Bertelsmann Capital Convention. You communicated a memorable feeling for
our topics motivation, achievement and excellence”.
Bertelsmann Media Corporation, Capital Branch, 2001
"Your presentation was excellent and, as expected, very motivational.
Written comments were received which included: ‘excellent message
on vision and passion; speech was very motivating; …what an experience’!
Several participants have shown interest in contacting you for follow-up
sessions”.
Marsh-McLellan Companies, 2000
”A perfectly positive response, very exciting speech (...). We like
to fall back on some of your comments going like: "Well, as Bubendorfer
said, you have to have the vision (and the passion!)."
Intentia Europe 2002
"Rarely have I seen my colleagues so excited (as after your speech).
It was fascinating how you pointed out the parallels between your profession
and the challenges we are facing in our business. As to myself, I profited
from your definition of goals, careful analysis thereof and dynamic execution”.
Goldman, Sachs 2000
"After analyzing the feedback from participants of the ‘Road
Ahead – Excellence in Sales’ conference and your speech on ‘Solo
Climbing and Team Playing’ we know that your contribution has greatly
helped to make the conference a huge success”.
Lufthansa, 1999
"We shall always remember the rare experience we shared with you.
You demonstrated to us that we can conquer anything in the world, if we
really want to”.
Bank of China, 1995
”I was deeply impressed by your speech. The single-mindedness, will-power
and vision you have purveyed are more than impressive".
Thomas Middelhoff, former CEO Bertelsmann Media Corporation, 1997
"The spirit of your presentation ‘The Quality of the Next
Step’ has given special memories to all attendees. The event (that
you organized) has given us the best return on any institutional marketing
event we have organized over the last 15 years in New York”.
Bank Julius Baer, New York Branch, 1996
"Your keynote speech at our retailers-kick-off conference was perfect.
As you knew, times are presently not easy for us, but with ‘Passion
in Times of Crisis’ you managed to give everybody a very strong motivational
impetus”.
Apple Computers, 1998
"The mental bridges you have built from the quality in your solo
climbing to the work of my employees have impressed us all. You delivered
a perfect message, and I am looking forward to your future work for us”.
Mercedes Benz, 1994
"Your attitudes and message fit in perfectly with ours: performance,
passion, quality. Thank you. It was great!”
Porsche, 1998
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