Keynotes/Assemblies

Keynote package #1

Stu Cabe has been a Keynote and assembly speaker for over a decade, having presented to over 1 million students in his career. In his 22 years of education, Stu has learned one very valuable lesson when it comes to speaking to students. Less is more; keep it simple. This can sometimes prove problematic when someone asks "...so, what is your keynote assembly about"? The answer sometimes takes people by surprise.

Stu Cabe’s keynote presentation can be summed up in two words, “Be Nice." No elaborate pillar structure; no 5 Step Program; no acronyms or clever play on words. Just…Be Nice. The brilliance of his message lies in the simple, tangible way it can be applied and recalled. Stu’s ability to weave rich, vibrant and profound stories around his simple “Be Nice” concept is the sole reason his presentation has captivated hundreds of thousands of students nationwide and why he is most often times booked months in advance. The measure of any good keynote is the sticking power it has in the wake of its delivery.

It is not unusual for students to quote Stu’s message months, or even years after seeing it. Make no mistake that Stu's presentation, as simple as it may sound, is as memorable as it is powerful.

Keynote package #2

A habit starts out as something you do and becomes who you are.

The good news is that most of the habits we develop are good for us; tying our shoes, brushing our teeth, getting dressed, etc. These [habits] become automatic by virtue of the fact that we repeat them over and over. However, some habits are not as good for us. Over time, bad habits become a part of who we are just as the good ones do. Sometimes we don’t always recognize these "bad habits" until they are brought to our attention, leaving us with the difficult task of changing a part of who we are. That is not always easy to do.

We at The Ovation Company maintain the idea that there are no bad students, just students with bad habits.

Using this guiding principle as a spring board, Stu’s keynote tackles some of the "bad habits" students may have that center on how they treat each other and the language they use in general. Some of those words are unpleasant and hurtful and many students are unaware that these "bad habits" come with serious consequences. Without compromise or apology, Stu challenges students on the use of phrases like, “that’s so gay,” or, “that’s retarded," asking students to reflect on how and why those words are hurtful. He asks students to “break the habit” of this language while encouraging them to choose kindness, support and acceptance as their new ones.

This keynote can serve as a stand alone message, or perfectly compliment The Ovation Company’s 4Word Momentum program.