Gratitude - JASON HEWLETT

Business

They Can’t Answer a Question You Never Ask

Over the past few weeks, I’ve done something on this blog that I don’t do very often. I asked you for help. Not once. Twice! First, I asked a question I’ve been wrestling with for years: What problem do I solve? I shared on THIS BLOG post that after more than 25 years of speaking, entertaining, teaching The Promise, working with incredible organizations and audiences around the world, I still struggle to articulate one simple thing: What is the specific problem people hire me to solve? And you responded. Some publicly. Some privately. Some with answers I hadn’t considered. You took time to think about my work, my message, what you’ve experienced from me, and what you believe I bring to an audience. That meant a great deal to me! Then, a few weeks later, I discovered something even more embarrassing… I Googled myself! (yikes) Here’s that blog post, in case you missed it. This is something I highly recommend doing if you’d like to simultaneously inflate and destroy your self-esteem. Of course I discovered that after 25+ years in business, I essentially had ONE Google review. One! (Brad, you’re the best, whoever and wherever you are.) So once again,

October 5, 2026 No Comments

Announcements

The ETA on CEP from NSA is ASAP

There are so many acronyms nowadays its tough to know which ones not to use. IYKYK Thankfully, an organization I have belonged to for over 20 years, the National Speakers Association, has put together a new designation that is yet another acronym worth knowing: CEP – Certified Emcee Professional I am pleased to be recognized in the CEP Charter Group along with some of my outstanding Emcee peers: Quinn Conyers Tom Pesce Rob Ferre Dr. Genie Snyder To earn this designation I documented: • 100+ events over five years, with client names, dates and fees • 10 client evaluations, scored by the people who hired me • Video from real stages, not a sizzle reel • Verified income from emcee work across multiple years Emceeing and hosting events is a discipline, and shouldn’t ever really be left to someone on your team (unless they’re incredible at it, which is ridiculously rare). Executives need to have their moment to shine, and not be seen so much handling hosting duties that it becomes a “no longer special moment” to the audience every time the Executive takes the stage. The more you give them their spots, as an

September 23, 2026 No Comments

Engagement

Our Promise to The Teachers in Our Lives

School is back in session. In every event I speak or perform at, whether it’s leadership training, keynoting, or doing a show, I NEVER take the stage without honoring the teacher who made such an impact in my life: Mrs. Rosalind Hall, the music teacher. If you’ve heard me speak, then you know her voice and the story. If you haven’t, the long and short of it is that she discovered my singing voice and became my mentor. I never have a career in this business of music without her influence. The Promise to our teachers while in school is to be respectful, learn what we can, give great effort, and do our best. What about the Promise after we graduate and move onto the future? I believe The Promise is to Honor The Teachers in Our Lives. Tell their stories, sing their praises, as they are the ones who shape so many of us. Who is yours? If not one, well then, perhaps there were many! The Piano Guys I’ve written a BLOG about this before (3 years ago), and you can read in detail HERE if you prefer. I was doing an event with The Piano

August 25, 2026 2 Comments

Family

The Back to School Promise

Summer is coming to an end for parents of kids in school still! Crazy how slow it goes while you’re in it, and how fast it was looking back on it. This summer for us was epic. Exhausting. Wonderful. Expensive! Yikes! How was your summer? Most likely it was similar to mine: You still worked, but you also found time to be with family, with it being the longest time of year the kids are around with such abundance; Your sleep schedule fell off pretty quickly, late nights became the norm, early mornings compromised since kids didn’t need to catch a bus; Workouts were less than normal, as you were outside, running around anyway, and hitting the gym became a negotiation between “me time” and “family time”; Eating foods you enjoy at BBQ’s, 4th of July celebrations that last a month long, and gatherings with family and friends made sticking to the diet/lifestyle you worked on since January impossible; You thoroughly enjoyed the change of pace, time off work, vacations and moments together, and most likely faced some challenges along the way that disrupted plans. Summer is like that. It is awesome, and

August 3, 2026 3 Comments

Events

Has It Really Been 10 Years?

The memory popped up on Facebook the other day: July 25, 2016. The day I was inducted into the NSA National Speakers Association CPAE Hall of Fame. Over the past few years, I have had the honor to introduce on their big night, a few of my very close friends receiving the CPAE as well, including Jeff Civillico, Clint Pulver, and posthumously, the late great Mark Eaton. It is a life-changing event to receive such an honor. I’ll never forget where I was when the call came that I had been inducted, in March 2016. In a stairwell, just before a gig, at a Courtyard Marriott, listening to the secret welcome from a stranger on the committee, who told me I couldn’t tell anyone, but that he was thrilled for my inclusion. I crumpled to the floor and cried my eyes out. It was 4 months before anyone would know, and the speech I’d get to give, as one of the youngest to ever be inducted. I was 37 years old, and felt like I was in my seventies, due to the wear and tear on my body by pushing so hard to succeed over 15 years. Here

July 30, 2026 1 Comment

Announcements

25 Episodes on the Podcast, this week: Young Washington and Alaska

If you asked me a year ago how many podcasts I’d host in 2026 I would have hemmed and hawed, “Probably 10, or maybe about one a month”. And that is the answer I had given for nearly a decade since everyone told me I should have a podcast. Well, this week we crossed over into rare territory, having just done our 25th episode. Link HERE if you’d like to WATCH on YouTube, or link HERE if you prefer to listen as a podcast. Why celebrate 25? Lots of reasons – that’s more than I have ever personally hosted cumulatively in my career, and we have kept at it weekly with few exceptions! My wife and I celebrated 25 years of marriage this year, and that’s a big milestone, so 25 fits in this context. Also, we are celebrating 250 years of America, and as July wraps up, it has been a wonderful month of looking back at our incredible, divine, and important history as a country. So, 25 episodes in, I’m talking about a movie I saw recently, by Angel Studios, titled “Young Washington”. Don’t wait to see it later on TV. Go to the theaters. It’s

July 24, 2026 No Comments

Coaching

Father of the Bride

Perhaps the most intimidating and important speech you’ll ever give is the Father of the Bride speech. At least that’s how it feels to the first timer, who is sweating through his corduroy trousers, not quite sure how to gather so many essential thoughts in front of all the most important people of his life. A few years ago I made a video that assists men in creating their speech. Luckily, I have never given that intimidating speech, as my daughter is not getting married anytime soon, but putting myself in the place of a soon to be father of the bride, I came up with some teachings that seemed to resonate. The GIRL acronym just appeared in my mind, and it seemed almost elementary, as I wondered if I should put it in the video… Turns out, that is the most essential part of this one, and memorable to all who have utilized it. Want to know what GIRL stands for in this instance? Watch the video to find out! (Actually, I am keenly aware of the amount of people who are willing to read my words but not interested in watching the videos, LOL, so here’s the

July 8, 2026 No Comments

Family

Last Day at 47

My 48th birthday was Wednesday, June 24. On Tuesday, as I considered the final day of my year at 47, I sat at the car dealership where we bought our Toyota Sienna minivan 15 years ago, nearing 200,000 miles, and all the memories in the world as the only car that has remained with us so long. The technician came in, after 2 hours of my wondering, and gave me the diagnosis: he could fix $1,978 worth of issues. I found that number particularly ironic, as that was the year of my birth. As I declined most of what he suggested, since it was more “you should do this eventually” than an emergency issue just yet, he agreed that what is being recommended is actually quite far from being broken. I often feel like this car. I have some miles on me at this point. 40’s are interesting. I’ve heard 50’s are really interesting! As I cross the threshold to 48 there are some people reading this thinking, “Oh man, you just wait!” or “My goodness, to be 48 again!” Those reading this who are younger may think, “It can’t be that dramatic”. Yes, it actually is. I spend

June 25, 2026 4 Comments

Family

The Promise of The Father

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, father figures, and men who make a difference in a young person’s life. We as a family are currently in the throes of major phases of youth becoming adults: Redford is serving a 2-year full-time mission in Santa Fe, Argentina, 10 months in Romney is leaving for his mission to Antigua, Guatemala in August Ella is leaving on her mission to Limatambo, Peru in October Royal is 14 and wondering what happened to his family as he knows it This has been a most spectacular time of our lives, and nothing could have prepared us for the opportunity to have 3 kids all serving our Heavenly Father at the same time, while all learning Spanish and living in other countries. We won’t be in the same place as a whole family one time between August 21, 2025 and September 2, 2028. That is sobering to think about, and yet, we wouldn’t want them to be anywhere else or doing anything different. We are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and yes, we live in Utah. With the name of Jesus Christ on their name tags, it is

June 8, 2026 2 Comments

Family

25 Year Anniversary: The Promise of Marriage

June 14, 2001, I accomplished the most successful moment of my life: Tami Spenst married me. All that I have done in life comes back to this culminating point and I don’t take it for granted ever. What many who are planning their special union seem to so often forget is that the wedding day is just that: one fine day. Marriage is what we focus on, make as right as possible, and keep promises that are daily with consistent actions that lead to greater trust, happiness, and fulfillment. The ups and downs have been well documented, and continue to surprise us as we go along. And yet, that has also been such a grand aspect of the adventure! The richness of life is in the struggle, joy is found in sadness and triumph, faith in God, and believing in us as a partnership. Once the kids came along, that just continued to seal the deal. How could I be so fortunate to have the ideal Wife who suddenly becomes the ultimate Mother of this caliber? How do our children continue to be such good humans? I blame it on their Mother. I sit in

June 8, 2026 4 Comments

The Promise Blog

They Can’t Answer a Question You Never Ask

The ETA on CEP from NSA is ASAP

Our Promise to The Teachers in Our Lives

The Back to School Promise

Has It Really Been 10 Years?

25 Episodes on the Podcast, this week: Young Washington and Alaska

Father of the Bride

Last Day at 47

The Promise of The Father

25 Year Anniversary: The Promise of Marriage

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