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The Promise Blog
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

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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

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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

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August 3, 2026 3 Comments
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

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July 24, 2026 No Comments
Announcements

The Villages: A Dream Come True

  For 26 years I have been told I should perform in very specific markets, as they would love my show: Las Vegas, NV Branson, MO Atlantic City, NJ Cruise ships worldwide Every Casino possible Corporate and Education events The Villages, FL   Having conquered the first 6, thankful for the chance to entertain audiences of all kinds, it was a question as to how and when I would ever have the time or opportunity to perform at The Villages near Orlando, Florida. Last weekend my moment finally arrived! If you don’t know what The Villages are, its one of the most fascinating community developments in the world, dedicated to those aged 55+ active adults who are committed to staying healthy, agile, and forever young. An estimated 75,000 homes dot the landscape, with over 100,000 residents.  Located an hour outside of Orlando, Florida, The Villages has endless town squares that look like Disneyland’s Main Street, more golf holes in one place than anywhere on the planet, and you can hear pickleball being played the entire day. The theater was intimate, brand new (3 months old), with around 160 seats available. My show was scheduled for 1 PM on a Friday where

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July 14, 2026 4 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

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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

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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

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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

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June 8, 2026 4 Comments
Engagement

The Power of Writing Notes: The Promise of Showing Appreciation

  Our son, Romney, graduated from high school on Wednesday. He is our third child to do so in the last three years, so we are getting the hang of this time of life and transitionary period, as equally sobering and joyful as it is. We are very excited for all he has planned, as the world awaits our amazing boy. A few weeks before his big day, I walked in the kitchen and found him sitting at the table in deep contemplation, actively accomplishing something I’d never seen him do: writing with a pen, surrounded by stacks of notes and envelopes, along with great intention. He didn’t notice me, so I took his photo and left him to do his work. A few hours later after he was done, and I asked what he had accomplished. He said he was writing letters of appreciation to his friends. He described how it was important to him to write a note to everyone he had served with in student government as the SBO Spirit Leader of the school his senior year. He mentioned his older brother, Redford, had done the same a year prior, as had their older sister, Ella, before

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June 5, 2026 2 Comments

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