KEYNOTE 1
BE A LION
GENERAL AUDIENCES • LEADERSHIP • ENTREPRENEURS & ORGANIZATIONS
When Dean’s life began unraveling, there was no playbook for what came next. He was left with $80 in his pocket—and his family watching what he would do next.
That’s where Be a Lion begins.
Dean takes audiences beyond the headlines and into the five-year battle that followed—the fear, humiliation, anger, sacrifice, unexpected allies, moments of despair, and ultimately, the grit it took to stand back up.
Through that experience, Dean discovered seven principles that carried him through the fight. He shares those principles to challenge others to discover what they’re capable of before life forces them to find out.
The 7 Principles of Being A Lion
01 — Identify What You Want
Clarity beats ambition. Pick the goal that truly moves the needle.
02 — Find Your Reason Why
The more reasons you have to keep going, the harder it becomes to quit.
03 — Burn the Boats
When retreat is no longer an option, excuses lose their power.
04 — Sacrifice Is Non-Negotiable
Nothing worth achieving comes without a price.
05 — Show Up
Sometimes people don't need answers. They need to know they're not standing alone.
06 — Ask for Help
Asking for help doesn't make you dependent. It makes you durable.
07 — Live With Urgency
This life isn't a dress rehearsal. Don't wait for a crisis to start living it.
Years before his own life was turned upside down, Dean heard Everest survivor Beck Weathers tell the story of what gave him the strength to survive.
Years later, Dean understood the lesson firsthand. The reasons to keep fighting were already there—his family, his friends, and the people who refused to let him fall.
Don’t wait for your Everest to discover what matters most.