Rene Godefroy

History is replete with people whose actions radically changed the world. Some are household names and others are ordinary people from obscure corners around the world. Yet, they all have one thing in common: They pushed beyond the frontier of their limits and went an extra mile to achieve stunning results. Rene Godefroy is one of those rare individuals… A recognized authority on performance and change management, Rene has inspired thousands to stretch, push beyond their limits, and go an extra mile. His story of grit, perseverance, courage, and growth through change—one that shatters the ceiling of doubt and fear (of change)—touches the soul and rekindles the spirit. His journey began in an isolated and impoverished village in Haiti. As a child, he was often tormented and tortured by malnutrition, dysentery, cholera and other deadly diseases. Too weak to withstand the strong tropical winds in his village, Rene often spent his childhood days on a dirt floor fanning flies off of his face.

ABANDONED AND LONELY

His father abandoned him before he was even born. His mother left him behind with a neighbor when he was only nine months old. It was a painful separation, but his mother had to venture out to find a better way to provide for her son.

Young Rene survived primarily on breadfruit and the occasional rare fish he caught with a string and a bent hook. Many gave up on him and predicted he would not survive. But he continued to defy logic. The frail and ailing boy built up strength by climbing coconut and mango trees for survival.

At the age of seven, he left his village. He went on to the city to join his mother in a little shack infested with rats and roaches. There, Rene began a new and different uphill battle with poverty. But when an American couple of tourists gave him a dime and compassionately patted his head and gently touched his shoulder, a transformation took place in his life. A dream was born. “I want to go to America to eat lots of rice and chicken and enjoy a good life.” said Rene. Sure enough the dream became a reality.

THE JOURNEY TO AMERICA

In 1983, at the age of 21, Rene left Haiti for Montreal, Canada. But Montreal was not the dream—America was. He took the ultimate risk that almost cost him his life. He paid a truck driver to smuggle him into America. Rene arrived wedged between the rear tires of a tractor trailer covered with ashes and dust. His personal possessions were five dollars, two shirts and one pair of pants housed in a tattered briefcase. And he didn’t speak any English at all.

Where many would see nothing but overwhelming odds stacked against them, he saw an abundance of opportunity and a chance to live the American dream. But he knew intrinsically that he had to go an extra mile in all his endeavors in order to enjoy the good life that many wish for. In fact, he has been going the extra mile since leaving his village at the age of seven.

Whether Rene was washing cars on the streets of Miami, taking care of a sick and elderly man, or being a doorman at a hotel, he has always gone above and beyond the call of duty. He also has the gift and talent to inspire others to do the same.

HOW RENE WAS DISCOVERED

One day while working as a doorman, Rene’s talent was discovered by someone who asked him to speak for about 2,000 people. And yes, he didn't shy away from stepping into the limelight. He finally had the chance to do what he naturally does everyday... Inspiring others to shake off mediocrity and to go an extra mile to excel.

Today, Rene energizes, empowers, and inspires audiences worldwide. His favorite motto is, “if you are not going an extra mile in everything you do, you are jamming the highway to success for yourself and others.”

His unquenchable drive and heroic triumphant story stirs in others laughter, tears, and deep reflections but more importantly, it gives them the permission to excel. Today, companies such as AT&T, Charles Schwab, and Coca cola are among the many organizations that seek out Rene to help their employees re-fire their work cylinders, embrace change as their good fortune, and to recognize the opportunities that exist on the extra mile.

Most Requested Programs:

Keynote for General Audiences

Going An Extra Mile to get what you want
How to Re-fire Your Work Cylinders in Times of Change

Whatever happened to the drive to excel? Does anybody ever go the extra mile anymore? Top executives are obsessed about reducing costs and boosting revenue. But, are the employees buying in? Rene Godefroy is ready to join forces with you to help you explore the answers to these questions and re-fire your team.

they Will learn...

• How to recognize and exploit the opportunities that exist on the extra mile.
• Why they must retool and reinvent themselves in order to manage change successfully.
• Why an improved attitude, commitment, and personal initiative are the only ways to stand the test of time in this fast changing world.
• How to sweep customers off their feet in order to grab market share.
• How to use the extra mile concept to strengthen business and personal relationships.
• And much more!

Be ready for a rollercoaster ride! Through the power of heartfelt stories, humor and interaction, Rene uses a rare combination of style and substance to make sure his learning points stick. Companies like Coca-cola, Bell South, AT&T and the US Army have already experienced this transformational keynote. Now it’s your turn.

Keynote for Sales Professionals

Going An Extra Mile to Boost Your Sales
How Sales People Can Earn More Money Even During Tough Times

Are your sales teams really going an extra mile to acquire and convert more leads? Have they reached their comfort zone? Have you invested so much in sales training and sales tools yet you’re not getting a good ROI? If you answered yes to any of these questions, consider Rene Godefroy for your next sales meeting.

As seen in Selling Power Magazine, Rene knows how to make motivation stick long after the sales meeting is over. There’s good reason why sales guru Jeffrey Gitomer said, “Don’t you think for one moment that this young man has not inspired me and thousands of others…” Since leaving his poor village in Haiti, Rene has been going an extra mile to create stunning success. Now he wants to share his secrets with your team.

They will learn...

• How to develop unwavering determination and persistence.
• How to become indispensable to their clients or customers.
• How to sell more by driving on the extra mile.
• How to be and stay motivated in spite of rejection.
• Why they must be nuts about retooling and reinventing themselves in order to sell more in the new economy.
• How to conquer their fears and take occasional risks.
• And much more!

Be ready for a rollercoaster ride! Using carefully selected stories that sales professionals can identify with, humor and interaction, Rene will inspire your team to sell more. Companies like Coca-cola, Bell South, AT&T and the US Army have already experienced this transformational keynote. Now it’s your turn.

Keynote for Managers and Supervisors

Going An Extra Mile to Inspire Your Team
How Leaders Can Achieve Stunning Results Through Their People

Is employee turnover costing your company too much? Are you frustrated after investing time to find and train new-hires, only to lose them months later? Is morale and productivity suffering because of your constantly changing workforce? Are you tired of working with rigid, risk-averse and change-resistant individuals?

Yes? This presentation is for you. Rene Godefroy doesn't waste time on empty platitudes. Using examples based on his celebrated career in the hospitality industry, he shows exactly how you can inspire your team to go an extra mile. What he will share with you has won him accolades and admiration from a poor village in Haiti to the boardrooms of some of America’s most respected companies.

They Will learn…

• How to break the invisible barrier and discover every person’s wants,
  needs, and that everyone deserves to matter.
• Why compassion and commerce are the two sides of the coin.
• Why gratitude is more important than salary
• How to avoid the poison of criticism and apply the potential of compliments.
• Why loyalty doesn’t stop at the end of the shift
• The power of asking and suggesting instead of ordering and demanding.
• Why mentoring is far more effective than managing
• How to leverage intimidation into empowerment.

Never again will you be forced to work with uninspired bodies just to fill empty positions. You will learn to win the hearts and souls of your individual team members so they can go an extra mile for you. These strategies will enable you to transform your team into team players who care as much about your organization’s bottom-line as you do.

This interactive keynote presentation—with inspiring success stories and specific suggestions—will help you turn problematic and non-caring individuals into committed and loyal employees.