Today we’d like to introduce you to André van Hall.
André, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a native of Argentina with a 40 year career in the Hospitality business that took me to three continents and 12 cities. My last “job” was as CEO of the historic Denver Athletic Club. I went suddenly blind in 2011 and subsequently lost my job, so I had to reinvent myself as a motivational speaker, speaking on the subject of change, linking it to curiosity. I now travel all over the USA and S America delivering my message of hope and vision. I wrote a book called The Curiosity of Change – How to Bring Light to the Dark Side of Change.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
First of all….my health. I went suddenly blind in 2011 due to NAION (Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy). The following year, I was diagnosed with a nasty cancer and after surgery, they thought they had gotten it all, but it metastasized into my lymphatic system. A year of Immunotherapy was completed last year…so far…I amp clean.
Starting a new business as a blind solopreneur was not easy. A lot had to be accomplished. Select my topic and develop it. Create a business, a website, content photography, and videos, write a book but above all, what is still a significant challenge….finding gigs.
Please tell us about your business.
I am “The Curiosity Instigator”. I speak on how to understand my blindness is not the enemy, but how we deal with it certainly is! I do keynotes and workshops on change. I am most proud of how many people approach me after a talk to hug me and tell me how my message was so timely and helpful. My goal is to show people that we all have a huge reserve of resiliency and inner strength that we can tap into, just if we choose to do so.
What sets me aside is that as a speaker on change, I link it to CURIOSITY. As far as I can tell, no one else does this particular slice of change management. In my presentation, I point out how important curiosity (in yourself, but also your team) is the only way to propel yourself forward…While intellect is certainly important, we cannot allow our intellect to stop us from being curious. We have to stop judging situations, but start assessing them instead! How intellectual humility plays a significant role too, in making yourself vulnerable and open to new thinking. Bringing change about.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Jack Barker is the first person that challenged me, once diagnosed that I would be blind in two weeks, to “transition” into blindness, I had not thought about transitioning, I was prepared to wait for the onslaught is that first t]step that propelled me to be curious about alternatives. My wife Nancy, who supported me through some very difficult years. The National Speakers Association and Toastmasters, that helped me n my skill, Tommy Spaulding, and accomplished speaker that shows me what was possible.
Pricing:
- My keynote sells for $7500 plus travel
- My workshop sells for $10,000
- My book is $15 in person or $9.99 for kindle and 18 for Amazon paperback
Contact Info:
- Address: 1518 S. Logan St
Denver, CO 80210 - Website: www.andrevanhall.com
- Phone: 720-339-4831
- Email: [email protected]
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrevanhall/
Image Credit:
Christina Nepheris Photography
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