Janis McDavid
- Motivational Speaker born without arms or legs
- Author of “Your Best Life: The courage to grow and make the impossible possible”
- UNICEF ambassador
- Winner of the Hamburg 2018 International Speaker Slam
- Overcoming Obstacles in your life
Janis McDavid believes in making the impossible possible. Born without arms or legs, he lives out this belief every day of his life.
His childhood and youth saw Janis McDavid face challenges one would normally see as simple. Although he still may not be able to open a door, he seized the opportunities offered him and, with his trademark courage and loads of ambition, used his circumstances positively. He does not let his disability dictate what he can and cannot do, nor does he allow it to affect his lifestyle.
While an adolescent, Janis McDavid would often be ashamed of his disability or get angry at not being able to do what his ‘normal’ friends could do. But then he realized that this attitude was adding to his limitations. That it was not doing him any good. By accepting his limitations, he decided to focus on what he could do. And do it he has, resulting in a level of self-confidence most people would envy.
To a large extent, he relies on his sense of humor to get him through situations. He regards it as one of his most important life skills. His perseverance is another.
Janis McDavid studies economics at the University of Witten/Herdecke and in March 2016, published his first book “Your Best Life: The courage to grow and make the impossible possible”. He is also a UNICEF courage ambassador and an ambassador for “YES, YOU CAN”.
With his love of traveling, Janis McDavid constantly travels to various European counties and has also visited Brazil, Namibia, Iceland, Burma, Cuba, and Vietnam. He has, thus far, done over 300 talks and addressed over 45,000 people.
The winner of the International Speaker Slam 2018 in Hamburg, Janis McDavid enjoys what he does because he can make a difference.
Janis McDavid – Speaker
As a speaker, Janis McDavid is authentic, tackling topics most people would shy from. He brings over the realisation that dreams are achievable. Using himself as an example, he shares his own experiences and positive mindset, leaving his audience determined to seize opportunities even during the most adverse of times. He lives in Germany and presents in both English and German.
Speaking Topics
- It does not work, it does not exist – overcome barriers, find new ways
- Where there is a will, there is always a way
- How to use bricks placed in your path as building blocks for a bridge
- How to use will, courage and action to realize visions and achieve goals
- Your best life – How to grow beyond yourself and make the impossible possible
- How to think systematically in possibilities and solutions and to give a positive flow to work and life
- How to accept hurdles as a welcome challenge and grow daily
- How to use boundaries as a personal development motor and make the impossible possible
- Self-esteem – How we can discover what is really in us
- How you accept yourself, become aware of your true values, and develop and develop your abilities
- How to pack visions into goals and get involved in the action
- How to motivate and help yourself and other people