2024 Michigan Occupational Therapy Association Annual Fall Conference
Friday, October 18th - Sunday, October 20th, 2024

Turn the Key to Better OT

Boyne Mountain Resort & Conference Center, Boyne Falls, Mi

Keynote Address: Hit Hard: Three Must-Have Mindsets to Build Resilience

Saturday, October 19th, 8:00am - 9:30am

Paul Artale, PhD, Accredited Speaker is a motivational speaker, author, and Leadership  Strengths trainer who works with companies who want to supercharge employee performance by understanding employee needs and leveraging their strengths. Paul’s research focuses on the  positive impact workplace flexibility has on employee engagement, retention, and performance.  Paul holds a PhD in adult and lifelong education with a focus on organizational culture, and Master's and Bachelor’s Degrees in Special Education.  Paul was twice awarded the Wilson Fellowship from Michigan State University for his research contributions to work-life balance and new employees. These flexibility strategies are also detailed in Paul’s first book The 2-Year Old’s Guide to Work-Life Balance and in his upcoming book Zebra at Work: 10 Essential Work-Life Strategies. A former special education teacher, Paul was also awarded the Drudl Award from the University of Toronto for excellence in Special Education. Born with a limb difference, most thought Paul was unrealistic for dreaming  of playing college football- even after he was cut from his high school team. Paul never gave up  hope and six years later found himself playing defensive end for the University of Toronto. From that moment forward Paul promised himself he would always relentlessly pursue his dreams and advocate for persons with disabilities whenever he could. Paul blends his experiences regarding his disabilities (limb difference, ADHD, Anxiety) with over twenty years of leadership and  management training, student-athlete development, and fatherhood with his research and  expertise in organizational performance to create inspiring messages that challenge participants to break through their barriers and achieve peak performance. When he isn’t speaking, Paul is a proud hockey, soccer, and figure skating dad who can be found traveling all over Michigan supporting his kids dreams and sampling coffee from some of the best ice arenas and food trucks the mitten has to offer. For more information visit www.paulartale.com

Session Description:

What is standing in the way of achieving your goals?  Obstacles and adversities are part of every journey. Although you cannot change the adversities that occur you can learn to build resilience and thrive through your challenges. Born with a limb difference, join Paul Artale as he shares the lessons learned of playing college football.  Blending personal story, strengths-based research, and research on imposter phenomenon, Paul will teach you the 3-must have mindsets that will help you smash through adversity, exceed your expectations, and live your best life. Hit Hard is the powerful, high-energy keynote that will help you leverage your abilities and become unstoppable.

Session Objectives:

1. Tackle imposter phenomenon and other toxic thought patterns.
2. Apply the simple but vital three-step process to create a winning mindset.
3. Identify and leverage your strengths to attain your goals.