Stephen Drum
Perform on the X - Learn how to meet any challenge with Courage, Confidence, and Readiness!
Former Navy SEAL, co-creator of the Navy’s Warrior Toughness Program, speaker and author Stephen Drum, inspires individuals and organizations to plan, prepare, and execute at the highest levels and when it matters most.
Whether it is your work, family, or relationships, you may find yourself in a high-stress situation where all the pressures converge. At times like these, it is essential to show up with confidence, courage, and resilience.
Key Speech Themes:
Leadership, Perform Under Pressure, High-Stakes Stress Management, Optimize Performance, Resilience, Emotional Intelligence, Mental Toughness
Ideal Audiences:
Financial, Sales, Leadership, Teams, Medical, Industries with high stress.
Meet Stephen
Stephen Drum, former US Navy SEAL and the co-creator of The U.S. Navy Warrior Toughness program, teaches leaders and organizations how the same techniques used by the Navy SEALs, elite athletes, and top-performing CEOs can be applied to leading and developing high-performance teams in business.
“Perform On The X”, refers to the most critical and dangerous point of the operation, where a SEAL must be at their best.
In the boardroom, it may not be life or death, but there are still critical moments where the pressure is on, and when the stakes are this high, you must be focused, resilient, and well prepared.
Topics & Descriptions
Keynote:
Perform on the X - Learn how to meet any challenge with Courage, Confidence, and Readiness!
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Work, family, relationships—life is demanding. A high-stress situation, or being on the X where all the pressures converge, could be right around the corner. How will you confront it? Your ability to succeed in stressful and challenging situations and seize opportunities depends on how you show up to face these moments. When you’re up against obstacles, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed and underprepared. But the battles you face are won when you prepare for life on the X.
Life on the X shares strategies used by the world’s highest performers. In this guide, you will discover tactics that elite athletes, military special operators, and successful business leaders use to thrive under pressure and deliver world-class results.
You can triumph when you are deliberate in how you prepare for, execute, and assess your actions in the most important moments in your life. By learning the skills and methods of top-performers, you can meet the X with courage and confidence.
Are you ready to bring your A game to life?
In the SEAL Teams, the X refers to the most critical and dangerous point of the operation; fast roping from a helicopter onto the rooftop of an enemy building, a coordinated attack on an enemy compound, or operating deep behind enemy lines. This is the point of NO RETURN where a SEAL must be at their best.
No matter where and no matter the circumstance, it’s critical that SEALs perform at their best “on the X” in each of these moments.
While in the boardroom instead of the battlefield it may not be life or death, but there are still critical moments where the pressure is on, and we absolutely need to bring our A-game.
When the stakes are this high, we must be focused, resilient, and well prepared.
As the Co-Creator of The U.S. Navy Warrior Toughness program, Stephen teaches how the same techniques used by the Navy & SEALs, elite athletes, and top-performing CEOs operators can be applied to leading & developing high-performance teams in business as well as by individuals in their personal and professional lives.
In this presentation, Stephen shares proven performance psychology techniques and training methods used by the world’s most elite performers and shows how it can easily be applied to any high-pressure business situation or personal event. Each presentation will be customized around the audience’s specific goals and challenges
After you learn to perform on the X, you and your teams will not only learn to face challenge and adversity with courage and resilience, but you’ll also learn concrete methods that will allow for: Increased Employee Engagement, Stronger Collaboration, High-Performance Under Pressure, Agility, Stress Management, Increased EQ, Proven Preparation and Rehearsal Methods for Important Events, Proven Team and Individual Lessons Learned Framework, Adaptability & Change Management
Takeaways
Learn how to develop to true resilience in the face of adversity and set-back
Face the most pressing life and business challenges head on
Execute with agility and flexibility when everything is on the line
Develop a deliberate process to study lessons learned in preparation for what’s next
Implement effective strategies for leading teams through dynamic change
Workshop:
Perform on the X Workshop - Customized Deep Dive Workshop (75 minutes – 4 hours)
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Session outcomes:
Learn the framework process for preparing and executing in high-stakes or challenging situations which include: Commit, Prepare, Execute and Reflect
Learn critical stress management techniques for successfully responding to stressors in professional AND personal settings
Discuss goal planning and execution strategies for prioritizing and performing in a fluid and stressful environment.
Learn and perform mindfulness and performance psychology skills for increased resilience and focus during stressful periods and situations.
Sample Workshop Format:
Opening story and Commit content
Purpose and personal philosophy
Objectives and goals
Obstacle forecasting
What are some potential obstacles to our success? Daily and long-term
Story and Prepare content
Performance Psychology skills
Skill development practical
Recalibrate-breathing exercise/Breathing habit training
Story and Execute content
Situational Awareness
Variable Focus
Agility/Flexibility
Scenario Discussion on above content
Story and Reflect content
Your process for: Assess, Analyze, Reflect
Giving and receiving feedback
Body Scan or Progressive muscle relaxation exercise
Closing Comments and wrap-up
Videos
Full Bio
Stephen Drum is a combat-tested retired Navy SEAL Master Chief with 27 years of experience leading and developing high-performance teams.
As an in-demand speaker and consultant, he helps individuals and organizations develop leadership and performance strategies, so they can plan, prepare, and execute at the highest levels when it matters most.
Stephen served in the Navy from 1992-2019 and has trained and led U.S. and foreign partner special operations forces on high-risk and strategically vital missions across the globe, including combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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He recently co-developed and taught “Warrior Toughness” training for The U.S. Navy. This vital program fundamentally changed the culture of the Navy in how it trains and prepares young sailors and officers for the acute stress of intense combat operations.
During his Navy career, Stephen has personally trained thousands of elite military soldiers and Navy SEAL candidates, helping them succeed in severe training courses and overseas combat operations.
His first book, Life on the X: A Navy SEAL's Guide to meeting any challenge with Courage, Confidence and Readiness, was released March 2023.
Testimonials
"I can say with all confidence and on behalf of our leadership team, that your session was impactful. In fact, I'm still hearing buzz about it! Likewise, I hope to have the opportunity to work with you, and Kelly, again as well!"
CMP, Sr. Manager Business Strategy, Charles Schwab
“Steve’s 2 hour workshop for our annual UPS Franchise Leadership Conference for our franchises was very Impactful! The workshop had great structure and we loved his mission statement and message on work life balance and how to manage the stress. His employee engagement message and tips for meditation and reflections were audience favorites. His interactive workshop allowed for audience involvement which allowed for the attendees to share and network which was greatly appreciated and we were so happy he hung around for our happy hour so the attendees could have more time to chat with him!”
Franchisee Brand Leaders in The UPS Store
"Stephen Drum did a great job with his engagement with our group. His message was clear and molded into our direction and message that we needed delivered to our group. I would recommend Stephen to others." - Helena Agri
“The event was a success - Stephen absolutely nailed it! We are a tough crowd and he hit on all the points that were most valuable to the group. We were all honored to have gotten the chance to meet Stephen.” - Meeting planner, ATLAS SP
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“Stephen’s session was wonderfully received! It was a great session to kick off our day!
Marketing Manager, Baker Tilly
“People are STILL talking about Stephen’s presentation at our retreat! I’d love to work together again!”
Marketing Strategy, Baker Tilly
“Steve did a great job presenting relevant, implementable and practical information to our group in an engaging presentation. WE look forward to working with him again.”
President & Founder Carver Financial Services, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services Registered Principal
“Our elite warriors train to respond with success when the stakes are high. I had the pleasure of Steve presenting to my leaders and discussing how our best, do what they do. It was an outstanding talk. If you’re looking for a top quality speaker to train your team how to perform when the stakes are high, I highly recommend that you give Steve a call!”
V.P. Organ Health, Natera
“Stephen’s presentation to our sales and medical team was a true highlight that set the stage for a successful meeting and year. He took the time to understand our challenges and meet our people, which led to a customized presentation about how to successfully perform in critical situations-which for a sales team is every time they are in front of a customer. Importantly, he provided relatable stories while giving us proven effective techniques and strategies that applied to everyone in the room. Simply put it was a home run.”
EVP, TerSera Therapeutics
“Steve’s presentation was entertaining, riveting and inspiring. His speech left a lasting impression with our entire audience. We look forward to partnering again in the future.”
V.P. Fuel Sales & Marketing ǀ Parent Petroleum, Inc.
“Thank you (for the deep dive workshop) the team I think responded with the best compliment possible: ‘Stephen exceeded our expectations’ ! Thanks again for the Challenge coin!”
Sales Director, Mid America Sales
“Just want to reiterate how pleased we were with Stephen. High energy and great message that can adapt to most audiences, even one as diverse (by job function) as ours.”
CEO, Industrial Supply Association
“Stephen is a phenomenal keynote speaker! His experience with the Navy SEALs and his ability to relate that to civilian life through stories and insights is one of a kind. He’s also a pleasure to work with and a great guy.”
Head of Sales, Wealth Management Solutions, Schroders
“Your talk was much needed and truly motivating. Thank you again for sharing your story and your insights on how to stay motivated & productive. Your content was easy to follow, and the prompts in the chat helped people actively reflect.”
Global Sales Training Specialist, Spotify
“Steve Drum’s energetic and motivating presentation on his experience as a Navy SEAL and “Warrior Toughness” trainer demonstrated how preparedness, collaboration, mindfulness and execution are skills needed to achieve your personal best in high stakes situations – a mindset that is increasingly important as companies look to deliver innovative solutions for their customers.”
Head of Programs Zurich North America
“I recently had Steve speak at our annual Sales kick-off. Steve’s presentation was engaging, spoke to the focus areas for Accertify and really resonated with our organization. I was really impressed with the time that Steve took to get to know me and the context for which I was asking him to present. On the day of his presentation he turned-up several hours ahead of his presentation and stayed to mingle and answer questions afterwards. Steve is a powerful speaker who imparted meaningful and well thought-out messages to my team. A class act in all respects!”
V.P. Global Sales and Partnership, Accertify
“Steve’s (virtual) presentation was thought-provoking and tremendously inspiring. From lessons learned over two decades as a Navy Seal, Steve provided our audience with the tools and tactics necessary to achieve and sustain high performance as leaders. Steve is a must-see presenter for those looking for inspiration, motivation, and ideas on how to perform your best and face adversity”
Regional Vice President, Hartford Funds
“I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Steve Drum present his strong message on commitment, preparation, execution and reflection multiple times. Steve’s presentation style and delivery are both engaging and captivating. He will leave you thinking differently about your approach, your mindset and how you deliver on results. Steve’s humility, realistic and proven techniques will help you and your teams perform better.”
Director, Dept. of Defense CDW-G