Most Goals Are Not Too Big. They Are Never Started.
Chris Sund is a goal setting speaker for January kickoffs, new-year meetings and annual planning sessions. He gives audiences a simple daily loop from the You Are Capable of More framework, Reminder, Reflect, Decide, Act, so the goals set in January are still being worked in March.
Why Do New-Year Goals Fade by February?
Goal setting is the easy part. Teams write targets in January, leadership shares the plan, and by the second month the daily work has taken over. The gap is rarely ambition. It is the distance between knowing what you want and doing something about it today.
Chris built his keynote around that gap. The You Are Capable of More framework moves through three stages, Own It, Rise and Lift, and runs on a daily loop short enough that people actually use it.
- Own It: responsibility for your results, your time and the voice in your head
- Rise: treating discomfort as the signal, not the stop sign
- Lift: goals that make the people around you better too
- The daily loop: Reminder, Reflect, Decide, Act
- One action people take the same day, not a list they file away
The Framework Behind the Keynote
The You Are Capable of More framework has three movements. Own It is taking full responsibility for your results, your time and your inner voice. Rise is moving past the comfort ceiling, where most people stop. Lift is leading yourself first and then leaving people better than you found them.
The daily playbook is four steps: a Reminder to anchor you, Reflect on where it shows up in your work, Decide what needs to change, and Act with one step today. Chris has delivered the program to company rooms including the BeatStars company meeting and the Definitive Healthcare Sales Kickoff in Boston, in front of 800+ people.
Chris would be an incredible addition to any live audience. Each time he finds a unique way to connect on both a personal and professional level keeping everyone engaged and attentive.
The content was practical, the delivery was engaging, and I walked away with ideas I could actually use. If you get the chance to attend one of his sessions, take it.
The session was engaging and thoughtfully led. I appreciated the chance to learn from other young professionals and walk away with practical leadership insights I could apply in day-to-day work.
Programs for Goal Setting Events
Every session is customized to your members, your setting and your year.
You Are Capable of More
The signature keynote and the source of the framework: closing the gap between what people are doing and what they are capable of.
Your Team Is Capable of More
The team version for kickoffs that set shared goals: ownership, a standard everyone protects, and momentum through the year.
You Are Capable of More: Sales
The sales track for kickoffs with a number to hit: consistency, ownership of the number and objection handling.
Formats
Each program runs as a keynote, a half-day workshop or a full-day workshop.
General Session
A kickoff keynote that turns the year’s goals into a daily practice, placed after the leadership update.
Workshop
The keynote plus working time: each person or team writes the goals that matter, the first actions, and how they will check progress weekly.
Workshop
A planning day built on the framework: keynote, team goal sessions and a follow-through plan leadership can run through the quarter.
Who Books This Session
Related pages: Company Kickoff Speaker · Sales Kickoff Speaker · The Framework · Annual Meeting Speaker
What Kickoff Planners Ask
When should we book a goal setting keynote for January?
October through December. January and February kickoff dates are usually booked in the fourth quarter, so reach out as soon as the date is set.
Is this a motivational talk or something people use?
Both, but the point is use. The keynote ends with the four-step daily loop and one action people take the same day. In workshop format, every person leaves with written goals and first steps.
Can it reinforce our theme and goals for the year?
Yes. Chris asks for your theme, priorities and leadership messages ahead of time and builds the session to support them. See the company kickoff page for agenda placement.
Does it work for sales teams?
Yes. For a sales kickoff, the goal setting content pairs with You Are Capable of More: Sales. See the sales kickoff page.
Is there something attendees can take home?
Yes. The book You Are Capable of More is a common kickoff gift, and the free one-page framework gives everyone the loop on paper. Bulk orders are available.
You Are Capable of More
The bestselling book behind the keynote, and the 2026 Paris Book Festival winner in the How-To category. Ten principles for closing the gap between what a team is producing and what it is actually capable of.
A copy for every attendee keeps the goals in front of people after January, and it costs less per person than most kickoff swag.
He Sets Goals for Three Companies
Chris is President & COO of Uniti Med and GQR Healthcare and COO of Nebula. He helped build Uniti Med from startup into one of the largest healthcare staffing companies in the US: 10x revenue growth on the core brand, #3 on the Inc. Regionals list of the fastest-growing companies in the Midwest, and a Fortune Best Workplaces award.
Before healthcare staffing he spent ten years in restaurants and beverage, managing restaurants and then running sales and marketing for a brewery. He still has a company to run on Monday, and the material comes from that work.
He is the bestselling author of You Are Capable of More, a Maxwell Leadership Certified coach, and writes for Inc. and Forbes.
Stages I Have Spoken On
Where Company Audiences Have Heard Chris
Kickoffs, company meetings and business events where Chris has set the tone for the year.
BeatStars Company MeetingVirtualDefinitive Healthcare SKOBoston, MACrawford Memorial Recognition DinnerDenison, IAGreater Omaha Chamber YP WorkshopOmaha, NEemPower BreakfastBellevue, NEAuthentica Connect & InspireOmaha, NEAlso: Company Kickoff Speaker · Sales Kickoff Speaker · The Framework · See all speaking engagements →
Bring Chris to Your Kickoff
Tell Chris your date, your theme and the goals you want people carrying into the year. You’ll get a fast, straight answer on fit and availability.
Check Availability & FeesResponse within one business day · Speaker kit, bio & headshots