D.J. Eagle Bear Vanas is an internationally-acclaimed motivational storyteller whose expertise is in leadership and personal development. He is also the author of the celebrated book The Tiny Warrior: A Path to Personal Discovery & Achievement which is printed in six countries. He shows organizations how to practically apply the power of the warrior spirit to perform at their best, stay resilient and thrive in tough, changing environments. For twenty years, he has delivered his dynamic programs in 49 states and overseas to over 7,000 audiences including Walt Disney, NASA, Intel Corporation and hundreds of tribal governments, communities and schools. He's also been invited to the White House to speak – twice.
D.J. will be at G2E 2019 as Monday's featured keynote speaker and will also have two sessions within the Tribal Gaming Education track. We caught up with him to look ahead to G2E 2019 and get some initial tips on how to achieve "victory as a business warrior."
Describe your typical day in one or two sentences.
No two days are ever the same between frequent travel, business operations and projects and I thrive on the dynamic schedule. I switch hats rapidly and often, switching from marketer, content developer, customer relations, travel agent, business manager, scheduler, etc. I had a moment a few years ago where I did a leadership session at Fuqua School of Business at Duke University to 400 international business students one day and the next day I was sharing a message of hope and resilience with forty inmates at a tribal jail on the West Coast. Those are the moments I'm reminded how fortunate and grateful I am to do what I get to do for a living. OK, that was not one or two sentences…
How did you end up on the career path that you're currently on?
I've always thoroughly enjoyed helping people and being of service to others. Graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy many years ago, I had an opportunity to move the needle on diversity in our Cadet Wing and became a recruiter for our institution, focused on finding qualified Native American officer candidates from tribal communities. I discovered that I loved getting people excited about education, being an Air Force officer, and then started sharing lessons learned and personal insights to help others be successful on their journey. That joy of service took on a life of its own and has happily led me here.
What advice would you give someone who is looking to achieve 'victory as a business warrior'?
Relentlessly develop yourself into an asset to your organization and those you serve. In our Native American traditions, our warriors were those dedicated to developing their skills to become assets to the tribe they served. They were resilient, courageous, creative, willing to work as a team, fought for something bigger than self and led by example. Most of all, it was (and is) a role rooted in service. Today, that role transcends race, gender and age and is a path for anyone willing to accept it and dedicate themselves to become an asset to those they serve. The business of warriors can make us warriors in business!
What is your connection if any to the Gaming community?
I've proudly served employees and management in tribal gaming for two decades now. They represent an important economic engine in our tribal nations and communities. My focus has been guiding employees to become better team players, more motivated and to have an awareness that there are no small things in customer service – it all matters. I've also been passionate about developing leaders of character who have more influence, impact and lead by example in every way.
Why should G2E attendees make time to attend your keynote presentation?
The keynote is designed to inspire attendees get better results in our business and service, but also to be fun and entertaining. I intentionally create keynotes that aren't just loaded with potent takeaways and simple, practical ideas but are also filled stories and humor. I know G2E will be busy, but my hope is attendees will be at the keynote to make an investment in themselves, who they serve, and enjoy themselves in the process.
What topics do you plan on focusing on in your G2E Keynote?
Our competitive edge in business isn't always based on new technology or more of any resource. Often our best successes in business and service come from better awareness and use of what we already have available. Victory by Design is a tribal-centric way of looking at our work, using what's in our own backyard for maximum effect, as our tribes have done throughout the millennia. We'll focus on getting the most out of our days and ourselves, how we can better use our time, energy and skill sets so we can deliver outstanding service regardless of circumstances – and have more joy in our work as we do! You'll walk out with a renewed sense of clarity, excitement and possibility about the road ahead for you and your organization.
What are you most looking forward to at G2E 2019?
I'm most looking forward to learning and networking with the dynamic people that will be attending G2E, reconnecting with longtime friends and meeting new ones. I'm also looking forward to the spectacle of the city and of course, the food – after all, it is Las Vegas!
