Daniel Abreo, Inspirational Speaker

“Hello, I am Daniel Abreo and I was born in the USA,” he tells a suspicious audience, puzzled by his accent. But Daniel goes on to explain that he was born in Uruguay South America or the USA. The audience begins to laugh and they are immediately drawn to him. They begin to sit up and lean forward ready to take in one of the most heartfelt and inspirational messages they will ever hear. It’s the story of how he overcame obstacles to live the American dream and how each and every one of us can make small changes to catapult us toward our goals and our dreams.

Daniel followed his childhood sweetheart to Cleveland in 1979, unable to speak a word of English, but filled with enthusiasm energy and a burning desire to be part of the American Dream. Today the Abreo’s had been married for 29 wonderful years, and have three children all of them attending College at this time.

In 1981 he started working part-time with a Sales Company where he learned about self-help and personal growth. In 1983 he started a career with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. But his passion for speaking was already there.

Trained by Dale Carnegie, he gained experience through Toastmasters International and has gone on to speak with countless audiences ranging from small groups to a crowd of more than 10.000. He has spoken at the Quicken loans Arena Twice.  He Has been featured in newspapers and radio, and anyone who spends just a few minutes with him is drawn to his warmth, genuine love for America and his belief that anyone can make their dreams come true.

He speaks at public and private events and is active in the community, generously giving his time to groups like Madd, police programs, schools and churches.

Business Name: Positively Speaking

Business Address: 24725 Chardon Rd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44143 Business Phone: 216-486-6539

Website Link: www.danielabreo.com

Name/TITLE: Inspirational Speaker

Tell us a little bit about your company and/or your industry?

I found out a long time ago that there are a lot of important things about our lives that we don’t learn at home or in school. Some of them are the most important elements that will constitute our belief and philosophy on how to live a successful and happy life. And I believe that is the reason that there are so many people living their lives in quiet desperations, always unhappy going around in circles, without directions or a set of rules that will help them achieve what ever it is that they want out of this life. Since 1981 I’ve been studying what makes some people happy or unhappy, successful or unsuccessful, Philosophy, Psychology, all about human behavior, inspiration and motivation. I have read hundreds of books and listened to thousands of hours on tapes and cds, and attended seminars all over the Country on these subjects. My objective is to help whoever is open minded enough to want to improve themselves. Every time we help a person everybody wins: that person, his family, his friends, his employees or employers, etc.

How is your company or you personally reaching out to the Hispanic Community to help support this growing segment?

I get to speak in front of different groups, for instance I’ve been doing the Spanish Tear for the Madd organization since 1996, in which I get to talk to a group of Latinos once a month about the ideas that I have collected over the years that have helped me and my family to live an enjoyable life. I speak that as humans we are physical, mental and spiritual beings, and the need that we have to feed and exercise those three elements to be able to have a chance to live the kind of life we desire. And I go on to explain each one of them and then give them directions and ideas for them to use. Most of them tell me that they never thought about life that way and they can see themselves improving their lives, and they have hope, and consequently they become happy.

In a corporate career, we have to work well with people and posses the ability to inspire and persuade large groups. As a successful Latino, what is one or more of your own accomplishments that you feel support this fact?
Since I started speaking I had the opportunity to speak in front of groups for companies like: Amway, Primerica Financial Services, Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, Cuyahoga Juvenile Detention Center, the City of Euclid, the 4th of July Celebration, Villa Angela St. Joseph High school, Professional Hockey Team Staff Members: The Lake Erie Monsters, Quicken Loans employees, Madd Tears, Richmond Hts. High School and Abundant Life Community Church. Over 750 speeches so far. You can check visit You Tube Videos: Daniel Abreo, I have some examples of my speeches in a Stadium, Quicken Loans Arena, and a High School. I hope you enjoy them.

What, if any, is one of the obstacles that you feel you have had to overcome as a Latino within the business community? And how have you embraced it and turned it into a positive?
The number one obstacle that I had to overcome was myself. When I came to this country I thought that people didn’t like me because I was Latino. I thought that Cleveland was too cold, the Government didn’t know what it was doing and I couldn’t find a good job. But then somebody pointed it out to me that the problem was not in the outside of me, but rather the inside of me. I had a case of stinking thinking. I didn’t even like myself much and that is what I was getting from life a reflection of how I felt inside. That is when I decided to start working on myself; mentally, physically and spiritually – and sure enough the better I felt about myself, the better Cleveland looked, the Government wasn’t that bad , and the people liked me better too. Maturity does not come with age but comes when we take responsibility for what happens in our life.

What would you as a Latino like to see happen in the near future so other Latinos in the community can achieve the same level of success?
Well, I think that we all need to look inside of ourselves and ask the question: Am I doing all that I can to make my life as great as I would like to see it? We need to be responsible for our own lives and not point fingers at anybody, because when we point one finger at somebody, three fingers are pointing back at you. Realize that is easier to change yourself than trying to change everybody around you.