Charlie's Most Popular Topics

The Spirit of Customer Service! 5 Essentials for Customer Loyalty


Organizations from Fairbanks, Alaska to Durango, Colorado to Elkhart, Indiana are bringing Charlie in to grow their people in the critical area of Customer Service. His ability to connect with audiences about the Spirit of serving customers has made this program a popular investment for companies and organizations of all sizes.

It was said best by a banker who approached Charlie a few minutes before a presentation of "The Spirit of Customer Service" at their Development Day. The banker said, "Charlie, most of us banks are about the same with products, prices and everything. It's going to come down to service. If we don't separate ourselves . . . ."

This keynote and training seminar is a MUST for organizations that want to separate themselves and create a stronger service culture.

Charlie achieved remarkable success in broadcasting across America because he made Customer Service his top priority. He personally interacted with over 100,000 customers over 23 years. He had no formal training in TV News. He was an Elementary Education grad. He learned the necessary skills of his trade and then put 5 powerful Customer Service Essentials into play. They are Essentials that can work in any organization!

His program pounds home a vital message: Top Quality Product plus Customer Service with Spirit leads to Loyal Customer.

In this valuable keynote or training seminar, Charlie will show your organization how to make your customers so happy that they lock their doors to other options because they are convinced there is nothing out there better than YOU!

He shares refreshing and challenging insights on:

  • WHY Customer Service is so important and why jobs depend on it
  • The On Fire Attitude that has enabled one sales person to never lose a customer
  • Why companies lose customers and what you can do to prevent it
  • How to hire to make sure everyone you bring in has the Spirit of Customer Service
  • Insights on how to keep the culture of Customer Service strong within your organization
  • How to deeply care for and even love your customers
  • Examples of how to separate yourself in your industry when it comes to Customer Service
  • Ways to have FUN with Customer Service and take out the monotony of the work day
  • Make-over ideas to make your work atmosphere one where Customer Service is always front and center
  • Insights on how to greet and talk with your customers
  • The importance of truly knowing your customer and how to get feedback from them that can help you
  • Ways to turn customer complaints into customers that are even more loyal than before!
  • The importance of RELIABILITY - an Essential every customer makes a priority

Charlie stays on top of the best Customer Service in the world as the host of the popular "Travels with Charlie" group travel for Edgerton's Travel. Edgerton's has been known as a gold standard in Customer Service since 1924. Charlie hosts inspirational group travel experiences to such locations as Italy, Alaska, Hawaii, Branson, Williamsburg, Colorado Rockies, and Ireland. His dedication to the customer is so strong that some travelers go with him three times a year. Along the way he studies the most successful Customer Service environments in these locations and shares fresh insights in his Spirit of Customer Service programs for companies.

One of the most popular parts of "The Spirit of Customer Service" keynotes and training seminars are the video segments Charlie has produced on organizations that burst with Customer Service pride. His six minute video segment on McCormick Electrical of North Liberty, IN has given companies ideas that they have put to use literally upon getting back to their office.

"The Spirit of Customer Service" is available in keynote, 2 hour, half day and on going training and consulting forms.

"We asked Charlie to come in and re calibrate us on how important our customer is. His message contained sound advice, humor, and principles to help all of us focus on the importance to the customer! His stories and video clips were invaluable and conveyed a message that inspired all of us to think differently about the customer and ourselves! I would highly recommend Charlie to anyone wanting a passionate, sincere, genuine, funny guy who entertains but yet sends a message at the same time!"
- Rhonda Rogers, Customer Service Manager, Copperfield
"Charlie spoke at our teambuilding event at the RV Hall of Fame and Museum. He gave us a good challenge in a fun way around customer service. It was much needed and well received."
- Troy D. Holland, Partner, McGladrey and Pullen, Certified Public Accountants
"I really related a lot to the things you spoke about regarding Customer Service. I came back to the office energized and full of new ideas to enhance my performance. Thanks again for job well done."
- Eileen Miller, Buying Assistant, The University of Notre Dame
"If you want to get your audience "fired up" about customer service, Charlie Adams is your guy! We brought Charlie in to speak to members of the Durango Chamber of Commerce on the topics of "How to Get a Positive Attitude and Keep the Darn Thing" and "The Spirit of Customer Service." Our members loved Charlie and left the seminar feeling energized and motivated. We had a standing room only crowd!"
- Rita Simon, Durango (CO) Chamber of Commerce

How to Build a Positive Attitude and KEEP the D a r n Thing!!


Charlie Adams achieved success across America as a broadcaster for two major reasons: a radiant positive attitude and a voracious desire to serve customers.

TV Newsrooms are among the top "stress environments" in the world. Constant deadline pressures, low staff, high turnover, never ending customer demands, cramped working conditions, constant holiday work, brutal hours, and on and on! Time and time again, co workers marveled at the always enthusiastic Charlie as they asked him, "How do you stay so positive!?"

He reveals the answers in "How to Build a Positive Attitude and KEEP the D a r n Thing!" The title alone draws a chuckle. It's because Charlie is realistic about a positive attitude. At times, his own attitude squirts away like a watermelon seed. He has found the way, however, to get it right back!

As a broadcaster, Charlie emphasized his coverage on positive news and peak performers. He had remarkable access to people who had found out how to build positive attitudes and keep them! His job was to report on people with incredible attitudes. Day after day he walked back into the newsroom filled with insights on how to stay on fire! He shares the vault of positive attitude wisdom he accumulated over 23 years in such TV markets as New Orleans, Memphis, South Bend and Bakersfield.

Personally, Charlie and his wife Nancy are raising six children, including five girls. One meeting planner joked, "That alone makes you an expert on Attitude, Charlie!"

You will not find a speaker more qualified to speak on Positive Attitude than Charlie Adams. Well, that's baloney. You'll find some, but he will give your people ways to stoke the fire within their positive attitudes. His sincere, heartfelt keynote, seminars and on going training make a lasting difference for good, hard working people who are up to their eyeballs in this "go, go, get it done" world. This program has drawn standing room only crowds in conferences from Chicago to Durango.

Charlie reveals step-by-step how to build a positive attitude from the second you wake up. He shares simple but exciting steps one can take while showering, shaving or putting make up on and driving to work to make profound differences in their attitude. He reveals three powerful steps that can make instant positive changes in your perspectives on everything. He shares simple but effective ways on how to evict negative thoughts from your head, and what to do when someone is up in your face doing their best to 'blow up' your positive attitude.

At times hilarious, Charlie shares how to "put a positive spin" on anything and the gratification from taking chill pills. He enlightens audiences with information on dealing with the petty stuff that can eat you up as well as what to say when someone asks, "How are you?" He shares fun ways that teams can use to create atmospheres of Positive Attitude.

People are craving practical tools to help them stay as positive as possible. This keynote and seminar is an investment that can pay off in many ways for your organization! People go away saying, "You know, I can do some of those things. I can try that other idea." Life gets better. People become more productive.

This program is often used along with "The Spirit of Customer Service" for company Training Days. A positive attitude is a vital part of Customer Service.

Whether your group is made up of educators, bankers, real estate professionals, hospital workers or what-have-you, "How to Build a Positive Attitude and KEEP the D a r n Thing" is an investment in your people that will pay off.

"..warm, upbeat, positive and incredibly inspirational."
- Shelley Smith, Gibson Insurance Group, South Bend, IN
"Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise at the 78th Illinois Credit Union League conference in Chicago. Great things happen with a knowledgeable speaker and a well-presented seminar. 87% of the attendees at 'How to Build a Positive Attitude and Keep the Darn Thing' feel it should be repeated in 2009. One participant wrote your program was 'essential to organizations to maintain good customer relations.' Your conference ratings were excellent! For the Attitude program, you had a 6.48 on a 7.0 scale. Outstanding! And we're getting wonderful feedback from the CUES luncheon where you delivered the 'Stoke the Fire Within' keynote."
- Drew Kayvani, Education Program Developer, Illinois Credit Union League
"Charlie, I got A LOT out of your session! Thank you."
- Moni Helling, Vice President, First National Bank, Durango, CO

Stoke the Fire Within!


This rip roaring program kindles the flames of excellence within your people! It is based on Charlie's third book "Stoke the Fire Within: A Guide to Igniting your Life." Charlie is an expert at putting people in position to get the most out of your meeting, retreat, conference or banquet. The "Stoke" presentation is a meeting planner's delight.

  • It can set the tone and ignite the start of a day long or multiple day event.
  • It can energize the middle of such an event. For example, it can open Day 2.
  • It can end your meeting with a fireball of inspiration and reaffirmation of the message you want everyone to leave with!
  • It can serve as a rousing after-dinner, lunch or breakfast keynote.

Charlie shares the common denominators of success based on the hundreds of remarkable people he covered as a positive news reporter in television news. His original stories enable the audience to leave with refreshed attitudes, greater team spirit, and a reinvigorated determination to reach the goals ahead. "Stoke" has the perfect blend of entertainment, humor and a lasting message of seeking excellence. It stokes the fires within the good, hard working people of your organization.

"Stoke" is flexible enough to be tailored to your theme. Securitas Security Services brought Charlie to Houston to conclude their four-day Leadership Training. Michigan educators brought Charlie to Frankenmuth to open their full day Teacher conference. RSM McGladrey and Pullen brought Charlie in when they were merging two of their offices. Rite of Passage had Charlie ignite their 4 day Retreat in Scottsdale with a rip roaring two hour program on Day One. The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies slated "Stoke" as the breakfast keynote at their conference in Philadelphia. Illinois Credit Union League had Charlie deliver a luncheon keynote on "Stoke" and afternoon breakout session on "How to Build a Positive Attitude and KEEP the D a r n Thing!!" SADD brought Charlie in to address over 700 students in Birmingham and Montgomery in 2007 and 2008.

"Stoke" can be delivered in forms of 30, 45, 60, 90 and 2 hours. This program is being brought to such locations as Scottsdale, AZ, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Montgomery, AL, and Indianapolis in 2008.

"Charlie was the speaker for our annual IVRA conference in Indianapolis. He was awesome!! No other words can describe his program. The hilarious stories and video clips were priceless and they were always accompanied by a message. I would highly recommend him to anyone wanting a genuinely warm and funny guy who entertains and yet sends a message at the same time."
- Nancy Grantz, VP, Indiana Vital Records Association
"Charlie's message was exactly what I had intended as a wrap-up to our two day Teambuilding conference in Mishawaka, IN; he provided the inspiration our team needed to go forth and achieve their new goals."
- Eileen Shue, VP Corporate Resources, Sterling Group
"I was fortunate enough to see Charlie talk at the end of a long week of presentations in Houston. Initially I was prepared for just one more presentation. However, the sheer energy and positivity of Charlie's delivery and message proved to be welcome tonic that acted like a shot of caffeine!"
- Wallace Lavery, Branch Manager, Securitas Security Services USA, Inc.

Contact Charlie today to inspire your people at your important event!