Aaron Cross

About

Powerful, enthusiastic, inspirational, driven, resourceful and focused — all of these words describe the award-winning motivational speaker, Aaron Cross. For the last 21 years, Aaron has done performances in one way or another; and as a professional speaker, Aaron has 15 years of experience. Traveling around the country, Aaron has done shows for businesses, conventions and expos, high schools and sports camps. The last three years, Aaron has expanded his career to include being a Life Skills Trainer, helping individuals accomplish their goals in their personal and professional lives.

Aaron takes his personal experiences and changes them into a story that has been said by countless people to make you laugh, cry, be amazed and want to just leave where you are right now and go after every dream you have.

Injured in a bicycle accident when he was 15 years old, Aaron took what most people would say to be a life-ending situation and transformed it into a powerful presentation that has earned him many awards including, Toast Masters of District Six “Speaker of the Year Award” and Augsburg College’s “Key Maker Award.”

In 1997 Aaron graduated from Augsburg College with a degree in Mass Communication with an emphasis in motivational speaking. Since then Aaron has been featured in nationally-syndicated magazines such as Sport’ N Spokes, Paraplegic News, Target, and Spirit Magazine along with being featured on local, regional and national print and electronic media such as ABC, CBS and NBC.

Aaron credits his success to his family and friends who unknowingly created his nationally-renowned presentation “FOCUS on YOUR TARGET.” Aaron is an example of a man who believes in himself and his presentations; he does not just say it, Aaron lives it! “Because life is about living, not wondering,” a mantra that Aaron lives by … that and Eleanor Roosevelt’s immortal statement, “You must try and do the things you think you cannot do.”

Aaron has lived a life most people only dream about; but when it comes to Aaron Cross, he uses his FOCUS to accomplish everything he sets a goal for, including winning a Paralympic medal.

Yes! Aaron is a three-time Paralympian in the sport of archery. In Athens, Greece, 2004, Aaron and his teammates shot their way to the first-ever U.S. medal in the sport of archery at the Paralympic level. In 1991, the doctors told Aaron and his family, “The best thing you can do for him is get him a good color television and a good remote.” Since that day, Aaron has dedicated his life to following his FOCUS and because of his unwavering belief in his FOCUS, Aaron has accomplished much more than a Paralympic medal — if that was not enough. Aaron adds to his life by skydiving, SCUBA diving, marathons, triathlons, duathlons, trap shooting, hunting and the one that stops everyone – he has even done training courses with the U.S. Navy SEALs.

“Life is about living not wondering; so I do the things I think I can not do.”

That is Aaron Cross!

Reviews

“Wow, Amazing, Awesome” (Student’s reaction) “Wonderful! Great program!” (Faculty response)

–Medicine Lake High School, Medicine Lake, MT

“It was the best assembly we have ever had!”

–Adams Edmore School, Edmore, ND

“To whom it may concern: I would like to express how superb Aaron’s presentation, “FOCUS on YOUR TARGET,” was for our school. The students and staff all enjoyed the message Aaron had to share.”

–Maddock Public School, Maddock, ND

“Unbelievable, what a message of strength and power; by the way I think you’re nuts for doing the Navy SEAL Challenge; but what a show of strength and perseverance.”

–Wells Fargo Mortgage

Intro

The following are sample introductions you might use when introducing Aaron Cross to your audience:

Option #1:
“When Aaron Cross traded his 10-speed for a four-wheeler, it wasn’t an all-terrain vehicle — it was a wheelchair. For the last 20 years, Aaron has pushed, crawled, swam, shot and even puked his way to what most people would call their limits.

Today, Aaron is bringing to us his nationally-known and award-winning presentation “FOCUS on YOUR TARGET.” Explaining by “focusing on your target,” anything is possible, and limits are only in your mind’s eye.

Ladies and Gentlemen, here is G. L. Berg’s very own Aaron Cross and “FOCUS on YOUR TARGET.”

Option #2:
“When Aaron Cross traded his 10-speed for a four-wheeler, it wasn’t an all-terrain vehicle — it was a wheelchair. For the last 20 years, Aaron has taken what most people would call a life-ending situation and changed it into an inspirational lifestyle and unforgettable story.

For the last 20 years, Aaron has performed for businesses, conventions, high schools, and sports camps all across the country. He has been featured in nationally-syndicated magazines such as Sport’ N Spokes, Paraplegic News, Target, and Spirit Magazine, along with being featured on local, regional, and national print and electronic media such as ABC, CBS, and NBC.

Ladies and Gentlemen, here is G. L. Berg’s very own Aaron Cross and “FOCUS on YOUR TARGET.”

Rider

In order to give you the best performance possible, Aaron provides the following information as a technical rider to his contract:

Artist requests:

• Ramp or lift (if not available, assistance for getting on and off stage).