About the Speaker
Austin J. Franklin is the CEO and Co-founder of Good-Natured Life, LLC. The company was established in 2015 when he was 20 years old and a junior at Hampden-Sydney College. The mission of the company is to spread kindness, friendliness, and patience (KFP) and to uplift minds across the world.
Mr. Franklin completed Harvard Business School's prestigious pre-MBA program. Also, he received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Rollins College's Crummer Graduate School of Business.
Mr. Franklin is a certified speaker, consultant, and trainer. Additionally, he is the author of a book entitled, Wake, Rise, and Smile and a workbook entitled, A Literary Guide to Wake, Rise, and Smile.
Austin Franklin has had the opportunity to inspire educators and thousands of youth through his inspirational messages, publications, and Q&A sessions. He has served as a four-time commencement speaker, named the 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaker for the City of Green Cove Springs and was named as a "Leader Under 40 Changing Lives" as a Community Pearls Award recipient. Franklin is currently a member of Leadership Jacksonville - Next Generation.
Mr. Franklin has also been a guest on Channel 4's Morning Show, 107.9's Radio Show, and NPR's StoryCorps podcast (which is archived at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC).
Tour Details & Results
Austin J. Franklin inspired over 10,000 middle school, high school, and college-aged youth. He delivered an engaging and inspirational message to help students unlock their internal greatness. Each youth received a copy of his book Wake, Rise, and Smile, for their personal libraries. Following the message, Mr. Franklin conducted a stimulating book discussion and Q & session. During most of the tour stops, Mr. Franklin was able to add a book-signing and photo opportunity.
The tour was from October 2019 until February 2020. The average tour experience was about 1.5 hours.
According to the student survey results, after the tour experience:
1) 91.6% of students felt they now had a stronger and more positive view of themselves,
2) 91.8% of students felt more hopeful about their future,
3) 88.7% of students felt equipped to handle difficult situations in their life, and
4) 87.5% of students felt they had gained more self-love.
What were the students able to gain as tour participants?
Learning Takeaways:
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Students learned the impact that sacrifice has on one's life.
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Students now understand that they possess internal greatness.
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Students now understand the importance of tapping into their hidden credentials.
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Students learned that perceived negative situations in life are often building blocks to their destiny.
5. Students now understand that being physically and mentally fit are equally important.
Expected Outcomes:
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Students feeling more valued and better understanding that their lives matter.
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Students feeling more confident in their abilities to achieve more in school and in life.
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Students becoming motivated to display better conduct and behavior.
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Students feeling inspired to rise above life's difficulties.
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Students having an overall improved state of mind.
What People Say . . .
"Wake, Rise, and Smile is a brilliant, perceptive, and captivating book. Austin Franklin distinctly understands, captures, and delivers life-changing principles for everyone to lie by for a highly fulfilling and successful life. His central message of rising above life's challenges while remaining good-natured is truly inspiring! Keep this book among your most treasured collections, read it again when life throws you a curve, and boost your motivation to reach new heights."
Dale Jones, Chancellor
Chief Academic Officer
Penn-State Wilkes-Barre