(Fancy) Like Thanksgiving

Could you imagine waiting 17 years to hit your goal?

This week's Borrowed Genius is a former Premiere Speakers agent who did just that.

Walker Hayes, who worked at Premiere from around 2003-2004, has a documentary film out about his smash hit/cultural phenomenon "FancyLike". (It's crazy, but this is the second time this year that I get to highlight a movie about a former Premiere Speakers Bureau colleague.? Earlier this year, we went to the premiere of our former warehouse worker turned Grammy-winning artist of For King and Country, Joel Smallbone, who starred in the movie about his family, Unsung Hero.)

Jokingly, I've told Walker that I'm at least partially responsible for his success.? As part of his agent training, he went to lunch with me and a client to talk about speakers at J. Alexanders. (Admittedly, "Fancy Like J. Alexanders isn't quite as catchy as "FancyLike Applebees".).? As we were walking back to the car, he said, "How do you do that?"

"How do I do what?"

"How do you tell those little three-minute stories?"

I told him how?I'd work on having little three-minute stories for all of our top speakers, trying to make the stories interesting with a little bit of humor, instead of just listing facts.

Now, Walker has created several three-minute stories (set to music) that are interesting with a little bit of humor.? It's a stretch that I helped him be successful, but hey, but that's all I've got :).

Walker is a genuinely nice guy.? In addition to being someone I trained as an agent, we also played on several men's basketball teams together, hung out with our wives and growing families (our oldest children were born about the same time), and just did life together for a while.? He's come close to success a few times before this- People Magazine named him as the sexiest 38-year-old one year (Jay-Z won my age category, darn it) but everything clicked with that song.

The documentary talks about their struggles- Walker was a functioning alcoholic for a while, he and Laney lost a baby, and they had the financial struggles that any aspiring artist goes through, especially one with six kids.? He also talks about those who helped him, like his neighbor and now co-author, Craig Allen Cooper.

This season, if you're looking for something to watch with the family, after you've had your annual showing of a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Home Alone, make sure to check out Walker's documentary "Fancy Like". [Trailer here].??

Walker and I reconnected a few years ago at a nonprofit event for Hope International.? Walker has used his platform, even traveling to Rwanda, to raise money to help people in poverty start their own businesses to support themselves.? I'm really proud of him and it's awesome to see what he's done.

So remember, if you're ever about to give up on your dream, just keep pushing.

Brian Lord is the President of Premiere Speakers Bureau and the host of the Beyond Speaking Podcast. A 29-year speaking and entertainment industry veteran who started his first agency in his dorm room, Brian has done everything from running a non-profit and writing a comic strip to coaching youth softball and competing for TeamUSA in the Duathlon Age Group World Championships in Romania in 2022. He and his wife Krista enjoy raising their four kids outside of Nashville.