An Evening With Brian Hicks

"Seriously?" I can hear you asking with a great deal of incredulity. "I was just starting to like you, Brian. 'An Evening with...?' Isn't that the kind of thing reserved for Cary Grant or someone with whom people actually want to spend an evening?"

You're exactly right.

Except that you're not.

Or maybe you are.

See, I'm conflicted over this one because here's the bottom line: I wrote an autobiographical one-man show about my journey called, "Brian Unfinished: What happens when a writer asks God for a story to tell?"

But that's quite a mouthful to say or print on a poster or invite a friend to. Isn't it? Seems easier to say simply, "I'm going to this 'Evening with' thing with this writer. I heard it's pretty funny and you might even cry."

What's it about?

When I left the safety of my 20-year career, I had it all figured out. My wife & I had prayed through the decision for nearly 4 years. We included our boys in the process and they were ready to move, too.

The plan was to write a NON-fiction self-help book, make contacts and launch my solo speaking career. After all, I had helped lead the #1 sales team for the #1 company in the world in their industry, and Aflac's duck is practically iconic in pop culture. I'd been speaking and training for 15 years, and consistently received standing ovations.

A solo speaking career was a no-brainer. Slam dunk.

Except that it wasn't.

Everywhere I went, the word was the same. "You need a good story to tell." Believing I needed a better one than I had, I began to ask God to give me one. Here's what I didn't know: When you ask God for a story, you'd better be serious. Because He is.

"Brian Unfinished" is about what happened next, including principles from my novel, The Tinderbox Tapes. It's also about your story. It's about PLUs. It's about recognizing how our "ordinary" story is just as astounding as those we consider extraordinary.

It's a little bit Mark Twain -- or at least the way I imagine Mark Twain did his shows -- combining stand-up style comedy with thought-provoking wisdom.

For more information about scheduling "An Evening With Brian Hicks" at your church or faith-based organization - especially for fundraisers, click here.