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Resilience & Empowerment Coach

Learn how to become the best version of yourself with John Kippen

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Out Now! John' bestselling book, "Playing the Hand you are Dealt"

What is a Resilience & Empowerment Coach?

In the world of personal development, life coaches are everywhere. They come in all shapes and sizes, offering various services to help people improve their lives. However, many of these coaches often provide similar advice and strategies that can feel generic and uninspiring. In contrast, I help my clients with resilience and empowerment struggles, and help individuals not only overcome challenges but also thrive in the face of adversity.

Life coaching has become a popular phenomenon in recent years. Many people seek out life coaches to help them navigate their personal and professional lives. These coaches often offer guidance on goal setting, time management, and achieving work-life balance. While some coaches may have specific expertise in areas like health, relationships, or career development, many provide a broad range of advice that can sometimes feel superficial.

Do you lack Resilence in these areas?

• Lack of Self Respect

• Lack of Self Love

• Quieting your Inner Critic

* Recovering from a Medical Crisis

• Feeling stuck in a relationship

• Being at a crossroads and not knowing the next move

• Going through a " Mid-Life Crisis "

• Finding Happiness and Joy in your life

If you need support in any of these areas, please reach out to me.

John's Unique Approach

 Core Principles
 

  • Loving yourself;overcoming negative thinking

 

Often we are harder on ourselves than others could ever be. This leads to feelings of worthlessness , self loathing and negative thinking. 

Learning to accept us for who we are and what we look like is the first step to loving ourselves. It is difficult to allow others to love us, if we dont first love ourselves. Having a positive mindset and a glass full mentality is crucial to overcome negative thinking. 

 

  • Taking risks, avoiding hiding from life 

Once we learn to love ourselves, we can build positive self affirmations which builds confidence. Building self respect is crucial to feel comfortable in taking risks. Taking risks and stepping out of comfort zones builds resilience.

 

  • Dreaming; envisioning; alignment with goals/purpose

Kids dream which teaches creativity and builds imagination . At some point adults stop dreaming which limits what they can achieve because they become comfortable and stop moving forward. Dreaming builds hope and opens up new possibilities. 

 

  • Finding magic and joy and happiness beauty in your life;Being grateful

Finding beauty and magic in the world around you helps center you and allows you to think clearly to find hope while discovering joy. it gives you the power to slow down and dream thereby seeing opportunities that were always there, but we were blind to them.

 

  • Making Meaningful Connections by being present and listening; empathy . 

Being present in your life allows you to see the possibilities. Following your passions makes you joyful and attractive and interesting to others. This helps build healthy relationships and find love. Helping others is one of the best methods to feeling like we are making a difference in our lives. 
 

  • Community; Putting others first by being generous with your time.

Being generous is contagious and love and empathy for others improves relationships while making you more self assured. 

The John Kippen Approach

How to empower yourself and lead others

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John’s Journey

John Kippen: Turning Adversity into a Legacy of Courage and Magical Connections

Adversity has a way of revealing untapped strengths, pushing us to find purpose in even the most challenging moments. When faced with life-altering changes, some individuals make the courageous choice to redefine their path, inspiring others along the way. John Kippen, a speaker, Life coach and professional magician, is one such individual whose journey stands as a testament to resilience and self-acceptance. 

After a brain tumor left him with facial paralysis and a speech impediment, John embraced his new reality, adopting the mantra, "Being joyful and happy is a choice." Through his magic and storytelling, he invites audiences to see beyond the surface, sharing his journey in his bestselling book, Playing the Hand That You Are Dealt. His life's work reflects the belief that true strength comes from embracing who we are, no matter the obstacles, and using those challenges to empower others. 

Finding Strength in Adversity

John's life began on a familiar path but took an extraordinary turn in June 2002 when he was diagnosed with a 4 cm benign brain tumor known as an Acoustic Neuroma. Though the surgery to remove it was successful, it left him with permanent facial paralysis, deafness in one ear, and a speech impediment. In the wake of these changes, John faced a profound moment of self-reckoning, choosing to accept his "new" face.

When the pandemic normalized face coverings, John humorously found irony in the timing. After years of hiding his face, he'd finally chosen to embrace it—only to have masks mandated for all. Refusing to hide again, he had a face mask printed with his own image, showing the world that he accepted himself completely. This small but significant act inspired others in his community to celebrate their differences as strengths, further embedding his mantra: "Being different is actually your superpower."

Magic as a Mirror

From the moment his uncle pulled a coin from behind his ear, young John Kippen was captivated by magic's enchanting possibilities. That spark grew, carrying him through his teenage years, working in a magic shop and eventually working with the renowned Magician, Doug Henning and performing for Siegfried from Siegfried and Roy. But the path wasn't without hurdles. Joining the prestigious Academy of Magical Arts—better known as The Magic Castle—required John to confront his insecurities and stand under the spotlight, fully visible, despite his facial paralysis.

Performing at the Magic Castle marked a pivotal shift for him. As he took the stage, he came to see that his audience focused less on his face than he did. "I was making more of a deal about my facial paralysis than they were," he reflected. 

Through magic, John saw his true reflection—a self-defined not by appearance but by passion and authenticity. The audience looked past his paralysis, connecting with the genuine spirit behind his illusions. In that way, magic became more than performance; it became a mirror through which John revealed his innermost self, inspiring others to look beyond the surface and embrace their own uniqueness. By sharing his story, John also discovered he wasn't alone; others, too, were concealing personal battles, many due to health challenges. His openness became a source of hope.

Triumph in Words 

With this renewed purpose, John recently released his book, Playing the Hand That You Are Dealt, which climbed to bestseller status at Barnes and Noble within six hours of release. Through this book, John seeks to impart his life's wisdom to readers around the world, offering a message of hope, courage, and empowerment. Each chapter, complete with QR codes linking to videos of John's performances and insights, invites readers into his world.

The book's title, inspired by John's love of poker, symbolizes his philosophy on life. For him, poker isn't just a game; it's a lens into human behavior, a way to read emotions and reactions in various situations. His title is both a nod to his hobby and a life mantra, embodying the true essence it takes to thrive with whatever life deals you.

Lessons from Family Bonds

John's relationship with his father, who struggled with dementia, was a symbol of his creative problem-solving. Unable to communicate verbally, John created a visual scrapbook of familiar items, allowing his father to express his needs despite his cognitive decline. Even in his father's silence, they found ways to communicate, forging a powerful, wordless connection. John's memories of hand squeezes and shared glances remind us that love and understanding can transcend even the toughest barriers.

A Legacy of Gratitude and Impact

John's mission to spread joy through storytelling and magic found an unexpected fan in Alex Trebek, a famous Canadian-American game show host. After hearing of Trebek's openness about his cancer battle, John sought out his family, ultimately performing at the game show host's 75th birthday. 

The two shared a heartfelt moment as John thanked Trebek for the positive impact he had on millions. Trebek, touched by John's gesture, admitted it was rare for someone to acknowledge his life's work. That night, John didn't just perform magic—he practiced gratitude, creating a memory neither would forget.

A Silent Promise of Compassion

For John Kippen, every interaction holds the power to change a life. His purpose sharpened tragically when two close magician friends ended their lives within months of each other. From that point, he made an unbreakable promise to be present for anyone showing signs of distress. This commitment is woven into his life's work—whether he's performing magic or simply offering a listening ear, his goal is always to bring comfort. John believes deeply in the power of genuine kindness, insisting that even the smallest act can make a difference.

Life's Rolodex: Staying Connected

One of John's pandemic-born inventions was a game he called "Rolodex Roulette," a way to reconnect with people from the past by randomly scrolling through contacts and calling whoever appeared. This playful practice led to reconnections, healed old wounds, and reminded him of the power of reaching out. Through simple gestures, John shows us that time is one of the greatest gifts we can offer.

A New Face, a Familiar Kindness

One dinner alone at a restaurant presented John with a child's innocent question: "Mr., what's wrong with your face?" John saw an opportunity for empathy and education, meeting the boy at eye level and explaining his story. He transformed a potentially awkward moment into a chance for connection, showing the child—and the boy's parents—that differences should be met with understanding, not fear. In every moment, big or small, John's life exemplifies kindness, courage, and a willingness to turn challenges into teachable moments.

Through his journey, John Kippen redefines resilience. From stages across the country to intimate conversations with strangers, his life is an embodiment of the power of authenticity, kindness, and living one's truth unapologetically. In John's words, it's not the face we show the world that defines us but the heart we share within it.

A Lasting Impact, One Interaction at a Time

John's perspective on magic and life extends beyond the stage. Whether it's making his business card float or delighting a waiter by levitating his credit card, he uses magic to leave a memorable impression, making every interaction feel extraordinary. Through these small gestures, he builds a bridge of connection and humanity, creating memories that linger.

In John's eyes, magic isn't just about the trick; it's a conduit for connection, a way to rekindle people's sense of wonder. This approach, along with his unwavering commitment to empathy and his creative vision, has made him a mentor, a friend, and an inspiration to countless people.

Reflecting on Life's Purpose

John's life is filled with lessons—both hard-won and joyfully shared. His philosophy, as expressed in Playing the Hand That You Are Dealt, is simple yet profound: happiness is a choice. His goal isn't just to entertain or even inspire but to remind others to stop, take stock, and embrace the beauty and mystery of life. Every time he performs, or coaches, every page of his book is a call for readers and audiences alike to live authentically, with kindness and courage.

For John, magic, life, and compassion are intricately connected. His work is a reflection of the transformative power of grit, a call to see beyond appearances, and a reminder that we each hold the power to create moments of wonder in the lives of those around us. Through his unique voice and visionary approach, John Kippen leaves an indelible mark on the world, one act of kindness at a time.

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