Early steps – how Michael became a leader
Michael Broome is founder and president of Tomorrow’s America Foundation, which administers the Broyhill Leadership Conference and the Broyhill Youth Retreat for Girls. He is also the author of the BLC Handbook.
When Michael was a kid, he loved to be outdoors. He was a very active and independent little boy. On frequent visits to his grandparents who lived on a farm, Michael and his older brother ran and played in the woods. They swam and fished in the pond.
As he got older, he loved the game of football and played with a level of enthusiasm that was quite serious for an 8 year old. He played for a large youth league and was a feisty running back - #32. Never one to quit, Michael was all in and was extremely competitive. However, when he was in junior high, after taking several hard tackles over an extended time, he injured his back which eventually ended his football “career.”
All the hard practice and competition on the football field was finished. The camaraderie of his teammates and the interaction with his coaches came to an abrupt end. An observant teacher noticed the change in Michael’s attitude. He was downcast, unhappy and somewhat disengaged from his classmates. She suggested that he get involved in student government. He decided to run for student body president. Michael discovered he had the gift of gab and telling goofy jokes (he still does). He enlisted friends to make campaign posters and help spread the word that “Broome for President was a Clean SWEEP!” He shook hands with his classmates and asked for their vote. He even dressed to look different and more mature than his opponents and to get others to listen to him and pay attention to what he had to say. His peers responded to his humor and unconventional leadership style. He was elected president of his junior high school.
Michael continued on his leadership journey to be elected Student Body President in high school and two years in college. Although he had a lot of fun being in student government, Michael always took his role seriously and applied the lessons learned from both success and failures. As a leader, he was sometimes met with apathy from students or his peers in student government. He learned to listen to others; he became skilled in responding, not reacting. Solving challenges on campus or with a specific group of disgruntled students honed his skill in conflict resolution. Michael discovered creative ways to get others to cooperate and work toward a common goal. He used humor, but he also figured out to make others feel important and that their goals were just as important.
His many varied experiences led him to a career in motivational speaking. From the gridiron to the podium, Michael utilized his leadership, goal setting, communication, problem solving and relationship skills to become a leader as a young boy and teen. Those topics sound familiar – they are the cornerstones of the Broyhill Leadership Conference and our curriculum.
Delegates who attend BLC are introduced to these concepts and are invited to dive into what they mean to you and how to improve your level of insight and success. From reading and group discussions to individual goal setting … to practicing problem solving with a time limit via a crazy activity … to identifying the type of leader you are based on your personality … to fun competitive events with all delegates vying to be the best. This is BLC! JOIN US.
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