Mark Dillof | Transformational Speaker

About The Wonder Seminars

Every thoughtful person has a rendezvous with the ultimate questions, if not by midlife, then certainly during a life transition or a crisis. These questions include:

“Who really am I?” “How should life be lived?”
“What’s the purpose of human existence?”
“Why is there always something lacking?”

Even apart from the incredible insights we can gain, reflecting deeply on these perplexing questions engenders wonder, amazement, awe and “cosmic belly laughter” — all very healing to body, mind and spirit. The Wonder Seminars seeks to foster these insights.

Here, though, is a practical question: How can The Wonder Seminars help your organization? What is their (ROI) Return on Investment? To find out click here. To have Dr. Dillof present The Wonder Seminars to your organization, call: 502-458-7171 or e-mail: mdillof@verizon.net

More about The Wonder Seminars

The Wonder Seminars
are Thought-Provoking!
Illuminating! Transformational!

The Wonder Seminars is essentially a philosophical detective adventure. Clues to life’s deepest mysteries can be found everywhere! They’re in our refrigerator and on our desk at work. Once you’re ably to decipher these everyday clues, life becomes a lot more interesting and meaningful.

You will also learn the ancient secrets to transforming life’s annoyances, disappointments and calamities into the type of illuminating insights that lead to liberating laughter.

The Wonder Seminars consist of “Your Life is a Mystery Story” and “Laughter & Liberation.” The latter takes up where the former leaves off, transforming the day into a wondrous, mind-expanding and life-changing experience.

The Wonder Seminars are perfect for a variety of organizations, from businesses to associations, from medical groups to colleges. To have Dr. Dillof present The Wonder Seminars to your organization call: 502-458-7171 or e-mail: mdillof@verizon.net

Even More about The Wonder Seminars

There exist insights that have the power to free us from confusion, perplexity and woe. Insights of this sort are usually associated with Zen Buddhism and other Eastern spiritual practices. But some years ago, Mark Dillof stumbled upon two secret sources of these life-changing insights:

1. Our everyday interests, desires, conflicts and anxieties
2. Comedy, in all its forms, from jokes to humorous situations

Consequently, The Wonder Seminars consists of two seminars. The first is called “Your Life is a Mystery Story”. And the second is called, “Laughter and Liberation.” If you attend The Wonder Seminars, you will gain powerful insights from both those sources. Ideally, these seminars should be taken consecutively, so that a synergy can emerge. Here are blurbs for each:

Your Life is a Mystery Story

Attendees at a seminar having a cosmic epiphany

Clues to life’s profoundest enigmas can be found in your refrigerator, at the golf course, on your desk at work — everywhere! A glass of scotch, a workplace conflict & a new hairstyle aren’t simply what they appear to be. They’re clues to life’s profoundest mysteries! Indeed, a lost golf ball can be a doorway into the meaning of life. And a toasted corn muffin — if we’re able to fathom its secret — can lead us to the highest wisdom and enlightenment.

In this seminar, you’ll learn to examine our interests, desires, conflicts and anxieties for clues to the riddle of human existence. We’ll also explore the deeper meaning of the dark side of life — everything from job conflicts to nightmares. Illuminating the dark side is the quickest route to gaining the type of insights leading to inner-peace.

Laughter & Liberation

Comedian transforming angst, misery,
despair and car problems into laughter.

Some of the silliest jokes are far profounder than one might suspect. Quite often they reveal the galling contradictions that lie at the heart of the human condition. So it is that wisdom hides behind a comic mask.

Some theologians have argued that God’s fundamental way of communicating to us is through a series of practical jokes. Once we get the joke, though, we need no longer suffer what the ancient Greeks referred to as the laughter of the gods. Thus the purpose of this seminar is to get it!

To better understand the comic spirit, we shall explore its antithesis, namely seriousness. So much of the stresses and strains from which people suffer involves a taking themselves far too seriously. Both laughter and seriousness will offer us clues to who we are and what life is all about.

So there you have it — mystery, comedy, a farewell to confusion and perplexity, and a journey to mystical awakening. Not a bad way to spend the day! What, though, might management consultant Peter Drucker have said about the benefits to organizations of The Wonder Seminars? Click here for the answer

To arrange for Dr. Dillof to offer The Wonder Seminars to your organization, call (502) 458-7171 or email: mdillof@verizon.net

The Wonder Seminars are Illuminating!
Entertaining! Transformational!

Why settle for another motivational speaker, when you can engage the services of a transformational speaker! Dr. Dillof ‘s illuminating seminars are bound to be a big hit with your organization! Click here to request promotional material.

“In an entrepreneurial society individuals face a tremendous challenge, a challenge they need to exploit as an opportunity: the need for continuous learning and relearning…In traditional society it…was assumed that learning came to an end with adolescence or, at the latest, with adulthood…There were, of course, always exceptions, some groups that practiced continuous learning and relearning: the great artists and the great scholars, Zen monks, mystics, the Jesuits. But these exceptions were so few that they could safely be ignored…In the entrepreneurial society, however, these ‘exceptions’ become the exemplars.”

— Peter Drucker, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

We’ll never know for sure, but there’s excellent reason to suspect that Peter Drucker would have heartily approved of The Wonder Seminars, for organizations that value innovative thinking.

Philosophical Wisdom as
Competitive Advantage!

Dr. Dillof’s seminars offer invaluable benefits to individuals and, consequently, for the organizations with which they’re affiliated:

* Equanimity— You’ll learn the ancient secret to transforming life’s hardships into wisdom and liberating laughter. This is of enormous value to anyone seeking a happier and more fulfilling life. It’s particularly valuable if you’re wishing to enhance your leadership skills, for the ability to remain calm and centered, amidst life’s vicissitudes, is a rare virtue.
* Mind Expansion— These seminars are designed to expand consciousness, which spurs creativity and innovation.
* Healing Transcendence —They engender various forms of transcendence, including wonder, amazement, awe and cosmic belly laughter. These elevated states of being have enormous healing potential, for body, soul and spirit. They lead to a reduction in stress, stress-related illnesses, and health care costs.
* Self-knowledge — which one of the primary benefits of these seminars — sharpens our focus, preventing us from seeking that which lies beyond the purview of our expertise (a malady endemic to both individuals and the companies they manage.)
* World Domination — Wisdom is a rare commodity, which is why those who obtain it have a powerful competitive advantage, in business and in the business of living. Is it any surprise, then, that Alexander the Great was a student of Aristotle? So why settle for contemplating the world, when you can conquer it!
* The Buddha Smile— At its deeper levels, these seminars foster inner-peace and self-realization. We find ourselves able to smile like a Buddha, amidst this most perplexing affair called “human existence.” I.E., we gain what the ancient Greek philosophers called “ataraxia,” the robust tranquility, which is a byproduct of wisdom.

Of course, it’s unlikely that those who attend The Wonder Seminars will immediately become as wise as King Solomon, nor will they will suddenly achieve the inner-peace of Buddha. That said, attendees can certainly make great strides! So why wait? Contact Dr. Dillof today so that he can offer his seminars to your organization! Call him at (502) 458- 7171 or e-mail him at: mdillof@verizon.net.

P.S. Designed Not to Fade Over Time!

The enthusiasm generated by a motivational speaker usually fades by the next day. And the ideas presented by business speakers — on leadership, or customer service, for example — prove to be just as transient. By contrast, deep insights into life — like those that you will gain from these seminars — are irrevocable. Rather than being a motivational speaker, Dr. Dillof is, therefore, a transformational speaker.

Furthermore, if enough people in your company or association experience these philosophical epiphanies, a tipping point is reached. Consequently, the culture of your organization significantly improves and becomes akin to what has been called a “learning organization.” This organizational transformation is accelerated when those in attendance include mid-level and senior executives.

P.P.S. Why call them “Wonder Seminars?”

As Socrates stated, “Philosophy begins in wonder.” Wonder spurs us to ask deep questions and to discover amazing things, not least of all ourselves. Secondly, being in the state of wonderment, just in itself, has healing power.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What’s the ideal venue for your seminars?
Answer: Preferably under 100 people. I’d rather not be on a stage, for then it’s a performance rather than an intimate seminar. An elevated platform is OK. An “off-campus” organizational retreat is nice, for then people are more relaxed.

Question: What’s your ideal type of audience?
Answer: Attendance should be voluntarily. Those who attend should do so because the topic is interesting.

Question: What are your seminars like?
Answer: Although I introduce a plethora of powerful ideas, the seminars are really conversations between the attendees and me. This proves to be the most interesting, lively and engaging format.

Question: How long are the seminars?
Answer: They vary in length, from 90 minutes to 6 hours.

Question: What is your fee?
Answer: $8,000 to $12,000 plus travel & hotel, for most of the U.S. and Canada. Fee varies with seminar length and travel distance. West Coast: $15,000. International: $20,000 and up. Discounted fee, if venue is near my home in Louisville, KY or if you’re a not-for-profit. 50% deposit required. I accept credit cards, using PayPal, or a check.

Question: What should participants bring to the seminar?
Answer: A notebook and some pens. Written handouts will be provided.

Question: How can you be reached?
Answer: 502-458-7171 mdillof@verizon.net. More contact info

Question: Do you customize your seminars for a particular audience?
Answer: Yes, I do! Prior to a seminar, I confer with someone from your organization, to learn about the history, challenges and opportunities facing your organization, and your industry.

Question: Who are the people in the photo?
Answer: One tough audience!

About Dr. Mark Dillof

Dr. Dillof has had a long and varied career (See video). Engaging in various trades has helped him to see life from a multitude of perspectives. His work as a management consultant helped him to better understand the problems that organizations face. And his career as a professional magician contributed to his engaging presentational style. He has taught philosophy and psychology at a number of universities.

Since 1987, he has had a private practice offering philosophical counseling. (See: www.platosattache.com and www.deeperquestions.com) Many of the insights and ideas that Dr. Dillof presents in these seminars originated from the popular groups that he held for many years, while residing in Binghamton, NY, prior to relocating to Louisville, KY.

Dr. Dillof earned a BA and an MA in philosophy, from Binghamton University, an MA is psychology from the New School for Social Research, and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in philosophy and psychology from Union Institute and University. He is a member of the National Speaker’s Association, the American Counseling Association, and the St. Mathews, KY Chamber of Commerce.

Books by Mark Dillof

Testimonials

“Mark Dillof offered a seminar to our company, this past June, as part of a two-day, team-building event. We needed someone to address the stress we often experience, due to our obsession with customer service, in a business that is extremely competitive. Dr. Dillof did a really great job exploring that occupational stress with us. […]

— Mike Pierce, CEO
I-Wireless
Louisville, KY

“I first met Dr. Mark Dillof at a weekly single’s group that he ran, here in Louisville, from September 2012 to April 2013. At the beginning of each meeting, prior to the group discussion, Mark would deliver a monologue, revolving around life’s challenges. These 15-minute introductions were incredibly insightful, and often very humorous! Here, then, […]

— Carolina Salinger, MBA
Louisville, KY

“Dr. Dillof gave a seminar to our company, last May, as part of our corporate retreat. He is a very entertaining and engaging speaker. His thoughts on business and the business of living are very deep! His website video shows him addressing a small group, but he is equally effective before a larger audience. Dr. Dillof […]

— Michelle Heffernan
Senior Director of Marketing & Client Services, Papa John’s International, Inc. Louisville, KY

“Of the many seminars we’ve held over the years, Mark Dillof’s “Wonder Seminars” was the most thought- provoking. Dr. Dillof revealed that the challenges we face running a not-for-profit are intimately related to life’s deeper questions! People here are still talking about Dr. Dillof; we are now thinking of having him return. I highly recommend […]

— Danny Edwards, Director
Navigate Enterprise Center
Louisville, KY

“Some years ago, I managed a department of forty-seven technical writers for IBM, in Endicott, New York. We were going through a rather severe retrenchment and I had to layoff almost half my staff. Morale became abysmally low, even for those who didn’t receive pink slips. Cut to chase: I contacted Mark Dillof. Two weeks […]

— Robert Manuel
Lockheed Martin, Inc.
Owego, NY

“Mark Dillof is remarkable speaker! His Wonder Seminars really shed light on my present challenges, in business and in life. He, quite rightly, bills himself as “America’s Premier Philosophical Entertainer.” When you get fellow who possesses the wisdom of Socrates coupled with the charisma of Elvis, you know he’s really going to go places. That’s […]

— Tommy Singleton
Singleton British Media, Ltd. Nashville, TN