Tony Brigmon

Tony Brigmon Speaking Topics

• FUNomenal™Communication: From Blah to Bam! The Communication Secrets to Communicate, Connect & Influence!

  We live in a world where everyone is fighting to be heard — yet the most magnetic people in the room are rarely the loudest. In this energizing and immediately actionable talk, Tony Brigmon reveals why the greatest communicators aren't the best talkers — they're the best listeners.

  Drawing on his experience as the official Ambassador of FUN for Southwest Airlines during their Golden Era, and unforgettable lessons from legends like Herb Kelleher and Fred Rogers, Tony shares the FUNomenal™ F.O.R.D. framework: a proven system for making authentic connections in any room, with anyone, in minutes.

  Whether you're networking, leading a team, or simply trying to be better in everyday conversations, this talk will transform the way you show up for the people around you.

  Attendee Results:

  • Master the FUNomenal™ F.O.R.D. method (Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams) to build instant rapport and genuine connection with anyone.

  • Discover why the legendary conversationalist is usually the quietest person in the room — and how to use generous curiosity as your greatest communication superpower.

  • Learn to escape "Spotlight Steve" mode and stop performing connection — so you can start experiencing it.

  • Walk away with practical conversation starters and follow-up techniques that make people feel truly seen and heard.

  • Build the habit of asking better questions so every interaction — professional or personal — leaves others energized and eager to engage with you again.

• FUNomenal™ Leadership: From Nightmare to Dream Team

  The difference between a Nightmare team and a Dream Team isn’t talent — it’s leadership. In this powerful and energizing talk, Tony Brigmon draws on the legendary leadership philosophy of Herb Kelleher, co-founder of Southwest Airlines, to show how injecting genuine fun and positivity into the workplace isn’t just a feel-good idea — it’s a proven competitive strategy.

  Southwest Airlines built one of the most celebrated workplace cultures in history not in spite of having fun, but because of it. Tony brings that playbook to life with his memorable L.E.A.D. framework, giving leaders at every level a practical, people-first approach to building teams that are motivated, aligned, and unstoppable.

  As Tony puts it: “If the Dream is not a Team Dream, you cannot have a Dream Team. But what you will have is a Nightmare — only this one will be Real.”

  Attendee Results:

  • Master the L.E.A.D. framework (Listen, Energize, Affirm, Deliver) to build a culture where people don’t just show up — they show out.
  • Understand why a positive, vibrant atmosphere isn’t a luxury but the essential fuel behind every high-performing Dream Team.
  • Learn how listening with the heart — not just the ears — unlocks what your team truly needs to thrive and collaborate at their best.
  • Discover how affirming individuals transforms a job into a mission, turning ordinary employees into deeply committed contributors.
  • Walk away with actionable strategies to deliver the “Wow” — leading your team toward a brighter, more energized future together.

• The FUN-omenal™ Workplace: Energizing People & Culture with the Positive Power of FUN!

  Tony Brigmon is serious about having fun—serious fun with serious results. He served as the official Ambassador of FUN for Southwest Airlines during their legendary Golden Era in the 1980s, a time when fun wasn’t just encouraged; it was the engine behind one of the most remarkable success stories in aviation history.

  Thanks to his admittedly questionable spelling skills, Tony made an early discovery: his name spelled backward is “YNOT.” As in, “YNOT learn how to use fun to get more done—and bring out the best in everyone?”

  Fun was the power of positivity that helped catapult a small regional carrier into a force that permanently changed the airline industry. And it can do the same for your organization.

  About the Session:

  This interactive session gives participants a rare opportunity to have fun and learn together—simultaneously. The FUNomenal™ Workplace presentation blends interactive, fun-filled activities with compelling stories and proven positivity practices.

  The session is grounded in the 3 E’s Framework: Energize – Engage – Enrich, and further brought to life through the 3 Views: PreView, HereView, and ReView. Together, these tools are designed to help participants:

  • Kick-start their day with positive energy and intention
  • Navigate their workday with greater productivity and less stress
  • Close each day on the best possible note

  The S.M.I.L.E. Framework:

  The FUNomenal™ positivity best practices are organized around the S.M.I.L.E. acronym, making them simple to remember and easy to apply. With consistent practice, participants can become FUNomenal™ themselves—more engaging, more positive, and irresistibly compelling in every interaction.

  Serious fun. Serious results. YNOT?

• The FUNomenal™ Way: Unleash Your Resilience and Thrive Through Any Challenge

  Inspired by Herb Kelleher’s enduring legacy and Southwest Airlines’ legendary culture, this presentation reveals eight proven resilience principles that empower individuals and organizations to do more than simply survive—they prevail, and they thrive.

  Drawing on real-world observations and first-hand experience from Southwest’s 1980s golden era, Tony Brigmon takes audiences on a captivating journey through the award-winning culture and customer service strategies that transformed a small regional carrier into an industry giant.

  “Herb Kelleher knew that if people are bound by love, empowered to do the right thing, have the freedom to be themselves, follow the Golden Rule, work hard, have fun, remain humble—then they would be prepared to not just survive, but prevail and thrive through any challenge.” — Gary Kelly, CEO, Southwest Airlines

  The Eight Proven Resilience Principles

  1. Bound by Love: Doing what you love—and bringing love to what you do
  2. Empowered to Do the Right Thing: Making the right call for the customer, every time
  3. Freedom to Be Yourself: Showing up as the best, most authentic version of you
  4. Follow the Golden Rule: Treating others the way you want to be treated
  5. Work Hard: Bringing full attention and effort to everything you do
  6. Have Fun: Having more fun together—getting more done together
  7. Remain Humble: Sharing the credit so everyone shines
  8. Persevere: Learning from what works—and what doesn’t

  What Attendees Will Discover

  • How to foster unwavering team cohesion rooted in shared values
  • Strategies for instilling empowerment and ethical decision-making at every level
  • Ways to cultivate environments where authenticity and individuality flourish
  • Practices for building a culture of mutual respect and genuine care
  • How to maintain humility while celebrating team and individual success
  • Actionable tools to navigate adversity with confidence and emerge stronger

  Participants leave with practical tools to adopt and adapt these timeless principles within their own organizations—building profound resilience, navigating adversity with confidence, and creating experiences that keep people engaged and coming back for more.