Jason Barger

Jason Barger is a globally celebrated Author/Speaker/Consultant and creator of the "Step Back from the Baggage Claim" Movement - featured in the New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, Kiplinger, Book TV, and many other spots worldwide. 

Prior to sleeping in airports and observing human behavior, Barger led over 1700 people to construct 125 houses internationally for families living in poverty as well as implemented the Streets Mission Project to serve the homeless on the streets of Columbus, Ohio. As the former Director of First Community Church's Camp Akita, he designed programming focused on living with joy, love, compassion, faith, and service for over 1900 campers a summer.  

Jason is a graduate of Denison University, where he served as Captain of the men's basketball team, and also received certification from Georgetown University in Nonprofit Executive Management. In 2004, he was one of five people in Columbus, Ohio to receive a Jefferson Award, a national award given to "Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things".  

Today, Jason and his wife, Amy, and their three children, Will, Benton and Brooke, live in Columbus, Ohio. Jason is a sought-after Keynote Speaker, visionary, and consultant. As founder of Step Back Leadership Consulting LLC, he works with organizations that are passionate about Culture Change, Leadership Development, Innovation, Service, Social Responsibility, and bringing their Mission to life every day.

• 3. Turning the Ketchup Bottle Upside Down: Infusing Creativity in Your Life & Work

  One of the biggest challenges all leaders, teams, and organizations face is being able to see their work with new eyes. In the fast-paced, do more with less, "create on demand" world we live in today, the easiest thing is to just do things the same way we did them yesterday. When we cling too tightly to the status quo, we squelch new ideas, possibilities, and solutions.
  
  Turning the Ketchup Bottle Upside Down is about infusing creativity and empowering us every day to dwell in possibility. This speech challenges participants to think differently and see how it can propel their life & work forward. Thinking creatively is a skill that is meant to be practiced.
  
  Takeaways from this speech:
  • New ways to think about your life & work
  • Techniques for how to implement more creativity & innovation as part of your ongoing ethic
  • How teamwork, collaboration, and perspective influence outcomes
  • How the "Curse of Knowledge" impacts our ability to communicate our vision or see new alternatives

• 2. 21st Century Leadership: 7 Key Attributes For Success

  It's no secret that we live in a fast-changing, global world. The generational shift is happening even as we speak, we're adjusting to differing economic climates, and styles of communication are evolving as rapidly as ever. The path ahead requires specific skills that haven't always been developed.
  
  7 key attributes of 21st Century Leadership are needed in order to thrive in the future. Are you a Servant-Leader, Storyteller, Collaborator, Innovator, Daredevil, Adaptable, Global Citizen? The very best leaders, teams, and organizations infuse 21st Century Leaderhship throughout their DNA.
  
  Takeaways from this speech:
  • Definition & examples of the skills needed for 21st Century Leadership
  • The importance of telling YOUR compelling story inside & outside of your walls
  • How "daring to begin" plays a vital role in moving beyond the status quo
  • Action items for you and your team to take flight

• 1. Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Visionary Leadership, Purpose & Progress

  Every individual, team, and organization needs to Step Back from the Baggage Claim every once in a while and revisit why and where they're traveling. In the fast-paced global world we live in today, it is easy to find ourselves rushing from task to task, project to project, and meeting to meeting. In our hectic rush to claim what we're trying to accomplish, we can often lose sight of our mission, vision, and disrupt our organizational culture along the way.
  
  Stepping Back from the Baggage Claim is about gaining new perspective as individual leaders and powerful teams. When we take the time to Step Back, we are able to move forward with excellence.
  
  Takeaways from this speech:
  • The "why" of your work: Purpose, Perspective & Progress
  • A better appreciation for your teammates and vision for the future
  • Introduction to the skills needed for 21st Century Leadership
  • How to create an EPIC culture for your team and clients
  • Inspiration to make a difference on the next leg of your journey

• Jason, and his book, aspire to make a difference - and are doing so as more people put this spirit into action in their organizations. He offers valuable reminders and simple principles that can guide the leadership actions you take in your own life and business. In the midst of obstacles, delays, and cancellations in business, the way your people respond to challenges will determine your level of success. I hope you’ll join his movement.

  Howard Behar, former President, Starbucks International

• To Step Back from the Baggage Claim means to exit the rat race, if only for a moment. The disciplined practice creates the space, a kind of opening that allows us to observe our blind spots, home to our hidden assumptions and taken for granted presuppositions. In the act of ‘stepping back’ we make room for new ways of being and thinking, allowing our best selves and our best leadership to emerge. Jason's presentation to our staff was a hit. He has the genuine ability to be present with others in the moment. Because he 'shows up' 100%, the audience is fully engaged as well. His relatedness as a person embodies the basis of a culture of effective communication.

  Dr. Chip Souba, Dean, Dartmouth Medical School

• Barger’s visit to JupiterFIRST Church was a sweeping success. He is a gifted speaker and his message about serving the world is refreshing and transforming. He embodies the wisdom of ‘dropping our swords to pick up our paint brushes’. Great stuff!

  Dr. Barry Johnson, Jupiter First Church (Jupiter, Florida)

• In the same way Mark Twain considered himself a 'prodigious noticer,' Jason Barger takes the obvious things that surround us when we travel through airports and uses them to illustrate profound life truths. Step Back from the Baggage Claim is a delightful little book that will cause you to think thoughts you probably should have been thinking already! Jason does a great job showing us how to 'travel through life gracefully.'

  Chris Brady, Bestselling Co-Author of "Launching a Leadership Revolution"

• Jason is a remarkable speaker with a tremendous amount of energy and dedication to both doing good in the world and helping others become successful. He finds creative ways to engage everyone around him into working to their ultimate potential. I loved watching him captivate our students with positive reinforcement, humanity, humility, and passion.

  University of Cincinnati

• Jason's message was extremely well-received by our students, staff, faculty, and corporate partners who were also present at the event. Jason spoke as the keynote to one of our annual signature events for our students. He tailored his speech to address the theme of our event and spoke of the ripple effect that we can all be a part of in our everyday actions, our ability to be servant leaders, and the importance of community. He engaged in genuine conversations with our students and staff after he spoke, which gained great credibility with our student population. I have no doubt that Jason would be an asset to many schools and organizations of all kinds.

  University of Minnesota

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  January 2012

  Step Back from the Baggage Claim - EDUCATION EDITION

  Jason Barger spent seven straight days flying 6,548 miles to seven different cities - living only in the airports the entire time. He studied 10,000 minutes of observations at all four corners of the U.S. and reflected on how air travel can teach us about our lives TODAY. The airport metaphor leaps to life with funny and inspiring anecdotes that raise the question, what kind of leadership is needed within our schools? In a busy and mobile world, Step Back from the Baggage Claim is a refreshing call for Servant Leadership, Mission, Culture Change, Innovation, and Collective Responsibility. Join the Movement.

  
  
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  April 2011

  Step Back From The Baggage Claim - HEALTHCARE LEADER EDITION

  Jason Barger spent seven straight days flying 6,548 miles to seven different cities - living only in the airports the entire time. He studied 10,000 minutes of observations at all four corners of the U.S. and reflected on how air travel can teach us about our lives TODAY. The airport metaphor leaps to life with funny and inspiring anecdotes that raise the question in this edition, what kind of leadership is needed within healthcare? In a busy and mobile world, Step Back from the Baggage Claim is a refreshing call for Servant Leadership, Mission, Culture Change, Innovation and Care. Join the Movement.

  
  
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  September 2010

  Step Back From The Baggage Claim - BUSINESS LEADER EDITION

  Jason Barger spent seven straight days flying 6,548 miles to seven different cities - living only in the airports the entire time. He studied 10,000 minutes of observations at all four corners of the U.S. and reflected on how air travel can teach us about our lives TODAY. The airport metaphor leaps to life with funny and inspiring anecdotes that raise the question in this edition, what kind of organizational culture do we want to create? In a busy and mobile world, Step Back from the Baggage Claim is a refreshing call for Servant Leadership, Mission, Culture Change, Innovation and Social Responsibility. Join the Movement.

  
  
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  September 2008

  Step Back from the Baggage Claim

  Ever experienced the way small moments impact our lives? Ever wanted to participate in a movement to change our world? Step back, Be Still, Share Compassion, Live Gratefully. Today, travel gracefully along your path! Step Back from the Baggage Claim. Jason Barger spent seven straight days flying 6,548 miles to seven different cities living only in the airports the entire time. He studied 10,000 minutes of observations at all four corners of the U.S. and reflected on how our airport experiences can teach us about our lives TODAY. The airport metaphor leaps to life through profound anecdotes about an orphanage in Mexico, a summer camp in Ohio, bamboo, the homeless, climbing Mt. Everest, a hotdog grill, and much more. The funny and inspiring stories remind us how to change our daily world through thoughtful and compassionate action!