For Immediate Release
Contact:    Curt Harding
                 Senior Publicist
                 (615) 902-2246 office
                 (615) 902-2340 FAX
                 charding@thomasnelson.com

TODAY’S GRADUATE NEEDS A PEP TALK
Before Entering a Tough Economy, Learn To Stare Down Adversity

(Nashville, Tenn.) Kevin Elko has a strange job. He gives pep talks – good ones.  Huge corporations, NFL teams, and big-time college coaches all ask him to the same thing; unlock the potential that we all have inside of us.

It worked last season for Head Coach Dave Wannstedt who asked Elko to speak to his Pittsburgh team before the big game with rival West Virginia. Pitt came into the contest with a losing record. West Virginia was one win away from playing for the National Championship. West Virginia was also a 28 ½ point favorite. In a gigantic upset, Pitt won.

This year's graduate is facing a slumping economy and fierce competition for a shrinking number of jobs. They're going to need an edge - something that makes them stand out in the crowd. Using stories of perseverance, Elko illustrates how we can all step up, rid ourselves of preconceptions and believe in what we can accomplish both individually and as a team.   

The Pep Talk (Thomas Nelson, May 2008) is the story of the Lincoln Lions, a high school football team suffering through a horrifying 24-game losing streak. They’re about to take on their cross-town rivals - the defending state-champion Jacktown Giants, a team riding high after winning 41 straight games. You don’t need to work for ESPN to know who’s favored in this lopsided contest.

How can a locker room speech turn this group of losing players into an unstoppable team – if only for one night?  What words could possibly carry on for years and play a pivotal role in the lives of three young men? And what can today’s graduate learn from this riveting story?  
 
About the Authors

Kevin Elko is a Certified Addictions Counselor who works with professional and college football teams. He has also consulted and presented to a number of companies and organizations including Pfizer, Wachovia, and Merrill Lynch. He owns a Super Bowl Ring from the Dallas Cowboys, a National Championship ring from the LSU Tigers and two National Championship Rings from the Miami Hurricanes.

Robert Shook has authored four best-selling books and holds over 100 weeks on the best-sellers lists. His work includes New York Times best-selling books: The IBM Way, Mary Kay on People Management, The Pampered Chef and Longaberger.

TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW WITH KEVIN ELKO  

Contact Curt Harding 615.902.2246 charding@thomasnelson.com