Meet Erik Qualman | Five-time #1 Bestselling Author & Keynote Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erik Qualman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erik, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“If you can dream it, you can do it.” — Walt Disney

I like the concept that the only true limitations we have in life are the ones we place on ourselves.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I was fortunate to fall into the world of edutainment. It’s a journey and path I never dreamed I’d find myself walking. However, along the way I’ve become a 5x #1 Bestselling Author and Keynote Speaker Erik Qualman and have performed in over 55 countries and reached 50 million people. I was voted the 2nd Most Likeable Author in the World behind Harry Potter series. This is all because of the amazing support of friends and family and the Midwest values that were instilled in me growing up in Rochester Hills, Michigan.

Our Socialnomics work has been on 60 Minutes to the Wall Street Journal and used by the National Guard to NASA. I’m lucky to be surrounded by great students as a current professor of Digital Leadership at Northwestern University and ourmaterials are used in over 500 universities. Our animation studio (Equalman Studios) works with some of the world’s leading brands including Disney, Oreo, Chase, and Cartier.

When we received an honorary doctorate for our groundbreaking work I could hardly believe it, I still don’t.
Today we are having fun with our edutainment performances as well as trying to put smiles on millions of kids’ faces by inventing the bestselling board game Kittycorn. Most importantly, I’m always trying to live up to the “World’s Greatest Dad” coffee mug he received from his wife and two daughters.

The path hasn’t been easy, but anything in life worth doing isn’t going to be easy. I always try and remind myself that if it were easy it would already be done. And that pioneers always get pushback as you aren’t going to use old maps to discover new destinations. So, in short, it’s really about how to focus on Big things versus Busy ones and be firm in your destination and flexible in your path.

While I’d been fortunate to give the commencement address at The University of Texas, one of my biggest thrills was giving the commencement address at Michigan State University (video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-3cGO-DuIU)

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Here are the musts:

Michigan State vs. Michigan football game

Explore Sleeping Bear Dunes – especially the steep parts

Swim in Lake Michigan

Go for a hike to take in the fall colors

Grab some Detroit Style Pizza at the Green Lantern

Swing by and catch up with my old coach Tom Izzo

Grab some bread at Kruse and Muer and see the Christmas Lights in Rochester Hills

Play gold at Arcadia Bluffs

Ride bikes and eat some Kilwins ice cream on Mackinac Island

Go to a Lions game

Spend time with friends and family drinking some Founder’s All Day IPA

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents, brothers, wife, daughters, extended family, and friends have all had such a positive impact in shaping me into who I am today.

Website: www.equalman.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/equalman

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qualman/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/equalman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErikQualman/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@equalman