Melissa Fors Shackelford: Keynote Speaker & Author

My TEDx Duluth Video is LIVE! What holds you together when everything falls apart?

That's the question at the heart of this talk — and honestly, it's one I've been living for a long time.

I'm Melissa Fors Shackelford: healthcare strategist, keynote speaker, and author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Harnessing Purpose. Last year, I lost my mother and my sister to cancer in the same week. I've also been sober for 37 years. And what I've learned through all of it is that purpose isn't something you find when life is good. It's what carries you through when it isn't.

In this TEDx talk from TEDxDuluth, I share the three anchors that have held me together through grief, loss, and recovery — and how you can find yours, even when life feels like it's pulling you under.

I made this talk for anyone navigating grief, burnout, or recovery. For anyone who has lost someone and doesn't know how to find their footing again. And for anyone who has ever wondered whether they have what it takes to get back up.

Here's what we cover:
— Why purpose is a lifeline, not a luxury, especially in the hardest seasons
— What resilience actually looks like in grief and recovery
— The power of presence — showing up for others even when you have nothing left to say
— How hope finds us in the smallest, most unexpected moments
— The science behind purpose and its real effects on stress, sleep, and longevity

I also speak on purpose, resilience, ethical leadership, and healthcare communication for organizations across the country, including the American Marketing Association, the American Hospital Association's SHSMD, and the University of Minnesota Women's Leadership Conference.

Watch the full talk here: https://youtu.be/epH-TfTu4Oo?si=1eZ00...

Learn more about my speaking and consulting work: melissaforsshackelford.com/

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 1