Stephen Panus has been a publicist, sports agent, artist, attorney, author, sports marketing executive, and motivational speaker. He’s represented an NFL Pro Bowl player and Super Bowl champion, a multiple-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and Season 5 “Dancing with the Stars” champion, international star tennis players, and more. Yet, the only title that’s ever mattered to him has been being a father.
When his elder son, Jake, was tragically and suddenly killed as a passenger in a reckless car crash at the tender age of sixteen in the summer of 2020, Stephen’s life imploded. From the depths of darkness and his greatest loss, emerges an intimate, candid and raw story of a father’s search for meaning and an emotionally powerful message about love, loss, and life. Drawing upon wisdom, leadership, and a natural optimistic nature, Stephen Panus provides inspiring real-world application of indispensable values and traits that illuminate a dynamic pathway for turning pain into purpose, overcoming adversity, and becoming the best version of ourselves.
Stephen’s debut book (Walk On) has been met with critical acclaim, including being selected by "Good Morning America" as a featured GMA Book Club Buzz pick. Moreover, the most trusted, authoritative and influential voice in the publishing world, Kirkus Book Reviews, proclaims Walk On to be "a raw, moving memoir that deftly explores grief and hope in equal measure ... It is Panus’ unique and sometimes poetic turns of phrase, however, that truly bring Jake’s story to life ... The author’s acknowledgment that grief is an 'unwelcome topic in our society' makes his willingness to tackle it head-on even more admirable."
In today’s world, grief and adversity are seemingly everywhere, more so than ever. These universal concepts cause many to suffer and lose hope. Stephen teaches that the answers towards leading a life filled with purpose and meaning reside within you.
He offers audiences tailored messages of hope and resilience, leadership and integrity, and purpose and passion. In confronting his own adversity, he discovered the connectivity between agony and optimism, despair and self-awareness, forgiveness and accountability, and beauty and suffering. The line separating each is much finer than you may think. His powerful story-telling ability and uplifting emotional narrative will inspire you to not waste another day of your life. Ultimately, every challenge in your life comes to make you or break you. The choice is yours whether you become a victim or the victor.
And no matter what happens to you, you vow to never give up hope. You accept that you conquer by continuing, lead by loving, and win by walking on.
What are you willing to risk to achieve what you want from life?
Speaking Topics -
Overcoming Adversity
Walk On: From Pain to Purpose
Grief, Loss, & Life
Becoming the best version of yourself.
Quotes from Stephen Panus:
“Our vulnerability is our strength.”
“We all suffer in some manner and no matter what happens or how it happens, we all must Walk On in our lives.”
“The closer you stand to death the more it makes you want to feel alive.”
“You must stand for something in this life. But if you lack integrity, I’m not sure you can stand for anything.”
“Don’t waste another day of your life. Don’t allow circumstances beyond your control to define you.”
“Nothing can be accomplished without hope.”
“Be the reason someone smiles, looks at you, and offers an appreciative ‘thank you’.”
“Jake reminds us all that we are born with one obligation, to be authentically who we are.”
“Having gratitude won’t just turn your life around; it will guide you toward the meaningful and magical.”
“Every morning you awake to a choice: remain asleep with your dreams or arise and fearlessly and responsibly chase them. Choose wisely!”
“Be generous with your grace and gallant with your grit.”
“Savor the little things in your life. They matter the most.”
“The quality of your mindset ultimately architects the quality of your life.”
"Stephen Panus shares with shocking detail a father’s palpable sorrow in the aftermath of the tragic loss of a son. You feel the weight of the journey towards peace in every word.”
"Stephen Panus shares with shocking detail a father’s palpable sorrow in the aftermath of the tragic loss of a son. You feel the weight of the journey towards peace in every word.”