David Harder

About David Harder

In 1990, a series of events rocked David Harder’s Life.David had developed some of the most profitable operations in staffing. But he viewed his Work as a lucrative day job. David Harder’s profession of choice was music. Six months before founding Inspired Work, he got a recording contract. His colleagues said, “You could see the skid marks as he left.”Three weeks later, his producer dropped dead of a heart attack.“He was a visionary and friend. But when I got the news, I realized much of my life was devoted to happiness sometime in the future. That one thought began driving my life in directions I never dreamed could happen.”David developed a curriculum based on several straightforward ideas:• Treat Work as a Relationship• Redefine Work as a Source of Joy, Meaning, Love, and Profit• Build the Life Skills to Succeed• Produce a Direct Experience of Personal ChangeSocratic (question-driven) sessions lead each participant to describe, in elegant detail, how they would change or improve each aspect of their work.That first program changed the lives of 36 participants. Referrals began flowing, and in just three months, one of the country’s largest banks retained Inspired Work to serve the transitions of over two thousand employees. Today, we have a global community of over graduates.Inspired Work has designed and delivered customized leadership, executive development, and learning programs for clients such as The Walt Disney Company, HBO, USC, Ogilvy, and more.It isn\'t enough.We are in the most significant restructuring of Work in 300 years, and the United States isn\'t ready.About half of our workers struggle with underemployment and career illiteracy. As a result, many have lost faith that the future is brighter. We could not even hope to help solve this problem with an old business model. For years the human development profession has fiercely protected its intellectual capital and sold it to the highest bidders.We will not develop a new workforce with that outlook.We will not change much, sending executives to costly retreats while ignoring everyone else.Workskunk is taking Inspired Work’s essential programs and offering everything without charge to its members.Even our signature offering, the Inspired Work Program, continues with live facilitators so anyone who wants to transform their Work can attend without worrying about paying for it.Inspired Work continues to offer customized support to individuals and employers.David has but one final suggestion, “Stop waiting.”

Experience

1. President

   Inspired Work, Inc

   Sep 1990 — Present

   In 1990, we introduced the first Inspired Work Program to 36 professionals who were there to redefine their careers using higher standards and to understand how to take the new mission and bring it to life. Since then, over people have used the program to revisit their truth and reinvent their Work on their terms.From the beginning, the goodwill from our community introduced multiple opportunities to expand the outlook and methods of the program to other applications.A few highlights:1990First Interstate Bank, the largest bank ever headquartered in Los Angeles, offered the program to thousands of employees facing transitions. About 25-30% made vastly different career changes. About 70% of the remaining employees indicated the program helped them transition quickly and select better jobs.1995McDonald’s asked Inspired Work to design a team-building process that could be used at regional offices and for select franchise owners. After one training session, internal facilitators delivered the process for almost ten years.2001We designed a new leadership program for The Walt Disney Company that continues to be used.2004-PresentWe developed unique learning programs for social media, consultative sales, presentation skills, and more.2022Workskunk opens with a commitment to solving the challenges of moving America’s workforce from the past and giving them everything they need to thrive our new workplace, sharply reduce underemployment, and develop new career literacy. All workskunk programs are available without charge.As has always been the case, the quickest way to experience profound personal benefits that flow through all our services, take a free membership and participate in The Inspired Work Program.The results always speak for themselves.

Education

• University of Southern California

  Music - Piano Performance

  1971 — 1978

Skills

• Workshop Facilitation
• Team Building
• Management
• Motivational Speaking
• Executive Development
• Organizational Development
• Consulting
• Talent Acquisition
• Social Media
• Strategy
• Succession Planning
• Management Consulting
• Jazz Pianist/Composer
• Sales Training
• Human Resources
• Author
• Career Management
• Executive Coaching
• Marketing
• Emotional Intelligence
• Media Appearances
• Training
• Recruiting
• Staff Development
• Humanitarian
• Psychotherapy
• Selling
• Start-Ups
• Creative Direction
• Culture Change
• Leadership Development
• Social Networking
• Management Development
• Employee Engagement
• Public Speaking
• Talent Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Career Development
• Executive Management
• Coaching