As a football coach for a Christian high school football team, Kevin Elko was invited to speak to the University of Alabama football team before key games. At the same time, he was pursuing graduate degrees.

When a friend became a scout for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kevin was invited to speak to them. This opened the door to speak to other professional teams as well. He continued to consult other college and professional teams as well as corporations. In 2005, Kevin was the highest rated speaker at the Million Dollar Roundtable, the conference for the Insurance Industry's highest achievers, with an audience of 6,000 attendees representing multiple Insurance and Financial Services Companies.

One day business author Robert Shook (writer of Doing Business by the Good Book, The IBM Way, and Hardball Selling), contacted Kevin and said he would like to write a book with him. Originally this was going to be a “how to” type of book. Then Robert suggested they do a new thing - write a novel. This novel became The Pep Talk, a story about Coach Jack Morris and his Lincoln Lions with their record of 24 consecutive losses.

One night, Coach Morris encounters a stranger who asks Coach Morris permission to give a pre-game prep talk. This pep talk motivates the team and has an outcome that no one in the town predicted. In some respects the story sounds like the popular movie Facing the Giants (which Kevin used clips of when he spoke to the University of Pittsburgh), but this story comes from Kevin’s own experiences working with teams and corporations.

When Kevin consults with either a corporation or a sports team,one of his key points is: God has a big plan and vision for you. “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Another is "no mental clutter". Mental clutter is thoughts that are outside of the dream and any adversity that gets in the way of getting to the dream. You need to stay focused on the reason for the dream.

Next, stay focused on the process. Embrace it. Do what is in front of you. “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)

Finally, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38 (NIV)

Dreams need to be achieved for and with other people. The dream can’t be just about you.

These keys and eight others are found in The Pep Talk.