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Some people crumble under adversity. Others, like Dr. Danny Brassell, pivot, turning roadblocks into stepping stones, setbacks into comebacks, and challenges into the very things that define their success.
His journey? Not your typical success story.
This is a man who stuttered so badly as a child that people called him “stupid.” A man who covered President George H.W. Bush as a journalist, only to walk away and become a teacher. A man who built a thriving speaking career, only to lose 200 engagements overnight when COVID hit.
But through every challenge, Dr. Brassell didn’t just survive. He adapted. He thrived.
His story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and the power of never letting a “no” define you.
From Stuttering Kid to Global Speaker
Imagine being told you’ll never be good at something, then going on to dominate that very thing on a world stage.
That’s Dr. Brassell’s story.
As a child, his stutter made speaking a nightmare. People mocked him, doubted him, dismissed him. But then, one teacher took the time to work with him, using singing as a tool to help him overcome his speech impediment (a technique made famous in The King’s Speech).
The result? The kid once laughed at for struggling to form sentences now gets paid top dollar to travel the world and speak to audiences of thousands.
Lesson? The very thing that holds you back today could be the thing that propels you forward tomorrow.
The Art of the Pivot
Dr. Brassell’s life could easily be a Netflix series called Pivots.
Why? Because every time he hit a wall, he found a way around it.
- He left journalism, choosing to teach in South Central Los Angeles and Compton for the “high pay” of $25,000 a year.
- He went from educator to international speaker, sharing stages with some of the biggest names in leadership and motivation.
- He built a thriving business, only to lose it overnight during the COVID-19 shutdown.
- Instead of quitting, he adapted, launching new programs, coaching entrepreneurs, and finding a way to rebuild stronger than before.
His philosophy? “The windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason.”
He refuses to dwell on the past. Instead, he focuses on what’s next, and that mindset has turned him into a powerhouse in education, leadership, and personal development.
Want to Raise a Child Who Loves Reading? Start Here.
One of Dr. Brassell’s biggest passions is helping kids fall in love with reading.
Not forcing them to read. Not nagging them to do their homework. But genuinely getting them excited about books.
His approach? Forget the boring stuff, make reading fun.
One of his simplest (and most effective) tips? Turn on closed captions.
Yes, really.
Here’s the science: Finland, the country with some of the highest literacy rates in the world, watches a ton of TV. But almost everything is subtitled in Finnish. As a result, kids are constantly reading while they watch TV, and research backs up that this improves literacy skills.
Another powerful insight? The 20-minute rule.
Studies show that:
📖 Kids who read less than 1 minute a day rank in the bottom 20% of their class.
📖 Kids who read 10 minutes a day jump to the middle of the pack.
📖 Kids who read 20 minutes a day? Top 10% of their class.
It doesn’t have to be Shakespeare. It doesn’t even have to be books. Sports articles, comic books, music lyrics, if it has words, it counts.
Because the more you read, the better you get at reading. Period.
Helping Parents Raise Avid Readers
Dr. Brassell isn’t just about teaching kids. He’s about empowering parents to make reading a natural, enjoyable part of daily life.
His reading enrichment programs don’t just focus on students, they train parents to create a home environment where reading feels effortless.
A few of his “ninja strategies” for parents:
📚 Leverage the drive to school. Instead of playing music, put on an audiobook. Those 10 minutes to and from school? That’s 20 minutes of reading a day, without adding anything extra to your schedule.
📚 Let kids pick what they read. If your child only wants to read Captain Underpants? Great. A kid who loves reading Captain Underpants today is more likely to read Shakespeare tomorrow.
📚 Model the habit. If kids see their parents reading, they’re far more likely to pick up a book themselves.
Get Your Free Reading Gift from Dr. Danny Brassell
Dr. Brassell is on a mission to make reading fun, easy, and a lifelong habit.
As a special thank-you, he’s giving away a free copy of his book Read, Lead, and Succeed, plus access to a 5-day reading challenge packed with strategies to help kids read more, better, and with enthusiasm.
📚 Get your free gift here: FreeGiftFromDanny.com
Because reading isn’t just a skill, it’s a superpower. And it might just be the pivot your child needs.
