Michael Gardner, Founder

Journey Toward Transformation

Michael Gardner started his life the same way we all do, believing anything and everything is possible.  And like all of us, it didn’t take long until he allowed life experiences to replace those beliefs with ones of inadequacy and inability. 

Michael remembers one specific life-changing incident where he decided he wasn’t good enough to have what he wanted in life.  As an enthusiastic and innocent three year old, Michael and his best friend, Joey, set out to build a boat.  They gathered two boards, a plastic hammer, a handful of nails and set up shop in Joey’s driveway.  As they hammered away, they excitedly talked about all the places they would go and the things they would do in their boat. 

As they worked, an older boy named Dennis wandered by.  Being young and as yet, unjaded by the world, neither boy recognized the sarcasm in the older boy’s voice as he asked what they were doing.  Thrilled to have another person to share their dream, they excitedly explained that they were building a boat.   In the very next moment, Michael felt overwhelming shame rush over him as Dennis taunted, “That’s stupid!  You can’t build a boat out of that!”  And Michael saw his water craft vanish back into just two boards and some nails.

As he grew to adulthood, Michael allowed his self-confidence and aspirations to continue to be eroded away by the actions of other dream-killers in his life.  The mantras, “I can’t do it” and “we can’t afford it” became his predominant beliefs.  But somewhere inside, there was still that three year old with the belief that any dream can come true. 

It took some painful and significant lessons before the adult Michael was willing to step through his fears and reconnect – reconnect with that time in his life where anything seemed possible.  He finally had to ask himself, what if he hadn’t listened to Dennis the Dream Killer?  Just maybe he and Joey could have sailed around the world.

He realized that he was not the only one who had allowed similar life experiences to kill their dreams.  He saw a vast world of people who also desire something more and he decided that he wanted to make a difference.  At the age of 37, Michael took a leap of faith and left the corporate world, embarking on a journey of transformation and empowerment of the human spirit.

Where Transformational Trainings Miss the Boat

Michael has spent nearly two decades, studying, experiencing and learning from existing transformational training masters.  He believes that while there are basic universal laws most trainers, coaches and authors adhere to, there is usually one key component lacking.  In order for people to really have a significant, lasting transformation, they must actually create new, strong experiences of success.  These experiences must be powerful and plentiful enough to replace their old limiting beliefs before they walk out of the training room and back into their own lives.  Because of this, Michael has created a way to fill this chasm in the transformational training world. 

With 16 years experience as a trainer, coach and the founder of The Experience, Michael has established himself as the expert in the transformational training world.  His trainings assist people in creating new points of reference from which to draw the strength to turn their dreams into reality -- points of reference that remind them that they are always powerful enough to create exactly what they want, no matter the fear or opposition.  He has successfully trained, coached and supported more than 10,000 people in creating lives of fulfillment and true wealth.

Michael believes, “Everyone was born with the power, vision and enthusiasm necessary to live a full and joyful life.  We just tend to forget who we are when we listen to outside influences instead of to our own spirits.  It’s time that the loudest and strongest message in this world be one of, ‘I can.’  So, pick up your hammer and start building your dream boat!”