David Atkins

Retired NY State Police Captain & Ground Zero First Responder; Entrepreneur; Creator of the “One Decision Away” Philosophy; Bestselling Author & Ultramarathoner

New York, NY, USA
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000 Virtual Event: $10,000 - $20,000 More Fee Info
Business Coaching, Change Management, Entrepreneurship, Government, Law, Leadership, Motivational, Overcoming Adversity, Peak Performance, Personal Growth, Professional Development, Running
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David Atkins Biography

David Atkins is a retired New York State Police Captain, an award-winning entrepreneur, and a trusted keynote speaker for conferences and events across industries. His mission is to empower leaders, teams, and organizations to break through fear, adversity, and excuses, unlocking their potential to achieve at the highest level. As the architect of the “One Decision Away” philosophy, Atkins distills his real-world leadership, resilience, and entrepreneurial success into an actionable blueprint for transformation.

His new book, "The One Decision Away Philosophy," empowers readers to break through barriers, providing practical tools and mindset shifts that unlock personal and professional growth, one decisive step at a time. Atkins’s journey is a blueprint for overcoming adversity and achieving excellence. As the first in his family to pay his own way through college, he worked multiple jobs and launched entrepreneurial ventures at just 12 years old, demonstrating initiative and self-reliance from the outset. His relentless work ethic and refusal to settle for “Plan B” set the stage for a remarkable career.

For 22 years, Atkins served with distinction in the New York State Police, rising to the rank of Captain and commanding all operations for Westchester County, a jurisdiction handling over 400,000 emergency calls annually. He led over 100 officers through life-or-death situations, earning recognition as New York State Trooper of the Year (2003) and Investigator of the Year (2007). Atkins’s leadership was tested at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks, where he spent weeks as a first responder, supporting recovery efforts and demonstrating courage under pressure.

Beyond law enforcement, Atkins built a million-dollar international direct sales business with Beachbody, leading a diverse team of 1,400 people to success in a highly competitive, female-dominated industry. His ability to inspire and motivate others has made him a trusted keynote speaker for business gatherings, team-building sessions, and leadership conferences. He has presented to audiences ranging from a few hundred to over 20,000 at high-profile venues such as the NFL Super Dome in New Orleans.

In addition to “One Decision Away,” which distills his most powerful lessons into actionable strategies for personal and professional transformation, Atkins is the author of "The Leveled-Up Life." He is also the host of the Personal Perseverance Project podcast, where he shares real-world stories and practical tools for building resilience and leadership.

An ultramarathoner who has conquered the Black Canyon mountains and trained through harsh New York winters, Atkins embodies the physical and mental resilience he teaches. Most importantly, he is a husband and father of three daughters. His personal story of perseverance, leadership, and service is a powerful reminder that success is not defined by circumstances, but by the decisions we make and the actions we take.

Through his authentic, direct, and high-energy presentations, Atkins leaves event professionals, planners, and conference organizers inspired, motivated, and equipped with the tools to overcome adversity, build resilient teams, and achieve breakthrough results, empowering them to play a bigger game in business and life.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/06/2025.

David Atkins Speaking Topics

  • The One Decision Away Philosophy

    Every team faces fear, adversity, and mindset hurdles—but only the most resilient leaders know how to turn pressure into performance. In this high-impact keynote, David Atkins shares the powerful One Decision Away philosophy that helped him lead through life-and-death situations in law enforcement and scale a multimillion-dollar business in a highly competitive market.

    Drawing on his experiences as a New York State Police Captain, Ground Zero first responder, and award-winning entrepreneur, David delivers real-world leadership strategies designed to eliminate excuses, build mental toughness, and drive urgent action.

    This keynote is ideal for organizations focused on resilience, culture, and high performance—and for individuals ready to stop waiting and start leading.

    Key Learning Objectives:

    • Vision — Clarify and commit to a focused internal vision that drives aligned, intentional action.
    • Mindset — Strengthen mental resilience to lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
    • Urgency — Move from hesitation to execution by acting on what matters most—starting today.

    Ideal Audiences:

    • Corporate leaders and executives who need to ignite their team’s next-level performance
    • Sales teams looking to break through stagnation and take bold action
    • Organizations seeking momentum, accountability, and high-energy culture shifts
    • Entrepreneurs navigating pressure and plateaus in their business
    • First responders, law enforcement, and public service professionals building mental and emotional resilience

    Audience Takeaways:

    • A renewed sense of personal responsibility and drive to achieve big goals
    • A clear, emotionally connected vision of what success looks and feels like
    • Tactical mindset shifts to stay positive and focused, even in high-stress environments
    • Immediate, no-excuse action steps to move forward with clarity and urgency

David Atkins Videos

Davidi Atkins Speaking Reel

Davidi Atkins Speaking Reel

Retired NY State Police Captain & Ground Zero First Responder. Million-Dollar Entrepreneur. Creator of the "One Decision Away" Philosophy. Author &...

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The One Decision Away Philosophy: One Decision Can Change Everything
The One Decision Away Philosophy: One Decision Can Change Everything
The Leveled Up Life: The No Excuse Blueprint to Live Up to Your Fullest Potential
The Leveled Up Life: The No Excuse Blueprint to Live Up to Your Fullest Potential

  • How do I book David Atkins to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like David Atkins for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for David Atkins, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for David Atkins or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for David Atkins

    Speaking fees for David Atkins, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book David Atkins are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire David Atkins, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does David Atkins speak about?

    David Atkins is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Business Coaching, Change Management, Entrepreneurship, Government, Law, Leadership, Motivational, Overcoming Adversity, Peak Performance, Personal Growth, Professional Development, Running

  • Where does David Atkins travel from?

    David Atkins generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is David Atkins’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like David Atkins for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book David Atkins for your next private or corporate function.

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    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host David Atkins or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

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David Atkins is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as The One Decision Away Philosophy. The estimated speaking fee range to book David Atkins for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. David Atkins generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Kristen Ziman, Katrina Brownlee, Rocky Bleier, Brendan McDonough and Jason Schechterle. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling David Atkins for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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