Chris Gragtmans draws on his career as a professional kayaker to illustrate the principles and lessons he’s learned in finding success as a full-time paddler to present the “Live Your Dreams” tour. The tour focuses on inspiring and educating high school and college-aged youth about achieving career goals and gaining confidence through an active lifestyle and spending time outdoors. The concept was conceived by Gragtmans, and sponsored by Dagger, a premiere designer and manufacturer of high-performance whitewater and adventure-recreational kayaks, for which Gragtmans is a team manager.
“Dagger is proud to support Chris and the mission of the ‘Live Your Dreams’ tour to help young adults learn how to live passionately and purposefully,” said Jessica Prescott, Marketing Manager for Dagger. “Dagger continues to focus on all the aspects that make getting out on the water so special, including the confidence that young adults find from spending time outdoors. We are excited to be part of this movement to help today’s youth find greater success in life.”
The tour, which runs from January through March 2014, includes stops to high schools, colleges and universities all across the southeastern United States to encourage students to follow their hearts into careers that fulfill and sustain them, offering tools and advice to reach career success and happiness.
Gragtmans tailors each speech for the audience, focusing on six key directives that he has developed; surround yourself with great people, take responsibility for your actions, manage your personal brand, set goals, develop your niche and the importance of chasing your ideal career early in life. Using real world examples from athletes and the corporate world alike, he encourages students to stay true to themselves while pursing their careers.
“It is of the utmost importance for students to strive
for happiness, and not be limited by traditional mindsets about what is possible in their vocation. Everyone’s path is different; just be true to yourself,” says Gragtmans.
Dagger has long been dedicated to the growth and health of the watersports community, and has been an advocate for our outdoor industry as a whole; Confluence Watersports, Dagger’s parent company, has been a leading voice and advocate for getting youth outdoors, ensuring access to outdoor recreation space across the country, and creating awareness about the huge positive impact of the outdoor recreation economy. This ethos is the driving force for the entire company, which trickles down to Team Dagger, including athletes like Gragtmans.
The tour has taken Gragtmans through Tennessee and North Carolina and now heads to Clemson University in South Carolina on March 6th.
Visit the Dagger website for details.