Albert “Bud” Ayers is a lecturer at San Jose State University where he teaches social dancing. He has been dancing since 1990 and has taught thousands the joy of dancing as well as the physical and social benefits. Bud truly believes that if more people danced the world would be a better place because dance is an expression of joy. What separates Bud from the other dance instructors are his words of wisdom or life lessons he incorporates at the end of each class. He inspires his students to take risks, accept failure and be better at communication, and understand that dance is a metaphor for life. His varied experiences in manufacturing, distribution, personal growth, sports, communication, entertainment, entrepreneurship, public speaking and ballroom dance give him a unique supply of resources and perspectives on life. He is known for his passion for sharing his love of dance as well as helping others navigate their personal life challenges. Some of his students who took his class as a mere curiosity have taken his words and have changed their careers to become either professional or competitive ballroom dancers. He is happily married to his wife Deborah Borlase (whom he met dancing) and has three children and seven grandchildren.

Key Learnings: 

• Dance can help you be confident, and it brings joy to life.

• It’s also about communication, learning your partner, and how to work together in relationships.

• Life and dancing cross in showing us how to take risks, be afraid, and do it anyways.

• People’s thoughts don’t hurt them.

• Fear kills more dreams than death.

• Life is not just success. A lot of failure precedes the success.

• It’s about learning the struggle in the journey. 

• Knowledge is the vehicle, passion is the gasoline.

• We reap more benefits when we live in the moment, not being focused on worries and preoccupations. 

• You know what's expected of you. You know what's right.

• The seven C’s of life: Choice, challenges, character, change, charity, community, courage.

Links:

• Napoleon Dynamite & Can’t Buy Me Love, other classic dance movies 

• Bud Ayers Dance Website

• Become a Fan of Bud Ayers on Facebook  

• Words Matter website 

• Tiger Mom, or Tiger Parenting

• What’s In the Way Is The Way 

To learn more about Bob’s two books, find them on Amazon here: The Leap and Love Your Work.