Maybe you’ve heard of Kary Oberbrunner, CEO and founder of a publishing company called Author Academy Elite and host of the annual Igniting Souls Conference. Although he loves books and events, the number one thing that excites him is life change in his clients. Over the past 15 years, he’s trained over 250,000 authors, speakers, entrepreneurs, and coaches to achieve greater success in work and life.
Married to his wife, Kelly, for nearly 20 years, Kary is also a father of three and resident of Columbus, Ohio. He left his day job as a pastor in 2012 to pursue his passion for igniting souls. Since then, he and his business partner, David Branderhorst, have turned that passion into a global, multi-million-dollar enterprise.
Oberbrunner’s newest book release—an updated and expanded version of Day Job to Dream Job—is written for the 86% of people who feel stuck in their careers. 70% of American workers experience stress-related illnesses, and 34% of people think they will burn out on their job in the next two years. Unable to ignore these statistics, Oberbrunner shares nine steps to help these individuals go from prison to plan to payoff—from day job to dream job.
While watching The Shawshank Redemption back in 2011, Kary felt much like Andy Dufresne (the prisoner played by Tim Robbins). He realized that with each passing year he was becoming more and more “institutionalized.” Although his day job was safe and steady, it stifled his creativity and freedom. Kary knew that unless he broke free, he’d probably spend the rest of his years stuck inside his day-job jail.
He discovered nine steps that allowed him to create his own dream job. In the process, he experienced freedom (to go as he pleased), finances (to earn as he wished), and fulfillment (to live as he liked). He says, “I was put on the planet to help people become souls on fire, the most powerful weapon on earth.”
In 2016, Oberbrunner hosted the largest book release livestream party in 157 cities, 15 countries, and 6 continents. Today, he’s the CEO of Redeem the Day, Igniting Souls, and Author Academy Elite. His eight books span several genres including business, fiction, personal growth, and success. He is also an international speaker who addresses topics like entrepreneurship, publishing, leadership, and human performance. His content has ignited over one million people in the past 15 years.
Oberbrunner freely shares his personal mission. “I help individuals and organizations clarify who they are, why they’re here, and where they’re going so that they can become souls on fire, experience unhackability, and share their message with the world.”
Oberbrunner says, “If you’re part of the 86% stuck in their day job, you have two choices—living or dying. You don’t need an MBA, a wealthy investor, or a lucky break to have the job you’ve always wanted. With the right amount of knowledge, encouragement, and guts, anyone can make the leap.”
In Day Job to Dream Job, he shares the proven plan for going pro. Readers discover how to overcome self-limiting beliefs that sabotage success; build a dream team of experts committed to their cause; carve out a niche to get noticed in a noisy world; and achieve personal clarity, competence, and confidence.
Oberbrunner has been asked to speak at The Shawshank Redemption 25th Anniversary with Hollywood celebrities in August 2019. He was a featured guest at the 20th reunion in 2014 where he signed copies of Day Job to Dream Job.
Oberbrunner believes people stuck in their day job can break free just as he did. His book offers them hope and the promise of a bright new future. Borrowing a line from the Shawshank film, Oberbrunner reminds his readers that “hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
