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The Momentum Movement
Does a Principal's Well-Being Affect School Culture? And How Do We Fix The Thermostat? (A Proposed Study)
“I don’t know how much more I can take…” The distressed teacher plopped herself down at my table as other concerned educators drew their attention to her disheveled demeanor. I was leading a table talk at an educators’ conference on stress and wellness. This “speed dating” style session was meant to connect with teachers and advisors for fifteen minutes to go deeper on the topics I had shared in my earlier workshop. But this moment shifted everything . What began as
Chase Livingston
Mar 25 min read
This Question Changed How I View Leading A Growing Coffee Brand
“Are you guys still open?” It was nearly 10PM on a Saturday night in 2016. An older gentleman walked into the quiet Starbucks where I was working to help pay my way through college. I was 24 years old. A two-time college dropout. Living back at my parents’ house. Making $8 an hour as a barista. I put down the broom and welcomed him in. He ordered a grande black coffee. I poured it, handed it to him, and bid him a good night. As he walked toward the door, I called out a fina
Chase Livingston
Feb 203 min read
3 Leadership Lessons I Learned from Disneyland (Number 2 is MAGICAL)
“And as a reminder… no phones, videos, pictures, or recordings backstage.” I nodded as the event operations team led me into the dim hallways of the Hyperion Theater at Disneyland. I had been hired to speak at a youth leadership event in Anaheim, California, and while I fully anticipated Disney to be impressive… → I didn’t expect it to change the way I view leadership. Behind The Curtain “Mr. Livingston, before we go backstage to begin your mic check, let me show you to your
Chase Livingston
Feb 127 min read
Leadership Qualities from the "Man of Imagination" - Walt Disney
Last week I had the amazing opportunity to speak at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. While it was an exhilarating experience speaking to thousands of students in the beautiful Hyperion theatre, what was most interesting was how aligned the message was with “The Happiest Place on Earth.” I shared 3 leadership qualities I believe would best help student leaders make an extraordinary impact in their schools, families, and communities. All of them, traits embodied by the “Man o
Chase Livingston
Feb 72 min read
Nobody Talks About These Lessons When Launching Something New
“You want this open on the first day of class?” It was days before Christmas. We’d just dropped our Airstream trailer onto the Texas A&M–Texarkana campus… and I wasn’t sure we could pull it off. “Espresso machine delivery is three weeks out minimum,” our project manager said, adjusting his glasses. Then the part that made my stomach drop: “And they won’t even schedule delivery unless plumbing and electric are finished… which I’m not sure they’ve even started.” The equipment
Chase Livingston
Jan 235 min read
Quitter’s Day Is a Trap: Here’s What Leaders Do Instead
By January 19, 80% of people have already given up on their New Year’s resolutions. But most high performers aren’t watching the dates…. They’re doing this instead. I think “Quitters Day” is a psyop. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I believe they coined January 19th “Quitters Day” to make the majority of Americans feel inadequate when it comes to reaching their goals. “If I’ve fallen off already, I must be a failure. Why bother trying?” When in reality, 19 days isn’t eve
Chase Livingston
Jan 146 min read
Why The Best Leaders Start With A Laugh
Leadership isn’t a joke… but this is hilarious ! Late one evening, when everyone had left the office, a young executive was headed to the elevator when he noticed the CEO with a sheet of paper in his hand staring at the paper shredder. “Listen,” the CEO said, “this is an important document, and my secretary has gone for the evening. Do you know how to work this thing?” “Of course,” the executive said, taking it from his hand. He turned the machine on and slid the paper in.
Chase Livingston
Jan 104 min read
Why the Best Leaders Enter 2026 With Emotional Discipline
“Dinner next Wednesday night. I’ll be there.” I was eager to meet with the stakeholders to discuss goals for the new year, the new direction, and ideas for growth. I had many ideas, things I needed clarity on, and general excitement about the future. The day of the meeting came… But the meeting didn’t happen. I’m not sure if they forgot. If I got the time wrong. Or if there was a miscommunication. But I… was MAD . Why would they bail on me? How could they dis
Chase Livingston
Jan 103 min read
How an Award Show For Your Team Can Increase Retention (and may be the most fun you've had all year)
For all my millennial friends, no TV character shaped our view of workplace culture more than Michael Scott . One moment that still makes me laugh is when he drags the team to Chili’s for an awards show: The Dundees . Some of the awards were: Hottest in the office Whitest sneakers Longest engagement Were the awards ridiculous? Yes. Were some of them borderline insulting? Also yes. Yet a few things happened: Employees still showed up People laughed They felt
Chase Livingston
Jan 103 min read
I Stole This Wellness Strategy From a Comedy Club
“Here’s your popcorn. Enjoy the show!” I said to a couple in their 30s as I handed over their snacks, then watched them disappear behind the dark red curtain into Austin’s ColdTowne Theatre. It smelled like Lonestar beer. The seats were folding chairs. And the stage? A black box where comedians either crushed… or crashed and burned. I was an intern working the counter to pay for improv classes while I was in college. And somewhere between studying, paying bills, a
Chase Livingston
Jan 105 min read
How I Overcame The “Gen-Z Stare” and Other Leadership Lessons From The Coffee Shop
Imagine being hired to move an organization forward, only to have twenty-something-year-old baristas transform your entire perspective on leadership. In February, I stepped into a new role at Local Habit Coffee Company as an “Owner Rep.” In simple terms, I represent the company and oversee business development, marketing, community outreach, and leadership. What I didn’t realize was I, a 34-year-old millennial, would be walking into a fast-paced third-wave coffee shop gen
Chase Livingston
Jan 94 min read
ABOUT THE BLOG
The Momentum Movement Blog shares leadership insights, mindset strategies, and practical lessons on growth, discipline, and purpose. Content is designed for students, educators, event planners, and leaders seeking meaningful transformation—not surface-level motivation.
Topics include student leadership, school assemblies, keynote speaking, personal development, and building confidence through action.
Chase Livingston is a teen leadership keynote speaker and student motivational speaker who delivers high-energy, transformational experiences for schools, conferences, and student leadership events. His work focuses on helping students build confidence, character, discipline, and purpose through practical leadership principles and real-world application.
If you’re an educator, administrator, or event planner looking to create a meaningful experience that goes beyond motivation and drives real change, Chase’s keynotes and assemblies are designed to meet that need.
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