Keith Harrell is that guy. The one chatting up every soul in the room at parties, listening genuinely, grinning like Jack Nicholson, radiating self-confidence. The one who hums Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah as he strolls intrepidly down the sidewalk. The one so uninhibited, so high on life that you wouldn’t be surprised if he sprouted a pair of wings and flapped away into the sunset. His handshake is firm, his teeth are a brilliant white, and his outlook is decidedly sunny. Keith Harrell didn’t become who he is today because of luck or following the herd — he forged his own path. Now he’s reaping the fruits of his generous spirit.

Harrell is a motivational speaker, and he’s damn good. He speaks to corporate employees, executives, and anyone in need of a tune up, preaching a positive mindset and positive change. His speeches are dynamic and riveting; listening to him is like watching Muhammad Ali circle the ring, bouncing, focused.

“I’m a big believer that a dead battery can’t jump a dead battery,” says Harrell. “I can give you practical fundamentals that you’re going to apply on a daily basis to get results; isn’t that what’s life is all about?”

The enthusiasm Harrell brings to his work has a background. In 1974, he was the captain of the state champion Garfield basketball team, which was so dominant it was dubbed the Superdogs. His leadership on the court and assertive attitude off it were integral in the team’s success. Before that season, Harrell and the Superdogs formed a goal: take state, one game at a time. They finished the season undefeated. No margin of victory was less than eight — until the state semifinal.

“We’re playing the Lincoln Abes. With three minutes to go we’re down by six, and coach calls a timeout,” says Harrell. “Right then, I reflect back on a year ago, when we made a commitment that we were going to win it all. And I shouted out loud, ‘Give me the ball!’ The coach looked at me and said, ‘That’s going to be the play, give it to Keith, let him do his thing.’”

Harrell rattled off six quick points and the Superdogs went on to win by eight. In hindsight, Harrell believes the catalyst was attitude. “I walk to the bench, and I notice, for the first time, that my team doesn’t have that winning look in their eyes,” says Harrell. “When I said ‘give me the ball’, it’s almost like the entire team rallied behind that call. Because of my enthusiasm, everybody else —attitudes are contagious — got in the zone.”

The Superdogs went on to win state and solidify their status as one of Washington’s great high school basketball teams. Although some members of that team later found success, others failed to find a stepping stone and ended up on the streets, sometimes in jail. Harrell, too, floundered in his younger years. When he failed to be selected in the NBA draft after starring at Seattle University, he moved to Alaska, confused and embarrassed with his life.

“Everyone in Seattle was saying, ‘Well, what are you going to do?’” recalls Harrell. “I bumped into a man up [in Alaska], and he thought I had basically given up. He said ‘I thought you were a winner! What are you doing up here, it seems like you’re running away from your fear! You need to figure out what you want to do with your life and make a decision.’ So I made a decision to come back.”

Harrell began working at IBM, learning the value in teamwork and public speaking, but most importantly, he discovered the importance of hard work. It was at this point that Harrell turned his life around.

“Now I talk to people about how to take your adversity, how to take your turning points and move them to learning points,” says Harrell. “I realized we’re all playing with the NBA if we’re all playing with our Natural Born Abilities. And I believe I’m slam-dunking every day because I’m helping people win at the game of life.”

All of Harrell’s points of motivation are genuine — that’s what makes him such a cannonball on stage — but nothing makes him tick like talking about optimism. “I believe attitude is the cornerstone, the foundation of everything you do with your life and everything I do,” says Harrell. “It all starts with what you believe. You know ‘I’m So Glad I Go To Garfield High?’ It’s what you believe. Your attitude determines your altitude. I help people and business and in life choose the right attitude for the situation to accomplish their goals and their dreams.”

Keith Harrell is truly remarkable, not because of what he does, but because of the passion and zeal with which he does it. He doesn’t just give lectures — he shouts encouragement, insists you improve yourself. He sermonizes “attitude” with a bona fide twinkle in his eye. Hell, his answering machine requests you to “have a super-fantastic day!” Harrell’s unquenchable thirst for life isn’t something to simply admire; it’s something out there for the taking, swaying in the breeze like fruits on a tree of bliss.