The third annual Wondernite was another magical affair filled with smiles, wows, and even a few tears. The exclusive art collecting event is where I premiere never-before-seen originals and limited edition artwork, but more than anything, the team and I strive to create an inspiring and entertaining evening of wonder. I wanted to share a few thoughts (and a lot of photos!) from the evening. Enjoy! Guests came from all over to the top of the Park Hotel, with stunning views of the majestic State Capitol building, to enjoy a fancy night out and browse my newest creations. Along with the original art, we also have a ton of other fun goodies on hand, including our newest product releases, which make perfect gifts that accommodate any sized-budget. Kim and I were excited to have our children join us for the first time this year. We weren't sure how they'd handle the late night and the fancy dinner, …
Shine On: Looking for Light During Dark Times
Kim and I were invited by American Family Insurance's DreamBank to share our story about when we returned home from vacation with our three kids to find something we were not expecting. It led to an emotional roller coaster of fear, anger, and grief, but eventually evolved into an inspiring story of hope and the power of community. In this vulnerable but uplifting program, we share our journey from darkness into light. We also touch on themes from Jason’s newly released book, "A Chance of Awesome: How Changing the Way You See Changes Everything," giving tips and insight for finding the silver linings amidst the dark clouds that roll into our lives. …
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Paula Wick Wins Framed Canvas!
To celebrate and promote the release of A Chance of Awesome, we invited fans to share a fun photo of themselves with the book and tag us with the hashtag #AChanceOfAwesome. One lucky winner would be able to choose a 20" x 20" framed canvas reproduction of their choice. That lucky winner is...Paula Wick! Congrats, Paula; we'll be in touch to confirm the details! Meanwhile, thank you to everyone who has helped spread the word about this book! We have mostly received a wonderful reception (although we have had some people hate it, as you can see from the reviews). If you've read the book, would you please take a moment to post an honest review on Amazon? I'd really appreciate it! …
Escape Adulthood Summit 2019 Re-Cap
The 2019 Escape Adulthood Summit – our seventh! – was another sold-out affair. More than seventy people, from 14 different states and Canadian provinces gathered in the Middle of Nowhere, Wisconsin, for a chance to take a break from the daily grind, connect with other Adultitis Fighters, and take their lives to a new level. This year's theme was inspired by the Henry David Thoreau quote, "All good things are wild and free." That being said, we wanted to set the tone in a wild and memorable way. As guests arrived with their Golden Tickets, they were greeted by snakes, alligators, lizards, and turtles presented by the Madison Herpetological Society. While some folks admired them from a distance, others were eager to get up close and personal with the unconventional ambassadors.A wild start indeed. Once the doors opened, we greeted each guest one by one, excited to share with them all that the team had spent many months …
Revealing the Winner of the “A Chance of Awesome” Framed Canvas!
Everyone who pre-ordered my book, “A Chance of Awesome: How Changing the Way You See Changes Everything” was entered to win this stunning framed canvas reproduction of the cover painting. So, who won? Tune in and find out! Learn more about the book at https://aChanceOfAwesome.com …
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Why you’ll definitely want to buy at least 13 copies of A Chance of Awesome
Woot! A Chance of Awesome: How Changing the Way You See Changes Everything is now available to pre-order! (It'll be released on August 8, 2109.) All pre-orders will be signed by me and you’ll be automatically entered to win this sharp 20″ x 20″ framed canvas reproduction of the art on the cover! But that's not all! We also have limited edition Baker's Dozen and Fab Four Dozen packages available for people interested in buying a bunch of books to share with friends, employees, donors, clients, and sworn enemies. They come with some pretty sweet bonuses, like mini canvases featuring art from the book and even original oil paintings! Perhaps you're wondering: What in the world would I possibly do with all those books? Well, you could give them out to strangers on a random street corner or build a little fort for your Lego minifigs, but here are some more practical suggestions: Use them as client gifts.Give them to people you’d like to become …
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My TED Talk About Rules That Don’t Exist
I recently had a chance to give a TEDx talk in McHenry, Illinois, which is just outside Chicago. I probably prepared more for this speech than any other I've given, and it was one of the shortest I've ever delivered. I'm excited to finally be able to share the video here. What was the talk about? Here's the description: Face it, adulting is hard. There are deadlines to meet, bills to pay, and rules aplenty we have to follow. Most of these rules keep order in what would otherwise be a chaotic world. But are all “rules” equally important? Maybe there are some rules we’d be better off not following. In his talk, Jason Kotecki, will challenge us to escape adulthood and break the rules we only think we have to follow. …
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Wondernite 2018 Recap
Wondernite is an exclusive art collecting event where I premiere never-before-seen originals and limited edition artwork. This year, guests got all gussied up and joined us at the beautiful Park Hotel, Madison’s only Capitol Square hotel, for an unforgettable evening. And it sure was. Here are a few notes (and a bunch of photos!) from the second annual Wondernite... "Thank you! I took a chance on a night not knowing what to expect and attended solo. I really had a blast and would absolutely attend more events! Thanks so much ❤️❤️" –Carrie Ouradnik My brother Doug served as emcee for the night, and delighted people with his jokes and semi-true stories. After dinner, as I revealed my new pieces, I told the stories behind the work. All of the originals were made available by silent auction, although some people lamented the loss of the live auction and the witty banter of Doug. (We already have plans to remedy …
How to Create a Successful and Adultitis-Free Fundraising Event
We were thrilled to help Goodwill with a fundraising event they dubbed "Escape Adulthood Recess." Designed to be a break from the workday, we worked with the fabulous folks at Hayes Marketing Services and the Goodwill Northern Illinois team to create a successful networking luncheon that raised a lot of money and created a lot of positive buzz. We were so impressed by the work that Donna Hayes and her team did to create such a magical event. Kim decided to follow up with her to get more information on all that went into it, how she was able to pack the room, and to glean some tips that others could use to plan their own events. Here's the interview: Quick links... Learn more about Jason's speaking programs Hayes Marketing Group See how another group utilized Jason's art to make their event more memorable The careful attention to detail helped create a fun and approachable ambiance, and tied the theme together wonderfully. Here are some photos we managed …
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2018 Escape Adulthood Summit Recap
The theme for the sixth Escape Adulthood Summit was "Shine On." It's always good to be reminded that even on the darkest days, the sun isn't gone, it's just hidden. This Summit was a call to look for the light during our seasons of darkness, and to bring light to others, by sharing our talents and kindness. For the third consecutive year, it was held at The Barn at Harvest Moon Pond, which is a beautiful spot in the middle of Nowhere, Wisconsin, miles away from the Adultitis-ridden pace of everyday life. As always, the line of people waiting to enter buzzed with anticipation, Golden Tickets in hand. Attendees were treated to some of the most delicious gourmet cotton candy, compliments of Jo and her son from Sugarsmith. Once the door opens, the wild rumpus begins, and guests are treated to a goodie bag filled with fun stuff for fighting Adultitis. Two of Madison's best food carts were on hand to serve lunch. And it just …