Last week, John and I had the privilege of delivering the keynote at HR Indiana, the annual state conference for the Indiana Society of Human Resource Mangers (SHRM). Nearly a thousand people filled the room: HR leaders, executives, and professionals committed to building workplaces that work for everyone.
From the moment John bounded on stage, the audience was with us, laughing, clapping, cheering, and by the end, they were on their feet with a standing ovation. It was one of those magical moments where you can feel hearts and minds opening at once.
And if you know John, you won’t be surprised by what happened next: he spent over an hour meeting attendees, posing for photos, and sharing hugs and high-fives. Meanwhile, I had one-on-one conversations with people who wanted to go deeper.
Some were parents asking how they could support a child with a differing ability as they step into adulthood. Others were HR leaders looking for guidance on employing people with differing abilities, how to start, how to make it work, and the extraordinary benefits it brings. Others wanted to know how to create workplaces where employees are engaged, happy, and doing their best work. And some were eager to talk about what it means to lead a business, or even a department, with mission and purpose at the center.
Our Story, Our Mission
During the keynote, John and I told the story of building John’s Crazy Socks, from an idea born at our kitchen table to the world’s largest sock store. It’s a story of entrepreneurship, obstacles, and, above all, purpose.
We spoke about how we built a social enterprise on a mission of Spreading Happiness, guided by five core pillars:
- Inspiration and Hope
- Giving Back
- Fun Products You Can Love
- Make It Personal
- Make It a Great Place to Work
We shared how we hire people with differing abilities – more than half our colleagues at John’s Crazy Socks have a differing ability – and why that’s not charity, it’s smart business. Inclusive hiring has led to higher morale, better retention, stronger productivity, and a recruiting advantage.
The Response from HR Indiana
The feedback was immediate and heartfelt:
- “This was so inspiring! And I love the phrase ‘different abilities’ vs ‘disability.’” – Valerie Vinson
- “John, you’re an inspiration to everyone!” – Joy Decker
- “Hearing John and Mark tell their story was absolutely inspiring (definitely my favorite part so far).” – Jennifer Baker
- “By far the best presentation I have ever had the pleasure of attending. What a great way to open employers’ eyes to the idea of hiring people with differing abilities!” – Abbie Garrett
People left energized and ready to act, committed to building inclusive teams, supporting disability-owned businesses, and rethinking how they define leadership and success.
We even created custom socks for the event, which were sold in the conference store. Seeing attendees proudly wearing those socks and snapping photos with John was a reminder that business can be both meaningful and fun.
Why We Speak to HR Leaders
Human resources professionals sit at the center of inclusion. You decide who gets hired, who gets promoted, and how culture is built. That’s why we love speaking at SHRM events—because HR leaders are in a position to make real change.
Our message is simple: hiring people with differing abilities is not altruism, it’s good business. Inclusion drives performance. Purpose attracts and retains talent. And workplaces that spread happiness inspire employees to give their best.
If your SHRM chapter or HR organization is looking for a keynote that blends laughter, heart, and actionable strategies for inclusive hiring and purpose-driven leadership, we’d love to join you.
After all, what could be better than helping your people and your business to thrive while spreading a little happiness along the way?
👉 Learn more at JohnandMarkCronin.com or email us at booking@johnandmarkcronin.com.
