Biography

Mike Vondruska will be the first to tell you that he has always had the entrepreneurial spirit. After graduating from Western Illinois University with a degree in geography, Mike made the crazy decision to never work for anyone else the rest of his life and to be his own boss. This was gutsy and naïve considering he had absolutely no business background, no business mentors, and had never taken a business, sales, or marketing class. What Mike did have was a determination to succeed and the idea that he would “figure it out” along the way.

 

Along the way, Mike did gain the knowledge to become successful  in business, sales, and marketing from reading dozens of related books, attending multiple seminars, networking with other successful entrepreneurs., and most importantly, learning through trial and error. He became and still is today, a student of business and of what it takes to stay self-motivated.

 

Mike parlayed his passion of juggling into a business. He started a company called, the Illinois Juggling Institute , Inc. back in 1978. His business goals included performances, to teach juggling skills and all of its positive benefits to students in schools as well as to adults in corporate and organizational seminars, and to market juggling supplies to physical education teachers and beginning jugglers.

 

To date, Mike has performed in front of more than 5000 audiences throughout the US as well as Canada, Mexico, China, on cruise ships, and in circuses. His goal to teach juggling skills has also given him the opportunity to visit several thousand schools and other places of learning throughout North America.

 

In addition, Mike uses his juggling expertise as a tool to introduce what he calls, Life Lessons to elementary through high school audiences. The values of persistence, good decision making, goal setting, and of respecting others are the prominent Life Lessons he instills in his young audiences.

 

In addition, Mike’s love for adventure travel led him to start an adventure vacation company. He leads travelers to a little-known tropical and mountainous area in Mexico. His trips are for people who enjoy exploring beautiful areas which are mostly untouched by commercial tourism.

 

Mike currently lives in Bolingbrook IL and when he is not in front of an audience, working in his home office, or down in Mexico leading tours, you will find him pursuing his other hobbies of nature photography, bike riding, and reading.