Did I make a Difference?

December 23rd, 2008

Recently I saw a bumper sticker that read: “Make a living, not a difference.” Now, I know it was intended to be humorous, but I thought, how sadly true. It’s just what so many people are doing.  I think it’s so important that we search for the “worthwhileness” of our our speaking careers –and don’t become a motivational speaker until we find it. Beforehand, if I cannot think of the statement in my speech that will make the difference, that speech is not yet ready to give.  After every speech, I ask myself, “Did I make a difference?”  After every day, I ask myself, “Did I make a difference?” There are days when I answer…“No.”  I then think of situations where I could have handled things better.  Could I have been more creative and innovative — perhaps more compassionate or patient?  What else could I have done to make a difference? There’s a definite connection between worthwhileness and passion. You can see one brick mason at work and ask what he’s doing. “I’m building a wall,” he replies.  You see another brick mason and ask the same question. “I’m building a home,” he answers.  Each is performing the same actions, but they have different perspectives, different outlooks on life. Perhaps, too, a different quality of work.  Some probably find it much easier to “call in sick.”  After all, he only has bricks waiting for him, while the other has a family depending on him.   In our public speaking jobs, are we building walls or homes?  Have I shown them that they are important? Have I proven that each of them makes a unique difference?   If we’ve shown love,  if we’ve played our music,  then we’ve made a difference. After speaking opportunities, when I ask myself if I’ve made a difference, one of the criteria I consider is whether or not I’ve empowered my public audience? I always try to stay after my speech, so that people have an opportunity to remain connected and be appreciated.  People can come up to me and ask questions, give me their ideas, or discuss something I’ve said. I use their comments and evaluations for future speeches. 

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Abundant Public Speaking Jobs

December 22nd, 2008
You will have more public speaking opportunities than ever before if you will
play these two radio stations every time you speaker.
A seasoned public speaker once shared with me, “There are two captivating radio 
stations that transmit appreciation, love, and respect to an audience.” 
“Two radio stations?”  I asked puzzled. 
“You heard right. There’s both an AM and FM station…” 
…That was ten years ago. 
Tuning in to these stations has elevated my ability to love. 
 I now share their “power” with you…  

 

W I I — F M  

 

The vast majority of public speaking presentations that I have heard fail to address 
a most important factor — “What’s In It For Me?”  That’s what audience members are 
asking before the presentation even starts.  

 “Is this worth my time?”  

“Why am I here?”  
“Will this be of use to me?” 
“WII-FM?” 
I now “tune in” to this station every time I address an audience. I’ve tried to do 
likewise on these CD’s. On CD #!, I showed you how you can personally benefit from 
improving your presentation skills.  Remember the individual who received a promotion, 
and my friend who was given more money than he’d even asked for?  This is the 
“What’s in it for me?” for this recording.  I hoped to inspire you, to keep you interested 
and entertained.  And if you’re still listening, perhaps it’s worked.   
The second radio station is equally as important, yet tuned in even less often!  

 

MMFG — AM 

 

Before each public speaking job, I envision every audience member actually raising a hand 
and saying, “Excuse me, but I have a request. At some point during your presentation, 
could you Make Me Feel Good About Myself?” 
 Then, I picture myself complimenting each of them. I ponder: 
 What have they accomplished?  
 What awards have they won?  
 What hardships have they endured?  
 What obstacles have they overcome?  
 How have they contributed to their company’s success?  

Tune in” to these questions, and watch what happens! 
 
A company for which I once worked had purchased another company in Chicago.  
It was a rough acquisition. Financially, it was fine.  But on the personal side, it left much 
to be desired. I felt like we had come in as a “bully” company and used this bulldozing 
philosophy: “We don’t care what you used to do and who you used to be. Now, you’re 
us, and it’s time you start doing things our way.”  I went to speak to their sales force two 
months after the acquisition. Before that public speaking job, I’d asked for some of the success 
stories that this company had prior to merging with us, so that I could use these stories 
in my speech. One of our company’s vice presidents told me: 
 “Oh, you don’t have to bring up anything about their past. That’s gone now.  
They’re with us now, and they’ll do as we would have them do.” 
He was a VP. He had authority over me. But I do have a healthy dose of 
productive defiance. I realized that what this group of people needed right now, more 
than anything else, was to feel good about themselves. I needed to tune them in to 
MMFG-AM. I had to let them know that they were important to us — that we needed 
them. 
Before I addressed them, I noticed a plaque on the wall. It had been presented to 
this company for a superb radio advertisement.  So, I copied all the facts and figures. 
Then I saw another award that they’d received from the City of Chicago for their stellar 
service. I wrote that down too.  
I started my presentation, “What a thrill it is to be merging with such a top quality, 
blue-chip company!”  

 When I said that, eyes that were turned down began to look up at me.  

“Congratulations on your Golden Mike Award!” 
 People began to smile. Next, I recognized their award from the city of Chicago, 
adding that I didn’t remember our company ever getting an award like that from our city.  
 “This is absolutely tremendous!  And let me tell you, we have a lot to learn from 
you and your successes.”  
 I didn’t expect anyone to speak up, but one woman, in tears, raised her hand. 
 “Thank you for those compliments!  You’ll never know how much we needed to 
hear those words right now.” 
After that, I could have flubbed the rest of the speech big time, 
could have stumbled over my words, 
forgotten what I wanted to say, 
dropped my notes on the floor… 
and none of it would have mattered.  
Why?  Because I’d truly connected with that audience through love. And that’s 
magical. All I had to do was…  

 

 

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International Motivational Speaker

December 21st, 2008
“Abundance is not something we acquire.  
It is something we tune into.” 
– Dr. Wayne Dyer 

  

When you return from a third world country it awakens you to see how the rest of the world lives. 
Visit a third world country and watch what happens to your gratitude..
And don’t just go with a compassionate attitude. 
Go also with the idea: What can I learn from them? 
I’ve had the opportunity as a motivational speaker to visit several countries 
that would be considered in this “third world” category.  
I think the ones most notable in my mind were in West  
Africa, the countries of Ghana and Nigeria. And in Asia, 
India was a definite. I now live in Southern California and 
you don’t even have to cross an ocean to find third world 
poverty. Cross the border into Tijuana, and I think you’ll  
see what I mean. 
If you go to one of these countries, take your children.  
Let them collect some toys and clothes of theirs and of 
neighborhood friends to give to the children in the country 
you’ll be visiting. I promise you, this will forever impact  
your life – and the lives of your children. 
And while you’re in that third world country, make it a point 
to visit a local hospital. I’ll never forget the one that Tanya 
and I visited in Ghana. What we saw there is still sharply 
embedded in our minds. 
We complain about things in our hospitals: 
“The air conditioning is too cold.” 
“The food isn’t hot enough.” 
“She has to share her room with three other patients.” 
“I rang this buzzer, and it took a nurse two minutes to get here!” 
Our visit to that Ghanaian hospital was a convicting  
contrast where cold air, cold food, a nurse’s visit, or just a 
bed would have been a very welcomed blessing. 
As Tanya and I approached the hospital’s entrance, we  
curiously walked past dozens of people sitting amongst a 
motley patchwork of torn towels and rags strewn across the 
entire dirt “front lawn.” Any available bush or branch was 
similarly adorned. 
As we began walking around inside, our hearts just broke. 
The very rare patient with a bed and mattress was the  
extremely fortunate one. Most had just bed springs. Some 
patients were even lying on the floor. And each person had 
just a ragged cloth beneath them. 
As we glanced through a broken window at that sea of 
towels and rags outside, we were humbled to realize that all 
those precious scraps of cloth were their pillows, mattresses, 
sheets, covers, washcloths, and towels which the families 
themselves supplied, washed, and “sun-dried” for their loved 
ones. 
We just wanted to cry… for them… for their conditions…  
for their lot in life. 
But we couldn’t. Not then, anyway. We were there to visit 
and encourage. 
Yet, most amazingly, it was Tanya and I who became  
encouraged. Astoundingly, there were smiles everywhere 
– on the faces of nurses, doctors, visiting family, and even on 
the faces of the sick and dying. They were so grateful  
someone came to visit and just share a friendly smile or 
gentle touch. Many visitors got up off the floor (there were 
no chairs) and hugged us. Just so appreciative someone 
cared. I’ll never forget it. What grateful and good people! 
We cried for that… after we left. 
And these are the people often referred to as underdeveloped.

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Motivational Speaking Props

December 20th, 2008
Props are so captivating, so effective, so connecting for your motivational speaking job. In his book, Do Not Go 
Naked Into Your Next Presentation, Ron Hoff discusses the importance of good props:  
I’ve been trying to forget the O.J. Simpson trial, but one picture 
keeps developing itself over and over in my mind. It’s defense attorney 
Johnny Cochran, delivering his summation to the jury. He’s wearing a dark 
stocking cap, pulled down right over his head. The cap was a piece of 
prosecution evidence, but it didn’t look very dangerous on Johnny. And the 
most compelling part of this picture is that it’s locked in my brain forever. 
Images have a way of doing that.  Never underestimate the power of a vivid 
image to make linkages into the mind that words alone simply cannot 
accomplish. 
 
         Cochran’s is a good example of prop-power. I’ve already related a number of 
instances when speakers used props with excellent effect. You’ve probably seen 
examples as well.  
It’s always fun when you use props that you can hand out to members of the 
audience.  My friend, Marda, gave a presentation entitled, “Who Packs Your 
Parachute?” in which, instead of simply thanking the audience for all the community 
service they’d done, she gave each audience member a little plastic paratrooper – 
something memorable for them. Great fuel! 
As mentioned earlier, I once used nine different props in a speech. Also, 
whenever I tell one of my signature stories — the Nordstrom Story — I actually hold up 
the ratty old green shirt I’m talking about, so the audience can see it. When I share 
about my phone call to my wife, I actually speak into my cell phone. When I mention 
that I was lacking cash for a transaction, I pull out my wallet from my back pocket and 
rummage through it with a sad look on my face. I don’t just tell about the tie I bought, I 
wear it and flaunt it.  

 

This is the captivating power of props, and they are especially essential in 
meeting the needs of visual and kinesthetic learners in your audience.

 

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Passion in Keynote Speaking

December 20th, 2008

Remember your passion. As a keynote speaker our job is 90% passion. Passion is felt and it moves us in our soul. 

“We choose to forget who we are, and then we forget we’ve forgotten.” – Gunther Bernard 

There is a horrible disease in the world today. It attacks  people of all ages. I have coined it, “Passion Alzheimer’s.” It’s a condition where people can no longer remember their passions or their dreams. They can no longer recall their desires or their purpose. The fantastic news is that this ailment is curable! 

Do you remember your dreams? Can you recall your passion? If you need a refresher course, read the book “Discover Your Passion” by Gail Cassidy. And scan over again some of the tips in this book. There’s a lot of passion glowing on these pages. Find the spark that will rekindle your passion. Rejuvenate yourself. In one of his last interviews, the truly inspirational  Christopher Reeve talked about the frustration he felt when he saw an able-bodied person who was paralyzed in other ways. He said that he wanted to tell that person to just  get up and go for it! Remember your passion when keynote speaking. 

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Motivational Speakers Know Their Stats

December 20th, 2008
65% of all audience members appreciate statistics. 100% of people will show 
their appreciation 50% of the time by evaluating 95% of your presentations at an 
average 8.9 on a 1-10 scale. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) Seriously, effective use of 
statistics really appeals to those “thinkers” in the audience. They want facts, figures, and 
precision.   
 When you use statistics, be graphically dramatic and creative, and always give 
your sources when it will lend credibility. Audience retention is augmented when you 
accompany statistics with clear, uncomplicated visuals. Statistics have no meaning 
without interpretation. When interpreted well, a few dramatic numbers can be 
invaluable.  

 

I won over an audience of information technologists by employing a statistical 
comparison that I discovered on the Internet. I call it my “Jock vs. Nerd Stat Story.”   
Here are the statistical innards of the story:  
• Michael Jordan –the “semi-retired” Michael Jordan, that is –currently makes $40 
million a year in endorsements.   

 

• That translates into $178,000 per day.   
• If he goes to see a movie, it’ll cost him $8.00, but he’ll make $18,550 while 
watching it! 

 

• If someone were to hand him his salary, dollar by dollar, they would have to 
do so at the rate of $2.00 every second.  

 

• This year, he’ll make more than twice as much as all past U.S. Presidents, for 
all of their terms combined.   

 

• Amazing!!  However, if Jordan saves 100% of his income for the next 450 
years, he’ll still have less than Bill Gates (the “nerd”) has today!   

 

I know very little about what information technologists do for a living, but I do 
know that in a “jock vs. nerd” survey, most of them would fall more into the “nerdish” 
category.  And when I ended that story with  “Game over. Nerd wins!” something 
 

interesting happened — hands shot up around the room!  
One participant initiated her first comments since our class had started.   
“I love Bill Gates. He is responsible for putting computers in schools throughout 
our nation!”  
Another member of the class commented, “I saw a TV special on Mr. Gates 
once. He had dirt under his fingernails because he does his own gardening!”  
As others eagerly shared, classmates responded with “ooh’s” and “aah’s.”  
I smiled, as I had just learned the power of audience-specific statistics. 

 

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Use Quotes at Speaking Opportunities

December 20th, 2008
Quotes are powerful captivators and credibility-builders for anyone involved in motivational speaking. (Notice how many I use 
in this book). They show respect for other’s thoughts. Whenever possible, quote people 
in the audience, as it delights and honors them.   
If you’re speaking to a company, quote its leaders. Sure, you could quote Jack 
Welch and other famous CEO’s, but why not the locals? It makes everything more 
specific and intimate. (And it doesn’t hurt to know that it’s the company leaders who 
have a say in whether you’re invited back to speak again.) If you know there’s a new 
executive or associate at the company, quote them. Get them to stand, and initiate 
applause for them. Honor them. There are many, many ways to incorporate quotes 
effectively.  
A company I worked for sponsored a “Bring Your Child To Work Day,” as many 
organizations have done. I invited my older daughter, Alexandra. On that particular day, 
I was facilitating the Presentation Skills Workshop for seven executives in finance. 
These managers had three months to prepare presentations that each would be giving 
in the afternoon session. I made it clear to Alexandra, of course, that she wasn’t 
expected to present one with such short notice. She said she’d like to, if she could go 
last.  
During each speaker’s afternoon presentation, I observed Alexandra was taking 
copious notes. After everyone had finished, it was time for Alexandra’s presentation. 
What she did was really remarkable! As her father, I couldn’t have been more proud. 
She had taken notes on all of the other speakers’ topics. Then she demonstrated 
how the power of the Internet could enhance each of their topics. And she quoted the 
speakers: 

 

Today we heard Maria discuss her keen interest in the country of 
Morocco. She said, “Morocco is a magical place!”  Well, it’s exciting to know that 
you can go to this Internet site (and she mentioned the site) and listen to 
Moroccan music as you’re doing your research.  

 

 She went from one speaker to the next, remembering their topics and quoting 
them. Everyone was excited and loved that their interests were being recapped! They 
were ecstatic that their words were quoted.  Why?  Because their words were honored! 
They gave Alexandra a tremendous round of applause.  
 
They loved her words, because her words were their words!  

 

Quoting others is a powerful fuel for your “fires.” 

 

I strongly suggest memorizing your twenty favorite quotes. It’s always better not 
to have to read them from your notes. After all, if they’ve really had an impact on you, 
wouldn’t you know them by heart? 
 This is what the audience is thinking. 
And you can “quote me” on that! 

Ron Clendenin

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The Questioning Motivational Speaker

December 20th, 2008
Why are questions so powerful?  
  Have you considered the benefits of asking for audience responses?  
        How do questions encourage dialogue and discourage lecture?  

 

I recall listening to a speaker who began her presentation asking “How old would 
you be if you didn’t know how old you are?”  
This inspired laughter and discussion in the group… 
“Does that mean how old do I feel?”  
“How old do I look?”  
It made an immediate connection and it led into the point of her talk.  
Asking questions is also a good opportunity to start off with some humor:   
“How many people are in the wrong place?” 
“How many wish they were in the wrong place?” 

“How many care where they are?” 
“How many wish I would stop asking questions?” 
People will laugh, and you’ll see hands raised after each question. This provides 
both spark and a change of pace.  
You do have to be careful, however, when you’re asking rhetorical questions 
because some people won’t pick up on the fact that they are rhetorical.  It’s not that I 
don’t love to get responses from the group. I frequently interact with audiences. But 
there are times in a speech when you don’t want people shouting out answers. It can 
undermine a dramatic or inspirational point in your speech. You can’t ignore that raised 
hand or that shout. I effectively set up rhetorical questions by letting the audience know 
in various phrasings that no verbal response is expected. I’ll say…  
“Let me just ask you a few rhetorical questions…”  
or 
 “I want you just to think about possible answers to this question…”  
or 
 “There’s no need to respond to this, but why would…”  

  

These pretty much guarantee that you won’t be faced with the awkwardness of 
someone speaking up from the audience when you’d rather them not.  
Why don’t more speakers use this magical device that shows respect?   
Why do teachers rarely use questions, except on tests?   
Will you consider asking more questions in your presentations?   
Can you think of a better way to involve others in your keynote speeches as a motivational speaker?

 

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Showcases for Motivational Speakers

December 20th, 2008

I hear from many new Professional Speakers about the difficulty they are having in getting signed by speakers bureaus. I’ll be posting some secret tips on getting signed with bureaus in a special report any day now. One place to start getting a foot in the door is to sign up for a speakers showcase that is hosted by a bureau. These are incredible venues for you to get some great exposure for not only that specific speakers bureau but also for the meeting planners who attend.
I’ve been a Motivational Speaker for many years but this year was the first time I had spoken at a Speakers Showcase. I spoke at the Capitol City Speakers bureau hosted a showcase which was a full day event allowing each speaker the chance to speak twice. From that one event alone I have 14 bookings confirmed and 6 more “holds” in my speaking calendar.
The bureaus who host showcases still have some basic requirements in order to be accepted into the showcase. One is that you must have a DVD or video on your website that displays your speaking ability. I recommend the video be editing to display some key moments from your speech. You’ll want to show humor and the audience laughing on your video. This is a big deal to the bureaus because they realize that this is the entertainment business and making people laugh is part of being a great keynote speaker. Next you’ll want some footage of your signature story that shows the audience being engaged in your telling of the story. Be aggressive in contacting the bureaus but when you send them an email or a package with your materials be sure to make it easy for them. Label everything clearly and be very gracious and thankful to them for considering you. Now more than ever people are trying to enter the speaking industry which means bureaus get more requests than ever. You want to be make sure what you send them doesn’t get lost in the stack but also that when they find your material is will be easy to read and understand. Be relentless and aggressive in getting on the showcase program but also respectful and not pushy. It is a hard balance but appreciation and respect go a long way with everyone. Something as simple as writing a personal card with a $5 Starbucks gift card inside could make all the difference in getting you on the program of the next speakers showcase.

 

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Tips To Become a Motivational Speaker

December 16th, 2008

Remember your passion. “We choose to forget who we are, and then we forget we’ve forgotten.” – Gunther Bernard There is a horrible disease in the world today. It attacks people of all ages. I have coined it, “Passion Alzheimer’s.” It’s a condition where people can no longer remember their passions or their dreams. They can no longer recall their desires or their purpose. The fantastic news is that this ailment is curable! Do you remember your dreams? Can you recall your passion? If you need a refresher course, read the book Discover Your Passion by Gail Cassidy. And scan over again some of the tips in this book. There’s a lot of passion glowing on these pages. Find the spark that will rekindle your passion. Rejuvenate yourself and your passion to become a motivational speaker. In one of his last interviews, the truly motivational speaker Christopher Reeve talked about the frustration he felt when he saw an able-bodied person who was paralyzed in other ways. He said that he wanted to tell that person to just get up and go for it! What a great spirit. We are all paralyzed in some aspect but in becoming a motivational speaker there is no room for a lack of passion. Remember your passion.


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