How to choose a motivational speaker

There are many people who would call themselves a motivational speaker so which one should you choose?


As a professional speaker for 25 years I’ve seen hundreds of so called 'motivational speakers' and many of them weren’t up to scratch so let me suggest a few ideas that can help you to make the right choice and select a good one:


1. Your needs. Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve from the presentation and be sure of the needs of the audience. When you know your needs it’ll be easier to find the appropriate fit.


2. Qualifications. The best professional speakers will have the letters CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) after their name, awarded to the top 5% of speakers by their governing body, for example NSA (National Speakers Association).


3. Celebrities. Just because someone has represented their country at sports, built a big business or climbed a mountain doesn’t mean they know how to inspire other people from stage. The top professional speakers have studied how inspiration and motivation work. Some celebrities won’t understand this.


4. Website and video. The best speakers will have their own websites where you’ll be able to watch small parts of their presentations. Look on YouTube for their videos too. Watch them to assess the speaker's energy and style but understand that most of them will be able to adapt their content to suit your audience.


5. Client list. Ask any potential speakers for a list of recent clients including their phone numbers so that you can speak to them personally. Ask these clients who their audience was and what their reaction was to the presentation.


6. Recommendations. If you’ve heard a good speaker recently but don’t feel they would be appropriate for this presentation, ask them who they would recommend for your event. If they’ve been in the business for a while they’ll know the best people in each subject area.


To get an idea of the type of things you should look for check out my website  or YouTube channel.  Any if you have any further questions feel free to email me at john@johnshack.com or leave a comment.

How will people remember you?

Some days I find it helps just to slow down, read this and then take a look at where my life is going.


SO WHAT WILL MATTER AT THE END OF THE DAY?


Ready or not, some day it will come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten
Will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
It will not matter what you owned or what you owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies
will finally disappear

So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won't matter where you came from, or on what side of the track you lived.
It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin colour will be irrelevant.
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought but what you built,
Not what you got but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage and sacrifice that
Enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew
But how many people feel a lasting loss when you are gone.
What will matter is not your memories
But the memories of those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered , by whom and for what
Living a life that matters does not happen by accident
It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice

Choose to live a life that matters.


Michael Josephson

How is this for motivation!

 

This is exactly what I say in my book Life Is For Living! What are YOU doing to make sure there is life in your years and years in your life? Click here if you would like a copy of my guide to living longer and better.