Phil Town is the classic Everyman, and one whose  resources were more limited than most. An average student, he completed college on his 4th attempt. Phil Town spent four years in the Army, two of them as a trained Green Beret. He returned from the Vietnam War and found a job in the Midwest as a river tour guide.

In the early ‘80s, Town’s life changed for the better. He was guiding trustees from the educational program Outward Bound down a dangerous rapid on the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River, when his split-second decisions saved a boatload of people from a whitewater disaster. A grateful and financially astute client returned the favor by guiding Phil Town into serious, successful investing using the first rule of investing as ascribed to by Warren Buffett: Don’t lose money. Within five years, Town had built a borrowed $1,000 into $1 million. His fortunes improved radically, and rapidly, from then on.

Phil Town speaks on investing on the same stage as for Presidents Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton as part of the “Get Motivated” touring seminars. He speaks to more than 600,000 people annually about Rule #1 investing.

Phil Town lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

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It takes effort just like anything else, anybody listening to this must be really confident. The key to making a great speech as a motivational speaker is that you have to rehearse so that you can make it appear as if I’m just telling a story spontaneously, off top my head. I think there has to be some tension in the story that you are telling. There’s got to be some built-in tension, there’s a struggle. There’s got to be a reason for the listener to say my gosh how is this going to work out, what will happen here?When you get that going, now they’re listening and even pulling for you. One of the biggest things is to paint a picture as a motivational speaker.

If I can tell you a story and without even realizing it you are there, you are actually visualizing it. You’re walking with me on the side of the you’re watching the fire burn in that house, that’s the key. If you can get there, your stories will captivate. Ask yourself as a motivational speaker , ‘do I always have a story for every point’? Absolutely you should!  I think people learn through stories. Whether or not you’re religious you have to accept this, Jesus Christ decided how can I get my message out to the whole world. He told stories. People relate to that and identify with them. I don’t know the cannot to many stories to be honest. In a 45 minute speech there’ll be one longer story, maybe a signature story, it’s can be five minutes long. But there are other stories that are 90 seconds long and there may be as many as eight or 10 of them in one keynote speech.

A signature story can be the one story that comes to everybody’s mind when you think of that speaker. Les Brown talks about the time that he became a DJ, as his all-time dream job of being a DJ. He tells us so wonderfully well, I’ve heard him tell it 10 times. What would really open up the hearts of listeners and they would relate to you and that would be the biggest part is that they would be pulling for you. If they’re pulling for you to succeed. Stories are what we want in our jokes, songs, movies and the books we read. The best motivational speakers are also the best story tellers.

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Motivational Speaker Jobs

As a motivational speaker you have to always be motivating yourself by reading motivational books and watching inspiring video. In a society where criticism and negativity reign, it’s vital to keep powerful
affirmations available in your flint pouch of motivational thinking. These are firey motivational quotes that help me keep me fired up in my job as a motivational speaker.

Following are several great quotations that I hope you’ll find motivational. Copy and print the ones that motivate you most. Laminate them. Use them as motivational bookmarks. Post
them up on your job. Tape them to the ceiling at home and work. Carry them in your notebooks, purses, wallets, and in your car. Also work them into speeches for your motivational speaker jobs.

• “We become what we habitually contemplate.” — George William Russell, Irish Poet
• “Take charge of your thoughts. You can do what you will with them.” —Plato
• Be careful what you pretend to be because you are what you pretend to be.”  Vonnegut “Everything you can imagine is real.” Pablo Picasso“What we are is what we have thought for years.”  Gautama the Buddha

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Are you considering a public speaking job? Great.

Let me offer you one self evaluation that will help you qualify yourself for the public speaking industry. The great English poet and artist William Blake said it best when he described is professionalism to writing and was so excited about his public job that he wrote these words from his heart one day on his way to work:  Sparks emit from my fingertips, in anticipation of my day’s vocation. That is it! Step one in making a decision to go after a public speaking job is passion. It’s as if you have a burning desire to be a public speaker.  You should carry a photo of Phil Town in your “speaker’s notes” folder as an example of passion on stage. It’s not because he’s my favorite artist,author and speaker. Phil Town has, in my opinion, a rather wealthy life but still manages to keep that relatable and passionate energy when he speaks to investing audiences.

But one thing I do admire about Janis Joplin is — she had passion.  Her passion comes through in her songs. And when I listen to her stirring music, I hear someone who has set her soul on fire. There are many times when I am contemplating making a statement to an audience that may be a bit risky, and I glance down and see Janis, and she literally encourages me, saying: Say it, man.  Go for it! Speak like it’s the last time you’re going to public speak.  It may be the hundredth time you’ve said these things, but it’s the first time they’ve heard it.  So, go for it!

Janis= Passion.Passion,” contends Richard Chang, “is not a privilege of the fortunate few, it is a right and a power that we all possess.” Passion, then, is neither a gift nor a talent.  It is a choice, a decision. I suggest that you discover  the “Passion Point” in public speaking presentations. What will you feel most strongly about in your public speaking job? This is the Passion Point. Every genuine message must have one.  Whether it’s a speech on information technology, on finance, or on natural turf…find it!  Find what excites you about it. Find that Passion Point. Highlight or underscore it.   Practice it with the great passion it generates within you. Make it something you believe in, and you’ll be on fire every time and keep your audiences enthralled.

Technorati Tags: career in public speaking, careers in public speaking, how to become a motivational speaker, jobs in public speaking jobs, phil town, public speaking career, public speaking jobs

Careers in Public Speaking

One tip I want to pass on to anyone considering a motivational speaking career is this-Take Risks.Taking risks ensures originality.  Taking risks also ensures some fear.  The following poem stirs me to take risks.  It encourages me to play my own symphony in the performance hall of life.

Risk
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk exposing our true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before the crowd is to risk loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try at all is to risk failure.
But to risk we must!
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing—
The man and woman who risks nothing,  has nothing, does nothing,  is nothing. Author-Unknown

When I was first hired by AchieveGlobal, they flew me to Las Vegas for a five day certification program. The first three days were instructional.  The last two were spent actually doing a couple of forty-minute public speaking jobs in front of the leader and the group. While preparing for my Thursday presentation on Wednesday night, instead of simply doing my assignment, I risked it.

Wanting to impress everyone with my creativity, I went way out of bounds and came up with some wild exercises that I hoped would dazzle them all.  The next day, during my public speaking opportunity, I proudly unveiled my elaborate, intricate, complex exercise to the group!  Knighthood would not be far away!  And…It bombed! I’ll spare you the details (and spare myself the painful memories of dazed expressions, empty stares, and total silence)……It bombed! Never in my life had I been so humiliated.  Never had my ego been so blistered.  My boss, Kelli Lynn, quickly called for a break.  During that break, alone with Kelli Lynn, I did something I hadn’t done in years… I cried…just sat there…and cried. Turning to my manager, I began mumbling. “I blew it.  I was trying something new, and it bombed.  You’re probably regretting ever hiring me…” She interrupted my confession by handing me a brightly colored paper.  On it, written in bold neon letters were the words: Keep  on Taking Risks in your motivational speaking career!!!

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The Primary reason I take motivational speaking jobs is that I want to impact people’s lives.I once 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 motivational speech is not yet ready to give.

Ask yourself this Motivational Speaking Question

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 task, but they have different perspectives, different philosophies. Perhaps, too, a different quality of work.  One probably finds 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?  If we’ve shown love,  if we’ve played our music,  then we’ve made a difference. After public 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 audience? Have I shown them that they are important? Have I proven that each of them makes a unique difference?    This is the most fulfilling part of my motivational speaking career.

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In November of 2008 the number of jobs lost for that month was 533,000. We are entering troubling economic times in the U.S. and globally.

Even in hard times there is still public speaking opportunities for those who are aggressive and positive forward thinkers. That is also true when it comes to public speaking opportunities.
Did you know that if you can use humor and make people laugh you will keep having more and more opportunities in motivational speaking jobs.
I wait until I’ve opened a mouth wide with laughter…Then I pour a
dose of truth down it. –Charles Spurgeon

Well said. The proper use of humor in your motivational speaker jobs has effects well beyond its
entertainment value. It loosens up the crowd, and opens them up to your message. I have my own “humor file” of about two hundred pages. It contains humorous stories I’ve heard and jokes I’ve been told or have seen on television, in newspapers, magazines, and e-mails. I read maybe a book each month on humor, constantly looking for gems. Whenever I use one of the jokes from my file, I go back in the book and write down where I used it, for whom, and the response it received. Then, I might rework it, reword it and use it again later. I make it a point, though, to never build any speech around humor. I wait until the speech writing is completed, then look for a place where an appropriate joke or humorous story might “stack on.”

Humor can soften controversy and relieve tension. It can get the audience’s attention back if they’re drifting. And, most importantly, it can make them like you. Everyone enjoys spending time with someone who has a sense of humor, and if the audience enjoys spending time with you, you’ll have a much better chance of achieving your objective than if they don’t…never apologize for a joke in any way. No “Stop me if you’ve heard this one” or “Indulge me for just a moment.” No shrugging or other apologetic body language. If the joke is in the speech, you should already have determined that it’s appropriate, relevant to the material, and worth telling.” TCS

So, please don’t stop me if you’ve heard this one.  Find good comedy material, develop it, and practice it for all your public speaking jobs. Go to comedy clubs and watch stand-up on television. Examine how jokes are told well. Look for timing, pauses, facial expressions, body language, etc. Now, go put some smiles on some faces!

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In just about any profession it does not hurt you to have the reputation of being eager to learn and continue getting more education.  Motivational Speakers are no different.

We need to always be learning and improving our motivational speaking skills. Did you ever think about learning from others as a blessing? As a Motivational Speaker the benefit is how this activity affects so many parts of your business especially relationships in speaking. Our clients enjoy sharing their thoughts, their knowledge, and their stories.

Get the Best Speaker Training

I always think about Tiger Woods as a great learner and easy to teach. He’s watched all the great golfers and tried to pick one thing they did best and go and learn that. Tiger has hired golf swing coaches to help him continue improving his game and stay the number one player.
Think about it do you remember that person who always had to share how smart they are? Do you recall that person who always corrected others about their facts? The one with whom it was pointless to disagree? I used the words “remember” and “recall” because odds are these are friend and acquaintances of the past. Actually, no one enjoys being around a know-it-all for very long. In contrast, imagine someone who is interested in your thoughts and views. Isn’t it great when someone asks you to explain further your comments, and responds:“That’s a good point!”
“I have never considered that.” “That is very interesting. Please tell me some more about that.”
Learning from others is about much more than just getting more knowledge. It involves having the humility to put aside our “mental fact sheets” and to open that space for others’ ideas. Learning is about honoring others who share new or different viewpoints.

Motivational Speaker’s Enemy

I have discovered that our biggest enemy in this area is my ego. Sometimes our pride doesn’t want to learn. It wants to be recognized and be the teacher! It wants to share with others how much it knows. My ego wants to correct others to set them on the right path. When someone disagrees with or questions my point of view, I’m quick to get defensive. Do you Learn from your friends and colleagues? Learn From Everyone you encounter and view them as superior in some way.

Come to My Motivational Speaker Training course and you’ll learn to transform your speaking career.

“Every man I meet is my superior in some way;
in that I learn from him.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

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If you can develop a motivational speech that will blow audiences away every time then you can be among the elite who earn high income and have one of the highest paid jobs in america.

I’ve been doing public speaking for audiences for over 30 years. I can vividly recall the “early
days” when I witnessed unspeakable horrors in motivational speaking. I actually saw audience members yawning, checking their watches, and even nodding! OUCH! There are few experiences in life more humbling than to be baring your soul to the throngs, only to be ignored in return. Thus, I made a resolute pact with myself three decades ago: “I want to have one of the highest paid jobs so…I will not be a boring speaker…Period!” Thus, I graciously hand over the following “highest paid jobs fuel tips.” These are the logs tossed on a fire that not only keep it burning, but send the flames higher and higher. These “logs for the fire” will create warmth and light…and here is the word that pays, literally, captivation!!! One key which I teach for a full day in my workshops is the skill of telling stories. If you want to be one of the highest paid in your public speaking job then learn the art of telling stories. One other key to having one of the highest paid jobs is to be funny. Have great humor sprinkled and perfectly timed to compliment the point you are making.

The highest paid people in the world and the most powerful are great speakers. In being a great speaker you’ve got to use stories and humor like a master craftsman. If you are fortunate enough to be highly compensated as a speaker then you undoubtedly have mastered these two essential skills of a motivational speaker.

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We often think of the comic who can’t get a laugh a performance that bombs. Did you know that in your public speaking jobs that going past your allotted time can turn a good speech into a bomb? It is called Overtime public speaking.”Stand up so you’ll be seen. Speak up so you’ll be heard. And then
sit down so you’ll be appreciated.”–John Davies, Business Speaker and Trainer

Ready for a stiff motivational speaker to motivational speaker challenge? I submit there is a direct correlation between the overtime minutes of a speech and the Motivational speaker’s ego! If you just had a distinctly negative reaction to this theory, the red warning ego light may be flashing– Ego! Ego! Addressing an audience is a blessing; not stopping in time is a curse. “Leave ‘em wanting more” is an adage most business speakers can quote, but few can follow. Even when we know that it is always advantageous to cease while the fire is still hot, the dreaded ego too often has the last word (or words). While I was visiting a friend in Texas, a motivational speaker I know invited me to sit in on his Saturday morning class. This presentation skills workshop was scheduled from 11 to noon. The class was fantastic, and we were all involved and learning a great deal. However, high noon was approaching quickly, and I noticed that people were getting just a little bit antsy. The bell to end class rang at noon, and the teacher went on as if he hadn’t even heard it. Students still listened to him, but I could sense a significant energy change. A few of them began gathering their books together and looking at their watches as polite signals to the teacher that it was time to go. He continued to speak. Ten minutes later the late-bell sounded. He responded that he had one more thing to say regarding this…and another regarding that… He talked on until about twelve-twenty, when all of a sudden he paused and said, “How’s everybody feeling right now?” There wasn’t a word in response. “Please be honest,” he said. “How is everybody feeling right now about the fact that this class went twenty minutes late?”
Finally, it began to come out. “Well, I’ll be honest with you. I really like your class and always look forward to it, but this is kind of an inconvenience for me. I had a twelve o’clock appointment with
someone.” Someone else added, “My wife has been upstairs for twenty minutes! She always picks me up at twelve, and we go out and have lunch together.”

Similar comments were also made. The teacher then surprised us all by informing us that he had held us overtime on purpose, adding that he would never again hold us past twelve o’clock. “But as future preachers and teachers,” he concluded, “I want you to remember how this feels. I want you to remember how important it is not to keep people overtime.” This was a major motivational speaker training lesson for me because, even though he had one of the most enthralling motivational speaking careers speaker business I knew, people resented even him for going overtime. Just don’t do it.

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First you have to start the fire by gathering twigs of skill in Motivational Speaking. This first one may be for pay or “no fee” but you prepare for it as if it is paying $100,000 for a keynote speech. Twigs simply refuse to stack themselves. Carelessly tossing a handful of kindling into the fire pit yields nothing but wasted time and wasted matches. “Stacking twigs” for a public speaking presentation requires meticulous attention as well. It includes such things as arriving early at the site of the event – not ten minutes or half an hour early, but early enough to check, recheck, and connect. Other “twigs” to “stack”:
• Has the room been set up properly?
• Are there enough chairs?
• Does the lighting suit our purposes?
• Have we completed a sound check?
• Did we make sure the lavaliere would be effective while roaming the stage?
• What if we roam the room?

• Is the battery in the mike system fresh?
• Where is the thermostat?
• Who do we contact for technical problems?
• Has a glass of water been poured?
• Are we recording this presentation?
• Is our system ready?
• Are the batteries fresh?
• Is that smoke alarm too close for that special pyrotechnic effect?
• What if the “fireball” is tossed in that direction instead?
• Are the chairs in the audience too close together to permit “intimate” roaming?
• Where are the exits, in case of an emergency? (“fireball”)
• That group singing and shouting next door could be a problem!
• When does their meeting end?

And on and on — twig by twig, we stack for success as a Motivational Speaker. Assuming all of this is done, the next phase of “stacking” is greeting and meeting people as they come in, being sure to give each person you meet your full attention. Sometimes you’ll get some great material for your speech just doing this. One time I was asked to do a public keynote speech at a school.
My motivational speech was prepared beforehand, but I’d never spoken to this group before since I had become a speaker. There
was a dinner before the speech (and may I just mention that they served the finest tri-tip he audience members were parents of children attending this school. Again,
my speech was prepared, but I didn’t think I had enough of the personal touch. When
the call came to get in line, I took my notepad with me, and started meeting people in
line. I’d introduce myself as the evening’s Motivational Speaker and began asking them questions:
“Can you tell me what you like about this school?”
“Why do you have your child attend this school?”
“Who is your favorite teacher here and why?”
I “stacked” some very humorous and heartwarming quotes. Every time I got to the head of the line, I’d excuse myself, and go to the back of the line, still meeting people, interviewing and taking notes. After an hour of doing this, I was extremely hungry, but I had ten excellent interviews, of which I used the top five in my speech. Mentioning their names, their children’s names, quoting their statements, praising the school and its teachers—it made all the difference. I believe it is important to note that I had my speech fully ready and practiced beforehand. I had gathered my wood. Consequently, I had time to further personalize and customize it with these “twigs” in the final hour before “showtime.”
Too many Motivational Speakers spend that hour putting the final touches on their basic
keynote speech and, unfortunately, miss an opportunity to better connect with their listeners. I’ve been blessed to attend an international customer service seminar for the
past few years and heard lots of great Motivational Speakers. But I’ve noticed only one speaker has ever come out prior to his or her speech to meet audience members. That was Dr. Stephen Covey.
Turns out he is one of the most in demand Motivational Speakers

Technorati Tags: become a motivational speaker, become a speaker, Dr. Stephen Covey, how to become a motivational speaker, motivational speaker jobs, motivational speaking jobs, public speaking career, public speaking jobs, speaker business, Stephen Covey

It never fails to amaze me that top speaking professionals, working for a top company, will
come to a presentation skills workshop without a presentation! Moreover, these speaking
presentations are being video-taped and conducted, not only in front of their peers, but
also many times in front of their bosses. Still, remarkably, many do not prepare.
Often, I’ll try to break the “avoidance-syndrome” tension by reading those e-mails
aloud, evoking some embarrassed chuckling and confessions of “Oh yeah, you’re right.”
(I sincerely believe that if I didn’t read these “Exhibit A Evidences” to them, there would
still be a few who would stubbornly hold to the claim that they’d never heard about the
presentation requirement.)At this point, the room energy is comprised of a dangerous combination of
embarrassment and guilt. So I use humor to make the bitter truth more palatable. I
offer the following explanation: You probably did peruse the course description and signed up for the
course with every intention of doing a good job on your presentation for
yourselves, your peers, and your supervisors. You knew that it was important
and would be beneficial to your speaking careers, but you still had some time. Procrastination in preparing to speak is toxic potion for one who wants to become a motivational speaker.You can’t wing it you have to take the prep time that is necessary for every presentation. I’ve heard people describe their talents as not needing preparation that they think better on their feet. You are deceived. It takes:
…reading for your speech
…note-taking for your speaking opportunity
…outlining for your speaking opportunity
…writing for your speaking opportunity
…editing for your speaking opportunity
…memorizing for your speaking opportunity
…developing supplementary materials for your speaking opportunity
…finding appropriate props
…and as many essential etceteras as you can shake a stick at!

Don’t make the mistake of so many who start in this industry and then bomb when they have to stand and deliver. It takes preparation for public speaking…lots of preparation to become a motivational speaker.

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The Following is 2004’s ranking:

1- Public Speaking

2- Heights

3- Insects/Bugs

4- Financial Problems

5- Deep Water

6- Death

Each year, the ratings are likely to change, sometimes considerably.  Death, for example, has been as high as the second greatest fear. Most of the others have shifted around as well, but one response has never changed in the history of this survey:  Public Speaking has always maintained the #1 spot as our greatest fear.

Accordingly, we would rather be penniless, covered head-to-toe with a crawling mass of vicious bugs, and plunging from an airplane to a horrific death in the deepest part of the ocean than standing in front of a group of people and giving a speech.  Or as Jerry Seinfeld humors: Soooo, if you have to be at a funeral, you’d rather be in the casket than delivering the eulogy. I wondered why the prospect of public speaking engendered such fear and trembling to the extent that we are less fearful of even the “Sickness Unto Death.” I’ve asked many audiences to give me their thoughts on the issue. They answer:

• Fear of criticism
• Fear of failure
• Fear of making a negative lasting impression
• Fear of rejection
• Fear of ridicule

Fear will smother the confidence of competent public speakers. It is impossible to be motivational when we are trembling with nervousness. The three points I teach in my workshops are ways to overcome these debilitating fears.  They are Preparation, Practice, and Passion, which not only make for better speeches, but also are the ultimate Fear extinguishers.
Don’t think that those who’ve already started their speaking career don’t have struggles with this same fear.
The key to overcoming the habit of fear is to replace it with the habit of confidence, preparedness and much rehearsal. Top Comedians, Oscar winning actors and top public speakers work hard on their craft with hours and hours of behind the scenes memorization of lines and even practicing in the mirror.
In our Presentation Fire Training School we will walk you through not only designing your message, but give you preparation methods that will launch you to new heights in your motivational speaking job

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Starting your job in motivational speaking is no easy task. I always advise everyone to not quit their day job until they have a full understanding of what are the entry level tools required for a speaking career. The speaking business, in many ways, parallels the entertainment business. When the hit show American Idol rolls into your city for auditions reports of 4000 plus will wait for days to audition. Only a small handful will be selected from each city. The speaking business is a great career but the first tool you need to start working on is finding your message and writing a book about it. If you do not have a book you can still get speaking jobs. Having a speaking career is different than getting some speaking jobs. A career is about crafting a great message that is worth writing about and becoming a motivational speaker. There are several ways to get your book finished. In fact, you may be a great speaker but not very good a writing. Ghost writers can take your hand written notes or even audio CD’s of your ideas and turn it into a work that you’d be proud to publish. In our Public speaking training course we’ll give you lists of writers and publishers. You’ll also want to self publish your first book, unless of course, you have already been signed by a publisher. If that is the case then you must know Oprah personally.

Coming soon is my free download of some quick tips for writing your first motivational speaking book.

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To have a public speaking job
is to go beyond comfort and stretch yourself toward greatness.
My Friend, boxer, minister, and real estate developer Chris
writes: “Average is the top of the bottom… the best of the worst… the bottom of the top…
the worst of the best… The saddest epitaph is this: ‘Here lies Mr. Average.

Here lies the remains of what might have been,  except for his belief that he was only average.’”
When I first met Chris, he was, by his own account, an average public speaker. He had limited education and very little motivational speaking experience. He was determined to improve and was willing to go to any lengths to do so. He watched other public speakers, always taking notes on each little detail of how they went about their public speaking job. Chris would always asked for feedback after delivering a motivational speech or sermon.Many nights I remember Chris, in my garage, practicing his
upcoming public speaking. Using my ironing board as his podium, he enthusiastically spoke to an audience of one. At each juncture I would offer suggestion after suggestion. After a some scribbling, he would begin again…and again. Chris became a powerful as a minister and later went to be successful in his Public speaking career! Chris now has spoken all over the world. Today, he is a favorite of many, including myself…and there is nothing average about as a public speaker.

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I love my motivational speaking job and the following quote by Daniel Webster says it all.
“If all my talents and powers were to be taken from me by some
inscrutable Providence, and I had my choice of keeping but one, I would
unhesitatingly ask to be allowed to keep the Power of Speaking, for
through it, I would quickly recover all the rest. Helping others to become a motivational speaker and helping others get into a motivational speaking career is our mission in forming this company.
One issue you must resolve as a business speaker is the mystery that I call “The Paradox of Front Rows.” Let me explain. I now live in southern California, and it didn’t take me long to marvel and the staunch Laker fans. During games, I always see the front row seats occupied by the likes of Jack Nicholson and Dyan Cannon, because the cost for those seats is just so out of reach for anyone else. And why not? Your view is at bench-level. You’re nearest the action and the players, and you might, should fortune smile, spend a few unforgettable moments sharing your lap with a hustling, leave-it-on-the-floor, professional basketball player.
Front rows are the place to be. Recently, “The Lion King,” one of the top hits in theater, came to Los Angeles. As a birthday surprise, I bought three VIP tickets for my wife and two daughters at $125 a piece! There were several back-row seats available for that performance for one-fifth that amount. I was willing to pay the higher price, because the value is greater the closer you get.
Yet, you visit a typical motivational speaker presentation anywhere in the United States, and
the first rows are probably empty. The back rows seem to be of greater value. Now,
would this make sense in theater or sports? One valuable skill you must learn is how to fill the front rows and fill the room with your powerful skills as a motivational speaker. By James Lloyd

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There’s something dignifying and honoring about being introduced as the motivational speaker. It also presents several advantages. Your introducer can “sing your praises,” and this is the best opportunity to have your accomplishments mentioned without.
Most speakers in their motivational speaking career, including myself, have typewritten large print introductions (our “matches”) that they can hand to the introducer to read about our speaking career.

I have different ones, depending upon my topic and my audience. I suggest sending your “Intro” to your “Introducer” to give them time to review it, insert their own comments, and practice it. I usually jokingly warn them against reading what I sent, and beg them not to say, “James has asked that I read this to introduce him.” If that happens, we have essentially just boasted about ourselves. Do that and we’ve just doused the kindling we are attempting to light. Theoretically, wet wood can burn, but it takes a long, long time to ignite.

You only have a brief window of opportunity to “light the fire” and capture the attention of your audience that you are speaking to. The first thirty seconds will determine whether your audience is going to fully listen and participate with you, or tune out the motivational speaker.
Think of the television industry. They understand that they have half a minute to capture your attention, or you’ll start channel surfing. Millions of dollars are invested to maximize the impact of those opening moments. Pay attention to the “tease” of television shows, and you’ll see countless examples of “lighting up.” One question I ask in my training workshops is, “Can you envision every
member of the audience you are speaking to holding remote controls in their hands and pointing them at
you as the motivational speaker?” I picture this and I’m determined to remove any of their temptations to change channels or hit the mute button.

Today’s audiences expect much more than did audiences in the past. They are
ready and willing channel surfers. So we had better ignite a bright fire, and ignite it
quickly. It is critical to grab their attention immediately. Notice how the best motivational speakers are able to employ humor right in the intro. You’ve heard the old maxim, “always open with a joke.” I would suggest, whenever possible, to use humor because there’s nothing like laughter to loosen up people. Moreover, all three of these examples demonstrate a keen awareness of the audience. Phil Town is a great speaker and is purposeful, humorous and captivating. In short, they showcase the art of a motivational speaking job.

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