As you enter the new year and complete another year it is good to reflect. I have a question for you that may help guide you in this exercise. How do you view your life today? Is your life like a candle…or is it a firey torch? How would your partner or close friends describe it? Is it just flickering or is it burning brightly?

Throughout your life, we’ve all had many opportunities and privileges of life in such a free land as America. As a motivational speaker you will experience some of the most rewarding work in speaking to people and helping them find motivation and inspiration in their lives… to help light their flame. In becoming a motivational speaker you get impact the lives of others and share hopes, fears, strategies, laughter, and warmth with your audience. All men and women who enter this profession will not only be a giver but you’ll receive countless, remarkable blessings and you absorb the qualities in others that you meet along the way. Do you make an effort every day to make sure your internal flame is burning brightly? When you do this people take note and it will be the key to your success as a motivational speaker. Olympic flame gets passed on from one person to the next, I, too, in my speaking job want to honor others and hand to them some of the inspiration I’ve been given.

First, you must understand that you are not an information speaker but a motivational speaker. It doesn’t matter what your speech is about as much as how your speech touches people. How it is delivered and how you say it. Let me illustrate an important point about being in the motivational speaker business.

Did you ever see the documentary that came out about the Titanic a few years before the  blockbuster movie did? The documentary was unbelievable. Someone had spent a lifetime of research, and found out every fact, detail, that involved that ship. This is new stuff that a lot of people hadn’t even heard before. It was an incredible two-hour documentary, but you havn’t heard of it and neither have I, and it didn’t make any money because no one really cared to see a documentary on the Titanic two or three years after that the Titanic movie comes out. Was the movie true in every sense of the facts, no. Did everything happen the way the movie said, no. The difference in the two films was that the Titantic movie won more Oscars than any movie in the history of cinema. There in lies the difference. Your keynote speech must be more than just a compilation of facts, or wisdom. It’s got to be so much more than that.hen you craft a motivational speech be thinking as you write it  that your not doing a documentary right but a movie. In the end were in the entertainment business. It doesn’t matter what your speech is about because were in the entertainment business and if you’re not entertaining people, people could care less what you’re talking about.

2) Laughter enhances creativity.
“At the height of laughter, the universe is flung
into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.”
– Jean Houston

3) Laughter is the ultimate escape.
“Laughter is an instant vacation.”
– Milton Berle

4) Laughter gives purpose and meaning to life.
“The most wasted day is one in which we have not laughed.”
– Sebastian Chamfort

5) Laughter is spiritual.
“Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.”
– Carl Barth

#2- Decide what market and audience your message and expertise would fit best. If you had 30 minutes to speak on your best content and strategies what would your message be and who would your ideal audience be? Corporate full day training? Company executives? College students? World class athletes?

#3- Get competent help with your marketing.  Like any business, in your speaking career you have to market yourself and your small company which is YOU. The interesting thing about a career in speaking is that your product is you, your credibility and your message. If you have the world’s most important keynote speech but no one can find you then your message will not be heard, and you will not get paid. And then you will be out of the speaking business. It’s not enough to have a great message. Hire an expert who knows the speaking industry and how to get you maximum exposure with with the search engine and social media. Click here for my recommended Rock Star marketing specialist.

#4 Invest in your self by getting speaker training .

The best investment I ever made in getting my speaking career going was getting training from individuals or organizations who knew how to craft a keynote speech and all the delivery techniques. And then I invested thousands of hours in rehearsing in front of a microphone, a video camera and small no-fee audiences until my message was great! Click here for my speaker training course.

How much do great motivational speakers get paid?

Speaking fees paid to professional keynote speakers, whether motivational or not, vary based on the speaker’s skills, star power, and experience. Speaking fees for trained professional speakers range from $2,500 $35,000 per speech. Of course celebrities often demand fees from $50,000-$100,000. They are not always the most talented speakers on the stage but brand recognition can bring the crowds so they can demand higher speaking fees.

Most of my life, I wanted to be a motivational speaker. But I had to believe and visualize myself already as a good speaker. This is the most fundamental 1st step to becoming a professional speaker. We can reprogram our subconscious minds to serve us in our motivational speaking careers.

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 motivational
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 a professional speaking career but you still had some time. Procrastination in preparing to speak is a 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 the speaking industry and then bomb when they have to stand and deliver as a motivational speaker. It takes preparation for public speaking…and lots of preparation to become a motivational speaker.

Click here to go to Motivational Speaker School.

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.

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

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!

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–> Here

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

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

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.

Some of the pictures from our “How to Become a Motivational Speaker Workshop” last year. This was a great event. We’ll be announcing our How to Become a Motivational Speaker Workshop for 2009 very soon on our website. Continue to check back as we are working diligently on this for you. This was a great success and many attendees are now enjoying great speaking careers in all different fields. The recession actually creates more speaking jobs than you might expect. Companies need more help with training and motivating their employees.

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

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.  In short, they showcase the art of a motivational speaking job.