Any motivational speakers out there?

[run_fly]

Anyone do any motivational speaking? if so would you like to share some information on how you got started and some other information on motivational speaking...

[cultivategreatness]

Originally Posted by run_fly

Anyone do any motivational speaking? if so would you like to share some information on how you got started and some other information on motivational speaking...

Great idea for a thread... Im in the process of becoming a motivational speaker as well. Im thinking that perhaps what I do first is set up some seminars about Internet Marketing and helping people earn money online... then eventually morph into creating a personal development seminar series.

Yeah, anyone who has walked the path before us, please share your tidbits.

[Tristan]

Well,

Just as in any type of speaking, you need to have a message that carries some value to other people...not just yourself. This is an important part because often would-be speakers who ask me the same question have a message that is important to them, but not so much to other people. You must deliver something that has weight to your audience.

Also the question must be asked...are you going to speak just to spread your message to others, or do you want to make a living doing talks...the latter is far more complicated to write in a single post.

I do workshops, trainings, speaking events, coaching, and writing in the field of Peak Performance and Human Potential. One of the biggest hurdles I faced when becoming a professional motivational speaker was answering the question, "What makes you qualified to speak to others about motivation?" or "Why should I be listening to you at all?" This requires that you have some sort of explanation of why you are qualified to motivate people and this comes from your own life. Myself, I had competed in the olympic trials and became a police officer and then a life coach and trainer, so I can tie in stories from my street experience and athletic achievement into my talks.

Anthony Robbins has his firewalking gimmick to separate him from everyone else. A speaker needs, not so much a gimmick, but something special that makes people want to come and listen.

Remember that motivational speaking is basically common sense put into perspective. You are not really teaching people anything that they don't already know. The power a motivational speaker has is changing their audiences' psychology into adopting and integrating those common sense things into their lives so that they become common practice instead of just common sense.

Tristan

[DmitryDavydov]

Originally Posted by run_fly

Anyone do any motivational speaking? if so would you like to share some information on how you got started and some other information on motivational speaking...

So you want to be a cheerleader who talks... Hmmm.

[Nneka]

I want to be an inspirational speaker.

Tristan, can you share your story with us. How did you transition into the career? How long have you been a motivational speaker? How do you determine how much to charge? How did you get your first speaking engagement?

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[Kevin Givens]

Great post Tristan! Like others, I'd be interested to hear more of your story.

I want to become a speaker as well. On the top of my list of goals to get there are;
1. Join Toastmasters
2. Build credibility by walking-the-walk
3. Start podcasts and/or video blogs for my niche websites

Any other suggestions?

[Savage]

Darren LaCroix, a successful professional speaker who's well known in Toastmasters because he's the 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking, has a comprehensive program called "Get Paid to Speak by Next Week." I went through the whole thing and would recommend it for anyone new to pro speaking who wants to break in. It starts from the level of total beginner and explains all the how-to details. Darren also includes dozens of forms and tools to get there you a lot quicker, and he shares specific figures. He got only $75 for his first paid speech and now earns 100x that.

Check out his site:
Presentation Tips, Getting Funnier and Keynote Speaking with Darren LaCroix

I should mention that Darren is a friend, so I'm not completely impartial. He moved to Vegas and belongs to the same Toastmasters club as me.

Toastmasters is a good place to build your speaking skills, but it won't teach you the business side of speaking, which is a whole other world to discover.

[eblight]

Thanks for information on motivational speaking.

[Javen]

That's a lot of information for us budding speakers to work through!

Does anyone participating in this thread have any stories or updates they'd like to share?

J

[Holistic Star]

In the last 6 months people have approached me to do talks. I've done 3 now, and have 2 more booked in at the moment. The first 2 I wasn't paid but I did get clients as a result. The last one I made £30! It's a start

The requests have come from either people I already knew who had connections with Mind Body Spirit Groups - or from people I've met when I've had a stand at a wellbeing fair. I'm actively looking for more speaking opportunities and have joined Toastmasters too.

One thing that is funny to me is that when I say I've been asked to speak for between 60 - 90 minutes, my friends often react with shock about 'how long' that is. I find it really short! I used to work as a corporate trainer, so 'long' for me is a 3-day course. An hour seems like just the warm-up and introduction to me!

[Clint Cora]

I'm considered a motivational (and diversity) speaker and people tend to find you if you put out enough resources (articles, videos). As for speaker bureaus, it's the same thing. They will find you when you are ready. I've got a few of them so far and they all found me either via a referral or even via Google when they need to find a certain type of speaker at a certain location.

[metamorph]

Speakers are motivational to me, if they have achieved something I admire, before they became a motivational speaker. This could be a pro athlete, former president, ex drug addict, ex dish-washer-now-millionaire, etc.

[MysteryX]

I went to CEO Space a few times. It is an intense business training and networking event based on the cooperative model. In July, there was about a thousand people, each with their own business. I met one guy who has a speaking firm who wants to give me speaking engagements internationally. I'm currently working on producing a speech.

Also I'm attending Toastmasters since a few months. That definitely helps get some experience and feedback.

So yes, I'm going in that direction.

[Bongza]

I am on my way to becoming a professional motivational speaker, curently I have joined toastmasters to practice public speaking and I also network with professional speakers.

I read business and motivational/inspiring books, I believe you have to be fully equipped.