I recently met with a guy who’s trying to become a motivational speaker. He’s a good guy with good things to say.
But the thing is… how should I put it… the whole motivational speaker branding doesn’t give a good first impression. It’s old-school at the best of times, and just plain awkward the rest of the time.
And yet, we all enjoy motivation and inspiration. I read Runner’s World every month not because I need any help running (nothing much changes in the world of running from month to month) but because of the inspiring profiles they print. You’ve got the woman who lost 300 pounds by jogging three times a week, the blind guy who ran a marathon with his son, and so on. I’m a sucker for an inspiring story.
So motivation is good—it’s just the branding of motivation that’s awkward. What’s to be done? My friend Colleen, AKA The Great Communicatrix, explained it best one day while we were hanging out in Austin a while back:
You can’t just BE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER. No one likes that shit. What you should do is BE PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING. Show up and talk about something you give a damn about. Your passion will be motivational in itself.
I think Colleen’s right. If you want to be a speaker, you can go to Toastmasters meetings and learn how you are supposed to hold your hands, the right way to make eye contact with the audience, and so on. But I think it’s better to live an active life and figure out what you’re really passionate about. Then, talk about that.
You’ll get better as you go along. If you give a talk and forget something, if you say um or you know too much, if you break some kind of “rule” of speaking protocol, people will get over it.
It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to improve on the technical things. It just means that the message is more important than the presentation. Between passion and presentation, passion wins every time.
“Motivational speakers” try to manufacture motivation, and this doesn’t usually work. Colleen’s way (the better way) is to introduce your passion to the world around you instead. The right kind of passion is both infectious and contagious. Motivation made easy!
How do you want to change the world? Why not take that thing with you everywhere you go?
Get that right first. Then, even if you’re only talking to one person, you just might be a motivational speaker.
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Image: Adam
May 31, 2010
Shannon - SKS Designs
Yes! Exactly! You summed up the entire learning point in one statement:
“Between passion and presentation, passion wins every time.”
Passion is the driving force in all that we do and the level of passion will determine the level of success. If a business is started without a passion for the product or services you are selling, you will fail. However, if you bring yourself and your passion into your products and services, you not only succeed but have the most fruitful and happiest life one can imagine.
Be passionate in all that you do and motivate without even trying!
June 1, 2010
Ryan Martin
I believe passion is so inspiring because it’s rare when we meet someone who is comfortable expressing their passion.
There is a bit of a stigma that says if you are obsessed about something it’s unhealthy. We all know of stories of parents who discourage a child’s passion because they see it as “unhealthy” and/or “not piratical”.
I love meeting people who express their passion; it’s rare to meet people who are truly alive.
June 22, 2010
Kiki Ramsey
This post was very…..timely. I had just been taking to my husband about not wanting to call myself a motivational speaker. I am pasionate about helping women Take Charge of Their Lives and I do speak about it and coach. But it is really hard as a branding aspect of how to package what you do if you are a speaker. I do agree that the term is out dated and is sound dull. However instead of saying I’m a speaker I say I help women take charge of their lives and overcome their challenges. Then most people if they are interested will ask you how do you do that. Then that is my opportunity to tell them that I speak about the topic. This might be a help for others out there who are speakers but don’t want to call themselves motivational speakers. But I say if you can motivate others don’t quit because the world does need motivators.
August 27, 2010
WeAreAvant
Most motivational speakers I’ve met have a bit of an aura about them. Whether they’re faking it, learned it or were born with it, they have a unique ability to both speak directly to audience members and an entire room, while sharing an important message that will positively affect the listeners’ lives.
No matter how persuasive you are, if you don’t have a message to share, forget about it.
September 6, 2010
Sabrina
The secret behind each motivational speaker is the passion which they strong up within them…So passion is the key role for success.
September 29, 2010
Art
Thank you for this Article.
It’s made me really think because I have been looking into speaking as a career. I really am passionate about people living their lives on purpose, following their hearts, and consciouly growing and expanding. What fuels this passion is that I’ve spent 13 years of my adult life inside of a religious cult. Additionally, I’ve overcome self esteem issues that have been life long that manifested in bullying, lack of social skills, and singled out for verbal abuse. Now for the first time in my life, I am living for me and prioritizing my desires. I love myself fully and unconditionally. I’m ready to get on the highest mountaintop and share the message of self love, healing, and spiritual growth. That’s what gets my juices going.
Now this article has made me reconsider this approach. It’s a good thing becasue it’s making me think about what I can really offer to the world.