Speaking from the Heart

When I give a motivational speech I aim to balance two agendas. The first is to deliver what my client wants - using authentic ideas, energy and enthusiasm. The second is to empower each and every audience member to believe that they can accomplish whatever it is I am talking about. In other words, to make them feel good about themselves.

Today I was in two super schools St Luke’s and Mossley CofE and the common theme of these inset days, was PMA - positive mental attitude. I love this work and entitle it my Cool Beans talk. Cool Beans means – amazing, fantastic and awesome and that is exactly what I encourage my audiences to be.

I want people to walk away from my motivational input feeling incredibly good about themselves. It's more important that they feel good about themselves, than that they feel good about others or me for that matter. Of course, if I can make people feel good about themselves, then they will probably like me, appreciate me, and remember me. But even if they don't, I will do what I believe in and to serve the highest good; to make them feel good about themselves.

Authenticity is simply being honest and real, and being willing to be seen. My stories are definitely original and as I share anecdotes and tales of my life experiences with my audiences my goal is for them to find comfort and develop a rapport with me.

I love the delegates and I am sure that they pick up on this powerful emotion. I encourage them to live up to their potential. So I weave stories and practical tips together with concepts and ideas with positive and empowering comments to let them know that I believe in them.

Empowerment is the secret key and it makes all the difference. And perhaps it is the empowerment piece of the equation that is hardest to quantify.

All I know is that in my case, it stems from my inner belief in the inherent goodness of people. I truly believe that people can achieve incredible things... and that they want to make a positive difference in the world. I let them know that over and over again. It comes across in my motivational speeches and my coaching. It infuses every comment, every challenge and every idea or concept that I deliver.

So my two precious schools that I have had the pleasure in working with today, I hope through the tears and emotional moments, that you realised it was done with faith, hope and most of all… love…