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What is the message you are trying to convey?

Now that you have narrowed your search by first considering your audience, the next step for choosing a motivational speaker is to consider the message you are trying to convey.  If you are looking for someone to give a keynote address at a gang awareness summit or to conduct a seminar at a diversity training, it is important to consider a presenter who is knowledgeable on the topic.  Too many times, a motivational speaker is asked to present because they are humorous or entertaining.   While this is an aspect to consider,  the ability to convey your specific message is far more relevant.  Otherwise, the motivational speaker is doing nothing more then making the audience laugh.

A sponsor once shared that he hired a guest speaker to present at several school assemblies in the state of Washington.  He  had secured the services of a youth motivational speaker and later found that the presentation was completely inappropriate for the theme of the events.  Although the speaker made the audience laugh and was engaging, there was no substance to the message.  This was disturbing to the sponsor.

If there is a theme or if your event is specific towards a certain profession, it makes simple sense to select someone who can convey a message that fits. Whether you are looking to have some one speak on diversity, the theory and practices of education, economics, gang prevention or how to make a million dollars, make sure the speaker you hire is knowledgeable on the topic and can convey your message.

The message of a motivational speaker can carry the energy to provoke deep emotions.  Although in most cases, I see inspiration in the eyes and reaction of the audience.  On few occasions, however, when it hits closer to home, the experience can be a painful reminder of the obstacles one must endure to simply survive.

I recently gave a motivational presentation to a school district in northern California.  I was asked to do an all school assembly on gang awareness and drug prevention.  The audience was high school student’s grades 9-12.  Although I was received well, there was a young man who apparently was having a difficult time with my message.  I noticed him part way through, as his facial expressions were that of resistance if not defiance.  I have learned to handle such behavior in a way that calls for mutual respect.  But at this moment, I could not succeed. It grew more and more difficult to reach him.

After the presentation, a teacher who had noticed his behavior, escorted the young man to the stage with the expectation that he should apologize.  He stood in front of me unable to look me in the eyes.  I could see that he was uncomfortable.  I began to talk since I was concerned that he may be missing the point of my message.  He interrupted,  “You don’t understand.” He blurted.  “They expect me to sit hear and listen to you disrespect my homeboys”.  “They expect me to say nothing. You don’t understand.”

My presentation struck a cord that ran deep making it impossible for him to hold back his emotions.  I listened as he described his life in the barrio and how he could not simply turn his back on his friends or his family. I could hear the pain in his voice.  I could see his frustration.    As he was escorted out, his words resonated in my thought “you don’t understand”.

How I wish this were true.

 

I recently did a Google search for motivational speaker and came up with   666,000 listings. With so many people traveling across the world giving     motivational presentations, it can be difficult deciding whom to have.  I hope to provide some guidance so that your selection of a motivational speaker will meet your expectations and provide a meaningful experience.

How to Choose a Motivational Speaker (part one).

Consider the Audience

Since there are so many motivational speakers available, consider whom you are targeting, your audience. There are many people capable of speaking yet not all are appropriate.  I just had a dialog with a student who had a professional athlete speak at their school.  Although this person may have had an impact in sports, there was little to none with the audience.  When it was all said and done, the school felt disappointed and taken for a large sum of money.

Most motivational speakers can deliver a message to various audiences.  Some however, may not be able to adjust if the audience is for example a combination of adults and youth, parents and professionals, middle school and high school. If you are an activities director for a school and you are looking for a motivational speaker to give an assembly to your student body, make sure that the presenter has experience delivering messages to a youth group.  The same holds true if you are a meeting planner looking to have someone speak during a convention on health and medicine.

Make sure that you select a motivational speaker who can connect and relate to the audience. This is by far the most important aspect to consider.  After all, this is why you are seeking a motivation speaker to begin with.

As a youth motivational speaker, I sometimes wonder if the presentation has a lasting impact on the  audience.   I travel from one community to another giving motivational presentations and spending but a few  hours at one site.  I seldom get a chance to see if there is any fruit to my labor.   But on rare occasions,  I see  the impact of my message come back around.

I recently gave a teacher in-service training to a small school district just south of Fresno, California.   It was  a two-hour seminar on diversity.  After the presentation, I met with a young man in his early twenties who  had recently been hired.  He was eager to tell me that this was his third time experiencing the presentation  and that each time he took something different from the message.

His first experience was during his middle school years. At this point in his life, he was involved in a  gang, constantly in trouble with teachers as well as other students and not doing well in school.  I gave a school assembly on gang awareness and prevention. He related to something in my message, which inspired him to try harder and do better.

The second time was during a high school assembly where I presented “The Winner Within”, a presentation designed to help high school students reflect on their future.  Because he had endured many difficulties through out his school experience, he was unsure of his future.  After hearing the message again, he came away believing in his potential and decided to go to college. He recently completed his AA degree.

Now, he is a school employee for an elementary school district and receiving yet another dose of my message during a staff development.  This time, however, he views it from the lens of an educator. He now understands how important a role he plays at having a positive influence on the students he serves.

His words struck a cord in me.  It was inspiring to hear his story and even more to see that this young man who underwent several life changing experiences is now making a difference for other youth. Seldom do I present to someone three different times and at three different periods in life.   I felt honored and can see that my message, educational, motivational and inspiring, does come back around.

My name is Richard Santana and I am a professional youth motivational speaker, conducting school assembly programs that are educational and motivational for well over two decades.  I cover a variety of topics such as gang prevention, drug abuse, diversity and violence prevention to name of few.  I have made my living as a motivational speaker for over 20 years.

I have decided to start blogging simply  to chronicle some of the keynote presentations and school assembly programs I provide.  I have traveled the country to various school districts both big and small, inner city and rural.  In my travels, I have come across a variety of people who have been inspired by my message and have shared with me intimate stories of struggles and their efforts to overcome adversity.   These stories inspire me to continue spreading hope to audiences young and old.  I hope that these stories will also inspire you.

My secondary purpose is to provide clarity on the business of motivational speaking.   First, for those seeking to hire a keynote speaker or youth motivational speaker, my hope is to provide better insight so that you can secure the most appropriate motivational speaker for your leadership conference, school assembly, staff development or educational  convention.  Secondly, for those interested in become a professional keynote speaker, I will reveal some strategies to enhance your presentation and maximize your opportunities for securing a booking.   I am no expert, but I do have an extensive amount of experience I can share.