Get Motivated!

[JFrankA]

I'm not sure where to put this topic so I put it here because it's about "motivational speaking in business".

On Wednesday, (Sept 9), my office is sending me and eleven other people to this "get motivated" series of speeches from some famous people (and some people who I guess are famous but I've never heard of them...)

The event is outlined here:
http://www.getmotivated.com/city.aspx?a=5092

Now, I may be too cynical or jaded, but I look at this and my first reaction is "geez, since my boss is there and paying for it, I better not fall asleep."

To begin with, I've never bought into "motivational speakers". I've always seen them as cheerleaders. Saying catchphrases and "positive words" and "painting pictures of success" in people's minds, etc, to make them feel, at the moment, that they are motivated, but once reality comes back, it all means nothing.

As to who's speaking, my reaction is "meh". I've never ever heard of Zig Ziglar or Tamara Lowe. I remember seeing Joe Montana play football, but that doesn't mean he's going to "change my life" when I hear him speak. Rudy Guilanni and Laura Bush don't impress me at all. Sorry, they never did.

But the funny thing is that I am interested in hearing what Steve Forbes and Colin Powell have to say. Also, I frequent Ted.com a lot, and I find some very interesting and informative talks on that site. But the difference there is that the TED.com talks are more informative about different things which may motivate you, not strictly about motivating you.

Bare in mind that I do stage hypnosis and stage magic as a side business. I've also done improv and stand up comedy, so I know what to do to draw in an audience and put them on your side.

So to be fair, I am asking myself "am I being too cynical or jaded about this event?" And I'd like your reactions and opinions.

[JJM 777]

Motivated = have a meaning for your life.
Your boss could motivate the employees with a salary raise, but this will be a cheaper solution.

I hope that these comments were helpful and motivating.

:rolleyes:

[blobru]

Colin Powell: How to Forge Winning Alliances

Laura Bush: The Secrets to Having Poise Under Pressure

Zig Ziglar [the gold standard in motivation]: How to Get Everything You Want!

Steve Forbes: America 2007: An Insider’s Look at Where Our Economy Is Heading

Tamara Lowe [author of the bestselling, GET MOTIVATED]: 6 “KNOWS” to Get the “YES”

Joe Montana: How to Turn Workplace Stress into Gridiron Success

Rudy Giuliani: unparalleled insights about leading during trying circumstances


... So to be fair, I am asking myself "am I being too cynical or jaded about this event?" --


Nah. :chores014:

[JFrankA]

Thanks you guys.

I just wanted to be fair...but then I read this little blurb about Zig Ziglar on Wiki. (My bolding below from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zig_Ziglar)


In 1970, Hilary Ziglar went into the business of motivational speaking full-time. He often incorporates his strong Christian values into his enthusiastic speaking.
:eek:


Guess I had no need to worry about me being fair..........

[shadron]

Each of the listed people were leaders in one way or another. The real problem is that leadership, as has so often been discovered, is not a general category of knowledge that can be passed from one person to another. The armed forces are organizations that feed, on the most part, from leadership; they have to have it, and go to great pains to find it. Do they put officer candidates before Zig to learn what he knows about salesmanship leading? Did they get Laura, on her days off now that her girls have grown up (so to speak) to pump it to the OCS? Do they want gridiron success (after West Point/Annapolis/ColoSprings is over, natch)? Do they appear to think any of that is relevant? No. In general, they teach their people the real knowledge that is relevant, and then throw them into situations where they have to deliver leadership, and they see what happens. Some of them have it, and some of them don't, and even then some oddballs still make it through who shouldn't have.

If the armed forces know of no magic way to inculcate leadersip, or even to detect its presence in a person, how do you think you'll catch it in a lecture? Like the flu?

[jasonpatterson]

What I really find funny about these things is that if they worked, that is, if your boss sending you to this motivational seminar actually motivated you to go to new heights and explore new frontiers and score a touchdown (or whatever) then wouldn't these hyper-motivated individuals be more prone to quitting and striking out on their own?

[JFrankA]

I left this out: my boss expects me and the other 11 people to provide a typed summary of what I thought of the seminar and how I would apply the motivational tips in my life.

:rolleyes:

[Professor Yaffle]

No David Brent?

W2c5j01Z6yY

[lionking]

Your boss could motivate the employees with a salary raise, but this will be a cheaper solution.


:rolleyes:

I don't know if you are serious or not, but a salary rise is not a good motivator for increased performance.

To the OP, I think the seminar would be interesting and could have some short-term benefit.

[jasonpatterson]

I left this out: my boss expects me and the other 11 people to provide a typed summary of what I thought of the seminar and how I would apply the motivational tips in my life.

:rolleyes:

Do you not have actual work to do? Homework? What a pile of crap.

[Delscottio]

I was recently booked up for a motivational talk, ended up skipping it. I couldn't be bothered to go.

[AgeGap]

In Tricks of the Mind, (it's like my freaking Bible) Brown* states that these courses are crap. If you are motivated you just do stuff. Motivated people don't need to get motivated, they just are.

Can't remember if it was Sylvia or Dan who was the author but you should read it sometime.;)

[Kahalachan]

To me this works similarly to woo.

This is for people who are desperate for success and are looking to anything to help them move up the corporate ladder so they'll buy into someone smooth talking them with easy answers.


The reality is "Work hard to get ahead. Sometimes working hard won't pay off like it should and lazy or deceitful people will get ahead of you, but do it anyways cause it's a good character trait to have." End of story.

[JFrankA]

To me this works similarly to woo.

This is for people who are desperate for success and are looking to anything to help them move up the corporate ladder so they'll buy into someone smooth talking them with easy answers.


The reality is "Work hard to get ahead. Sometimes working hard won't pay off like it should and lazy or deceitful people will get ahead of you, but do it anyways cause it's a good character trait to have." End of story.

Well, I went to the seminar and I did the assignment. Since I had to turn it into the big bosses, I wasn't as....graphic...as I wanted to be.

It was pure propaganda. Heavy with Republican, Christian values. Very heavy. There were about twelve speaker in total, but the only the "big named" speakers were of any value. To be honest, Col. Colin Powell was the best and made the most sense.

What I think I'll do is post what I wrote for my bosses, with an insert of what I really wanted to say and post it so you guys can read it, if you're interested.

[Mister Agenda]

I got sent to one of these, too. Several of the speakers were trying to get you to buy or sign up for something. At one point it reminded me of a tent revival, the Christian message was so overt.

[JFrankA]

I got sent to one of these, too. Several of the speakers were trying to get you to buy or sign up for something. At one point it reminded me of a tent revival, the Christian message was so overt.

Yeah, exactly what I went to.

[quixotecoyote]

Well, I went to the seminar and I did the assignment. Since I had to turn it into the big bosses, I wasn't as....graphic...as I wanted to be.

It was pure propaganda. Heavy with Republican, Christian values. Very heavy. There were about twelve speaker in total, but the only the "big named" speakers were of any value. To be honest, Col. Colin Powell was the best and made the most sense.

What I think I'll do is post what I wrote for my bosses, with an insert of what I really wanted to say and post it so you guys can read it, if you're interested.

I look forward to it.

[CatOfGrey]

Deleted.

[Marc39]

Two mortgages, three car notes, kids' private school and a wife with a Manolo Blahnik addiction are very motivating.