Motivational and International Keynote Speaker Jay Allen

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Coping with COVID-19

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Over the last few weeks, I’ve watched at the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus, and the worlds response to it.

Within the UK (as across the world), our Prime Minister has been forced to take the necessary measures to try and slow the spread of this disease, including the banning of all social gatherings of more than 2 people, temporary closure of all pubs, bars and restaurants and forced ‘lockdown’ of a country other than those working directly or supporting the National Health Service and/or other emergency/essential services.

On one single day I received either calls or emails to advise more and more events to which I had been booked to speak at were being either cancelled or postponed as the world reacted to this crisis. And as having served as a Rapid Deployment Combat Medic for over 12 years in the British Armed Forces, I know only too well the ‘drills’ now being acted upon, as the world attempts to manage this crisis.  But I also want to offer an alternative view on this (after all, as a speaker I am predominantly booked to bring an alternate perspective to proceedings in order that people leave thinking differently).

Perhaps there has NEVER been a GREATER need for the events to which have been cancelled or postponed to go ahead!  You see, whilst the crisis has the world stage at present, both life and business MUST continue.

Dissecting the problem to find the cure

For a virus to live, it needs a host.  Once a host is found, 2 things will occur.  The virus begins to affect the host, and the hosts immune system will ‘kick in’ to attempt to fight and kill off the virus.  If the host wins, the virus dies, if the virus wins in this situation the host dies.  But in doing so, the virus is also at risk of dying (as it no longer has a host!).

In the same manner, prior to COVID-19 it was identified there was a need for a conference. Then a virus came along, and to prevent the risk of COVID-19 (in its need for hosts) to infect all the attendee’s the conference has either been postponed or cancelled.  And whilst this has prevented the virus from spreading, it hasn’t doesn’t anything to address the initial problem – whatever it was that has been identified which established the need for the conference.

YES, there is a greater need at present (Stopping the spread of infection) but whilst cancellation or postponement addresses this, we are still left with (possible even more so) the need to address the original issues.  Therefore, perhaps we need to move to ALTERNATE methods of delivery than deferring the solution to an ongoing problem!

I recall a conversation I had with an American client in October 2018.

I had been brought in to do some inhouse work (Keynote and masterclasses) with the sales team after it had been identified a recent dismissal of the sales manager had led to a demotivated team which was impacting performance.

However, we quickly established whilst this was a problem, it was not the cause. And by addressing only this issue, would have a temporary resolve for results, would not address the root cause.  The client agreed for me to conduct our SCALE audit, and from this we identified several ‘bottlenecks’ within the business both preventing it from SCALE and causing a number of inner problems across numerous departments.  A proposal was put forward on how we could work with them to address the root causes identified, enough to enable them to grow significantly and sustainably, confident in the knowledge these had now been addressed.

However, when the proposal was presented, it equated to more of an investment than they had originally intended to spend, and the finance director made the decision it would NOT be possible to proceed until the new financial year (Some 6 months post my initial intervention).

Despite several attempts to understand the decision and the impact this was likely to have on the business, the FD was adamant it was “out of budget” and would need to be considered by the board at the AGM in late March.

I wrote back to the client just 6 weeks later and begun working with them on implementing the findings from the Audit report on the root causes in January 2019!

(Thanks for reading this far, if you would like to know what I said in order to facilitate these 180-degree changes so quickly, simply book a call so I may share it with you)

My point here is, there is still the same amount of money in the world now, than there was pre-corona and than there will be post crisis. Our circumstances may have changed, and therefore our priorities may have changed, but the problem identified pre-crisis is most likely still a problem, we may now have an even longer list of problems, hurdles, bottlenecks preventing the significant and sustainable growth of both us and our businesses.

It was Einstein who is credited with having first remarked:

“You will never overcome a problem, using the same level of thinking, as that which created it in the first place”

So rather than making the snap decision to cancel and postpone, we should be working together (even if remotely at present) to find alternate ways of addressing the root causes which determined the need for a conference, and finding methods of resolving these.

Personally, I’ve seen a marked INCREASE in the amount of enquiries received, from clients old and new asking for help, guidance, support, motivation, INSPIRATION on how to cope, survive, PIVOT during this crisis. And as a former rapid deployment combat medic, I’ve had YEARS of experience, working with some of the most highly trained and professional soldiers in the world on how to adapt and overcome.

My Corps motto throughout my career was:

“In Arduis Fidelis – Faithful through adversity”

It’s as true now as it was then. Give me a call or drop me an email – together we’ve got this!

To book a complimentary call with Jay to discuss this article, your company or anything else, simply visit: https://jay-motivation.youcanbook.me

You may also find the following articles of interest:

Management Vs Leadership

Why saying No, is good for business

What to consider when choosing a keynote speaker

The Secret Art of highly effective communication

I categorically disagree with everything you said

Why saying No, is good for business

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We’ve all been there at some point in life, when someone from somewhere has approached you and asked “Can you just…”

And in that moment, we have a decision to make, but the decision we are making is far more complex than you may have first thought!

Firstly, they have approached YOU because they either believe or consider that you might be able to?  We simply don’t approach people we KNOW can’t. So the fact they have approached deems they believe we might be able to. And, because we don’t ever want to let anyone down, the triggered emotional response would be “Yes”.

Secondly, this has now triggered a series of internal questions:

  1. Can I do it? (Am I physically / mentally capable of doing this?)
  2. Have they seen me do this before? (Is this something I’ve done, or am known for having done before?)
  3. Have they heard that I can do it? (Do others believe I can do it? and if so, why do they think this?)
  4. Could I do it to the level of satisfaction they are expecting? (Am I able to do it to the level required to meet their requirements?)
  5. Is this WHAT I do? Or something aside WHAT I do? (An painter and decorator that is being asked to help bump start a car for example)

And many others besides.

However, there is then the question:

SHOULD I do it?

Just because you CAN, doesn’t automatically determine you SHOULD.

Often when someone is first setting up in business, they are keen to demonstrate their willingness to help others.  Therefore, when someone approaches them and asks “Can you…” the overwhelming preference is to say YES.

Indeed in Richard Branson’s book “Screw it, let’s do it” he is quoted as having said:

“If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!”

And, in this sense, there is much to be said about having the confidence to step out and be bold. To approach life and all it has to share with us, by saying YES more frequently than saying No.

However, there is also the counter argument, to this, about remaining genuine, authentic, ethical, and transparent.  Just because they have asked YOU, doesn’t always mean it should be YOU that does the work!

The importance of saying No

Let’s go back to the person I mentioned early, recently having set up their new business.  They are keen to generate an income and earn a living.  To them, the enquiry of “Can you…” is a potential paycheque and so the tendency is to follow Branson’s example and quickly say Yes.

Very quickly you will become known for the person that says yes, and no doubt approached by several others also asking “Can you?…” However, we were often also taught as a young child:

“Jack of all trades, master of none”

By being so quick to accept – ANYTHING, you have automatically created a glass ceiling it becomes harder and harder to smash through throughout your career, as you become busier and busier helping others to achieve what THEY want to achieve.  You see, you have to have a PLAN. You have to know what YOUR success looks like (in exceptional detail) and decide as to what actions YOU are going to take to make THIS a reality.

SOS

We can ALL be at risk of responding to an SOS. (Shiny Object Syndrome) the desire to be liked and wanted by others, and so responding to THEIR requirements even if to the detriment to OUR wants and aspirations.

It is only when we have a plan to follow, that we can determine if saying YES, is likely to also enable us to achieve something within our own growth and development towards our goals.  The TRUE meaning of a Win-Win.

I’ve previously spent much time discussing how a Win-Win is often misinterpreted, with people intentionally doing things for others with an expectation this means they ‘owe’ them something, which is NOT what the term was ever intended to mean.  This energy created is destructive and leads to false hope and expectation. It is NOT something to be relied upon and can often be the cause of resentment and difficulties.

You see, whilst we may CALL it a WIN | WIN it’s actually a Loose | Loose!

I don’t want to go all ‘The Secret’ on you here, but we have to simply accept there is a magnetic impulse that simply prevents us from dropping off the planet as it orbits the sun! (It’s called GRAVITY)  And just as gravity maintains the status quo of where the planets sit within the solar system, so do people gravitate towards or away from others.  Only once we acknowledge this, can we begin to understand that if you enter into a situation having already formed the outcome you want to achieve (in this example its: I’ll do this BECAUSE you’ll then ‘owe’ me) you have actually repelled the magnetism of the validity of the intent, and thus not a genuine act.

Therefore, its key to remaining true, pure, honest, open, vulnerable. Rather than rubbing snake oil into our palms and looking for another disadvantaged we can ‘do a good deed’ for!

What has this got to do with speaking?

I hear you cry?

Well, I was once taught an exceptionally valuable lesson by my past speaker mentor Geoff Ramm.  At the time he was giving his leaving address as National President of the Professional Speaking Association.  The incumbent president was in the wings, and Geoff was offered the chance to ‘close’ his presidency with a ‘thank you’ speech to the conference.

Geoff has always been a very expressive and emotive speaker, and on this occasion was no exception. He reeled off the amount of enquiries that he had received, or event organisers who had spoken to him, or events he had seen, where he had spent time to consider WHO was the RIGHT speaker to recommend.  and how he had gone out of his way, to connect event and speaker, sometimes facilitating the introduction, sometimes even convincing the event team to take his recommendation in order to ensure they got the RIGHT speaker for their event.

82 referrals Geoff had made for OTHER speakers to win work, speak at events, benefit from HIS intervention.

He then publicly thanked the 5 people who had ‘returned the favour’ and recommended him!

The whole conference fell silent, shocked, ashamed at their willingness to take, and lack of enthusiasm to give!  It was a show stopping moment and one I will never forget.  I’ve re-lived that moment so many times in my mind since he first left stage.  Thinking of any, all the opportunities I may have had, and failed to pass on?  You see, I get it.  We are ALL so caught up in our own little world, that unless something is pointed out directly under our noses, we can so easily walk on by and forget!

So how DO you create a WIN | WIN?

By creating a WIN | WIN | WIN

Simply by knowing that doing the ‘RIGHT THING’ and doing it BECAUSE its the RIGHT THING.  Without expectation, or strings, or conditions, but simply because its the RIGHT thing.  And quietly knowing the the universe has got your back!

If there is one thing I want you to take from this it’s simply: DO THE RIGHT THING.

Know when to say No! (And if so, who might be the person to say YES)

Know when to say YES (and then under promise, and MASSIVELY over deliver!)

Somethings gone terribly wrong with professional speaking…….

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I know before I even begin typing that this blog is going to be a lot like a jar of marmite!  You’re either going to love me for saying this or hate me! But I can’t simply bite my tongue ANY longer!…..

Something has gone terribly wrong!

You see, before I even contemplated becoming a public speaker, I had frequently paid to attend various conference and events to listen and be inspired by a whole myriad of other speakers.

People, who having achieved a certain level of success, be that through a level of research, education, and knowledge or through trial and error, perseverance and determination. Be that in sport, music, the arts, or business; I was inspired by their ability to command an audience as they took them transfixed on a journey or discovery and delivered them safely to a point of heightened inspiration, motivation, drive, determination to do something, start something, change something. To be a better person as a result of that single interaction.

I ‘entered’ the world of public speaking quite by accident! However, having done so, was almost immediately took under the wing of a far more seasoned professional speaker and a speaker ‘agent’ with whom collectively enabled me to become the speaker I am today.

But something has changed!

There appears to be a new ‘breed’ of ‘speaker’ taking over the speaking scene, and whilst I’m all for innovation, I’m not sure it’s for the best!

You see, just like a Judge or Barrister, a Surgeon or GP, a Politician or Police Officer, I earn my living from speaking. Being a professional speaker is FAR more than ‘turning up and speaking’.  In order to remain current, relevant, and of value to any audience, I spend a significant amount of my time conducting research, watching, reading, listening, learning.  I attend a number of other conferences not to speak but as a delegate, learning, asking, challenging.

Then when an enquiry comes through, its straight to work researching as much as I can about that enquirer. Their business, their event, what the background is, what the desired outcomes for the event are. Who’s going to be there, what influencers might be of consideration, whats the order of events and so on.

Then it’s about putting a bespoke presentation together, relevant to the desired outcomes of the event manager. Determining what needs to be included, what ought to be missed, what questions need to be asked, what questions need to be answered in order for the desired outcomes to become the actual outcomes.

What resources may be required, how will they be used, by whom and when? What media would best be used to convey this message, and how can this be incorporated into the event structure to the greatest effect.

When I first qualified in Adult Education, we soon learnt that for every minute in front of an audience requires at least 30mins in preparation, so a 45min keynote would invariable take at least 23hours of preparation time once the research has been completed!

Speaking as a RIGHT!

I’m also seeing a growing trend within business networking, membership organisations and the likes, the opportunity to ‘speak’ and ‘seminar slots’ are a privilege of membership.  And whilst this may be a key draw for many to become members, it is also a hidden detractor for people to become members also! AND it’s a two pronged barrier!

  1. Glossophobia (The fear of public speaking) tops the list as one of the most common phobias in the world. It’s estimated that 75% of people suffer from speech anxiety, making it one of the most common phobias that exist.  And BECAUSE it is so common, when people see membership where it suggests a privilege to membership is being able to be a speaker and host a workshop it can often fill people with a fear they may at some stage be EXPECTED to do so!
    Now, by YOU determining this is a privilege, a right, a benefit of membership, has for potentially 75% of your potential future members become a curse!
  2. Slightly more personally though, is the growing assumption / presumption “I can speak, therefore I’m a speaker” or “I know my product really well, therefore I can facilitate an interactive workshop for others”.
    Throughout my 20+ years of attending conferences, exhibitions, networking events, seminars, workshops, masterclasses and so on. I’ve witnessed first hand literally hundreds (if not a few thousand) of people that have suddenly added the term SPEAKER to their resume! And whilst I’ve seen some EXCEPTIONAL presentations and workshops from people that really OUGHT to add the word speaker to their description, I’m also seeing a growing amount of those WITH the words SPEAKER that truly are not!
    Personally, I think more than a decade of ongoing training, maintaining my CPD, and investing in myself as a speaker coupled with 3 years full time training and qualification as an Adult Education Facilitator alongside more than 15 years Global experience both speaking and facilitating workshops and earning in excess of £100per minute for doing so qualifies me to make this personal but honest observation!

You say you’re a ‘speaker’?

But there appears to be a newer breed of ‘speaker’ (or so they call themselves) because they also share the stage and present to an audience.

However, rather than earning a living delivering value, these ‘speakers’ present for FREE.  Some even BUY their slot on stage! You see, they don’t sell VALUE, they sell products.

Sid the Salesman

You see ‘Sid’ is more Salesman than speaker but has mastered the art of selling one too many as opposed to knocking on everyone’s door one by one!

(S)He will provide a few gimmicky giveaways to entice you that their are ‘nice’ and promise you they are there to ‘help’ however the huge difference between the two is the ulterior motive!

You see ‘Sid’ has bought his/her slot on stage, and NEEDS to recoup their investment, so rather than GIVING value, they SELL value.  ‘Sid’ has mastered the art of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and uses voice patterns, transient hypnotherapy and powerful suggestive motivators to sway the audience into a state of belief that the real VALUE is at the end of handing over an email address, their social media or mobile phone details and eventually their credit card!

‘Amazing, once in a lifetime, never to be repeated’ OFFERS are made, to a selective number of audience members, but only if they react NOW and enter their credit card details onto a pre-dispatched order form.

Audience members who ‘comply’ are brought onto the stage and paraded in front of their previous colleagues and friends, as a share of the fame of being on stage as an elite member of the “I’m in” club, only to learn that their colleagues are offered a second chance to join them but either for a higher price, or for less promise of extra goodies and freebies!

The vast amount of NLP trickery that is being conducted here, in terms of words, tone, sentence structure, environment, ambiance, language, volume, rhythm are all practiced out by Sid for days, weeks, months previously to taking to THIS stage. In order to master the art of conversational hypnosis sufficient to convince an unsuspecting audience that what they have to offer is the ‘next big thing’ and the ‘ideal solution’ to their existing problems (sometimes that they didn’t even previously know they had!)

You may find my blog most disturbing, or significantly bias, but I’m hoping you may find it most heartening.  There are a new breed of ‘Sid the Salesman Speaker’ out there; happy to buy their place (I’ve witnessed ‘Sid’ pay TENS of THOUSANDS of pounds) to ‘Speak’ to your audience and (if necessary) share a percentage of the sale of their automated, Video, CD, Download, email series ‘Done the work once and sell it forever’ products with the event booker!

Perhaps the taint of my perception of both of these ‘speakers’ has helped you to understand both where I sit on this issue, and the level of investment I request to speak at events?  I may not cross your palm with silver to present, but I will provide your audience with a well considered, bespoke presentation full of GOLDEN Nuggets of information, motivation and inspiration, with a clear set of ‘take-aways’ they can implement to make a marked difference to both them and their futures!

Feel free to drop me a comment below with your thoughts?…..

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What to consider when choosing a keynote speaker

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I was recently recommended by several well known speakers to submit an application to speak at a Multi-speaker event in London at the end of this year.  

Having initially thanked each one for the kind recommendation, I read through the event brief, and quickly established WHY they had identified me as a ‘good fit’ for the billing of this event.

I took the time to draft out my response and asked two of those who had kindly referred me, to review this before clicking SEND and submitting my application.

However, over the weekend (2 weeks later) I have received an email advising they have been ‘in-undated’ with speaker applications, and on this occasion I have been unsuccessful.

Game Over

For many speakers they would have simply accepted this and moved on, not ‘wasting’ any more time on a ‘closed door’.  However, having been recommended by some very well known speakers in the industry as being an ‘ideal fit’ and having taken the time to review, research and carefully respond to the brief; I was keen to understand if the brief had somehow significantly changed OR to receive some feedback as to how far off the mark my application had been.

A very polite and efficient Event co-ordinator thanked me for my application and advised that whilst my content sounded ‘Fascinating’ and ‘Well considered’ that:

  1. The events Director was not certain my military background would be a good fit for this audience.
  2. They had chosen to select a keynote speaker who was a lecturer from a well known and reputable business school.

I’m MOST grateful of the feedback and wished both the Events team and the future audience a most successful event.

However, it has left me intrigued as to HOW event teams make their speaker selection?

You see, as the ONLY non-Academia Judge for the British Education Awards (for the past 3 years running) I’m all in favour of academia, and confident that whoever they may have chosen will do an exceptional job in educating the audience, based on years of knowledge, background, research and FACTS.

I’m just intrigued as to why my Military background appears to have gone against me, when my entire post military career successes, (including 2 x Global Entrepreneur ‘Big Impact to Business’ Awards AND listed on the UK ‘Clear Business Thinking’ POWER 100)  has been born from taking a FRESH look at business from a completely DIFFERENT perspective, through my years as a Specialist Rapid Deployment Soldier.

The audience were NO academics, and the conference theme based on a modern view on leadership – Hence the referral from my fellow speakers!  Something I’m very keen to share my thoughts on, having worked within what is considered the world over, as one of the most professional fighting forces in the world.

I’m therefore left to draw the conclusion I FAILED to demonstrate conclusively enough that a DIFFERENT view, a FRESH, NEW way of thinking MIGHT be as impactful as years of research and study. And that an invitation for us BOTH to have shared alternative aspects based on both theory AND practical application may well have offered the audience far more to consider and had a longer lasting impact on them post event!

So, I’ve compiled the 7 things EVERY event organiser ought to consider when choosing a keynote speaker to help both event planners and speaker better work together to ensure every event has as positive an impact as possible.

Choosing a guest speaker for your event is of vital importance because it makes or breaks the success of your conference. Your keynote guest speaker will create value for you by increasing the buzz you’ll need when building your advertising campaign. The entire tone surrounding your event is set by who you choose for your guest speaker(s). This speaker is your advocate and their reputation can boost yours — or not. A quality speaker can impact your results even down at the ticket level.

But, how can you find the right speaker for your next event?

  1. What to do Before Selecting a Speaker

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin.

Regardless of what you are calling your event, the planning and preparation are the keys. Take a moment to watch one of the two documentaries about the disastrous Fyre Festival to see how a lack of planning can lead to the failure of an event.

Dependant on the size and scale of your event, I’d recommended that you start your preparation at least six to twelve months in advance. At the minimum, these arrangements should include knowing your audience, determining the location, selecting a theme, mapping out the event, making a budget and inviting your speakers.

Top Tip While it may be tempting to reach out to long-time experts that you’re familiar with, they may not be the right person for the event.  There might be a DRAW towards a well-known house-hold name, but is their message congruent with what you are aiming to achieve, or do you need a new; different perspective?

I’d suggest there are 7 key points to consider:

  1. Have a clear goal for your speaker
  2. Explain the logistics and schedule
  3. Know your audience
  4. Define success
  5. Prepare questions
  6. Negotiate costs
  7. Don’t compromise

Define Your Aims

Speakers come from all walks of life, with a plethora of experience and expertise. Each individual can offer delegates a range of messages and lessons, meaning no two keynotes or motivational speeches will ever be the same.

Too often, the call from a client has a brief that ‘we are holding an event and looking for a motivational speaker’. The starting place should never be to fill the guest speaker slot, but it should be around what the aim of the event is and, in turn, the goal of the particular session with the speaker.

By starting with the aims, the speaker can be chosen to align directly to this, rather than a name plucked from stories heard of the speaker.

Understand the Flow of The Even

At different stages within an event or conference, the energy of the room fluctuates. Identifying the flow of the event and the specific speaking style that matches this.

To give practical examples of this, the three typical keynote slots at a conference are kick off, after lunch and close of day.

The kick off speaker should be able to outline the big picture, setting the tone and the goals for the day.

The after-lunch speaker, occupying the infamous ‘graveyard slot’ requires energy and dynamism to reignite the delegates post-food.

The closing keynote must be able to pull together the significant messages from the whole day. Importantly, yet often overlooked, they must be the most flexible in their content, as they will have to reflect on and respond to the rest of the delegates.

Audience Expectations

When selecting a speaker, there are three groups of stakeholders in any decision. The event organiser, the budget holder and, (often forgotten), the audience. This group’s requirements and expectations are the hardest to identify. But if you nail this, the speaker selection and the risk attached to achieving success, suddenly becomes entirely attainable.

ROI

Can you measure ROI on an event? Can you measure ROI on a speaker? These questions have been discussed and deliberated over the years by the events industry, despite some strong viewpoints on both sides, for me, the answer is, of course you can.

This might not be in the form of financial revenues, with a clear understanding of your aims and expectations, what you constitute as successful will naturally come and then, you can measure it. Make the speaker aware of this, so you can work together to achieve that ROI. Use tools, whether it’s social media, apps or good old-fashioned questionnaires to ensure you achieve feedback.

Traditionally, ROI measurement is focused on the short term (i.e. a questionnaire as the delegates finish the session) but for true sustained impact also look to measure the long term for the impact of the speaker. Any speaker should embrace these targeted aims, because if they truly believe in the impactful messages they are delivering, they should be comfortable in committing to long-term ROI.

Embrace the Q&A

Ask any delegate what they value most from a keynote speech, more often than not it comes from the questions they get to ask at the end, as this is the content that relates directly to them. Make sure the speaker is flexible with the format of the session and can deliver the unique impact required, irrelevant of the ‘standardised’ format. Work with the speaker and their preferences so they can deliver in an environment that suits them best.

How Much Does a Keynote Speaker Cost?

Make sure you are clear what the overall cost of the speaker is from the outset. The fee quoted for a speaker is entirely theirs and covers both their deliver costs AND preparation time to ensure they provide a ‘killer’ keynote specific to YOU and YOUR audience. (as a general rule for every minute on stage, there has been 10x as much time spent on, researching/preparing the delivery. Ensure you determine if the fee includes speaker expenses or accommodation.

Also, some speakers have specific AV requirements, or riders which might incur additional production costs to you. Compromising on the AV requirements for a speaker might mean that they will not be able to deliver their content to your event successfully, or more likely just add a higher risk of technical hitches, as the speaker doesn’t have the optimal environment to deliver.

Clarify all the costs up front so there are no hidden surprises, and the memories of event itself are not tainted by any issues after.

Don’t Compromise

You are the customer. You are booking the speaker. Don’t compromise on what you first set out to achieve. Be clear about what you are looking for from the speaker and make sure they can deliver all your requirements.

Maybe this be the speaker staying for a meet and greet session, accompanying the delegates for lunch, or conducting an interview for the company’s internal magazine. Lay out your aims clearly, up front, to ensure all your needs are met.

The fees for a speaker are not necessarily based on time but rather on their life experiences and accumulated expertise. These ‘extra’ activities of asking the speaker for lunch, for example, should be seen as an opportunity to leverage the speaker to achieve maximum impact with the audience. So, it is good to remember, you can but ask!

If the speaker can’t meet these requirements, either understand why not and shift your aims to a more realistic level, or else look for an alternative speaker who can deliver you the event and session you aspire to achieve.

In conclusion

Picking the right keynote speaker for your event isn’t as simple as picking a famous name, there is a strategy and process to making sure you get the right person to achieve the aims of your event.

If you follow this process, then you should consistently choose great speakers that have a positive impact on your audience, ticket sales, and retention rates too.

Based on my experience, having been a professional speaker since 2011, and an international award-winning speaker since 2013. I’ve put together a comprehensive guide to help Event planners/managers when putting together any structured event, along with a recommended timeframe as to when things should be completed by in order to ensure you have an AWESOME event.

Simply Click HERE to access your copy.

I categorically disagree with everything you said

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I categorically disagree with everything you’ve just said!

It’s not the best feedback I’ve ever had, thats for sure, but it did make me think!

I was recently booked to deliver a half day Masterclass, to a room of 45 business owners from across the Middle-East.  They had been flown to Egypt, for a 3 day all expenses paid business trip by their supplier, chosen for their contribution to the suppliers explosive growth over the last few years, and today was a day of learning, prior to jetting back to their businesses.

I was one of a few international motivational speakers that had been put forward by the agency, and had been picked based on the content I’d be sharing with them about how collectively we ALL achieve more!

I was most grateful to the compare, who had done a great job of introducing me, and as I stepped onto the stage, was looking forwqard to sharing all with the team.

As with all my sessions, this was due to be a highly engaging and interactive session. And, as I walked through the room got a great sense of interest, learning, engagement from all present.

That is, all except the wiry haired gentleman sat to the left of centre on table 4!

Throughout the first 20-30 minutes of the presentation, he’d sat either with his arms tightly folded across his chest, or hands interlinked behind his head.  He regularly looked around the room, at the desk, the workbook, and his phone.  Despite every attempt I’d made to get Mr X to come back ‘into the room’ everything within my arsenal as a speaker had so far failed!

With no other option available, I chose to address the elephant in the room…

Walking directly over to table 4, I stopped, turned and addressed my next line directly to Mr X

“And the benefit of feedback, can never be under estimated can it?” 

I paused, and then paused a little longer.  Mr X realised this was by no means a rhetorical question, and that he was being invited to participate.  A little nervously, he lowered his arms from behind his head, stopped rocking on the back of his chair, and looked around the room.

“Did you want me to give you some feedback?” he asked rather nervously.

“I’d be delighted” I replied

He stood before advising “Well, I’ve listened intently to everything you’ve had to say for the last 15-20 minutes, and whilst I’d love even an ounce of your motivation and enthusiasm for which I cannot find fault. I categorically disagree with everything you’ve had to say” he stated; before sitting back down, smiling having got this off his chest.

“Thank you” I replied unphased. “Can you share with me and the rest of the group as to why you disagree?” I continued

This shook him even more.  I’m not sure he had expected me to invite his feedback to me right there and then.  But even more surprised to hear how favourably I’d accepted his criticism.

“Well…” he began a little less confident than before “That might have worked for you, in your business. But it certainly would never work within mine” he said more convincingly.

“Oh…” I exclaimed “and why might that be?”  I challenged

“Well,… it just wouldn’t. You see, I’m a lot older than you, and have been in this game alot longer than you. And I can tell you; that simply wouldn’t work”

And HERE lies the problem.  You see it was Socrates that is first cited as having stated:

“The man who said ‘I Can’ and the man who said ‘I cannot’ shall undoubtedly BOTH be right!”

And hundreds of years later, when Henry Ford added:

“For the man who said ‘I can’ shall find a way, whilst the man who said ‘I cannot’ has already found a list of excuses”

You see, in order to enable change or at least any purposeful and lasting change, we must first illicit an understanding of the need to change and the desire to do so!

Rome wasn’t built in a day, but by hundred and thousands of workers pulling together with the promise of a greater tomorrow.  And, in order to create a change in outcome, we must first change a state of behaviour and attitude.

I’m delighted that Mr X was so adamant this wouldn’t work for him, because he made it so much easier for me to show as to how it simply wouldn’t.  NOT because it was not POSSIBLE to change, but because in order to change any outcome, we must first accept a different level of thinking and a different attitude before we even consider a change in outcome!  Unbeknown to Mr X, he was to become a case study of how state change is imperative if we are going to impact outcome. And, over the next hour, I amended my entire workshop to ensure we addressed each and every one of Mr X’s objections!

I switched off the slide-deck, came down from the stage that had been built and asked the room to change the layout, that we could all work together on resolving an  “emerging problem”.  We took 5-10 mins to move tables, push around chairs and create a far more cohesive environment to help Mr X with his concern.  We gave him the opportunity to share in some detail more about his business, his background, the problems and concerns he was facing and the preferred outcomes he had as a successful conclusion.

At every opportunity he would try and say “But in my business” and every time there was somebody else in the room who could share HOW in THEIR business it had been done successfully.  Brick by brick we dismantled the walls that he had built in objection to change.  We helped Mr X dismantle his own disbelief and rebuilt a world of new and exciting opportunity.

By the end of the HIGHLY interactive, engaging and completely ‘off script’ masterclass, we had worked to establish WHY this wouldn’t work was in fact nothing to do with Mr X’s business, the sector, the industry or the age he was, it was simply a case of attitude.  My plans, teaching, lessons and examples were NOT likely to work, but only if Mr X maintained the same belief that it could never happen.  And, by helping Mr X to remove this limiting belief, he could return to work and begin to put into place the changes to which we had all been discussing.

You see, there are some, who are happy to take to stage to share THEM and THEIR story.  Others who are keen to share THEIR system, THEIR program, THEIR process.  But far fewer, that understand:

“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel” – Maya Angelou.

You see, as a motivational speaker, one has to remember;

It’s not about you!  It never was, and never will be!

The stage is not a place for you to ever think you are bigger, better, more successful or in any way shape or form there to do anything other than serve.  You only have a right to address this audience, whilst you have something worthy of their time, and are blessed that people choose to spend it with you.

As a speaker, your job may be able to entertain, but far more than this, your job is to enable, to share, to inspire; that ever member of your audience may leave wiser, more empowered, more in control of their own destiny and that you in some small way enabled them to do so.

I thank Mr X and everyone like him from the very bottom of my heart.  It is a great leveller to be challenged as to what you so genuinely believe.  And even more so from someone who has in the own right already travelled life’s journey a few longer years than I.  It is a great reminder also, you can’t please everyone all of the time, and nor should you.  It is not our job to convince someone you are right, it is simply your role to help them understand and accept the possibility there simply may be another way.

You see, as we all journey through life, be that easy or hard, full of challenges or not.  It is only when we are challenged that suddenly puts our feet back firmly on the ground, and ensures we remain humble, willing to learn, question and address ourselves and our own beliefs and values.

In the inside cover of my book I gladly donated to Mr X at the end of the session I simply wrote:

“Our future, shall ultimately be determined by the quality of questions we choose to ask of ourselves!”

I’d REALLY welcome your thought on this, please leave a comment below?…

My $450,000,000 discovery

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Allow me to set the scene:

I’d just had breakfast and was sat in my suite, on the 24th floor of the Four Seasons by the Nile hotel, ahead of delivering a business masterclass to one of the worlds largest specialist electronics companies.

I took the booking some 8 weeks earlier, and had prepared extensively to ensure that every moment of the 2Hrs 15 minutes I’d been allocated would be well spent. I’d researched, planned, checked and double checked my presentation, my hand outs, my notes, the take away message to ensure every second I was front of stage was delivering up to the minute relevant ,valuable and useable content.

I used content from my book – www.battlefield2boardroom.co.uk but tailored the content specifically to the people right there in the room. It was an interactive session, where we examined each of the elements I shared, and worked through the subject and how it was relevant not only to the people IN the room, but the companies and businesses they represent.

The Q&A session became so interactive it spilled out into Lunch, and I hosted almost another 90minutes of GREAT questions over lunch! It ended up being almost 5 hours of engagement with owners, directors, shareholders with some of the largest companies in this sector in the world!

And it was right there, at the lunch table I made my $450,000,000 discovery!…

Collectively there was well over a $BILLION per year sat in that room, and we were sat discussing exactly the same issues, problems, concerns, uncertainties, as I’ve been talking to members of our #ADDAZERO Business Challenge!

Now, don’t get me wrong. The SIZE of problem, the implications of the decisions needing to be made, might have been a zero (or two) more than some of the clients I’m currently coaching through the #ADDAZERO Business Challenge. But, the content, the subjects, the hurdles they are facing fall into the same 8 categories in which we are teaching to help business owners have the competences and confidence to make the BIG decisions to significantly and sustainably SCALE the business, with the ultimate aim to #ADDAZERO to the personal disposable income of the business owner!

I’m on a MISSION to help more and more business owners THINK DIFFERENTLY in order to realise ALL they are capable of.  My last 4 years of research into Business Failure has led me to some of the biggest findings I’ve ever discovered regarding the volatility of most businesses, because their lack of knowledge, understanding or implementation of what I consider to be the foundations required to SCALE.

I’d LOVE to share more with you, and your audience, lets have a chat about how to work together in making a HUGE and LASTING impact at your next event: https://jay-motivation.youcanbook.me

Testimonials

Martyn Weller said…

Jay’s unique presentations draw on his military experience and relate them back to the business situations we all face daily with exceptional clarity and a strong motivational call to action.

Area Manager, Cultural Brands Ltd

Kimberley Marlor said…

Jay delivered an amazing keynote speech at the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants conference. The whole room listened to a awe inspiring but very humble account which chartered his journey from “Battlefield to Boardroom”. It was a very engaging presentation, humorous but very thought provoking with lots of great nuggets of information on why focus, drive, planning is important, but also the need to continually survey your surrounding and watch out for those curved balls, catch them, learn from them and move on.

CIMA

Bob Mullard said…

Having had the privilege of hearing Jay a number of times, I can say unreservedly he is one of the greatest, most inspiring and thought provoking people I have ever met. From the moment he enters stage, he gets you in the palm of his hands and keeps you there transfixed as he moves you to another level – a truly professional, honest and no nonsense guy. You must see it to believe it. He is without doubt up there with the best.

CEO Triform Group

George Anderson said…

Jay is a gifted speaker and presenter whom I have had the pleasure to hear on several occasions, and I can recommend him with confidence.

Chairman, WPA Healthcare

Liam Fitzmorris said…

I’ve heard some speakers in my time, and Jay was up there with the best

In all my years attending workshops, webinars, conferences and the likes, I can count on one hand the amount of speakers I’ve hard that have captivated an entire audience from start to finish. That takes some doing, and Jay did it seamlessly.

Events Director