I Hate Motivational Speakers...

Believe it or not, I actually only came to this conclusion this past weekend. It dawned on me as I was taking a review of my business to ensure that I was in line with what the market is looking for, that I am changing with the wants and needs of the marketplace and keeping my material fresh.

That's when it hit me - in order to explain to someone what it is I do (y'see I'm not that famous yet), I would have to explain that I am like a motivational speaker. But really, that's not true. I hate motivational speakers. I think I'm more of an UNmotivational speaker.

I don't think it's my job to motivate anyone to do anything. Because if I did, and it didn't work out for them, they would blame me. And where's the accountability in blaming someone else?

I want people to get the concept of accountability - that we create the lousy little lives we have. We did it. It's all our fault. Stop blaming everyone and everything else.

Greatest quote I ever heard about motivational speakers is this: If this industry, the people who are speaking to business, were to actually run the businesses they were speaking to, there would be no businesses left to speak to. Because as an industry, we preach success and practice failure more often than any other industry! - (Larry Winget)

I have seen more speakers take the stage and preach stuff that hasn't worked in ten years. They haven't read a new book in that time. Some take the stage for the applause or simply the money. Others use the stage as a catharsis to work out their problems - hoping magically that if they say their stuff enough times they'll actually start to believe it.

There are, however, some really good people in the speaking industry too - people who believe and practice what they say, don't deceive the client, don't do things just for the money and don't need professional psychiatric help. But the ones in it for the wrong reasons outnumber those who simply want to do good in the world. That's a shame but I suppose it's the same thing in every industry.

And if you're lying to yourself and your audience, then I guess you just don't get "accountability."

Think about this fact: if the whole world understood the concept of accountability, Jerry Springer would be off the air ... and there would be no more Injury Lawyers. (Hmm, maybe that's a secondary mission for me, get Springer off the air and do away with all of the injury lawyers. Hmm, I'll work on that.)

That's when it hit me that I am not motivational - I am instigational. I don't want you to make just a few minor changes for a few days and then go back to the way it was, I want you to make profound changes that will stick with you for life. I will instigate you to make those changes especially if you don't like where you are in your life.

I will instigate you to stop whining and moaning and bitching and complaining about your life being someone else's fault. Suck it up princess. The world owes you nothing - it was here first.

So, don't ever call me a "motivational speaker" - 'cause if you do, you'll probably be looking for an injury lawyer soon after. I'll instigate the fight.