Motivational speakers use persuasive speaking tactics to inspire personal or professional change in their audience. They gain credibility from their expertise in a specific field and may supplement their income with books, DVDs, or TV appearances. David Toma is a recognized motivational speaker who speaks against drug addiction, while Suze Orman targets specific demographics with financial advice.
It takes a certain kind of rhetorical skill to inspire others to work harder, feel inspired, or change their attitudes or opinions. A motivational speaker uses various persuasive speaking tactics to motivate their audience to take these actions. A reformed drug addict might inspire teens to avoid substance abuse, for example, or a former CEO might speak to the company’s current sales force to boost morale. The ultimate goal of an effective motivational speaker is to convince your audience to make some kind of personal or professional change within themselves.
A former New York detective named David Toma is perhaps one of the most recognized motivational speakers in the United States. Toma has personally witnessed the devastating effects of drug abuse while working undercover in some of New York City’s worst neighborhoods. When he retired from police work, Toma became a motivational speaker, traveling to thousands of schools across the United States to deliver an impassioned speech against the evils of drug addiction. During these events, hundreds of teenagers would hand over their personal drug supplies to Toma and commit to a new drug-free lifestyle.
Other motivational speakers, like financial consultant Suze Orman or Dr. Life coach Phil McGraw has a different kind of audience in mind when they deliver their motivational speeches. Orman is known for her motivational talks targeting specific demographics such as young couples or single women. Her advice on financial matters was designed to motivate audience members to take more personal responsibility for their finances.
An effective motivational speaker usually gains some form of street cred from a specific field, such as professional sports, entertainment, or politics. Your reputation as a subject matter expert often precedes the actual presentation. For an audience, having the chance to hear a respected sports figure or famous actor speak at their church or school can be an inspiration in itself. Some of the best motivational speakers take advantage of their celebrity status to lead the audience to a deeper issue like substance abuse or teen pregnancy.
Some motivational speakers travel on a planned speaking tour, while others may be hired to speak as special guests. Professional motivational speakers like Dr. Wayne Dyer, author of Your Wrong Zones and other inspirational books, can also supplement your motivational income with book series, motivational DVDs or audiotapes, and television appearances. Some even teach others many of the techniques needed to become a successful motivational speaker.
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