Reviving spirit in the workplace is like starting the wave at a major sporting event.  The process is a little uncomfortable at first and often met with rejection, criticism, and sometimes failure.

Before we get into the “how-tos” of reviving spirit in the workplace, let’s define it:

Spirit is the atmosphere and attitude of a place or situation that influences  effort and attitude in its people.

In 2011, I gave close to 100 speeches on the subject of attitude to organizations who told me before their events, “We really want to revive a positive spirit in the workplace so our people will do better, or continue to do well.”

Reviving spirit in the workplace is about creating awareness that excellence still matters. Teamwork still makes the dream work. Positive communication is a must. And profit, productivity, and performance rely on attitude and effort.

The spirit in the workplace can often turn negative when others are impacted by decisions and issues that are out of their control. This might include: corporate downsizing, understaffing, budget reductions, and upper-management decisions that adversely impact employees.

Here are a Few Ideas on How to Revive Spirit in the Workplace:

1.     Become a Wave Master and Start the Wave.

To revive spirit in the workplace, someone has to be the wave master—getting people up and engaged in better communication, perseverance, attitude, teamwork and effort.  The wave master has a vision of what spirit should be or look like in the workplace.  The next step is introducing that vision and getting everyone on board. This is where it gets tricky, because not everyone will buy into your vision of making the workplace a more positive place. Attitude is a personal choice, and some rotten apples—no matter how hard you try encouraging them and showing them the light of being more positive—won’t give up their rotten attitudes.

Why not stand out in the "stadium" of your workplace, and start the wave?

A few years back, I was attending an NFL football game in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metro Dome in Minneapolis, Minn.  I was sitting on about the 10-yard line next to some friends and family, and noticed the energy level in the stadium was at about a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10–with 10 being raising the roof.  Our team was playing average and the energy was average.  It was evident that we needed to revive the winning spirit amongst 68,000 people. So instead of waiting for someone to do it, I made the choice to become the Wave Master.  The wave is where people stand, lift their hands in the air, and scream with enthusiasm–and round and round it goes.

I announced the vision of what I was trying to do, and a few people dismissed it by telling me to “shut up and sit down.”  I said, “On the count of three, we are going to do the wave!”

“One…Two….Three! Yahhhh!!!”  I did the wave all by myself. There was no buy in. Some just thought it would be embarrassing, or their attitude was at that point of, “I don’t care.”  I did it a few more times and finally, a few people got on board. Then a few more, and after about 7 and a half minutes of not giving up, 68,000 people were standing to their feet doing the wave and reviving our team with energy, hope, and optimism. It felt great! It was electrifying.  However, it required courage to make it happen.

And it’s similar in the workplace or life. You can’t just talk about it, sign up for a free tele-seminar about it, read a book about it, or think about it. You have to put the knowledge into action. The question you have to ask is, What are you willing to do to reviving a positive and winning spirit in your workplace?  What changes need to happen?   

2.    Be Willing to Be Flexible.

Be willing to work with people on terms that work best for them. Best Buy offers some of their employees the option to work from home. People have crazy schedules, and so offering the option to people to get their work done mobile is a great benefit to the employee and the company. It would be evident if it didn’t work because the company would know if the person was not getting the job done. And it also cuts down on sick days and turnover. It demonstrates trust.  Not every position in a company has this option, but the principle of being flexible opens the door to creating loyal employees and reducing turnover. It involves getting to know your people at a human level and seeing what works best for them so they can give their best. As a leader, your job is about achieving results. If you want better results, you have to be willing to focus on ways to unlock the best version of your people–and one aspect to achieving that is being willing to be flexible.

3.    Communicate Information In Positive Ways.

Some people may and will be negative when provided with information of new changes or cut backs. Avoid becoming defensive and reactive. Don’t take the employees’ negative words or attitudes personally. Be real with employees, but also be willing to communicate the silver lining so people are not interpreting you in a negative way.  Negative communication gives life to fear, doubt, disengagement, and poor effort. You want to be willing to communicate in a way that people understand, but also promote buy in to the vision of new changes or new information.

4.    Get a Clue.

Why do people wait for things to get bad before they get a clue and something about it? I heard a former astronaut speaking on the subject of safety the other day and he said, “Why is it that we don’t have enough money to do it right the first time, but always have enough and more to fix things when something goes wrong?”

Waiting for things to get better and complaining about the way things are will not enrich the spirit in the workplace. Getting a clue is just that; look for clues to what needs attention, and find ways make it happen urgently. If it means more training, then do it. If it means more awareness about a specific subject like safety, teamwork, treating customers right, getting the sales, getting to work on time…or whatever, then fix it now or it will cost double, triple, or more later.

5.     Make People Feel Valued.

When people feel valued and important, they become more loyal, do the extra job, step up, and care more. People want to know they matter and that what they do is making a significant contribution. By showing appreciation for their efforts, it improves morale and adds to that winning spirit.

6.     Add Some Chocolate Chip Cookie Fun.

Fun can be simple things that give employees a quick recharge break. A friend of mine was telling me that a vendor brought in cookies about 3 p.m. when everyone was kind of hitting a wall–as it’s near the end of the day, but not quite.  She said everyone took a break, went to the conference room and ate cookies, chatted, and laughed–and in about 10 minutes everyone was back to work.  She indicated it was fun. Everyone needed it.  And it worked!

So bring in cookies or ice cream sandwiches. People love food and an opportunity to take a break, recharge, and have fun. Have a contest …Who can cook the best chili or mac-n-cheese? It doesn’t have to cost a lot; it just has to give people an opportunity to have fun and enjoy each other. Make popcorn!!

7.    Get Away.

Getting out of the office to have an off-site meeting can actually be energizing and effective. It gets you out of the same old routine and gives you a fresh environment to soak up. I recently did an all-employee meeting for Blue Cross Blue Shield in Grand Rapids, Mich.  It was awesome. It was at an off-site location that was beautiful. There were snacks, prizes and might I say, one amazing and awesome speaker – ME! We had fun and everyone left happy and energized.

8.   Don’t Take Everything so Seriously.

Things are going to go wrong; people will make mistakes and drop the ball. When this happens, it is easy to get discouraged, negative, and want to give up. Instead, try to find some humor in the situation (there is always some), and then come up with a solution. Have you ever dropped the ball or made a mistake and had someone show you grace and compassion? How awesome did that feel? Didn’t it make you want to do better and try harder? Show that to people. Even if it is the exact opposite of how you want to act or respond, choose grace. Chances are you are going to be in that position one day and you want to create a culture of understanding and improvement. If people are free to make mistakes, they are more likely to try creative, out-of-the-box solutions which could bring you incredible results you would never have if people are too scared to try.

9.    Celebrate!

Celebrate small successes and events as much if not more than big ones. Celebration creates positive energy. If it’s your coworker’s birthday, bring in some cupcakes and balloons (especially if it’s someone who gets on your nerves ). If you have been working towards a goal and making positive progress, celebrate that by leaving an hour early on a Friday. When you create things to look forward to, it creates positive expectations and energy. Celebrating it rewards people for making it happen.

10.     Give Back.

Do charity or community events as a group. This is a great way to add super glue to the concept of teamwork. I was visiting a non profit group, Feed My Starving Children, and there was a team of UPS guys there packaging up food for children in third world countries. But it wasn’t just work to them. They did it with attitude. They shouted out positive things when a bag or box of food was complete. Each person had to rely on the other to make it work. It was an awesome demonstration of giving back, but also of building a stronger team.

Also, there is the added bonus of creating a positive company image in the community–but that is not the goal. Use events like Veterans Day to give back to the military by writing letters to soldiers thanking them for their service. One company purchased a few non-assembled bikes, split the office up into teams, and built the bikes together. Once they were done, they brought in a child who didn’t have enough money to get a bike, and presented him with the bike.  It was cool to see the expression on everyone’s faces!

There are a million different ways to give back; choose a few that mean the most to your company and do them. Or ask your employees what charities are important to them, and create an event around that. How proud would an employee feel knowing that their ENTIRE Company is helping support that cause? That’s HUGE. It will create loyality and drive to work that you can’t create any other way.

11.   Offer Opportunities to Become Better

If there is an opportunity for someone to learn something new to become better at life and work, then make that available.  A manager friend once told me that he wants his sales team to work harder on themselves than they do their jobs, because when they become great at who they are, they are awesome at what they do. People want to be great, but sometimes they just need that open door or opportunity to expand their greatness. There are many benefits to a company, team, or department when people improve themselves. The late Jim Rohn once said, “The greatest gift we can give others is our personal development.”

A friend of mine was offered the opportunity to attend a seminar on how to use LinkedIn better. Her company sent her to the seminar, and she loved it. She shared her new concepts with fellow co-workers and again fostered positive energy and a revived spirit.

What can you do to revive the spirit of your workplace?

Stadium Photo: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Lighten up, laugh and play.

What other tips can you share? What gets your attitude positive?

 I am 43 years old and started living my life at 41.5 years on January 4, 2010, when I said eight simple words to a friend at lunch in response to her questions of, “What is your purpose in life?” And, “Why now?”

My reply was, “Maybe we are ready to receive it now.” That is the day my life changed forever–even when I was afraid and was “going places I had never gone before.” I began to experience words like never before and began to share those words with others, even those I did not know very well at all.

For years, I had been a mere survivor getting through the days–doing what needed to get done with careful calculations, but never really feeling alive. I was afraid to let people see the real me for fear of getting hurt after a difficult, but not necessarily out-of-the-norm childhood.

My absolute dream and passion is being a motivational speaker for teenagers and a life coach for women. I am taking steps to make that dream a reality. Our women’s group is called the G.I.F.T. (Greatness Is Found Together). I found that there are so many women who are stuck in their same lives and are not sure how to change even one thing.

In April of 2010, my friend asked me the one question that has become the cornerstone of my business and how I get conversations started. The question was, “What is the one thing you wish you could change about your life?” I admitted to her that I was unhappy with my weight. I was 35 pounds heavier than I am now. So started running at 5 a.m., twice a week. I was athletic but never a runner, and getting up at 4:30 a.m. was not something I had ever done–let alone twice in one week. Being accountable to someone else and listening to her “running rules” didn’t have me sold in the first few weeks. But, I was committed to this person who was willing to get up before the crack of dawn and help me be better, not realizing at the time that she might have something to gain as well. My goal was to lose 20 pounds in 6 months. After 6 weeks, my attitude changed completely after seeing an HBO Special on Kyle Maynard and his perserverance through the many obstacles he faces every day. The next week, Rocky was gone and yet I still got up to run. My husband asked me, “Where are you going? She’s not here.” I told him, “I cannot do it for her…I have to do it for me.” From that day, I started pushing myself more, adding 4 more days to my regimine, which also included evening bike rides with my husband. On some days, I was doing a combined 15 miles between the two.

I also fell in love with something I had never really taken the time to look at or treasure the way I do now…the sunrise. It reminds me of the gift I have been given to show the world what I can do and has helped guide me when I have been lost. It gives me hope and makes me smile when I think about how much I missed in those years gone by. At the end of the six months, I had lost 31 pounds. As my physical appearance changed, my attitude towards life and living kept going as well, but not in ways that I ever thought would bring to me here, writing to you.

I March of 2010, I started a blog and in May, I was dumbfounded when the words for my Life Statement came to me as easily as blinking my eye. I didn’t think about the words I was needing to write, but they just came. I began to allow my heart to lead and not my head for the first time in my life. I started reading books that inspired me and shared this new knowledge with people who saw immediate changes in my attitude towards life. I continue to write to this day and have several messages that are a staple in my journey through the minutes, days, and years I have been blessed to receive.

The name of my blog has always been, “It Starts Today,” as I believe that putting off words to be said, deeds to be done, and ways to grow cannot begin tomorrow. It starts today. If you want to change your life, it begins with one baby step. Once you have taken that one step, you are already some place different than you were before. You have to put the walls down and allow others in, even if taking that chance might mean getting hurt in the process. I also believe that there are only two things we can ever control: Attitude and Effort. How do we get a positive ATTITUDE? Achieve This Through Insight, Time, Understanding, Dedication, Empowerment. Like most people, my attitude dictates any effort I put forth for tasks that must be completed.

Here I am…almost two years later and have grown so much as a person that my living has been exponentionally surpassed by anything I ever could have imagined. I am amazed how words I say impact others because those simple syllables seem to come so effortlessly to me as my blog has been read by people in over 40 countries. I know what my purpose is and I am living it. I am here to be an Army of One, to be contagious, and to move people in ways they never thought they would be moved. I am here to inspire those who choose to be open to it. I am taking even greater strides into the new year as I embrace what is before me.

Attitude takes us where we never believed we could be. It supports us with caring arms and allows our hearts to truly guide us through everything we do, everyone we love, and every where we are. It is all there is and that makes it everything.

Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Excerpt from Junk Foods & Junk Moods: Stop Craving and Start Living!

By Lindsey Smith

Insecurities—we all have them. While I am happy with myself and confident in my being, subtle doubts and insecurities creep into my mind from time to time.

I can think of many instances where I thought, “I’m not doing enough.” “Am I going to make it?” “I’m not skinny enough, pretty enough, nice enough.” And the list goes on.

Like you, I’ve seen countless billboards, TV commercials, and magazine advertisements to give me a kick in my own ego and make me want someone else’s hair, body, or general looks. Our society constantly encourages us to search for something better than ourselves.

As a child and pre-teen, I binged on food to mask the pain of my deep wounds.  Despite overcoming many obstacles and starting to live a life I enjoyed in my teen years, I still felt a sense of unworthiness. No matter how much I accomplished or excelled, I found an underlying sense of “not good enough.”  Even when I won an award or placed first in a competition, I still struggled with feeling inadequate.

This pain carried into college, where I binged on alcohol to mask the anxieties I felt before going out with friends. The alcohol, like food, was a form of self-medication. I eventually concluded that the overeating and the alcohol were not the root problems. The problem was my own lack of self-love.  Despite the changes and progress I had made throughout the years, I had never embraced those changes or even appreciated and celebrated my successes. Instead, I felt a constant cloud over my head telling me I wasn’t good enough. The source lay in my childhood, where deep wounds lay.

I’m certainly not alone in experiencing self-doubt when the facts say I’m unique, wonderful, and accomplished.  Hands down, the underlying issue most people suffer from is denying their own self-worth. Internal doubts that creep into our minds and cause us to not fully love ourselves are widespread. Often, we seek nutrients outside of ourselves—a romantic relationship, a fancy purse, a bag of chips, or a drug. We crave these other nutrients to give us that feeling of love or security we are missing within. So how can we overcome this? What can we do NOW to wash away our insecurities and doubts?

First things first. Remember, you are not alone! Everyone has these doubts, insecurities, and thoughts. Even the most secure people still get a hint of doubt every now and then.

Second—Start loving YOU!  Many times we are so “others” focused that we neglect to take time to love ourselves. Do you treat yourself with the same consideration you offer to others? If not, start by making time for yourself, and doing things for you!

Lastly—start shifting your thoughts from the negative to the positive. This sounds easy, but it can be challenging. So start small. When fears and insecurities creep in—keep telling yourself all the great things you have to offer.

With some practice, you’ll not only say and do these things, but you’ll believe them! If you find you are having trouble, or if you want to incorporate an affirmation into your daily routine, use this affirmation every morning during a quiet meditation time to help center yourself with self-love and self-worth:

In this moment:

I am FREE.

I am STRONG.

I am ENOUGH.

I am right where I need to be.

What will your affirmation be?

To connect with Lindsey, visit:

Website: www.TheRealYouNutrition.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheRealYouNutrition

Photo by Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

by Scott Carbonara

My partner, Jocelyn, once again worked a minor miracle by scoring me yet another interview with Jesus.

Me: Hi, Jesus. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk, especially since this is your busy season.

Jesus: Busy season? I’m not Santa! It’s just my birthday. Actually, it’s a slow time for me.

Me: Really? Why’s that?

Jesus: Don’t get me started. I mean, people use my name all the time, like “Merry Christmas” and all, but people don’t really think about me when they say it. It’s like when you pass someone at work and ask, “How’s it going?” It’s just something you say, not something you mean. So I’ve got a lot of free time. It’s hard to compete with pageants, bowl games, a new toys.

Me: Jesus, as a quick reminder, you know that I don’t write a religious blog, right? I write about things to help people in the here and now, not the afterlife. But since you are a very popular religious figure, I’ll bet my readers would want to know your take on the Christmas season.

Jesus: Ain’t bout Black Friday, not Cyber Monday, not pepper spray…

Me:  What’s that?

Jesus:  The opening lines of a rap song I’m working on. I just think it’s silly that people get up at a ridiculous hour to buy the “must have” gift for someone on their shopping list. They sit in long traffic lines, give each other the middle finger when someone takes their parking spot, elbow and shove their neighbors in competition over a toy. It’s no wonder so many people have heart attacks around the holidays.

Me: You don’t care for the commercialism. That’s clear. So what would you change about the season?

Jesus: I don’t want complain, really.

Me: Hey! It’s your special day, right? How do you want people to remember your birth?

Jesus: Okay, since you brought it up, that’s another thing: all of the manger scenes. Please!

Me: Wait! Are you saying that you don’t like manger scenes for Christmas? I thought those would make you feel special. I figured you’d hate sharing your day with sleighs, Santas and snowmen.

Jesus: I LOVE those things, Scott. A good friend of mine has a huge, inflatable Homer Simpson dressed as Santa on his lawn. It makes me smile every time!

Me: Why don’t you like the manger?

Jesus: Scott, I was there at my birth. Do you know what a manger is? It’s where you put the food to feed livestock. It smells, and the hay gave me a rash.

Me: So it’s not a pleasant memory?

Jesus: That’s just a small part of it. At your last birthday, did people gather to celebrate your birth by telling stories about Baby Scott? Did you watch the same video of your birth? Did everyone want to talk about the events leading up to your birth, like your conception?

Me: No. No, I don’t think I’d like that. I wouldn’t like that all…

Jesus: The events leading up to my birth were miraculous. And my birth fulfilled a lot of prophesy. Things happened in a very particular way and in a very specific order for a reason. And I love my story. It’s just…

Me: What? What’s wrong?

Jesus: I want people to know me as a man, an adult. I want people to think of me more than twice a year, once on my birthday and once on the anniversary of my death. I want folks to want a relationship with me as a grown up, not just the cute little boy in the manger.

Me: That makes a lot of sense. I never thought about it that way before. So it’s not that you dislike the focus on your birth. You just want people to focus more on your life.

Jesus: You were always smart, Scott. Yes, that’s what I mean.

Me: Ha! Thanks, Jesus. What gift are you giving this holiday season? I could use an iPhone 6 in case you’re wondering…

Jesus: I’ll put in a good word for you with Santa. But seriously, I’m giving what I always give, the same ones I received at my birth: gold, frankincense and myrrh. And I wish everyone would share those same gifts across the world.

Me: I don’t know how many people can afford gold in this economy.

Jesus: That’s not the kind of gold I’m offering. Gold has always been prized for its value, beauty, and rarity. Most people spend so much time shopping for presents around the holidays that they forget to be present. Do you remember what your kids used to value above any gift you bought them?

Me: The box.

Jesus: Yes, the box. But what else?

Me: My time.

Jesus: That’s right, Scott. That’s the gold I love people to give to me. And it’s the gift I offer others. What if everyone gave their own variety of gold to others this season? We would need fewer psychologists, long term care facilities, orphanages, prisons, and animal shelters.

Me:  What about Frankincense? That’s a spice used for perfume, right?

Jesus: Yes, it smells great. But that’s not why I like it. It has medicinal properties. It’s an astringent and anti-inflammatory, and it keeps your skin from dying. That’s a big deal when you spend time in the desert. But it also has anti-depressant qualities that help relieve anxiety.

Me: So you give frankincense because people are depressed?

Jesus: No, I give frankincense as a reminder that, just like how the oil from frankincense can erase signs of age people carry on their skin, I can erase signs of pain people carry in their hearts because I offer forgiveness. That’s why I want people to think of me as a grown up. You wouldn’t bring your problems to an infant in a stable. But you can bring them to who I AM today, the One who can help. I’d like to see a plasma screen TV do that. Now imagine if everyone in the world offered the healing power of forgiveness to each other!

Me: Excellent reminder. How about myrrh.

Jesus: Well, it has medicinal properties like frankincense. I don’t want to freak anyone out, but myrrh is a Middle Eastern spice used for embalming. I give myrrh as a reminder that we’re all going to die someday.

Me: Um, Jesus, that’s not the kind of cheery message I wanted to end on.

Jesus: Hear me out, Scott. Myrrh reminds me that I while I walked the earth, I had a very special destiny and a finite amount of time to achieve what I needed to accomplish. Do you see why I still give myrrh today? I want the world to know that each of you has been created for a unique purpose, and you have a finite time to accomplish immortality. You won’t leave anything behind except the legacy you grow in the hearts and minds of others. Be mindful of that, not just at Christmas, but every day.

Me: We’re going to end on that word, Jesus. Thank you again for taking the time to visit with me. I hope to talk to you again very soon.

I’ve been talking with Jesus, the founder of a movement called Christianity who reminds us to give personal, valuable gifts like time, forgiveness, and a mindfulness of the legacy we leave for others this holiday season.

(microphones switched off. Jesus removes the headset)

Jesus: Always a pleasure talking with you, Scott.

Me: Same here, Jesus.

Jesus: Um, Scott. Just so you’re not disappointed, you’re not going to see that iPhone this year.

Me: Yeah, I didn’t think so.

Need help seeing the rays of light behind the clouds?

You may think it’s easy for the motivational speaker like me to say. How hard can it be to have a good attitude when you’re flying around the country and getting paid lots of money to speak in front of people? A motivational speaker is almost like a performer, a celebrity, a comedian or an actor. Yet, this “dream life” didn’t just fall down out of the ether and onto the speaker’s lap. The motivational speaker created this life, usually in spite of adversity. Most inspirational speakers have pasts mired with poverty, abusive families, high school dropout, depression, divorce, or job loss. Yet, when you cultivate a positive attitude, more positive happenstances will come your way and you’ll find you can get through any bump in the road.

As they say in the popular motivational book and film series The Secret: Thoughts become things. If you focus on all the negative things that are happening to you in life, you are essentially attracting more negativity to you. To the contrary, if you focus on more positive outcomes, you will find the higher power conspires to make it happen. A motivational speaker can teach you how to look for the opportunity and the good in everything. It may not always feel natural to have a cheery outlook, but you’ll see that attitude truly is the key to all happiness.

A good motivational speaker creates tools and resources to help you adopt this new way of thinking. You’ll find books, films, workshops, seminars, social networking pages, audiobooks, podcasts, and viral videos to help you think positively and grow as a person. The cumulative effect of all these supporting materials will give your life a whole new dimension. You can think of a motivational speaker as a mentor. Instead of going to a therapist who forces you to air all your dirty laundry, you can meet with a motivational speaker who does all the talking but fills you with hope and inspiration.

Are you interested in what a motivational speaker has to offer? Contact me!

graur codrin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

• Be prepared. Nervousness related to professional speaking is the unfortunate byproduct of unprepared speakers. Before you speak in front of people, you need to rehearse your speech in front of the mirror and on tape. Visit the location where you’ll be speaking. Dress comfortably, but professionally. Before you go on stage, breathe deeply to calm your nerves.
  

  Have a passion for the mic?

• Do your research. Some people like to have a good laugh and hear an interesting story, but there will also be left-brained people in your audience who want the straight facts, credible resources, and meaningful statistics. Part of professional speaking is connecting with different types of people who have different kinds of expectations.
• Tell a story. Adding brief anecdotes is the key to a memorable professional speaking performance. People want to hear about your experiences and how you’ve arrived at a certain point. Incorporate the aspects of your life that are unique and use any dramatic movements you can to make your point and hang onto your audience’s attention.
• Be flexible. If your professional speaking can be customized or tailored to a particular theme or audience, you will be in high demand. You may have a 3-day workshop you want people to attend, but if you can also offer a one-day event for the time-strapped corporations, you are likely to get more business. Prior to the big day, you want to meet with corporate leaders and get as much information about the group as possible.
• Know your audience. Not everyone will find your jokes funny, but some topics have the potential to really bomb. For instance, religion, sex and politics are generally not recommended topics for beginners. Keep your presentations positive and at the right educational level.

 Professional speaking doesn’t require any special qualifications, but it is a course of study at most colleges and universities. Often public speaking is taught under the Communication degree program, but occasionally there are workshops or seminars based solely on speaking in front of crowds. A few of the top colleges to learn professional speaking are: Arizona State University, Ohio State University, the University of Central Florida, and The University of Texas at Austin.

If you’re looking for a professional speaking mentor, why not hire me, Sam Glenn?

sscreations / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The problem lies not only with school curriculum and underperforming teachers, but also with broken families that raise their children in a culture that undervalues education. Students must first see the benefits of graduating before they can be expected to put the extra effort in. At the end of the day, kids wind up leaving school over-entertained and distracted, school executives say.

By contrast, the top performing schools include Finland, South Korea and Poland. Finland is succeeding due to its excellent teacher recruiting, training and support system. South Korea places great emphasis on education culturally and, as a result, has a 96 percent graduation rate. Poland improved the literacy skills of 15-year-old boys an entire grade level.

Part of the solution is that America needs to create central control over standards and curriculum, but give local schools charter-like autonomous power. In the meantime, while we wait for massive school restructuring and renewed family values to take hold, an inspirational speaker can fill the void and impact the lives of millions. An inspirational speaker may motivate kids to stay in school, say no to drugs, pursue the path to leadership, go to college, or prepare for post-graduation life.

The words of an inspirational speaker can motivate people to succeed in every aspect of life – whether it’s in choosing a career, starting a new relationship, adopting healthy lifestyle habits, achieving financial prosperity, coping with stress, or developing a more positive attitude. Unfortunately, school curriculums do not have the time to address these important life issues during the school year, but spending a few hours of the afternoon covering these vital topics can provide tremendous benefits for the student body.

Given the complex pressures students face these days, it might be a good idea to call an inspirational speaker who can tackle issues like bullying or grief counseling for students who die in car crashes, shootings, or suicides. All of these situations make learning in school nearly impossible. However, the inspirational speaker can fill these saddened hearts with hope and perhaps even get the students to chuckle. Life is much too short to be saddled with depression, anxiety and grief.

Call an inspirational speaker like Sam Glenn today!

Jetkasettakorn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The problem with many motivational books is that they can be extremely verbose and difficult to get through. Who has time to read a 350 page manifesto in this day and age? How many pages is it until the next chapter? What people need are quick, digestible reads that can be fit into mornings or evenings conveniently.

I’ve come up with an assortment of motivational books that are quick and easy to read. They’re written to bring a smile to your face, but also encourage you to take action to live a happier and more successful life. Here are some of the top motivational books by me, Sam Glenn…

• A Kick In the Rear To Get You In Gear: Get 101 quotes to jumpstart your day for only $5 (with free shipping!)

• A Kick In the Attitude: Learn how to turn hardship into opportunity; develop strategies for busting fatigue to be more energized than ever; rid yourself of negativity and limiting beliefs; find new possibilities for your relationships and your career. Don’t just buy a copy for yourself, but for friends, family members and coworkers too! This book is $20, but if you buy 4 copies, you get the fifth free.

• Fish Sticks & Positive Jumps: Get 12 short, uplifting books to get your life on track. Titles of these small books include: You Cannot Direct The Wind… But You Can Adjust Your Sail; The Little Book of Big Positives; The 1% Leader; What To Do When Shift Happens; Profit On The High Road; Butt Prints In The Sand; Seven Days Of Comfort; I Laughed So Hard That…; The Gift of Failure; Get Off Your Pinecone & Live Positive; Positive Notes From A Nut; and more! You can get this heartwarming compilation for only $24.95, with free shipping.

Motivational books are ideal for friends and family members who are going through a major change in life, whatever the case may be. It can be difficult to keep our bearings when the whole world is in flux and the end destination is unknown. A job loss or the death of a loved one can feel like the end of the world. Yet, once we realize other people have survived through these very same ordeals and found a happy life at the other end of the dark tunnel, we find it strengthens us to persevere too.

Here are the top 5 signs you may need a motivational speaker to visit your business:

1. You suspect more than one person on your team has a bad attitude. Their humor is sarcastic, at best. At worst, though, you fear they may have a contagious negativity. This person always feels underappreciated and overworked, no matter what you do. In many larger industries, people with lousy attitudes or entitlement issues tend to be “temps” forever and never get hired on full-time. In smaller businesses, a bad attitude can really wreak havoc.
2. You are changing the order. People have a natural aversion to change and resist it with every bone in their bodies. Whether you’re merging two companies together, downsizing, changing the process, writing a new policy, or acquiring a new client, there is going to be trouble if you don’t have the right person come in to get people genuinely excited about change. Your workers will be more inclined to adopt the new changes once they see what’s in it for them and how the new way is the better way.
3. 

   Do your group meetings look like this?

   You have an upcoming training session. The problem with most training sessions is that they are just so ungodly boring! Participants find themselves watching paint peel off the wall and doodling on their pages for a release. Calling in a funny motivational speaker can transform a dull experience into something humorous, dynamic, interesting, and engaging. They’ll hang on every word!

4. You have an important event or sales contest coming up. What better way to kick off a new event, sales contest, or fundraiser than to rev up your staff with an engaging motivational speaker? Your staff may be accustomed to tuning you out by now, but they’ll welcome any sort of break from the drudgery. Show everyone you mean business by calling in someone who is skilled in the art of communicating a message and getting people to sign onboard for the mission at hand.
5.  You need “a few good men” (and women). Some leaders are born, it’s true. You may have such a tall, commanding presence with your broad shoulders and business suit that people instinctively listen. Other times, however, leaders can be made. An individual may hear the right words, see the right film, read the right book, or have the right experience to drive his or her mission to lead. If you have team members with the knowledge and experience, you can craft them into mentors or team leaders with the help of a motivational speaker.

Does this sound like something you need?  Why not contact me, Sam Glenn, to see if I could be a fit for your motivational speaker needs today?!

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net