FAME AND FORTUNE
DO NOT A PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER MAKE...
NECESSARILY

The qualities needed to be an expert motivational speaker are evident when they are compared to a speaker who is neither expert nor a motivator. People from all walks of life have at one time or another seen and heard a public speaker. For most, their first experience hearing a speaker was probably a school teacher or school administrator. Some were memorable, some where not. Just like the Sunday church service, people endured the good as well as the bad. As adults we have the choice of staying in our seats or leaving the room, a choice oftentimes not extended to children.

The expert motivational speaker is the person who speaks with people not at them; the person who establishes eye contact and feels the energy . The expert motivational speaker sees the glass half full and can stay focused in any situation; the person who can conjure a story on the spot and produce laughter and tears. The expert motivational speaker is sensitive to her audience, has done the homework and knows the common thread that brings any particular gathering together. Passion and energy are the trademarks of effective expert motivational speakers. They are positive advocates for humanity who have the ability to feel the importance of awakening emotions and desires in people.

Oftentimes the keynote presenters are famous athletes, successful coaches or high profile personalities. Audiences come to see the person more than to hear them. They tell their stories and share the tales of their climb to success; but, not all are expert motivational speakers. Fame and notoriarity do not necessarily give these speakers the skills needed to evoke passion and desire in their audiences. They might be able to build a team of football players who win games, or pitch a no hitter, or star in three movies a year or run for high office, but they may not be able to connect with the moms and dads who are working hard to put a roof over their heads, wheels under their feet and food on the table. They might not remember what it is like to do their own grocery shopping, cart their children to and from day care or do their own laundry. Sometimes the disconnect between speaker and audience is extremely visible.

Expert motivational speakers are for the most part everyday ordinary people who have a passion and energy for telling stories that in someway move an audience to take action. For the most part the stories they tell are of everyday challenges, successes and the failures. Expert motivational speakers challenge their audiences to think and feel; challenge them to make a difference in their workplaces, their homes and their societies. They have the ability to encourage their listeners to work smarter, better and to be more productive. They set a tone for an event and focus on the necessary outcomes for which they were hired. Are some better than others? Absolutely.

In order for the hiring organization to get their money's worth from a keynote presenter or seminar leader, the organization must first know what the focus will be. What do they want the listeners to walk away with? What tone do they want set for the conference or gathering? In other words, they need to do their homework. If the hiring organization can answer these questions, they will in all likelihood not experience that disconnect.

Jackie Pelletier built a successful career as a teacher, coach, recreation director, principal and interim superintendent. As a respected expert in the field of education, thousands of students and adults were inspired and challenged by her. She was honored as the State of Maine Physical Education Teacher of the Year, named to the Governors Council and recognized Statewide for her contributions in adaptive education and in the area of women's sports. Jackie is currently the Wine Training Coordinator at the most visited winery in the country at Biltmore Estate as well as an expert motivational speaker.