My past experiences coaching and leading people have demonstrated to me that the trait of consistency is almost always present when one is successful in working with a group of people. Those with whom I worked, knew that my statements and actions were intentional and that they could take what I said  and what I did to the bank.  Speaking to a business group recently, I was asked about motivating employees, keeping them performing at level or beyond and holding them accountable for their performance.  My  answer to these folks was that the leadership of the organization had to have practices and policies in place that were clear, reasonable and fair so that employees knew what the expectations were and  that failure to meet these expectations would  carry  direct consequences. It is the responsibility of the employers to uphold the organization’s policies in a consistent manner.  If employees see that nothing seems to happen when the rules and regulations are not upheld, or are sometimes upheld and other times turned a blind eye toward, then some employees will push the envelope and slack off in their performance. Consistency in practice, adherence to policy, follow-through all create a working climate in which expectations are clear to employers and to employees and what is said and done can be taken to the bank.

My experience as a professional motivational speaker has enabled me to listen to and to watch people in many different places and spaces. I recently overheard at the Charlotte airport the following statements: “I’m too too tired to think about it.” “He was too large to fit in the seat!” “They book too many people for every flight.” “She is too old to be left alone.” “You’re a bit too straight, even for me darling!” “Look, he’s too small, he fits under the turnstile!” “It is way too hot in here!” “I was just too busy, Gloria, to get it done!” I think you get the idea here. Too fat, too thin, too small, too large, too tired, too anxious, too gay, too old, too young, too tall, too short, too frightened, too sad, too gray, too wrinkled, too slick, etc. Watching and listening to people always creates new stories to share. Too many wanna be’s? Too many should haves? Too many could haves? Seems like we just worry about too many things, but it makes for some great speaking material!

Keeping an open mind let us enjoy a wonderful spring and summer beverage that at one time was pretty much never tried by wine lovers.  Here’s Jackie’s recipe for Sangria, if you choose to use white wine it is called Sangria Bianca…

Combine the following ingredients in a large pitcher : 2 bottles of red wine, vintages not needed here!

4 shots of brandy

4 pinches of sugar

3 cups of carbonated something

3 or 4 sliced oranges/limes and or lemons

Stir well with a long spoon and chill at least 4 hours

Serve in any type of glass, mug or cup that feels good in the hand. It can be put over ice. You can add a few slices of fruit. Make it your way and enjoy!  Speaking to a group of wine students in Asheville recently, I found myself telling tales of this wonderfully refreshing beverage.  So fellow wine lovers, never say never and give it a try!

Knowing the audience is without a doubt the most important thing in public speaking and certainly in motivational speaking. When I do wine seminars, I know the folks before me all have the same interest; they want to hear and taste…it is all about the grapes! As a motivational speaker, it is my responsibility to know whether I am serving  spuds and corn  or fillet mignon. I need to do the homework, do the research and connect the thread running through the fibers of my listeners. Presenting information that often comes in forms of life stories is much different than laying out the numbers of the last quarterly sales reports. I have found from experience that tragedy overrides comedy just about every time when it comes to storytelling. Not to say that all listeners would rather hear the typhoon story vs. the return of Fido news. I can say that there are important lessons learned from each.  Public speakers just need to know who is looking at us before we begin!

I remember a particular high school student of mine that could see absolutely no sense in attending school. He wanted to tinker with cars and motors, only liked his “shop” classes and was going to quit as soon as he turned sixteen. He was telling me his plans because he had just started a part -time job working in a local garage and was excited about doing what he liked and having a few dollars in his pocket. I told him I was proud of him for getting the job but that I felt strongly that he needed to at least finish high school because I thought he would have a future as a top notch mechanic in his own garage. I will never forget the look on his face and his heartfelt response to me…”Coach, do you really think I could do that some day?” I went on to tell him to take all the math courses he could because he would need those skills in setting up his own business. I also let him know that I thought his future partner and his later to come children would be proud of him as well. He decided to stay in school; he got his diploma and went to work full-time in the local garage. Eighteen years later this young man contacted me. He wanted to let me know that he has a successful garage his own and employs four people. He also said he is married and has two beautiful children and that he “just wanted to say thank you for giving me the spark”.  As a motivational speaker who talks about peoples’ dreams and aspirations, this story will always be a keeper.

Last week I was speaking with a group of sales associates and the topic was about the state of our economy. Everyone agreed that the projections were anything but hopeful. All were tired of reading and hearing about a possible recession, that the summer tourist season was in jeopardy and that they needed to be ready to do more with less. It seems to me that the bombardment of platitudes like “time to tighten your belt” or “haven’t seen it like this since ‘36″ in daily newscasts and newspaper headlines is making the state of our economy even worse by increasing the fear factor in people and,as a natural consequence, eroding consumer confidence .  Yes, the platitudes are driving negative attitudes proving once again that language does create reality! No matter where I travel, to whom I speak, folks are saying the same things. Being a motivational public speaker I have the opportunity to set challenges for my audiences. The challenge I am throwing down this time is to be quiet about the state of our economy. Let’s get through a day without mentioning foreclosures, milk and bread prices, filling the gas tank for $50 or postponing the family’s summer get-a-way . Let’s take it one day at a time, let’s hope for the best and prepare for the rest, quietly.

Addressing a group of public school teachers and administrator not too long ago, the topics of budget and of course educators’ salaries were front and center. As a professional motivational/public speaker I want my audiences to walk away feeling good about who they are and what they do. The challenge for me on this particular day was a bit more difficult as this school system had just had its school budget rejected by city administrators. The teachers were asking for a cost of living adjustment and to maintain their present level of health coverage. It appears that communities want 5 star programs with only the best educators leading and challenging their children but are only willing to pay for 2 star status. How do we wrap our minds around that fact that some young person is paid 24 million dollars for hitting and fielding a baseball for a few short seasons yet another young person teaching our children is paid only 24 thousand for a year of work? Working for the “love of it” can go a very long way, but there is a point when the love sometimes begins to fade. Is it any wonder why people are not entering the honorable teaching profession! I let my audience know how important they are. I reaffirmed the difference they make every day for children. I applauded their devotion to the multitude of tasks they handle and I assured them that even though the playing field is not level they are the ones who are remembered many years later. Who remembers who won last years World Series!