Are you the best motivational speaker?

Have you dated someone who knows only one topic. Nothing but himself?

A fellow trainer said that Anthony Robbins is so full of himself. That is my friend’s opinion. Tonny Robbins is a motivational speaker not because he is a very good public speaker. He is a motivational speaker because he moves people. You may not like him, but his talk is not really about himself. It is about you, your problem, and the solutions available to you.

The other week someone told me that I should use the title “motivational speaker” instead of using the title “inspirational speaker”. Frankly, I am not comfortable using any of these titles. For me these titles are just labels. And labels will not define me or even the things that I do. But inspirational is closer to what I think about what I do. The title is not really for myself. The title is for people who are looking for an inspirational speaker in the Philippines. When it comes to Google, tags or labels help.

I know many motivational and inspirational speakers in the Philippines. One is the father of my former student Hanna. His name is Francis Kong. He is motivational. He is inspirational. He equips people by providing them real life examples and easy to dig principles. He motivates leaders by addressing their needs. Although he shares his experiences, he does not really talk about himself. He talks about his audience and he connects with his audience through his stories. I do not have a ready criteria for the best motivational speaker. But I believe that when it comes to content and delivery, he is the better speaker. But he did not claim to be the best motivational speaker in the Philippines. And humility is one trait I expect from motivational speakers.

Should the number of people listening to the speaker be the basis? Bo Sanchez can easily become the best motivational speaker in the Philippines. Or maybe Mike Velarde or Eddie Villanueva.

But number may not be a good criterion, my friends. Hitler too has his numbers.

My favorite is Onofre Pagsanjan. He makes you laugh. He makes you cry. He makes you fly. All within thirty minutes of talk. But he is humble. I don’t think that he will make that claim of being the best motivational speaker in the Philippines.

You must see my mentor Vic Santiago talks. That guy motivates everyone who comes his way. That includes his driver, his neighbor, and even his children. He motivated them to aim for managerial positions when they applied for their first job. Some people will not think that was a good advice from a parent. It is simply unrealistic. But all of his children applied and became managers when they got their first jobs. All were hired by multi-national companies. Even Toastmasters who have heard the best inspirational speakers in the world cannot not listen to him when he speaks.

But I will not say that he is the best motivational speaker in the Philippines. I know Vic Santiago. He will not make that claim. He will say that he is simply making the most of the talents given to him. This is the same guy who told me that I should not stop until good becomes better, and better becomes best. Motivational speakers lift you up.

Obama is a motivational speaker. Napoleon is a motivational speaker. St. Paul is a motivational speaker. They make people act.

My seminars is all about making people apply (read: act on) the tools and techniques, practices and principles, and skills that they have learned during the seminars. So, people may say that I am an excellent trainer, a very effective motivational speaker, and admirable person. Those are very flattering observations. But I will not claim to be the best motivational speaker in the Philippines. That title may belong to you, to your father, to your sister, or to a stranger who have just motivated you to make the most of your talents and skills. That guy moved you that now nobody can stop you anymore.

When someone tells you that he is the best motivational speaker, I suggest that you think twice. The moment one believes that he is the best is his worst moment. He does not need you. For that person, all of us are simply aiming for the second best. He will not be able to move us to reach our highest for to himself he has already occupied that place.

But let me claim what I feel about myself. I am a motivated speaker. I am an inspired trainer. I am a friend who cares. I am learning everyday. I get motivated by the people I meet. The people who attended my workshops give me education that I cannot get in a graduate school. I am motivational speaker because people in my seminars motivate me. Motivational speaking is not about the speaker. Or the speech. It is about people. It is about you, you, you, and me. It is not just a date. It is a communion.