The title of yesterday’s presentation for InforSource (the client) was customized for their sales and administrative teams, “Taking Yourself to the Next Level.”
InfoSource, based in Winter Park, Fla is a developer and turnkey custom solution provider of high-quality Web-based training (WBT), computer-based training (CBT), and instructor-led training (ILT) for the education, corporate and government training markets. They have 600,000 online users!
Among some of the things I touched upon was the power of making a firm decision, accepting ourselves for who we are and understanding that regardless of what we do(whether in sales, an administrator, etc.) it’s not what happens to us that matters but how we perceive and act that determines the end result.
I told them how I went from $16,000 in my first year as a stockbroker on Wall Street (during the early 1990′s) to $300,000 less than 4 years later. More than half of those in attendance were in sales so this was a great fit for them. Some were brand new hires, just getting started, while others were “sales veterans,” having been at InfoSource for quite some time.
Stories about the “Grandmotherly Client From Hell” along with the “James Bond Lady Fiasco“ were regaled, much to their delight. Everybody had FUN! Each time I have the opportunity to do a professional speaking engagement and make a lasting impact on the lives of several people at once, I am gratefully blessed. While speaking is a huge responsibility, I also have a fabulous time doing it. It’s what I feel God has called me to do. One of my strongest skills is the ability to connect with the audience. Gone are the days where boring speakers could get away with hiding behind a podium and reading the speech from a script!
In fact, it was so well received that while I was at 35,000 feet in a Boeing 717 on my way back home last night (yes I own my own jet) (okay, not yet, not yet!), Alyx, the editor of TeachMarket, wrote a glowing recommendation about my presentation. Please go here to see her write-up.
On other news, prior to the speaking engagement, I had been rather preoccupied with several things, mostly having to do with speaking and blogging/writing.
On the writing side, I’ve been guest blogging for two well known bloggers, one of whom I’ve repeatedly mentioned here at Adversity University. The other is someone who I’ve begun to develop a new blogging relationship with.
If you’ve been with Adversity University for a while, you’ll recognize Phil, the relationship geek, from “Make It Great!” He recently asked me to fill in at his blog as a guest writer throughout the month of October along with another blogger from Canada (Benjamin Bach, The Wealth Builder Guy) to help with the workload. Phil needed to take a break from blogging so that he could focus on other, more pressing business and personal needs. I’ve already written a handful of articles for him, all of which you can see at Make It Great! (hint: look on the right side and you’ll see them under recent posts).
Alex Shalman is the new blogger friend who recently accepted my offer to guest blog for him once every two weeks. The first article was submitted just before I left for the speaking engagement. It was about having the courage to offend people. Sound interesting? Provocative perhaps? Check it out here.
Tomorrow, I will be back to normal and posting between 2 to 3 times a week beginning with a new article called ”People CAN Read Your Mind!”
Among other projects I have lined up for Adversity University are the following:
creation of a contact form that will appear on the top portion of every pagea new tab for professional speaking (with appropriate links for those who want to hire me as a speaker)- create online bookstore listing recommended books through Amazon
update previously existing links in articles that were brought over from the old blog (I have to go through each and every article to make sure the links in them are updated accordingly).
Well, that’s about it. Here’s the photo of me speaking at the InforSource headquarters in Fla. I’m trying to get another one in here, preferably up at the top but I’m still trying to figure out how to do that. Please bear with me!
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7:43 pm on October 18th, 2007 1
Hi Stephen – it was a great pleasure meeting you yesterday at InfoSource! I found your talk very inspiring, especially the message about having to accept yourself 100% before you can expect others to accept you. So simple, yet so true!
Wishing you continued success,
Zach Warrner
Marketing Manager
InfoSource Learning
4:05 am on October 19th, 2007 2
It sounds like your speaking engagement in Fla was a huge success, but success is your business, right? I am glad to hear that everything is going so well for you. Your new blog looks great as well. Keep on keeping on.
http://www.therotater.com
http://www.soupornuts.com
6:36 am on October 19th, 2007 3
Zach:
It was my pleasure meeting you as well! Thanks for your feedback in regards to my presentation. I enjoyed our chat in your office afterwards. It goes without saying that if we believe and accept ourselves, it makes it so much easier for others to do the same, especially if they aren’t sure what to make of you when they first meet you.
You have a great group of individuals working for InfoSource. I was fortunate to have met most of them in person before I returned home.
Stephen
6:40 am on October 19th, 2007 4
Hi Chris:
Yes, the speaking engagement did indeed go well. I always feel very grateful when I’m able to make the impact I did. The gratitude is deep and lasts for days afterwards.
You keep on keeping too.
Yes, you’re right, “Success” is my business. And I know it is for you as well!
P.S. I’m THRILLED that your “Rotater” is taking off. I love stories like yours.
I also love our weekly interactions that we seem to be having lately – either through my blog, your blog or via private emails. Did you know that the CEO of InfoSource now subscribes to your blog because of me?
Stephen
6:56 am on October 19th, 2007 5
Congrats on a great speaking engagement!
11:13 am on October 19th, 2007 6
The most important point in this article was “making a firm decision.”
Most of us are so afraid of rejection. But all that can happen is that someone can say “NO!”
We have to keep in mind that it is not us – it is them. They just don’t need what we have to offer.
Glad your presentation was such a great success. But, then as usual, “That’s right Stephen!”
11:45 am on October 19th, 2007 7
As the CEO at InfoSource Learning, and the guy who hired Stephen for a talk and some one-on-one pump-you-up time with members of our staff, I can’t tell you how much we all enjoyed listening to Stephen and learning from him.
He’s a wonderful entertainer with a message, and you come away genuinely enriched when you listen to him, as he’s more than just a fluffer-upper. He has a message (a whole bunch of them, actually) and he delivers it in a believable and meaningful way. This isn’t just some guy who has read about adversity and how to overcome it, he’s had it, done it, and lived it.
If you need a great speaker for your next event, I can’t recommend Stephen enough.
DM Werner
4:21 pm on October 19th, 2007 8
As the VP of sales at InfoSourdce Learning (an elearning company), our challenge is to motivate a bunch of very professional, but been there, done that, whats new account executives.
Stephen did that and a whole lot more. His inspiration and wonderful stories served to bring his messages to life, and inspired and moved our sales team.
His passion for the individual and desire to help touch as many people that he can-to motivate and inspire them (even if it just is to help them make that one tough decision), is very profound.
He is excellent!!
Tom Dalton
6:34 pm on October 19th, 2007 9
Hi Stephen,
thanks again for visiting InfoSource and inspiring our sales team. As the Training Coordinator at InfoSource Learning, I continually stress the importance of staying away from “attitude vampires” (as you so aptly refer to them) and thinking positively. I think the entire sales team was very inspired by what you’ve been able to achieve despite everything you’ve been through. You’re an excellent testament to the beauty of diversity. Keep doing what you’re doing!
Oneil
8:40 pm on October 19th, 2007 10
Michael Werner, Oneil Williams and Tom Dalton:
It was an absolute thrill to spend some quality time with everyone at InfoSource. I had a GREAT time and I’m so glad to know that I made a difference and that everyone not only enjoyed themselves but also enjoyed my stories.
I look forward to staying in touch with you at InfoSource!
8:43 pm on October 19th, 2007 11
Corrine:
You are 1000 percent right when you say rejection is not about us. It’s about them. Sometimes we have what others need, sometimes we don’t. Sometimes they think they don’t need what we offer and just need to be educated.
When I speak, I aim to educate, entertain and inspire so that people in the audience are willing to open their minds to let in whatever message they need to hear. There’s nothing more joyful than to watch eyes light up and recognition spread across people’s faces throughout a presentation. It’s really exciting!
Stephen
2:26 pm on October 22nd, 2007 12
When I was in my twenties (just a few short decades ago) I was exposed to some motivational speakers that included Zig Ziglar, Mark Victor Hansen, David Green. Stephen’s story speaks volumes on how to approach the rest of your life. His energy and commitment is inspirational. I’m just disappointed that my schedule did not aloow for me speaking with him one on one. Let’s hope their’s a next time!
2:59 pm on October 22nd, 2007 13
Chris!
It’s great to hear from you. I’m also sorry that we missed each other just prior to being taken back to the airport for my flight back home. I was also hoping to have an opportunity to meet with you one on one before going back home.
I’m sure that we’ll have another opportunity given the level of excitement that seems to have been generated by my visit to InfoSource last week. It should be interesting to see what happens in the coming weeks!
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and drop me a note and also for giving your own testimony about my presentation. I really, really enjoyed it and I’m glad you did too!
Stephen