The book is about (an excerpt from Goodman’s website: www.moneyanswers.com): “The world of borrowing and debt management has changed dramatically, leaving people confused about how best to secure their financial future. This book is the only guide with detailed advice to help you become debt-free or master the debt you have, based on the latest laws and new government programs and policies implemented under the Obama administration.”

I have heard Jordan Goodman deliver his keynote speech several times and think he is one of the best financial professional speakers I’ve heard. He is VERY thorough and gives a valuable list of financial websites & phone numbers. He also shares priceless financial information he has collected during his lengthy thrity-year financial career (including 18 years as a reporter/writer/editor at MONEY Magazine). Goodman has authored 13 highly-regarded personal-finance books during his career. He has also served as a regular commentator for NBC News at Sunrise and Mutual Broadcasting System’s America in the Morning. Today, Goodman appears regularly on many national, regional and local radio shows, as well as on TV programs on Fox, CNN, CBS, CNBC, and MSNBC.

For more information on Jordan Goodman or if you’d like to inquire about him speaking to your organization, contact FIVE STAR.

- Sarah Whitten, Marketing Director, FIVE STAR Speakers & Trainers

Right now, states are facing budget crunches of significant proportions. Even educators with the best attitudes and the most success need some reassurance, motivation and direction to weather this storm.

In the midst of the financial crisis, will the educational keynote speaker budget fall victim to the red-ink ax? It will be a very big temptation to make the short-term cut when dollars are tight. As a speakers bureau, FIVE STAR is certainly not an unbiased party, but I do believe that if at all possible, the speaker should be brought in for the sake of the teachers and education leaders. Maybe some creative financing is in order — can educators partner with sponsors from the local community, for example?

The bottom line is that educators are being asked to give up a lot when they become teachers. Give them the motivation they need to tap into some of those ideals they had in the beginning. Give them the content they need to reach students and produce more with less. Give them the opportunity to meet with their colleagues and professionally grow.

Challenge: The economic downturn of the past 18 months has had a significantly negative  impact on conference  in-person attendance. Declines have been reported of 30 percent or more for 2009, so many association executives are justifiably nervous about 2010 events.  They know that the right keynote speaker can prove to be a significant draw, but how are they going to pay for it? Sponsorship dollars have declined at the time they are needed most.

Solution: One option to consider is hybrid conferencing technology. Organizations can now simultaneously stream educational sessions, keynote addresses, product demonstrations, meetings, and any other form of an event live over the internet to an interactive virtual audience. Online attendees see the entire event along with the live audience and have the ability to raise their hands, participate in discussions, chat with the moderator, ask questions, respond to polls and surveys, and partake in classroom interaction.

With increased “virtual” attendance offsetting some of the losses, dollars can be used to secure talent that is a draw.

Extending live content over the Internet with hybrid conferencing has proven to boost overall attendance by 20 to 25 percent on average, increasing revenue, extending reach of message, adding value, and providing more convenient access for participants who cannot attend in person.

The cost for hybrid events depends on location and requirements.

These topics are certainly important and can measurably increase productivity and boost morale. However, these topics are also usually delivered at a lower price point than keynotes in a more ‘male” domain such as strategic business development.

Studies now show that woman are highly effective managers, often scoring higher than male counterparts. Woman are routinely top sales producers. Currently more woman graduate from college than males and more woman are business owners than ever before.

So woman have made progress in almost every professional area except that the fact remains … it is still hard to find a a good woman motivational speaker who has the background and gravitas to handle senior-level work.

Happily, FIVE STAR Speakers sees this trend beginning to quickly change. Female leaders with significant backgrounds in corporations, politics, creative fields, and entrepreneurs are sharing their stories — and they are being heard by both male and female audiences.

Perhaps in a short time, we’ll be less concerned about the gender of the keynote speaker because the number of female leadership speakers will more closely match the general population of female professionals. When that happens, I think we’ll all benefit by being able to choose the very best match based on the content of the message.

My financial friend is absolutely right about my job reflecting the mood of the country. Two years ago I almost never received a request for an economic keynote speaker … but immediately following the economic meltdown of 2008, economists were all the rage. In the boom days of the housing bubble, requests poured in for celebrity speakers or someone to make the event “special.” Lately, I receive fewer requests from buyers needing a VIP and more who claim they need  ROI.

Now the” new normal” has set in and we’re ready to be motivated. We are ready to laugh a little more. We are ready to be inspired.

In the age of ROI, an inspirational speaker makes a lot of sense. People are doing more with less and they still are feeling shaky about the future.There are just so many reasons to be afraid, so many reasons to be divided. A little inspiration may be in order.

Someone who has faced something worse than you face now gives you the courage to climb your own metaphorical mountains.  Humans have always responded to inspirational leaders. Over the ages they have given us the ability to dig deep within ourselves and do more.  Think of some of the best leaders in history — they were inspirational story tellers and their words inspired men (and women) throughout history to rise above their circumstances and triumph again … and you can take that to the bank!

Ironically the same can be said of CEO speakers. Some are great at commanding respect at their companies but can’t hold the attention of an audience.

What both the sports star and the CEO have in common is that their story is just that — their story. It may be inspiring but if the goal is to help the sales troops sell more or for front-line workers to do more or for managers to do more with less, something may be lost in translation between that great story and the tactical results you want to see after the meeting.

What can you do?

First, recognize the fact that whenever you look for a keynote speaker, you need to do more than review the references and video. It helps to have a more neutral 3rd party to guide you through the process. There are dozens of resources to help you do this and usually at no cost to the buyer. Of course, our shameless plug is that we hope you chose FIVE STAR to help guide the selection process but even if you don’t, be careful about making this decision without professional help.

The athlete you want to book would not be a star without the support of an entire team of dedicated professionals. You can learn from their example and be a stronger star by using all the tools available to help you make the best match for your motivational speaker.

What is the expectation for how speakers respond when attendees can quickly disagree with their message? We’ve all been in a meeting when one attendee dominated the conversation with questions and comments that were not relevant to the group. How much leeway the meeting leader allows tells everyone else present to either expect a great experience or gives permission to tune out since it no longer matters to them.

The same is true with social media. Already there are some speakers who welcome real-time text input on the platform from attendees. Other than the initial “cool” factor to watch the give and take, don’t we run the risk of having the discussion go seriously sideways if it is not carefully controlled?

The Pandora’s box once opened it impossible to shut, and there is no happy ending of trapping hope inside like in the original Greek tale.

Motivational speakers are going to find that Social Media may not matter much if it is just used for free publicity. It does hold huge potential and probable discourse by allowing others to actively and publicly comment about your message. As an attendee – what do you have to say? As a speaker – how are you prepared to respond? The why of social media has been established. Now we all focus on the how.

In Collapse of Distinction, Scott McKain asserts that being “Good Enough” will not cut in today’s business climate. He believes it is imperative that every business engages their clients at a deeper level than ever before.

Business Speaker Scott McKain writes “If you cannot find it within yourself to become emotional, committed, engaged, and yes, fervent about differentiation, then you had better be prepared to take your place among that vast throng of the mediocre who are judged by their customers solely on the basis of price. It is the singularly worst place to be in all of business. If you aren’t willing to create distinction for yourself in your profession — and for your organization in the marketplace — then prepare to take your seat in the back, with the substantial swarm of the similar, where tedium reigns supreme.”

Scott will challenge all levels of your organization about being passionately distinctive. He will show your organization on how being distinctive will separate you from your competition and give you a significant advantage over them.

To buy Scott McKain’s book Collapse of Distinction: Stand out and move up while your competition fails click here!

To learn more about Motivational Business Speaker Scott McKain’s program visit his web page.

To book Motivational Business Speaker Scott McKain for you next meeting or event contact FIVE STAR Speakers @ 913.648.6480 or http://www.fivestarspeakers.com.

www.fivestarspeakers.com

On November 19, 2009, Leadership Keynote Speaker Joel Zeff was a featured keynote speaker at 2009 Fall Leadership Keynote Speaker Showcase presented live by FIVE STAR Speakers. He was one of 16 keynote speakers featured during the day presenting on topics that will grow your business, create inspirational leadership, and engaged employees and customers.

Joel is the author of Make the Right Choice: Creating a Positive, Innovative and Productive Work Life which helps the leaders to create an energetic, passionate, and productive work environment.  Joel utilizes his improvisational training as a keynote speaker to communicate his ideas in a fun and humorous manner that helps organization create an productive work environment. Joel helps leaders and their teams to make the right choice by communicating more effective to deliver better results.

Joel’s keynotes are ideal for senior leaders and their teams.

To buy Leadership Keynote Speaker Joel Zeff’s new book: Make the Right Choice: Creating a Positive, Innovative and Productive Work Life click here!

To learn more about Joel Zeff’s programs visit his web page.

To book Joel Zeff contact FIVE STAR Speakers @ 913.648.6480 or www.fivestarspeakers.com.

www.fivestarspeakers.com

On November 19, 2009, Motivational Business Speaker Frank Keck was a featured keynote speaker at 2009 Fall Leadership Keynote Speaker Showcase presented live by FIVE STAR Speakers. He was one of 16 keynote speakers featured during the day presenting on topics that will grow your business, create inspirational leadership, and engaged employees and customers.

Motivational Business Speaker Frank Keck spoke about embracing your freakness in your organization and creating significant growth and fantastic bottom-line results. Frank Keck is keynote speaker who focuses on improving your leadership, orgnizational effectivenes, and bottom-line results.  Frank highlights the day he met Patch Adams and how it impacted him and how it can impact your ability to grow and develop your organization.  Frank will provide techniques and strategies that will improve the morale of your teams and increase organizational effectiveness.  His programs focus on three concepts: Positive Attitude & Self-Confidence, Vision & Leadership, and Relationships & Service.

Frank is ideal as a keynote speaker for senior leaders or their team.

To learn more about Frank Keck’s programs visit his web page.

To book Motivational Business Speaker Frank Keck for your next event or meeting, contact FIVE STAR Speakers at 913.648.6480 or http://www.fivestarspeakers.com.