Several days ago, I received a call from a friend of mine stating I needed to contact him immediately. He was in Las Vegas and was meeting with one of his associates. The associate told him that he had gone to a concert at the Foundation Room and had the opportunity to meet the featured artist Sarah Thiele. The associate and his wife developed a relationship with Sarah. Their conversations centered on the discussion of the power of music and how it’s related to synchronicity. Sarah decided to send him copy of a book, titled Focused Synergy. A few weeks later, the associate met up with my friend and shared his story along with the discussions he had with Sarah. He told him that Sarah sent him a book called Focused Synergy that related music to everyday living. My friend asked him if the author was Robert Van Arlen and his response was yes it is. The call I received once again confirms that there are zero degrees of separation, when you are aware of what’s going on around you.
You Never Know Who You’ll Meet
January 26th, 2010Can I get a recommendation?
January 22nd, 2010I’m currently reviewing several new books and want to know what you’re reading that you believe can make a difference for someone else. Each year I develop a list for my clients based not just on my recommendations but from others. I appreciate your help and will be posting the list. Thanks in advance and send your recommendations to me personally at robert@robertvanarlen.com.
New Year, New Goals
January 20th, 2010I love the New Year 
because it’s like renewal and gives us the opportunity to establish calendar year goals. I started setting mine last year and I heard something new that I’m going to try this year. The concept centers on a new way of manifesting your goals. Yes, you should have a vision board because it’s important for you to see your goals daily and during the day. But this concept goes to another level where you develop a network of like-minded people or friends that you can talk to about your goals as if you’ve already achieved them. For example, if your goal is purchase a new car, you might say to someone in your network that you are going to drive over in your new car. It sounds pretty simple, but the mind is an interesting thing and has the power to supercharge you into way you want to live. Don’t be afraid to set goals that are big and audacious. If you do, you have the opportunity to achieve them, but if you don’t, guess what…you’ll never have that satisfaction!
Motivational Speakers Provide Momentum
December 15th, 2009Energy. Inspiration. Thought Leading. These are all qualities a great motivational speaker must possess when addressing the masses. Today’s new corporate world is always looking for ways to motivate their employees to keep them engaged and performing well. In a tough economy, a motivational speaker is well worth the money spent if it pays off with employees that are happy to be at work each day.
A motivational speaker needs to be credible on the topic and talk from the heart in order to capture his audience. Before talking to a corporation, the speaker needs to meet with company leaders and develop a targeted message. Perhaps employees need a boost during a down time. Maybe they have lost sight of the company’s mission. Some companies want to reward their employees by recognizing them, and a motivational speaker can assist in singing those praises.
Some companies plan annual retreats that allow the employees to bond better with each other and discover their talents. A motivational speaker is a great way to cap off such an event, building upon the training that has occurred and teaching the audience how to take it to the next level. A great speaker will create that lasting impression that leads the group to seize the opportunity. That sort of inspiration will boost morale as well as help the employees make their goals.
Many times the leadership of the company needs to undergo more training and development. A motivational speaker is a fantastic way to rejuvenate stale thinking. Leaders need encouragement just as much as those underneath them and it is proven that successful leaders are open to suggestion and change. A motivational speaker looks at the goals of the company and studies its mission before helping them undertake these changes. What makes a great speaker is that he will understand the culture and help them realize the goals. An interactive speaker helps from all aspects, from marketing and sales, to resolving issues, to creating better customer service.
While not all motivational speakers are experts in all areas, it is important to find one that has a common ground with the company. This speaker will find a way to convey the message that is fun and thought provoking, ultimately helping the company improve.
Staying Fit and Focused on the Road
November 24th, 2009As much as I travel, I’m often asked how do I stay fit. A
few months ago, I decided to take my workout to another level. I also watch what I eat, while on the road. The biggest breakthrough is the unique program I found that incorporates tires as an integarl part of the workout. It has improved my balance, agility and personal focus. I call it the green fitness program because tires are being reused. It has put me into a zone where I can physically do things today that I have not been able to accomplish in over 20 years. When I’m home in Phoenix, I attend the 5:30 am class on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. My recommendations are if you want to see change in your life, change your attitude and make a commitment. This new lifestyle has transformed me both mentally and physically. I love it!
Professional Keynote Speakers Inspire Today’s Businesses
November 20th, 2009Today’s corporations, non-profits, and even smaller businesses are looking for ways to motivate employees, in the hopes it improves performance. Using a professional keynote speaker has become an important part of company meetings and celebrations. That person is responsible for connecting with his audience, making his approach one that they will carry forward.
A professional motivational speaker needs to have several qualities in order to make that connection:
- A common bond. Perhaps the speaker has had a previous work experience in the corporate world, or has served on a board of major non-profit. Perhaps he has started businesses and sold them, and has immense entrepreneurial tips to share.
- A sense of humor. It doesn’t matter how skilled someone is or how well respected he is in his particular business circles. If a professional keynote speaker can’t keep the audience engaged, then nothing is gained. A sense of humor allows everyone to poke fun at their situation and lighten up. Businesses will gain employee respect when can look at this side of the fence. A sense of humor doesn’t mean the speaker should be Robin Williams, but he does need to be fun.
- An inspirational side. The professional keynote speaker needs to rally the troops, so to speak, and give them something to believe in. This gives a team something to connect with, to strive for, and to better them in. Perhaps the speaker has faced an adverse situation and learned greatly from it – someone in the company may have faced a similar situation and immediately connects. All it takes is one powerful statement to make an effect.
- A new way of thinking. The leaders of the company need to work with the professional keynote speaker to have that person add new tricks to the bag. It may be trying new technology, or new businesses techniques, but it could also be aiding the employees in thinking about the way they perform in a different light. An engaging speaker will be able to put the fire back in their bellies for personal and professional improvement.
A company of any size should consider the power a professional keynote speaker at their next corporate gathering. While the business leader may be a dynamic person on their own, a fresh set of words with audience interaction is sometimes the best medicine to keeping a company on track.
Primal Fitness Training Provides the Ultimate Teambuilding Experience
October 22nd, 2009I’m excited to announce a new corporate team building program. Amen Iseghohi, the guru of Primal Fitness, and I are working together to ignite team excellence in a way that is unique and innovative. This program provides participants with the tools necessary for self motivation, combined with a primal workout that unites a team to excel over the top. I’ve seen unprecedented results and know anyone who joins me will too!
The Importance of the After Dinner Speaker
October 21st, 2009For event planners, the importance of an after dinner speaker cannot be overstated. Typically the after dinner speaker is the cornerstone of the evening’s festivities and guests are expecting a very good speaker.
What makes someone a good after dinner speaker? The right person is able to entertain, inspire and engage the audience. The after dinner speaker should be interactive, keeping the audience and making them part of the entire evening.
Far too many events flop because the event planner chooses a boring, or uninspiring after dinner speaker. With the Internet at our fingertips there is no reason for that to happen. If an after dinner speaker is serious about their industry they will offer video clips highlighting their skills.
You want to find someone that you believe can capture your audience’s attention immediately and keep it. The inability of a speaker to do that will result in you losing your audience intellectually and possibly even physically as they get up and walk out of the room.
Experienced event planners know that the measure of success is how the evening ends. You want to end on a high note. If the audience becomes bored, or is not engaged in the after dinner presentation then you failed to plan a good event, you merely planned a dinner party.
When choosing the after dinner speaker make sure you understand their planned presentation as well. You will want to ensure it is aligned with the goals and objectives of the evening. You should tell them which topics are off limits and who can and who should not be mentioned by name or called out to participate.
It is up to the event planner to prepare the after dinner speaker with this important information. Some executives are good sports and enjoy being part of a presentation while others do not. Also, there may be some hot button topics for the audience that the after dinner speaker will not be aware of so it is essential that you make them aware of those topics.
The more homework you do upfront and the more information you provide the after dinner speaker the greater the chances for success. Remember, your goal is to plan a complete event and that means choosing the right after dinner speaker.
Focusing on Fitness
October 20th, 2009Rarely do things impact me in a way that truly changes or improves my life, but for the past month I have been working out in a new program called the AmenZone. It is a primal fitness program created by a good friend of mine, Amen Iseghohi. This program has enabled me to bring back all the past activities I used to enjoy when I was younger. What’s amazing is the high level to which I can once again participate in golf, tennis, running and basketball…it matches the level in my 20’s. The other great thing is that it does not require any fancy equipment. I invite you to learn about the power of the AmenZone. Visit www.amenZone.net.
Finding the Right Motivational Speaker
October 10th, 2009As an event planner for over 15 years, I know the importance of finding a good motivational speaker for a conference. The performance of that speaker can make or break an event and weigh heavily on whether or not the client thinks the event was successful or not.
Over the years there have been motivational speakers who were only able to motivate the audience to nap, and others that thought yelling equated to motivating. There were those that were funny but not overly motivational and those that were serious, dry and left the audience wanting some excitement.
Fortunately, you learn from your mistakes and you start to realize that taking a little extra time to research and learn about a motivational speaker will help things go much more smoothly.
Fifteen years ago when I started in this business there was no Internet to speak of. Or at least if there was, I was not aware of it. You relied on word of mouth and hoped for the best. As the Internet gained in popularity my industry changed. We are now able to see photos, videos, reviews and commentary. There is no excuse for not doing our homework.
When I am considering a motivational speaker for an event the first thing I do is consider my audience and what type of person will they respond most to. Typically people respond best to someone who is engaging, polished, funny, and entertaining. It may sound like a tall order, but it is not.
I typically go to YouTube and search for motivational speakers and watch video clips. When I find the names of speakers I go to their websites and try to find more information, photos and video clips. While I watch the video clips I try to notice what the audience is doing. If I see an audience that is engaged then I know I have found a good motivational speaker.
From there I do some more homework and try to find out what organizations the speaker has worked with, ask for referrals and do Google and Yahoo searches for there name to find out more information. I do my homework so I can be confident that I am choosing the right motivational speaker.