Motivational speakers should motivate an audience. Though this may seem like a redundant statement, all too often it is an oxymoron. The sad truth is there are too many motivational speakers who are unable to motivate an audience.

If you are booking a meeting, conference or other event and you are in the market for motivational speakers your first obligation is to make sure that the speaker has the charisma and experience to motivate an audience. How do you do that? Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words and a video is worth a billion!

First and foremost you should discard any motivational speakers who do not provide video clips of their events. Good motivational speakers will want you to witness with your own eyes how they can capture the attention of an audience, maintain that attention and turn it into motivation.

Every motivational speaker should have a website, without exception. The website should include all the relevant information about the speaker and their history, client roster, contact information, etc. Though this is all quite important, the most important thing is the website should include video!

Motivational speakers should be confident enough in their abilities that they proudly display video clips for you to review. They want to motivate you to call them. If their video clips do not motivate you to want to speak to them, then their presentation will not motivate your audience.

When you are watching video clips you want to pay more attention to the audience than the speaker. You want to see whether or not the audience has been engaged by the speaker and whether or not they are able to hold the attention of that audience.

The best motivational speakers are charismatic, funny, intelligent and above all else – motivational! Make sure when you are looking for a speaker that you choose one that will motivate your audience.

Doing your homework upfront can help you choose the right motivational speaker. Their role is crucial at any event. Create your short list of potential speakers and contact them. See who is the most flexible to deal with, is within your budget and shows you enough charisma to motivate you hire them as your motivational speaker.

I’ll be hosting an Emotional Intelligence Seminar specifically for sales professionals with Joelle Hadley, founder of the Emotional Intelligence Institute. Come learn why emotionally intelligent salespeople outsell others by 20-40%. Learn in Paradise at the beautiful Sanctuary Resort on Camelback. October 14th. Visit www.alwaysbemarketingandselling.com/registration for more information.

A few weeks ago I decided to take a road trip to Las Vegas. I had never driven there, but I wanted to check on the progress of the new bridge that was being constructed over the Hoover dam. Before we departed on the return trip, I decided to ask the valet guy at the hotel for directions for a way to bypass the hotel. The guy was so helpful with over the top service that I decided to give him a copy of my book. My travel partner and I noticed that he started shaking and seemed really nervous. He then told me that he was already reading my book and had recently ordered it on Amazon. He knew it was me by my picture on the back of the book. I gave him a signed copy and thanked him for his amazing service. You just never know who you will meet!

The economy truly sucks and there is nothing I can do about it. I know people keep saying it’s getting better, but as I look at my friends who are out of work and searching for their purpose in life, I have one word of advice. Stay focused on your fitness. One thing all experts agree upon is fitness, as it reduces stress, anxiety and your waist line. Before you go on that next job interview, I recommend you go to the gym first and put in a power workout to clear your mind, boost your energy & elevate your mood.

I believe the most important thing you can articulate in an interview is your value proposition. You can do this by demonstrating what value you brought to your previous employer and how that value will translate to your role in the new organization. No matter where you are in your career, take the time to evaluate what strengths you bring to your employer (or potential employer). It’s worth your time!

Over the next few weeks, I will be on the road taking the Power of Ignition to a variety of cities, including Dallas, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Palm Beach and Jacksonville. I’m most excited about my visit presentation to the Southern Illinois University – Carbondale for a leadership conference. Earlier this year, I spoke at the National Collegiate Leadership Conference. I quickly realized we will be in good hands, as our future graduates have raised the bar of excellence in leadership. Academic institutions from around the world are participating in providing programs that develop student leaders for both the private and public sectors of our society.

The professional keynote speaker you choose is important. The right keynote speaker is the centerpiece for your entire event. The wrong professional keynote speaker can leave your audience feeling flat and uninspired.

Choosing the right professional keynote speaker has gotten much easier over the last few years. Online video clips, testimonials and audio clips have completely transformed how event and conference planners find the right speaker for their organization.

You know more about your organization than anyone else. You know what will and will not work. As you research potential keynote speakers you want to keep in mind your audience and make sure you choose the professional keynote speaker that will engage them, entertain them and inspire them.

YouTube, Google video searches and Yahoo video searches are a great way to begin your research. Watch video of the speakers and find one that has the right personality traits and presentation for your target audience. Remember, what is right for one organization may not be right for yours. Watch as many video clips as the speaker has in order to get a good sense of his or her personality and presentation skills.

Research the speakers name as well. If there name appears in very few places online, chances are they are not yet an established professional keynote speaker. If you “google” their name and you find them mentioned on many blogs and websites you can feel more confident in their experience level.

See if the speaker offers a list or partial list of the companies that they have worked with. This can help you understand their experience level and to some extent their overall quality. The more company names that are recognizable on the list the more established the professional keynote speaker may be.

Use the web contact forms or contact phone numbers and call the speakers and get a sense of how willing they are to work with your needs. You want to choose a professional keynote speaker that understands the importance of connecting with your audience. If they seem inflexible they are not the right choice for you.

There are many professional keynote speakers available. To choose the right one spend some time reviewing their video clips and client roster and try set up a call with them. Doing a little homework upfront can help you choose the best possible professional keynote speaker for your organization.