S*T*O*P to Create a Powerful Presentation Introduction

Going for Motivation not Pep

Earlier this week, a daylong event was held at the Honda Center in Anaheim. I had seen ads for the event throughout the preceding month. The line up of speakers was incredible: Colin Powell, Condolezza Rice, Michael Phelps and more. The price was even more incredible. Only $5 for the entire day. I wasn’t able to attend but I was interested to hear how the entire event went. I was happy to find a follow-up story on the front page of Friday’s paper. I was stunned to read the article. While I wasn’t surprise to learn the crowd for the event was huge, I was shocked to read the short-term results of the whole thing. First, I learned the promoters offered seminars between speakers. The seminars were offered for $49.95. Not too bad a price and the subjects were relevant since most dealt with personal finance. These seminars were well attended, not a big surprise. I was disappointed that the focus of the event was the seminars. These were the moneymakers for the promoters. The main speakers were just the enticement to get people in the door.

The problem was with the main speakers. While they motivated the crowd during the event, when individuals were interviewed for the article a few days later, people had to admit the uplifting affects had only lasted as long as the event. Those interviewed did not believe they had received any information that impacted their lives and could be used over the long term. People attended the event because they are discouraged with life right now and they hoped to gain information to turn things around. Unfortunately, this did not happen.
The good news is, I learned a lot about speakers, speaking and events as I read the article. The article reinforced some things I already believed and brought to light some things I had never considered. The first thing I thought as I read the article is the difference between a motivational presentation and a pep talk. A pep talk is what the coach give the team just before the big game. It helps pump them up to go out there and succeed. A pep talk assumes the audience already knows what they must do to succeed. It’s sole purpose is to energize the audience to use that knowledge effectively. While a pep talk is energizing, it’s effects do not last. Before the next game, it is necessary for the coach to pump everyone up again. And the game after that, and the game after that.

A motivational presentation offers the audience information they can apply to their lives, gives them a course of action and calls them to take action. The presentation has the motive of changing lives.  While a pep talk seems more impressive, the motivational presentation offers longer lasting results. The pep talk focuses on right now. The motivational presentation focuses on the future… and on the audience. I often feel the pep talk focuses too much on the speaker and not their information. It seems the whole attraction is simply the opportunity to hear a well-know individual. What they have to say may be inspiring but the good feeling is gone by the next morning.

All that being said, I realized it is necessary to S*T*O*P when you are preparing a presentation to insure you are offering motivation and not simply pep.