How to Become a Motivational Speaker

There is a world full of people out there simply waiting for a hand to help steer them in the right direction. Motivational speakers offer people help in all areas of life, from weight loss and finances to business expertise and team building. If you have a passion for public speaking and an idea you know will change the way the masses think, the world of motivational speaking just might be for you.
Tips on Becoming a Motivational Speaker
1. Focus on communication and public speaking
2. Work with a mentor
3. Identify your special message
4. Find your niche
5. Begin writing your speech
6. Practice speaking in front of an audience
7. Promote and sell yourself to potential clients
8. Get out there and motivate

Introduction
- Are you driven by a powerful desire to help others find the path to their potential? Do you have a way with words that people easily connect with? For many people, public speaking is the bane of their existence, but some are born with powerful voices that, when applied to the right areas, can motivate others to do amazing things. Businesses and schools often hire motivational speakers to help employees and students get a jump-start on their goals.
- If you have expertise in a certain area, a special message to share, a knack for public speaking, and you enjoy motivating others to succeed, you may have what it takes to become a motivational speaker. Read on to learn more about the requirements needed to begin an exciting career with the potential to change lives.
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Step 1: Education
- While it is not necessary for motivational speakers to receive a college education, quite a few of them enter into the field of motivational speaking from various areas of the educational spectrum. Some may be former business students or liberal arts majors, while others hold degrees in psychology or sociology. There are no set educational requirements, but the more you know about the topics you plan to discuss, the more believable and inspirational your speeches will be. People are more likely to be motivated by someone who knows what they are talking about, than someone with little to no experience at all.Lifescript: Tips for Being a Motivational Speaker
- Here are a few helpful courses you might want to consider if you're planning to become a public speaker.
1. Psychology: a few basic psychology courses can teach you volumes about motivation.eHow: How to Become a Motivational Speaker
2. Public speaking: many colleges make public speaking a part of their general education criteria. This is a great opportunity to try your speaking skills out on your classmates and professors.
3. Business: if you are planning to become a business speaker, definitely hone up on your knowledge of the business world.Lifescript: Tips for Being a Motivational Speaker
4. Communications: courses in communications not only teach you how to communicate better, but offer communication skills you can pass on to your audience.
5. Creative writing/speech writing: writing courses will help you hone your speech writing skills.
6. Life experience: while this is not a course, it is something that you can rely on as a speaker. People are inspired by hearing how others overcame life's adversities.African Sisters: 10 Steps to a Job as a Motivational Speaker
- You may also want to look for a local Toastmasters Club in your area. Toastmasters is a non-profit organization that allows potential motivational speakers to gather together to practice and fine-tune their speaking skills.Toastmasters
Step 2: Finding a Mentor
- Mentors are the people who shape our interactions and lives through the benefit of their patience, experience and wisdom. Generally, a mentor is someone in your field of expertise who has already succeeded at what you would like to do. You can learn volumes from someone who has been where you are now, as they can steer you away from making the same mistakes they made and guide you onto the right path.
- Here are a few qualities you should look for in a mentor:
1. Expertise and previous success in your fieldAl Duncan: Al Duncan: Motivational Speaker
2. Motivational skills
3. Supportive and encouraging nature when it comes to your successes
Step 3: Preparing to Speak
- Motivational speakers come in all areas of expertise. Famous authors, government officials and company executives who have been around the block a few times are just a few of the types of people who are often hired to speak at events. Before you step out onto the stage, you may want to take some time to:
1. Identify your special message.WikiHow: How to Become a Motivational Speaker
2. Find your niche. Choose one area that you are passionate about and stick to it.African Sisters: 10 Steps to a Job as a Motivational Speaker Examples include:
  1. Weight loss
  2. Financial success
  3. Spiritual well-being
  4. Leadership
  5. Team building
3. Narrow down your target audience.African Sisters: 10 Steps to a Job as a Motivational Speaker
4. Outline your presentation and begin working on your speech.WikiHow: How to Become a Motivational Speaker African Sisters: 10 Steps to a Job as a Motivational Speaker
5. Practice your speeches on a willing audience to fine-tune them.
6. Start thinking about promotion.
Step 4: Promoting Yourself
- Promotion is the key to your success as a motivational speaker. The more well-known you are as a speaker, the better chance you have of being approached by businesses to speak. Until you start gaining momentum as a speaker, however, you'll probably need to proactively offer your services.A Total Waste: How to Become a Motivational Speaker As a master of motivation, you should have no problem persuading potential clients—but where do you begin?
1. Put together promotional packets.African Sisters: 10 Steps to a Job as a Motivational Speaker
  1. Demo DVD/VHS tape
  2. Information on your presentation material
  3. Presentation outlineWikiHow: How to Become a Motivational Speaker
  4. If you've written a book or had articles published, include themAl Duncan: Al Duncan: Motivational Speaker
2. Consider booking a room at a local hotel, library or school and speak for free.eHow: How to Become a Motivational Speaker
3. Advertise online and in local papers before you plan to speak.
4. Offer yourself to the press for interviews.A Total Waste: How to Become a Motivational Speaker
5. Start a blog and website and update it regularly with news and happenings.Al Duncan: Al Duncan: Motivational Speaker
6. Seek representation from a speaker's bureau, which can find you more or better speaking opportunities.African Sisters: 10 Steps to a Job as a Motivational Speaker
7. Solicit endorsement from others who have established themselves in your field.eHow: How to Become a Motivational Speaker
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Conclusion
- In their own right, motivational speakers are salesmen, and the products you are selling are your ideas. An educational background in public speaking, business or psychology will help you advance towards your goal of motivating the world, while a mentor will support and assist you in fine-tuning your message. Once you polish your skills and step up to the plate, the world will gladly listen to your tips and advice on how to achieve their goals. Be sure to offer yourself to the media, and remember that every time you speak to a potential client you are selling yourself and your ideas.
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