Rulon Gardner Named #2 Greatest Individual Sports Upset Ever by Fox Sports

In these tough economic times, wouldn’t it be great to get someone who has done the impossible to motivate your employees? To get them to push past the bleak financial news, the layoffs, the increased workloads and really do something great for your company?

Motivational speaker and Olympic Gold Medalist Rulon Gardner was just named #2 on a Fox Sports list of Top 10 Greatest Individual Sports Upsets Ever–he might be the guy you’re looking for. He was listed behind Buster Douglas and aheah of Yang–who just upset Tiger Woods. Yes, THAT, Tiger Woods.

What makes Gardner’s story so great? Well, for starters, he won a Gold Medal. A pretty amazing achievement in its own right, but when you consider that he won that Gold Medal against 3-time Gold Medalist Alexander Karelin–who had not been defeated in international competition in 13 years, who was nicknamed “the Siberian Tiger,” “the Russian Bear,” “King Kong,” and, my personal favorite, “the Experiment” for his powerfully muscled physique and punishing wrestling style (his signature move was to throw opponents on their head–risking neck and spinal fractures). Still not convinced that this was a David v. Goliath worthy matchup? Gardner grew up on a dairy farm, didn’t win a high school wrestling match in his tiny WY town until his senior year and was shaped like a teddy bear.

Ready to make that booking? Send me an email at DanielleMarquis@marquisathletes.com. Mention you saw this blog post, and I’ll give you a 20% discount.

-Danielle, Owner & Sports Agent, Marquis Athletes, LLC

Motivational Speakers for your Financial Services Company

In the current economic climate, your financial services company is probably looking for some motivation. At Marquis Athletes, LLC, we’ve been working with John Hancock Financial Services for years. Rulon Gardner has performed hundreds of speeches on behalf of John Hancock to various financial services companies–Morgan Stanley, UBS, Merril Lynch and others. These events are always well attended because the clients and potential clients want to meet Rulon, and follow up is facilitated by the signed photos and autographed books. If your company is interested in working with Rulon, contact us today at info@marquisathletes.com. We offer long-term, multi-unit discount deals and would be happy to work with your meeting planners to create memorable, profitable events for your clients and staff!

Why You Should Hire Motivational Speakers (even when the economy isn’t doing so well)

Listen, the economy isn’t doing very well right now. I understand. I see the doom and gloom on the news every night, just like you do. You’re probably having a hard time rationalizing why you should spend the money on a top motivational speaker right now–fair enough. We’re all cutting back.

But here’s the thing–at times like these, when the economy isn’t doing well, when your employees are worried about hitting sales targets, these are the times you NEED a motivational speaker. You need someone who can fire up your team, who can inspire with tales of how they overcame adversity. This investment now will pay big dividends for your company’s financial well-being, as well as for your employee’s morale.

Plus, I’m running all sorts of specials right now to lure customers in…just send me an email (DanielleMarquis@marquisathletes.com) and mention that you heard about the specials on this blog, or sign up for our newsletter on the website.

Olympic Themed Corporate Events

You’re the meeting planner for your company–or someone who has never planned a meeting before, but suddenly this role was thrust upon you–and you have a corporate event planned…now all you need is a venue, a theme and a motivational speaker. Freaking out?! I can’t help you with the venue part, but I can help you with the theme and the motivational speaker part.

Since 2008 is an Olympic year, how about an Olympic theme? The Beijing Games recently ended and the Olympics are foremost in everyone’s mind–especially since it was some of the first new programming to hit the TV in months due to the writer’s strike. With all the themes of goal-setting and achievement the Olympics embody, this is a great theme for a corporate event. You could bring in an Olympic speaker (like Olympic Gold and Bronze Medalist Rulon Gardner), set up 5 breakout groups to work on specific skill sets (to coincide with the 5 Olympic rings, get it?!), even do a fun team building event (i.e., The Corporate Olympics). We’ve had past customers do team boat races (with one team–who had performed the best in the earlier breakout sessions–winning the right to have the Olympian speaker on their team!) and team bicycle assembly competitions (the bikes were then donated to a local charity). Since the Olympics were in Beijing this past summer, you could have your meeting catered with Chinese food.

Has your company done an Olympic Themed Corporate Event in the past? What did you do? What worked, what didn’t? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

Do Your Clients Ever Do Free Events?

“Hi, my name is John Doe and I’m calling from XYZ. We’re a non-profit/small corporation/school group and we were wondering, do your clients ever do events for free?”

 I get some variation of this phone call several times per day, and the short answer is, “No.” All of our clients are professional motivational speakers, and they have retired from the professional sport they participated in. Speaking is their job, so they charge for it. We have speakers in a variety of fee ranges and certain speakers offer reduced-fee speeches for schools, community groups, etc. but we do not offer free events. Our speakers are excellent and you won’t be disappointed! They are worth every penny they charge.

How To Hire The Right Corporate Speaker

Hiring corporate speakers can be a gamble—it’s expensive, and you don’t always know whether it will work. But, the right speaker combined with the right corporate program is a powerful combination. Choose wisely and your employees will leave the speech inspired, not scratching their heads, wondering what you were thinking wasting their valuable time. Here are some tips to make sure you choose the right corporate speaker:

 

1.      Open the lines of communication between your audience (i.e., staff, management, consumers, etc.) and your event planner, as well as between your event planner and your corporate speaker. Often an audience will feel a speaker missed the mark when the speaker was simply a poor fit for the audience. This is an internal branding issue that can be avoided by listening to what your audience wants and what your speaker delivers.

a.       Does your audience need a motivational speaker to give a pep talk or a technical speaker to explain your latest product’s niche in the marketplace?

2.      Don’t work backwards from the date of the company’s annual meeting to find the first speaker within your budget who is available. Instead, plan ahead. Figure out what your company is doing right, what it’s doing wrong and what you want to improve on going into your function. Then, find an expert on your topic that meets those goals.

3.      Once you’ve identified your goals and found a speaker who can work within them, do your due diligence. Talk with the speaker (or their representative), ask whatever questions you have, request marketing materials and a sample speech DVD, ask for references and talk with them. Ask the speaker what their strong point is (they will know and they will tell you! If you look at any past customer testimonials, they will probably repeat the same things over and over as well.) As with any major purchase, this due diligence should separate the true professionals from the folks you will waste money on.

4.      Don’t dismiss a speaker simply because they don’t have a ton of experience! Everyone has to start somewhere, and speakers who are relatively new to the circuit often have discounted prices. As long as the speaker checks out when you do your due diligence, you should have nothing to worry about.

5.      Once you’ve selected a speaker, figure out approximately what their total cost will be. This may not be possible with all speakers, especially if your event is far in advance, but most should be able to give you a rough estimate. Do they require first class travel or coach? For one person or two? Where do they live? What happens if they’re going from your event to another? Do you split travel expenses with the other group?

6.      During your event, carefully monitor the reactions and impressions of the audience. Is the speaker engaging and including the audience? How is the audience reacting to the speaker? Are members of the audience nodding, giving responses to questions, laughing? Does the speaker span the audience and make eye contact with the group? Is the audience fully alert and attentive to the speaker? What do you personally think of the speaker? Is the speaker meeting the criteria you established? Is the discussion easy to follow and effective?

Motivational Business Speakers Yahoo! Group

This is a group for meeting and event planners seeking motivational business speakers who are also professional athletes. Join by clicking here now!

Client Info: Jon Turk

A 59-year old Ph.D. in Chemistry who spends his time writing Earth Science textbooks and embarking on amazing adventures, Jon Turk is not your ordinary grandfather. Jon has climbed previously unnamed rock walls and high peaks, mountain biked across the Mongolian Gobi, was one of two mushers to travel along the South and East coasts of Baffin Island, and he sea kayaked around Cape Horn and across the Pacific Ocean (Japan to Alaska). Jon shares with his audience how he uses fear to face obstacles in life and on his journeys and how managing your own fear, not overcoming it, can help you to achieve what others deem impossible.

Speech Topic: “Fear Management”

Categories: Athlete Endorsements; Athlete Personal Appearances; Business Meetings; Business Speakers; Casino Appearances; Celebrity Autograph Signing; Celebrity Infomercials; Celebrity Speakers; Celebrity Spokesperson; Celebrity Voiceover; College Speakers; Commencement Speakers; Conference Speakers; Conventions and Trade Shows; Corporate Conventions; Corporate Hospitality Functions; Corporate Speakers; Educational Lectures; Emcees; Event Hosts; Fundraising Events; Graduation Speakers; Grand Openings; Incentive Programs; Inspirational Speakers; International Speakers; Keynote Speakers; Master of Ceremonies; Motivational Speakers; Office Parties; Peak Performance Speakers; Presentations; Press Conferences; Private Parties; Product Launches; Professional Athletes; Professional Speakers; Public Awareness Campaigns; Public Speakers; Sales Promotions; Sales Seminars; Sports Fantasy Camps; Sports Marketing; Sports Personalities; Sports Public Relations; Sports Speakers; University Speakers; VIP Meet and Greets

Fees: $2,000-$5,000 plus travel expenses; Multi-event discounts available; Last minute specials available; Low-fee events for schools and community groups available, please contact us for details

Traveling From: Missoula, MT

Client Info: Shane Hamman

Shane Hamman has competed in weightlifting at the Sydney and Athens Olympic Games. Considered the “Strongest Man in America,” he holds three American records in his weight class, and in 1999 became the first U.S. man to win weightlifting gold at the Pan Am Games. Shane shares with his audience what it takes to be a champion with his inspiring story of how the world’s best powerlifter gave it all up to become an Olympian. He succeeded, and is the first powerlifter in history to ever successfully make the transition to Olympian.

Speech Topic: “What it Takes to be a Champion”

Categories: Agricultural Events; Athlete Endorsements; Athlete Personal Appearances; Business Meetings; Business Speakers; Casino Appearances; Celebrity Autograph Signing; Celebrity Infomercials; Celebrity Speakers; Celebrity Spokesperson; Celebrity Voiceover; Coaches Clinics; College Speakers; Conventions and Trade Shows; Corporate Conventions; Corporate Hospitality Functions; Corporate Speakers; Elementary School Assemblies; Emcees; Event Hosts; Famous Speakers; Fundraising Events; Golf Tournaments; Graduation Speakers; Grand Openings; High School Assemblies; Incentive Programs; Inspirational Speakers; International Speakers; Keynote Speakers; Master of Ceremonies; Middle School Assemblies; Motivational Speakers; Office Parties; Olympic Athletes; Peak Performance Speakers; Presentations; Press Conferences; Private Parties; Product Launches; Professional Athletes; Professional Speakers; Public Awareness Campaigns; Public Speakers; Sales Speakers; Sales Seminars; Sports Fantasy Camps; Sports Marketing; Sports Personalities; Sports Public Relations; Sports Speakers; State Fairs; University Speakers; VIP Meet and Greets; Weightlifting Events

Fees: $5,000-$10,000 plus travel expenses; Multi-event discounts available; Last minute specials available; Low-fee events available for schools and community groups, contact us for details

Traveling From: Oklahoma City, OK

Client Info: David Martin

David Martin began his path of personal development thirty years ago when enrolling in the martial art of Taekwondo. This sport would teach him the physical and mental discipline necessary to earn a Gold Medal at the US Olympic Festival and other national and international titles. Upon retiring from competition, David began a career in direct sales. He established himself as a leader by developing organizations throughout the US, Canada, Mexico and Europe. David shares with his audience how to develop a mindset for success, how to master sales and how to create an empowering self-image and beliefs.

Speech Topics: “Dynamics of Human Performance,” “Communications Training,” and “Sales Training”

Categories: Athlete Endorsements; Athlete Personal Appearances; Business Meetings; Business Speakers; Casino Appearances; Celebrity Autograph Signing; Celebrity Infomercials; Celebrity Speakers; Celebrity Spokesperson; Celebrity Voiceovers; Conference Speakers; Convention and Trade Shows; Corporate Conventions; Corporate Hospitality Functions; Corporate Speakers; Emcees; Event Hosts; Famous Speakers; Fundraising Events; Grand Openings; Incentive Programs; Inspirational Speakers; International Speakers; Keynote Speakers; Master of Ceremonies; Motivational Speakers; Office Parties; Olympic Athletes; Peak Performance Speakers; Presentations; Press Conferences; Private Parties; Product Launches; Professional Athletes; Professional Speakers; Public Awareness Campaigns; Public Speakers; Sales Consulting; Sales Promotions; Sales Seminars; Sales Speakers; Sales Training; Sports Fantasy Camps; Sports Marketing; Sports Personalities; Sports Public Relations; Sports Speakers; Team Building Speakers; Television Broadcasting; VIP Meet and Greets

Fees: $10,000-$15,000 plus travel expenses; Multi-event discounts available; Last minute specials available

Traveling From: Albuquerque, NM