best motivational business speeches

13 Best Motivational Speeches for Entrepreneurs (2024)

Who couldn’t use a few of the best motivational speeches for entrepreneurs?

Business can be hard. Heck, life can be hard.

We’re all on a journey, and we’ve all been down in the dumps before, wondering if what we’re doing is really worth it.

Wondering if what we’re doing is really making an impact.

But, it’s important that we’re always moving forward. This is a lesson that I learned early in life.

I remember I was around 4 years old, and I was learning to ride my bike with my uncle and my father.

Of course, I fell off multiple times while I was learning to cycle, and I remember the time I cut my knee pretty badly.

At that point I really just wanted to quit and go home. But, my family told me: “you can’t quit now, you’re almost there. Just try it once more!”

You’ve probably heard that before too, right?

So, I got back on that bike. I didn’t want to, but you just need to power through and face your challenges head-on.

Sure enough, that was the first time that I rode that bike without any help.

After that, I was so glad I kept moving forward and that I never gave up.

Now, that probably wasn’t the motivational speech that you expected when you clicked on this article, but it’s evidence that we can do so much more than we think we’re capable of when we’re spurred on by others.

And that’s exactly why we’ve created this article – we’ve listed all of our favorite motivational speeches here, because we already know how much more you can achieve with a little bit of extra motivation .

So, let’s jump into it!

Post Contents

Will Smith – Pursuit of Happiness

Al pacino – any given sunday, steve jobs – 2005 stanford commencement speech, matthew mcconaughey – university of houston speech, sheryl sandberg – harvard business school motivational speech, sylvester stallone – balboa speech, arnold schwarzenegger – famous motivational speech, richard st.john – 8 secrets of success, eric thomas – i can, i will, i must, denzel washington – fall forward, key takeaways, want to learn more.

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13 Best Motivational Speeches for Entrepreneurs

Considered one of the best motivational speeches, this famous motivational speech from the 2006 film, Pursuit of Happyness , features Will Smith and his son playing basketball.

At the start of the clip, you’ll see Smith’s son (his actual son, Jaden Smith) playing around with a basketball, and he shouts out, “I’m going pro!”

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After hearing this, Smith decides to try and level his son’s expectations, mentioning that he himself never really excelled at basketball, so his son shouldn’t expect to either.

His son is visibly disappointed by this comment, and Smith notices this.

Smith then proclaims: “don’t ever let somebody tell you that you can’t do something, not even me.”

“You got a dream, you gotta protect it. You want something, go get it. Period.”

This motivational speech is a special one. Even though both Will and Jaden Smith are acting, they’re still father and son, and you can see how this scene reflects their own family dynamic.

It’s a short motivational speech, but it’s one of the best motivational speeches of all time, in our opinion.

Al Pacino’s speech from the American Football drama, Any Given Sunday, is next up on our list.

This famous motivational speech really gets your blood flowing – perfect for watching before you tackle a difficult day .

The motivational speech revolves around the idea of inches being so important in American Football, even if we have the tendency to overlook them.

He talks about the different ways that his team can gain advantages over their opponents, even if it’s only an inch at a time.

He proclaims: “when we add up all those […] inches, that’s what makes the difference between winning and losing”.

This point is applicable throughout life, too – it’s the people who go the extra mile who tend to find success more often than not.

And sometimes, you won’t notice it at first, but like Pacino mentions, it’s the sum of all the small parts which lead you to victory.

Motivational speeches like this one pump you up when you need it most.

Steve Jobs, one of the key figures behind tech giant Apple’s success, is next up on our list of the best motivational speeches of all time.

In his 2005 Stanford commencement speech, the former Apple CEO dives deep into his own journey as an entrepreneur , and he speaks openly about the issues that he’s faced along the way and how he overcame them.

During this classic motivational speech, Jobs talks about how he was actually a college dropout and that this was one of the most important times of his life. 

He mentioned that he dropped out of college to take classes that he was truly interested in, rather than studying topics he wasn’t deeply passionate about.

One of those classes that he took up after dropping out was calligraphy. He was so compelled by the high standard of handwriting.

To many, this might seem like a strange choice, but he connects the experience that he gained from that class to the font choices that he installed on Apple computers.

If Jobs had never taken that calligraphy class, he wouldn’t have cared so much about a seemingly small detail, like fonts, but Apple was the first company to add different typefaces to their operating systems. 

He goes on to say: “You can’t connect the dots if you’re looking forward, you can only do it looking backwards. So, you need to keep moving forward and hope that the dots align somehow.”

The key message from this famous motivational speech is that we’re always learning. We’re always growing and finding out new information. It’s all about what we choose to do with that information that really defines us.

As Jobs said: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

Next up on our list of motivational speeches is Matthew McConaughey, with his commencement speech at the University of Houston.

The Oscar-winning actor delivers some very pertinent points during his speech, but the one that stuck out for me was how he spoke of joy being a “constant approach”.

McConaughey said: “Joy is always in process, it’s always under construction.”

He spoke of how he was previously judging his success on metrics that he thought were important to him, like the number of academy awards he won, or the amount of money his films grossed.

But, it was only when he decided to focus on the whole process of creating a film, and enjoying every aspect of it, that he found true success in those metrics.

It turned out that, when he took everything one step at a time, and truly enjoyed his craft, he found that things just fell into place.

“Define success for yourself.”

Find what you want to achieve, and enjoy the entire journey – not just the high points, but the lows too.

Matthew McConaughey ended up delivering one of the best motivational speeches from the past few years.

Sheryl Sandberg, the American entrepreneur, tech executive, author, and current COO of Facebook, is the next addition to our list of the best motivational speeches with her talk at the Harvard Business School in 2012.

Besides talking about her own experiences as an entrepreneur, and her work at Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg, Sandberg mentions a very pertinent idea. One that we can all do well to remember.

“Motivation comes from working on things that we care about.”

This is certainly true for entrepreneurship – those who are running businesses and working to tackle problems that engage them are more likely to find success.

And, according to Sandberg, it’s so important that we continue to work, because that’s the most important thing.

All in all, this is one of the best motivational speeches for students that we’ve seen.

Rocky Balboa , played by Sylvester Stallone, is a famed character best known for his courage, hard work, and determination.

In Rocky Balboa, the sixth film in the Rocky franchise, Stallone delivers one of the hardest-hitting motivational speeches of all time.

Stallone starts off the motivational speech by saying: “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows.”

He goes on to talk about the value of hard work and commitment and emphasizes that “it ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

As an entrepreneur, this motivational speech really hits home. There will be struggles on your journey to success , but as Stallone says, it’s all about “how much you can take and keep moving forward, that’s how winning is done.”

Remember this when your back is up against the wall – winners never give up!

This is one of the most iconic motivational speeches. You’ll often find it in motivational speech mashup videos on YouTube or even on Spotify.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian-American actor, entrepreneur, politician, and former My Olympia, is next up on our list of the most famous motivational speeches for entrepreneurs.

He starts his motivational speech with a simple, powerful message.

“Work your ass off.”

Schwarzenegger then discusses how having a goal was so pivotal for him on his journey to success in a variety of fields.

He also talks about how “only a quarter of people really enjoy what they’re doing in life.”

Schwarzenegger also believes that everybody should be constantly working to get closer to their main goal and properly utilize every hour of their day.

“Imagine if you worked on a business every day for an hour . Imagine how further along you would get.”

This is perhaps the most important message from this motivational speech – it’s down to us to make the most of our limited time on earth. And this message, which everybody can get behind, is why we believe this is one of the best motivational speeches of all time.

Next up on our list, we’ve got an infamous TED talk from Richard St.John – also one of the shortest motivational speeches that we’ve ever seen, but it sure is impactful.

St.John mentions at the start of the video that this talk is a condensed version of 7 years of research (including research from more than five hundred interviews with successful professionals).

One of the most interesting points that St.John mentions is that if you want to be successful at something, you need to “put your nose down in something and get damn good at it.”

But, the most motivational part of St.John’s speech for us was where he talks about passion.

He said: “if you do something you love then the money comes along later.”

This section of the motivational speech is especially relevant for entrepreneurs – if you’re building a brand , then try and be invested in it as much as possible – a commitment to the cause will really help you find success in the long run. 

When you’re trying to find success, you need to love what you do!

Eric Thomas is a fantastic speaker, and in this classic motivational speech, he empowers us to believe that we can always get through adversity, no matter what the challenge is.

Thomas repeats this line throughout the speech: “I can get through this. I will get through this. I must get through this.”

He also cleverly uses our loved ones as a source of inspiration in this motivational speech.

He asks us to focus on the 3 people we love the most and challenges us to question our own decisions regarding motivation.

“You gotta think about those people every day.”

“You have some days when you think about hitting the snooze button? […] The days you don’t feel like getting up, just think about them.”

Instead of being lazy and complacent, we need to think about our loved ones and question what they’d think if we were procrastinating 24/7 .

Honestly, it’s fine doing something for yourself, but knowing that you’ve made your loved ones proud just makes everything feel 10 times better. This is one of the main messages from this motivational speech. 

And that’s why this is one of the best motivational speeches of all time. It takes the onus away from working for yourself and instead focuses on putting in the work for people you couldn’t bear to let down.  

Elon Musk – USC Commencement Motivational Speech

Elon Musk is an icon of inspiration for countless people worldwide. Known for his out-of-the-box thinking and visionary technology, Musk shows us that anything is possible if we put our minds to it.

In the USC Commencement motivational speech, Elon immediately demonstrates his tendency to break away from the status quo. He tells us he was advised to stick to 3 items that he wanted to mention, but he’s going to share four.

Elon tells his listeners that they need to work proportionally to the accomplishments they want to achieve. “If you want to start a company, you need to work super hard.”

Elon’s speech here is compelling because it’s so authentic. He doesn’t talk about being lucky or following your gut instinct. Musk tells us that great things come from an equally astronomical amount of work.

Musk also acknowledges the power of great people, “all a company is, is a group of people that have gathered together.” Elon says that if you want a great company, you need a great team.

Musk’s third point is to “focus on signal over noise.” In other words, concentrate on developments that make the product better, “don’t just follow the trend.”

The final piece of advice from Elon’s speech? “Take risks.” Jump into new opportunities and pursue different things.

Ed Shereen – Being Weird is a Wonderful Thing

Ed Sheeran might not be the first person you think of when you visualize the world’s greatest thought leaders. Yet, he constantly moves millions of people with his music and his words.

At the 9 th Annual American Institute for Stuttering Benefit Gala, Sheeran talked about how Eminem helped him overcome his speech impediment.

Sheeran admits to being a “very, very weird child” with a birthmark on his face, large glasses, and no eardrum on one side of his head. He says that “stuttering was actually the least of my problems when I went to school,” but he found it extremely difficult.

Sheeran notes that not being able to express himself in the right way was his biggest concern with his stutter. However, when his dad bought him an Eminem CD when he was young. Listening to it helped him to learn how to speak fast and accomplish his stutter.

Ed’s insights are a great source of inspiration for entrepreneurs learning how to deal with the stress of public speaking and believing in themselves.

Now, Ed believes that “being weird is a wonderful thing”. He asks us to “embrace yourself, embrace your quirks, and embrace your weirdness.”

Jim Carrey – Maharishi University Commencement Motivational Speech

Jim Carrey’s commencement speech at the Maharishi University is filled with so much wisdom it’s difficult to decide which to focus on.

Perhaps the most important statement Jim made for entrepreneurs and business leaders was that “fear” will always be a big player in our lives. However, Jim notes, “you get to decide how much.” You can spend your life in fear, or you can follow your heart.

Jim says that countless people choose their path out of fear. They stick to what’s safe and easy because they’re afraid to ask, “what if?” However, Carrey says that the only way to live is to ask the universe for what you need.

Jim Carrey invites his listeners to “risk being seen in all of your glory.” He says that our job isn’t to figure out how we’re going to reach success, but to simply “open the door in your head” and walk through it when the time is right.

“You will fail at something. Accept it.”

In the last entry on our list of the best motivational speeches, Denzel Washington discusses failure.

But, Washington doesn’t shirk away from failure ; he embraces it.

He says that “every failed experiment is one step closer to success.”

This is certainly true when it comes to entrepreneurship . You learn so much from everything you do, whether it’s a win or a loss.

But, the most important thing isn’t necessarily winning or losing. It’s about getting out there and giving it everything you’ve got. That’s why this is one of our favorite motivational speeches about life. 

“Never be discouraged. Never hold back. And when you fall in life, remember this: fall forward.”

So, that’s our list of the best motivational speeches for entrepreneurs.

We hope you enjoyed those clips. We just want to highlight a couple of key points present across all of these motivational speeches.

• It’s important that you love what you do . Be invested. Be present. And be the best you can be.
• Failure isn’t a bad thing . If you learn from it, and continue to move forward, it can lead to great things.
• You need to want it. Entrepreneurship, along with many things in life, can be tough. You want it bad? Prove it.

Okay, that’s all from me today. Did I miss any motivational speeches off from this list? Let me know in the comments section – I read them all!

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8 Best Motivational Speeches of All Time for Entrepreneurs

The first steps of any new venture are the hardest. From opening your doors to signing your first client, building your team to hiring your first marketing agency — every choice you make has substantial consequences for your business. 

Some choices could propel your business forward while others could set you back years or force you to close your doors.

Making these pivotal decisions is tough; that’s why entrepreneurs like yourself need to find motivation where you can. 

Seek out advice and guidance from those that have come before you. Start by watching some of the best motivational speeches that we’ve ever seen.

#1: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Speech that Broke the Internet

“I went to college. I went and worked out 5 hours a day. And I was working in construction. Because in those days in bodybuilding, there was no money. I didn’t have the money for food supplements or anything. So, I had to go to work. So, I worked in construction. I went to college and worked out in a gym. And at night from 8 o’clock at night to 12 midnight, I went to acting class 4 times a week. I did all that. There was not one single minute that I wasted.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger's speech was published on the Milligan Brothers YouTube channel on May 2, 2019. At the time this post was written, the video had already gotten more than three million views.

#2: J. K. Rowling’s Harvard Commencement Speech

“Ultimately, we all have to decide for ourselves what constitutes failure, but the world is quite eager to give you a set of criteria if you let it. So I think it fair to say that by any conventional measure, a mere seven years after my graduation day, I had failed on an epic scale. An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless. The fears that my parents had had for me, and that I had had for myself had both come to pass, and by every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew.”

J.K. Rowling is a well-known name in almost every household, but there was a time when that was not the case. Before she achieved success with her Harry Potter books, she was rejected by several publishers and was in a bad state financially.

Facing bankruptcy and constant rejection, it would have been easier for her to give up, but she carried on. She didn’t let her failures stop her. She used them to push her closer to success. 

You can find the text of her speech published in the Harvard Gazette.

#3: Will Smith in Pursuit of Happyness

“Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something—not even me. You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can’t do it. You want something? Go get it. Period.”

In this moving scene from the movie “Pursuit of Happyness,” Will Smith tells his son he can do anything. Smith plays a real-life character, a single father who is struggling to take care of his son throughout overwhelming adversity. 

While playing basketball, Chris—played by Will Smith—finds himself doling out some harsh criticism to his son, but he quickly recovers. After seeing the discouraged look on his son’s face, he used his harsh words to deliver a motivational speech to his son that included admitting he was wrong for what he had previously said.

#4: Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech

“And 17 years later, I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents’ savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn’t see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was, spending all the money my parents had saved their entire life. So, I decided to drop out and trust that it was all going to work out ok. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out, I could stop taking the required classes that didn’t interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked far more interesting.”

Steve Jobs gave this speech in 2005 during the Stanford Commencement Address. He goes on to discuss how he fell in love with calligraphy by dropping in on a class teaching it. That one class is what later inspired him to develop typography and incorporate it into the Mac. 

#5: Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday

“I don’t know what to say really. Three minutes till the biggest battle in our professional lives, and it all comes down to today. Either we heal, as a team, or we’re gonna crumble. Inch by inch, play by play, till we’re finished. We’re in hell right now, gentlemen—believe me. And, we can stay here and get the s_____ kicked out of us, or, we can fight our way back.”

 Al Pacino delivers this inspiration speech in the movie “Any Given Sunday.” In this movie, the main character DAmato—played by Al Pacino—is trying to motivate the players on his football team to work together to win their game after they had suffered from three back-to-back losses.

#6: Sheryl Sandberg at Harvard University

“It used to be that in order to reach more people than you could talk to in a day, you had to be rich and famous and powerful, be a celebrity, a politician, a CEO, but that’s not true today. 

Now ordinary people have a voice, not just those of us lucky to go to HBS, but anyone with access to Facebook,  Twitter , a mobile phone. This is disrupting traditional power structures and leveling traditional hierarchy.

Voice and power are shifting from institutions to individuals, from the historically powerful to the historically powerless, and all of this is happening so much faster than I could have imagined when I was sitting where you are today, and Mark Zuckerberg was 11 years old.”

Sheryl Sandberg speaks to the Harvard graduating class of 2012 and tells her story of how she struggled to get on track with her career in the Silicon Valley back in 2001.

She explains how the timing was terrible because the bubble had crashed, and companies were laying people off. Sheryl goes on to explain how she overcame the challenges to get to where she is today.

#7: Richard St. John’s Motivation TED Talk

“And it all started one day on a plane, on my way to TED, seven years ago. And in the seat next to me was a high school student, a teenager, and she came from a really poor family. And she wanted to make something of her life, and she asked me a simple little question. She said, “What leads to success?” And I felt really badly because I couldn’t give her a good answer. So, I get off the plane and I come to TED, and I think, “Jeez, I’m in the middle of a room of successful people, so why don’t I ask them what helped them succeed, and pass it on to kids?”

Richard St. John ​ delivered this speech as his TED talk. The video was published to TED’s YouTube channel on January 6, 2007, and it’s gotten over 2.5 million views. In this video, he provides his secrets of success in 8 words, in 3 minutes.

#8: Gary Vaynerchuck’s Hustle

“So, first of all, it’s different for everyone, but this whole notion of like, “where’s the time?” I just think people are loaded with excuses. I think that the vainer nation thinks they’re hustling, and straight to your face, I think 99.9% of you are not. Everybody has time, stop watching f_____ Lost…”

Gary Vaynerchuck’s Video “The Most Important Word Ever” stresses how important it is to utilize every single minute of your day to reach your goals by keeping up the hustle and never giving up.

Are You Feeling Motivated and Inspired Yet?

I hope you found these speeches as motivating as I did and that you’re ready to start your new venture with a renewed sense of energy and focus.

Just know that going forward, anything is possible when you set your mind on something, and you go after it with no excuses and a determination to succeed. 

Don’t let failures hold you back. Failures help to propel you forward and put you on the right path by showing you the wrong one.

At Sparkitive, we know just how important having a well-thought-out and proven plan is to the success of your new service-based business.

That’s why we created a free guide that gives you the gift of a step-by-step plan you can follow to generate new leads and turn them into long-term, loyal clients.

Get your free copy of our guide now: Fast Track Your Business: The 5-Step Marketing Plan for Professional Services Firms .

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• Jul 3, 2019

The 10 Best Motivational Speeches Ever

What is a motivational speech.

A motivational speech can come from anywhere or anyone, but it usually has a specific audience in mind. Whether it’s a graduation speech, an all-company meeting, a championship sporting event, or a conference keynote , these speeches are designed to change the way their listeners see the challenges facing them in the future.

Just like in sports, being motivated at work is crucial for your performance. This rings especially true when you have a looming deadline, an important meeting, or colleagues or customers depending on your performance.

Motivational speeches and speakers can come in all different forms, but this is the one thing they have in common – resonance. They hit the right listener at just the right time and in just the right way. Who knows, maybe this article is doing a bit of that for you right now…!

To help you stay motivated, no matter what your job throws at you, we decided to compile 10 of the best motivational speeches from business, sports, entertainment, and more. Missing your inner fire? Light it by up watching the following videos!

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The Best Motivational Speeches of All Time

1) j.k. rowling on failure at “the fringe benefits of failure, and the importance of imagination” (2008).

We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.

2) David Foster Wallace on Life & Career at “This Is Water” (2005)

If you’re automatically sure that you know what reality is and who and what is really important, if you want to operate on your default setting, then you, like me, probably won’t consider possibilities that aren’t annoying and miserable. But if you’ve really learned how to think, how to pay attention, then you’ll know you have other options. It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer hell-type situation as not only meaningful, but sacred – on fire with the same force that lit the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down.

3) Simon Sinek on Leadership at Live2Lead (2016)

The infinite player isn’t playing to be number one…they’re playing to outlast the competition.

4) Fearless Motivation on Perseverance at “It’s Not Easy, But It’s Worth It” (2018)

It’s easy to be positive when everything is working out. It’s much harder, much much harder when nothing is working out. But that’s when we need it the most…Everything is worth the prize.

5) Jim Carrey on Taking Risks at Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

I learned many great lessons from my father – not the least of which is that you can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.

6) Brené Brown on Failure at “The Power of Vulnerability” (2013)

Empathy is a choice, and it’s a vulnerable choice. Because in order to connect with you, I have to connect with something in myself that knows that feeling.

7) Steve Jobs on Life & Career at “How to Live Before You Die” (2005)

Stay hungry. Stay foolish.

8) Ellen DeGeneres on Life & Career at Tulane University Commencement Speech (2009)

Really, when I look back on it, I wouldn’t change a thing. I mean, it was so important for me to lose everything because I found out what the most important thing is…to be true to yourself. Ultimately, that’s what’s gotten me to this place. I don’t live in fear. I’m free. I have no secrets and I know I’ll always be OK, because no matter what, I know who I am.

9) Sheryl Sandberg on Life & Career at Harvard Business School Class Day Speech (2012)

If you want to win hearts and minds, you have to lead with your heart as well as your mind. I don’t believe we have a professional self from Mondays through Fridays and a real self for the rest of the time…It is all professional and it is all personal, all at the very same time.

10) Dan Pink on Life & Career at “The Puzzle of Motivation” (2009)

There is a mismatch between what science knows and what business does. And what worries me, as we stand here in the rubble of the economic collapse, is that too many organizations are making their decisions, their policies about talent and people, based on assumptions that are outdated, unexamined, and rooted more in folklore than in science.

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11 Most Inspirational Speeches of All Time

There is something about a great speech that can move us to tears, make our hearts race, and leave us feeling inspired. Whether it’s a politician rallying their supporters, a celebrity speaking out about a cause they believe in, or just an everyday person sharing their story, speeches have the power to touch us in ways that other forms of communication can’t.

In this article, we will take a look at 11 of the most inspiring speeches of all time. We’ll explore what makes these speeches so special and learn some important lessons about public speaking along the way.

Top 11 motivational speeches of all time

1. “i have a dream” by martin luther king jr..

Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” is undoubtedly one of the most inspirational speeches of all time. Delivered in 1963 at the March on Washington, it spoke to the heart of America, putting a powerful call to action against racial inequality and discrimination into words that still ring true today.

Through his impassioned delivery and captivating rhetoric, King didn’t just give voice to a movement, he united people across social and economic boundaries to create an unimaginable understanding and togetherness. Nearly 60 years on, this speech remains an incredible source of inspiration for generations past and today, reminding us all just how much can be achieved through collective power.

2. “The Man in the Arena” by Theodore Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt’s “The Man in the Arena” speech is just as inspiring now as it was when it was first delivered over a century ago. He encourages us to take risks and not be afraid of failure, reminding us that what matters most is our willingness to show up and try.

It’s a timely reminder that putting in the effort matters too – success requires bravery, ambition, and resilience – no matter how many times we may fall down along the way. Listening to this inspiring speech will give you a renewed sense of determination to conquer your goals with courage and fortitude.

3. “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish” by Steve Jobs

The most inspirational speech of all time has to be Steve Jobs’ “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish” speech at Stanford University in 2005. When he said those words, they resonated in a way that few other speeches have—even today. Using his own life and experiences as examples, Jobs beautifully delivered a message that was both aspirational and pragmatic.

He reminded us to look for meaning, passion and purpose beyond our day-to-day routines, encouraging a sense of courage, fun and adventure in life. Jobs himself credited this speech with changing the direction of his life’s work—and it’s easy to see why: this life lesson still has a potent impact in inspiring people around the world to follow their passions and take risks no matter what.

4. “The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown

Brené Brown’s speech, “The Power of Vulnerability,” is undoubtedly one of the most inspirational speeches of all time. Her message about the value of admitting our struggles and imperfections was a source of much-needed motivation in a society that values seeming perfection and power at all costs. The way she spoke about freeing ourselves from the grip of shame and fear resonated deeply with millions of people who have been inspired to strive for a more honest and fulfilling life. This passionate insight coupled with Brown’s conversational narration make it a truly inspirational experience that continues to uplift listeners years later.

5. “The Strangest Secret” by Earl Nightingale

It’s no surprise that “The Strangest Secret,” by Earl Nightingale, is one of the most inspiring speeches ever. It encourages us to take matters into our own hands and use positive thinking to achieve our goals.

Through his speech, Nightingale reminds us that life is too short to not believe in ourselves and grow toward bigger and better things. He motivates us to set clear objectives and directs us down a path towards success; a path he calls “the strangest secret,” though we may find out what it is if we are brave enough to dream. All these years later, these words remain incredibly powerful–you can’t help but be inspired by this speech!

6. Jim Valvano’s “Don’t Give Up, Don’t Ever Give Up” Speech (1993)

Jim Valvano’s ‘Don’t Give Up, Don’t Ever Give Up’ speech is undoubtedly one of the most inspiring, heart-tugging speeches of all time. Despite being incredibly ill and having been told he had a few months to live, in 1993 Jim gave a powerful address at the ESPY Awards encouraging people to fight for their dreams and never give up hope. His words were poignant and evocative, his message relevant and timeless.

Today, almost three decades later, his speech still has the power to move people and reignite that spark of inspiration that we sometimes need in our lives. We definitely could all benefit from taking some deep life lessons from coaching greats like Jim Vavano; earnestly striving for our own hopes and dreams and never giving up no matter how insurmountable the obstacles we face may seem.

7. J.K. Rowling – “Harvard Commencement Speech” (2008)

J.K. Rowling’s Harvard Commencement Speech will leave its audience inspired to chase their dreams, no matter how many failures they might face along the way. She uses her own experiences to emphasize the fact that failure is essential to success, and encourages the students to never stop believing in their own imagination and power.

With her affinity for storytelling and her hearts-on-sleeves delivery, this speech conveys a powerful message of resilience and hope – something that everyone needs a reminder of sometimes. You’ll leave this speech feeling recharged, energized, and ready to take on any obstacle that life throws your way!

8. Al Pacino – “Inch by Inch” (1999)

Along with a powerful delivery, Pacino conveys the message that anything can be achieved when you put your efforts into it and never give up. His words invoke courage and strength in the face of adversity, making it empowering and motivating. The words he speaks certainly stay with you long after you hear them, encouraging us to take every inch we can on our own journey towards success.

9. Eric Thomas – “How Bad Do You Want It?” (2012)

Eric Thomas truly hit a home run with his 2012 speech, “How Bad Do You Want It?”. His story of the protagonist who was determined to do whatever it takes to achieve his dream deeply resonated with us all. The message behind this inspiring speech is one we should all live by: never give up and always strive to be the best. Thomas’s empowering words remind us that no matter how challenging something may seem, we can always push ourselves and rise above our limitations in order to find success.

10. Winston Churchill – “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” (1940)

Although it was delivered back in World War II, the inspirational message of Winston Churchill’s “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” speech is still relevant to listeners today. His words focus on the importance of courage and determination when things seem insurmountable, validating our desire to push through hardships. These are valuable life lessons applicable to any time and age.

Combining a passionate tone with powerful imagery, Churchill encourages us all to never give up no matter how difficult the challenges we face may be. To this day, this heartfelt address motivates its audience time and time again.

11. Admiral William H. McRaven’s “Make Your Bed” (2014)

Admiral William H. McRaven’s “Make Your Bed” (2014) is one of the most inspirational speeches of all time, and for good reason. McRaven delivered the speech to the graduating class at the University of Texas with natural poise, wisdom and charming wit. The message presented was an echo from his time as a Navy SEAL: no matter how small an achievement may seem, it is still a success that brings pride in oneself.

His inspiring words of encouragement examine the power of little deeds and how they can have profound effects on our lives. His speech taught us that by doing something seemingly mundane first thing in the morning like making your bed, you can give yourself a sense of accomplishment and pride that will boost you through the rest of your day.

What’s in a speech that inspires us?

Delivering a truly inspirational motivational speech is no easy feat. It takes a unique blend of passion, emotion, and authenticity to truly captivate an audience, stir their hearts, and inspire change. But what is it that sets those best motivational speeches apart, the ones that resonate with us long after they’ve been spoken?

Now we’ll dive into some key elements of inspirational speeches and explore how you too can hone these powerful techniques to touch the lives of others.

1. Passion and conviction

At the core of any great speech lies deep passion and conviction. The speaker’s genuine belief in their message emanates through their words and leaves the audience captivated. Make sure to choose a topic that you care about deeply, and your audience will catch your enthusiasm. Speak with confidence, and don’t be afraid to let your emotions shine through. Your passion for the topic will be infectious and inspire others to share your beliefs.

2. Human connection

The greatest Inspirational speeches don’t just inform—they connect on a deeper, emotional level. Great speakers empathize with their audience, sharing their own experiences and emotions to build common ground. By incorporating personal stories and engaging the audience with relatable anecdotes, speakers not only capture the attention of their listeners but encourage them to feel a sense of unity and understanding. To truly inspire, seek to create a unique bond with your audience by showing your own vulnerability and openness.

3. The art of storytelling

Inspirational speeches employ the timeless art of storytelling to convey complex ideas and evoke strong emotional responses in a digestible and engaging manner. By structuring your speech like a story, complete with a relatable protagonist (often the speaker themselves), rising action, conflict, and resolution, you’ll keep your audience on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the outcome. The transformational journey of the protagonist will not only serve to illustrate your key points but inspire the audience to envision their own journey toward change.

4. Visual and verbal imagery

Inspirational speeches don’t just tell us how to feel—they show us. By painting vivid pictures through descriptive language and evocative imagery, a speaker can transport their audience to another world. This sensory experience not only keeps the audience engaged but helps to solidify the message in their minds. Be mindful of your word choice and aim to incorporate powerful, memorable phrases that will stick with your listeners long after the speech has ended.

5. A call to action

A crucial component of any inspirational speech is a clear and compelling call to action. This is the pivot point where inspiration turns to motivation, and the audience feels compelled to take concrete action to bring about change. This call to action should be clear and tangible, inspiring the listeners to believe in their own ability to effect meaningful change, whether that be in their personal lives or on a broader societal scale.

Motivational speech wrap up

Creating an inspirational speech is a complex and nuanced process that requires vulnerability, empathy, and the ability to communicate powerful ideas through relatable storytelling. By showing passion and conviction in your message, establishing a heartfelt human connection, weaving a captivating story, utilizing vivid imagery, and providing a compelling call to action, you can leave your audience with an unforgettable experience that inspires change.

Embrace these key elements the next time you have the opportunity to speak before an audience, and you may find yourself crafting an unforgettable speech that leaves a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of your listeners.

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Change Your Mindset

7 of the best motivational speeches of all time.

What could we possibly achieve by listening to motivational speeches? Isn’t that a waste of time? It’s not. A great motivational speech can be a trigger to action. It inspires you to do something. Powerful speeches make you realize you’re not just a useless individual in this world. Everyone matters. You matter, too.

Have you been feeling that inner drive to seek a higher purpose for a long time? If so, you need to take action. First, you need a trigger that will get you to that action. Try to think of an influential person. Let’s take an example: Jim Morrison. He was one of the most charismatic individuals of his time.

“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.” That’s only one of the many pieces of wisdom he gave to humanity. These are not only words. They shrink deep inside you. They make you think. They make you act.

Jim Morrison said that during an interview. Back then, motivational speeches were not a big thing. Now, great individuals are trying to make a difference through that specific method. Are you ready to start exploring the best motivational speeches that will make you act?

Here’s a list of 7 of the best motivational speeches of all time :

1 . steve jobs’ 2005 stanford commencement address.

This is one of the most emotional and inspiring speeches you’ll ever listen to. Although Jobs presented it way before TED talks became popular, you’ll notice it has a similar flow to an inspiring TED talk. It is relatively short, it has a theme, and it proves a point through a story.

Through this speech, Jobs tells us how we can find triumph through struggle. Jobs gave this speech one year after he was diagnosed with cancer. He had surgery and he was fine at that point. That’s the most important part of this speech: understanding our time here is limited . What are we going to do with it? That’s what matters.

2 . Al Pacino’s Inch by Inch

Have you seen the movie Any Given Sunday ? It’s a great one. The moment when Al Pacino gives one of the greatest speeches seen on the big screen is priceless. It’s not just a speech about football. It’s about winning. It’s about overcoming obstacles . It’s about becoming stronger. It’s about life in general!

“… In either game life or football the margin for error is so small. I mean one-half step too late or too early you don’t quite make it. One-half second too slow or too fast and you don’t quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us. They are in every break of the game, every minute, every second.” That’s only a part of this great speech. Funny enough, it starts with “I don’t know what to say, really.”

3 . J.K. Rowling ’s Harvard Commencement Speech

This one will make you laugh at first. J.K Rowling has a rare talent to make the listeners laugh and think at the same time. At one point, the writer gets serious and gives out the main point of this speech: sharing things she wishes she had known at her own graduation, and the important lessons she has learned between that day and the day of the speech.

There’s one aspect of this speech that makes it different from most others on our list: the talk about poverty . The writer tells the truth about it. There’s no romanticizing of poverty. As she says, only fools do that. This situation entails fear, stress, and depression… “it means a thousand petty humiliations and hardships.” However, what she feared most for herself when she was young wasn’t poverty. It was a failure.

Essentially, this is a speech about the benefits of failure. Yes, there is such thing as a benefit from failure. J.K. Rowling is a living proof for that.

4 . Bill Gates’ Harvard Commencement Address 2007

“I’ve been waiting more than 30 years to say this: ‘Dad, I always told you I’d come back and get my degree.’” That’s one of the funniest parts of this speech. Gates didn’t graduate. He is Harvard’s most successful dropout. He makes a big point, though: the fact that he dropped out doesn’t make academic life less of an important experience. Gates used to sit in on classes he hadn’t even signed up for.

As he says in his speech, one of his most precious memories of Harvard is being in the midst of so much energy and intelligence. Education is important, and it is a privilege. However, getting to know the wider world is also important, even though it’s shocking for the most part.

5 . Jim Carrey ’s Commencement Address at the 2014 MUM Graduation

You would expect a funny speech from one of the funniest men on Earth, wouldn’t you? Well, here is a surprise: Jim Carrey is deep. This speech is enlightening, to say the least. The main message is to choose love over fear.

And yes, the speech is funny. It’s Jim Carrey, after all. However, it’s also very, very serious. “I am here to plant a seed that will inspire you to move forward in life with enthusiastic hearts and a clear sense of wholeness.”

Even if you take the safe route through, life, you might fail . If you follow your dreams, you might fail, too. But, you might achieve them – and that’s what makes the difference. In the speech, Jim shares an example: his father. He could have been a great comedian, but he made a safe choice: accounting . When Kim was 12 years old, his father lost that job that was supposed to be safe. That was the point when the actor learned the most important lesson in life: “… You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”

If you’re in the middle of a crossroad and you’re wondering what road to choose, listen to this speech. It inspires you to choose the right thing. It inspires you to choose love over fear.

6 .  Will Smith’s Pursuit of Happiness Speech

If you haven’t seen The Pursuit of Happiness , go watch it right now. It’s amazing! Will Smith plays a homeless salesman doing everything he can to support his son. Will Smith gives a short but impactful speech to his son in the movie about going out and getting what you want out of life.  

He says: “Don’t ever let somebody tell you, you can’t do something. You got a dream? You gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you, you can’t do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.”

7 .  Sheryl Sandberg’ s Commencement Address at the 2012 Harvard Business School Graduation

Sandberg offered the 2012 graduates some practical wisdom prior to them entering the business world. She urged them to remember to always communicate and practice honesty with others, which is not the norm in most workplaces. In fact, it’s likely not to norm for most people even with their friends or family.

She also talked about thinking of your career as a ‘jungle gym’ and encourages people to jump around instead of following the traditional path that most people have done.  

Hopefully this inspires you to push your own boundaries and not be afraid to restart your path, pivot your career, and find different ways of doing things.

Which of the six speeches above is your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Sharon Hooper is a marketing specialist and blogger from Manchester, UK. When she has a minute, she loves to share a few of her thoughts about marketing, writing and blogging with you. Currently, she is working as a content marketer at Essayontime. You could follow Sharon on Facebook .

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The Art of Convincing: 10 Persuasion Techniques That Really Work

The knack for persuading others can act as a catalyst for change, open doors, forge alliances, and effect positive change

Persuasion is not as complicated as it may sound. In fact, it is something that we have been practicing since childhood. Do you remember convincing your parents to let you skip school, asking your teacher not to assign homework, or persuading your boss to give you a day off? Well, these are just small examples of what persuasion looks like. (more…)

Personal Development

5 key reasons why perfectionist’s procrastinate.

Hey there! I’m Joel Brown, a procrastination mindset specialist. In my world, it’s all about guiding my students through repatterning exercises to break free from the shackles that prevent them from scaling new heights in life.

Now, you might hear ‘perfectionist’ and think, “Ah, they’re destined for success!” But here’s the real deal: perfectionism is far from a superpower. It’s a sneaky villain in disguise, sapping emotional and physical strength, disrupting sleep, and fueling an endless cycle of rumination—all in the pursuit of getting everything ‘just right.’ This relentless chase is what we call the ‘ Obsessive Idealist ‘ procrastination type.

If you don’t know which out of. the 6 procrastination types you are then you can take this quick 3 minute procrastination type quiz on my Mindstrong Academy website.

Through my fourteen years of coaching, I’ve identified six procrastination types, but my journey started with a personal revelation—I am an Obsessive Idealist. I’ve been there, constantly toggling between creation and procrastination.

And today, I invite you to explore this path with me. If you’re nodding along, thinking, “That sounds like me; I’m a perfectionist too,” then stick around.

I’m about to shed some light on why you might be stuck in this cycle.

Here’s a perfectionist procrastination type video here of what I’m breaking down in this article for you:

The Obsessive Idealist: Unpacking the Perfectionist’s Paradox

First things first, make sure to take the procrastination quiz: mindstrongacademy.com/quiz to see where you stand. Now, let’s dive into the world of the Obsessive Idealist. Often labeled as high achievers or perfectionists, the core of their procrastination lies in the mind’s protective pause. It’s a shield against perceived threats, pitfalls of perfectionism, and the constant battle between the now and the future in our minds.

Here’s the paradox: what seems like a strength for high achievers can become a crippling hindrance. Obsessive Idealists are in a constant struggle to avoid failure, aiming for 100% perfection. But let’s face the truth—no one is perfect. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, athlete, or any individual striving for excellence, embracing imperfections and learning from failures are crucial steps.

The Traps of Being an Obsessive Idealist Procrastination Type

Analysis Paralysis: Overthinking every detail to the point of inaction is a common pitfall. It’s like trying to get everything perfect, but in reality, it backfires, stalling your progress.

The Unrealistic Standards Syndrome: Setting impossibly high goals is like chasing a mirage. It’s not just about being competitive; it can lead to unfair self-criticism and unrealistic expectations of others.

The Time Trap: Believing there’s never enough time to complete a task perfectly leads to constant postponement. This selective focus on strengths, while avoiding areas of improvement, limits your true potential.

Avoidance of Criticism: Dodging feedback hinders growth. It’s essential to learn to accept constructive criticism without internalizing it as a reinforcement of the “I’m not good enough” narrative.

The All-or-Nothing Lie: Believing that you must operate at full throttle or not at all is a dangerous misconception. Embracing the middle ground, like delegating tasks and seeking mentorship, is key to balanced success.

Embracing Imperfection: The Path to True Progress

In the MindStrong Academy, where I teach conquering procrastination, we focus on managing these patterns effectively. Currently, we’re offering a 7-day free trial, so don’t miss out on this opportunity to transform your mindset: MindStrongAcademy.com The Academy is more than just a course; it’s a community where you’ll find support, accountability, and tailored resources like a 31-day planner and visualization audios to realign your focus.

In conclusion , recognizing and managing your tendencies as an Obsessive Idealist is crucial. By addressing the deep-rooted “I’m not good enough” narrative and embracing imperfection, you can shift from a state of constant stress to one of harmonized power.

Remember, movement doesn’t always equate to progress. It’s about finding balance, embracing downtime, and allowing yourself the space to grow and learn.

I encourage you to take the quiz, join the MindStrong Academy, and start your journey towards a more balanced, successful life.

Let’s break free from the chains of perfectionism together!

Unlocking Success: Subconscious Reprogramming, Mindset, and Transformative Strategies for Improved Wellbeing and Business Performance

What if I told you that the negative thoughts or self-limiting beliefs that you may have, are not actually yours? In this article, I will discuss subconscious programming and how it can be reprogrammed in a way that allows you to reach your greatest potential. I will also provide tips on how you can integrate this information as a leader within the workplace.

The subconscious mind is shaped before we begin forming our own conscious thoughts, and these conscious thoughts are influenced by the subconscious mind. This means that even the thoughts that you’re consciously having, are merely an extension of that pre-existing conditioning. 

When something becomes deeply ingrained within your mind through repetition, and there are other supporting thoughts that reinforce it, you will identify this information as your truth. These repeated thoughts become beliefs, and your actions will align to support and validate these beliefs.

The Importance of Observing Your Thoughts

If you continuously tell yourself that you aren’t capable or good enough, how likely are you to put in the effort to challenge this narrative? If you’ve always been a procrastinator and tell yourself that you always will be, you’re going to continue procrastinating. If you run into an obstacle and don’t believe you can overcome it, you’re not going to look for solutions or try your best to resolve it.

It’s extremely important for you to become an observer of your thoughts and understand the impacts of how those thoughts can impact your life, relationships, and overall outlook on life. Here are some questions to help guide you: – What are your recurring negative thoughts, and how are they impacting your performance and relationships? 

– How have these thoughts held you back from achieving your goals and living the life that you’ve always dreamed of? 

– What have these thoughts already cost you and what else will they cost you if they don’t change? Societal conditioning, influenced by a lower level of collective consciousness, has made the experience of debilitating thoughts highly prevalent. It’s not your fault that you have them, but it is your responsibility to change them and choose better ones.

The Subconscious Must Be Reprogrammed 

Reprogramming the subconscious involves positive affirmations, visualization, and consistent repetition to replace negative beliefs with positive ones. You have to become aware of the thoughts that make you feel bad and do not serve your best interest. What are the growth-oriented thoughts that would you rather have instead? Any time that a debilitating thought crosses your mind, always correct it with new thought that uplifts, encourages and empowers you. Be consistent, be patient and understand that your logical mind will not make this process easy for you at first.

Being Delusional vs. Consciously Creating a Better Reality for Yourself 

By definition, the term delusional means “holding false beliefs or judgments about external reality that are held despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary”. When you have held onto debilitating beliefs for so long and your previous actions have served as evidence to confirm their truth, it is inevitable that your logical mind will deem your new thoughts as delusional. This is where embracing change tends to become most challenging, as it involves confronting this resistance with unwavering commitment. 

What you have to understand is that your former beliefs and former actions do not dictate your future, unless they remain the same. As the old beliefs become obsolete and new beliefs take their place, there will also be new aligned actions that produce different results, and this will serve as evidence to support your new truth. That being said, the most delusional thing that anyone can do is elect to keep an unfavorable mindset that was programmed for them by external factors and willingly relinquish their own personal power as a result of it.

Success is Fundamentally Rooted in the Mindset

How we show up for ourselves and others, communicate with employees, and perform in business are deeply connected to our mindset and everything that has shaped it. Let’s delve into these interconnected aspects and explore five transformative tips that will catalyze positive change in the workplace. 

A growth-oriented mindset encourages resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace challenges. On the other hand, a fixed mindset hinders progress and limits potential.

Tip 1: Embrace a Growth Mindset

• Establish the belief that abilities can be developed.
• View challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement.

Unpacking Trauma and Navigating the Impact

Unresolved trauma can cast a long shadow over our personal and professional lives. It shapes our reactions, influences decision-making, and impacts our interactions with others. Acknowledging and addressing trauma is essential for creating a healthier, more productive work environment.

Tip 2: Prioritize Trauma-Informed Leadership

• Cultivate empathy and understanding for individual experiences.
• Provide a safe space for open communication about trauma.
• Implement support systems and resources for employees dealing with trauma.

Elevate Relationships and Sales Performance

To enhance relationships, communication, and sales performance, a holistic approach that intertwines mindset and trauma-informed practices is key.

Tip 3: Implement Empathy-Driven Communication

• Train teams in active listening and empathetic communication.
• Create an environment where open dialogue is encouraged.
• Recognize and validate diverse perspectives, creating a culture of inclusivity.

Tip 4: Invest in Professional Development

• Offer continuous learning opportunities for employees.
• Develop leadership skills to enhance communication and relationship-building.
• Prioritize sales training programs that align with evolving market dynamics.

Tip 5: Maintain a Positive Work Culture

• Create a workplace where employees feel valued and appreciated.
• Implement recognition programs to celebrate achievements.
• Encourage a balance between professional and personal well-being.

By embracing a growth mindset, acknowledging and addressing trauma, and implementing empathetic, integrated strategies, individuals and organizations can create a transformative ripple effect. In this interconnected web of personal and professional growth, how we show up truly matters, influencing the outcomes we achieve and the impact we leave on those around us.

Enjoy the Journey 

As you embark on the empowering journey of subconscious reprogramming, remember that change takes time, and self-compassion is your greatest ally. Surround yourself with positive influences, whether it be supportive friends, inspirational books, or mindfulness practices. Seek guidance from mentors who have walked a similar path and found success in reshaping their mindset. Embrace the discomfort that may arise during this process, for it signifies the shedding of old layers to make way for the new. Reflect on your progress regularly, celebrating even the smallest victories, and be patient with yourself as you navigate the intricacies of transformation. 

In the spirit of rewriting your narrative, I encourage you to take the first step today. Commit to a daily practice of positive affirmations, visualize your desired reality, and consistently challenge self-limiting beliefs. If you would like support along the way, consider joining like-minded communities, Facebook groups, and curate your social media to reflect these new changes you want to embody. Remember, thoughts become actions, and actions reinforce beliefs. It’s never too late to embark on an empowering journey to reprogram your mind, and achieve the life you have always dreamed of! For more tips and strategies on how to improve your mindset, follow me at @bigdivineenergy .

How to Let Go of Unconscious Patterns That No Longer Serve You

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9 inspiring TED Talks you can watch in under 5 minutes

There are over 2,200  TED Talks available to watch online, and it can be overwhelming to decide which ones are worth your time.

Many of them stretch on well past 10 minutes, but there are some under five.

We've gone through all of the shortest TED Talks and picked the best inspirational ones.

The next time you take a coffee break, watch one of these and get insight into a unique way of seeing the world, in less than five minutes. 

Matt Cutts explains how a simple trick can get you to stop procrastinating

Google engineer Matt Cutts was inspired a few years ago by the filmmaker and "human guinea pig" Morgan Spurlock to try something new for 30 days.

Cutts made it a monthly ritual. He soon learned to realize early on whether or not a new habit was right for him, but even if it wasn't — like novel writing — he at least got to try it out.

"I also noticed that as I started to do more and harder 30-day challenges, my self-confidence grew," he says. "I went from desk-dwelling computer nerd to the kind of guy who bikes to work. For fun!"

Watch it here »

Arianna huffington dispels a long-held productivity myth.

Arianna Huffington, Huffington Post editor in chief, is one of the most vocal proponents of the benefits of sleep.

She explored them at length in her latest book, " The Sleep Revolution ."

In this talk, she explains that the workaholic tendency to flaunt how little sleep one needs to be productive is not based in reality.

"I was recently having dinner with a guy who bragged that he had only gotten four hours sleep the night before. And I felt like saying to him ... 'You know what? If you had gotten five, this dinner would have been a lot more interesting," she says, only half joking.

David Brooks says you should live for your eulogy, not your résumé

David Brooks, the New York Times columnist and author, is enamored with the writings of the late rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik.

Soloveitchik argued that there are two sides to every person: the external side that wants to conquer the world, and the internal side that wants to hear a calling and obey the world. Someone's personality is the result of how the struggle between these two sides play out.

Brooks says we live in a world that neglects the internal side, and "that turns you into a shrewd animal who treats life as a game, and you become a cold, calculating creature who slips into a sort of mediocrity where you realize there's a difference between your desired self and your actual self. You're not earning the sort of eulogy you want, you hope someone will give to you."

His talk is a brief meditation on how to achieve a better balance.

Eman Mohammed explains how sometimes you must be brave to be true to yourself

When Saudi photojournalist Eman Mohammed began her career in the Gaza Strip at age 19, she put a shameful spotlight on herself. In Palestinian culture, she said, women who dared venture into the field were seen as going outside of their role.

But despite mistreatment at the hands of male photographers, Mohammed pushed on, because only she was able to get up close to the lives of Palestinian women, whose stories were going undocumented.

"I became a witness with a choice: to run away or stand still," she says.

Mark Bezos tells his audience that there's never a 'right time' to give back

Mark Bezos is a senior vice president at the Robin Hood charity in New York, and a volunteer firefighter.

Donning his firefighter gear for dramatic effect, Bezos explains how his experiences have taught him that well-intentioned people often make the mistake of thinking they'll give back only after they become very successful.

"I am witness to acts of generosity and kindness on a monumental scale," he says. "But I'm also witness to acts of grace and courage on an individual basis." Bezos explains that no matter your situation, you can improve someone else's life.

Clint Smith explains that sometimes silence is the worst option

Even though there are situations when it's best to keep your thoughts to yourself to avoid confrontation, Clint Smith — a writer, educator, and award-winning slam poet — says that sometimes you can't just bite your tongue.

"We spend so much time listening to the things people are saying that we rarely pay attention to the things they don't," he says. "Silence is the residue of fear."

Derek Sivers explains how movements get started

Derek Sivers is an entrepreneur who uses his brief presentation to talk about how, when it comes to making a difference, sometimes it takes more courage to follow than to lead.

He says that "leadership is over-glorified," and that successful people are willing to set aside their egos when they recognize greatness.

Lee Mokobe shares a powerful insight into identity

Lee Mokobe is a South African poet and activist who is a transgender man.

The poem Mokobe performs in his TED Talk is a stark, honest expression of his struggle to understand his own self, and why it is both necessary and rewarding to feel compassion and empathy for people unlike ourselves.

Watch it here »

Richard st. john shows how success is not a destination.

Richard St. John uses the story of his own path to becoming a millionaire entrepreneur to illustrate how thinking of success as a destination, as achieving a set of goals, is setting yourself up for failure.

Rather, he says, true success is a lifestyle that you must dedicate yourself to indefinitely.

"Why do so many people reach success and then fail? One of the big reasons is, we think success is a one-way street. So we do everything that leads up to success, but then we get there. We figure we've made it, we sit back in our comfort zone, and we actually stop doing everything that made us successful," he says.

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Dec 2, 2022

Best Business Speech Topics and Speakers for your Next Meeting or Conference

Trying to decide on business speakers for your next conference or event? Look no further! Here at BigSpeak, we know the trending business speech topics and the best business speakers to address them. Keep reading to learn more about the hot business speech topics that our speakers can address.

Kevin O’Leary – Top Business Speaker, Respected Investor, Author, Venture Capitalist, and Judge on ABC’s Shark Tank and CNBC’s Money Court Reality Show

Featured Business Speech Topic: COLD HARD TRUTH

Kevin O’Leary, one of North America’s most successful entrepreneurs, reveals the secrets that made him rich and shares his personal advice for readers from every walk of life. Kevin describes his incredible journey, from his sometimes difficult childhood to the way he built his first company, managed personal pressures, and ultimately achieved remarkable success. His advice is engaging and practical – and will help those who read it become the best entrepreneurs and business people that they can be. Topics cover business, money, and life, including how to find your calling and turn your talents into a profitable venture; building a dream team; transforming adversity into opportunity, and making and growing your business–and your money.

Molly Bloom – Top Booked, Award-winning, Inspirational Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur, and Bestselling Author of Molly’s Game, Oscar-nominated film. Professional Athlete and Alumnus of U.S. Ski Team. 

Featured Business Speech Topic: MAKE EVERY CUSTOMER FEEL LIKE A HIGH ROLLER

 Molly Bloom didn’t know a thing about running a poker business when she was asked to set up the most exclusive high stakes poker game in Hollywood. She was faced with the daunting question: how do you create an experience that will keep the rich and famous coming back when they can go anywhere to play poker? Molly found if she built a unique customer culture, not only would players come back, the game would become so exclusive that everyone would want to be a part of it. In this exciting and informative talk, Bloom shows how she created an experience like no other for her players and how you can apply the same principles for creating an exclusive experience for your customers.

Marcus Collins – Top Booked Marketing Speaker, Head of Strategy at Wieden+Kennedy, U Michigan Business Professor, AdweekColumnist, AAF Advertising Hall of Achievement Inductee, 2022 Cannes Lions Jury Member and expert on Cultural Contagion.

Featured Business Speech Topic: CULTURAL CONTAGION: GOING BEYOND “GOING VIRAL”

Today, there is no shortage of brands, business owners or storytellers who covet the opportunity to have their ideas trend on Twitter, rack up one million+ views on YouTube, or garner thousands of Facebook likes. But are the metrics of social chatter only a proxy for genuine and long term success? Does “going viral” really lead to reach, or most importantly, drive people to take action? 

In this invaluable session, Marcus Collins reframes the benefits of “going viral” and explores how creating Cultural Contagion is a far more powerful way to generate social currency, tell your story, evoke emotion, build trust, activate networks, and to ultimately drive action, connection and commerce. Mixing behavior science and branding, he tells the back stories of brands and analyzes the most culturally contagious phenomena of our time. He also shares the four “Cs” of his “Contagion Cookbook,” the perfect recipes for anyone who wants to go beyond viral and achieve a higher level of connection, engagement and action.

Tiffani Bova – Business Growth Keynote Speaker, Innovation, Growth Evangelist, and the Author of Growth IQ.

Featured business speech topic: returning to growth.

Most businesses – think approximately 85% – will hit a growth stall at some point through their history. The past few years have thrown a spotlight on how fragile many businesses were, but it also showed how resilient organizations can be when challenged. Returning to growth will require focusing on the right things at the right time and in the right sequence.

Remember, top-line growth is never a short-term play. You must build a company that is responsive to whatever the market may throw at you. Setting the tone at the top with a clear vision on how the company will grow and what each employee can do to play their part is the key to success.

In this motivational keynote, Tiffani Bova, Global Growth Evangelist at Salesforce and WSJ bestselling author of Growth IQ, shares what it takes to stay relevant, be bold and create an engine for sustained and repeatable growth in preparation for 2023 and beyond.

Marc Randolph – Entrepreneur Speaker, Netflix Cofounder, National Bestselling Author, Executive Mentor and Angel Investor

Featured business speech topic: that will never work: the birth of netflix and the amazing life of an idea.

Netflix Founder and startup CEO Marc Randolph shares the unlikely story of how a handful of dreamers with no money and a bad idea, created the company that eventually brought down Blockbuster.  Packed with dozens of stories that trace the dramatic ups and downs of those first exciting years, Marc weaves an inspiring story that shows the value of innovation, persistence and optimism.  Along the way he shares some of the many values that he believes made Netflix successful, including a focus on analytics and testing, its novel corporate culture, and its almost fanatical obsession with focus.  Equal parts inspiration, start up story, and practical tips, it’s a message that resonates well with anyone who appreciates a good “overcoming adversity” story.

Tan Le –  Award Winning Inventor and Author, Top Booked Innovation Keynote Speaker, Top Booked Inspirational Speaker, One of the Most Influential Women in Technology

Featured business speech topic:  the neurogeneration: how the new era in brain augmentation is revolutionizing the way you think, work, and lead.

Due to rapid technological innovations in automation, A.I., and brain augmentation, there will be a dramatic disruption in social systems, political norms, and popular expectations. Society will be forced to rethink the nature of work, the way we interact with each other, and the principles on which we organize our societies. Advances in integrating humans and machines that combine analytical processing powers of computers with the creativity that is uniquely human will change how we think and lead.

In this talk, Tan Le will show automation and A.I. are not the threats they appear to be, but rather our allies as they become part of the new extended, augmented human organism.

Matthew Luhn – Top Creativity Virtual Keynote Speaker, Director, Former Lead Storyteller and Animator at Pixar Studios

Featured business speech topic: storytelling for business.

Storytelling is the #1 business skill necessary to connect, motivate, and lead people in today’s world. Stories compel us to engage in experiences, learn lessons, and define our values and ourselves within our organization. Matthew Luhn, a 20-year Pixar story veteran, brings his experience creating and developing 10 blockbuster films at Pixar, and provides practical strategies that teach and inspire people and teams to connect more effectively with audiences on an emotional level. Matthew uses the power of storytelling to bridge the gap between business and heart, driving your story toward one unforgettable selling point

Tsedal Neeley – Award Winning Author, Harvard Business School Professor and Keynote Speaker on Globalization and Digital Transformation

Featured business speech topic: it’s about leading a global and digital inclusive organization.

Inclusive is global. Divides in business are real: digital, linguistic, and cultural. When your business needs to work, thrive, and lead people who are different from each other, how do you make the most of your team’s differences? In this talk, Neeley will show the policies and practices that determine success (or not) when negotiating business divides.  Professor Neeley also utilizes case studies from Harvard Business School in her presentations.

JP Pawliw-Fry – Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Thought Leader, Leadership, Performance and Change Expert

Featured business speech topic: building a last 8% culture: keep your best people.

With 40-70% of people contemplating leaving their jobs, the challenge of retaining your best and brightest has never been greater. Yet, with many new hires in your organization and the challenges of a hybrid workplace, you are struggling to re-establish one of the most important levers you have to retain your best and brightest: your culture.

In this powerful virtual or live keynote address, your managers and leaders will learn the recent study results from our study of 6,500 leaders across many organizations that looked at what kind of culture makes people want to stay and give discretionary effort in the current environment.

Nancy Giordano – Strategic Futurist, Corporate Strategist, TEDx Austin Curator

Featured business speech topic: just one percent in: preparing for the “first productivity revolution”.

When you speak with the visionaries, technologists and entrepreneurs building the solutions of tomorrow—from on-demand retail to remote surgery—and ask how far into this new era we are, almost universally the reply is: “only one percent”. For many that is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. What will it mean for your organization?

These are just a few of the hot topics that our business speakers can address at your next conference or event. If you’re interested in learning more about any of these topics, or if you have another topic in mind, please contact [email protected] today! We’ll be happy to help you find the perfect speaker for your event.

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