Earlier this week, I attended the Get Motivated Seminar here in Portland. The speaking lineup included Colin Powell, Terry Bradshaw, Laura Bush, Bill Cosby, Rudy Guiliani, and Steve Forbes.
The Get Motivated Seminar is a huge production that, for the last 20 years, has traveled around the world inspiring people from all backgrounds to think more positively, work toward goals, build bigger businesses, among other things. It’s flashy and at times a bit over the top with pyrotechnics and confetti falling from the ceiling, but generally speaking, it’s a satisfying way to spend eight hours.
The speakers are always top notch, with great stories to share. Almost all of them have gone through adversity and heartbreak to get to where they are today, which, for people sitting in the audience with big dreams of greater success, is incredibly inspirational. I don’t think it’s possible to leave one of these events without feeling uplifted, if not motivated.
I was particularly excited about hearing Terry Bradshaw and Bill Cosby, but I expected I would enjoy something each of the other speakers shared, as well. At what other time can you hear from icons in sports, business, personal development, entertainment all in one place?
Plus the price tag was irresistible: a mere $1.95 got you the entire package.
However, there was one speaker whom I believe does not belong on the roster. Steve Forbes, the grandson of B.C. Forbes who founded Forbes Magazine in the early part of the 20th century, was the odd man out in an otherwise stellar lineup. There are two reasons I feel this way.
First, he opened his speech with a comment about having an advantage over most people in the room — he was born into wealth. If I remember correctly, isn’t one of the first rules of public speaking to identify with your audience, not alienate them?
As if that wasn’t enough, he continued for the next 15 minutes to basically brag about being a part of this multi-billion dollar family and why America’s tax code needs to be “majorly overhauled,” presumably so people like him can keep even more of their fortune.
In all fairness, Steve Forbes did motivate me — to take a bathroom break!
I do not have a problem with wealthy people. I admire and respect the self-made millionaires and billionaires in this country, and have full expectations to be among them one day myself. I do have a problem with people like Steve Forbes who have never known a day of real struggle in their life. He did not create the fortune he enjoys. He inherited it. To me, there is a huge difference between the two.
At a Get Motivated Seminar whose audience is 99% small business owners, entrepreneurs, and sales professionals who struggle every single day to get ahead and breakthrough to that next level of success, the Steve Forbes of the world do not belong on the lineup. His grandfather would be a great fit for the circuit, as his story symbolizes the American rags-to-riches success story.
But the offspring of the captains of industry two or three generations ago should not be featured speakers at these kinds of events.
I would recommend the Get Motivated Seminar to anyone who enjoys listening to great stories and seeing successful people from a wide variety of backgrounds. It really is a great day. Just note that if Steve Forbes is on the ticket for your town, you may want to plan your break around his speaking slot.
Have you ever attended a Get Motivated seminar? What did you think of it? Share your thoughts in the comments below and pass this post along if you believe others would enjoy it!
