presenting motivational speech

Crafting a Message That Inspires: 7 Tips for Giving a Motivational Speech

• Carolyn Manion Kinnie
• March 16, 2024

Table of Contents

We talk a lot about the business side of speaking on The Speaker Lab blog. That’s because the business side is really important–and something you won’t get a lot elsewhere. But we’re here to help you with all aspects of professional speaking–not just marketing, lead generation, and building your speaker website . Do you need some tips for how to give a motivational speech ? Not just any motivational speech, but a great motivational speech? We’ve got those for you. 

Here are seven tips for how to give a motivational speech that you can start applying right now. As you get ready to deliver your next talk, you can use these tips as a checklist to help your words make the greatest impact. As always, we’ve linked other resources to dig deeper into each of these topics. You can also check out our founder Grant Baldwin’s book The Successful Speaker which has a whole section on preparing and delivering your talk! 

1. Practice

Practicing your speech might seem obvious. All the same, in case you trust too much in your ability to improv a motivational keynote we’re going to chat a bit about it. You may have heard the phrase “practice makes perfect,” but we’re not about that. Don’t worry about practice making perfect–your talk does not, in fact, need to be perfect. We like to say practice makes peaceful instead. Being well-prepared is one of the best ways to calm your nerves and keep any last minute panic from interfering with your talk. 

Practicing is key, but memorizing your speech down to the letter shouldn’t be the goal. Instead, focus on internalizing your key arguments. Once you’re comfortable with those, you can change up the “filler” content with each delivery. This kind of non-memorization practice is really helpful when you deliver the same talk to different audiences. Imminent circumstances or different contexts might make it necessary to adjust your talk slightly to suit your audience. When you know all your main points through and through, you can rearrange them more easily, and if inspiration strikes you in the moment you don’t have to worry about messing up the flow of your talk. 

The best way to practice is to read your talk out loud. Start by reading it all the way through start to finish a few times to get a sense for the flow of your argument. Make changes as necessary if you notice any confusing transitions, non-sequiturs, or too much extraneous info. Then, go through your talk section by section, paragraph by paragraph. This is where you exhaustively internalize work of every point, story, joke, and transition. Once you feel prepared to deliver the talk from memory, try to video record yourself rehearsing so you can analyze your facial expressions, gestures, and pacing.

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2. Tell Stories

We harp on this one a lot. But storytelling is just that important. Stories are one of the most powerful ways to connect with your audience and make your point come alive. 

There are five storytelling strategies you can follow to help you master how to give a motivational speech. These strategies come straight from a podcast episode we did with speaker and coach Mike Pacchione.  

• Prime your audience. Storytelling is most effective when you have your audience’s full attention. Before you dive in, tell your audience that’s what’s about to happen. This could mean simply saying: “hey, I’ve got a story!” Or you can use a longer lead-in, like “something crazy happened to me once that illustrates this point. I’m going to tell you about it.” Once you say that, people pay attention. You don’t want to get started on your story while your audience is still trying to catch up to what you were talking about a minute before. 
• Use vivid details. Telling a story in itself doesn’t make your talk interesting. Use vivid details to help the story come alive for your audience. Try to keep them relevant though. If a detail doesn’t matter, your audience will fixate on it and be distracted from what matters. 
• Describe one of your characters in a sentence. This is really important for helping your audience really visualize what you’re talking about. Describe one character with one sentence about one trait. (You can describe more if the story calls for it, but only one is really necessary for helping your audience follow along). 
• Have a “tension” that gets released. Working backwards from the point you want to make, look at how your story fits into your overall message. Then, build up suspense, introduce a problem in need of solving, or utilize other “tension” in the story. This strategy serves a twofold goal. First of all, it keeps your audience on the edge of their seat waiting for what happens next! Secondly, the resolution should illuminate why the story is relevant to your talk. You want an “aha” moment– now they see what it’s all about!
• Declare the lesson learned in ten words or less. Whether you’re talking to 50 or 5,000, someone will inevitably zone out during your story. Wrap things up with a quick recap of what your listeners should take away before you move on with your talk. That way, if they missed the interesting part, they still get the requisite information. 

We have a few other podcast episodes about how to master storytelling here , here , and here . There’s no way out of it–storytelling is key when it comes to giving a motivational speech. 

3. Use humor 

Audiences love funny speakers. Humor is one of the easiest ways to draw your audience back into your talk. If you lose their attention, cracking a joke will often capture it again. Humor breaks the ice, defuses tension, and endears you to your audience. Unfunny speakers often come across as boring. Humor is a great fallback if you trip onstage or the mic stops working. If you’re not good at coming up with jokes, try to find ways to incorporate humorous side remarks, facial expressions, or gestures that make your audience laugh without demanding too much energy from you. 

It’s important to use humor that is well-fitted both to your niche and your audience. If you travel a lot for speaking engagements, that means doing some research about where you’re speaking and what they’re known for. Cracking a joke about Old Bay will go over well in Maryland but might leave a West Coast audience perplexed if not yawning. And we cannot stress this enough–avoid anything that might be considered offensive. If you have any doubt as to whether your audience will find something funny or inappropriate, go with a “safe” joke instead.

4. Close and open loops

This is one of our founder Grant Baldwin’s strategies for how to give a motivational speech that keeps your audience really engaged. Closing and opening loops helps your audience follow your argument and stay attentive. If you just rush into your talk making point after point, your audience might forget what you’ve already said or fail to make connections between parts of your speech. 

When you open a loop, you raise a question to which your audience wants to stick around and hear the answer. Closing that loop gives your audience closure, reminds them of what you’ve said already, and helps them connect the dots. Telling a story of which the meaning only becomes clear later on, for example, opens and closes a loop. So does saying “remember this–it will come in handy!” when you introduce a statistic, graph, or data point. Or you can hype up something that hasn’t happened yet: “in a few minutes, I’ll tell you _____.” Just make sure you close every loop you open!  

5. Involve your audience

Some of the best motivational speakers are those who use unorthodox but memorable means to engage with their listeners. Some ideas we have discussed on our podcast include magic, games, or using props in unexpected ways. Since your audience wants to make sure they catch what happens next, they’ll start paying attention (like when you start a joke, they listen for the punchline). Asking for a show of hands, leading a (serious or humorous) mental or physical exercise, and encouraging your audience to talk to those around them are all ideas for interaction.  

Involving your audience is a fun chance to think outside the box and do things that other speakers don’t do. Ideally, your audience will have a good time, really engage with the content of your talk, and remember what you have to say. We’ve had successful speakers come onto our podcast to share how they use everything from magic tricks to pop quizzes to interact with their audience in meaningful ways. 

6. Excel at your Q&A

Learning how to give a motivational speech goes beyond the speech itself. As we’ve discussed many times, you are the brand of your motivational speaking business. That means that how you handle your Q&A can affect the impact of your talk. 

Many motivational speakers dread the Q&A period. You can prepare, practice, and even perfect your speech to the best of your ability, but lose your presence of mind when someone asks a weird question. Though it’s tempting, you can’t count on planting allies at intervals in the auditorium who promise to ask questions that you give them in advance. Figuring out how to deal with questions of all kinds on the fly is part of becoming a good motivational speaker . 

Keep all your answers short and ask audience members to raise their hands before they say anything. This will start things off in an orderly and timely fashion. If an audience member rambles or gets off track, don’t feel shy about interrupting! You’re the one getting paid to speak. Gently redirect or restate the question, give your answer, and move on. It’s never a bad idea to say “I don’t know off the top of my head, but you can email me later” and share an easy way to contact you. 

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7. Win over your audience off the stage.

Interacting with people before and after your talk can make them more agreeable to what you say onstage. At big conferences, there are usually built-in opportunities like cocktail hours or welcome receptions that fulfill this purpose. In the absence of those events, small tweaks to your schedule can go a long way toward winning over your audience. You might be able to hang out during the half hour before your talk, introducing yourself and chatting with people as they walk in. By the time you go onstage, you’ll have a few friends and allies in the audience already. 

We recommend when possible to make yourself available for questions and conversations after your talk. Is that too late to make an impression on your audience? We don’t think so! Being there to address their questions and help them put your talk into action makes a huge impact. And if you announce that you will be available before you start your talk, you have already established your brand as a helpful speaker who really cares about their audience. These conversations are a great opportunity to direct audience members to other products and resources you offer, like an email list or course . It’s a win-win! 

Speakers who are very introverted or travel from gig to gig won’t want to spend much time on this so they can preserve their energy. (We have a podcast episode about speaking as an introvert right here .) If that describes you, that’s totally fine! Just find another area of your speechcraft or marketing to pour some of that effort into. Remember, while giving a great speech is the best marketing for your speaking business, it shouldn’t be the only thing you do. building a good rapport with clients and audience members helps a lot too!

These are our top seven tips for how to give a motivational speech, but it doesn’t stop here! Many other factors contribute to preparing and delivering a great talk. Becoming a great speaker is all about finding the strategies that suit your message and your mission. 

• Last Updated: March 16, 2024

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Writing a motivational speech: A guide to inspire, engage, and transform

In moments of vulnerability, motivational speeches act as shining beacons of hope. They form a bridge between where you currently stand and the destinations you aspire to reach, reigniting your spark of hope and potential. In this article, we’ll show you how to master the art of writing a motivational speech. By following these strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to create speeches that not only captivate but also inspire.

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Shaping actions or shifting beliefs? The difference between motivational vs. persuasive speech

Motivational speeches and persuasive speeches both seek to influence audiences, but they do so in distinct ways. Motivational speeches are designed to ignite emotions and inspire listeners on a personal level. They often use anecdotes and stories to create a strong emotional connection, aiming to empower and motivate individuals to pursue positive changes in their lives.

On the other hand, persuasive speeches focus on presenting logical arguments, data, and evidence to convince the audience to adopt a particular viewpoint or take specific actions. They prioritize rational persuasion, aiming to change opinions, beliefs, or behaviors by providing well-structured reasoning and factual support.

To summarize, the key differences between these two speeches are as follows:

• Emotion vs. Logic: Motivational speeches evoke emotions, while persuasive speeches lean on logical appeals.
• Focus: Motivational speeches use personal stories, while persuasive speeches present information and reasoning.
• Outcome: Motivational speeches aim to inspire and motivate, while persuasive speeches seek to change minds or prompt actions.

How to Write a Motivational Speech that Ignites Change

Creating a motivational speech that truly resonates requires a thoughtful approach. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you craft an impactful motivational speech:

Step 1: Define Your Purpose and Message

Start by clarifying the purpose of your speech. What do you want to achieve? Whether it’s inspiring personal growth, overcoming challenges, or embracing change, your purpose will guide the entire speech. Define a clear, concise message that encapsulates the core idea you want to convey.

Let’s say your goal is to inspire professionals to adopt a more balanced approach to work. Your message could revolve around the theme of achieving success through work-life balance. This theme captures the core idea of balancing career aspirations with personal well-being. If your purpose is to motivate students to overcome obstacles and excel academically, your message could center around the theme of unleashing inner potential.

With this theme, you’re conveying the message that challenges are opportunities for growth and that each student possesses untapped potential.

Step 2: Know your audience

Understand your audience’s aspirations, challenges, and emotions, and tailor your message to resonate with their experiences. Consider demographics, interests, and the context of the event to create a speech that speaks directly to them.

Suppose you’re speaking to a high school graduating class. They’re on the cusp of embarking on their individual journeys, be it higher education or the workforce. Your speech could empathize with their uncertainty while emphasizing the boundless opportunities ahead.

Incorporate stories of renowned personalities who faced similar crossroads, illustrating how resilience and a willingness to embrace change led to remarkable achievements.

Step 3: Craft a compelling opening

Grab your audience’s attention from the beginning. Start with a captivating quote, a relatable anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a surprising statistic. Your opening should set the tone and pique curiosity. As you develop your narrative, ensure it flows seamlessly from your attention-grabbing opening. The transition should feel natural, guiding your audience into the heart of your speech.

Step 4: Develop the main points

Organize your speech into a coherent structure with main points that support your message. Each main point should be a key idea that reinforces your overall theme. Use personal stories, examples, and facts to make your points relatable and engaging.

Step 5: Include inspiring stories

When you share narratives that mirror the challenges, triumphs, and aspirations of your audience, you create a connection that bridges the gap between the stage and the seats. These stories validate the experiences of your listeners, fostering a sense of empathy and understanding that cultivates an atmosphere of shared purpose.

Real-life examples hold a special allure. The accounts of ordinary people who have achieved extraordinary feats lend authenticity to your speech. These stories emphasize that success is attainable by anyone willing to invest effort, perseverance, and a commitment to personal growth. They dismantle the notion of unreachable heroes and replace it with the belief that greatness resides within the grasp of each person.

Step 6: Evoke emotions

Emotions are universal threads that bind humanity. When you share stories infused with relatable emotions, you create an immediate bridge between your experiences and those of your audience. They’ll feel seen and understood, fostering a sense of connection that enhances receptivity to your message.

Use vivid language, metaphors, and descriptive imagery to evoke feelings that resonate with your message.

Step 7: Build a climax

Build momentum throughout your speech, leading to a powerful climax. This is the moment of peak emotion and inspiration. It’s where you drive home your main message with maximum impact.

Step 8: Provide practical insights

Offer practical insights, tips, or action steps that your audience can apply in their lives. This adds value to your speech and empowers listeners to act after the event.

Step 9: Maintain positivity

Maintain a positive and hopeful tone throughout your speech. Your goal is to encourage your audience to focus on solutions and opportunities rather than dwelling on challenges.

Step 10: Craft a memorable closing

End your speech with a strong and memorable closing. Summarize your key points, reiterate your message, and leave the audience with an impression. Consider using a powerful quote, a call to action, or an uplifting statement.

Wrapping up

As you weave your speech, consider the faces before you, the dreams they carry, and the hurdles they face. Your words can be the guiding light that illuminates the path to realization, resilience, and rejuvenation.

As you conclude your motivational speech, remember that you are not just imparting words; you’re instilling hope, sparking transformation, and leaving an indelible mark on the souls of those who are fortunate enough to hear you.

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Also, be sure to grab our free eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations .  It will help you master the presentation process, from: initial idea, through to writing, design, and delivering with impact.

Read on to learn how to make a memorable speech that inspires others.

1. How to Plan a Motivational Business Speech

You can't just jump right into writing your speech. A great motivational speech takes planning. Here are the planning steps you need to understand:

Step 1. Know Your Audience

If you really want your speech to motivate your listeners, you need to understand who your listeners are. People respond differently to messages based on their interests and background.

Also, understanding your audience is how you find out what they're interested in so that you can appeal to those interests. It's that appeal directly to your listener's interests that will motivate them.

If you're a student, you likely have a head start in this area. It's likely that your listeners will be other students in your class. You may even know some of them personally. But you still have some work to do in this area. Learn what you can about the makeup of your class. Here are some questions to research:

• Are most students full-time or part-time?
• What's the age range of the students in the class?
• Have they been at the school long?
• What are most of the students in the class majoring in?
• What are their interests?

If you're giving a business speech, you may not know your audience members personally. But you can still do some research to find out a little bit about them.

Depending on whether your business markets to consumers or to other businesses, it's likely your audience will be made up of either consumers (the public) or representatives of businesses. Either way, here are some questions to research:

• I f aud ience members represent businesses, what's their job function?
• If your listeners represent companies, what's the s ize and i ndustry of those companies?
• What are their concerns?
• What's the age range of the audience members?
• Are the audience members current clients, prospective clients, or a mix?

If you'll be giving your business speech at a public venue such as a conference, ask the conference organizers to provide you with demogr ap hic information about the conference attendees. If you'll be giving your speech at a private location, say a client's office, learn what you can about the company before you go.

Regardless of whether your audience is students, consumers, or businesses--be sure to take into consideration any cultural differences.

Step 2. Know Your Subject

You may think that you know your topic already, but a general knowledge of your subject matter isn't good enough if you want to write a memorable speech. Look for the aspects of the subject that affect your audience directly. When you can, give specific details rather than generalizations.

For example, say " 75% of our clients save money in the first year " instead of " most of our clients save money. " 

Don't forget to anticipate questions or concerns your listeners might have. Research and find the answers. Plan to address the most common concerns during your speech, but remember the other questions in case you're asked about them afterward.

It also helps to have charts and graphs to illustrate and support your information. (More on this later...)

Step 3. Have a Vision

Know what you want your audience to do after hearing your motivational speech and plan your speech accordingly. Your entire speech should be focused on moving your audience in the direction you want them to take.

Explain why the subject of your speech is important to your audience. Describe how the next steps they take can make a difference. But be sincere. Remember, your audience won't care about your topic (or take action) unless you care. And they'll be able to tell if you care. You can't motivate an audience to care about a topic you don't care about.

Towards the end of your speech, ask your listeners to take the next step. Again, be specific. If you want your audience to perform a particular task, tell them what that action is and explain how to do it. If you want them to make a purchase, provide the information (such as a URL, phone number, or location) that allows them to do make that purchase.

2. How to Write an Inspirational Speech

Now that you've done some planning, you're ready to start writing your motivational speech. Here's how to write it:

Step 1. Use an Outline

An outline helps you stay organized as you write your motivational speech. Your outline should have a beginning, middle, and end.

Start by writing the introduction and conclusion to your speech. Many speechwriters find this easiest to do during the outline step. The introduction is especially important because you need to capture and hold the audience's attention in it. 

Here's a good tutorial on how to create a powerful introduction and strong conclusion for your speech: 

Once you've written the introduction and conclusion of your motivational speech, you're ready to add the main points (or middle) to your outline.

Step 2. Stay Focused

In the main points of your speech, explain why the topic is important to your audience. Here are some common ways to show that your subject matter is important:

• Appeal to the audience's emotions or sense of justice.
• Show how different things can be.
• Explain how one (or more) of the listeners' problems can be solved.

As you add the main points to your outline, limit the number of points you plan to cover to three points (or four, at most). Too many points will cause your presentation to drag out and may even confuse your listener.

As you're narrowing points down, try ranking the points in importance from most important to least important. Keep your vision in mind during this ranking. Rank those points that relate to your vision or purpose for the speech higher. The other points should be ranked lower.

If you've got more than four main points on your outline draft, remove the lowest ranked points and focus on the higher, more relevant points.

Step 3. Be Conversational

When your outline is complete, you're ready to write your speech.

As you write your speech, adopt a conversational tone. Address your listeners directly. Show how each point relates to your audience members.

To be perceived as friendlier, avoid formal language and use short sentences. The goal is to write your speech so that it flows naturally and is easily understood.

Ideally, your speech should sound like you're talking to a friend. Avoid obscure phrases, legalese, and other speech patterns that are difficult to follow. If you'll be giving the speech in a language that's not native for you, you may need to enlist a native speaker to help you with this.

Step 4. Tell an Inspirational Story

Some of the most inspiring speeches include inspirational stories. Stories can illustrate your vision for your audience in a concrete way.

But be real. Audiences can spot a phony story. Positive case studies and inspirational examples can be quite motivational. So, it's a good idea to include these if you've got them.

If you can get quotes that support your speech's points, use them too. Audiences love to hear the experiences of real people. Even better, record and play short videos (a minute or two) where customers or others share their experiences.

3. How to Make a Speech Memorable With Templates & Images

Now that you've written a memorable speech, it's time to pull the entire presentation together. You'll do this by bringing your motivational speech into a presentation tool and incorporating graphics and other media. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Choose a Presentation Tool

The presentation tool you use to give your presentation is important. Some tools are easier to use than others. And not all presentation tools are available in all venues. Make sure that the venue where you'll give your motivational speech supports the presentation tool you intend to use. If you're not sure, ask.

If you're required to use a particular presentation tool--for example, if you're a student--then the decision of what tool to use is easy. But if you can use any presentation tool you like, you may be wondering which one to choose. There are many choices available. This article compares three of the most popular presentation tools:

Once you've selected a presentation tool, make sure that you can use it. Our PowerPoint learning guide and our Google Slides learning guide can help you get up to speed quickly.

Step 2. Use Templates

Once you've chosen your presentation tool, it's time to start thinking about how your presentation will look. You want it to be eye-catching, but professional. A sloppy, unprofessional design distracts from your message. Avoid the following:

• using too many different fonts
• p utting too much on a single slide
• c lashing color schemes

Of course, you could design your own presentation template for your motivational speech. But that could take hours--especially if you're not a professional designer.

A better plan is to use pre-designed professional template such as those available through Envato Elements or GraphicRiver . With a pre-designed template, you'll get the use of template designed by a professional designer that can be customized for your specific needs. To get an idea of what types of templates are available, look at this article:

Step 3. Choose the Right Images

A good presentation should also include photos, charts, and graphs to support the points being made. Powerful images can evoke emotion and capture your listeners' imaginations. They can play a large role in an effective motivational speech.

However, the images you use in your presentation must be professional to be effective. Sloppy graphs or poorly focused images make a bad impression and take away from your effectiveness. Make sure that any images you add to your presentation are of high quality.

If you're wondering where to find good quality images, look no further. You'll find a wide variety of photos and other types of images on Envato Elements .

4. How to Prepare to Give Your Motivational Speech

Once you've finished putting your speech into your presentation tool, you may think you're ready to give it. You're not. Follow these steps to make final preparations to give your motivational speech:

Step 1. Review and Revise

Whether you're a student or representing a business, mistakes in your inspirational speech make you look bad. Review your presentation carefully to ensure that there are no errors in it. Here are some common mistakes speakers make:

• d e s ign mista kes like cutting a graphic off the edge of a p age or wo rds that flow off the edge of a slide
• factual errors, such as misattributing a quote or typos that make statistics incorrect
• spelling and grammar errors and other typos

After a careful review, fix any mistakes that you find before giving your inspirational speech.

Step 2. Practice

Once you're sure that your presentation slides are error free, it's time for you to practice giving your speech. The more you practice, the more comfortable with it you'll be.

Practice is also important, because it can help you judge how long your presentation will be. Practice can also help you get the pacing right. After you've practiced your speech several times, you may decide to make a few minor adjustments to your inspirational speech so that it's easier for you to give.

Learn how to avoid some common presentation mistakes and discover other presentation tips in these tutorials:

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You've just learned how to prepare a motivational speech. Your speeches should now be more memorable and more effective at reaching your listeners. Now that you've learned how to inspire your listeners, you're ready to give your motivational speech. Good luck!

Editorial Note: This content was originally published in 2018. We're sharing it again because our editors have determined that this information is still accurate and relevant.

Motivational Speech Examples

Many motivational speech examples from movies and famous people continue to inspire others at graduations, school assemblies, sporting events, business meetings, fitness centers, and weight loss groups. 

Speakers are often asked to deliver an inspirational, motivational speech to a group of people. If you haven’t noticed how often speeches mark events or occasions you attend, watch a few movies. Motivational speech examples abound!

The speeches in the media offer inspiration – and great ideas – for how to five speeches in real-life events.

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Motivational Speech Examples In The Media

Some of the best motivational speeches are watched repeatedly, essentially going viral. Some of the best include:

• Charlie Chapin, The Great Dictator
• Bill Pullman, Independence Day
• Russell Crowe, Gladiator
• Al Pacino, Any Given Sunday
• Billy Bob Thornton, Friday Night Lights
• Kenneth Branagh, Henry V
• Charlies S, Dutton, Rudy
• John Belushi, Animal House
• Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, Shawshank Redemption
• Bill Murray, Scrooged

You can enjoy these clips and read the whole list of popular media motivational speeches here . The question is, how do you write a memorable address that is sure to inspire in your own life?

What 3 Things Make A Good Motivational Speech?

A commonly asked question is what should be included in a motivational speech to make it effective. Many speech writing templates can prove helpful. These three aspects should be present when focusing on a motivational or inspirational speech.

• A Clear Purpose:  Anytime you give a speech, starting with a clear purpose is essential. That will help you to hone in on the main critical points you want to address. Knowing the occasion, audience, and venue will all help make topic decisions.
• Personal Stories:  Telling moving personal stories and anecdotes are excellent ways to get the audience to engage with you right from the start. Sharing your own experience from your personal life makes you relatable to those listening.
• Audience Appropriate and Relevant:  Knowing your audience is also essential to success in public speaking. Whether you are a keynote speaker at a conference or the valedictorian speaking at commencement, consider everyone assembled who will be listening. This will guide the main ideas you choose to share.

When Are Motivational Speeches Often Given?

There are many occasions when one might want to have a motivational speaker.

• Award Ceremonies:  There are many situations where one might hire someone to give a motivating speech in conjunction with an awards ceremony. Whether you are speaking of a “hard work pays off” address for sports awards or a call to action at a ceremony by your employer honoring accomplishments, this type of speech will be appropriate. Imagine you are part of a weight loss organization and, as a beginner, had the opportunity to listen to someone who had lost over 100 pounds. Might that leave you feeling hopeful and inspired?
• Commencement:  Although there is usually more than one speaker at a graduation ceremony, only one person has the opportunity to give the main commencement address.
• Retirement Parties:  As people gather to celebrate someone’s retirement, it is appropriate for a coworker to speak inspirational or motivating words. Whether the individual has survived adversity, fulfilled dreams, or reached goals, their story can motivate others to hear.
• Special Events:  Often, speeches mark other types of special events. As significant events are kicked off, such as pre-marathon parties or the beginning of a sports season, having someone come and give a “never give up” speech would be a great introduction to the season. Schools often have assemblies to inspire the student body to strive for greatness.

What Are Some Motivational Speech Examples For Different Occasions?

Many speeches with inspiring takeaways motivate anyone with ears to listen and serve as excellent examples of motivational speaking. Whether you are a Harvard graduate sitting at the commencement or a high school football player listening to your coach give a pregame pep talk, hearing the right words at just the right moment can be life-changing.

Business Success

J.K. Rowling   – Benefits of Failure and The Importance of Imagination Motivational Speech –  “So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was and began directing all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered. The knowledge that you  have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks  means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself or the strength of your.”

Steve Jobs –  Founder of Apple, speaks at Stanford University Commencement, How to Live Before You Die. –  “So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well-worn path, and that will make all the difference.”

Commencement Speeches

Denzel Washington  – University of Pennsylvania Commencement Speech –  “Fail big. That’s right. Fail big. This is the beginning of the rest of your life, and it can be very frightening. It’s a new world out there, and it’s a mean world out there, and you only live once. So do what you feel passionate about.Take chances professionally. Don’t be afraid to fail. There’s an old IQ test with nine dots, and you had to draw five lines with a pencil within these nine dots without lifting the pencil, and the only way to do it was to go outside the box. So don’t be afraid to go outside the box. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to fail big, to dream big.”

Jim Carrey :  Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management –  “Life doesn’t happen to you; it happens for you.”

Crushing Goals

David Goggins:  Outwork Everyone Else –  “I am a World Champion because I was willing to  outwork , out hustle and outperform everyone. That’s what it takes: hard work!”

Coach Tony D’Amato’s –  (Al Pacino) Motivational Speech In Any Given Sunday (Also called the Inch by Inch Speech) –  “Either we heal as a team, or we’re going to crumble,  inch by inch,  play by play, til we’re finished. We’re in hell right now, gentlemen, believe me. And we can stay here, get the shit kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb out of hell, one inch at a time.”

Sylvester Stallone’s  Motivational Speech to His Son In Rocky Balboa –  “Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are. It will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit.  It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.  How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”

Rosalinde Terres   Ted Talk: What It Takes to be a Great Leader –  “There’s an expression: Go along to get along. But if you follow this advice, chances are, as a leader, you’re going to keep doing what’s familiar and comfortable.  Great leaders dare to be different.  They don’t just talk about risk-taking; they actually do it. And one of the leaders shared with me the fact that the most impactful development comes when you are able to build the emotional stamina to withstand people telling you that your new idea is naïve or reckless, or just plain stupid. Now interestingly, the people who will join you are not your usual suspects in your network. They’re often people that think differently and therefore are willing to join you in taking a courageous leap. And it’s a leap, not a step.”

Simon Sinek:   Be the Leader You Wish You Had –  “The  great leaders are not the strongest; they are the ones who are honest about their weaknesses.  The great leaders are not the smartest; they are the ones who admit how much they don’t know. The great leaders can’t do everything; they are the ones who look to others to help them.”

More Speeches Worth a Look

• Brené Brown  – “The Power of Vulnerability”
• HESMotivation  – Believe in Yourself Motivational Speech
• John Wooden  – The Difference Between Winning and Succeeding
•  Martin Luther King – I Have a Dream Speech
•   Will Smith –  Speech from The Pursuit of Happyness

A former English teacher and currently an elementary principal in a rural school, Pam has honed her speaking skills in the classroom and before professional groups. Pam enjoys sharing her insights about public speaking almost as much as she enjoys running, which she does daily.

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100 Motivational Speech Topics

Choosing the right motivational speech topics can be a difficult task. It’s important to select topics that will engage and inspire your audience. Whether you’re speaking to a group of employees, students, or community members, the topics you choose should be relevant to your audience and be something they can connect to. 

To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 101 motivational speech topics that will help you reach your desired goals. From inspiring stories to actionable advice, these topics will give you the tools you need to inspire and motivate your audience.

• Unleashing Your Creativity
• Unlock Your Potential: Harness the Power of Positive Thinking
• Embracing Diversity 
• Transform Fear into Strength
• Make Failure a Stepping Stone to Success
• Choose Courage Over Fear: Overcome Your Challenges and Reach Your Goals
• Start Small and Create Big Impact: Live with a Purpose and Make a Difference
• Discover the Power of Resilience
• Overcoming Adversity and Finding Your Purpose
• Cultivate Gratitude: Appreciate What You Have and Create a Life of Abundance
• The Law of Attraction: How to Manifest Your Desires
• How to Live a Fulfilling Life
• The Journey to Personal Growth
• Embracing Change
• Don’t Settle for Anything Less
• Make a Difference in the World: Find Your Voice
• Be Fearless and Believe in Yourself
• You Are Stronger Than You Think 
• Overcoming Challenges
• Taking Control of Your Journey
• Remember Your Why: Staying Inspired and Motivated
• Unlock Your Inner Wisdom
• The Potential for Growth and Achievement
• Unlock Your Hidden Potential
• Create the Future You Want
• The Art of Communication: Building Strong Relationships and Connections
• The Role of Positive Habits in Success
• The Journey to Success: Lessons from Inspiring Role Models
• Visualize Your Success and Make it Happen
• Unleash Your Inner Leader: Strategies for Becoming a Leader
• The Art of Self-Confidence: How to Believe in Yourself
• How to Reclaim Your Life and Pursue Your Dreams
• The Link Between Success and Confidence: How to Boost Both
• Making the Most of Your Time
• Don’t Just Waste Time – Invest It
• Prioritizing to Get the Most Out of Each Day
• Carpe Diem – Seize the Day
• Don’t Let Time Become Your Master
• Your Self-Worth is Not Defined by Others
• Start Loving Yourself Today
• Living Courageously and Reaping the Rewards
• Daring to Dream Big
• Rising Above Fear and Uncertainty
• Maximizing Your Productivity: Tips and Strategies
• The Role of Habits in Being Productive
• The Power of a Positive Mindset and Productivity
• Finding Your Flow: How to Get into a Productive State of Mind
• The Importance of Taking Breaks and Recharging
• The Power of Planning and Organization in Increasing Productivity
• Benefits of Eating Healthy: Why It’s Important for Your Body and Mind”
• Power of a Balanced Diet and How to Achieve It
• Importance of Eating Real, Whole Foods
• The Role of Hydration in a Healthy Diet
• Overcoming Cravings and Making Healthy Choices
• How to Make Healthy Eating a Sustainable Lifestyle
• The Power of Plant-Based Eating
• The Importance of Meal Planning and Preparing Healthy Meals
• The Connection Between Mind and Body: How Healthy Eating Affects Your Mental Health
• Overcoming the Imposter Syndrome: Believing in Your Own Enoughness
• Reframing Your Inner Critic and Believing in Your Own Capabilities
• Taking Pride in Your Accomplishments
• Confidence is a Choice: How to Make It Yours
• Creating a Confident Mindset
• Your Body is a Work of Art: Celebrate It
• Find Gratitude in Your Physical Being
• Your Body is a Temple: Treat It with Care and Respect
• Focus on Health and Well-Being, Not Appearance
• How to Overcome the Fear of Judgement
• The Art of Letting Go
• How to Reject the Pressure to Fit In
• The True Meaning of Freedom
• How to Pursue Your Own Path
• How to Find the Courage to Stand Out from the Crowd
• Overcoming the Fear of Criticism
• How to Let Go of Other People’s Opinions
• Live a Life Unbound by Society’s Rules
• The Art of Being Fearless
• The Courage to Choose Your Own Path: How to Tune Out the Naysayers
• Embrace Your True Self
• How to Find Authenticity in a World of False Standards 
• The Art of Problem-Solving
• Finding the Silver Lining: How to Make the Most of Difficult Situations
• How to Bounce Back from Setbacks
• Turning Challenges into Opportunities
• From Adversity to Triumph
• The Mindset of a Champion
• The Power of Focus and Determination
• Reaching the Summit: How to Achieve Success
• The Top of the Mountain: Celebrating Your Accomplishments and Looking Ahead
• The Secret to Staying at the Top
• Turning Dreams into Reality: How to Reach the Highest Level of Success 
• Climbing the Ladder of Success
• Reaching the Pinnacle of Achievement
• Achieving Success in the Face of Adversity
• Living with Purpose: Stepping into Your Potential and Making an Impact
• Don’t Just Survive, Thrive: Living Life with Intention
• Life Is What You Make It
• Appreciating What You Have and Going After What You Want
• Life Is Yours to Create: Making Your Mark and Making a Difference
• Embracing the Present Moment 

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, motivational speech topics can be used to inspire and motivate audiences of all ages. They can be tailored to specific audiences and topics, making them a great way to reach out to people who may be struggling with something. Whether it’s a fear of failure, a lack of self-confidence, or just a desire to make positive changes in their lives, motivational speech topics can provide the spark needed to make those changes. 

Related Posts:

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Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

34 Topics For a Great Motivational Speech

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Good public speaking speech topics and topics for an actuating speaker.

And a set of brand new ideas to prompt and propel your listeners to discover new views, contemporary worlds and unfamiliar opinions.

Let’s start with the behavior-altering speech topics.

In this article:

Motivational Speech Topics

The monroe’s motivated sequence pattern, comparative advantages pattern, call to action speech topics.

If you succeed to get them to act like you propose, then you happen to be expert as a motivational speaker!

Can We Write Your Speech?

Get your audience blown away with help from a professional speechwriter. Free proofreading and copy-editing included.

• How to motivate the audience members to change their nutrition and diet food behavior and consume enough of fruit and vegetables daily.
• Does the iPod speech technology foreced PC users to migrate to Apple? Or work out other issues related to computers and stuff like that for alternative good public speaking speech topics.
• Five strategies to promote savings for a comfortable life when you are retired. (You know, for example, the earlier students start with a solid personal pension plan, the better their retirement situation later … )
• Five humanitarian things you can do to help other people after a hurricane, tropical cyclone or other natural disaster.

E.g. tell about a non-governmental organization (NGO) like the International Red Cross or Red Crescent Movement.

• How to motivate scouts to get a complicated job done as a team?
• Free coffee service at work helps to increase the productivity and loyalty of employees.
• How to convince an African tribe that there has been a man on the moon. That is a real big challenge for motivational public speaking 🙂 – a good idea for some interaction with your listeners.
• Methods for coaching and training a cheerleader team, and show how you motivate them to win competitions.
• Scientific discoveries that make living with color blindness easier.
• What the heck, just go after your dreams and your own pursuit of happiness!

Good public speaking speech topics for the cause of changing opinions on hot topics, or amazing undiscovered ideas that could give insight in not very well-known themes and subjects:

• Measuring national well-being is measuring national happiness.
• Conscious living results in personal growth.
• Managing people means leading, motivating, inspiring, and encouraging workers by applying motivational and other persuasive speech topics in chats in between the official functioning interviews that are held often each half a year.
• Why and how to re-program your own memory structures with wise vizualisation techniques and avoid expectation failure.
• Be pro-active in all you want to achieve, it pays off in the end.
• Having to do things that we do not enjoy doing is called discipline.
• Why people are never satisfied with what they have.
• Happiness can be measured.
• Making fun in life is more important than working.
• Personal experience is more valuable than knowledge gained at school.
• Time is much more worth than money.
• Waiting is the hardest part of life.
• Why nasty radio, television and internet programs should be banned.
• Congress shall not abridge the freedom of speech, under no circumstances. (Retrieved from the constitutional fundamental political principles)
• Convince your public that playing golf after someone’s retirement is not a complete waste of time.
• How to motivate students to see the relevance of researching education resources for good public speaking speech topics.
• Teens who play violent games do worse in school than teens who do not.
• Botox injections make women look unnatural with an artificial facial expression.
• Do not take illegal steroids in sports activities, they are dangerous!
• The One Minute praising method is the ultimate answer on the How to Motivate Your Employees question.
• Video games encourage teamwork and cooperation when played with others.
• Football stadiums are modern equivalents of Ancient Roman amphitheatres.

Not found what you like? Try my other list:

• Local veterinarians should make health care control visits for the animals in pet shops. Because sometimes you have no idea what you notice in such animal so-called welfare stores – not to mention the smell 🙂
• Why an implanted microchip is the most reliable identification purpose system for the recovery of your companion animals. Put between one of the shoulder blades that are just beneath the surface.
• Architects and urban planners should be more aware of the values of a rich wildlife population in urban areas – e.g. squirrels, skunks, raccoons.
• Global environmental issues can only be solved by discussing an interdisciplinary and multicultural approach.
• The planet’s ecosystem is the base of the human race.
• The effects of wind turbines, or so-called wind farms, on the weather, bird population and local communities. And do not forget to explicate the effects on human health of the loud noise the sometime make. And the impact on the landscape views.
• How to earn and implement an ISO 14001 certification on Environmental Management, and why it is important.
• How climate change affects society; federal, state and cities.
• What are the costs of an earthquake, a tsunami, a volcanic eruption or a hurricane hurricanes or a wild fire? Evacuation, rescueworkers, rebuilding, et cetera.
• If the sea level rises by over 1 feet, what are the consequences? What about 2 feet? 3 perhaps? Those are variation public speaking persuasive speech topics. And: what if our temperature rises with 1 degree, 2, or even 3?
• The quality of our water supplies is threatened by many pollutants, causing water-related diseases.
• Why you, as a speechwriting student, need to learn about earth sciences in class, including biology, chemistry and physics.
• Ocean acidification on marine organisms intensifies and there is a relation with the CO2 increase in our atmosphere.

Motivated Sequence Patterns

These patterns are often applied by famous speakers. If you follow the order precisely nothing can go wrong.

A very useful to elaborate on motivational speech topics. When professor Alan Monroe designed this sequence in the thirties of the previous century he uses elements of the psychology of persuasion.

Step #1 – Attention Get the attention of your public. State the importance of your specific angle of approach. List the main benefits to arouse interest.

Step #2 – Need State the need for change. Show why it should concern them. Relate the issue or problem to the values, attitudes, interests and needs of the listeners.

Step #3 – Satisfaction Satisfy their needs. Provide the details and interesting facts. Show how your solution works.

Step #4 – Visualization Visualize the benefits. That is the heart of the message. Illustrate them with examples, anecdotes, comparisons, statistics, definitions and visual aids. Show successful implementation in other organizations. Tell your public what’s in it for them.

Step #5 – Call to Action Call to action. Show them what to do to implement your plan.

This looks like the one above and is often used for business presentations. The big difference occurs in the  satisfy  and  visualization  steps. In those steps you have to compare and contrast two or more plans, solutions or alternatives.

Show your listeners which one is the best. E.g.: Compare and contrast two cellphones and tell which one is the first-class one for your job or personal life and why.

You have just one goal: to instigate your audience to act or to agree. Write down what you want them to do, and how you are going to persuade them that you are right. Phrase your goal in a declarative statement, in a way that will motivate.

There are two ways:

1. The first way is the use of the imperative mood in relation to activities, issues or problems at college, in your work environment, or in your community. Examples:

Become involved in …, Buy …, Change …, Choose …, Do …, Donate …, Establish …, Join …, Make …, Pay …, Quit …, Sell …, Sign …, Study …, Support …, Take …, Volunteer …, Vote …

2. Another way to create good verbal addresses is to relate these general themes below to personal, educational or professional activities, issues or problems:

Breakthroughs – Career Development – Challenge – Change – Coaching – Commitment – Communication – Competence – Competitiveness – Confidence – Decision Making – Discipline – Effective Meetings – Ensure Safety – Ergonomics – Focused Thinking – Future – Involvement – Inspiration – Integrity – Interpersonal Skills – Leadership – Negotiation Tactics – Personal Effectiveness – Personal Growth – Personal Improvement – Personal Productivity – Personal Wellness – Responsibility – Self Respect – Set Realistic Goals – Stress – Teambuilding – Teamwork – Trends – Values – Work Ethics

Call to action speech topics are equal to (specimen):

• Sharing emotions,
• Initiating a debate on a hot topic,
• Promoting your book or other craftsman project,
• Forcing a change in daily habits,
• Motivating them to achieve something in life,
• Persuading your listeners to vote for you in some kind of an election campaign.

For example:

• Protest Against Nuclear Testing.
• Sign up For My Newsletter.
• Make Every Workday Feel Like a Lazy Sunday.
• Remember The Oath You Took For Your Country.
• Sponsor Our Center for Community Innovation.
• Improve Your Concentration Skills With Mind and Mental Exercises.
• Provide Good Conditions For Teambuilding and Cooperating.
• Just Think Positive!
• Always Affirm Your Business Deals in Writing.
• Set at Least One Career Goal a Year.
• Relax, and Your Presentation Will Be Better.
• Enjoy Walking the Great Wall of China.
• Release Your Life With Energy Psychology and Meridian Energy Therapies.
• Do Not Hesitate, Make a Decision About Your Future.
• Prioritize Your Daily Goals.
• Volunteer in Thailand For Tsunami Reconstruction Jobs.

These are random Toastmasters International examples. Watch the so-called  action words and verbs , I have written them in italic style. As you perhaps have noticed, the list of phrases and terms is open to your sole discretion …

Other action terms could be:

change, profit, produce, nominate, sale, master, save, vote, help, reward, reveal, map out, manage, organize, invent, modernize, et cetera.

You see, almost every active verb can be the base of an appealing motivational call to action speech topics. Be creative and find yourself a way in discovering other words

120 History Speech Topics [and Cultural Artifact Speech]

200+ Good Impromptu Speech Topics

5 thoughts on “34 Topics For a Great Motivational Speech”

My topic is “your ability”. In this topic we can tell listeners about their ability by giving some examples and thoughts and can motivate them to do a work / task in which they are able and interested . This speech motivate them to identify their ability and to become a successful person.

All people in society need motivation. It plays a very good role in the success of the people.I am agree with this article.

Surviving h.I.v. I’ve been positive for 28 years

The Face Behind The Mask

Your article is great but I would like to point out that I don’t understand where you would get an African tribe that would be hard to convince that there has been a man on the moon. Why would that be a challenge??? I quote you below: “How to convince an African tribe that there has been a man on the moon. That is a real big challenge for motivational public speaking – a good idea for some interaction with your listeners.”

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The 24 Best Motivational Speeches Our Employees Have Ever Heard

Published: July 19, 2023

It was halftime during one of my 7th-grade football games. And we were losing 14 - 0. With our knees planted in the grass, my team was quietly huddled, drenched in sweat and defeat. Suddenly, it was game over.

That's when our assistant coach burst into our circle and shattered our pity party, delivering one of the best motivational speeches I've heard to this day.

I can't directly quote him because he said some inappropriate things for a blog post (and, in hindsight, probably for a bunch of 13-year-olds too).

The point is he harnessed the power of words to rejuvenate a physically and emotionally drained team. And we came back clawing to win the game.

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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 how their listeners see the challenges facing them in the future.

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.

Think about the last time you felt generally unmotivated. What brought you out of that feeling? Sometimes all it takes to get you going is a good night's sleep or witnessing the benefits of your labor.

Still, other times, you might listen to someone say something that resonates with you — that alters how you've been looking at a particular task or problem.

Motivational speeches and speakers can come in all different forms, but this is the one thing they have in common — resonance. They resonate with the right listener at the right time and in the right way.

Who knows, this article is doing some for you right now. (I can dream, can't I?)

We selected 24 of the best motivational speeches from business, sports, entertainment, and other fields to help you stay motivated no matter what your work throws at you. Watch these videos if you want to feel inspired by a project.

Trust me, I was wiping my eyes after I saw them. And while the messages vary from speech to speech, they can put you in the optimal frame of mind for tackling and crushing your next big challenge.

(Disclaimer: Some speeches may contain NSFW language.)

Elon Musk: "The Importance of Never Giving Up" (2020)

Angela Ahrendts: "Leading with Empathy" (2023)

Arianna Huffington: "The Power of Sleep" (2023)

Tim Cook: "Inclusion and Diversity" (2023)

J.K. Rowling: “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination” (2008)

Sheryl Sandberg: "Lean In" (2021)

Jim Carrey: Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

Steve Jobs: "How to Live Before You Die" (2005)

Matthew McConaughey: "The Pursuit of Happiness" (2022)

Denzel Washington: "Fall Forward" (2011)

Vera Jones: “But the Blind Can Lead the Blind…” (2016)

Oprah Winfrey: "The Power of Self-Belief" (2020)

Charlie Day: Merrimack College Commencement Speech (2014)

Brené Brown: "The Power of Vulnerability" (2013)

Kobe Bryant: “The Path to Greatness" (2020)

David Foster Wallace: "This Is Water" (2005)

Carol Dweck: "The Growth Mindset" (2020)

Al Pacino: "Inch by Inch" (1999)

Satya Nadella: "Empowering Others" (2023)

Sylvester Stallone: Speech from Rocky Balboa (2006)

Will Smith: Speech from The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Mel Robbins: "The 5 Second Rule" (2020)

Angela Duckworth: "The Power of Grit" (2020)

Kurt Russell: “This is Your Time” (2004)

The Best Motivational Speeches of All Time

1. elon musk: "the importance of never giving up" (2020), theme of speech: perseverance and resilience.

Elon Musk's "The Importance of Never Giving Up" speech about perseverance and determination is decisive.

In this speech, Musk emphasizes failing and learning from failures as keys to success. He recounts his life and career, demonstrating how he overcame challenges.

One key takeaway from Musk's speech is his advice to adopt a growth mindset.

Musk encourages listeners to view setbacks as learning experiences. He also highlights the value of perseverance, persistence, and taking risks.

Elon Musk's word serves as an upbeat reminder that perseverance, patience, and the desire to attempt things repeatedly in the face of difficulty are essential for success.

"If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it."

2. Angela Ahrendts: "Leading with Empathy" (2023)

Theme of the speech: empathetic leadership....

The "Leading with Empathy" talk by Angela Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and compassion in leadership.

According to Ahrendts, leaders must view their employees as whole people with lives outside of work. Leaders can instill trust, respect, and mutual support in their employees and organizations.

Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of team mission as well. Leaders can inspire their teams by connecting them to a greater goal.

She believes that working together fosters creativity, innovation, and growth.

"Leading with Empathy" is a powerful reminder that leadership requires more than technical knowledge. To truly inspire and motivate their employees, leaders must understand their emotional needs and create a supportive, inclusive environment.

"Empathy is the glue that holds relationships together, whether they are personal or professional."

3. Arianna Huffington: "The Power of Sleep" (2023)

Theme of the speech: sleep and productivity.

The Huffington Post's founder, Arianna Huffington, emphasized the importance of sleep to overall health. In her 2023 speech, "The Power of Sleep," she discusses how sleep deprivation affects our health, productivity, and happiness.

Huffington observes that we have been taught to sacrifice sleep for success. She also mentions that well-rested employees are more creative, efficient, and effective.

To address these issues, Huffington proposes a cultural shift that recognizes sleep as essential to health and wellness.

She advises individuals and organizations to prioritize sleep, avoid technology before bedtime, and create a restful sleep environment. Sleep, according to Huffington, is a necessity, not a luxury.

By recognizing the importance of sleep, people and businesses can enhance their health, productivity, and general well-being.

Arianna Huffington's "The Power of Sleep" speech in 2023 emphasizes the importance of sleep and the dangers of sleep deprivation.

It promotes a culture where getting enough sleep is essential for health and well-being.

"Sleep is the Swiss Army knife of health, it does everything."

4. Tim Cook: "Inclusion and Diversity" (2023)

Theme of the speech: inclusion and diversity.

Apple CEO Tim Cook advocates for inclusion and diversity. He has been instrumental in the company's initiatives to advance fairness and equality inside its ranks and across the technology sector.

Cook has prioritized diversity and inclusion at Apple because he believes it is proper and necessary for innovation and business success.

Unconscious bias training, diverse recruitment, and employee resource groups contributed to his success.

Outside of Apple, Cook has advocated for LGBTQ+ rights and immigration reform. He has raised awareness of these issues and advocated for social change as a business leader.

Tech leaders and others have lauded Cook's commitment to diversity and inclusion. He has raised awareness of these issues, leading to significant change at Apple and elsewhere.

"Inclusion and diversity are not just buzzwords, they are fundamental values that drive innovation and creativity."

5. J.K. Rowling: “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination” (2008)

Theme of speech: failure.

In J.K. Rowling's 2008 Harvard commencement speech, the Harry Potter author explored how two phenomena -- failure and imagination -- can be crucial to success.

While failure can help you understand where your true passion lies, and where you should focus your energy moving forward, imagination is what will allow you to empathize with other people so you can use your influence to do good.

“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.”

"You have to understand your own personal DNA. Don't do things because I do them or Steve Jobs or Mark Cuban tried it. You need to know your personal brand and stay true to it."

6. Sheryl Sandberg: "Lean In" (2021)

Theme of the speech: gender equality and leadership.

Sheryl Sandberg's 2021 talk, "Lean In," encourages women to lean into their careers and leadership roles. She urges women to stand up for one another and themselves to overcome societal and cultural hurdles.

Sandberg highlights the need to have distinct objectives and goals and be prepared to take calculated risks to achieve them.

She also underlines how crucial it is for more female leaders to advance diversity and gender equality across all industries.

Sandberg's speech also emphasizes collaboration. She urges women to mentor other women and look for sponsors and mentors themselves.

The "Lean In" talk by Sheryl Sandberg emphasizes women's voices and perspectives in all aspects of society.

To remove barriers and foster more inclusive and varied workplaces and communities, Sandberg urges women to pursue their professional ambitions with confidence and with the help of their communities.

"We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women's voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored."

7. Jim Carrey: Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

Theme of speech: taking risks.

Jim Carrey might make a living as the goofiest comedian around, but in 2014, he combined classic Carrey humor with unforgettable insight at Maharishi University of Management's graduation ceremony.

Jim Carrey opened his speech dishing punchlines, but he eventually opened up about his upbringing and the role fear plays in our lives. You can actually hear the amazement in the students' reactions in the video above.

“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.”

8. Steve Jobs: "How to Live Before You Die" (2005)

Theme of speech: life and career.

Considering the YouTube video of Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford commencement speech has 24 million views, it's likely that you've seen this one already.

In the speech, Jobs plays on two themes: connecting the dots (anecdote: how taking a calligraphy class helped inspire the design of the Mac) and love & loss (anecdote: how getting fired from Apple helped inspire his greatest innovations).

Perhaps the most memorable part his speech comes at the end, when he quotes the (now-famous) lines from the final issue of his favorite publication, The Whole Earth Catalog:

“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”

9. Matthew McConaughey: "The Pursuit of Happiness" (2022)

Theme of the speech: discovering true happiness and fulfillment in life..

In "The Pursuit of Happiness," famed actor and motivational speaker Matthew McConaughey provides his enlightened viewpoint on obtaining true happiness and fulfillment.

McConaughey presents a genuine and approachable study of what it means to live a fulfilling life through sincere storytelling and personal anecdotes.

The speech discusses the significance of authenticity and remaining true to oneself. McConaughey encourages people to define their success rather than succumb to social pressures or external expectations.

He stresses aligning our behaviors and decisions with our fundamental values and passions.

McConaughey expresses his conviction in the power of thankfulness and the importance of living in the present moment. He encourages people to create a grateful mindset, recognizing the blessings and possibilities surrounding them.

By appreciating the present and finding joy in the journey, individuals can experience more profound happiness and fulfillment.

"Happiness is not a destination. It's a state of mind, a journey, and a choice we make every day."

10. Denzel Washington: "Fall Forward" (2011)

In his 2011 UPenn commencement speech, Denzel Washington highlighted three reasons why we need to embrace failure in order to be successful. First, everybody will fail at something at some point, so you better get used to it.

Second, if you never fail, take that as a sign that you're not really trying. And third, at the end of the day, failure will help you figure out what path you want to be on.

“Fall forward. Here's what I mean: Reggie Jackson struck out twenty-six-hundred times in his career — the most in the history of baseball. But you don't hear about the strikeouts. People remember the home runs.

Fall forward.

Thomas Edison conducted 1,000 failed experiments. Did you know that? I didn't know that—because #1,001 was the light bulb. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.”

11. Vera Jones: “But the Blind Can Lead the Blind…” (2016)

Theme of speech: perseverance.

Last year at INBOUND, Vera Jones told a moving story about the life lessons she's learned from raising her blind son.

She explains how having faith in your future and letting it lead you toward your true purpose will help you overcome blinding obstacles.

She also discusses how following your passion and trusting your vision develops empathy, which is a critical leadership skill.

“Passionately play your position no matter how bad things get. You are significant. Why we are here is not for our own glory. Ultimately, we're here to lead and serve everybody else. By doing that, we encourage others to do the same.”

12. Oprah Winfrey: "The Power of Self-Belief" (2020)

Theme of Speech: Self-Belief and Confidence

Oprah Winfrey's 2020 speech "The Power of Self-Belief" emphasized the importance of self-assurance. She attributed her success to her unwavering self-assurance.

According to Oprah, self-belief is not about being arrogant or overconfident. She stresses the significance of overcoming self-doubt and fear, which can prevent people from reaching their goals.

Oprah used personal stories to demonstrate how self-confidence has aided her in life and work. She encouraged her audience to believe in themselves and to embrace their inner strength.

The Power of Self-Belief" reminded us how important it is to have faith in ourselves and our ability to succeed.

"The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams."

13. Charlie Day: Merrimack College Commencement Speech (2014)

Best known for his role in the sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, actor Charlie Day had lots of wisdom to share during the 2014 commencement speech at his alma mater, Merrimack College.

Day explained to the audience how college degrees are inherently valueless, since you can't trade them in for cash. Instead, it's you, your hard work, and the risks you take that provide real value in life.

“You cannot let a fear of failure or a fear of comparison or a fear of judgment stop you from doing the things that will make you great. You cannot succeed without the risk of failure.

You cannot have a voice without the risk of criticism. You cannot love without the risk of loss. You must take these risks.”

14. Brené Brown: "The Power of Vulnerability" (2013)

The video above is an animated excerpt from researcher Brené Brown's speech, " The Power of Vulnerability ." In the speech, Brown explores how our fear of not being good enough (among other fears) drives us to shield ourselves from our own vulnerabilities.

The alternative to wearing this emotional suit of armor: Embrace vulnerability through empathizing with others.

"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."

15. Kobe Bryant: “The Path to Greatness" (2020)

Theme of the speech: embracing dedication, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of greatness..

Bryant emphasizes setting ambitious goals and working tirelessly to achieve them. Through captivating storytelling and personal anecdotes, he reveals the sacrifices and relentless effort required to excel at the highest level.

Bryant's speech is a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, and a growth mindset in attaining greatness.

The speech also explores embracing failure as a stepping stone to success. Bryant shares how setbacks and challenges can fuel personal growth and resilience.

He encourages individuals to embrace failure, learn from it, and use it as motivation to push beyond their limits.

Bryant's speech goes beyond the realm of sports, offering valuable insights and life lessons applicable to all areas of life.

His relentless pursuit of greatness and unwavering commitment to excellence inspires individuals striving to achieve their goals and dreams.

"I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I'm like, 'My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don't have it. I just want to chill.'

We all have self-doubt. You don't deny it, but you also don't capitulate to it. You embrace it."

16. David Foster Wallace: "This Is Water" (2005)

From the opening minutes of David Foster Wallace's 2005 Kenyon College commencement speech , in which he questions commencement speech conventions, it's clear that Wallace has some serious wisdom to share.

The crux of his speech: Many of us are oblivious to our own close-mindedness. We picture ourselves as the centers of our own, individual universes, instead of seeing the bigger, more interconnected picture.

“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.”

17. Carol Dweck: "The Growth Mindset" (2020)

Theme of the speech: cultivating a growth mindset for personal and professional development..

In "The Growth Mindset," Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist, and author, delivers an enlightening speech on the power of adopting a growth mindset for personal and professional growth.

Dweck's extensive research on mindset and achievement provides the foundation for her impactful message.

Dweck explains the difference between a fixed mindset, where individuals believe their abilities are fixed traits, and a growth mindset, where individuals believe their abilities can be developed through effort and learning.

She demonstrates how a growth mindset fosters resilience, learning, and innovation through relatable stories and compelling examples.

Dweck's speech resonates with individuals seeking personal and professional development, as she provides insights into how adopting a growth mindset can positively impact all areas of life.

Her research-based approach and engaging speaking style make "The Growth Mindset" an inspiring resource for individuals striving for continuous growth and improvement.

"The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even when it's not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset."

Famous Short Speeches With Inspirational Takeaways

18. al pacino: "inch by inch" (1999), theme of speech: teamwork.

Yes, this speech is from a football movie (Any Given Sunday), but trust me: This isn't your stereotypical rah-rah-go-get-'em sports speech. It's deeper than that. It's about life, and loss, and ... gosh darn it just listen to Al Pacino.

He's pouring his soul out!

“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 $&#@ kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb out of hell, one inch at a time.”

19. Satya Nadella: "Empowering Others" (2023)

Theme of the Speech: Empowerment and Collaboration

Satya Nadella's 2023 lecture, "Empowering Others," emphasizes the importance of leadership that empowers others rather than focusing on personal success.

He emphasizes the importance of leaders cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging in which everyone feels respected and able to accomplish their best work.

Nadella also discusses the significance of technology in positive development. Some of society's most important issues may be resolved by technology, but proper development and application are required.

According to Nadella, empathy and emotional intelligence are essential for outstanding leadership. He suggests that Leaders listen to and understand. their team members' needs and motivations.

Leaders can develop a culture of trust and collaboration that will help the team flourish.

Satya Nadella's "Empowering Others" provides a special message about leadership in the current day. By emphasizing diversity, empathy, and responsible innovation, Nadella encourages audiences to strive for excellence while being mindful of their impact on others and the world.

"Success is not just about what we achieve individually, but what we enable others to achieve."

20. Sylvester Stallone: Speech from Rocky Balboa (2006)

Theme of speech: never give up.

I had to put this one next since it plays along the same themes as Denzel Washington's UPenn speech. In the scene above, from the 2006 film Rocky Balboa, the title character (played by Sylvester Stallone) is having a heart-to-heart with his son.

The advice he gives him: Don't let your failures or the adversity you face slow you down. Keep. Moving. Forward.

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.

You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!”

21. Will Smith: Speech from The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Theme of speech: don’t let them bring you down.

Here's another speech from the big screen, this time from the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness.

In the scene above, Will Smith's character explains to his son why he shouldn't pursue basketball (because he'll end up being "below average") before having a major change of heart.

“Don't ever let somebody tell you ... you can't do something. Not even me. All right? You got a dream. You gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they want to tell you can't do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.”

22. Mel Robbins: "The 5 Second Rule" (2020)

Theme of the Speech: Action and Overcoming Self-Doubt

The "The 5 Second Rule" speech by Mel Robbins promotes action to achieve goals and overcome concerns and doubts.

When confronted with a decision or action that needs to be completed but you are hesitating or procrastinating, countdown from 5, and then act. According to Robbins, this method breaks habit loops that keep us unhealthy.

Counting down and taking action may assist us in overcoming uncertainty and self-doubt and moving toward our objectives. For success, Robbins also promotes mentality and self-talk.

She believes that to realize our potential, we must consciously reframe negative thoughts and limiting beliefs.

Mel Robbins' presentation "The 5 Second Rule" is a practical and efficient technique to overcome procrastination and achieve goals.

Robbins inspires listeners to take command of their lives and achieve by emphasizing attitude, self-talk, and positive actions.

"You are never going to feel like doing the things that are tough, difficult, or uncertain, but you have a choice."

23. Angela Duckworth: "The Power of Grit" (2020)

Theme of the Speech: Spirit and Perseverance

Angela Duckworth examines the significance of perseverance and resilience in achievement in her book "The Power of Grit." According to Duckworth, grit—passion and determination—is essential for long-term success and overcoming obstacles.

Duckworth addresses grit and mentality, believing that people who view challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than threats will develop resilience and determination over time.

She advocates for a growth mindset, which believes people can acquire intelligence and other qualities through hard work. Duckworth places a premium on rigorous practice to achieve skill and mastery.

She recommends soliciting feedback, setting challenging goals, and intentionally improving abilities and succeeding. Angela Duckworth's "The Power of Grit" illuminates long-term achievement.

Duckworth emphasizes attitude, focused practice, and resilience to urge listeners to acquire grit and pursue their passions with tenacity.

"Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality."

24. Kurt Russell: “This is Your Time” (2004)

Theme of speech: inspiring and believing in your team.

The Miracle on Ice is still considered the biggest upset in Olympic hockey history. And for good reason. The Soviet Union won six of the last seven Olympic gold medals, and the U.S. team consisted only of amateur players.

It was obvious the Soviets were better. But, in the movie Miracle, which told the incredible story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, Kurt Russell's character — Coach Herb Brooks — knew that this game was different.

The U.S. was better than the Soviets that day. And his speech conveyed such a strong belief in his team that they pulled off one of the greatest sports moments of the 20th century.

“If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game… Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!

Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players, every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time.”

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Home > Blog > Speaking 101 > 10 Motivational Speech Examples To Inspire You Today

10 Motivational Speech Examples To Inspire You Today

Whether you’re a speaker or not, there come times in all of our lives where we need a little motivation. Maybe you’re struggling to find your purpose or are unsure about your path in life. Maybe you just had a bad day and need a reminder that tomorrow’s a fresh start. In either case, looking to famous speakers – and their corresponding motivational speech examples – is one sure way to boost your mood and help you find the energy to keep on keepin’ on. 

Here, we’ll look at ten different speeches from some of the most famous motivational speakers of the 21st century. Some are serious and take a candid look at difficult issues in the speakers’ lives. Others are humorous, designed to balance tough topics with laughter. 

Whatever tone you need to hear at this moment, at least one of the following speakers is guaranteed to brighten your day. They’re also all incredible examples for you to follow, simply from a speaking standpoint, when you next step on stage or record a virtual event . 

Hopefully, you get as much out of these examples as our own team did and are able to put the corresponding takeaways to good use. 💓

Steve Jobs: Commencement Speech At Stanford (2005)

First of our motivational speech examples is Stanford’s 2005 commencement speech, delivered by the late Apple founder Steve Jobs. Since his passing , much has been said about Jobs, some positive, some negative, with some people going so far as to publish their criticism or praise. However, regardless of whether or not they personally admired him, few will argue against Job’s brilliance. Even for those that scrutinized his business practices or personal life while he was alive, there’s little doubt that he was a major force in shaping the world we live in today through the technology he created. 

In this speech, Jobs’ mindfulness for these differing views is readily apparent, and overall, the entire speech is surprisingly humble. Jobs structures his speech as three simple stories, and of course they’re anything but simple, once you dig beneath the surface. 

One is a rags-to-riches story, which is expected, considering Jobs’ success. Second is a story of adversity in which Jobs explains the issues he faced after being “fired” from Apple. 

But it’s the third story – one about death – that’s truly surprising. It’s not a subject you’ll hear in many commencement speeches, let alone motivational ones. Yet, in telling this story, Jobs manages to present it in a way that it’s not depressing or scary but instead inspires his audience to live life to the fullest. 

In the same way, as you shape your own motivational speeches or as you approach challenging situations, remember that simplicity and logic are all well and good, like the stories Jobs includes at the beginning of his speech. But, if you want to truly stand out and conquer your challenges, be courageous! Approach tough topics head-on, don’t be afraid to be unconventional, and you’re sure to leave a mark, just like Jobs did.

Richard St. John: 8 Secrets of Success TED Talk (2005) 

Second of our motivational speech examples is that of author, marketer, and analyst Richard St. John , namely his 2005 TED Talk. TED Talks have become a staple in the world of motivational speeches, and it’s easy to see why this one made the cut. Based on his book , 8 To Be Great , St. John’s speech cuts to the chase in a way that most speeches don’t. In fact, it’s only three minutes long! 

Plus, although many of his points are simple, the speech itself is structurally brilliant, condensing 7 years of research and 500 of St. John’s interviews into a presentation that, despite its brevity, keeps audience members on their toes. Altogether, it’s a brilliant example of the use of momentum in storytelling. When it starts, for instance, St. John begins with “It all started one day on a plane,” which for many listeners – myself included – would seem like a signal to tune out a bit. It’s like hearing a speech that starts with “Webster’s Dictionary defines…” It works, but it’s used a lot . 

That said, the rest of St. John’s speech is the polar opposite, and quickly jumps from one interesting point to another without any wasted words or time. It also incorporates carefully-placed jokes. That way, even though he covers a lot of ground, his audience remembers all of it. It also allows him to connect with his audience and, unlike many speakers, share his information without appearing to be on a pedestal. 

With your own experiences or motivational speeches, St. John’s speech offers two important lessons. First, keep it simple. You don’t have to be flashy to be memorable. Second, don’t be afraid to laugh. In presentations, humor makes you more relatable and memorable, and in life, it makes hard times easier to handle. 

Dan Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation TED Talk (2009)

Third in our list of motivational speech examples is another TED Talk, this time from career analyst and bestselling author Daniel Pink. As an author, Pink’s built his reputation on many “legs,” including his publications, awards – even a stint as chief speechwriter for former U.S. Vice President Al Gore in the late 1990s.

Like these accomplishments, Pink’s TED Talk is a model for any speaker that needs to take a boring topic – like business or politics – and turn it into something inspiring and engaging. In this case, the former of these topics is presented as a puzzle. To start with, Pink explains the common economic approach to performance, saying “If you want people to perform better, you reward them. Right?… That’s how business works.” 

However, what he says next is what really puzzles you, as a listener: There is a mismatch between what science knows and what business does….the solution is not to do more of the wrong things, to entice people with a sweeter carrot, or threaten them with a sharper stick. We need a whole new approach.”

Ultimately, the topic of performance in the workplace is a relatively common one and the question “How do I motivate myself at work?” is a common puzzle. But Pink tackles out-of-the-box thinking in an out-of-the-box way and, in the end, concludes his story with a clear takeaway from the evidence and unconventional analytics he’s shared.

Likewise, with your own speeches or decisions, start by considering all the evidence you can find. That’s just a good rule of thumb, no matter what field you’re in. But, after that, try to consider it from another angle. Like Pink’s speech, it’ll make your topic vastly more interesting, and you’re almost guaranteed to grow, personally, because of your learning process.

Mel Robbins: How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over (2011)

Number four of our motivational speech examples belongs to Mel Robbins . As speakers go, Robbins is widely respected for her unique and candid approach to difficult situations, or, as I call it, the “gut-punch” approach. In other words, she’s not afraid to talk frankly about tough stuff. 

Dig beneath the one-liners and snarky comments, though, and Robbins’ approach is really about being direct to the point of bluntness. Some of the things she advocates are platitudes – focus on getting what you want, tell yourself the truth, force yourself out of your comfort zone, etc. – but she always backs it up with data that makes the gut punches land that much harder. 

Beyond her speaking style, however, Robbins is also known for engaging with her audiences. In this speech, for instance, she not only picks an individual from her audience to highlight the overwhelming odds of simply being born (this is the data we just talked about). She then goes on to meld that statistic with a model of the human brain, saying “I describe one side of your brain as autopilot and the other side as an emergency brake” and explaining her method for getting out of your own “autopilot” mode to meet your goals.

In this way, by presenting evidence but then relating it to a real person in the room, Robbins takes a subject that could be complicated or boring and makes it relatable. Likewise, if your speaking material – or your mood – has a tendency to flatline, change things up! Be blunt with yourself and candid with your audience. Then, do whatever you need to connect your message to other’s lives. Just like Pink’s speech, taking this Mel Robbins, “gut-punch” approach will make you relatable and likable, making you memorable.

Michelle Obama: Commencement Speech at Eastern Kentucky University (2013)

Next in our list of motivational speech examples is another commencement speech, this time from former lawyer, bestselling author , and First Lady to the 44th President of the U.S. Michelle Obama. 

Since stepping into the spotlight at the White House, Obama’s been regarded by many as a woman of power, and her personal and professional accomplishments are without question. In some ways, they’ve even helped her become a celebrity. This level of fame, however, is precisely where Obama’s similarity to celebrities ends. 

For many celebrity motivational speakers, speaking is just a gig, and the amount of time they want to spend on it corresponds directly with the money they receive to be there. In cases like these, it’s clear to the audience that the speaker may not even believe what they’re saying on stage or want their audience to succeed. They just want the paycheck. 

Yet, despite Obama’s popularity and prominence, her approach to speaking is anything but flippant or snobby. It’s all about connecting with the audience in a way that shows true generosity of spirit. In fact, every point Obama touches on is quickly translated and related to her audience in a way that’s both personal and powerful, making it clear that this speech isn’t haphazardly thrown together or something she’s said to hundreds of other audiences. It was carefully crafted to tie her core values – resilience, conscientiousness and service – into the setting and the needs of her audience, so they could leave with personalized affirmation and action steps. 

By doing this, Obama never fails to deliver a message that is both moving and quietly powerful. To do the same with your own speeches, follow her lead and remember who you’re there for: not the check, not the glory, but your audience .

Brené Brown: “The Power of Vulnerability” (2013)

Number six of our motivational speech examples is the shortest on this list, a less than three-minute short film from University of Houston research professor Dr. Brené Brown . 

Although Brown originally gained traction with her 20-minute TED Talk in 2010, this speech (or “mini-speech,” rather) takes the topic of that talk – vulnerability – and concentrates on a single facet of it. Specifically, she focuses on empathy and the age-old question of how to express empathy rather than sympathy and, in doing so, authentically connect with the person you’re trying to support in the moment. 

It’s a hard question, but, like Richard St. John’s speech, Brown shares a lot in a short message. In many ways, it’s her brevity that forces you to sit up and listen. In a little more than two minutes, her message is simple: When someone you know feels down and alone, don’t try to make things better. Just be there with them, and stick around, even if it takes them a while to bounce back. 

To illustrate her point, Brown presents her speech alongside an animated cartoon in which a fox is the depressed party and a bear comes to her aid. This helps her take a challenging and sometimes uncomfortable situation and not just make it engaging but also light-hearted. 

Similarly, if your speech tackles a tough message, consider presenting with a visual aid to lighten the mood, and keep the message as brief as possible. Don’t be the motivational speaker equivalent of “that guy,” i.e., the speaker who drones on and on but keeps repeating the same basic points. Use your speaking ability and visual aids to make a connection in the way that suits your audience best.

Jim Carrey: Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

Seventh of our motivational speech examples is a 2014 commencement speech, this time from comedian, actor, and artist Jim Carrey. As you’d expect, part of Carey’s charm is his sense of humor, and it’s largely through his comedy that he keeps the audience engaged through serious topics. He’s also mindful of his tendency to walk the comedic line and uses this unpredictability to keep his audience paying attention, as they can pretty safely assume he has another joke up his sleeve.

Additionally, besides humor, Carey also engages his audience with something we’ve yet to touch on: authenticity! Unlike the other speakers in this list, Carey is widely known for his eccentricity more than anything. Most recently, as he’s shared more and more of his artwork, he’s also gained considerable attention for his creativity. Throughout his speech, although many speakers might choose to “dumb down” these attributes, Carey instead thrives on them, staying true to his authentic self, just as he encourages the members of his audience to be. 

To conclude his speech, Carey states: “You’ll come up with your own style, and that’s part of the fun… You are ready and able to do beautiful things in this world, and after you walk through those doors today, you will only ever have two choices: love or fear. Choose love and don’t ever let fear turn you against your playful heart.”

With your own speeches – and your own personal choices – keep this mindset close and remember to be yourself. Like Carey says, “you are ready and able to do beautiful things”. Plus, I can almost guarantee there are people out there who could benefit from the stories you have to share. Just stay true to yourself, stay humble, and your audience won’t want to look away.

Simon Sinek: Live2Lead (2016)

Next in our list of motivational speech examples is a speech from writer and TED speaker Simon Sinek . As author of the bestselling leadership book Start With Why , Sinek first appeared in his 2009 TED Talk , “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.” 

Since then, he’s gone on to publish a number of additional books centered around leadership as well as how to “wake up inspired, feel safe wherever [we] are and end the day fulfilled by the work [we] do.” These three ideas can be seen consistently throughout his ongoing work, speaking included. 

In this speech, specifically, Sinek deals with leadership in the business world, but his approach is based on the idea of destroying stereotypes everywhere. In short, he’s there to “blow up” paradigms and share new ones, based on his own research and experience. Here, Sinek focuses on “trust” and “communication,” for the former. Then, he proposes replacing them with “empathy” and “perspective,” for the latter. 

Although this may sound ordinary, Sinek demonstrates that he’s not just replacing one stereotypical topic with another. He’s also urging audience members to ditch their preconceptions about that topic, so they can approach it with an open mind. After having done that, he’s then careful to only provide extremely relevant and powerful arguments for his “new take” on the topic. That way, he provides details without overwhelming the audience.

Overall, these switches between “blowing up” and building provide a sense of balance in Sinek’s speech. In your own speeches, aim for a similar balance for your audience. Keep in mind that you’re there to educate but not berate with a ton of new ideas. It sounds simplistic, but staying consistent and on-point is key if you want your audience to leave inspired to act. 

Simon T. Bailey: To Break Through, Find Your True Calling (2017)

Number nine of our motivational speech examples is a 2017 speech from Simon T. Bailey. If you’re a regular SpeakerFlow blog reader, you already know there are many reasons Bailey is legendary among professional speakers. For one thing, his personal branding and digital presence are two of the best in the speaking industry. For another, his humility is seemingly endless despite his success, a trait that’s perhaps best summarized in his book, Success Is An Inside Job : “Success is not significance. Money is not meaning. Power isn’t purpose.”

In this speech, we see this idea reinforced through the third thing that sets Bailey apart, namely his speaking skills. Because he’s talking to a business-oriented crowd, in many ways, this skill isn’t immediately apparent. Truthfully, the first part of his speech is traditional. While it’s undeniably engaging, it’s sometimes a little hard to see why he’s such a renowned orator. 

Then he digs deeper. After his initial “traditional” approach, Bailey pivots to a creative angle, explaining how to “invent your future” and be unconventional in simple ways to slowly change your mindset. He then goes on to incorporate topics like emotional equity and commitment, love and respect as universally important values, and his trip to South Africa to “get free.” Combine this surprising switch from “conventional” to “creative” with Bailey’s optimistic tone, and you can almost feel the audience connecting with him. 

To create the same atmosphere on your own stage, aim for a similar element of surprise. Remember that you’re there to speak for more than a few minutes. Consequently, building up to a powerful ending is crucial, even if that means starting slow. 

Matthew McConaughey: Commencement Speech at University of Houston (2018)

Last but not least in our motivational speech examples list is a 2018 commencement, delivered by Matthew McConaughey. 

As an actor, McConaughey has arguably delivered motivational speeches in almost all of his movie appearances. In fact, whether it’s The Lincoln Lawyer , Mud , We Are Marshall, or Dallas Buyers Club , one of his best tricks as an actor is to take each of his characters by the horns and deliver a rousing speech at a critical point in the film.

Outside of the big screen, however, McConaughey’s commencement address for the University of Houston reflects similar confidence and power, in his words, his clothing, and his body language. As a well-known celebrity, this isn’t entirely surprising, especially considering his famously “swoon-worthy” movie persona. 

That said, when he gets to the heart of the matter, McConaughey dives well beneath the surface. His pointed words about motivation, success, and life being both tough and unfair are striking in a way you don’t always hear from celebrity speakers. He may begin with platitudes and stereotypes. But, the more he explains, the more intimate the speech gets. This makes it more memorable than even his best movie speeches.

So, what can you take away from McConaughey’s speech? Simply put, whenever you’re trying to put your best foot forward, whether you’re on stage or just walking down the street, remember that being memorable doesn’t require heels or a suit. For McConaughey, who here rocks a beard and open-collared dress shirt, it’s his words that make people pay attention, not a flashy outfit or dramatic entrance. 

Likewise, in your own life, the same can be true. Just speak with confidence and conviction, and no matter how you look or what you’re wearing, people will listen. 💖

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Jim Carrey is a very cool person! Every time he’s smiling with charming look, His speech is also very motivating! Thanks for sharing with us,

Agreed! It’s hard to look away when Carrey’s on stage or on camera, for sure. (And thanks for reading! 😊)

Usually, I am not doing comments anyone but it’s interesting, I really feel better to hear this.keep it up.

Glad you found these speeches inspiring, and thanks for the kind words! 🙌

You really don’t need to change the world, you just need to master your own self, align your values, your personality, and your purpose to your vision. That’s the core of making for a better world.

Well said! 🙌

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10 Motivational Speeches That Will Inspire You to Take Action Today

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Whether you’re looking to increase team productivity or turn your daydreams into a reality, motivation is key. But, in the day-to-day of working life, it’s easy to lose sight of end goals and become distracted. Thankfully, the wise words of entrepreneurs, writers, and fictional characters can offer a reinvigorating perspective. The following motivational speeches may give you the push you need to reach your full potential.

1. Steve Jobs: How to Live Before You Die (2005)

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

In this commencement address, the CEO and co-founder of Apple Inc. shared one of the keys to his success: love. His love for the work he did kept him excited about going to work every day and working toward new goals. Often, there is a big difference between what you want versus what other people want for you . Discovering what you’re passionate about, and working toward it with achievable goals , will lead you to success and satisfaction. This is why it is our staff’s number one pick for motivational speeches that will inspire you to take action today. 

2. Ellie (Jodie Foster) Meets An Alien In  Contact  (1997)

“You’re an interesting species, an interesting mix. You are capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares. You feel so lost, so cut off, so alone. Only you’re not. See, in all our searching, the only thing that we’ve found that makes the emptiness bearable… is each other.”

While this Sci-Fi classic might seem removed from reality, it offers uplifting advice for the workplace and beyond. In this scene, Ellie finally makes contact with an alien who offers insight into the human condition and the larger universe. To apply the alien’s words to the workplace, think of the power of teamwork. Establishing a diverse and talented team can improve employee happiness and performance. For example, burnout is a common problem at companies. Sharing the workload,  and knowing you can rely on team members and managers for support, can re-motivate employees. When the going gets tough, it’s a comfort to know you’re not alone. 

3. Timo’s (Rick Gonzales) Answer In Coach Carter (2005)

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

In this scene, Timo, a member of the basketball team central to the movie, responds to the question the coach asks throughout the movie: “What is your greatest fear?” Timo’s words touch on the importance of self-efficacy. By believing in yourself, you can deepen your interest and commitment to a given task, and recover faster from setbacks . If you lead a team or company, others will soon be influenced by your can-do attitude. So, stop fearing your own power and shine.

4. Chris (Will Smith) Gives His Son Advice In the Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

“Don’t ever let someone tell you, you can’t do something. Not even me. You got a dream, you got to protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period.”

In a world full of naysayers, it’s easy to become discouraged. In this scene from the heart-warming film, Chris offers his son priceless advice: to pursue his dreams mercilessly, without letting other peoples’ ideas of him get in the way. While this motivational speech is noble and beautiful, you might find it challenging to apply to your own life. Here’s where building a strategic plan — with short- and long-term goals— can make pursuing your dreams concrete. With a clear and concise vision for the future, you can put these words into action.

5. Rosalinde Torres: What it Takes to be a Great Leader

“So what makes a great leader in the 21st century? I’ve met many, and they stand out. They are women and men who are preparing themselves not for the comfortable predictability of yesterday but also for the realities of today and all of those unknown possibilities of tomorrow.”

Rosalinde Torres asserts that exceptional leaders are attuned to the world around them. They pay attention to the latest trends in their field and aren’t afraid to abandon tried and true practices for ones that are the future. Basically, she’s advising the opposite of that popular saying, “Keep your head down.” Because, if you do that, you’ll end up reacting to the future instead of making it. Further, you won’t benefit from a broadened perspective that includes different cultures, industries, and readings. Ask yourself, “When is the last time I looked around me and toward the future?” This is the start of great leadership.

6. John Keating’s (Robin Williams) Motivational Speech About Seizing the Day From Dead Poets Society (1989)

​​” Because you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? – – Carpe – – hear it? – – Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.”

John Keating motivates his students with a simple sentiment— seize the day. It might seem like a cliché, but it’s a useful sentiment for those stuck in careers they don’t like or struggling to achieve their next milestone. Most working people will spend around 8 hours a day at the office; that’s a lot of time to spend on something you dislike. So, if you’re feeling uninspired or sick of your career, take Mr. Keating’s advice and don’t waste any more time. What are your strengths and weaknesses and how can your harness them into a fulfilling career?

7. Jim Carrey: Commencement Motivational Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

“When I was about 28, after a decade as a professional comedian, I realized one night in LA that the purpose of my life had always been to free people from concern, just like my dad. And when I realized this, I dubbed my new devotion the Church of Freedom From Concern, the Church of FFC. And I dedicated myself to that ministry. What’s yours? How will you serve the world? What did they need that your talent can provide? That’s all you have to figure out.”

The comedian’s advice for a successful and rewarding life is simple: find how you want to serve the world, and pursue it. While it may take years of exploring to find your talent, sometimes it can be as simple as stepping back and reflecting on those moments when you felt yourself excelling and having an impact on others. Finding your calling might seem overwhelming, but asking yourself what the world needs that you can provide will surely set things in motion. 

8. Rocky’s (Sylvester Stallone) Motivational Speech to His Son In Rocky Balboa  (2006)

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”

Rocky’s motivational speech is all about not letting failure define you. This is good advice, no matter your industry. In 2019, 90% of startups failed . But, many successful business people, including Bill Gates and Walt Disney, failed before they succeeded. So, even if the odds are against your, it doesn’t helo to fixate on the negative. In fact, a positive attitude can improve mental and physical health , which will improve your performance in the workplace.

9. Dan Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation (2009)

“There is a mismatch between what science knows and what business does. Here is what science knows. One: Those 20th century rewards, those motivators we think are a natural part of business, do work, but only in a surprisingly narrow band of circumstances. Two: Those if-then rewards often destroy creativity. Three: The secret to high performance isn’t rewards and punishments, but that unseen intrinsic drive– the drive to do things for their own sake. The drive to do things cause they matter.”

There is an outdated belief that rewards and punishments are vital to improving employee performance. Pink argues that intrinsic drive— doing things because of internal satisfaction as opposed to external factors—is the real secret to high performance. So, whether you’re a manager or a new employee, consider why your work matters. Aside from your salary, what gets you to work every day? If these questions are hard to answer, you might need to incorporate or seek out a more creative approach. Pink gives the example of companies giving employees flexible schedules, where they can use their time as they want to accomplish set tasks. The schedule allows for more creativity and independence, and thus improves employee performance.

10. Coach Tony D’Amato’s (Al Pacino) Motivational Speech In Any Given Sunday (1999)

“I’ll tell you this, in any fight it’s the guy whose willing to die whose gonna win that inch. And I know, if I’m gonna have any life anymore it’s because I’m still willing to fight and die for that inch, because that’s what living is, the six inches in front of your face. Now I can’t make you do it. You’ve got to look at the guy next to you, look into his eyes. Now I think you going to see a guy who will go that inch with you. Your gonna see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team because he knows when it comes down to it your gonna do the same for him.”

This emotional scene drives home an important point: There is no “i” in team. Both entrepreneurs and executives who work their way up the corporate ladder know that they won’t achieve success all on their own. Attracting and retaining exceptional team members is the foundation of any lasting business. So, think about the skills you’re looking for in an employee and implement a process that’ll allow you to root out those people who will go the extra inch for you. If you’re not in a leadership position, think about the skills that will make you an invaluable hire. 

The Bottom Line on Motivational Speeches

No matter what industry you’re in, you can harness the wisdom of real and fictional characters to achieve your wildest dreams. So, get out there, explore your interests, make connections, and create a fulfilling career.

Related Readings on Motivation

• Four Basic Motivations of Employees
• Extrinsic Motivation in the Office
• The Value of Intrinsic Motivation on Employees
• 25 Powerful Leadership Quotes That Will Motivate You

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16 Most Life-Changing Motivational Speeches & What You’ll Gain from Them

It’s all very well reading about ways to get ahead in life, but no account will ever reach you in quite the same way as hearing someone speak about their own experiences. While these people may be household names now, it wasn’t always that way, and this collection of some of the best motivational speeches will move you and inspire you to make your own dreams come true.

From Arnold Schwarzenneger talking about how he filled every moment of every day with steps to fulfil his ambition of becoming Mr. Universe, to J.K. Rowling’s life as an impoverished single mother, these speeches will fill you with the drive and determination to reach your full potential, and not let anything stand in your way.

Some are long, and some last just a few minutes, but each one will make you want to grab life with both hands and go for what you want, whatever it is.

“Most people have done all that they’re ever going to do – they raise a family, they earn a living, and then they die.”

That’s what we’re supposed to do, right? Wrong! Life is made for greater things, and you are meant for greater things.

When Les Brown was a child, he was labeled ‘educable mentally retarded’, and until a chance encounter with another teacher, he believed that he would amount to nothing. But this one teacher planted the seeds in Les’ head which would blossom and grow, and eventually make him one of the best motivational speakers of all time.

This speech will give you permission to rise above other people’s opinions, to break free of their prejudices, and make a success of whatever you do. Watch ‘It’s Not Over Until You Win! Your Dream is Possible’ and take those first steps towards following your passion and making your dream come true.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f0nIhDpXuU

“Stress doesn’t come from the facts, stress comes from the meaning that we give the facts.”

Life is about choices. Every day we’re faced with hundreds of choices, and this speech by Tony Robbins will help you see that it’s the choices, not the conditions, which shape our lives.

Take a moment during this speech to pause and reflect on some choices you have made in the past, and really think about the direction your life took because of them, both good and bad. Tony Robbins explains in his inimitable way that we have the choice to focus on what we want, and that when we focus, we can achieve whatever we want.

Part of Tony’s speech explains how, when the economy is down, some people thrive and some people crash and burn, and the COVID 19 pandemic is the perfect example. Small businesses took a huge hit, and while some of them threw up their hands in despair and said ‘that’s it, it’s over for us’, others adapted, and saw it as an opportunity to expand, diversify, and turn the situation to their advantage.

And that’s the cornerstone of this video – how we react, how we adapt, and how we choose is the difference between success and failure.

“So every rep that I do gets me closer to accomplishing the goal to make this goal – this vision – into reality.”

Be inspired by Arnold Schwarzenneger as he talks about his goal of becoming Mr. Universe. Never wasting a second of his day, Arnie worked in construction, spent 5 hours in the gym, and went to acting classes, all of which took him further along his journey to making his dream come true.

We all have a propensity to waste time, but if you have a goal, if you have a passion that smolders away, take a leaf out of Arnie’s book and make sure that everything you do propels you forward.

And don’t be afraid to fail.

“Your conviction and your convenience don’t live on the same block.”

If you are a fan of The Secret, you will be familiar with Lisa Nicholls. In this video, Lisa tells Tom Bilyeu how she was willing to leave everything and everyone behind in order to grow into the version of herself that she knew she wanted.

Lisa explains how, as a young mother, she was forced to wrap her baby in a towel for two days because she had no money for diapers, and how it was at that moment that she vowed never to be that broke or that broken again.

Change, success, drive…they’re all inconvenient and disruptive, and Lisa Nicholls demonstrates that wonderfully in this emotional and highly motivating interview in which she declares “your story is not meant to be your fortress, your story is meant to be your fuel.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toQmqLwNtho

Eric Thomas had a dream, a goal, and that goal was to be the best motivational speaker in the world. He didn’t achieve this by giving 70%, or 80%…he didn’t achieve it by staying in bed late in the mornings. He achieved it by giving 100% every minute of every day.

Listen to Eric’s words, hear the passion in his voice, and feel the lessons he is giving to you if you want to be the best at whatever you do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtuHZC-ObA8

“If we don’t take control of our environment, it takes control of us.”

This short piece by Tony Robbins has been designed to show you that you are in control of your own environment. Whether you realize it or not, what goes on around you has a massive influence on the way you feel and the way you act.

By taking leadership of your own life, you can defy outside influences and set your own tone for the day ahead, regardless of whatever or whoever is exerting pressure from the outside.

Follow Tony’s example of taking 10 minutes for yourself at the start of every day – for gratitude, prayer or wishes for family and friends, and a recap of what you want to accomplish that day, and your day will continue on that same path of thankfulness, hope, and goals.

“Your mind doesn’t know the difference between something you vividly imagined and something that’s real, literally!”

If you want to emulate the way successful people behave, take these 10 billionaires’ habits and adopt them yourself for 21 days.

Billed by Jim Kwik as being ‘like a magic pill’, these habits will rewire your brain into thinking and behaving like some of the world’s most successful people.

In this 8 minute clip, Jim shares how, for instance, your brain reacts the same way when you imagine your dog walking in as it does when your dog actually walks in, and this can apply to anything. What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

As much as this applies to positive things, it also can be applied to negative things, so if you imagine failure, that’s what you will get. Fill your mind with thoughts of success and that’s what will happen.

None of these habits are difficult to accomplish, but in doing so you will change your entire mindset into one of a hugely successful person, no matter what you want to achieve in life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fzGPwY40Cw

“Don’t leave crumbs.”

If this sounds more like a housekeeping hint and less like a motivational affirmation, you’re 50% right. Our lives do need housekeeping, and not leaving crumbs – i.e. regrets – which will come back and rob your tomorrow of joy, is one of the chores you need to do on a daily basis.

Matthew McConaughey delivers a powerful speech in a gentle way at the University of Houston Commencement Address.

Discussing the five rules he lives by, he will show you how to avoid falling into a trap of entitlement, and why ‘Unbelievable’ is the stupidest word in the dictionary.

With some invaluable life lessons contained inside a highly watchable speech, Matthew McConaughey is an unlikely but very inspiring speaker who has stayed humble despite all his successes.

“There are a lot of sharks in the world; if you hope to complete the swim, you will have to deal with them. So if you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.”

Spoken with eloquence and quiet assuredness, this six-minute speech draws on US Navy Admiral William McRaven’s experience of survival in the Navy Seals.

He explains how making your bed, while seemingly insignificant and even pointless, will set a series of tasks in motion which will ensure that at best, the first job of the day is done, and at worst, you have a neat, tidy bed to fall into at the end of a trying day.

The world is full of people who want to bring you down (the sharks) but if you stand your ground, they will eventually swim away, leaving you to go on to bigger and better things.

“Sometimes life’s gonna hit you in the face with a brick…don’t lose faith.”

Steve Jobs, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Apple Inc. was hit in the face with more than one brick during his 56 years on earth. From being given up for adoption as a baby, to being fired from the very company which he founded, he never let anything get in his way.

In this commencement speech at Stamford University in 2005, Steve explained how his love for what he did spurred him on to rebuild his life in spectacular fashion.

Life dealt a further blow when, in 2003, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

This speech focuses on three stories which, when combined, show how life offers opportunities for change and growth, no matter how dire the circumstances.

Steve Jobs never graduated college, but when he died in 2011, aged just 56, he had a net worth of US$7 billion. He achieved this by doing what he loved, and in this speech he will inspire you to do the same.

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously than you might as well not have lived at all. In which case, you fail by default.”

Let J. K. Rowling inspire you with this 2008 commencement speech at Harvard University. Extolling the virtues of failure and imagination, she tells the graduates how being at rock bottom set her free to pursue her dreams of being an author.

As poor as it is possible to be without being homeless, she created the world of Harry Potter and went on to amass a fortune of £795 million, but that without her failures in life, she would never have had the opportunity to do so.

Let her words become your own mantra, and view every failure in your life as a future success.

“We shine, because baby you just can’t dim the sun.”

A beautiful antidote for anyone who has ever felt or been told that they are ‘too much’, Gina Hatzis’ winning Speaker Slam speech of 2018 will give you permission to be unashamedly you.

Although written by a woman for women, this powerful and sometimes humorous speech about being your own authentic self will inspire anyone – man or woman – to shine and never dim their own light to suit other people.

“The first step you need to take is just that…step.”

If you are in need of a short, sharp burst of motivation, listen to this speech by ex Navy Seal, Jocko Willink.

Running for less than three minutes, this recording will inspire you to take a step into whatever you want to achieve. Awarded both the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for service, Jocko Willink is no stranger to taking those brave steps, having come face to face with Iraqu insurgents in Ramadi. He will spur you on to put one metaphorical foot in front of the other, and will leave you in no doubt as to what you need to do to achieve your goals.

“On the other side of your maximum fear are all of the best things in life.”

If you like your motivation with a side order of laughter, watch Will Smith as he talks about fear. Agreeing to skydive on a night out with friends, Will realizes that he actually has to go through with it.

Discussing how fear ruins things (he couldn’t sleep or eat before the jump), Will also discloses that beyond fear was the most blissful experience of his life, and how that principle can be applied to anything in life.

“Only those that can see the invisible, can do the impossible.”

Tyrese Gibson knows success, and in this speech he talks about how it can be achieved, by anyone who wants it.

Actor, singer, author, model…Tyrese seems to have the Midas touch, but he didn’t get it by luck. Follow his words as he gently but passionately guides you along the path you need to take if you have goals and dreams in life.

“I refuse to be another man who lived and died, and wasn’t significant’”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzl3CQXMRVo

“If it is written, so shall it be.”

When Steve Harvey’s teacher crushed his dreams of being on TV, the one person who believed in him was his father. He told him to put a piece of paper with his dreams on in his drawer, and to read it every morning and every night.

His dreams came true.

It didn’t always come easy for Steve Harvey though – he spent years living in his car when he had nowhere else to go, but the one thing he never lost was his ambition and determination to see his dreams through to fruition.

A firm believer in the Law of Attraction, Steve still has vision boards and still commits his dreams to writing, and encourages you to do the same in this speech that made Obama cry.

These motivational speeches, and many more like them, show how having guts, determination, and a vision will get you anywhere you want to go, no matter your beginnings in life. These inspirational speakers have suffered loss, sickness, and unbelievable hardships, but the one thing that got them through was their desire to win and their belief that they could.

Immerse yourself in their words of wisdom, and take that next step into your best life.

More on Motivation

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• 10 Monday Morning Habits for a Successful Week
• Motivational Quotes

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15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines (And How to Create Your Own)

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Writing

Powerful speech opening lines set the tone and mood of your speech. It’s what grips the audience to want to know more about the rest of your talk.

The first few seconds are critical. It’s when you have maximum attention of the audience. And you must capitalize on that!

Instead of starting off with something plain and obvious such as a ‘Thank you’ or ‘Good Morning’, there’s so much more you can do for a powerful speech opening (here’s a great article we wrote a while ago on how you should NOT start your speech ).

To help you with this, I’ve compiled some of my favourite openings from various speakers. These speakers have gone on to deliver TED talks , win international Toastmaster competitions or are just noteworthy people who have mastered the art of communication.

After each speaker’s opening line, I have added how you can include their style of opening into your own speech. Understanding how these great speakers do it will certainly give you an idea to create your own speech opening line which will grip the audience from the outset!

Alright! Let’s dive into the 15 powerful speech openings…

Note: Want to take your communications skills to the next level? Book a complimentary consultation with one of our expert communication coaches. We’ll look under the hood of your hurdles and pick two to three growth opportunities so you can speak with impact!

1. Ric Elias

Opening: “Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary. Well I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D.”

How to use the power of imagination to open your speech?

Putting your audience in a state of imagination can work extremely well to captivate them for the remainder of your talk.

It really helps to bring your audience in a certain mood that preps them for what’s about to come next. Speakers have used this with high effectiveness by transporting their audience into an imaginary land to help prove their point.

When Ric Elias opened his speech, the detail he used (3000 ft, sound of the engine going clack-clack-clack) made me feel that I too was in the plane. He was trying to make the audience experience what he was feeling – and, at least in my opinion, he did.

When using the imagination opening for speeches, the key is – detail. While we want the audience to wander into imagination, we want them to wander off to the image that we want to create for them. So, detail out your scenario if you’re going to use this technique.

Make your audience feel like they too are in the same circumstance as you were when you were in that particular situation.

2. Barack Obama

Opening: “You can’t say it, but you know it’s true.”

3. Seth MacFarlane

Opening: “There’s nowhere I would rather be on a day like this than around all this electoral equipment.” (It was raining)

How to use humour to open your speech?

When you use humour in a manner that suits your personality, it can set you up for a great speech. Why? Because getting a laugh in the first 30 seconds or so is a great way to quickly get the audience to like you.

And when they like you, they are much more likely to listen to and believe in your ideas.

Obama effortlessly uses his opening line to entice laughter among the audience. He brilliantly used the setting (the context of Trump becoming President) and said a line that completely matched his style of speaking.

Saying a joke without really saying a joke and getting people to laugh requires you to be completely comfortable in your own skin. And that’s not easy for many people (me being one of them).

If the joke doesn’t land as expected, it could lead to a rocky start.

Keep in mind the following when attempting to deliver a funny introduction:

• Know your audience: Make sure your audience gets the context of the joke (if it’s an inside joke among the members you’re speaking to, that’s even better!). You can read this article we wrote where we give you tips on how you can actually get to know your audience better to ensure maximum impact with your speech openings
• The joke should suit your natural personality. Don’t make it look forced or it won’t elicit the desired response
• Test the opening out on a few people who match your real audience. Analyze their response and tweak the joke accordingly if necessary
• Starting your speech with humour means your setting the tone of your speech. It would make sense to have a few more jokes sprinkled around the rest of the speech as well as the audience might be expecting the same from you

4. Mohammed Qahtani

Opening: Puts a cigarette on his lips, lights a lighter, stops just before lighting the cigarette. Looks at audience, “What?”

5. Darren Tay

Opening: Puts a white pair of briefs over his pants.

How to use props to begin your speech?

The reason props work so well in a talk is because in most cases the audience is not expecting anything more than just talking. So when a speaker pulls out an object that is unusual, everyone’s attention goes right to it.

It makes you wonder why that prop is being used in this particular speech.

The key word here is unusual . To grip the audience’s attention at the beginning of the speech, the prop being used should be something that the audience would never expect. Otherwise, it just becomes something that is common. And common = boring!

What Mohammed Qahtani and Darren Tay did superbly well in their talks was that they used props that nobody expected them to.

By pulling out a cigarette and lighter or a white pair of underwear, the audience can’t help but be gripped by what the speaker is about to do next. And that makes for a powerful speech opening.

6. Simon Sinek

Opening: “How do you explain when things don’t go as we assume? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions?”

7. Julian Treasure

Opening: “The human voice. It’s the instrument we all play. It’s the most powerful sound in the world. Probably the only one that can start a war or say “I love you.” And yet many people have the experience that when they speak people don’t listen to them. Why is that? How can we speak powerfully to make change in the world?”

How to use questions to open a speech?

I use this method often. Starting off with a question is the simplest way to start your speech in a manner that immediately engages the audience.

But we should keep our questions compelling as opposed to something that is fairly obvious.

I’ve heard many speakers start their speeches with questions like “How many of us want to be successful?”

No one is going to say ‘no’ to that and frankly, I just feel silly raising my hand at such questions.

Simon Sinek and Jullian Treasure used questions in a manner that really made the audience think and make them curious to find out what the answer to that question is.

What Jullian Treasure did even better was the use of a few statements which built up to his question. This made the question even more compelling and set the theme for what the rest of his talk would be about.

So think of what question you can ask in your speech that will:

• Set the theme for the remainder of your speech
• Not be something that is fairly obvious
• Be compelling enough so that the audience will actually want to know what the answer to that question will be

8. Aaron Beverley

Opening: Long pause (after an absurdly long introduction of a 57-word speech title). “Be honest. You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”

How to use silence for speech openings?

The reason this speech opening stands out is because of the fact that the title itself is 57 words long. The audience was already hilariously intrigued by what was going to come next.

But what’s so gripping here is the way Aaron holds the crowd’s suspense by…doing nothing. For about 10 to 12 seconds he did nothing but stand and look at the audience. Everyone quietened down. He then broke this silence by a humorous remark that brought the audience laughing down again.

When going on to open your speech, besides focusing on building a killer opening sentence, how about just being silent?

It’s important to keep in mind that the point of having a strong opening is so that the audience’s attention is all on you and are intrigued enough to want to listen to the rest of your speech.

Silence is a great way to do that. When you get on the stage, just pause for a few seconds (about 3 to 5 seconds) and just look at the crowd. Let the audience and yourself settle in to the fact that the spotlight is now on you.

I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something about starting the speech off with a pure pause that just makes the beginning so much more powerful. It adds credibility to you as a speaker as well, making you look more comfortable and confident on stage. 

If you want to know more about the power of pausing in public speaking , check out this post we wrote. It will give you a deeper insight into the importance of pausing and how you can harness it for your own speeches. You can also check out this video to know more about Pausing for Public Speaking:

9. Dan Pink

Opening: “I need to make a confession at the outset here. Little over 20 years ago, I did something that I regret. Something that I’m not particularly proud of. Something that in many ways I wish no one would ever know but that here I feel kind of obliged to reveal.”

10. Kelly McGonigal

Opening: “I have a confession to make. But first I want you to make a little confession to me.”

How to use a build-up to open your speech?

When there are so many amazing ways to start a speech and grip an audience from the outset, why would you ever choose to begin your speech with a ‘Good morning?’.

That’s what I love about build-ups. They set the mood for something awesome that’s about to come in that the audience will feel like they just have to know about.

Instead of starting a speech as it is, see if you can add some build-up to your beginning itself. For instance, in Kelly McGonigal’s speech, she could have started off with the question of stress itself (which she eventually moves on to in her speech). It’s not a bad way to start the speech.

But by adding the statement of “I have a confession to make” and then not revealing the confession for a little bit, the audience is gripped to know what she’s about to do next and find out what indeed is her confession.

11. Tim Urban

Opening: “So in college, I was a government major. Which means that I had to write a lot of papers. Now when a normal student writes a paper, they might spread the work out a little like this.”

12. Scott Dinsmore

Opening: “8 years ago, I got the worst career advice of my life.”

How to use storytelling as a speech opening?

“The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller.” Steve Jobs

Storytelling is the foundation of good speeches. Starting your speech with a story is a great way to grip the audience’s attention. It makes them yearn to want to know how the rest of the story is going to pan out.

Tim Urban starts off his speech with a story dating back to his college days. His use of slides is masterful and something we all can learn from. But while his story sounds simple, it does the job of intriguing the audience to want to know more.

As soon as I heard the opening lines, I thought to myself “If normal students write their paper in a certain manner, how does Tim write his papers?”

Combine such a simple yet intriguing opening with comedic slides, and you’ve got yourself a pretty gripping speech.

Scott Dismore’s statement has a similar impact. However, just a side note, Scott Dismore actually started his speech with “Wow, what an honour.”

I would advise to not start your talk with something such as that. It’s way too common and does not do the job an opening must, which is to grip your audience and set the tone for what’s coming.

13. Larry Smith

Opening: “I want to discuss with you this afternoon why you’re going to fail to have a great career.”

14. Jane McGonigal

Opening: “You will live 7.5 minutes longer than you would have otherwise, just because you watched this talk.”

How to use provocative statements to start your speech?

Making a provocative statement creates a keen desire among the audience to want to know more about what you have to say. It immediately brings everyone into attention.

Larry Smith did just that by making his opening statement surprising, lightly humorous, and above all – fearful. These elements lead to an opening statement which creates so much curiosity among the audience that they need to know how your speech pans out.

This one time, I remember seeing a speaker start a speech with, “Last week, my best friend committed suicide.” The entire crowd was gripped. Everyone could feel the tension in the room.

They were just waiting for the speaker to continue to know where this speech will go.

That’s what a hard-hitting statement does, it intrigues your audience so much that they can’t wait to hear more! Just a tip, if you do start off with a provocative, hard-hitting statement, make sure you pause for a moment after saying it.

Silence after an impactful statement will allow your message to really sink in with the audience.

Related article: 5 Ways to Grab Your Audience’s Attention When You’re Losing it!

15. Ramona J Smith

Opening: In a boxing stance, “Life would sometimes feel like a fight. The punches, jabs and hooks will come in the form of challenges, obstacles and failures. Yet if you stay in the ring and learn from those past fights, at the end of each round, you’ll be still standing.”

How to use your full body to grip the audience at the beginning of your speech?

In a talk, the audience is expecting you to do just that – talk. But when you enter the stage and start putting your full body into use in a way that the audience does not expect, it grabs their attention.

Body language is critical when it comes to public speaking. Hand gestures, stage movement, facial expressions are all things that need to be paid attention to while you’re speaking on stage. But that’s not I’m talking about here.

Here, I’m referring to a unique use of the body that grips the audience, like how Ramona did. By using her body to get into a boxing stance, imitating punches, jabs and hooks with her arms while talking – that’s what got the audience’s attention.

The reason I say this is so powerful is because if you take Ramona’s speech and remove the body usage from her opening, the entire magic of the opening falls flat.

While the content is definitely strong, without those movements, she would not have captured the audience’s attention as beautifully as she did with the use of her body.

So if you have a speech opening that seems slightly dull, see if you can add some body movement to it.

If your speech starts with a story of someone running, actually act out the running. If your speech starts with a story of someone reading, actually act out the reading.

It will make your speech opening that much more impactful.

Related article: 5 Body Language Tips to Command the Stage

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Final Words

So there it is! 15 speech openings from some of my favourite speeches. Hopefully, these will act as a guide for you to create your own opening which is super impactful and sets you off on the path to becoming a powerful public speaker!

But remember, while a speech opening is super important, it’s just part of an overall structure.

If you’re serious about not just creating a great speech opening but to improve your public speaking at an overall level, I would highly recommend you to check out this course: Acumen Presents: Chris Anderson on Public Speaking on Udemy. Not only does it have specific lectures on starting and ending a speech, but it also offers an in-depth guide into all the nuances of public speaking. 

Being the founder of TED Talks, Chris Anderson provides numerous examples of the best TED speakers to give us a very practical way of overcoming stage fear and delivering a speech that people will remember. His course has helped me personally and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to learn public speaking. 

No one is ever “done” learning public speaking. It’s a continuous process and you can always get better. Keep learning, keep conquering and keep being awesome!

Lastly, if you want to know how you should NOT open your speech, we’ve got a video for you:

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

by Carmine Gallo

Summary .   

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

Partner Center

9 Killer Speech Openers to Start a Talk or Presentation.​

Danny Riley 8 min read

What you’ll learn:

• The importance of a “killer” speech opening.
• 9 powerful speech openers and how to use them.
• Examples from great speakers you can learn from.

Great speech openers hook your audience.

“ Well begun is half done” – Mary Poppins.

A killer speech opener will make the difference between a presentation that makes you soar or your audience snore .

I’ve researched the whole web to find nine killer speech openers to make your audience lean in and listen rather than tune out and daydream.

You’ll see how masters of the craft have used them, and how you can too.

Number seven takes chutzpah to pull off. Ready for the whole list of killer speech openers?

The Shock Opener

One of the best ways to open your speech with a buzz is to startle or shock them.

You can shock an audience in many ways, but they all rest on the major senses of V.A.K.S:

•  Visual
• Kinaesthetic (touch) 

We don’t want your audience tasting your talk, but it should leave a good taste in their mouths.

Changing Minds suggests asking if the audience is awake after appearing from a flash bang and a cloud of smoke, and this might work for you if you’re a magician or playing some kind of character for your speech like a genie.

Suppose you aren’t going for the magic angle. 

In that case, you can shock them on a psychological level instead, as Conor Neill recommends, and tell your audience a surprising fact or statistic that makes them question their thinking or beliefs.

“Did you know that half the water on earth is older than the sun?”

Questions like these will shake an audience awake and turn on their critical thinking nervous-system.

Don’t take my word for it; you can see an incredible demonstration of the shock opener in Mohammed Qahtani’s speech, The Power of Words .

Qahtani opens by taking out a cigarette and placing it into his mouth before trying to light it. The audience is so shocked that they gasp and tell him to stop.

Remember, if your audience is shocked, they are listening.

Your audience doesn’t always have to be jolted to attention with a shock opener, though you can use a more subtle approach to grab their focus. 

Ready to speak with confidence ? We offer virtual & in-person coaching.

The story opener.

You can set the tone of your speech instantly with a story .

In Hollywood, filmmakers and directors use an ‘establishing shot’ to set the tone and theme of the entire film.

When creating your speech, think of a short story that sums up your talk.

Maybe you tell half the story to begin with, and then the other half at the end. 

The important thing is your tale must be relatable . If your audience can’t imagine themselves in the story, they won’t be engaged.

We all experience very similar things in life: 

• We all went to school and had a teacher we loved
• We all have parents who loved us or made mistakes in our upbringing
• We all had a first crush.

We are all cut from the same cloth, so it’s good to be reminded that others are going through what we face or think as we do.

Bryan Stevenson does a stellar job of recounting his mischievous grandmother in his TED talk, We need to talk about an injustice .

The best thing is, you can combine a story-opener with any other speech opener in this list.

It’s truly versatile.

One of my favourite speech openers is next, though.

The Intrigue Opener

I love this speech opener.

What better way to hook your audience than to intrigue them with mystery or a juicy secret?

Have a look at Daniel Pink’s TED Talk The puzzle of motivation . After he begins, Pink, looking like a guilty man sent to the gallows, tells his audience:

“I need to confess something, at the outset here. A little over 20 years ago, I did something I regret. Something I’m not particularly proud of”.

Wow. How intriguing, right?

You have to admit; you want to know what he’s about to confess.

Choose every sentence, every word, and every mark of punctuation to increase the tantalisation temperature.

Whether it’s a secret or confession, the Intrigue Opener piques just enough curiosity in your audience to keep them from checking WhatsApp.

As humans, we need closure.

We do not like open loops.

That’s why it is both enthralling and aggravating when someone plays on our need to be sure.

Just as we cannot stand an open loop, we are instantly engaged when someone gives us a puzzle to solve.

You’ll notice the best speeches, books, TV shows, and films do not spoon-feed you all the information.

I’ve always liked the way Malcolm Gladwell writes his non-fiction books, because they contain puzzles that you solve as a reader.

This puzzle needs to be related to the speech or presentation you’re delivering, of course. It cannot be a random puzzle and will ideally be impossible or extremely difficult to solve at first.

After the speech begins, and the puzzle is revealed, you should slowly drop hints on how to solve the mystery.

Up next, speech openers that use a physical object to create curiosity in the audience’s mind.

The Prop Opener

One of the most potent ways you will captivate your audience is to use a powerful prop in your opening address.

What better way to capture an audience’s imagination than to show them a mysterious or beautiful object?

If you’ve never seen the Prop Opener done well, then have a look at one of the greatest speeches of all time:

Dananjaya Hettiarachchi’s, See Something .

Danajaya enters with a simple rose in his breast pocket, takes it out, gazes at it nostalgically, smells it and then begins to speak.

This same prop appears again right at the end of his speech to end his talk with a flourish.

There are many different props you can use.

JJ Abrams used a Mystery Box to absorb the audience’s attention, and used the box as a metaphor for his entire career.

If you think the prop opener is just for TED Talks and Toastmasters Final Speeches, remember that most company product launch centre around one or more props.

Steve Jobs revealed his new products in ever-innovative ways.

Still, while the last two speeches I’ve mentioned opened with physical items, most of Jobs’s presentations built intrigue through the sight of the product.

So remember, you can use an object, or tease your audience with the absence of a prop, but make that prop integral to your talk.

You don’t always have to use a prop, of course. 

A more minimalist approach to opening your speech uses the best audience reaction a speaker can receive: laughter.

The Funny Opener

Using laughter to win over your audience is the golden ticket to immediate rapport with your audience.

Jack Schafer, PhD at Psychology Today, said that People Will Like You If You Make Them Laugh , which seems obvious, but at least you know we have scientists on the case. 

He also mentions that constructing humour requires and projects a high level of intelligence .

Of course, laughter is subjective, but it is also infectious, and if you get enough members of your audience to titter, it will spread across the whole group.

If you want to see just how quickly you can win an audience over with humour, have a look at Ken Robinson’s subtle but delightful ability to raise a chuckle in his speech Do Schools Kill Creativity? 

Ken’s ability to speak conversationally to an audience of thousands is genuinely remarkable.

If you break down his humour, it is easy to see how you could include similar content in your presentations. 

Whether you can pull it off as well as Ken is another story.

Not everyone feels like they can be a comedian, though; I get that. 

Well, that’s alright because there are other ways to open your talk that play on other strong emotions.

You can inspire your audience, too.

The Inspirational Opener

One of my favourite ways to help beginner speakers to open their presentation is with a quote.

A quote acts like a story in that it sets the tone and theme of your speech, but it takes much less effort and even less skill.

An effective quote is usually only one line long and supported by the credibility of the original author who uttered those words.

Watch the way Clint Smith opens his TED Talk  The Danger of Silence .

Using Martin Luther King’s voice to start his speech gives Clint what psychologists call the transference effect .

Just by citing someone else, especially someone admired and famous, you redirect the emotions an audience have towards that person onto yourself.

One caveat to using quotes, though:

Fact check them . I cringe whenever I see someone incorrectly quoting someone.

Have you ever heard the quote by Albert Einstein:

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results”?

A great quote, isn’t it?

But Albert Einstein never said those words .

A quick check on Reuters will help you add more credibility to your inspirational opener.

Finally, try to use a quote few people have ever heard. Inspiring words have been filling the archives of history for millennia. Seek out something that has been left dusty on the shelf, rather than the same recycled iterations.

Next, let’s look at a type of bold speech opener that take real chutzpah to land well.

The Perspective Shift Opener

A powerful speech opener that will take confidence is the perspective shift opener.

This opener will lead the audience in one direction before changing direction and setting a new pace for the speech.

Cameron Russel does a fantastic job of controlling the frame in her TED Talk, Looks aren’t everything. Believe me; I’m a model.

Russel takes to the stage dressed in a skimpy dress and begins to tell the audience about her career, but then does a rapid wardrobe change on stage in front of the entire audience. 

This change of dress sets a new tone, feel, and direction for the speech.

If you can change the audience’s perspective or frame of reality, you are in the driving seat.

One of the best things you can hope for as a speaker is moving hearts and changing minds. 

If you aren’t a confident speaker, start small.

Vanessa Van Edwards suggests never mentioning how nervous you are. 

It’s distracting and makes the audience pick up on all the subtle nervous energy and cues you give off. Control the frame instead and act cool and confident: they will buy into it.

Another great way to hold frame control over an audience is by using the power of silence .

The Silence Opener

Silence is a valuable commodity in today’s noisy and distracting digital world.

Creating silence at the beginning of your talk can profoundly affect your audience and their focus.

Did you ever have a teacher at school who used silence effectively?

When my English classmates were noisy, our teacher Mr Rylance would hold up his hand for silence. 

Slowly, we would settle down and focus on his raised hand. 

A few would giggle, but that would peter out until we all sat in a hypnotic stillness.

If you want to see an example of how to use silence, then look at Neal Glitterman’s speech The Power of Silence .

You can see how much gravity silence can have , especially as a speech opener.

The final killer opener I want to introduce you to is the big promise opener.

The Big Promise Opener

I believe that all speeches and presentations should contain a big promise, as it tells your audience why they should keep on listening.

Ideally, your big promise will be your speech title or phrase that pays, which is a recurring foundational phrase you will use throughout your presentation.

A big promise is your way of making a deal with the audience : you listen to me, and you’ll get something in return.

Creating a big promise at the beginning of your speech is like adding a teaser trailer to the beginning of a TV show. It suggests a reason you should stick around.

When Arthur Benjamin introduces his talk Faster than a calculator by announcing:

 “I am a human calculator!”

You know that proof is on the way.

Remember the essential rule of the Big Promise Opener: make it big, and keep your promise.

Impress your audience with these killer speech openers.

I hope you feel that I kept my promise of sharing nine killer speech openers to start a presentation.

Did you notice any other speech openers at the beginning of this article?

Don’t forget; these openers can be mixed and matched.

You can include a number of these speech openers in the same presentation to create more impact.

Let me know which of these killer openers was your favourite, and let me know if you have any more you’d like to share.

To your public speaking success,

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Speeches > Wendy W. Reese > The Power of Positivity

The Power of Positivity

Wendy w. reese.

Wife of President Reese, President of Brigham Young University

September 10, 2024

It is spiritually vital to have a strong relationship with the Savior .  When we turn to H im , He will be a positive force in our lives.

Wendy W. Reese, wife of BYU president C. Shane Reese, delivered this devotional address on September 10, 2024.

Perspective

Related Speeches

For Times of Trouble

Stepping-Stones and Stumbling Blocks

Trump’s Repetitive Speech Is a Bad Sign

If the debate was a cognitive test, the former president failed.

Produced by ElevenLabs and News Over Audio (NOA) using AI narration.

Updated at 5:15 p.m. ET on September 13, 2024

Tuesday’s presidential debate was, among other things, an excellent real-world test of the candidates’ cognitive fitness—and any fair-minded mental-health expert would be very worried about Donald Trump’s performance.

The former president has repeatedly bragged over the past several years that he has passed various mental-status exams with flying colors. Most of these tests are designed to detect fairly serious cognitive dysfunction, and as such, they are quite easy to pass : They ask simple questions such as “What is the date?” and challenge participants to spell world backwards or write any complete sentence. By contrast, a 90-minute debate that involves unknown questions and unanticipated rebuttals requires candidates to think on their feet. It is a much more demanding and representative test of cognitive health than a simple mental-status exam you take in a doctor’s office. Specifically, the debate serves as an evaluation of the candidates’ mental flexibility under pressure—their capacity to deal with uncertainty and the unforeseen.

Just to be clear: Although I am a psychiatrist, I am not offering any specific medical diagnoses for any public figure. I have never met or examined either candidate. But I watched the debate with particular attention to the candidates’ vocabulary, verbal and logical coherence, and ability to adapt to new topics—all signs of a healthy brain. Although Kamala Harris certainly exhibited some rigidity and repetition, her speech remained within the normal realm for politicians, who have a reputation for harping on their favorite talking points. By contrast, Donald Trump’s expressions of those tendencies were alarming. He displayed some striking, if familiar, patterns that are commonly seen among people in cognitive decline.

Much of the time, following Trump’s train of thought was difficult, if not impossible. In response to a question from the moderator David Muir about whether he regretted anything he’d done during the January 6 insurrection, Trump said:

I have said “blood bash—bath.” It was a different term, and it was a term that related to energy, because they have destroyed our energy business. That was where bloodbath was. Also, on Charlottesville, that story has been, as you would say, debunked. Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, Jesse—all of these people, they covered it. If they go an extra sentence, they will see it was perfect. It was debunked in almost every newspaper. But they still bring it up, just like they bring 2025 up. They bring all of this stuff up. I ask you this: You talk about the Capitol. Why are we allowing these millions of people to come through on the southern border? How come she’s not doing anything—and I’ll tell you what I would do. And I would be very proud to do it.

Evading the question is an age-old debate-winning tactic. But Trump’s response seems to go beyond evasion. It is both tangential, in that it is completely irrelevant to the question, and circumstantial, in that it is rambling and never gets to a point. Circumstantial and tangential speech can indicate a fundamental problem with an underlying cognitive process, such as logical and goal-oriented thinking. Did Trump realize that his answer was neither germane to the question nor logical?

Eleven days before the debate, at a campaign event in Pennsylvania, Trump responded to criticism of his rambling speech by claiming that it is part of a deliberate strategy to frustrate his opponents. “I do the weave,” he told the audience. “You know what the weave is? I’ll talk about, like, nine different things that they all come back brilliantly together. And it’s like—and friends of mine that are, like, English professors, they say: ‘It’s the most brilliant thing I’ve ever seen.’” Viewers can judge for themselves whether the disjointed statements they heard during the debate cohered brilliantly in the end.

Read: How swing voters reacted to the Trump-Harris debate

The speech Trump excuses as the “weave” is one of many tics that are starting to look less strategic and more uncontrollable. Last week, David A. Graham wrote in The Atlantic that the former president has a penchant for describing objects and events as being “ like nobody has ever seen before .” At the debate, true to form, Trump repeatedly fell back on the superlative. Of the economy under his presidency: “Nobody’s ever seen anything like it.” Of inflation under the Biden administration: “I’ve never seen a worse period of time.” Of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan: “That was one of the most incompetently handled situations anybody has ever seen.” Harris, for her part, also showed some verbal tics and leaned on tired formulations. For instance, she invited viewers more than 15 times to “understand” things. But Trump’s turns of phrase are so disjointed, so unusual, and so frequently uttered that they’re difficult to pass off as normal speech.

Trump’s speech during the debate was repetitive not only in form but also in content. Politicians regularly return during debates to their strongest topics—that’s just good strategy. Harris twice mentioned Project 2025 , which voters widely disapproved of in recent polling , and insisted three times that Americans want to “move forward” or “chart a new way forward.” Trump likewise expounded at every opportunity on immigration, a weak issue for Harris. But plenty of the former president’s repetitions seemed compulsive, not strategic. After praising the Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán, Trump spoke unprompted, at length, and without clarity about gas pipelines in the United States and Europe, an issue unlikely to connect with many voters. A few minutes later, he brought up the pipelines again. The moderators cut him off for a commercial break. Even in cases where Trump could have reasonably defended himself, he was unable to articulate basic exculpatory evidence. When Harris raised his infamous “very fine people on both sides” remark regarding the 2017 white-supremacist march in Charlottesville, Virginia, Trump could have pointed out that even at the time, he had specified, “I’m not talking about the neo-Nazis and the white nationalists—because they should be condemned totally.” But he did not.

Read: The mistake that could cost Trump the election

In psychiatry, the tendency to conspicuously and rigidly repeat a thought beyond the point of relevance, called “perseveration,” is known to be correlated with a variety of clinical disorders, including those involving a loss of cognitive reserve. People tend to stick to familiar topics over and over when they experience an impairment in cognitive functioning—for instance, in short-term memory. Short-term memory is essentially your mental sketch pad: how many different thoughts you can juggle in your mind, keep track of, and use at the same time. Given the complexity of being president, short-term memory is a vital skill.

If a patient presented to me with the verbal incoherence, tangential thinking, and repetitive speech that Trump now regularly demonstrates, I would almost certainly refer them for a rigorous neuropsychiatric evaluation to rule out a cognitive illness. A condition such as vascular dementia or Alzheimer’s disease would not be out of the ordinary for a 78-year-old. Only careful medical examination can establish whether someone indeed has a diagnosable illness—simply observing Trump, or anyone else, from afar is not enough. For those who do have such diseases or conditions, several treatments and services exist to help them and their loved ones cope with their decline. But that does not mean any of them would be qualified to serve as commander in chief.

Due to an editing error, this article originally used an incorrect term for “perseveration.”

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