What is your view of motivational speakers who tell you you can be the next billionaire or president or Harvard grad?

[jennifer_bloom]

I believe God gives us what we want, but only when what we want is reasonable and reflects our own hard work and humility

Positive

Negative

Never met a speaker like that

[MannMitAntworten]

It is true, one in that crowd of hundreds and thousands more watching can be... and when it happens the speaker can say, “see! It does work!” Granted, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while so why not a one in a few hundred thousand chance for one of their kool-aid drinking adhering followers being the next billionaire of US President? All odds...

[Nadim171]

The truth is their advice usually doesn't work. But here is the thing, they're motivational speakers, their job is to motivate you. And they do indeed motivate me sometimes.

[purplepoppy]

I've little time for them. Hard work and ability doesn't guarantee success, whats often needed is a lucky break at the right time. For everyone who succeeds hundreds of people who worked just as hard will fail.
One common theme I come across with successful people is they're often dishonest and have criminal pasts. They'll boast they built up their business through hard work but quite often they raised the initial set up costs through crime. This criminal aspect often continues through the early years helping them out compete honest businesses.

[Pasiton5]

You don't need someone to tell you that if the desire is in you that's what you will pursue, these speakers in s ask your self do they practice what they preach, i mean what does it takes to really just tell people what they want to hear sell a couple books and your set does that take motivation or greed, you don't need someone trying you what got should be doing you either feel it or don't, you know you better than anyone some people may feel they need that rush from what they say but once the show is over your rush is fine and so is several hundred if not thousands of dollars, I'm not knocking what there guys do but they're a sham show up talk for an hour and leave some withers behind to peddle their books and they're gone were have to get in time with our own selves, why run for president of you have no desire to, we also need to start thinking for our selves,

[nolabels]

I love motivational speakers.
Of course they are speaking of potential, which I think is great for a person hoping to better themselves to hear.
You CAN be the next billionaire, president, or Harvard grad.
That doesn't mean you will be, but you can.
There is no untruth in those statements.
They can be the extra kick in the pants to someone who may need to hear such positive words.
Those types of speeches are usually made at events where a person is exiting one stage of life to enter the unknown future, which may seem possibly and probably, to be a scary undertaking.
I agree with your statement about hard work and humility, and that sentiment fits with the message that I hear from motivational speakers.
Work hard with humility and go after your goals, with honor and confidence that you can achieve them.

[Jamie05rhs]

I don't want to un-motivate anyone. Motivation is always a positive thing. If someone is motivated, then I want them to stay motivated and reach their goals and dreams.

My only issue with motivational speakers would be if they charge money. Because then I think it's a scam.

[TwistedTube]

I don't trust them one bit. Lotta of them tends to just try to get you into their pyramid scheme. Others try to "teach" you things for a price that you'll quickly learn yourself without much effort just by being somewhat involved in the trade

[TurboKid]

Lame. The only type of motivational speaker I like is the one that guarantees and promises nothing.

[TurboKid]

Like this:

Guarantees nothing at all. Actually just stating facts.

[TurboKid]

Anyone who promises something great in the form of the external, not the internal, is a fraud as I see it... unless they're God.

[TurboKid]

Beware of the false prophets, you know. I am an atheist but I can recognize a fraud. A true prophet talks about what you should do, not what you will receive in response. The reward is internal, not external.

The only reward promised here is inner peace. There is no forecast of external events.

[jennifer_bloom]

The way I see it is that God is a rock and not a rain shower and he doesn’t grant favour when it isn’t warranted.

[TurboKid]

My thing as an atheist (though not a militant one and I find beauty in God and religion) is that the greatest reward of bettering ourselves is internal. If you'll forgive a crude analogy for which I would want to stretch it to every corner and nuance of our lives, it's like the reason to work out and eat well should ideally be internal. You have more energy, you feel better, you can think more clearly. If someone wants to work out with the goal of getting girls or guys, then they cannot appreciate the beauty of what they achieved internally for themselves, and they might fall towards desperation and resentment if their external goals aren't accomplished.

[jennifer_bloom]

I think so too. If you tell me a hiking trail will let me live longer I will do it but if you say it will increase my chances of being liked, it won’t have an impact because I care very little about being vainly appreciated for my body and looks.

[TurboKid]

... or the noblest goal of them all as I see it. Work out and eat right so that we can not only take care of ourselves but also others. That is Godly and saintly as I see it. And usually this mindset will be rewarded with external gifts, like lovers, and friends, but that should never be the motivation.

[TurboKid]

Are you familiar with Stoicism? I am a fan of this philosophy and I think it's wholly compatible with Christian beliefs. In fact, the Serenity Prayer is a Stoic prayer:

>> God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
>> courage to change the things I can,
>> and wisdom to know the difference. -- Reinhold Niebuhr

That is a Stoic prayer:


Stoicism intro:
https://youtu.be/o0MzQZ_eFEY

[jennifer_bloom]

I read his book cause it was part of a 50 book package I found on Amazon that was compiled together - what he says I think the bible says in different words which is to trust in God meaning you put your confidence on the back objective nature of the universe and the love it Has and not on the tangible and changeable things that are unstable. I go to the universe when I want companionship because nobody in my life is perfect enough to compete with that.

[TurboKid]

It is when we have freed ourselves of all dependencies to tangible things that I think we've reached a transcendent state. This is the closest I've seen to the Stoic sage:
https://youtu.be/ZwQTsCiguHc

[Lliam]

I'm turned off by motivational speakers in general. They always seem like salesmen or paid con men to me. I'd rather learn something useful than listen to bullshit.

[Adam1978]

They are just there to take your money and become richer on your expense. You don't need their words or their books, you know what the message is and it only works if a few those it. When everyone does a thing it will change the game. Which can be a reason enough to do it. But if you want to be rich don't waste your money. All you need is common sense and you will find economy to be child play.

[Phoenix98]

I think it's kind of nonsense honestly I mean it's all good and well to be positive and have motivation but realistically speaking the only ones who are becoming millionaires are those speakers because they make profits from people coming to their speeches, buying their books, videos, "secrets" on becoming wealthy, etc.

[MsTaniaUncensored]

When I hear that kind of speech I usually wonder when they are going to try and sell me their book or self-help kit.

[Leavesbound]

Snake oil sales man. If one examines such a person's motivation you will find it is pure $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[TallAnon]

They're mostly annoying. Anyone can get very far with motivation alone, but someone yelling at you isn't going to motivate you. Being poor motivates you to earn millions. Being weak motivates you to be the strongest. Someone yelling at you is useless.

[Red_Arrow]

They have made their money because they are good at selling their snake oil to the crowds, not because they are smart about their topic.

[goaded]

xkcd. com/1827

You too can be a motivational speaker and make loads of money giving talks...

[andreasderjuengere]

My general opinion on ''motivational speakers'' is quite negative.
These guys tell 'us' what common sense tells us anyway.
Cheerleaders suck.

[Redstang88]

Never listened to those clowns, but anyway it’s pretty hard to something if you have absolutely zero interest in trying

[sp33d]

That's not motivational, those are just basic facts. I sometimes wonder who the hell pays for hearing that or how such people are (still) in business.

[moejoeloli]

God is way to make us sheeps. You have the true power over your life. Just try you’ll ser

[ThePolishKnight37]

Anthony Robbins has proven that over and over again. that modeling will get you what you work for.

[andreasderjuengere]

The sad fact: Anthony Robbins... who the fart is that :D?
(don't reply... it's a rhetoric exclamation )

[EnglishEuropean]

@andreasderjuengere I think he means self-help guru Tony Robbins. To be fair Robbins made himself disgustingly rich with no more than the gift of the gab and amazing good looks.

[andreasderjuengere]

@EnglishEuropean I should try the same, then :D

[SAMI_DABBAB]

İt's in the end a job, unless you meet one in real life who's willing to answer actual questions