“You don’t do it for money. It’s not about greed. It’s about personal freedom. The reason you want to be an entrepreneur is to be able to do whatever you want with your time anytime you want. That’s the whole idea. It’s to set yourself free to pursue the dreams you have.”
— Kevin O’Leary
Kevin O’Leary is a top entrepreneur speaker, author, venture capitalist, and guest judge on Shark Tank. In 1986, O’Leary co-founded SoftKey Software Products, and by the late 1990s, SoftKey had acquired numerous competitor companies including Compton’s New Media, The Learning Company, Mindscape and Broderbund. In 1999, the company was sold to the Mattel Toy Company for $3.7 billion, which is one of the largest deals ever done in the consumer software industry.
Identity theft, hacking, and other cybersecurity attacks such as DDoS attacks can be detrimental to a business, leaving employees, customers, and company information vulnerable. Once information has been stolen, it is virtually impossible to “unsteal” it. And despite increased employee literacy in safety methods and protective programs, hacks can and do happen regularly, sometimes resulting in devastating effects.
But all is not hopeless. Though hackers are constantly honing their infiltration methods, so too are the cybersecurity experts and IT team leaders ramping up their efforts to stay one step ahead of the hackers.
15 leaders in the field have recommendations for young tech executives to keep a handle on and take measures to prevent a cyber attack, from creating incident response plans to using audit logs to figure out the hacker’s methodology. For an in depth look, check out the original article on the Forbes website.
“So whatever you do in life, always ask yourself: What do you want people to feel? What do you want to leave with them?”
— Matthew Luhn, Former Pixar Story Artist
Matthew Luhn is an accomplished storyteller, author, instructor, motivational keynote speaker, and story consultant, with over 25 years’ experience creating stories and characters at Pixar Animation Studios. Matthew’s story credits include Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, Monsters Inc., Monsters University, Finding Nemo, UP, Cars, Ratatouille and other films currently in development. He is also the author of The Best Story Wins, teaching how to use storytelling for business.
“If you fail, learn from it. And if you fall, get back up. And if it feels impossible, keep going. That’s the secret to success.”
— Kim Perell, Author of The Execution Factor
Kim Perell is an award-winning entrepreneur, bestselling author, CEO and angel investor with a passion for people, technology, and progress. She went from being laid off at 23 to becoming a multi-millionaire by the time she was 30 years old and selling her last company for $235 million in 2014.
Are you looking for motivation and inspiration for your next keynote or event? Research shows a boost in employee engagement and morale also boosts your company productivity and bottom line. Our best motivational speakers can help engage your employees. These men and women may come from different fields and have lived different experiences, but they all share one thing in common: the ability to inspire, empower, and motivate your team to new heights. Here are the top motivational and keynote speakers for 2020.
Robyn Benincasa is a top motivational speaker, adventure racing world champion, and founder of Project Athena. In her entertaining and funny keynotes, she shares stories that explain the foundations of inspired leadership and how to win as a team.
Magic Johnson is a world-renowned NBA Hall of Fame All-Star, philanthropist, and motivational speaker. With an incredible history as an athlete, entrepreneur and HIV survivor, his humorous and heartfelt stories inspire corporate and business conferences around the world.
Molly Bloom is an inspirational speaker and the subject of the Aaron Sorkin film, Molly’s Game. Her made-for-movie life taught her the importance of always betting on yourself, no matter what odds are stacked against you.
Jia Jiang is a top resilience expert and sales keynote speaker with the most viewed TED Talk of 2017. In his bestselling book Rejection Proof, smartphone apps, and presentations, Jiang provides inspiration and knowledge for people and organizations to become resilient by learning how to approach rejection.
James Clear is a personal development keynote speaker and New York Times bestselling author of Atomic Habits. In his story-filled keynotes, James shows audiences how small habits, decision-making, and continuous improvement can lead you to the life you want.
Shawn Achor is a motivational speaker, happiness researcher and bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage. Achor uses his research and humor to inspire and teach audiences how to lead more positive and productive lives.
Barb Stegemann is a social entrepreneur and founder of 7 Virtues Perfumes. She inspires audiences to change their own lives with her compelling story of overcoming adversity through the power of stoic wisdom.
James Lawrence, aka The Iron Cowboy, is a motivational speaker and endurance athlete. James gives insights on the lessons he learned of how to overcome his mental and physical limits when he completed 50 full distance triathlons, in 50 states, in 50 consecutive days (50.50.50).
Jade Simmons is a rockstar concert pianist, powerhouse motivational and experiential speaker, and best of SXSW performer. She delivers stunning mainstage keynote presentations that potently combine music, virtuoso performance, and riveting storytelling to speak to the hearts, minds, and goals of a company’s most valuable resource…its people.
Alden Mills is a motivational speaker, former Navy SEAL Commander, and founder of Perfect Fitness. His mantra is “Your only limits are your imagination and determination.” Using personal stories from his Navy career, Mills inspires, entertains, and motivates audiences to reach their goals.
Chris Bashinelli is a motivational keynote speaker, expert in emotional intelligence, and host of the PBS program Bridge the Gap. His keynote talks show audiences how challenges can help people develop empathy and how people can bridge the gap of “them” to “us” by looking out for the best interests of others.
With the top ten best motivational speakers in mind (plus one), you’re well on your way to planning the most motivational and inspiring keynote event your organization has ever seen!
The content writers atBigSpeak Speakers Bureau are Experts on the Experts. They hold doctoral, masters, and bachelors’ degrees in business, writing, literature, and education. Their business thought pieces are published regularly in leading business publications. Working in close association with the top business, entrepreneur, and motivational speakers, BigSpeak content writers are at the forefront of industry trends and research.
“You get to be called a trailblazer or game-changer. But that doesn’t come without a lot of walking on glass. It is really tough to change the game. I had people make fun of me. The banks wouldn’t give me a loan. People told me I couldn’t do this. Can you imagine if I ever listened to them?”
— Barb Stegemann, Founder of 7 Virtues Perfume
Barb Stegemann’s entrepreneurial vision was formed after her best friend—a soldier—was severely wounded in Afghanistan. Understanding that supporting Afghanistan’s economy was key to building stability for its people, Stegemann created The 7 Virtues, a company that sources organic, fair trade essential oils from countries experiencing turmoil (such as Afghanistan, Haiti, the Middle East and Rwanda).
“If you’re starting for the first time. If you’re restarting for the second, third, or fourth time…Or if you just want to go bigger. The only limitation you have is your mind.”
— Molly Bloom
Molly Bloom is an inspirational keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of Molly’s Game. She is best known for her memoir, Molly’s Game, which was adapted into an award-winning film of the same name by Aaron Sorkin.
“If you’re tired of starting over, stop giving up. How many of you look back on your lives and can count how many times you’ve started over on a dream (or a destination)….Think now, how far down that road you’d be if you didn’t quit.”
— James Lawrence, The Iron Cowboy
On July 25, 2015, James Lawerence overcame all odds and defied all doubts by completing 50 full distance triathlons, in 50 states, in 50 consecutive days (50.50.50). Completing what is now considered the greatest feat of human endurance.
In the new book by Emotiv founder Tan Le, The NeuroGeneration, Le outlines just how science and business are augmenting our brain so we can perform better and learn faster. Our move to an augmented and brain enhanced world is taking on different forms, from implants to headsets to exoskeletons. These augmentations have implications for our work and personal lives.
The worlds of both business and technology are changing rapidly, and often intertwine in surprising ways. Workers themselves are adapting, resulting in a growing digital workforce made up of freelancers and remote employees adept in using new technologies to their own ends and less interested in the offerings of the traditional workplace and workspace. These changes are inevitable, but whether or not a given company takes advantage of and evolves with these trends or is left behind by them is very much in the hands of each organization’s leadership team. Will your business invest in digital health solutions, internal chatbots and accountability systems? Thought leaders at the cutting edge of the field highly recommend that you do.
Read the full article by 15 members of the Forbes Technology Council here.
Famous Motivational Speakers are athletes, entertainers, business owners, and bestselling authors who are well known for their talent and success but also have a motivational message to tell about how they overcame adversity to reach their full potential. Try one of the top eleven famous motivational speakers in 2019 for your next event or keynote.
Magic Johnson is known for his 13-year professional basketball career with the L.A. Lakers, including 12 NBA All-Star games and an Olympic gold medal win. After retiring from professional basketball, Magic became a leading spokesperson for HIV education and a motivational speaker. Johnson delivers a passionate message about his life story, what motivated him, and how we can all make a difference in our community.
Molly Bloom is an inspirational speaker, bestselling author of Molly’s Game, and was the business mind behind the most exclusive, high-stakes poker game in the world. Her story covers everything from starting her business knowing nothing about poker to losing everything—then overcoming addiction and rebuilding her life.
Brad Montague is a storytelling expert and inspirational speaker famous for co-creating the “Kid President” viral videos in 2013. In his talks, Brad shares stories of how his small, funny video became a hit and the life lessons he learned from the experience.
Mel Robbins is best known for her TEDxTalk “How To Stop Screwing Yourself Over.” She is a powerful motivational keynote speaker who shares the story of overcoming her depression and turning her life around with “the five-second rule.” Mel helps break the habit of procrastination and self-doubt so you can become a more confident and productive individual.
Daymond John is a motivational speaker, founder of FUBU clothing, and reality TV investor on Shark Tank. Daymond shares his inspirational story of overcoming tough times to grow FUBU clothing from a garage startup to a multi-million dollar company.
Dr. Brené Brown is a motivational speaker and emotional intelligence expert, famous for her TEDx talk “The Power of Vulnerability” (one of the top 5 TED talks in the world) and her Netflix special The Call to Courage. Brené inspires audiences with her story of learning to embrace vulnerability and shows how others can do the same.
Abby came to fame as the co-captain of the 2015 U.S. Women’s World Cup Champion Team and as a two-time Olympic medalist. She inspires audiences with her talks on commitment, resilience, excellence, and sisterhood.
Bert Jacobs along with his brother John Jacobs created the Life is Good t-shirt company, originally selling t-shirts from their van. Neither one had a background in business at the start but their company took off, becoming a huge success. Despite making countless mistakes along the way, they learned how to use optimism to stay on top.
Dr. Michio Kaku is one of the most widely recognized people in science today, appearing on international TV and radio for his unique insights. His talks on the future of the mind inspire audiences everywhere.
Bethany Hamilton was a rising teenage surfing sensation when she lost her arm to a 14-foot tiger shark. But one month after the attack, Bethany returned to the water and just over a year later she won her first national title. Bethany’s comeback story has been told as theNew York Times bestselling autobiography, Soul Surfer, and the 2011 film with the same title.
The originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and a prolific self-development author, Jack is recognized as America’s number one motivational speaker. Jack inspires audiences to participate more fully in life, show more compassion, dream bigger, and persevere in the face of setbacks.
Bring one of these famous motivational speakers to your next event; they are sure to add a touch of cachet and inspire your audience to reach new heights.
The content writers at BigSpeak Speakers Bureau are Experts on the Experts. They hold doctoral, masters, and bachelors’ degrees in business, writing, literature, and education. Their business thought pieces are published regularly in leading business publications. Working in close association with the top business, entrepreneur, and motivational speakers, BigSpeak content writers are at the forefront of industry trends and research.
Maintaining healthy habits throughout the year can be a challenge. Travel, parties, holidays—they all disrupt our routines. How can you stay on track in the face of constant disruptions?
In a recent interview on CBS This Morning, The New York Times bestselling author of Atomic Habits James Clear explained how. Here are three tips to keep your habits healthy all year round.
Reduce your scope but stick to the schedule.
It’s difficult to maintain a healthy routine when you leave home for work or pleasure. The tendency is to give up your entire system of exercise and healthy eating. So what can you do to keep to the routine?
James suggests we overcome challenges by maintaining our routines while reducing the scope. For example, if you’re used to working out an hour every day and then you can’t because of work or family obligations, just do a few minutes of exercise. If you do a short walk or a few push-ups each day, then you can maintain your routine of exercise so you can get back on track once the disruption is over.
Design your personal environment for success.
Holidays and parties can disrupt healthy eating plans. Then, leftovers tempt us to stay on an unhealthy path. So what can you do with those leftovers?
Clear says design your environment to emphasize good eating over bad. Wrap the unhealthy leftovers in aluminum foil so you can’t see the tempting food. Then wrap the healthy leftovers in plastic wrap so you will see these instead (and maybe let a co-worker eat the bad stuff). Sometimes healthy eating is as simple as putting bad food out of sight.
Never miss twice.
One day, despite our best intentions, we will eat a fatty meal or fail to exercise, or both. When this happens, many people decide to abandon their good habits altogether. So what should you do when you miss a day?
Clear suggests you get back on track by never missing twice. The key is to accept some days you will fail and allow for that. Then get back to your healthy habit the next day. If you resolve to never miss two days in a row, you can keep your good habits going indefinitely.
