Global Exec Reaches Audiences Worldwide by Eileen ShapiroI was glad for the chance to talk with John McDonnell, a global leader in the beverage alcohol industry. He is widely credited for having established the ultra-premium tequila category around the world. John, what inspired you to become a motivational speaker? Ed Kelly, President of American Express Publishing said after one of your talks that “you combined innovative, state-of-the-art content with a natural, down-to-earth charm that makes you incredibly engaging.” That’s quite a compliment. How do you do it? Learning to be a public speaker is no different than learning anything else, even though I realize a lot of people have “stage fright.” I’ve learned a lot over the years about speaking -- like the importance of rehearsing aloud ahead of time, making each rehearsal as “real” in my mind as I can. The most helpful thing I’ve learned is simply to be myself. Audiences in every country appreciate a speaker who’s genuine – someone who means what he says. I’m a truth-teller. Can’t help it. People seem to respond to that. Once you’re in front of an audience giving a speech, what do you to do hold their attention? What benefit have you gained personally from other motivational speakers if any? I’ve seen many inspiring speakers over the years. I’ve also experienced some duds who clearly hadn’t thought enough ahead of time about their audiences. I get benefit from hearing any speaker … and then thinking through why they were (or weren’t) successful. You have done many "Talks" in the past including TEDx speeches. How has the experience complemented your ability? Is there a specific company you'd wish to talk to and why? Not really. I’ve found that the knowledge I’ve gained from working in 130 countries and islands worldwide -- building #1 brands in their fields -- can be useful for just about any business. The official website for John McDonnell may be found at https://www.McDonnellSpeaks.com Follow John McDonnell on Twitter @McDonnellSpeaks
June 15, 2018 1:00pm ET by World Star PR
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