If You Want to Know How To Become a Motivational Speaker, Johnny Campbell is the Man to Ask
http://www.setthestageforsuccess.com/articles/21065/1/If-You-Want-to-Know-How-To-Become-a-Motivational-Speaker-Johnny-Campbell-is-the-Man-to-Ask/Page1.html
Anthony Vultaggio
Anthony Vultaggio is the author of, "Who Said That and Why You Should Care
". He's the founder and president of Life Strategies Business Consulting, founding board member for SEAN (Stop Elder Abuse Now), marketing consultant for the RightDentalGroup.com dentists, and a sought-after speaker on healthcare marketing and success strategies.By Anthony Vultaggio
Published on 10/1/2008
“Physician, heal thyself.”
Those are words to live by according to Johnny Campbell better known the world over as “The Transition Man.”
Johnny travels the country speaking to groups of all sizes about how to deal with everything from corporate downsizing and business restructuring to personal issues such as disrupted careers, depleted savings, divorce, and an overall lack of motivation. Referring to himself as a “Personal Agent of Change,” Johnny helps people and businesses to succeed in these changing times.
Having cut his teeth on the realities of change during his 10-year career as an insurance claims adjuster, Johnny learned every one of the principles he teaches working with people one-on-one.
Those are words to live by according to Johnny Campbell better known the world over as “The Transition Man.”
Johnny travels the country speaking to groups of all sizes about how to deal with everything from corporate downsizing and business restructuring to personal issues such as disrupted careers, depleted savings, divorce, and an overall lack of motivation. Referring to himself as a “Personal Agent of Change,” Johnny helps people and businesses to succeed in these changing times.
Having cut his teeth on the realities of change during his 10-year career as an insurance claims adjuster, Johnny learned every one of the principles he teaches working with people one-on-one.
“Physician, heal thyself.”
Those are words to live by according to Johnny Campbell better known the world over as The Transition Man.
Johnny travels the country speaking to groups of all sizes about how to deal with everything from corporate downsizing and business restructuring to personal issues such as disrupted careers, depleted savings, divorce, and an overall lack of motivation. Referring to himself as a Personal Agent of Change, Johnny helps people and businesses to succeed in these changing times.
Having cut his teeth on the realities of change during his 10-year career as an insurance claims adjuster, Johnny learned every one of the principles he teaches working with people one-on-one.
“The only people despised more than insurance claims adjusters are the folks who work for the IRS,” says Johnny. “To say my job was difficult is an understatement. While I worked in that industry I survived five corporate restructurings, mergers and downsizings until finally it was my job that was ‘phased out.’ When I lost that job I realized that my whole world was that company. I knew then that I needed to make a change for myself.”
Change is what he did. Taking the knowledge he’d amassed during his career he started cold calling to let people know he was in the business of speaking. He made over 100 cold calls a day to anyone who would answer the phone. He got up on stage and delivered presentations. He worked to build a name for himself.
“It wasn’t glamorous for a long time,” says Johnny. “I just talked. I was real. My presentation came from years of experience and people connected with the message.”
A lot of motivational speakers get up on stage with bank statements showing you how much money they make.
“In the beginning I didn’t have those,” says Johnny. “I had battle wounds and scars. I showed people my journey and helped them through theirs.”
Early in his speaking career he lived in a rented room on ramen noodles and water. He knew in his heart that this was what he wanted and knew he had to make this change. It took him three years but he did it.
“I bounced so many checks that the bank stopped charging me,” he recalls. “My credit score went from 700 to 350. I needed a roof over my head to survive and a phone to prospect for new business. Everything else was secondary. I was honest with my creditors and most of them appreciated my sincerity and my efforts.”
In the beginning he had a phone and a speech and a belief in himself and what he could do. When the money came he reapplied 40% of his earnings back into the business. He used the rest to survive.
“Sometimes I felt like a gambler,” he says. “I was always adding more chips and putting it all back in the center. But I believed it was possible and was dedicated to growth. When things changed I got out of debt quickly.”
Throughout the process Johnny did the work to hone his craft.
“In the beginning I was like a street basketball player,” he says smoothly. “I had the skill to make it but needed some polish. Toastmasters helped me to become predictably funny and get rid of umms and ahhhs.”
Though he had plenty of distractions along the way, he stayed focused, relentless in his pursuit of his dream.
“Early on I felt like I needed to be a keynote speaker, product salesperson, internet marketer, trainer, information marketer and personal coaching,” he recalls. “And while that may have landed me a job or two along the way I quickly learned not to try to be all things to all people. Today I’m clear. I’m a keynote speaker. I'm the Transition Man.”
His advice to anyone dealing with change in their life is simple, “Decide what is most important to you and be relentless. Sometimes you have to be flexible in your approach but never lose sight of your goal.”
Johnny was inducted into Toastmasters Speaking Hall of Fame in 2007. He’s one of only 58 people to receive that honor. He was the youngest and the first African American to be recognized and the only American inductee in the last three years.
Though he’s hit many of his goals and is represented by several bureaus but still makes 20-25 calls per day.
“Success makes me feel good. Failure pisses me off,” says Johnny. “I take an active role in making sure my values, goals and actions are aligned so I can succeed more often than I fail.”
For more information about Johnny Campbell visit his website www.TransitionMan.com.
To receive his Speaking4Profit newsletter go to: www.21stcenturyspeaker.com.
Those are words to live by according to Johnny Campbell better known the world over as The Transition Man.
Johnny travels the country speaking to groups of all sizes about how to deal with everything from corporate downsizing and business restructuring to personal issues such as disrupted careers, depleted savings, divorce, and an overall lack of motivation. Referring to himself as a Personal Agent of Change, Johnny helps people and businesses to succeed in these changing times.
Having cut his teeth on the realities of change during his 10-year career as an insurance claims adjuster, Johnny learned every one of the principles he teaches working with people one-on-one.
“The only people despised more than insurance claims adjusters are the folks who work for the IRS,” says Johnny. “To say my job was difficult is an understatement. While I worked in that industry I survived five corporate restructurings, mergers and downsizings until finally it was my job that was ‘phased out.’ When I lost that job I realized that my whole world was that company. I knew then that I needed to make a change for myself.”
Change is what he did. Taking the knowledge he’d amassed during his career he started cold calling to let people know he was in the business of speaking. He made over 100 cold calls a day to anyone who would answer the phone. He got up on stage and delivered presentations. He worked to build a name for himself.
“It wasn’t glamorous for a long time,” says Johnny. “I just talked. I was real. My presentation came from years of experience and people connected with the message.”
A lot of motivational speakers get up on stage with bank statements showing you how much money they make.
“In the beginning I didn’t have those,” says Johnny. “I had battle wounds and scars. I showed people my journey and helped them through theirs.”
Early in his speaking career he lived in a rented room on ramen noodles and water. He knew in his heart that this was what he wanted and knew he had to make this change. It took him three years but he did it.
“I bounced so many checks that the bank stopped charging me,” he recalls. “My credit score went from 700 to 350. I needed a roof over my head to survive and a phone to prospect for new business. Everything else was secondary. I was honest with my creditors and most of them appreciated my sincerity and my efforts.”
In the beginning he had a phone and a speech and a belief in himself and what he could do. When the money came he reapplied 40% of his earnings back into the business. He used the rest to survive.
“Sometimes I felt like a gambler,” he says. “I was always adding more chips and putting it all back in the center. But I believed it was possible and was dedicated to growth. When things changed I got out of debt quickly.”
Throughout the process Johnny did the work to hone his craft.
“In the beginning I was like a street basketball player,” he says smoothly. “I had the skill to make it but needed some polish. Toastmasters helped me to become predictably funny and get rid of umms and ahhhs.”
Though he had plenty of distractions along the way, he stayed focused, relentless in his pursuit of his dream.
“Early on I felt like I needed to be a keynote speaker, product salesperson, internet marketer, trainer, information marketer and personal coaching,” he recalls. “And while that may have landed me a job or two along the way I quickly learned not to try to be all things to all people. Today I’m clear. I’m a keynote speaker. I'm the Transition Man.”
His advice to anyone dealing with change in their life is simple, “Decide what is most important to you and be relentless. Sometimes you have to be flexible in your approach but never lose sight of your goal.”
Johnny was inducted into Toastmasters Speaking Hall of Fame in 2007. He’s one of only 58 people to receive that honor. He was the youngest and the first African American to be recognized and the only American inductee in the last three years.
Though he’s hit many of his goals and is represented by several bureaus but still makes 20-25 calls per day.
“Success makes me feel good. Failure pisses me off,” says Johnny. “I take an active role in making sure my values, goals and actions are aligned so I can succeed more often than I fail.”
For more information about Johnny Campbell visit his website www.TransitionMan.com.
To receive his Speaking4Profit newsletter go to: www.21stcenturyspeaker.com.