Motivational Speeches Don’t Work
I’m a sucker for a good motivational speech. When I go on YouTube, nearly every recommended video as soon as a hit the homepage is some form of a motivational speech. When I go on my runs, my playlist almost always starts with a motivational speech spoken over inspirational music.
I say all this to illustrate that I’m not a hater of the motivational speaking genre. I’m actually a big fan. However, I do want to make the point that motivational speeches are overrated. The reason why the motivational speeches work for me when I’m running is because I’m already running. They don’t help me get off my ass to go run, I must do that myself. But once I start running, a good motivational speech can make me run faster.
Simply put, motivational speeches, motivational music, and motivation videos work best for those who already have self-motivation. A person who has no self-motivation can listen to motivational speeches around the clock and it won’t make a tiny ounce of difference.
If you need motivation, a speech won’t work. A change in environment could work, a change in friends could work, and a change in strategy could work. But what’s most likely to work is a change in your mindset, vision, purpose, and goals. If a motivational speech can convince you to take steps to start working on one or more of those things, then you are getting somewhere.