My boss just asked me about...

[TN al]

...going to a motivational seminar that they are having locally. The featured speakers are Zig Ziglar, Paul Orfalea, Jeff Fisher, Tom Hopkins, Peyton Manning, Tommy Franks and Rudolph Giuliani. It looks like it might be a traveling show and this is its local stop. It also looks to me like it might be right wing and perhaps even fundamentalist. Does anybody know about how these guys approach seminars? Has this show already stopped in your area? I have told my boss I would try to get more information on the type of seminar it may be and all of you, I think, may be my greatest resource in this matter.

[hlthe2b]

1. My "former" boss "surprised" my whole group with tickets to this

last year. He's a SoCAL Repug and I was not anxious to go. As it turned out, I was so behind on a grant, I didn't. All who did, told me it became a "fundie" fest and the intermission was full of efforts to sell you expensive "increase your wealth (by screwing all around you)" and other propaganda tape sets....

Enjoy!

[brooklynite]

2. I wouldn't worry...

on the ideological end. These types of programs, especially with Giuliani and Franks, tend to be more along the lines of inspirational leadership speeches that don't delve into partisan positions.

[porkrind]

3. ZZZzzzz.........

These seminar guys are so lame. If they are so skilled at how to live life to the fullest and being successful in business, why aren't they out there doing it making a fortune? Oh yeah, it's because the only thing they are good at is holding seminars.

Reminds me of Dr. Phil's weight loss plan. (He's fat.)

[mopaul]

4. zig ziglar? what a putz

i'd avoid that at all costs. they are cultists

[punpirate]

5. The question is, from the presence of Franks and...

... Giuliani alone, what the hell are they intending to motivate you toward?

Some of the speakers are associated with the Nationwide Speakers Bureau, which seems to have its share of sports figures, and seems to specialize in stories of people overcoming obstacles.

Maybe I'm overly sensitive to rah-rah bullshit, but I don't think the motivation lasts all that long, and when targeted to business people usually translates into one message--how to be a better worker bee.

If your boss is suggesting it and paying for it, I wouldn't turn it down. I just wouldn't take it too seriously. You'll probably get to hear a few good stories, along with a lot of sermons about keeping a positive attitude.

Cheers.

[elehhhhna]

6. It's an all-day infomercial, and your suspicions are correct.

[bleedingheart]

7. Oh I have heard Zig Ziglar speak!!!! He is a snake oil salesman

quotes the Heritage institute....

Any good advice he provides is basically nothing more than common sense....

I saw him speak at a seminar that featured Bill Clinton...most of us came for Clinton and ignored the rest of the side show hucksters...

I remember that there was another dipshit that was trying to sell his real estate schemes and another that had his own special stock market web site...all of them were hucksters...

[oneighty]

8. Will Peyton Manning

be tossing a football skillfully from one hand to the other as did Jack Kemp when running with would be president "Viagra Man Dole."

One might learn a lot from that.

Yes indeed.

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