They are the power-hitters, the go-to people and those that know what they want and go after it. And they are coming to Providence to share their secrets.
Soldier-statesman Colin Powell, former New York Mayor Rudy Giulani, investing expert Mary Buffett and former Microsoft President Rick Belluzzo are just some of the speakers who will be here Oct. 3 for a Get Motivated seminar.
The seminar – which has toured the country, often rotating speakers – is aimed at everyone from small-business owners, CEOs, to housewives and teachers. To make sure people can afford to go, tickets are priced as low as $1.95 or you can take your entire office for $9.95. There also are VIP tickets and Platinum seats for those who want to be a little closer to the action.
Speakers will tackle almost every topic from careers, finance, leadership, time management, personal development and relationship building.
Ronald Markovsky, chief financial officer of Cooley Group of Providence, which manufactures coated fabrics and polymer membranes in applications such as signs and awnings, plans to look into the seminar.
“We would consider it, see if it looks good and maybe send some people,” he said. “I mean, it’s basically free.”
He couldn’t send all of the more than 100 employees he has, but he says he probably will send a few.
“I think it would be good,” Markovsky said. “You always want your employees to be motivated.”
This event promises a packed house, says Lawrence Lepore, general manager of the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Lepore works for SMG, a company based in Pennsylvania that operates arenas around the world, including Intrust Arena in Wichita, Kan., which recently hosted Get Motivated.” Many participants there left unhappy because their seats weren’t honored and some were transported to a nearby center to watch the program on large screens.
Lepore says he anticipates some of the same problems as Wichita. SMG also operates Intrust.
“We’ve already been in touch with both the state and local police and the transportation department to begin planning on accommodating the seminar,” he said.
With the seminar lasting practically all day, a lunch break is scheduled where guests can choose to eat at the concessions or leave the center and be able to return to their seats as long as they have their tickets.
Get Motivated people say attendees will leave with new ways of thinking, feeling energized, motivated, inspired and educated.
Lowe said they began with high-end seminars with tickets costing hundreds of dollars, but when they saw the way the economy was faltering they decided to give more people a chance of attending by dramatically lowering ticket prices. There still are tickets that cost over $100 to be closer to the speakers.
The business still makes money through private seminars for companies, receptions, in-house trainings, business consulting, coaching divisions and a lot of other things that make the model work.
The celebrities are compensated, however, a nondisclosure contract prevents Lowe from revealing their pay.
“Many of them take the money and donate it to their favorite charities,” she said.
As for the turmoil in Wichita this year, Lowe says that was an anomaly. What happened was during the break people went to the concessions, went outside to make phone calls or eat and the fire marshals just saw large groups of people trying to get back in, not knowing they had already been in. Get Motivated is not involved in how many tickets a venue sells, she says.
“When that happens we offer a 100 percent money-back guarantee,” she said.
Or, if the organizers anticipate a sell-out they might find another venue and rotate the speakers via helicopter, Lowe said.
Not every speaker will appeal to every participant but you know that in 20 or 30 minutes someone you want to hear from will be up there, Lowe said.
Lepore is especially curious to hear what former New York Mayor Rudy Giulani has to say.
“I hope there is something that I can learn,” Lepore said. “When you stop learning that means that you’re not very good at your job anymore.” •
