Connie Podesta

Why Humor Plus Psychology Make for an Amazing Audience Experience

Why Organizations Hire Speakers Who Help Audiences Both LAUGH and LEARN By Keynote Speaker and Human Behavior Expert Connie Podesta People often ask me how I came to incorporate so much humor into my keynotes and I tell them that I trace it back to the fact that I came into a new high school when I was 14. I would always see the "popular" kids eating in the cafeteria and longed to be a part of that group. One day, one of the head cheerleaders asked me to a party at her house out of the blue. I was so surprised--and SO happy. Later that day I was changing clothes in the girls' locker room Read More

Quit Asking the WRONG Sales Questions

Posted by Connie Podesta

Want to close more deals? First – know your audience. Buyers usually fall into two categories: Relators and Bottom Liners. Read More

Quit Accepting the Status Quo

Posted by Connie Podesta

By Hall of Fame Speaker, Award Winning Author. Connie Podesta, CSP, CPAE In my extensive work with leaders, I’ve noticed that they tend to perceive innovation as something that’s bigger than life: new, outrageous, unthinkable, complicated concepts that are wildly different from anything we’ve ever imagined. Not intimidating at all. With so many daily challenges, it’s easy for leaders to coast along with “business as usual” until the really big idea or the light-bulb-moment happens to come along. The status quo becomes perfectly acceptable in the meantime. The truth is, innovation isn’t Read More

Shift Your FOCUS…

Posted by Connie Podesta

From What You CAN’T Do to What You CAN By Motivational Speaker and Human Behavior Expert Connie Podesta The truth is, so many of us are our own worst critics. We spend countless hours and a great deal of our LIVES consumed with the things we can’t do. Or don’t have. Regrets. Missed opportunities. Not one solitary second of all that negative self-reflection will do us one positive thing. What it costs us though is a very high price. So QUIT IT! Right now and flip that equation over. What do you do WELL? What are your STRENGTHS? What are you PASSIONATE about? What is your CALLING? Lean Read More

FIGHT for Your RIGHT to be HAPPY

Posted by Connie Podesta

For All Who Need It By Motivational Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta When I wrote my book Redefining Happiness, I did so with so many people in mind. My clients. Audience members. Online followers. Friends. Family. Colleagues. I wrote it because I think in our sometimes crazy world we tend to put a lot of things on the top of our to-do lists and somehow happiness, joy, and celebration seemingly creep to the bottom more often than not. We get busy. Overwhelmed. Worked and worked some more. And here’s the crazy part – you won’t believe how many people feel GUILTY about being happy. About Read More

Life (and Learning) are Better When You’re Laughing

Posted by Connie Podesta

Why I Use Humor to Help Connect Audiences With Ideas By Motivational Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta Anyone who’s ever been in one of my audiences or heard me keynote an event knows that I’m kind of a no-nonsense kind of speaker. I cut to the chase. I leave the ‘rah-rah’ stuff to someone else. In today’s world, people need serious strategies, solutions they can count on, skills that are scalable – and humor. Lots of humor. Why? Because we learn better when we relax a little. We listen in when we’re not completely bombarded with some of the overwhelming tasks before us. We engage more with Read More

Solving the People Puzzle

Posted by Connie Podesta

Understanding What Makes People Tick is the #1 Key to Success by Motivational Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta So here's what I hear all the time on the phone from potential clients, "To be honest Connie, I don't get it! Why does my audience need an expert in psychology? We're going through a lot of (Fill in the topic blank: Stress. Change. Upheaval. Downsizing. New leadership. Etc. etc.) We need a speaker who can increase our: (Fill in the blank: Sales. Profits. Market Share. Productivity. Leadership. Etc. etc.) Just how can psychology help all that?" My response? "I don't get it Read More

Rah Rah Or REAL Results?

Posted by Connie Podesta

What's Changing for Event Planners and Audiences? by Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta When people ask me if I am a Motivational Speaker I always answer that I definitely motivate audiences to stand up and be accountable. Be proactive. Deal with change. Increase their sales. Rev up performance. Attract more customers. Lead with integrity. Collaborate more. And be a role model. But I am NOT a “rah-rah, dream your dream, you can have whatever you want with the right attitude” kind of speaker. Why? One is because that type of motivation is not long-lasting. It's a quick fix in a world Read More