Success Secrets of the Motivational Superstars: America's Greatest Speakers Reveal Their Secrets (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Lets you in on the real secrets of the superstars of the speaking world. Use it as your personal road map to speaking and leadership greatness!"

?Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul -- Review

Review

"Lets you in on the real secrets of the superstars of the speaking world. Use it as your personal road map to speaking and leadership greatness!"

—Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Prima Lifestyles (September 18, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761506128
• ISBN-13: 978-0761506126
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #96,824 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New #1On Speaking: Battle Tested Stuff, March 13, 2001

By	"ronlv" (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews

I have read and reviewed 30+ books on public speaking. It is the best. This can be read as a success motivational book or as the best ways to develop public speaking skills. Either way it is a spectacular book. It may be a long time before I find a better book on public speaking.

The game plan for this book is profoundly astute. These interviews(the best motivational speakers) are brilliant and well done. Mr. Jeffreys does not brag about his access to the super successful-he just goes after the meat and delivers it in a very direct style. The author commits to only interview motivational speakers famous through speaking. Bravo! He excludes anybody becoming famous and then becoming a motivational speaker. This assures you: The book is battle tested stuff. Each (30 page + or -) chapter on the fifteen speakers are standalone pieces that can be read in any order. Each chapter has an excellent summary list of secrets for review or rereading.

A layout technique that greatly improves the books readability is: Mr. Jeffreys comments are the full width of the page, but when he is paraphrasing or quoting one of the interviewed Superstars the left and right margins are slightly smaller. If you don't care, it does not slowdown the reading, but when you do care just check the margins. Not being a slave to an exact quote and telling the story as Jeffreys sees it makes this book very readable. Jeffreys appears constantly faithful to the intent of the superstar. Not once does he preach or challenge the superstar's thoughts. I found no author clues to his favorite speaker or preferred techniques.

Book is full of speech improvement techniques. It encourages a high level of enthusiasm and to aggressively experiment with audience participation. Book provides a convincing case for being exactly the person and speaker you want to be and not compare yourself to other successful speakers as there is lots of room for new speakers that are authentic and original. Excellent advice on finding coaching that helps you be you and not someone else even if they do not have strong speaking experience.

It shows persistence in providing motivation without being preachy. The critical role of self esteem-a major problem for Americans-is discussed. Great advice on creating and maintaining your personality on and off the podium. It is full of business advice for the speaking for money person. The strongest point for me was market your topic not you as a person.

The first chapter on Tony Robbins is surprisingly good. Apparently Robbins is the most financially successful motivational speaker of all time, Jeffreys strips away all the clutter and low class appeal of Tony Robbins to give the secrets of success that can be applied more broadly with out becoming like the shop worn, over exposed Tony Robbins.But this is a great chapter.

Some superstars have been so over exposed that their enthusiasm seems shallow and insincere, yet enthusiasm and humor are so critical to successful speaking there is still a lot to be learned from each of these superstar speakers. Their most commonly sighted defense against the over exposed speaker being a turn off is to know your subject better than anybody else and be current and relevant to the audience. Many of the superstars have examples to constantly test yourself for being the same person before and after a speech as you are in the speech. Many make the point that: While you may perform with the benefit of acting techniques, you must be only one character-- the real you.

The second chapter on Dyer. He borrows from the Eastern religions with out any reference. Dyer seems afraid he will alienate the Western religion oriented person. Why be concerned? Eastern religions are twice as old as Christianity and contributed richly. Dyer may want to give the impression they are Dyer generated insights but the reader could be alerted that he is drawing on a vast amount of revered literature from the East. It was one of my favorite chapters.

Brian Tracy reveals a fanatic for a detailed plan, and think positive no mater what. Tracy takes positive thinking to an obsessive level. He would replace positive thinking by positive knowing.

Art Linkletter was famous before he started relying on speaking as his dominant source of income. Why he violates the rule of only writing on those that first became famous through speaking is never explained. It is clear that he likes Linkletter and shows him to be on of the down to earth famous people of all time. Linkletter confesses fame is the easiest way to be a full time money making speaker. Second to fame the most important factor is to practice and practice. Third is to take an intense interest in each individual when ever possible.

Leo Buscaglia different than many other speakers cares so much about making a personalized connection that he is uniquely approachable after a speech. It is noted that his 13 books have sold 18 million copies and "Loving Each Other" was one of the better selling books of the 1980's. It is interesting that the last chapter is on this great contributor to the study of: "how to be a better you."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Behind Every Great Speaker There's A Book!, May 22, 2005

By	Deremiah, *CPE/Customer Passionate Executive ... (Saint Charles, IL USA) - See all my reviews

I started speaking publicly when I was 16 but it wasn't until I purchased Success Secrets of The Motivational Superstars on March 18, 1997, that I increased my stakes as a speaker. This one book helped me develop a deeper appreciation and understanding for what speakers do.

THIS BOOK HAS IN DEPTH PERSONAL INTERVIEWS
Michael Jeffreys deserves a standing ovation for interviewing some of the speaking industries leading speakers. He covers in depth personal interviews with three of my mentors Mark Victor Hansen, Brian Tracy and Les Brown. He could have stopped there but he also includes Leo Buscaglia, Art Linkletter, Jack Canfield, Patricia Fripp and many, many more.

JEFFREYS BOOK TEACHES YOU HOW TO LEVERAGE THEIR EXPERIENCE
If you want to learn how to overcome obstacles and see the specific step by step formulas that some of the speakers apply you need this book like a car needs a steering wheel. You will be guided through such things as what to do when you blow it, identifying your unique differentiating factors, how to give your audience ideas they can put to use within 24 hours, the Walt Disney philosophy, Les Brown's number one quality and a few hundred other techniques, ideas and things to avoid.

IF YOU WERE MY STUDENT THIS WOULD BE REQUIRED READING!
Failing to apply the lessons you learn in this book could be disastrous to your speaking career. All that I have shared above only gives you a birds eye view of this wonderful book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most helpful book I've read on the subject!, August 7, 2005

By	Lisa Fuller (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I recently got back into the training field after a long absence and found that my skills were not only rusty, but perhaps had never been developed as much as they could have. I went searching for information and came across this book. It was the first of many books I purchased on the subject, and is by far the best. Other books had great detail on how to prepare a presentation, but were lacking on what it means to entertain and engage an audience. This book gives specific examples the types of things these speakers do to engage and entertain their audiences--and covers a wide range of styles, from Tony Robbins to Barbara DeAngelis, which I found especially useful because I can relate to some types more than others.

Michael Jefferys' style is easy to read, entertaining and well laid out. His range of speaker styles means that everyone will find someone they can relate to.

After finishing this book, I successfully applied what I learned to my training. In fact, I am now rereading much of it so that I can take this excellent information to a deeper level and further polish my skills.