1. Is Jeff the right speaker for your meeting?
Do you want a proven performer? Jeff Davidson is the author of business, career, and self-help bestsellers such as Breathing Space, Simpler Living, The 60 second Organizer, and the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Things Done. Jeff has a deep understanding of the relationship between cultural, business, and contemporary issues and how such trends translate into what career professionals experience on a daily basis. He is a repeat presenter for HR Audio Hub, Smart Manager, Personal Selling Power, and Best Practices Institute. Recognized by Sharing Ideas magazine as one of America’s “consummate speakers of the year,” he’s a veteran of more than 836 presentations at conventions, conferences, executive roundtables, seminars, workshops, and retreats.
2. Do you want a high energy, entertaining, inspirational speaker?
Jeff is an energetic person whose presence is immediately felt by everyone in the room. He is an “idea-a-minute” type of guy, offering solid, high-content information in a humorous way that audiences immediately understand and are eager to put into practice. Whether Jeff is the opening keynote speaker, closing keynote speaker, or simply a breakout session speaker, his high enthusiasm, skilled delivery, and message, impact audience members in positive and enduring ways.
3. Do you want a speaker who addresses real-world issues?
Jeff offers straightforward, highly practical information to which audience members can readily relate. Jeff does not bog down his presentations with theory, conceptual models, or other information that has little practical application in work and daily life. Jeff’s presentations get right to the core of what career professionals can do to get more done in a day, at a more comfortable pace, and feel good about their accomplishments.
4. Do you want a speaker who has high rapport with your audience?
From the first minute, Jeff connects with his audience in a way that lets them know he is there for them. Whether they’re executives, mid-level managers, sales professionals, technical types, or hourly wage earners, Jeff’s presentations appeal to his audiences in a manner to which they are best able to relate. Jeff has a knack for engendering broad-based participation and holds the attention of participants all the way through. He is skilled at making intellectual and emotional connections with audiences that remain long after the presentation is over.
5. Do you want a speaker who offers substantial take-home value?
A meeting with a speaker, by definition, represents a break from people’s normal routine. When they get back to their offices there are many things competing for their attention: more calls, more emails, more items in their in-baskets. Jeff understands the practical realities that your group faces. He strives to give people suggestions and tips that they can immediately put to use. His presentations are high content, but at the same time, practical and instantly applicable. It’s not uncommon for audience members to report later how effective they have been as a result of implementing ideas they got from Jeff.
6. Do you want a speaker who receives high evaluations?
Some speakers pander to their audiences. They push the right buttons to get standing ovations by offering feel-good speeches, which unfortunately often offer very little in the way of practical information. Jeff does not pander to his audiences; he addresses the tough issues they face, delivering to the best of his ability the message and the tips that they most urgently need to hear. Audiences invariably understand the rationale for his approach, the rigor with which he prepares for engagements, and the value of the fresh perspectives and insights he offers. As a result, Jeff routinely receives high evaluations for his presentations. At large conferences, it is not uncommon for Jeff to be ranked highest among the evaluated speakers.
7. Do you want a speaker who is a joy to work with?
Jeff is easy to reach — he answers his own phone — and is easy to talk to. He is helpful, positive, and attentive to meeting planners’ needs. He knows that meeting planners often face an array of distractions, so Jeff’s goal is to be the least of their worries. He delivers exactly what he promises and more. He shows up early, does the job, and completes the paperwork. He is a partner to meeting planners.
8. Do you want a speaker who goes the extra mile?
Jeff is committed to delivering more than is asked of him. For example, he routinely interviews five to seven audience members two weeks before a presentation so that he has a firm grasp of the hot-button issues confronting your group. He provides master copies of audience handouts or workbooks in advance and is able to supply other educational tools and resources upon request. He offers articles for your in-house publications prior to and following his presentation. In terms of speech preparation, he has an audiovisual checklist, a room setup guide, a pre-program questionnaire, a speaker biography, and a speaker introduction. Most importantly, Jeff prepares information for your brochure, flyer, or meeting announcement, which carefully describes his presentation, the topics to be covered, and the benefits to be derived. In short, Jeff has a comprehensive system in place to readily supply you with the information and items you need for a headache-free engagement with him.
9. Do you want a top professional?
Jeff has been speaking professionally since 1983. He has an MBA from the University of Connecticut and is a Certified Management Consultant as accredited by the Institute of Management Consultants. The author of 65 books, collectively published 143 times in foreign editions and selected by 41 book clubs, Jeff’s messages and how-to information are popular throughout the industrialized world. Jeff is an expert on the topic of managing information and communication overload, managing the pace with grace, managing multiple priorities, and prospering in a world of rapid change.
10. Do you want a speaker who offers tailored or custom presentations?
Jeff makes between one and five presentations a month, which affords him the ability to tailor his presentation to the unique needs of each host organization or, in other cases, offer a fully customized presentation. Because this is no small feat, Jeff spends from 20 to 40 hours in preparation for every 60 minutes of actual presentation time. He stays on the cutting edge of his topics, thoroughly researches the background and needs of each of his clients and audiences, and gears his program materials accordingly. Once Jeff begins speaking, there is no mistaking that he has done his homework, that he is ready to address the needs of his audience, and that he is the right presenter for the job.
11. Do you want a speaker who is committed to excellence?
Jeff never rests on his laurels. He is constantly at work, upgrading his presentation skills and materials. He has been advised by some of the top speech coaches in the nation, and he has taken courses on humor, acting, improvisation, and story-telling.
12. Do you want a speaker you can trust?
Jeff has spoken to audience members in nearly every type of industry and profession, from aviators to zoologists. In all, he has received 975 letters of praise from meeting planners and audience participants. He has categorized these letters by industry, geography, and date and is ready to provide you with a complete packet of letters based on whatever criterion you choose. In addition, he can offer full contact information for any of the meeting planners with whom he has worked in the last six years. In short, you may rest assured that Jeff does the job on each and every speaking engagement.
13. Do you want a speaker who’s highly reliable?
Jeff has only missed one speech in decades, when all planes in the U.S. were grounded during the week of September 11, 2001. Nevertheless, he arranged for a suitable replacement: a speaker who lived within driving distance of the meeting venue. Year in, year out, whether your meeting is five days or five months away, Jeff ensures that he will be on-site early, that he will be rested, and that he will be ready to go as scheduled.
14. Do you want a speaker who offers instant credibility?
Jeff’s credentials are comprehensive and unique. In addition to his many books, Jeff has published an astounding 4,242 articles in a wide variety of periodicals including American Way, Boardroom Reports, Computer News, Entrepreneur, Family Circle, Leaders, McCall’s, Men’s Health, Real Estate Today, Meeting News, Nation’s Business, Toastmaster, USAirways, Sales & Marketing Management, Redbook, Selling Power, Health Magazine, Successful Meetings, and Investor’s Business Daily, as well as in newspapers including USA Today, Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, New York Times, and Los Angeles Times. He’s been interviewed on 175 TV or radio talk shows including USA Today Sky Radio, Money Radio, Sun Radio, Texas Radio Network, CBS Nightwatch with Charlie Rose, U.S. Chamber’s Ask Washington, CNBC’s “The Real Story, WOR’s The Joan Hamburg Program, Working Woman with Kathleen Matthews, WTOP News Radio, Mutual Radio’s America in the Morning, The People’s Network, Australian Broadcasting Company, and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
15. Do you want a speaker who provides compelling, breaking-edge topics?
Jeff is forever honing and refining his topics, adding to his knowledge base, updating his presentation materials, evaluating anecdotes and examples, and ensuring that his delivery is the best it can be. His four most requested topics, not surprisingly, have each evolved in the course of the two decades he’s been delivering them. His keynote or general session topics are:
- Managing Information and Communication Overload
- Managing the Pace with Grace
- Managing Multiple Priorities
- Choosing When It’s Confusing: Making Decisions More Effectively
16. Do you want a speaker who’s been in major venues?
Jeff has spoken to audiences ranging from eight to 1,800 people. He’s been on the same platform as Knight Kiplinger, Alma Powell, Oren Harari, Joe Calloway, Patricia Fripp, Barbara DeAngelis, and Tony Alessandra. He has co-produced products with Tony Alessandra, Don Vlcek, Richard Connor, Charles Dean, Don Beveridge, and Dave Yoho. He has appeared on magazine covers with the likes of Dr. Wayne Dyer and Tony Robbins. Vital Speeches published eleven of his speeches alongside those by the Dalai Lama, Jimmy Carter, George Bush, and Lee Iacocca. Jeff’s tailored approach and entertaining style consistently earn him rave reviews and return engagements.
17. Do you want a speaker who keeps expenses at a minimum?
Jeff charges the minimum possible for airfare. Also, he never charges for food or incidentals. He requests hotel accommodation and ground transportation expenses and nothing more. Jeff strives to keep expenses as low as he possibly can.
