Dear Thought Leader, Please consider this opportunity to bring your group an inspiring, timely, and compelling talk, from a unique perspective, with an enthralling delivery. Here's a brief overview and example of how I might address a group like yours: "The purpose of life is to be happy. We take this as given after hearing it from so many sages. Now, if we could only discover what that elusive state called happiness actually is, know how to achieve it, and keep it flowing constantly in our lives -- we'd finally be happy forever. Sometimes we know what makes us happy. Sometimes we live fully, with no sense of lack or restriction. Then we easily feel our joy. But that feeling is just not a 'forever' kind of thing. We know no other person can define what happiness is for us. Yet when sensitive to my own experiences, and those of clients and readers, I see happiness is founded on a functional adaptation to your life's circumstances, whatever they may be. What works for you now may become non-functional when circumstances change in ways that make your older adaptations stop working. Then you may lose touch with your joy but not even realize why. Consciously or unconsciously, each of us uses our own unique approach to achieve our version of happiness and to hold on to it. Your way may work much of the time but fail at intervals. Or you may not get much relief from a constant state of non-happiness. Your characteristic approach is the sum of your adaptations to life's complex and shifting circumstances.  The irony in knowing life's purpose lies in how elusive fulfilling it can be. Sages also tell us, whatever 'IT' is, it's not 'out there.' When you can't feel joy, the first and best place to look is the place we usually save for last -- within ourselves. We may bring significant suffering upon ourselves before we become willing to stop avoiding things we find painful to see, which we must see so we can know what we need to do, or to stop doing, to fulfill our unique version of life's purpose. When you focus within, you have a chance to reach insights. Sometimes you need to gain or improve key life skills. Or a solution may call for a shift in perspective or attitude. To live more fully more of the time, you can adapt to your changing life circumstances in more functional ways." Following such an intro, I would tell some related stories from life -- true stories taken from the real-world experiences of real people, or perhaps something intimately my own. Stories that illustrate the theme and provide fascinating examples the audience can relate to and learn from. When the situation allows, I provide a question and answer period at the end of a talk for direct interaction with the audience. This gives people a chance to get a little coaching and it deepens the experience for them. I usually also stay around to mingle when the talk is over. Many of my talks are variations on the adaptation theme because solutions that work for my clients are usually about making some shift in the things you can actually influence -- your own ways of dealing with life -- rather than expecting external things to change to suit what you think makes you happy. Or rather than falling into a downward spiral over the 'wretchedness of life.' Would you be willing to consider engaging me to address your group? There are additional materials provided with this letter to help you evaluate a good fit. Please take a look at my Qualifications, Bio, Summary of Speaking Topics, my other web site and blog. To find out more, reach me using the contact page information. There's never an obligation or expectation. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Warm Regards, Marie O'Neill, MBA Motivational Speaker and Certified Life Coach |
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