Speaking Topics & Testimonials

SPEAKING TOPICS
KEYNOTES, HALF-DAY AND FULL DAY

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

“Build Your Profits Through People, Promotion and Passion”

Too often in today’s competitive business environment, the focus of attention is on “profit.”  But as the saying goes…“if you spend all of your time watching the scoreboard, the ball is going to hit you in the face!”  Like the winning score in a ballgame, “profit” is the end result of playing a great game!  By focusing your energy on just three areas, you will win over your employees, win over new customers…and profits are sure to follow.

"When The Going Gets Tough"

It's not easy being in business today. With increasing competition, decreasing margins and depressing daily economic headlines, it can leave some immobilized and others dazed and confused, scrambling for short term answers. So what do you do when "the going gets tough?" Th only answer is "the tough get going". We still have businesses to run, employees to support, families to feed and most importantly new customers in need of outstanding products and services that we deliver! This session will teach you how to take charge and regain control of your career.

MARKETING AND PROMOTION

“Marketing…An Investment or An Expense”

Regardless of how good you, your product or your service is, if you don’t promote yourself, there’s a good chance that no one will hear you, see you or buy from you.  How do you get your name out to your prospective customers without going broke?  How do you build an equity position in the marketplace so that when people think of the need for your products or services, they think of you?  How do you judge a return on your marketing investment?  Guld will answer these questions and give you tools to analyze your marketing strategy.

LEADERSHIP

“The Magic Words of Leadership”

Building a successful business is all about building relationships.  How do you lead to get the most out of your employees?  How do you build loyalty where they will go the extra mile for you and your customers?  How do you keep your best employees from taking the next offer that pays a little more?  Discover how easy it is to lead when you use the “magic words” every day.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

“Provide World-Class Service at the Local Level”

What is “world-class service?”  It is the talk of many in service industries but the reality of few. World-class service will greatly exceed service expectations on a consistent basis.  When a client is provided with world-class service, it often becomes a legendary experience that is retold to others in a form of free publicity that cannot be bought.  Guld will break down the attributes of world-class service and show by example how in most situations, it’s the customer’s buying experience that will determine your reputation more than the products or services you sell.

SALES

“Make Your Career, Not Just Your Month”

Why is it that some people are more successful in sales than others?  What qualities do they possess?  What habits do they have that keeps them at the top of their game month after month and year after year?  Long-term success is no accident.  Top producers in every industry share unique qualities that lead to their success. Discover the fundamentals of high performance that will unleash your sales potential.

MOTIVATION---PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

“Passion…The Difference Between Being Good and Being Great.”

Passion is the difference between “good performance” and “great performance.”  Passion is the difference between “liking what you do” and “loving what you do.  Passion is contagious. So how do you bring out the passion in yourself and in others around you on a daily basis?  Guld will
share his insight on what he believes is the key to personal happiness and to professional success.

Effectively Managing Your Multi-tasking Day

In this “get it done yesterday world,” how do you set priorities and manage your professional career in the face of competing demands on your time?  With fewer people being called on to do more, how do you distinguish between the urgent and the important?  Are all the new technologies, including cell phones, PDA’s, emails and text messages making you more efficient or are you becoming a slave to technology?  We are all managers…even if it is not in our title.  Those who most effectively manage their time, focus and energy, will get the greatest results. 

 

MICHAEL GULD SPEAKING TESTIMONIALS

"You received the highest average score from our evaluations of any presenter.  Comments included in those evaluations made it clear your presentation hit home.  Phrases like “Best speaker we’ve ever had,” “He was Awesome!” and “He was inspiring” describe the feeling of our members.  They also thought the content was extremely useful, relevant and as one commented, “This is information I can use NOW.”

Kent Cornish, President, Kansas Association of Broadcasters

Michael Guld's keynote address, "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going," set the perfect tone for our entire convention. Informative and entertaining, Mr. Guld captured and reinforced the "can-do" attitude of our attendees during these gloomy economic times. We could not have picked a better presenter to open our convention.

Scott Wells, Executive Director,Vacuum & Sewing Dealers Trade Association

“Michael received uniformly excellent reviews from the attendees at Forum 2007. They cited his inspirational and motivational remarks along with his high energy level and humor as highlights of his sessions. Our thanks to him for helping us to carry out our theme “Steering a Course to Excellence” and making our conference a huge success!”

David Nimms, Department of General Services, State of Virginia

“Michael Guld proved to be a perfect addition to our education sessions at SGMP's National Conference. Michael's evaluations demonstrated that his message and information proved well worth their time. He can be described as engaging, focused on his audience, passionate and even putting FUN into the learning curve. We thank Michael for bringing his personal brand of education to our conference!”

 Charles S. Sadler, Executive Director, Society of Government Meeting Professionals

"Michael Guld was the keynote speaker at the Retail Merchants Association First Friday Forum breakfast meeting. This program titled "Providing World-Class Service At The Local Level" really delivered.   The audience left with specifics on how to exceed clients’ expectations and elevate themselves into the world-class category.  His presentation was so jam-packed with red hot ideas that I thought the bulb on the projector was going to explode from displaying so many powerful concepts in such a short period of time. If you've never heard Michael speak, then you are truly missing out on one of the most engaging and enlightening presentations.  I have since received many thanks from those in attendance." 

Jenny S. Price, VP Membership/Event Marketing , Retail Merchants Association

"Attendees from our core management group enjoyed the way you brought out real world circumstances, poked fun at yourself and then had each of them think about how they could drive a better ship.  In good times and bad, every angle should be considered to better our business. We have had quite a few speakers at Saxon Shoes over the years and our staff felt like you were the one to go forward with as we prepare to expand to Fredericksburg in a few months." 

Gary Weiner, President, Saxon Shoes

“I’ve had the most incredible conversations and e-mails about your presentations!  Congratulations and thank you at the same time!  I sent a note to my National State Broadcast Association counterparts about the great feedback. Would you be interested in a repeat performance?”

Sharon Tinsley, President, Alabama Broadcasters Association

“Michael, thanks for the great job at GRADA seminar this week.  The message was a great one for our dealers to hear.  Everyone just wished they had sent more people!" 

John Cates - Virginia Auto Dealers Association

“Michael spoke to my organization on leadership and inspired the entire room. What is so special about Michael is that you might already know most of the qualities of a leader, yet he somehow calls you to action. He solidifies that those leadership qualities are necessary in your life. Michael is extraordinarily captivating and his passion enforces his message. I’m a stronger person because of our interaction, and my team is more productive. Quite simply, I’d go again and again.”

David Gallagher, CEO Dominion Payroll

“As a non-profit organization, we especially appreciate the personal passion Michael displays when speaking with our audiences.  Whether large or small, the groups that listen to Michael always come away inspired and touched.”

Andrea Seibentritt, Director, Internal Communications, American Cancer Society    

“On behalf of the staff of the Virginia Chapter of the March of Dimes, I want to thank you for your presentation at our Walk Retreat. You reached the heart of the "from good to great concept" we are focusing on as an organization and cleverly tied the ideas into our daily lives. Your sense of humor and style both charmed and challenged the group. Thank you, Michael, for making us laugh and for making us reach inside ourselves and motivating us to reach for the highest level of achievement - greatness!”

Pat Simmons, Virginia State Director, March of Dimes

“Your presentation on “Finding Your Passion” is one that everyone needs to hear—probably even more than once!  It is a timeless message that you presented with humor and heart.  You had everyone in the audience’s rapt attention.  I hope that other organizations find their way to you and your presentation.  I know they will enjoy it as much as I did!”

Lynne B. Hughes, Founder and CEO, Comfort Zone Camp