INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKING by Jef Menguin

Growing 20 million leaders in 2020

2012-01-10T07:15:00.001-08:00

I have no illusions of grandeur. I do not wish to receive a Nobel or Magsaysay Award. I only wanted to be of service as long as I live. This is not a unique dream. I know that there are thousands and thousands of people who dream to make a difference in their generation and in the generations to come. My impersonal dream is to grow 20 million leaders in 2020. I still do not know how to get there, but I am working on it everyday. I have very few levers. Inspirational speaking is one of them. I intend to develop 1000 thousand inspirational speakers in the Philippines. I hope that each one of them will multiply themselves. I also want to develop professional speakers in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, and other parts of Asia. For 2012, I hope to be given more opportunity to visit and share my leadership ideas in these countries, My other goal is to help install leadership development programs to thousands of organizations every year. This is why I am also looking for people who are as driven and as passionate.

Inspirational Speaking is an Art

2012-01-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

Most public speakers think of speaking as a mechanical activity. They focus their time practicing their gestures, facial expressions, visual aids, words, voice, et cetera.

There are some public speakers who look at speaking as a craft. They make masterpieces to show their superior skills.

And there are the inspirational speakers. They think of public speaking as an expression of life. The first two above use the hand and the head. The inspirational speakers use the heart. This is why inspirational speaking is an art.

The Essence of Great Speaking

2011-11-23T16:25:00.000-08:00

Great speaking is not about being the best. You can be the world champion of public speaking, but true speaking is not a contest on technical skills. In my book, there is no best among the best inspirational speakers.

Great speaking is about your being unique. When go up there on stage, people want to know what is so special about you. That is because they want to see you and not a made up speaker. They want to hear your stories. They want to be connected with a genuine person, not an imitation.

Great speaking is about about sharing your gifts with confidence. When people see the true you they will open their ears, eyes, hearts, and minds to you. Then your goodness and beauty will flow to them.

20 million transformational leaders in 2020

2011-11-15T14:33:00.001-08:00

Definitely not just a numbers game. We are trying to define our vision for Starfisher Asia. I have been looking for something that can show the story that we want to tell. I need go express my vision in such a way that people can easily understand, else it will be just like a slogan. I cannot measure by vision by numbers but at least we will have a landmark which will help us know when we are already there. Do you want to train 20 million transformational leaders too? Join us. Jef Menguin P.S. Visit http://jefmenguin.com today.

Customer Service

2011-09-06T06:45:00.001-07:00

I have just posted a quick note on world class customer service professional. I invite you to have a look . http://amplify.com/u/a1chhr

You've got to learn for tomorrow

2011-09-01T09:00:00.001-07:00

The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn. -Alvin Toffler

Do you like to make a difference in the world? You've got to get yourself educated. Be inspired. Visit http://jefmenguin.com today.

Grow your own plants

2011-08-07T09:00:00.001-07:00

Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants. - John W. Gardner

Do you like to make a difference in the world? You've got to get yourself educated. Be inspired. Visit http://jefmenguin.com today.

Touch my life

2011-08-06T07:00:00.001-07:00

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
Leo Buscaglia

Suggested Reading: I am here to help

Leadership Speaker and Motivational Speaker in Batangas, Philippines

2011-08-05T01:27:00.001-07:00

There was a time that I needed to go to Batangas every week. I was helping my friend Perla Rempe in developing her people at the Farm at San Benito. That was for six months. I told myself that one day I will be able to train every government official in Batangas. Someday, I know that will happen.

I was invited to Lyceum of Batangas twice. I have conducted a leadership workshop for the Supreme Student Coucil. The second time was a stress management workshop for the faculty of nursing. I have also conducted team building session for one NCLEX review center.

I have been to many beaches there too for more than ten team building programs. We even went as far as San Juan Batangas which took me four hours of travel. I was invited to Lago de Oro by the manager to see if the venue was also a good place for team building.

Yes, I have been to cities and municipalities in Batangas and I believe I will have more. Though I have been to other cities in Batangas, I will be including in my 100 Cities in Asia the city of Lipa. Lipa will be city number 11.

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When you are looking for Filipino motivational speakers on leadership and personal development, I suggest that you look for our speakers. If you are in Visayas and Mindanao, contact us so we can refer to you speakers who are based there. I am based in Quezon City. I go to Visayas and Mindanao only when invited or when I have to conduct public seminars. Contact Joy Buena through joy.buena@starfisher.asia so she can help you book your next motivational and leadership speakers.

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This blog does not really tell so much about what I do. I encourage you to proceed to http://jefmenguin.com/?page_id=2343 to learn more about the programs that I offer.

The Best Motivational Speakers in the Philippines I Know

2011-08-04T20:39:00.001-07:00

are not motivational speakers. They do not call themselves motivational speakers too.

I consider Gary Valenciano as a motivational speaker. You see the guy does not only sing. When he talks about his faith, he is so powerful that you will find yourself walking towards the stage to accept Christ as your personal God and savior. Sure, many people are doing that. But his personality, his authentic manner of speaking makes him move people.

I consider Mr Baraceros as a motivational speaker. He was my teacher in college and he motivated me to do my best – always – until I die. There was no motivational speaker in the Philippines who had motivated me more than Mr Baraceros.

I consider my Lolo as a motivational speaker. Though he never experienced speaking before a large group of people which other motivational speakers do today, my Lolo has the ability to make people feel good about themselves and make them look forward to a better day. When I am down, I only remind myself of the lessons that I have learned from my grandfather.

You see everyone can be a motivator. You can find them in the classroom, in churches, in offices, at home. It can be that guy sitting next to you. It can be you.

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When you are looking for speakers on leadership and personal development, I suggest that you look for our speakers. If you are in Visayas and Mindanao, contact us so we can refer to you speakers who are based there. I am based in Quezon City. I go to Visayas and Mindanao when invited too. Contact Joy Buena through joy.buena@starfisher.asia so she can help you book your next motivational and leadership speakers.

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I challenge you to build yourself as a motivator. You can be a motivational manager, teacher, preacher, etc. If you want to become a motivational speaker, or an inspirational speaker (for that is how I see what I do), then train yourself in speaking too. You can visit a toastmasters club like the TOPS Toastmasters or attend a Dale Carnegie training. If I could be of help to you, you are also free to contact me through my website contact formhttp://jefmenguin.com/?page_id=228.

Enjoy your day. I hope you will get the desires of your hear.

Jef Menguin

I will be the master of my emotions

2011-08-04T18:17:00.001-07:00

"If I feel depressed I will sing. If I feel sad I will laugh. If I feel ill I will double my labor. If I feel fear I will plunge ahead. If I feel inferior I will wear new garments. If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice. If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come. If I feel incompetent I will think of past success. If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals. Today I will be the master of my emotions."

Og Mandino

Recommended Reading: Excellence Everyday

Also, visit jefmenguin.com when you are looking for an inspirational speaker or a leadership speaker.

Renamed Blog: The Power to Reinvent Your Life by Jef Menguin

2011-08-03T10:41:00.001-07:00

That is the new name of my blog which you can find in http://jefmenguin.com/?cat=285. While our business development team is working on our corporate website, I am working again on my personal website. I will redesign the theme and the content of the blog.

If Einstein was right, then I can say that most people are insane. They want to change their lives but they keep on doing the same things. We need to renew our thinking. We need to transform our hearts. We have the power to reinvent our lives.

I thought of the possible topics that I can write for my audience. I came up with the following categories:

Reinventing Leadership

Reinventing Communication

Reinventing Team Building

Reinventing Personal Branding

Reinventing Work and Career

Reinventing Personal Development

Reinventing Customer Service

Reinventing Inspirational Speaking

Reinventing Toastmasters, and

Reinventing the Philippines

To engage my readers even more, I will start a community page where they can ask questions, share opinions, and join contests. The writing and rewriting will be long and unending, but I will have the patience because I know something that can help people reinvent their lives.

You will get more information about these updates. I hope you will eventually subscribe to the blog and to the Reinvented Life Newsletter which I shall start publishing in September 2011.

Enjoy your day.

Jef Menguin

Philippines: Bring Toastmasters to Your Company Today!

2011-07-31T07:21:00.001-07:00

The answer to your communication and leadership needs.

Toastmasters groups are formed every day in a variety of settings. Groups meet onsite at corporations, churches, community centers – even in restaurants.

Community clubs are generally open to anyone, while company clubs are often limited to employees of that company and are closed to outside members.

The process to form a Toastmasters group is simple and all of the materials are provided for you! You can start a Toastmasters group onsite at your organization, or you can start a local group in your community.

Steps to start:

Find at least twenty people who want to improve their communication and leadership skills.
Determine a meeting location to get together for about an hour a week.
Fill out the applicable forms.
Schedule your first official meeting.

Request a New Club Information Kit by submitting the form to get more information on starting a Toastmasters group. It’s as simple as that!

Contact the Area governors and his council so that they can support your efforts, as needed. The governor for Area 14 ( we have clubs in Makati and Pasig) is Jef Menguin. You may send him an email through toastmasters@jefmenguin.com

Details:

$125: One-time chartering fee
$20: New-member fee per person
$27: Six months' membership dues per person
Each group can charge supplementary dues to help cover expenses, if needed

For company clubs, here are a few of the most common levels of sponsor support:

Payment of the one-time chartering fee
Reimbursement or payment of full or partial membership dues and new-member fees
Provide a meeting location

Do you have questions? Do not hesitate to email us. Start building your toastmasters club today.

Do you have common sense?

2011-07-30T09:01:00.001-07:00

It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.
Robert Green Ingersoll

Do you like to make a difference in the world? You've got to get yourself educated. Be inspired. Visit http://jefmenguin.com today.

Leadership and Inspirational Speaker in Jakarta, Indonesia

2011-07-24T00:07:00.001-07:00

My next trip is to Jakarta, Indonesia. I will conduct a Customer Mindset Training for one multinational company. This will be my first trip to Jakarta and this early I like to manifest my interest to be invited as a leadership and motivational speaker in Indonesia.

I will be in Jakarta on the 25th of July 2011 and I will be staying at Le Méridien Jakarta until the 27th.

I searched for motivational speakers in Indonesia through the internet. I found the names Paul Davis and Patar Simatupang. I realized that these guys are great speakers, and I see that big opportunity to contribute as my message are very much different to theirs but may be equally powerful to motivate people and inspire people to reach their potentials.

A Short Info About Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre.

It is the most populous city in Indonesia and in Southeast Asia, and is the tenth-largest city in the world. The urban area, Jabodetabek, is the second largest in the world. Jakarta is listed as a global city in the 2008 Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network (GaWC) research.

Established in the fourth century, the city became an important trading port for the Kingdom of Sunda. It was the de facto capital of the Dutch East Indies and continued being the capital city of Indonesia, after its independence in 1945.

The city is the seat of the ASEAN Secretariat. Jakarta is served by the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, and Tanjung Priok Harbour; it is connected by several intercity and commuter railways, and served by several bus lines running on reserved busways.

My trip is through Soekarno Hatta Airport.

Leadership Speaker in Indonesia

Yes, when you are looking for a motivational and leadership speaker in Indonesia, do consider us. I am based in the Philippines, but thanks to technology, the world shrink into a global village. We can easily communicate online and learn from the experiences of people from other countries.

You can contact me through skype. My handle is jef.menguin

You may also contact Ms Joy Buena, my most approachable business expert, through joy.buena@starfisher.asia or through +632-709-6465

You may also visit my website- http://jefmenguin.com - to learn more about me.

Jef Menguin

In change there is power

2011-07-23T09:23:00.001-07:00

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."

You are invited to send your favorite quotes. When you are looking for a leadership speaker in Asia, contact Ms Joy Buena through joy.buena@starfisher.asia

Make Your Ideas Real!

2011-07-22T15:56:00.001-07:00

An idea is never given to you without you being given the power to make it reality.
Richard Bach

When you are looking for a leadership and motivational speaker in Bangkok, Thailand

2011-07-19T11:23:00.001-07:00

Today is my first here in Thailand. I landed 10:30pm in the evening on July 19. I am here to facilitate a customer service training for one multinational company. I saw that place and I promised that although I have not yet started, I will come back soon. And it will be longer days.

If you are events organizers or companies who are looking for motivational and leadership speakers here in Thailand, feel free to contact us for we are more than willing to share with you our service.

I encourage you to visit my website at http://jefmenguin.com today.

Jef

P.S. When you need descriptions of the program we offer, contact Joy Buena through joy.buena@starfisher.asia

When you are looking for a leadership and motivational speaker in Bangkok, Thailand

2011-07-19T11:22:00.001-07:00

I encourage you to visit my website at http://jefmenguin.com today.

Jef

P.S. When you need descriptions of the program we offer, contact Joy Buena through joy.buena@starfisher.asia

Leadership and Inspirational Speaker in Bacolod City, Philippines

2011-07-18T16:21:00.001-07:00

The Last time that I was in Bacolod was first quarter of 2011 to conduct a leadership workshop for the top management of the Local Government of Sagay City. The good mayor and the heads of the various departments were the participants. It was truly a wonderful experience for me because I have learned much from the experiences of the participants.

That was also my second time in Negros. The first time was when I conducted a three-day transformational leadership for all the public school principals of Sagay City.

The City of Bacolod is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the province of Negros Occidental. It is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is part of a metropolitan area called Metro Bacolod, which includes the cities of Silay and Talisay. It is notable for its world famous MassKara Festival held during the 3rd week of October. Known for being a relatively friendly city, it bears the nicknames "City of Smiles" and "Football City of the Philippines".

When I go back to Bacolod, I hope to be given the chance to conduct leadership seminars for all its 61 barangays and the local government. This is my way of making a difference in the Philippines. I know that there are many honest men and women in the government. I trust that our leaders are striving hard to grow themselves into becoming great leaders. I want to be of service.

When you are looking for a motivational speaker or leadership speaker for your next event in Bacolod, feel free to contact us. Email Ms Joy Buena (joy.buena@starfisher.org) or contact me through my website (http://jefmenguin.com)

Management vs Leadership

2011-07-15T19:10:00.001-07:00

“Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing.”

Thomas J. Peters

For mor topics on leadership and leadership workshop in the Philippines, visit http://jefmenguin.com

Light a lamp

2011-07-14T09:00:00.001-07:00

"If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path."
Buddhist Saying

Suggested blog: I am here to help.

Don't You Give Up!

2011-07-12T16:34:00.001-07:00

Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.

Recommended Reading: It is when you are down that you’ve got to persist

The Genius Way

2011-07-12T16:26:00.001-07:00

“Genius means little more than the faculty of perceiving in an unhabitual way.” — William James

Recommended Reading: Think Like A Leader. Be Unreasonable.

The Power of Impossible Thinking

2011-07-11T06:55:00.001-07:00

It's kind of fun to do the impossible. - Walt Disney

Impossible thinking. It is what put men on the moon, allowed Starbucks to turn a commodity product into a powerful global business and permitted Roger Bannister to run the four-minute mile. While not every “impossible thought” can become a reality, very often the greatest obstacle to transforming our organizations, society and personal lives is our own thinking. This may seem to be a simple idea in theory – that what we see and act upon is more a product of what is inside our heads than out in the world – but it has far-reaching implications for how we approach life and decision making.

Recommended Reading: Dream Bigger Dreams

I must not fear

2011-07-10T20:12:00.001-07:00

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
--- Frank Herbert,

Recommended Readings:

Fears in Speaking are Learned

What is Your Big Idea?

Are You Looking for Motivational Speakers in Davao?

2011-07-10T06:34:00.001-07:00

One of these days when you are looking for motivational speakers from Davao, ask for those who have attended the bootcamp offered by The Inspiration Academy. These people think globally while working locally. I was privilege to know and train them.

Davao City is a beautiful place. It is in the news nowadays because of Sara Duterte and her father. There are those who are quick to give their opinions about Davao. That is because they have not been there. The place is generally peaceful and people are honest. You can go around without having to fear for your life- something that you will not expect in many places in Metro Manila.

We will establish a branch there, and that will happen this year.

Starting August 2011, I will be having a monthly public seminars on personal development, leadership, and entrepreneurship. When you are in Davao, try to attend one of these seminars to see what the motivational speakers in Davao has to offer.

When you are interested to bring me and my training programs in Davao or in other places in Mindanao, I encourage you to use the contact form of my website or email me through inspire@jefmenguin.com. I will be more than glad to help you.

See vision.

2011-07-09T16:02:00.001-07:00

It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision.
Helen Keller

Recommended Readings:

Be interested in others

2011-07-08T17:44:00.001-07:00

"Forget yourself by becoming interested in others. Every day do a good deed that will put a mile of joy on someone's face."
Carnegie, Dale. How To Stop Worrying and Start Living

Recommended Reading: Renew Your Way of Thinking by Jef Menguin

Are you looking for motivational speakers and trainers in Iloilo? Let me tell you what we can do.

2011-07-08T06:59:00.001-07:00

I will be conducting a leadership workshop for the management of Bureau of Internal Revenue on July 15 and 16, 2011. I laud the leadership of BIR-Iloilo for this leadership upgrade. I believe that our country is really on the right track. In the past, goverment agencies and LGUs used training events for junkets. BIR-Iloilo chose to stay home. I also decided to give them 75% percent discount of my professional fee. My desire is to help them and I will surely give this training my best.

My trip to Iloilo next week is also a good opportunity to meet people may be interested to be part of the pool of trainers and motivational speakers in Iloilo.

I have been there twice. Those who want to grow and learn more usually go to Manila for training.

You can develop motivational speakers anywhere. I can develop motivational speakers in Iloilo.

If you are interested to help me develop a pool of trainers in Iloilo, I encourage you to shoot me an email. I will be there on July 14, 2011. We can meet before the start of the leadership workshop.

My contact information:

Jef Menguin

0915-8959515

0920-4323632

inspire@jefmenguin.com

http://jefmenguin.com

Help others build themselves

2011-07-07T09:33:00.001-07:00

"Build your reputation by helping other people build theirs."
Anthony J. D'Angelo

Recommended Reading: Accept Responsibility. Blame No One.

Rekindle his light

2011-07-06T12:00:00.001-07:00

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light." Albert Schweitzer

Suggested article: I am here to help.

Get yourself educated

2011-07-05T09:00:00.001-07:00

An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you know and what you don't. - Anatole France

Do you like to make a difference in the world? You've got to get yourself educated. Visit http://jefmenguin.com today.

Acknowledge the help of others

2011-07-04T09:00:00.001-07:00

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.- Alfred North Whitehead

Do you want to become an inspirational speaker? Do you like to make a difference in the world? Visit http://jefmenguin.com today.

Thank you teacher

2011-07-02T06:00:00.001-07:00

One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child. -Carl Jung

Do you want to become an inspirational speaker? Do you like to make a difference in the world? Visit http://jefmenguin.com today.

Motivational Speakers in Cebu

2011-07-02T00:28:00.001-07:00

This is just an update. I have written a short blog entry on my desire to train motivational speakers in Cebu. I hope you can help.

Give Thanks

2011-07-01T06:16:00.001-07:00

Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse. -Henry Van Dyke

Do you want to become an inspirational speaker? Do you like to make a difference in the world? Visit http://jefmenguin.com today.

I will try again tomorrow

2011-06-30T06:09:00.001-07:00

“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.” - Mary Anne Radmacher

Do you want to become an inspirational speaker? Do you like to make a difference in the world? Visit http://jefmenguin.com today.

Be Visible

2011-04-17T08:46:00.001-07:00

Being visible is a great way to promote loyalty – perhaps the greatest strategy of all. Whether you are talking about employee loyalty or customer loyalty, there is simply no substitute for speaking with somebody face-to-face, on their own turf. Especially in today’s high-tech world, when we have so many electronic substitutes for in-person communication, the discipline of getting out of the office and wandering around can be a great source of competitive differentiation in the job mark.

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Are you looking for a Filipino motivational speaker? Visit http://jefmenguin.com today.

On Courage

2011-04-05T09:15:00.001-07:00

“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.”

p.s. visit http://jefmenguin.com today

A moment that changes life

2011-03-19T07:37:00.001-07:00

“A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience.”

- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Sometimes days are long. But there are times when you can see eternity in a moment. I call them my Eureka! moment and I expect that moment to come anytime soon.

Jef Menguin

http://jefmenguin.com

play and work

2011-03-17T12:05:00.001-07:00

“The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play.” - Ellen Langer

Inspirational speakers do not always have fun doing what they do. They work like your world class professional athletes too.

You will see me talk for 30 minutes, but you have not seen my 3 days of preparation to come up with the right message and find the right words to create the right impact. I needed to regularly rethink not only my stories and strategies and structures. This is because I am not a commodity, but a problem solver. My speech is not a product but a solution.

But the only way for me to appreciate what I am doing (I am writing 2:57 in the morning) is to see this as an expression of my passion. I am seriously working on my play (passion) to reach my potential and playing on my work to maintain creative joy.

Do you want to become an inspirational speaker?

Make work play and play work.

Jef Menguin

P.S. Are you looking for an inspirational speaker in the Philippines? Or do you want to inspire more people? Visit http://jefmenguin.com today.

Keep on planting

2011-03-16T14:39:00.001-07:00

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”

- Robert Louis Stevenson
It is easy to think that you are big simply because you are now busier than the most popular motivational speakers in the Philippines. It is easy really to think of your harvest.

But if you are really an inspirational or motivational speaker, or at least aspiring to be one, remember that the goal is to keep on inspiring, educating, engaging, and empowering people. You’ve got to plant seeds everyday.

You’ve got to plant seeds in people who attend your seminars.
You’ve got to plant seeds in your staff.
You’ve got to plant seeds in new motivational speakers who come to you for guidance.
You’ve got to plant seeds in everyone you meet.

Because your mission is not measured by how many fruits you have harvested today.

Keep on planting.

Jef Menguin
http://jefmenguin.com

Speak from the heart

2011-03-13T09:58:00.001-07:00

You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart. – John Ford

You can be a fast-talking-mouth machine, but unless you speak from the heart you cannot truly become an inspirational speaker. You can learn all the techniques in 21 days, and I can show you how. But unless you listen to your heart and allow it to speak when you open your mouth, you are nothing but a robot who knows how to speak like a human being. Start where it all must begin and everything will follow.

This is my simple tip for you this morning.

Speak from the heart.

Jef Menguin
http://jefmenguin.com

Jef Menguin Inspirational Speaking workshop

2011-03-13T06:12:00.001-07:00

I am looking now for possible dates to conduct this workshop. My original plan is to hold a boot camp. However, that will not be possible for the next three months for I am booked for training and speaking almost six times a week. Some companies are also requesting for Sundays, but I decided to keep it free.

Well, it is possible that I will be on the road for Sundays too. But no more work.

As of now,am looking at a 2 month workshop for those who would like to join the Jef Menguin Inspirational Speaking workshop. The fee will not be expensive. It will at cost. My earning will be mainly spiritual. My desire is to train more passionate Filipino motivational and inspirational speakers.

But not everyone can join for I will not waste my time with those who only wanted to see if there is anything they can learn from this workshop. I am not experimenting, and I do not like to spend my time with undecided motivational speakers.

I will give more updates soon.

Jef Menguin

http://jefmenguin.com

Be unreasonable

2011-03-03T15:12:00.001-08:00

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." — George Bernard Shaw (Man and Superman)

I encourage you to visit http://jefmenguin.com/?p=1302 for my article on why leaders must be unreasonable.

Thinking big is easier than what you think

2011-03-03T09:29:00.001-08:00

“You must do the thing which you think you can not do.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Doing so is what thinking big all about.

When I started my career as a trainer, I thought of training school teachers for I thought that was within my competencies. So I created programs for school teachers. But then nobody got my service.

Until I was asked to train school principals. In the beginning I was hesitant for it was not even in my dreams to train school principals. But I did it well. And I did it better again and again after that.

It was actually easier than what I thought.

Do whatever you think you cannot do.

When you think you cannot speak before a crowd, find your crowd and be their inspirational speaker.

When you think you cannot lead people, find at least one person and help him become a better person. Then find another, then another until you are able to create your own tribe.

When you think that there is way you can succeed in life, be like water.Find your way. When walls are too high, who says that you have to climb it. Sometimes, you can go do a tunnel below it.

When you think that there is no more hope for this world, always remember that you are here. You are hope.

Always remember, excellence is easier that what you think.

Jef Menguin

P.S. I encourage you to read my Change Your Life By Dreaming Bigger Dreams – http://jefmenguin.com/?p=346

Change Your World: A Bootcamp for motivational and inspirational speaker in the Philippines

2011-02-26T17:20:00.001-08:00

I never dreamt of becoming an inspirational speaker. I did not know that such a profession exists. I do not remember anyone from my class who s

aid that he wanted to become an inspirational speaker when he grows up. We wanted to becoming doctors, lawyers, architect, engineers, writers, teachers, mayor, president. We were trained to speak, but not to become an inspirational speaker.

Inspirational speaking is not a course you can take in college. There is also no office available for inspirational speakers. You do not apply to become one. You just become.

Filipinos want to become inspirational speakers
Every month, I receive email messages from people who told me they wanted to become inspirational speakers. They gave me various reasons. Sam told me that he likes speaking before people. Grace and Ana wanted to explore; they have been invited to speak in schools and they liked the experience. Ruben has been training people for 17 years and he wanted to know if inspirational speaking was for him. And

there were many more who said that they want to inspire people and make a difference in the world. Each one wanted me to mentor them. They belie

ved that I could help them.

But can I really help Filipinos become inspirational speakers?
I like to help people the best way I can. But I am a hesitant teacher. I am not a guru on inspirational speaking. I am still a student; I believe I will remain so for the rest of my life. Yes, six years after I decided to leave the academe to offer my services to the world as an inspirational speaker, I still see myself as a beginner. I am on a journey and the map is not always clear. I tried to walk fast, but sometimes the road disappears. Sometimes, I ask people for directions and they pointed everywhere.

I can not tell you how to go to a place I have never been.

But I have been to many places and I can tell you about them.
I can tell you about failures after failures after failures and the sweetest success. My experiences taught me about my destiny. It was not my dream to become an inspirational speaker. It was not my dream to train school principals when I was a teacher. It was not my dream to train the leaders of various organizations, large and small. But the journey was a good teacher. So, let us walk and talk. Allow me to share with you the lessons I've learned. I also encourage you to share yours. Not just with me, but with people who care for you.

Because your story may change the world
You have a very rich experience and you can always begin where you are. I will open my heart to you and I hope you'll open yours to mine. I like asking questions, and I hope you won't mind. I believe that questions lead to answers. I do not have all the answers, but I am trying my best to come up with right questions.

How can I inspire and educate and equip and empower more Filipinos?
That was one of my questions. My answer is to become a willing teacher to those who want to become motivational and inspirational speakers in the Philippines. I know that the world will eventually call me to share my gifts and passions, but I figured that I must start first in the Philippines. So, yes in three months time I will be leading a bootcamp for speakers. I will share with you the principles and practices that will make you successful as a professional inspirational and motivational speaker.

From time to time you will get a letter from me. You will be updated about this goal to develop thousands of life changer - motivational, inspirational, and leadership speakers - in the Philippines.

But if you are interested to join us, do not wait for the next letter. Contact me. Send an email. Ask questions. I am willing to answer.

Tell me also if you are willing to help. I need the help of hundreds of people. We need to create a movement of people who like to make a world of difference in the lives of others. Here is my email: inspire@jefmenguin.com .

inspiration

2011-02-21T04:14:00.001-08:00

Inspiration usually comes during work, rather than before it.

This I know to be true. You do not have to wait for inspiration before you work. You work and you'll be inspired. This is true for me in writing. This is true for me in speaking.

In speaking for example, I often start low and end on a high point. But the highest point always comes after the speech. Working, or in this case speaking, creates the inspiration that you need. Why? Because action follows inspiration, and inspiration follows action. Have one and you'll get both.

There are three articles which I like to share with you to get you moving.

1. 7 Simple Steps to Push Yourself to the Top

2. Work Only for the Best

3. It is when you are down that you’ve got to persist

6 Things You Should Look for When Selecting Motivational Speakers

2011-02-19T06:09:00.001-08:00

I have already discussed the difference between inspirational speakers and motivational speakers. If you have not read it, please consider visiting the link above.

Since I created this blog both for motivational and inspirational speakers in the Philippines and everywhere, I have been looking for ways on how to help those who desire to enter this profession. I found the O'Meara Process. Read on for this may help you.

Here are six things that you will see or hear from typical Motivational Speakers followed by a best practice that you should look for when choosing a speaker that will make a lasting change within your organization:

1. "Motivation" should be... Inspiration

Motivation begins on the outside of a person and works its way in. Motivation is "something that prompts a person to act in a certain way or that determines volition; incentive." As an external force, motivation is a temporary fix that diminishes quickly when the force subsides. Typical motivational speakers want their audiences to work hard to avoid something or to get something.

Inspiration begins on the inside of a person and works its way out. Inspiration is "to infuse an animating, quickening, or exalting influence." As an internal force, inspiration is a commitment to live a life that makes you feel enthusiasm, passion and purpose. Inspiration is not temporary. An inspirational speaker will fuel the spark that exists within every member of your audience.

2. "Stories" should be... A Process

Although stories are entertaining and often explain the commitment it took to accomplish a task, they might not inspire everyone. The chain of events that led the motivational speaker to achieve their goal is not necessarily a repeatable process for others. Defining a proven "process for change" will provide individuals with the ability to set attainable goals and reach their own aspirations. Your audience will walk away with a tool that they can use for the rest of their lives.

3. "Fear" should be... New Perceptions

Fear has a strong effect on people. Fear can make you perform in ways you never dreamed. But, do we want to live our lives in constant fear?

Learning what you can control and cannot control will make a big difference in your life. Perception - how you see events, others and yourself - generates all your thoughts, feelings and actions. We have a tendency to confuse how we see things, our perceptions, with how things really are. Your perceptions are really the only thing you can control. Shifts in our perception have the most powerful and longest lasting effects. Speakers that offer us a new perception will allow us to uncover a whole new outlook. It is this new change in perception that will ultimately power our performance.

4. "Discipline" should be... Self-discipline

Discipline only works if there is someone to mold. In business, it is less about molding someone and more about leading an organization to a common goal. How each individual helps the organization to achieve that goal is the "magic".

Self-discipline is a higher level of existence. It starts with your team understanding the value of what they are doing. Because they understand the value of what they are doing and its connection to future performances, they do not need to be "molded" they will inherently strive for the common goal. Wouldn't it be nice to arrive at work and have your staff already doing their tasks without being told what to do?

5. "Command-control" should be... Cooperation

Motivational speakers think you hire them because they "know" and you do not. They treat your audience with the same basic premise. But do they really know everything? Do they know how to do your job? Do they understand your aspirations? Do they know how you feel? Command-control may be appropriate for the military, but in life, business and even sports coaching a command-control style is more likely to upset the "receiver".

That is why a cooperative approach works better. The cooperative approach is based on the premise that the coach knows and does not know. And the receiver knows and does not know. Egos are set aside as this approach allows people to work together. A coach with a cooperative approach creates the feeling of "we" when accomplishing goals. The coach and the student will desire each other's input and involvement to reach new levels of performance. A speaker that can capture the essence of cooperation will make more of impact on your audience.

6. "Dependence" should be... Independence and even better, Interdependence

Typical coaches want their teams to constantly require their knowledge and guidance; while other teams may rely on their coach for too much constant direction. Because of these desires, dependence is created. So, what happens when their coach is not there?

One of the goals of your speaker should be to create an environment of independence - the ability to reach your goals with little less supervision. Independent people are less needy and often your best performers. Developing independent people is much more rewarding, but as a coach you have to understand that independence is a sign of growth and development, not a form of betrayal or disloyalty. Only when independence is reached for each person on your staff, can you begin to strive for interdependence as a team.***

I hope that these six tips will help you find your next motivational or inspirational speaker in the Philippines.

You like to become an inspirational speaker? Just do your best.

2011-02-17T01:27:00.001-08:00

"Look around. You will find many speakers who gave themselves outrageous and immature titles. You can find the “best motivational speaker in all of Asia”, the “youngest motivational speaker in England”, or the most “entertaining motivational speaker in Malaysia”.- Jef Menguin

This line is from my post Forget the Title. After some months, I will still tell people who like to become inspirational speakers to heed this advice. I looked around and I still find many speakers, young and old, who invent taglines so funny you would think they are joking.

But they are not joking. They are serious. Because the taglines work for them.

Why?

There are people who are looking for inspirational speakers through the internet. Some have no idea about SEO, much more of black hat SEOs. These internet searchers have the mistaken idea that whoever is placed on top of the search engine must be the best. Never mind that all the claims about the greatness of the speakers came from themselves. Never mind that the claims are too good to be true.

Do not get me wrong. I am also on top of the search engines and I want to be there always. But if you desire to become inspirational speakers, I encourage you to make sure that you have the best intentions in mind. Consider your audience first.Do not waste their time by writing about how good you are. Instead write about subjects that can help your readers improve their lives.

Just do your best always. When you do, you won't have to worry about titles and SEOs anymore. People will surely find you.

Jef Menguin

smile

2011-02-17T00:57:00.001-08:00

A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.

Denis Waitley

Only the best is good enough

2011-02-16T08:35:00.001-08:00

There is no “good enough” that’s short
Of what you can do and you ought.
The flaw which may escape the eye
And temporarily get by,
Shall weaken underneath the strain
And wreck the ship or car or train,
For this is true of men and stuff—
Only the best is “good enough.”

I have just posted Good Enough is Not Good Enough. The lines above is part of Edgar's Guest poem. You may download a pdf copy of the poem in the website.

There is one way that you can promote yourself to the top, and that is doing your best all the time. Mediocrity is common. Excellent people develop the habit of excellence. They raise their standards high that anything less is unacceptable.

Jef Menguin

What is your purpose?

2011-02-16T04:03:00.001-08:00

"Great minds have purposes;

others have wishes."

- Washington Irving

Yesterday, another person asked my help. She wanted to become an inspirational speaker. She said that she is passionate about helping people. I asked her, "what is your purpose?"

Why Do You Want to Become An Inspirational Speaker? is a piece I wrote to pose a challenge to those Filipinos who want to become inspirational speakers. It is easy to follow Anthony Robbins, John Maxwell, Zig Ziglar, and Jim Rohh. But every inspirational speaker must know his purpose in order for him to be successful.

Jef Menguin

Begin to live

2011-02-16T03:59:00.001-08:00

The best way to prepare for life is to begin to live.
~Elbert Hubbard

You've got to persist

2011-02-15T18:31:00.001-08:00

Struggle is not strange to me. I was born to it. This is why I can write and talk about it.

I think anyone who desires to become a motivational speaker must look into his experiences and find the lessons that will be of value also to others. This morning, I published an article titled It Is When You Are Down That You've Got to Persist. I encourage you read and consider the seven tips and adopt them to your life.

This day is beautiful. Make it wonderful.

Jef Menguin

Rainbows

2011-02-15T16:35:00.001-08:00

No rain.

No rainbows.

After a minor editing, I will be posting today an article that encourages people to be persistent. I can speak for experience and I know that the best time to be persistent is when you are down. I encourage to read my personal development blog and subscribe for daily update.

Jef Menguin

Rainbows

2011-02-15T16:26:00.001-08:00

No rain.

No rainbows.

Jef Menguin

We are powerful beyond measure

2011-02-15T08:54:00.001-08:00

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are younot to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Mariane Williamson

Are you interested to develop yourself and become the person that you can be? Discover what you can do.

Every week we write articles on personal development. I suggest that you visit http://jefmenguin.com/?cat=259 and subscribe for email updates. You will find the link in the sidebar of the blog.

Enjoy your day.

Be first-rate

2011-02-15T08:39:00.001-08:00

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." ~ Judy Garland

Do you want to develop yourself? We have collected the 35 of the best personal development blogs. Visit it today.

Are you fit for life?

2011-02-15T03:56:00.001-08:00

The man who regards his own life and that of his fellow creatures as meaningless is not merely unhappy but hardly fit for life.
~Albert Einstein

Four Old Men

2009-04-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

Mr. Toastmaster, Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen--

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.

He saw the first light of day at San Francisco, Cebu. As a boy, he was small compared to boys of his age. His burnt skin is a story of his daily habit of welcoming the day in the seashore of Camotes Island, of daily hopping in the expanse of fields of relatives where crops like peanuts and corns abound, of playing all day under the heat of the pacific sun. His hair was long and straight, so unlike today which is short and which becomes curly when it gets long.

Life for Dodong is simple. He experiences a complicated life ONLY when he was listening to radio dramas Simatar and Gabi ng Lagim. Later, he would discover that life is not simply swimming in the ocean and hopping in the fields. Four old men changed his life forever.

One morning, he was awakened by a kiss in the forehead. His Lolo Pedro was about to go fishing. He usually leaves before the rooster crows. The old man, and his wife, talked for a while in the front door. The years did not diminish their sweetness and love for each other. When the old man, Pedro, reached his banca , Dodong was already there. He went out using the back door. The old man did not ask Dodong to go home. He knew what his favorite apo wanted.

On that day, Dodong saw how the sun light produces a rainbow of colors when it touches the face of the ocean, of the small fishes that follow their banca curious of his presence, of the serenity that the ocean brings to a young soul. Preoccupied with the beauty of nature, he did not notice that hours passed, and they were yet to catch a single fish. Until he felt the rumblings in his stomach.

The old man told him that he must be patient. Sooner they will catch some fish which will delight him. If not, God will give the fish to them. An hour passed and they have not yet gotten even a small fish. But he was told to be patient. So he did. Then, they saw a group of fishermen rowing towards their direction. They were Lolo’s friends. So they gave them four big fish. His Lolo encouraged him to say thanks to the fishermen. So he did. Afterwards, his grandfather rowed the banca towards the nearest shore which was a big rock with plenty of vegetation. His Lolo cooked the most delicious fish in his life. He did not remember if they caught fish on that day, but he will never come to forget his Lolo’s words, "Be patient. Sooner we will catch some fish which will delight you. If not, God will give them to us. PEDRO affects eternity.
Some years after, Dodong's parents brought him to Quezon City. There he learned that bad characters in the radio have human forms. A life full of problems is real. But it is here where he met his second teacher, FRANCISCO. He did not know his real name, but later on he called him Francisco in his stories for he likened the man to St. Francis of Assissi.

It was one night when Dodong was frightened by the threat of his auntie's husband that he would place him inside a sack and be beaten until he learns his lesson. When his Auntie’s husband told him LUMAYAS KA, he went of the house and thought of not going back.

It was almost midnight; the cold air enveloped his small frame. He was sitting in one of the waiting shades in the University Avenue in UP Diliman. He had not regret of leaving his Auntie's house, but the cold air and cold bench puzzled him even more why some men would harm small boys like him. It was at this time when an old man approached him and asked what he was doing in there in the middle of the night. Dodong just told him the story. Francisco, a laborer in a nearby construction site, invited Dodong to his barracks. The old man offered the kid his food, his guitar, and his pillow and rugged blankets. Dodong did not even get the name of the man who advised him to go home when the morning came. But lesson inculcated in his mind that night is that... a stranger is a brother, a sister, a father, a mother, or a love one in disguise. Francisco affects eternity.

Dodong grew in wisdom and stature. He took his elementary years in Krus na Ligas Elementary School, then later on at Juan Sumulong Elementary School. He graduated in Antipolo Municipal High School with a best in Science Award and an Outstanding Student in Theater. Afterwards, he entered the Seminary of Alagad ni Maria.

In the first year of his seminary life, he got the impression that seminarians in their congregation must get at least a cum laude distinction when they graduate in their Philo and Theo studies. So, he did try to excel.

In his second year, they were made to live in Infanta, Quezon. There he got a regular talk with his third teacher, JULIO. Bishop Julio Labayen lives in his Kubo, small and simple when compared to the big villas of his counterparts here in Metro Manila. He has a Pajero which was donated by friends. Julio, however, likes to walk, or sometimes, to ride in a tricycle when he is in Quezon. He crosses rivers and climbs mountains to reach people. Dodong’s stay in Quezon brought him back to his roots. There he met farmers and fisher folks who shared to him their lives and the stories they weaved together as a community. Looking back to his childhood in Camotes, Dodong realized that his grandfather also faced the same difficulties, the same atrocities in life.

When he went out of the seminary, Dodong brought with him the lesson he got from Julio Labayen. The real servant of God serves the poorest of the poor. He should not be complacent in a world where poverty of the many benefits the few, where injustice is a tradition, and vices are held as virtues. Julio affects eternity.

Dodong took Political Science to pursue his another dream. He had always wanted to become a human righst lawyer. He got involved with many organizations including the Kabataang Makabayan, This time, he wanted a revolution. He would change the world.

During this time also, he met his fourth teacher, ROBERTO, now 76 and still kicking. It was the old man who told him that he would become a great teacher and many people would learn from him because of what he has to offer, that he will become like Christ, who is also a good teacher. Dodong liked the idea of being Christ-like, but by that time he was thinking of Christ as a revolutionary and not simply as a teacher.

In Roberto, Dodong saw a man of dedication and hard work-- a man who cares for his students. I tell you, if you were his students, after ten years he would still remember even your middle names.

In his first day in the class of ROBERTO, he remembered the man telling the class these words ,” Itong itinuturo ko sa inyo, huwag ninyong kakalimutan hanggang kayo ay mamatay".

Dodong, now a teacher, intends to advance in his studies. If God permits and makes him win a Fulbright scholarship, he will take Masters in TESOL at the United States. He will always live the teachings of his teachers-- PEDRO, FRANCISO, JULIO, AND ROBERTO.

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.

Jef Menguin facilitates people skills seminars and teambuilding and leadership workshops in Metro Manila, Philippines. Visit his website at http://jefmenguin.com to learn more about his seminars.

Windows of the Soul

2009-04-11T06:59:00.000-07:00

Mr. Toastmasters, everyone, good evening!

It was nearing midnight, in the olden days, when that was the deadline for reciting the Breviary. The priest pulled off to the shoulder of the highway, sat on the front bumper of his car and by the light of his headlights recited his “Compline”.

A truck pulled up and the driver shouted, “having trouble, buddy?”
“No trouble, thanks,” the priest responded and continued his silent prayers.
“All I can say,” the truck driver replied, “that must be one helluva good book.”

I have already met a lot of people. Few are divine, humane, salvators, inspirational, reformers, and intellectual giants. Some are partisan if not dyed-in-a-wool bigots, anarchist, imperialists, fascists, and putchists. The rest are philosophers, theologians, revolutionaries, and teachers. I met in them pages of books my eyes set upon.

Henny Penny is a hen, Henny Penny is a red hen. Ang baka ay bababa, bababa ang baka, ang baka ba ay bababa? Oo, bababa ang baka. These lines I have learned when I was in grade 1. During those days when reading a book is an adventure, an adventure I want to finish.

My parents sent me in a public school. The textbooks are the first books I have read and nothing else. Eager to get through this reading a book adventure, a boy who has just learned how to read, finish reading his textbooks by the first quarter. My father, upon learning my strong desire for books, was alarmed. He did not want his son to go insane. He told me that I should read the book only during class hours. He was not aware that I was already thirsting for other books.

When I was in grade 2, my Autie Linda gave me my cousins’ textbooks. She said I could use them when I reach high school. It was through these books that I first met O. Henry. His Last Leaf, a short story, made me cry when I was in grade 4. It was only during this time that I finally understood the story I began to read when I was in grade 2.

It was through books where I met those authors, forgetable and unforgetable, whose ideas influenced my thinking in one way or the other.

I met Dante but I have not been to Inferno and Paradiso. He left me in Purgatory. Shakespeare introduced me to Macbeth and made me understand why the world is so troublesome. They talked in languages I don’t fully understand up to these days.

Tolstoy made me appreciate life, love, and lust in War and Peace. Cervantes showed me that to be quixotic is not so bad at all. Only when people start getting rid of labels that we can see each person as what they are. _____________ made me see that man, no matter how great his thinking is is never above the law of consequences. For every crime there is punishment.

Herodutos, Engels, English, Marx , Zaide, Teodoro Agoncillo, Jose Ma. Sison, Ambeth Ocampo, and F. Sionil Jose lectured me on history. Marx said that our purpose in life is not to interpret history but to change it. I now dare say that we cannot change history because in the classroom no one is too patient to listen to it. So everything has to be said again and again. Events and people, and their deeds stay as facts, not an experience we can learn from.

Freud told me that most of actions are driven by our sexual desires. By the way most people equate sex with life, I cannot simply disagree. Isaac Asimov made me understand that impossible is nothing. No, Ali was not the originator of that principle. I first heard of it from Asimov.

I talked to them everywhere. As long as I have my books with me I can talk to Carl Jung, Plato, Aristotle, and my idol Socrates. I listened to Homer in his wonderful, sometimes foolish, stories. Through books I learned that Einstein and Darwin are school under achievers. Einstein was not really good in Math and was an ineffective teacher. Darwin, most maligned, died a Christian. Most science teachers today would say that Darwin proposed that we came from monkeys. Charles Darwin, if he were alive, wouldl surely say that it was not he but the priests who made such conclusion. Teachers now a days teach us that the first living thing is unicellular, and that natural selection is correct, but they certainly would stop when they reach the level of man. Man does not belong they say.

There are so many other great men and women whose ideas influenced the world. I promise I will share their thoughts to you some other time. I just want you to know that many of the things that I do are inspired by the thoughts shared by Rizal, Bonifacio, Che Guevarra, Mother Teresa, St. Augustine, Exupery, Mahatma Gandhi, Og Mandino, and that of the greatest author, the same who wrote helluva great book, the Bible.

Jef Menguin facilitates people skills seminars and teambuilding and leadership workshops in Metro Manila, Philippines. Visit his website at http://jefmenguin.com to learn more about his seminars.

2009-04-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

Mr. Toastmasters, ladies and gentlemen:

Good evening!

Imagine yourself entering a room with more than 30 people inside. At the back of the room you see handsome twins dancing the remix of the most popular dance music. A group of five are playing game cards. A girl runs after a boy teasing her. Some others pillowed the arm of their chairs wetting it in the process. Except for a moustached guy who since you entered the room examined you from head to toe, to everyone you are invisible.

You are invisible, until a paper plane landed on your shoulder.

Mr toastmasters, ladies and gentlemen, It was Wednesday, October 16, 1996 when I entered that classroom—my first day day in teaching. On that day alone, so many ugly things happened from one room to another. So much to convince me that a teacher is either a fool or a martyr.

Ladies and gentlemen, I will spare you from hearing the other ugly things. I am here to tell you why, after eight years, I am still a high school teacher. I have so many reasons, but due to time constrains, I will share few three reasons for this evening.

A teacher encourages you to give your best shot!.

There was a speech choir contest in the school billed “best of the best”. For the students, specially those belonging to the first section, what is at stake is pride. There were two speech choir contest events before this big one. The first section of the seniors almost got a perfect score the first time. So, this time, everyone is just aiming for the second prize. The juniors, especially the first section, does not believe that they can win.In the last contest, they were beaten by the last section which I coached. They have to fight. The school forced them. They got me to coach them.

With three weeks to go before the contest, I told them that the best way for them to win is to fight as a batch. One team for one batch. While the best of the seniors were perfecting their piece, I was conducting an audition for the third year. I told them that we shall use the piece “I am a Filipino” of Carlos P Romulo previously use by the first section. The students protested, they said it was not a good piece. I told them “we shall interpret it in a new way.”

I updated the essay. Romulo ended his in our liberation from the japanese. I continued the story. I added the first quarter storm, the martial law, and the march of the people towards EDSA.

I have to make the students believe that what we are doing is not just for pride, not just for winning. Whatever we do, we do it to undestand to have a beeter view of ourselves.

So instead of practicing at once, I lectured them on the history of the Philippines. They have to undestand everything before they can internalize a role. They have to know the feeling of a peace –loving native when the conquerors went inside his house, plundered their cofffers, raped his mother and sisters, and killed his father. A girl has to feel the suffering of the nun when the japanese soldiers, one after the other, shattered her purity and dreams. They have to understand why the mass has to rally against its leaders and eventually toppled down the dictatorship. They have to understand why they have to present the piece to the people.

After three weeks of daily practice, sometimes ending until 8 pm, the morning of the contest came. I requested the students not to watch the other groups. They will be the last to present. I ask them to always be together. Not to practice anymore but just to be together in a room.

I have seen everything. True to expectation all the five groups were great. The seniors were even better than the first time. When it was about time for the group to present, I told them that whatever will be the result of the contest, they have already won. The lessons that we learned together as a team is bigger than the trophy they will receive. For more than anyone else, they know that this will be an expereince we shall never forget. “just give it your best shot! Then we prayed.

I cannot tell you how they presented, ladies and gentlemen. I can only say that the audience laughed, fell into complete silence, cried, felt pride when the students sang the national anthem in Spanish, English, then in Filipino. The students recived the standing ovation they never expected.

Just give it your best shot! Until now ladies and gentlemen, every time I meet any of the student who was in that group still remembers it. Just give it your best shot! Every time we are together, say in a birthday party of one, they would always talk about what and how it happened. They never get tired of it. Because we all know, on that they, we had proven that is an opinion, not a fact. It is an illusion, not a reality. Whe someone gives his best shot, impossible becomes nothing.

After the result of the contest was announced, it was the student’s time to cry. Their parents, who for so many times discouraged them to attend our practices, embraced their children, so much proud of what they have seen. I, too, am so proud of them.

Since October 16, 1996 until June 14, 2004, ladies and gentlemen, I have seen a thousand of ugly things about teaching. Maybe, more than enough for other souls to search for another profession. I am not saying that the other profession is less noble. Much more, I am not saying that I am one of the greatest teacher you have ever seen. Far from it ladies and gentlemen.

What I have been saying is this: I am a teacher because I am a molder of dreams. I make every student reach hope for tomorrow by believing today. I did not write a book. I did not command an army. I did not I did not build an empire. I did not do those things which accompany greatness.

I, like your teachers of long ago, see not the coal, but the diamond in each of the students. These diamonds are my reasons to stay teaching in high school.

Jef Menguin

Jef Menguin facilitates people skills seminars and teambuilding and leadership workshops in Metro Manila, Philippines. Visit his website at http://jefmenguin.com to learn more about his seminars.

The Magic of Thinking Big

2007-03-25T09:09:00.001-07:00

What is the difference between an ordinary and an extraordinary man? The successful and the failures? The winners and the losers? The rich and the poor ones?

Recently, I read a book by Schwartz entitled the Magic of Thinking Big. The book explained why few men are winners and most of us are losers. While reading the book, I cannot but agree to the thesis of the author. I have observed this myself in my daily dealings with people.

In the classroom, I know that many of the students simply aim to get a decent grade of 85. That is their ideal grade. Some others aim to get a passing grade. At the end of the quarter, they pray the teacher will give "consideration" for them who volunteered to keep the blackboard clean. Very few aim for the 90's. They are usually the best of the class. Some teachers call them big dreamers. That of course, is an overstatement.

It is not uncommon among teachers to teach that students should get high grades in elementary to prepare themselves for high school, to get high grades in high school so that they will be accepted in a good college, to get through college so that they will get a good job. A good job is security. At first glance, there seems to be nothing wrong with this. I believe, most of us are educated this way.

At second glance though, we may ask “how many have security, at least, financial security, these days?’

Thanks God, there are some people who did not allow their education dwarf their future. I had a student whose name is Erwin. One Saturday afternoon, after their CAT training he engaged me in a chitchat. He had some questions about the Philippines and the lot of the poor in this country. Most of my students know that I was a student activist. So, I explained to him the boxed answer activists mastered--that it is not the fault of the poor that they are poor--some people called politicians and capitalists keep them so. However, Erwin has another point of view. He said the poor are poor because they do not want to become rich, they are just contented with their lives and most of them are lazy. I volunteered that farmers and laborers are not lazy but they are still poor. He countered that his ancestors who belong to the first generation of Chinese in the Philippines were also poor when they set foot on this land, but they did not stay that way. There must be something wrong with the Filipinos. Foreigners are reeking profits here.

I felt that although Erwin has good points, he still does not know much about life and politics. When I asked him about his goal in studying, he told me this--"Sir, as you can see I am very interested with computers. Nevertheless, I do not excel in your subject or any other subjects. I am not bothered. To become an honor student is the least of my concerns. What I want is to have my own business even before I graduate in ADMU. Since first year high school, I have been saving a portion of my allowance so that I will have a starting capital when I decide to build my business. I want a good life. I study not for the sake of studying but for the sake of that good life."

I wonder until now how many of my students, before and after Erwin, think beyond the daily struggles of homework and quizzes. How many of them have dreams? How many of them dared to think big and started to fulfill their dreams? I hope Erwin is NOT a rare species.

Erwin is right. Most people are poor, failures, and small because they are not capable of dreaming big! Not only that, some of them do not even have their own dreams.

This happened when was in first year high. Every 5 o’ clock in the morning, I sell newspapers to one busy road in Antipolo. The place is usually crowded with commuters who work in Metro Manila and nearby towns. Many of them became my suki. Until one day, someone grab from me my monopoly of the place. He is an ugly competition. He overtook me every time someone intended to buy from me and he captured my suki by offering them something good to their ears. Puwedeng utang. They would pay only on the 15th and the 30th of the month. Eventually, he drove me away from the place.

I had to expand my market. I entered subdivisions and squatter areas to sell more. I did! Yes, and I sold twice as much. When my competition learned about it... once again, he conquered my market with his tricks.

That was more than fifteen years ago. Last year, I was buying a copy of the Inquirer when the “newspaper boy” spoke. "Buti ka pa Lito, sinuwerte ka. Buti ka pa ang layo-layo na nang narating mo." Lito. I used that name only once. That was when I was selling newspapers. Then I recognized the man. He looked very old and sickly. In his eyes, I saw sadness, a kind of pity for himself.

That man when I was small, fellow toastmasters, had only one dream: to conquer my market. When I stopped selling newspapers, he became contented with his market. On that busy road, he is the king until now, but it is very evident that he is not happy!

He attributed what I have reached to luck--pure luck. No ladies and gentlemen. What ever I am now is a product of that dream I was starting to realize even before I was selling newspapers. When he was dreaming to grab my suki, I was dreaming to create jobs for my suki. When he was dreaming to get my bigger market, the house owners in subdivisions and “house owners” in the squatters area, I was dreaming to help people build their own decent houses. When he was dreaming of a good profit, I was dreaming to profit a good life…a life of significance.

He said, ang layo layo na ng narating mo. He has a limited imagination, fellow toastmasters. I am not even halfway through my dream.

Ladies and gentlemen, fellow toastmasters, the difference between an ordinary and an extraordinary man, the successful and the failures ones, the winners and the losers, the rich and the poor is not education, race or creed. It is our ability to think big. It is our capability to dream big and our willingness to give in to that desire to fulfill it. If you have that ability, you are blessed. Share that! Be a blessing to others!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy because, like Erwin, I too think big.

Jef Menguin

Jef Menguin facilitates people skills seminars and teambuilding and leadership workshops. Visit his website at http://jefmenguin.com to learn more about his seminars.