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Listen to this articleDaniel Gutierrez, keynote speaker for the 2015 All Inclusive Awards on Dec. 3, is an international business consultant, radio personality, renowned motivational speaker and spiritual teacher who has inspired people to make positive changes that lead to success. Leveraging his experience, his infectious humor, and his deep belief that there is greatness in each of us has helped transform individuals all over the world.
When Daniel shares his real-life stories that come from the heart, his appeal breaks the boundaries of many professions, ages and cultures. People identify with the pitfalls and celebrations, the tragedies and the successes, the heartaches and the search for inner peace.
Based in Los Angeles, Daniel has been the cover story in Latin Business Magazine and listed in its “Top 100 Hispanics” along with other extraordinary individuals such as actor Edward James Olmos, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and CNN’s Soldedad O’Brien. Daniel has also been the cover story of Cypen Magazine and was featured in the documentary film Luminous WorldViews as one of eighteen world renowned thought leaders in the area of transformation and leadership.
Daniel has served as President of PRIMER, a prestigious national leadership organization based in New York City. Mr. Gutierrez has also served as an advisor to the Department of White House Personnel for the Obama Administration
The following is part one of our interview with Daniel Gutierrez. Part two of the interview will be posted on http://www.colormagazine.com tomorrow.
How do you define being a ‘motivational speaker?’ What makes a good speaker and what are some of the things you think make a less successful one?
I don’t really think of myself as a motivational speaker; I’m more of an inspirational speaker. Motivational speaker is a label I got tagged with when I first started because that was the popular phrase for someone who did what I do. And while I’m certainly happy to think I motivate people, I’m much more interested in inspiring them.
The difference to me, between a successful speaker and one who isn’t as effective can be found in that old saying that if you give a man a fish you can feed him for a day, but if you teach him to fish you can feed him for a lifetime. If you inspire people, you give them the tools they need to make positive changes for the rest of their lives.
Did you see yourself in this role 10 years ago?
It’s not a career I imagined for myself. I was more interested in being in business and the traditional path of climbing the corporate ladder. I soon found myself at a point in my career, though, when that wasn’t enough. The business world is all about the bottom line and making a profit for the owners and the shareholders, and there is nothing wrong with that. If you are in business, you want that business to be as successful as possible. It’s the way that people and corporations were going about it that began to bother me because the sacrifices they were demanding of their employees to make that profit was just too overwhelming. The employees were no longer human beings, but just part of the profit making machine and that’s no way to treat people or live your life.
You’ve risen through the ranks to become one of the most successful and sought after inspirational speakers in the world, but what was it like in the early days? Do you remember the first time you took a microphone in your hands to try and motivate an audience?
Those first few times were pretty intense. I’ve never been afraid to speak in public, but I do still get nervous. I call it my gag reflex. If you saw me just before I went on stage, you’d think I was going to be sick. I just tell the people paying me to be there not to worry. I’m not going to puke. It’s just something I need to go through, I guess, because once I get in stage with a microphone I’m fine.
Before you make that decision to take to that stage, though, you have to ask yourself a very simple, but very important question: Why should anybody listen to me. I think the answer goes back to what I was saying about being an inspirational speaker rather than a motivational speaker. When I talk to people, I tell them stories about my life, what I’ve experienced and what I’ve learned from those experiences. I think the connection between myself and my audience is so strong because they look at the stage and see that I’m just like them. I’m human. I’ve made mistakes and I’ve had success. I may be the one on the stage, but that’s really the only difference. So when they hear my stories, they can identify with them on a personal level.
The 2015 All-Inclusive Awards, an evening to honor those who have made a commitment to diversity and inclusion in their careers, take place on December 3, 2015, from 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at the Boston Marriott Copley Place.
The evening includes an intimate dinner, keynote speakers and an awards ceremony where three individuals and three organizations are recognized in the following categories: Leadership; Supplier Diversity; Change Agent. For tickets and more information, click HERE.
Do you know a leader or rising star that should be recognized for their diversity efforts? Nominations are currently open for the All-Inclusive Awards (AIA) 2015. ClickHere to Nominate Today!
