"Diversity"-How the Growing Hispanic Influence is Impacting the Meeting Industry

With the excitement surrounding the confirmation of Justice Sonya Sotomayor, we are seeing an increase of ethnic diversity in the business world. As her story of hope unfolds - growing up in a Bronx housing project, being raised by a single parent after her father died, we see her overcome the odds to become the nation’s first Hispanic on the Supreme Court. A huge milestone for Hispanics! Companies are becoming more aware of the need to recognize this segment of the population. We, at Executive Speakers Bureau, have seen an increase in the number of requests for Hispanic speakers.

Hispanics have been dubbed as American’s fastest growing market segment for a good reason. Hispanics are fast fitting that definition. The U.S. Hispanic purchasing power has been estimated at a staggering $870 billion in 2008, and continues to grow. By the end of 2015, it is estimated to reach as much as 1.3 trillion… And that’s when only targeting the Hispanics!

There are 44.3 million Hispanics in the United States today and that is a number that no one should underestimate. The power of Hispanics in the United States is reflected well by the large number of Hispanic-owned firms, which continues to increase.

By taking note that the Latino population is going to triple by the time 2050 rolls around, one can be assured of a constantly growing market. Soon, there will be one Hispanic for every three white Americans. – According to Hispanic Population.

Following is a list of a few of the top Latino Speakers:

Dr. Joachim de Posada

Fluent in English and in Spanish, Dr. Posada specializes in sales, management, leadership and team building , has worked in more than fifty countries including the United States. Noted author of best selling book “Don’t Eat the Marshmallow…Yet: The secret to sweet success in work and in life”

Jimmy Cabrera

A dynamic and energetic speaker, riveting his audience's attention through the very last sentence, Cabrera seeks to fulfill the need for communication, education, and a positive influence in the lives of all individuals.

Maria Marin

Marin is a national newspaper columnist, who writes on personal growth topics for women. She is the author of the self-help book “Secrets of a Confident Women” where she inspires women to believe in themselves. Her column “Mujer Sin Límite” (Women Without Limits) is published weekly in the top markets throughout the U.S. & Puerto Rico. She appears weekly in the TV program “Despierta América” as the motivational expert of the show. Maria Marin is considered one of the leading motivational trainers on the subject of “Personal Empowerment” and “The Art of Negotiation”.

Victor Gonzalez

From food stamps and welfare to being the CEO of a multimillion dollar High Tech equipment His book “The Logic of Success” is about the ‘logic’ of why some people fail while others succeed. Whether in sales or any type of leadership position, Victor will walk you through the steps of what it takes to make "SUCCESS HAPPEN".

Carlos Conejos

Carlos Conejo is an expert on the rapidly growing multicultural marketplace. He assists organizations through this current evolutionary change developing sound values-driven business strategies for penetrating and growing these multicultural markets. Conducting major work in the area of economic development, lean manufacturing, and workforce development in either English, OR Spanish, Conejos has shown organizations how transformational changes can be used as a competitive weapon in an ever-increasing global society.

Staying Connected: Successful Strategies that Work

Why is it imperative to stay in close contact with your customer base especially in economic turbulent times?

1. It is less expensive and more time productive to keep existing customers than to build new relationships with new clients.

2. It is more important than ever to know the current needs of your clients. This is only possible with open and close communication.

3. Out of site is out of mind. It is important to stay up front and central in the clients sphere of influence

4. This is a good way to provide current and updated information to your clients about new and innovative solutions/products that you offer.

5. The best way to develop loyalty with clients is to care about them in the good times and in the bad times. Communication is key.

6. Make sure you are currently meeting their needs and will continue to do so in the future. This is impossible to do if you don’t know their ongoing needs and if you can’t convey the message of how you will continue to provide solutions for those needs.

7. Open and frequent communication opens additional windows of opportunity.

Effective ways to stay in close contact with your client base

1. Direct phone calls – nothing replaces the personal touch. Not the hard sell, the actual conversation connection.

2. Monitoring social networking sites that are industry and company specific to determine trends, company feedback and product satisfaction.

3. Ask productive questions during calls so that you gain information about the client, not merely impart a sales pitch

4. Send a note or other small gesture to let client know they are valued and appreciated.

5. Send out customer surveys

6. Email helpful suggestions that relate to the industry but that are not product specific. It will gain you credibility as being an expert in your field even if you aren’t currently “asking” for new business.

Jill Buck Talks on Going Green and the Need to Go Green in Schools:

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the world population is expanding at a mind-boggling rate. The world reached 1 billion people in 1800; 2 billion by 1922; and over 6 billion by 2000. It is estimated that the population will swell to over 9 billion by 2050. That means that if the world’s natural resources were evenly distributed, people in 2050 will only have 25% of the resources per capita that people in 1950 had.

The world has a fixed amount of natural resources – some of which are already depleted. So as population growth greatly strains our finite resources, there are fewer resources available. If we intend to leave our children and grandchildren with the same standard of living we have enjoyed, we must preserve the foundation of that standard of living. We save for college educations, orthodontia, and weddings, but what about saving clean air, water, fuel sources and soil for future generations?

Some of the greatest threats to future resources come from things we throw away everyday. Household batteries and electronics often contain dangerous chemicals that may, if sent to a local landfill, leak through the bottom barrier and pollute the groundwater. This can contaminate everything from the soil in which our food grows, to the water which will eventually come out of aquifers and into our tap water. Many of these chemicals cannot be removed from the drinking water supply, nor from the crops that are harvested from contaminated fields. The risks to human health are tremendous.

Throwing away items that could be recycled diminishes energy, water and natural resources that could be saved by recycling.

Did you know…

• For every ton of paper that is recycled, the following is saved: 7,000 gallons of water; 380 gallons of oil; and enough electricity to power an average house for six months.
• You can run a TV for six hours on the amount of electricity that is saved by recycling one aluminum can.
• By recycling just one glass bottle, you save enough electricity to power a 100-watt bulb for four hours.

The more we throw away, the more space we take up in landfills. When a landfill becomes a “landfull”, taxpayers have to build a new one. The less we throw away, the longer our landfills will last. The amount of taxpayer money we save by extending the longevity of our landfills is an important community benefit.

Go Green Schools

Schools in all 50 states, 14 countries and on 4 continents have adopted the Go Green Initiative. They are making great strides in teaching their students to be good stewards of our planet’s natural resources. Tons of paper, plastic and other materials are being recycled, and in many cases, schools are earning money for recycling. Go Green communities are finding creative ways to teach children earth-friendly habits while reducing their contributions to the waste stream. Take a look at the Go Green Initiative

For more information on Jill Buck

Speaker Talent? Sometimes the Effectiveness of the Speaker Comes from The Story

Last week I had the privilege of seeing a speaker who has a great reputation, and because of demand has been able to elevate his fee considerably in recent years. The speaker, Dick Hoyt, is as good as advertised. However, it is not his amazing speaking skills or effective use of humor that captures us. Dick Hoyt has a story that absolutely captivates you. If you are not aware, Dick Hoyt is a triathlete who has participated for the last 30 years in triathlons and marathons with a partner. Hoyt's partner is his son Rick, who since birth has not been able to walk or talk, but is Hoyt's motivation to excel.

As you listen to Dick Hoyt, you will find out that having Rick as a partner has created some interesting challenges for Dick. For example, during the swimming part of the triathlon, Dick ties a rope to himself and connects that rope to a boat. Rick is placed in the boat. Incredibly this boat weighs enough that two men are required to carry it. Therefore, swimming 1 or 2 miles in these conditions is not an easy chore for Dick Hoyt.

What will truly amaze you as you listen to this story is that not only does the Dick/Rick Hoyt team complete these events (over 1000 of them in 30 years), but they do very well. In fact, their best marathon time is 2 hours and 40 minutes (only 30 minutes off of the world record). What drives Dick Hoyt to exceed his own abilities when he partners with Rick? How did Dick realize so easily that his son Rick (now a college graduate) was capable of so much?

If you get a chance to see Dick Hoyt speak, you can determine your own answers to these questions. As you hear his speech, you will laugh, clap, and probably cry, and this is because you will be convinced that Dick Hoyt is a great man, doing great things for his son.

Sometimes it is just the power of the story that gets you.

Who's Got Your Back

Who’s Got Your Back: The breakthrough program to build the deep, trusting relationships that create success – and won’t let you fail.

ESB speaker Keith Ferrazzi has a new book that will be hitting the shelves on May 19, and is sure to be an instant success.

Keith is an outstanding speaker, author and business leader. You can check out his full bio and video on our webpage – Keith Ferrazzi

In his latest book, Keith Ferrazzi, the internationally renowned thought leader, and bestselling author of Never Eat Alone, shows us that becoming a winner in any field of endeavor requires a trusted team of advisers who can offer guidance and help to hold us accountable to achieving our goals. Whether your dream is to lead a company, be a top producer in your field, overcome the self-destructive habits that hold you back, lose weight or make a difference in the larger world, Who’s Got Your Back will give you the roadmap you’ve been looking for to achieve the success you deserve.

In his step-by-step guide to the powerful principles behind personal growth and change, Keith teaches many valuable lessons, such as how to Master the mindsets that will help you to build deeper, more trusting “lifeline relationships.” Keith explains how to overcome the career-crippling habits that hold you back, as well as how to get further and faster by settings goals in a dramatically more powerful way. Get ready to read a book that will strengthen every one of your closest relationships. If you haven’t read Who's Got Your Back, you’re at a competitive disadvantage.


Some of the rave reviews:

"Ferrazzi points out that a seismic shift is underway, we are moving from isolation and corporate silos to community and collaboration. This book is a roadmap for success in the new world, conveyed with emotion and wit."
—Devin Wenig, CEO, Thomson Reuters Markets


"Keith's program isn't about changing who you are. It's about enlisting others to help you become the best you can be."
—Dennis R. Glass, President & CEO, Lincoln Financial Group


“If I’d had this book at the start of my career, I would have saved myself 30 years of trial and error. If you are serious about your success, I strongly recommend that you read this book and build your support circle today.”
—Marshall Goldsmith, author of What Got You Here Won't Get You There, a NYT best seller, WSJ #1 business book

Dr. Lilian Glass Appears on Dancing with the Stars to Give her Expert Opinion on the Contestants Body Language.

Dr. Lilian Glass, a body language expert, offered a bit of interesting insight into what the stars' facial and body movements say about their experience and how they feel about their standing in the competition.

In performance mode, Lil' Kim has her eyes and mouth open a lot, indicating she's trying to take it all in. Shawn's frequent shoulder shrugs show a bit of insecurity, which is different from her confident presentation at the Olympics. Ty holds on to his partner Chelsie Hightower, Dr. Glass said, for a sense of security. Melissa face expressed a lot of fear early on, and still shows discomfort by frequently putting her hand over her stomach, which means she's still feeling the butterflies.

Chuck shows a lot of facial tension, showing that he's not comfortable and doesn't like being judges. Gilles, on the other hand, shows a lot of humility while being judged, as he looks up a lot in a praying kind of position. That shows he knows the scores are out of his control. During judging, Lawrence holds his hands behind his back and exposes his chest, presenting himself as a strong man who can take whatever criticism the judges can dole out.

During eliminations, there is more to read on the stars' faces and in their posture. Steve-O puts his hand on his waist a lot, his head tilted and his ear is up awaiting bad news. Lil' Kim, Shawn and Gilles stare ahead, looking at the directly at the audience as if to convey that the audience's opinion is what matters most. Lawrence and Chuck both look up, then down a lot during the eliminations, showing that they aren't sure of themselves.

As a Speaker, How Can You Work Most Effectively with Speakers Bureaus?

The 5 most important ways this can be accomplished are as follows:


1) First of all, as a speaker, you must develop a niche. This should be an area that is unique to you in which a bureau would have a strong desire to market you and you only. As they say, it is more important to "go really deep than to go a mile wide".



There are two ways in which you can develop a niche. The first way is to base it on an experience that you have had. For example, there are a number of mountain climbers who are excellent speakers, and they have built their careers strictly on their climbing experiences.



Secondly, you develop yourself or your speaker brand based on a concept you create. Many speakers have increased their level of success by moving from "good business speaker" to "expert" in a particular area. Becoming the "branding guru" or the "innovation guy" can help you to reinvent your speaking career and make you irresistable to a bureau.



2) The next way in which you can have a more effective relationship with speakers bureaus is by learning how the bureau in question operates, and then working with them in that fashion. What do I mean by that? Believe it or not, speakers bureaus have personalities and tendancies of their own (just like people). Some bureaus are very focused on customer service and quick customer response, some are very strict with their business processes, some are more focused on the speakers they represent, and some are more focused on the organizations in which they book the speakers.



Therefore, if you try to focus on being excellent with the bureaus in ways that are most important to them, they will take special notice and be more likely to promote you. For example, at Executive Speakers Bureau responding quickly to our clients is one of our top priorities, and as a result, we pay special attention to those speakers who respond quickly to our requests.



3) The third way in which you can be a valuable bureau partner is to be prepared with a complete set of materials before you contact the speakers bureau. These materials must include the following items: DVD of you presenting, link to your website, fee schedule, topic descriptions, photos, and reference letters from clients. The items that are of most importance are the video and the website. We as a speakers bureau absolutely must have these two tools to actively and effectively market you.



4) In addition, there is a 4th way in which you can begin your bureau relationship on a positive note. Providing the bureau with high quality speaking references is a must when you first start working with them. These references need to include Fortune 500 companies, well known associations, and/or highly respected large non-profit organizations. The reason for having these type of organizations on your reference list is because the bureau must immediately see that you are a speaker of great value. The quickest and easiest way to see this is by hearing from the biggest and best organizations that you are great.



5) Finally, in order to work effectively with speakers bureaus, you need to understand about bureaus in general and the industry as a whole. Very often prospective speakers approach our bureau without an understanding of what bureaus do, how speakers should work with speakers bureaus, and what is truly involved in becoming a speaker. It is absolutely crucial to have atleast a basic understanding of all of these things before you approach the speakers bureau. You may be asking, how do you get this information? All areas of the country have local chapters of NSA (National Speakers Association), and this would be a great place to start.



In summary, before you pick up the phone to call the speakers bureau, remember that they will love you more and want to work with you more, if you just come a little prepared with the above five items!