United Nations Speech by Jim Cathcart

From: Cathcart Institute, Inc. 

The Global Speakers Network is a part of the International Federation For Professional Speakers. Their 2008 Annual Meeting was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on August 5, 2008 and the keynote speaker was Jim Cathcart, past president of the National Speakers Association (USA) and member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. 

The members who attended this event were the Presidents and key officers in their respective countries around the world. IFFPS president Joe Sherren addressed the 2,000 assembled members of the United States' National Speakers Association and then passed the gavel to incoming International President, W. Mitchell from the USA. 

After a tour of the UN facilities including the General Assembly, and a one hour breifing by one of the UN staff executives the group enjoyed a cocktail reception on the 4th floor deck overlooking the East River, followed by a dinner at which Jim Cathcart was the keynote speaker.

The essence of Mr. Cathcart's speech was: 

The Power, Privilege and Responsibilities of the Platform.
Some of his key points were:

• Others are watching your example and depending on your performance.
  
• Asking others to help is a sign of strength.
  
• You are only using all your strength when you reach out to others.
  
• Organizations are organisms not machines. They are living systems.
  
• The essence of the organization is the interactions among the participants.
  
• Developing yourself is essential so that you have more to give.
  
• To get others involved remember: People go where they get value and where their friends are.
  
• Find out what they consider to be valuable and how they decide who are their friends.
  
• Your decisions and actions will determine the future of your country's speakers association.
  
• What you do matters, a lot, and others are looking to you for leadership.
  

Incoming president Mitchell provided closing comments and inspiration to all attendees.
For more information on the International Federation go to: http://www.iffps.org. 

To schedule Jim Cathcart for your events contact: http://www.cathcart.com 

NSA Rocks! 2000 speakers in one room...no listeners?

By Jim Cathcart

Right now I'm at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City with about two thousand other members of the National Speakers Association. This is our annual convention for this four thousand member association and as you can see about half the members spend the time and money to attend the five day annual meeting. You really ought to see this. 

There are authors, motivators, trainers, coaches, consultants, subject experts, media personalities, speakers bureau owners, celebrities and staff members who support them. The convention agenda itself is 40 pages long! 

All of this was started in 1973 when professional speaker Cavett Robert gathered a few of his colleagues and suggested that they work together to create a larger market for speakers, a "bigger pie" he called it. Well folks, it worked. Today the market for adult education, motivation and corporate performances is in the hundreds of millions. The meetings industry comprises numerous organizations that chose to join hands with NSA as each built their piece of the industry. 

As a past national NSA president and a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame I have a dozen official events to attend or preside over during this week, all the while surrounded by my "classmates" whom I've known for years and whose names have become household words. On Tuesday, August 5th I will be speaking at the United Nations for the first time. 

I'm one two US delegates to the International Federation For Professional Speakers and will be attending their convention and board meeting before and after the NSA events. Watch this site for more news on these programs. 

And if you are in NYC on Sunday night at 8pm, I'll be performing in the Astor Ballroom, 7th floor (guitar & singing) with a number of my fellow speakers. 

Rock on! 

Jim