From CNBC.com:

Have you ever felt like your chances for success were stacked against you? Ever been told you were a loser and will never make it big? Tonight, we show you how to turn it all around and show you how no matter the odds, you can truly make it big!

That’s a preview of the July 21 episode of CNBC’s The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. Among the experts on turning things around: Steve Rizzo, former stand-up comedian turned in-demand inspirational speaker.

Steve was told by a guidance counselor in high school that he didn’t have the intelligence for college, AND had the dubious high school honor of being named “Least Likely to Succeed.”

“Looking back,” says Steve, “I can see how and why I sabotaged so many opportunities. My perceived limitations had me very confused. I had a fear of failure and a fear of success. I knew I had talent, but I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t being given a chance. I finally realized that opportunity had been knocking all along… I was just afraid to open the door.”

Now Steve is one of the most in-demand motivational speakers on the circuit, sharing what he calls “Rizzo’s Secrets” to achieving success with an unstoppable attitude for life. With his straightforward New York attitude, Steve wakes up audiences and inspires them with his life-changing personal growth strategies and, of course, lots of laughter!

For more information about Steve as a speaker, check out his profile on The Speakers Group’s site at http://www.thespeakersgroup.com/Steve_Rizzo. And don’t miss some other TSG speakers who have recently been featured on CNBC, including Michael Port, Janine Driver and Scott Berkun.

Posted under Motivational Speakers, Speaker News

Sales and marketing guru Michael Port was a featured guest on the July 1 episode of The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch (on CNBC), focused on “The New Art of Selling.”

Through his first two books, Book Yourself Solid and Beyond Booked Solid, and numerous keynote speaking engagements, Michael has shown thousands of readers and audience members how to discover and set their business foundation, build trust with their target audience, and earn credibility within their marketplace - all with an emphasis on “smarter marketing.”

In his next book, The Contrarian Effect, due out in September, he takes aim exclusively at sales - “the most vital function in any business” - and shows us how to leverage the power of collaboration, build credibility through honest conversations, relate and listen to customers rather than just sell to them, realize that customers are smarter than most salespeople give them credit for, and attract them through “enthusiastic buying.”

I just spoke to Michael today and learned that the book is endorsed by Neil Rackham, a rock star in the world of professional selling, best known for books such as SPIN Selling and Rethinking the Sales Force. Neil has been busting myths about professional selling practices for years and Michael continues the theme, demonstrating how doing the exact opposite of the traditional sales wisdom, when done right, leads to better relationships and more sales.

From Michael: “For anyone who wants to discover a new way to sell—and do it successfully—The Contrarian Effect is the first step in a new direction.”

Be sure to pick up the book in a couple of months, and in the meantime, you can read a full chapter on CNBC’s web site here.

Also, if you’re looking for a dynamic speaker to shake things up for your sales force and help you reach higher levels of performance, “The Contrarian Effect” is also newly available as a keynote presentation. Learn more by contacting The Speakers Group.

Posted under Book Review, Sales Management, Speaker News, Uncategorized