Gabbing with gracious gurus
National Post (December 19, 2007)
By Shinan Govani
So there I am, talking to a chiropractor who is wrapped in a shawl of cheer, has an unwavering veneer of can-do and is only too forthcoming about her rapping skills -- she's the Missy Elliott, presumably, of chronic back pain. Not long after, I run smack into a man who plays piano with his toes.
Actually, I only learn that after I've extended my hand to his to shake, and he promptly informs me he has no arms. He mutters something about how wearing a blazer always fools people.
Ah, yes, here we are at not yet another holiday party. Indeed, it is, by many standards, the most interesting bash I've been to in this particular season. A party held in the ordinary Duncan Street offices of a company called Speakers' Spotlight, and starring a whole lot of extraordinary people.
There -- faster than I could say, "speak now and forever hold your poinsettia" -- I happened to also see my new friend, Alvin Law, that non-arms negotiator and top-notch motivator, use his toes to give a lady one of his business cards.
His whole philosophy, explains Speakers' Spotlight cofounder Farah Perelmuter, is borne out of this motto: There's no such word as can't.
Meanwhile, I can't -- well, maybe cannot -- believe what an operatic ring Farah and her husband/podium-sharer Martin have going here. A speakers' bureau that was started with a big leap of faith in Canada about 13 years ago, and now is a choo-choo train-full of storytellers, gasbags, gurgling gurus, inspirers, sharpshooters and literally hundreds of who's whos. Besides former Rideau Hall-dwellers like Adrienne Clarkson and hockey icons such as Wendel Clark, they've got lateral thinkers ( Edward de Bono, one of the world's authorities on creativity), underwear go-getters ( Nicholas Graham, founder of the now-ubiquitous Joe Boxer), sons who also rise (the non-silent Justin Trudeau) and, of course, Wealthy Barbers (that penny-counting prophet DavidChilton).
Speaking of which, Farah asks me, "Did you see the Wealthy Barber?"
No, I shake my head over the familiar din of December merry-making, and also the sight of so many well-compensated mouths biting into party-hardy hors d'oeuvres.
Fair Farah, who is not one to lose an opportunity to talk up on her talkers, then asks me if I know that Chilton's book of financial counsel, The Wealthy Barber -- published over 15 years ago -- is the biggest-selling book in Canadian history?
She adds, "It's sold more than all the Harry Potter books all together in Canada."
I look around this particular goblet of fire for Chilton, but don't find him. I do see TV man Evan Solomon, who's smiling a dexterous smile and looking, as he so often does, like the kid who saw mommy kissing Santa Claus. Also, I see football man Pinball Clemons, whose smile is better described as celestial.
Saying hello, I ask Pinball --a top-notch speaker and fantasy mayoral candidate -- how things are going with his wife, Diane Clemons, who is a fine, fine singer and just came out with a disc called Fly Away.
"She's just great," the Proud Husband smiles, ever and ever more celestially.
But, just to confirm, she's no chiropractor, and her style of music ain't rap. It's gospel.
Oh, and one more thing that Farah told me, before she went back to hosting-with-the-mosting. It was when I asked her if she's a good public speaker herself.
The doll confirmed that, yes, she does do it occasionally. But, having said that, she also adds: "But, I'm not good enough to be repped by me."
MEANWHILE, I SEE, I HEAR:
That the sportswear-enabling Michael Budman got caught up with his old pal Arnold Schwarzenegger when The Guvernator paid a surprise visit over the weekend to the Roots store in Beverly Hills -- when Michael just happened to be there!
The Lawyer’s Weekly - June 17, 2009
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Presidents don't always subscribe to free speech
Vancouver Sun - March 2, 2009
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Financial Post - February 21, 2009
Dubya's coming to Cowtown
MeetingsCanada.com - December 11, 2008
Speakers’ Spotlight CEO Named a Most Powerful Women in 2008
Press Release - November 27 2008
CEO of Speakers’ Spotlight One of Canada’s Most Powerful Women in 2008
MeetingsCanada.com - November 27, 2008
Speakers' Spotlight Wins Workplace Award
Press Release - November 2008
Speakers' Spotlight: More Than Just Talk
MSN Small Business - October 2008
Profile: Speakers' Spotlight
Millionairemom.com - October 2008
Millionaire Moms Audio Interview with Farah Perelmuter
Canadian Event Perspective - August 2, 2008
Defied Odds to Stay True to Their Dream...
Women's Post - July 11, 2008
Woman of the day
Bizbash.com - June 12, 2008
M.C.s Gone Wild - How to keep talent from going off-book and out-of-bounds
by Mimi O'Connor
Workopolis.com - April 28, 2008
4 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills
By Alan Kearns
CareerJoy.com - April 28, 2008
3 keys to a great speech Podcast
Montreal Gazette - April 07, 2008
Bill Clinton raking it in from Canadian public appearances
By Elizabeth Thompson
Alberta Venture - March, 2008
The Star Treatment
By Shannon Sutherland
AOL Canada - February 13, 2008
Couple Q&A:
Romance is....Notes on the Windshield, Bum Squeezes and Kids
By Sarah Treleaven
National Post - December, 2007
Gabbing with gracious gurus
By Shinan Govani,
Woman's Post - December, 2007
Farah Perelmuter: change to happiness
By Angela Trimmer
Midtown Town Crier - November, 2007
Midtown couple dreams their way to success
By Kelly Gadzala
National Post - September 29, 2007
Business owner by age nine, CEO proves an early start helps
By Libby Znaimer
Emprendedores
Speakers Spotlight, por hablar que no quede
Contemporary Business Communication
Business Presentations
By Scot Ober & Brad Quiring
Speaking Of Impact - Summer, 2007
Racing for ROI
By Michelle Ray, CSP
Progressive Choices - Winter/Spring, 2007
Making A Difference
By Cathy Watters
Progressive Choices
National Post - January 15, 2007
Confessions of Dynamic Duos
Running a business with your spouse
By Deena Waisberg
globeandmail.com - May 30, 2006
Married to the Job
By Sasha Nagy
Esteem Magazine - Spring 2006
Balancing Success
By Kevin Craig
The Globe and Mail - Sept. 29, 2004
Speakers' circuit not just talk
By Wallace Immen
WOMEN CAN DO ANYTHING (July 2004)
Let’s
Talk Business Interview
with Farah Perelmuter
INNOVATIVE PROGRESS (May 2004)
BUILD
BUZZ: 8 Keys to Entrepreneurial Success
by Martin Perelmuter, LL B.
SPEAKING OF IMPACT (Spring 2004)
A Tale
of Two Countries
by Martin Perelmuter, LL B.
In Conference
Supplement in The Globe and Mail - Spring 2004
Speaking Out Conferences Energized
by Successful Speakers
PROFITguide.com (October/November 2003)
How to fire your customers - Cutting
off paying customers sounds counterproductive, but it can actually
help you grow
THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS (Nov 13, 2002)
At Bridges to Business symposium - Don't quit
entrepreneurs told
MPI Newsbytes (Volume 9, Issue 27 02 July 2002)
Canadian Speakers Circuit Flying High
by
Funmi Okunbolade
Profit Magazine (June, 2002)
Heroes for Hard Times:Canada's Fastest-Growing
Companies point the way to survival and success
Profit Magazine (June, 2002)
Trends: How to Introduce a Speaker
The Globe and Mail: In Conference Magazine (Spring, 2002)
Talking About Success: The Speaking Industry
The National Post (Monday March 19, 2001)
Site helps track down celebrity speakers
by Marjo Johne
Canadian Jewish News (August 3rd, 2000)
Young Couple's Speakers' Agency Thrives
by Sheldon Kirshner
The Calgary Herald (April 22, 2000)
Mount Everest Climb Shared on Internet
by Michelle Simick
The Generator (November, 1999)
Focus
on Success
by Amy Harder
Royal Bank - Today's Entrepreneur (First Aired: March 29,
1999)
Partners in business and life
Home Business Report (Summer, 1999)
Speakers, Service and Spousal Partners:
Couple brings celebrities to Canadian events
by E.T. (Mitch) Lenko
Globe and Mail (Monday, January 11, 1999)
Couple Builds Agency on Soapbox,
by Jeff Brooke
The National Post (Monday, December 21, 1998)
When Your Partner is Your Business,
by Laura Fowlie
The Western Alumni Magazine (September, 1998)
"Well Spoken",
by Jeff Brooke
The Toronto Star (May 25, 1998)
Thinking Big - Agency puts speakers in spotlight
by Michael Schultz
Association - Canada's Association Management Magazine
(December/January, 1997/1998)
Best Speaker Bets: 1998 Forecast
The Meeting Professional (December, 1997)
"Beyond Boundaries: Speaking Across Cultural Boundaries",
by Martin Perelmuter
The Financial Post Magazine (January, 1997)
"Power Talks",
by John Greenwood
The Toronto Sun (August 18, 1996)
"Two by Two: Lessons for Couples Living and Working
Together",
by Sandy Naiman
Association Magazine (June/July, 1996)
"Helpful Hints on Booking a Speaker",
by Farah Perelmuter
The Toronto Star (November 27, 1995)
"'Canadian' the New Word in Public Speaking",
by Oscar Rojo
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