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13 Best Motivational Speeches for Entrepreneurs (2024)

Who couldn’t use a few of the best motivational speeches for entrepreneurs?

Business can be hard. Heck, life can be hard.

We’re all on a journey, and we’ve all been down in the dumps before, wondering if what we’re doing is really worth it.

Wondering if what we’re doing is really making an impact.

But, it’s important that we’re always moving forward. This is a lesson that I learned early in life.

I remember I was around 4 years old, and I was learning to ride my bike with my uncle and my father.

Of course, I fell off multiple times while I was learning to cycle, and I remember the time I cut my knee pretty badly.

At that point I really just wanted to quit and go home. But, my family told me: “you can’t quit now, you’re almost there. Just try it once more!”

You’ve probably heard that before too, right?

So, I got back on that bike. I didn’t want to, but you just need to power through and face your challenges head-on.

Sure enough, that was the first time that I rode that bike without any help.

After that, I was so glad I kept moving forward and that I never gave up.

Now, that probably wasn’t the motivational speech that you expected when you clicked on this article, but it’s evidence that we can do so much more than we think we’re capable of when we’re spurred on by others.

And that’s exactly why we’ve created this article – we’ve listed all of our favorite motivational speeches here, because we already know how much more you can achieve with a little bit of extra motivation .

So, let’s jump into it!

Post Contents

Will Smith – Pursuit of Happiness

Al pacino – any given sunday, steve jobs – 2005 stanford commencement speech, matthew mcconaughey – university of houston speech, sheryl sandberg – harvard business school motivational speech, sylvester stallone – balboa speech, arnold schwarzenegger – famous motivational speech, richard st.john – 8 secrets of success, eric thomas – i can, i will, i must, denzel washington – fall forward, key takeaways, want to learn more, 13 best motivational speeches for entrepreneurs.

Considered one of the best motivational speeches, this famous motivational speech from the 2006 film, Pursuit of Happyness , features Will Smith and his son playing basketball.

At the start of the clip, you’ll see Smith’s son (his actual son, Jaden Smith) playing around with a basketball, and he shouts out, “I’m going pro!”

After hearing this, Smith decides to try and level his son’s expectations, mentioning that he himself never really excelled at basketball, so his son shouldn’t expect to either.

His son is visibly disappointed by this comment, and Smith notices this.

Smith then proclaims: “don’t ever let somebody tell you that you can’t do something, not even me.”

“You got a dream, you gotta protect it. You want something, go get it. Period.”

This motivational speech is a special one. Even though both Will and Jaden Smith are acting, they’re still father and son, and you can see how this scene reflects their own family dynamic.

It’s a short motivational speech, but it’s one of the best motivational speeches of all time, in our opinion.

Al Pacino’s speech from the American Football drama, Any Given Sunday, is next up on our list.

This famous motivational speech really gets your blood flowing – perfect for watching before you tackle a difficult day .

The motivational speech revolves around the idea of inches being so important in American Football, even if we have the tendency to overlook them.

He talks about the different ways that his team can gain advantages over their opponents, even if it’s only an inch at a time.

He proclaims: “when we add up all those […] inches, that’s what makes the difference between winning and losing”.

This point is applicable throughout life, too – it’s the people who go the extra mile who tend to find success more often than not.

And sometimes, you won’t notice it at first, but like Pacino mentions, it’s the sum of all the small parts which lead you to victory.

Motivational speeches like this one pump you up when you need it most.

Steve Jobs, one of the key figures behind tech giant Apple’s success, is next up on our list of the best motivational speeches of all time.

In his 2005 Stanford commencement speech, the former Apple CEO dives deep into his own journey as an entrepreneur , and he speaks openly about the issues that he’s faced along the way and how he overcame them.

During this classic motivational speech, Jobs talks about how he was actually a college dropout and that this was one of the most important times of his life.

He mentioned that he dropped out of college to take classes that he was truly interested in, rather than studying topics he wasn’t deeply passionate about.

One of those classes that he took up after dropping out was calligraphy. He was so compelled by the high standard of handwriting.

To many, this might seem like a strange choice, but he connects the experience that he gained from that class to the font choices that he installed on Apple computers.

If Jobs had never taken that calligraphy class, he wouldn’t have cared so much about a seemingly small detail, like fonts, but Apple was the first company to add different typefaces to their operating systems.

He goes on to say: “You can’t connect the dots if you’re looking forward, you can only do it looking backwards. So, you need to keep moving forward and hope that the dots align somehow.”

The key message from this famous motivational speech is that we’re always learning. We’re always growing and finding out new information. It’s all about what we choose to do with that information that really defines us.

As Jobs said: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

Next up on our list of motivational speeches is Matthew McConaughey, with his commencement speech at the University of Houston.

The Oscar-winning actor delivers some very pertinent points during his speech, but the one that stuck out for me was how he spoke of joy being a “constant approach”.

McConaughey said: “Joy is always in process, it’s always under construction.”

He spoke of how he was previously judging his success on metrics that he thought were important to him, like the number of academy awards he won, or the amount of money his films grossed.

But, it was only when he decided to focus on the whole process of creating a film, and enjoying every aspect of it, that he found true success in those metrics.

It turned out that, when he took everything one step at a time, and truly enjoyed his craft, he found that things just fell into place.

“Define success for yourself.”

Find what you want to achieve, and enjoy the entire journey – not just the high points, but the lows too.

Matthew McConaughey ended up delivering one of the best motivational speeches from the past few years.

Sheryl Sandberg, the American entrepreneur, tech executive, author, and current COO of Facebook, is the next addition to our list of the best motivational speeches with her talk at the Harvard Business School in 2012.

Besides talking about her own experiences as an entrepreneur, and her work at Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg, Sandberg mentions a very pertinent idea. One that we can all do well to remember.

“Motivation comes from working on things that we care about.”

This is certainly true for entrepreneurship – those who are running businesses and working to tackle problems that engage them are more likely to find success.

And, according to Sandberg, it’s so important that we continue to work, because that’s the most important thing.

All in all, this is one of the best motivational speeches for students that we’ve seen.

Rocky Balboa , played by Sylvester Stallone, is a famed character best known for his courage, hard work, and determination.

In Rocky Balboa, the sixth film in the Rocky franchise, Stallone delivers one of the hardest-hitting motivational speeches of all time.

Stallone starts off the motivational speech by saying: “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows.”

He goes on to talk about the value of hard work and commitment and emphasizes that “it ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

As an entrepreneur, this motivational speech really hits home. There will be struggles on your journey to success , but as Stallone says, it’s all about “how much you can take and keep moving forward, that’s how winning is done.”

Remember this when your back is up against the wall – winners never give up!

This is one of the most iconic motivational speeches. You’ll often find it in motivational speech mashup videos on YouTube or even on Spotify.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian-American actor, entrepreneur, politician, and former My Olympia, is next up on our list of the most famous motivational speeches for entrepreneurs.

He starts his motivational speech with a simple, powerful message.

“Work your ass off.”

Schwarzenegger then discusses how having a goal was so pivotal for him on his journey to success in a variety of fields.

He also talks about how “only a quarter of people really enjoy what they’re doing in life.”

Schwarzenegger also believes that everybody should be constantly working to get closer to their main goal and properly utilize every hour of their day.

“Imagine if you worked on a business every day for an hour . Imagine how further along you would get.”

This is perhaps the most important message from this motivational speech – it’s down to us to make the most of our limited time on earth. And this message, which everybody can get behind, is why we believe this is one of the best motivational speeches of all time.

Next up on our list, we’ve got an infamous TED talk from Richard St.John – also one of the shortest motivational speeches that we’ve ever seen, but it sure is impactful.

St.John mentions at the start of the video that this talk is a condensed version of 7 years of research (including research from more than five hundred interviews with successful professionals).

One of the most interesting points that St.John mentions is that if you want to be successful at something, you need to “put your nose down in something and get damn good at it.”

But, the most motivational part of St.John’s speech for us was where he talks about passion.

He said: “if you do something you love then the money comes along later.”

This section of the motivational speech is especially relevant for entrepreneurs – if you’re building a brand , then try and be invested in it as much as possible – a commitment to the cause will really help you find success in the long run.

When you’re trying to find success, you need to love what you do!

Eric Thomas is a fantastic speaker, and in this classic motivational speech, he empowers us to believe that we can always get through adversity, no matter what the challenge is.

Thomas repeats this line throughout the speech: “I can get through this. I will get through this. I must get through this.”

He also cleverly uses our loved ones as a source of inspiration in this motivational speech.

He asks us to focus on the 3 people we love the most and challenges us to question our own decisions regarding motivation.

“You gotta think about those people every day.”

“You have some days when you think about hitting the snooze button? […] The days you don’t feel like getting up, just think about them.”

Instead of being lazy and complacent, we need to think about our loved ones and question what they’d think if we were procrastinating 24/7 .

Honestly, it’s fine doing something for yourself, but knowing that you’ve made your loved ones proud just makes everything feel 10 times better. This is one of the main messages from this motivational speech.

And that’s why this is one of the best motivational speeches of all time. It takes the onus away from working for yourself and instead focuses on putting in the work for people you couldn’t bear to let down.

Elon Musk – USC Commencement Motivational Speech

Elon Musk is an icon of inspiration for countless people worldwide. Known for his out-of-the-box thinking and visionary technology, Musk shows us that anything is possible if we put our minds to it.

In the USC Commencement motivational speech, Elon immediately demonstrates his tendency to break away from the status quo. He tells us he was advised to stick to 3 items that he wanted to mention, but he’s going to share four.

Elon tells his listeners that they need to work proportionally to the accomplishments they want to achieve. “If you want to start a company, you need to work super hard.”

Elon’s speech here is compelling because it’s so authentic. He doesn’t talk about being lucky or following your gut instinct. Musk tells us that great things come from an equally astronomical amount of work.

Musk also acknowledges the power of great people, “all a company is, is a group of people that have gathered together.” Elon says that if you want a great company, you need a great team.

Musk’s third point is to “focus on signal over noise.” In other words, concentrate on developments that make the product better, “don’t just follow the trend.”

The final piece of advice from Elon’s speech? “Take risks.” Jump into new opportunities and pursue different things.

Ed Shereen – Being Weird is a Wonderful Thing

Ed Sheeran might not be the first person you think of when you visualize the world’s greatest thought leaders. Yet, he constantly moves millions of people with his music and his words.

At the 9 th Annual American Institute for Stuttering Benefit Gala, Sheeran talked about how Eminem helped him overcome his speech impediment.

Sheeran admits to being a “very, very weird child” with a birthmark on his face, large glasses, and no eardrum on one side of his head. He says that “stuttering was actually the least of my problems when I went to school,” but he found it extremely difficult.

Sheeran notes that not being able to express himself in the right way was his biggest concern with his stutter. However, when his dad bought him an Eminem CD when he was young. Listening to it helped him to learn how to speak fast and accomplish his stutter.

Ed’s insights are a great source of inspiration for entrepreneurs learning how to deal with the stress of public speaking and believing in themselves.

Now, Ed believes that “being weird is a wonderful thing”. He asks us to “embrace yourself, embrace your quirks, and embrace your weirdness.”

Jim Carrey – Maharishi University Commencement Motivational Speech

Jim Carrey’s commencement speech at the Maharishi University is filled with so much wisdom it’s difficult to decide which to focus on.

Perhaps the most important statement Jim made for entrepreneurs and business leaders was that “fear” will always be a big player in our lives. However, Jim notes, “you get to decide how much.” You can spend your life in fear, or you can follow your heart.

Jim says that countless people choose their path out of fear. They stick to what’s safe and easy because they’re afraid to ask, “what if?” However, Carrey says that the only way to live is to ask the universe for what you need.

Jim Carrey invites his listeners to “risk being seen in all of your glory.” He says that our job isn’t to figure out how we’re going to reach success, but to simply “open the door in your head” and walk through it when the time is right.

“You will fail at something. Accept it.”

In the last entry on our list of the best motivational speeches, Denzel Washington discusses failure.

But, Washington doesn’t shirk away from failure ; he embraces it.

He says that “every failed experiment is one step closer to success.”

This is certainly true when it comes to entrepreneurship . You learn so much from everything you do, whether it’s a win or a loss.

But, the most important thing isn’t necessarily winning or losing. It’s about getting out there and giving it everything you’ve got. That’s why this is one of our favorite motivational speeches about life.

“Never be discouraged. Never hold back. And when you fall in life, remember this: fall forward.”

So, that’s our list of the best motivational speeches for entrepreneurs.

We hope you enjoyed those clips. We just want to highlight a couple of key points present across all of these motivational speeches.

It’s important that you love what you do . Be invested. Be present. And be the best you can be.
Failure isn’t a bad thing . If you learn from it, and continue to move forward, it can lead to great things.
You need to want it. Entrepreneurship, along with many things in life, can be tough. You want it bad? Prove it.

Okay, that’s all from me today. Did I miss any motivational speeches off from this list? Let me know in the comments section – I read them all!

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The 24 Best Motivational Speeches Our Employees Have Ever Heard

Published: July 19, 2023

It was halftime during one of my 7th-grade football games. And we were losing 14 - 0. With our knees planted in the grass, my team was quietly huddled, drenched in sweat and defeat. Suddenly, it was game over.

A woman listens to motivational speeches through her headphones

That's when our assistant coach burst into our circle and shattered our pity party, delivering one of the best motivational speeches I've heard to this day.

I can't directly quote him because he said some inappropriate things for a blog post (and, in hindsight, probably for a bunch of 13-year-olds too).

The point is he harnessed the power of words to rejuvenate a physically and emotionally drained team. And we came back clawing to win the game.

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Motivational Speech

A motivational speech can come from anywhere or anyone, but it usually has a specific audience in mind.

Whether it's a graduation speech, an all-company meeting, a championship sporting event, or a conference keynote, these speeches are designed to change how their listeners see the challenges facing them in the future.

Like in sports, being motivated at work is crucial for your performance. This rings especially true when you have a looming deadline, an important meeting, or colleagues or customers depending on your performance.

Think about the last time you felt generally unmotivated. What brought you out of that feeling? Sometimes all it takes to get you going is a good night's sleep or witnessing the benefits of your labor.

Still, other times, you might listen to someone say something that resonates with you — that alters how you've been looking at a particular task or problem.

Motivational speeches and speakers can come in all different forms, but this is the one thing they have in common — resonance. They resonate with the right listener at the right time and in the right way.

Who knows, this article is doing some for you right now. (I can dream, can't I?)

We selected 24 of the best motivational speeches from business, sports, entertainment, and other fields to help you stay motivated no matter what your work throws at you. Watch these videos if you want to feel inspired by a project.

Trust me, I was wiping my eyes after I saw them. And while the messages vary from speech to speech, they can put you in the optimal frame of mind for tackling and crushing your next big challenge.

(Disclaimer: Some speeches may contain NSFW language.)

Elon Musk: "The Importance of Never Giving Up" (2020)

Angela Ahrendts: "Leading with Empathy" (2023)

Arianna Huffington: "The Power of Sleep" (2023)

Tim Cook: "Inclusion and Diversity" (2023)

J.K. Rowling: “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination” (2008)

Sheryl Sandberg: "Lean In" (2021)

Jim Carrey: Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

Steve Jobs: "How to Live Before You Die" (2005)

Matthew McConaughey: "The Pursuit of Happiness" (2022)

Denzel Washington: "Fall Forward" (2011)

Vera Jones: “But the Blind Can Lead the Blind…” (2016)

Oprah Winfrey: "The Power of Self-Belief" (2020)

Charlie Day: Merrimack College Commencement Speech (2014)

Brené Brown: "The Power of Vulnerability" (2013)

Kobe Bryant: “The Path to Greatness" (2020)

David Foster Wallace: "This Is Water" (2005)

Carol Dweck: "The Growth Mindset" (2020)

Al Pacino: "Inch by Inch" (1999)

Satya Nadella: "Empowering Others" (2023)

Sylvester Stallone: Speech from Rocky Balboa (2006)

Will Smith: Speech from The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Mel Robbins: "The 5 Second Rule" (2020)

Angela Duckworth: "The Power of Grit" (2020)

Kurt Russell: “This is Your Time” (2004)

The Best Motivational Speeches of All Time

1. elon musk: "the importance of never giving up" (2020), theme of speech: perseverance and resilience.

Elon Musk's "The Importance of Never Giving Up" speech about perseverance and determination is decisive.

In this speech, Musk emphasizes failing and learning from failures as keys to success. He recounts his life and career, demonstrating how he overcame challenges.

One key takeaway from Musk's speech is his advice to adopt a growth mindset.

Musk encourages listeners to view setbacks as learning experiences. He also highlights the value of perseverance, persistence, and taking risks.

Elon Musk's word serves as an upbeat reminder that perseverance, patience, and the desire to attempt things repeatedly in the face of difficulty are essential for success.

"If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it."

2. Angela Ahrendts: "Leading with Empathy" (2023)

Theme of the speech: empathetic leadership....

The "Leading with Empathy" talk by Angela Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and compassion in leadership.

According to Ahrendts, leaders must view their employees as whole people with lives outside of work. Leaders can instill trust, respect, and mutual support in their employees and organizations.

Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of team mission as well. Leaders can inspire their teams by connecting them to a greater goal.

She believes that working together fosters creativity, innovation, and growth.

"Leading with Empathy" is a powerful reminder that leadership requires more than technical knowledge. To truly inspire and motivate their employees, leaders must understand their emotional needs and create a supportive, inclusive environment.

"Empathy is the glue that holds relationships together, whether they are personal or professional."

3. Arianna Huffington: "The Power of Sleep" (2023)

Theme of the speech: sleep and productivity.

The Huffington Post's founder, Arianna Huffington, emphasized the importance of sleep to overall health. In her 2023 speech, "The Power of Sleep," she discusses how sleep deprivation affects our health, productivity, and happiness.

Huffington observes that we have been taught to sacrifice sleep for success. She also mentions that well-rested employees are more creative, efficient, and effective.

To address these issues, Huffington proposes a cultural shift that recognizes sleep as essential to health and wellness.

She advises individuals and organizations to prioritize sleep, avoid technology before bedtime, and create a restful sleep environment. Sleep, according to Huffington, is a necessity, not a luxury.

By recognizing the importance of sleep, people and businesses can enhance their health, productivity, and general well-being.

Arianna Huffington's "The Power of Sleep" speech in 2023 emphasizes the importance of sleep and the dangers of sleep deprivation.

It promotes a culture where getting enough sleep is essential for health and well-being.

"Sleep is the Swiss Army knife of health, it does everything."

4. Tim Cook: "Inclusion and Diversity" (2023)

Theme of the speech: inclusion and diversity.

Apple CEO Tim Cook advocates for inclusion and diversity. He has been instrumental in the company's initiatives to advance fairness and equality inside its ranks and across the technology sector.

Cook has prioritized diversity and inclusion at Apple because he believes it is proper and necessary for innovation and business success.

Unconscious bias training, diverse recruitment, and employee resource groups contributed to his success.

Outside of Apple, Cook has advocated for LGBTQ+ rights and immigration reform. He has raised awareness of these issues and advocated for social change as a business leader.

Tech leaders and others have lauded Cook's commitment to diversity and inclusion. He has raised awareness of these issues, leading to significant change at Apple and elsewhere.

"Inclusion and diversity are not just buzzwords, they are fundamental values that drive innovation and creativity."

5. J.K. Rowling: “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination” (2008)

Theme of speech: failure.

In J.K. Rowling's 2008 Harvard commencement speech, the Harry Potter author explored how two phenomena -- failure and imagination -- can be crucial to success.

While failure can help you understand where your true passion lies, and where you should focus your energy moving forward, imagination is what will allow you to empathize with other people so you can use your influence to do good.

“We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”

"You have to understand your own personal DNA. Don't do things because I do them or Steve Jobs or Mark Cuban tried it. You need to know your personal brand and stay true to it."

6. Sheryl Sandberg: "Lean In" (2021)

Theme of the speech: gender equality and leadership.

Sheryl Sandberg's 2021 talk, "Lean In," encourages women to lean into their careers and leadership roles. She urges women to stand up for one another and themselves to overcome societal and cultural hurdles.

Sandberg highlights the need to have distinct objectives and goals and be prepared to take calculated risks to achieve them.

She also underlines how crucial it is for more female leaders to advance diversity and gender equality across all industries.

Sandberg's speech also emphasizes collaboration. She urges women to mentor other women and look for sponsors and mentors themselves.

The "Lean In" talk by Sheryl Sandberg emphasizes women's voices and perspectives in all aspects of society.

To remove barriers and foster more inclusive and varied workplaces and communities, Sandberg urges women to pursue their professional ambitions with confidence and with the help of their communities.

"We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women's voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored."

7. Jim Carrey: Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

Theme of speech: taking risks.

Jim Carrey might make a living as the goofiest comedian around, but in 2014, he combined classic Carrey humor with unforgettable insight at Maharishi University of Management's graduation ceremony.

Jim Carrey opened his speech dishing punchlines, but he eventually opened up about his upbringing and the role fear plays in our lives. You can actually hear the amazement in the students' reactions in the video above.

“I learned many great lessons from my father -- not the least of which is that you can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”

8. Steve Jobs: "How to Live Before You Die" (2005)

Theme of speech: life and career.

Considering the YouTube video of Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford commencement speech has 24 million views, it's likely that you've seen this one already.

In the speech, Jobs plays on two themes: connecting the dots (anecdote: how taking a calligraphy class helped inspire the design of the Mac) and love & loss (anecdote: how getting fired from Apple helped inspire his greatest innovations).

Perhaps the most memorable part his speech comes at the end, when he quotes the (now-famous) lines from the final issue of his favorite publication, The Whole Earth Catalog:

“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”

9. Matthew McConaughey: "The Pursuit of Happiness" (2022)

Theme of the speech: discovering true happiness and fulfillment in life..

In "The Pursuit of Happiness," famed actor and motivational speaker Matthew McConaughey provides his enlightened viewpoint on obtaining true happiness and fulfillment.

McConaughey presents a genuine and approachable study of what it means to live a fulfilling life through sincere storytelling and personal anecdotes.

The speech discusses the significance of authenticity and remaining true to oneself. McConaughey encourages people to define their success rather than succumb to social pressures or external expectations.

He stresses aligning our behaviors and decisions with our fundamental values and passions.

McConaughey expresses his conviction in the power of thankfulness and the importance of living in the present moment. He encourages people to create a grateful mindset, recognizing the blessings and possibilities surrounding them.

By appreciating the present and finding joy in the journey, individuals can experience more profound happiness and fulfillment.

"Happiness is not a destination. It's a state of mind, a journey, and a choice we make every day."

10. Denzel Washington: "Fall Forward" (2011)

In his 2011 UPenn commencement speech, Denzel Washington highlighted three reasons why we need to embrace failure in order to be successful. First, everybody will fail at something at some point, so you better get used to it.

Second, if you never fail, take that as a sign that you're not really trying. And third, at the end of the day, failure will help you figure out what path you want to be on.

“Fall forward. Here's what I mean: Reggie Jackson struck out twenty-six-hundred times in his career — the most in the history of baseball. But you don't hear about the strikeouts. People remember the home runs.

Fall forward.

Thomas Edison conducted 1,000 failed experiments. Did you know that? I didn't know that—because #1,001 was the light bulb. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.”

11. Vera Jones: “But the Blind Can Lead the Blind…” (2016)

Theme of speech: perseverance.

Last year at INBOUND, Vera Jones told a moving story about the life lessons she's learned from raising her blind son.

She explains how having faith in your future and letting it lead you toward your true purpose will help you overcome blinding obstacles.

She also discusses how following your passion and trusting your vision develops empathy, which is a critical leadership skill.

“Passionately play your position no matter how bad things get. You are significant. Why we are here is not for our own glory. Ultimately, we're here to lead and serve everybody else. By doing that, we encourage others to do the same.”

12. Oprah Winfrey: "The Power of Self-Belief" (2020)

Theme of Speech: Self-Belief and Confidence

Oprah Winfrey's 2020 speech "The Power of Self-Belief" emphasized the importance of self-assurance. She attributed her success to her unwavering self-assurance.

According to Oprah, self-belief is not about being arrogant or overconfident. She stresses the significance of overcoming self-doubt and fear, which can prevent people from reaching their goals.

Oprah used personal stories to demonstrate how self-confidence has aided her in life and work. She encouraged her audience to believe in themselves and to embrace their inner strength.

The Power of Self-Belief" reminded us how important it is to have faith in ourselves and our ability to succeed.

"The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams."

13. Charlie Day: Merrimack College Commencement Speech (2014)

Best known for his role in the sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, actor Charlie Day had lots of wisdom to share during the 2014 commencement speech at his alma mater, Merrimack College.

Day explained to the audience how college degrees are inherently valueless, since you can't trade them in for cash. Instead, it's you, your hard work, and the risks you take that provide real value in life.

“You cannot let a fear of failure or a fear of comparison or a fear of judgment stop you from doing the things that will make you great. You cannot succeed without the risk of failure.

You cannot have a voice without the risk of criticism. You cannot love without the risk of loss. You must take these risks.”

14. Brené Brown: "The Power of Vulnerability" (2013)

The video above is an animated excerpt from researcher Brené Brown's speech, " The Power of Vulnerability ." In the speech, Brown explores how our fear of not being good enough (among other fears) drives us to shield ourselves from our own vulnerabilities.

The alternative to wearing this emotional suit of armor: Embrace vulnerability through empathizing with others.

"Empathy is a choice, and it's a vulnerable choice. Because in order to connect with you, I have to connect with something in myself that knows that feeling."

15. Kobe Bryant: “The Path to Greatness" (2020)

Theme of the speech: embracing dedication, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of greatness..

Bryant emphasizes setting ambitious goals and working tirelessly to achieve them. Through captivating storytelling and personal anecdotes, he reveals the sacrifices and relentless effort required to excel at the highest level.

Bryant's speech is a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, and a growth mindset in attaining greatness.

The speech also explores embracing failure as a stepping stone to success. Bryant shares how setbacks and challenges can fuel personal growth and resilience.

He encourages individuals to embrace failure, learn from it, and use it as motivation to push beyond their limits.

Bryant's speech goes beyond the realm of sports, offering valuable insights and life lessons applicable to all areas of life.

His relentless pursuit of greatness and unwavering commitment to excellence inspires individuals striving to achieve their goals and dreams.

"I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I'm like, 'My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don't have it. I just want to chill.'

We all have self-doubt. You don't deny it, but you also don't capitulate to it. You embrace it."

16. David Foster Wallace: "This Is Water" (2005)

From the opening minutes of David Foster Wallace's 2005 Kenyon College commencement speech , in which he questions commencement speech conventions, it's clear that Wallace has some serious wisdom to share.

The crux of his speech: Many of us are oblivious to our own close-mindedness. We picture ourselves as the centers of our own, individual universes, instead of seeing the bigger, more interconnected picture.

“If you're automatically sure that you know what reality is and who and what is really important, if you want to operate on your default setting, then you, like me, probably won't consider possibilities that aren't annoying and miserable.

But if you've really learned how to think, how to pay attention, then you'll know you have other options.

It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer hell-type situation as not only meaningful, but sacred — on fire with the same force that lit the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down.”

17. Carol Dweck: "The Growth Mindset" (2020)

Theme of the speech: cultivating a growth mindset for personal and professional development..

In "The Growth Mindset," Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist, and author, delivers an enlightening speech on the power of adopting a growth mindset for personal and professional growth.

Dweck's extensive research on mindset and achievement provides the foundation for her impactful message.

Dweck explains the difference between a fixed mindset, where individuals believe their abilities are fixed traits, and a growth mindset, where individuals believe their abilities can be developed through effort and learning.

She demonstrates how a growth mindset fosters resilience, learning, and innovation through relatable stories and compelling examples.

Dweck's speech resonates with individuals seeking personal and professional development, as she provides insights into how adopting a growth mindset can positively impact all areas of life.

Her research-based approach and engaging speaking style make "The Growth Mindset" an inspiring resource for individuals striving for continuous growth and improvement.

"The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even when it's not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset."

Famous Short Speeches With Inspirational Takeaways

18. al pacino: "inch by inch" (1999), theme of speech: teamwork.

Yes, this speech is from a football movie (Any Given Sunday), but trust me: This isn't your stereotypical rah-rah-go-get-'em sports speech. It's deeper than that. It's about life, and loss, and ... gosh darn it just listen to Al Pacino.

He's pouring his soul out!

“Either we heal as a team or we're gonna crumble, inch by inch, play by play, till we're finished. We're in hell right now, gentlemen, believe me.

And we can stay here and get the $&#@ kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb out of hell, one inch at a time.”

19. Satya Nadella: "Empowering Others" (2023)

Theme of the Speech: Empowerment and Collaboration

Satya Nadella's 2023 lecture, "Empowering Others," emphasizes the importance of leadership that empowers others rather than focusing on personal success.

He emphasizes the importance of leaders cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging in which everyone feels respected and able to accomplish their best work.

Nadella also discusses the significance of technology in positive development. Some of society's most important issues may be resolved by technology, but proper development and application are required.

According to Nadella, empathy and emotional intelligence are essential for outstanding leadership. He suggests that Leaders listen to and understand. their team members' needs and motivations.

Leaders can develop a culture of trust and collaboration that will help the team flourish.

Satya Nadella's "Empowering Others" provides a special message about leadership in the current day. By emphasizing diversity, empathy, and responsible innovation, Nadella encourages audiences to strive for excellence while being mindful of their impact on others and the world.

"Success is not just about what we achieve individually, but what we enable others to achieve."

20. Sylvester Stallone: Speech from Rocky Balboa (2006)

Theme of speech: never give up.

I had to put this one next since it plays along the same themes as Denzel Washington's UPenn speech. In the scene above, from the 2006 film Rocky Balboa, the title character (played by Sylvester Stallone) is having a heart-to-heart with his son.

The advice he gives him: Don't let your failures or the adversity you face slow you down. Keep. Moving. Forward.

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.

You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!”

21. Will Smith: Speech from The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Theme of speech: don’t let them bring you down.

Here's another speech from the big screen, this time from the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness.

In the scene above, Will Smith's character explains to his son why he shouldn't pursue basketball (because he'll end up being "below average") before having a major change of heart.

“Don't ever let somebody tell you ... you can't do something. Not even me. All right? You got a dream. You gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they want to tell you can't do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.”

22. Mel Robbins: "The 5 Second Rule" (2020)

Theme of the Speech: Action and Overcoming Self-Doubt

The "The 5 Second Rule" speech by Mel Robbins promotes action to achieve goals and overcome concerns and doubts.

When confronted with a decision or action that needs to be completed but you are hesitating or procrastinating, countdown from 5, and then act. According to Robbins, this method breaks habit loops that keep us unhealthy.

Counting down and taking action may assist us in overcoming uncertainty and self-doubt and moving toward our objectives. For success, Robbins also promotes mentality and self-talk.

She believes that to realize our potential, we must consciously reframe negative thoughts and limiting beliefs.

Mel Robbins' presentation "The 5 Second Rule" is a practical and efficient technique to overcome procrastination and achieve goals.

Robbins inspires listeners to take command of their lives and achieve by emphasizing attitude, self-talk, and positive actions.

"You are never going to feel like doing the things that are tough, difficult, or uncertain, but you have a choice."

23. Angela Duckworth: "The Power of Grit" (2020)

Theme of the Speech: Spirit and Perseverance

Angela Duckworth examines the significance of perseverance and resilience in achievement in her book "The Power of Grit." According to Duckworth, grit—passion and determination—is essential for long-term success and overcoming obstacles.

Duckworth addresses grit and mentality, believing that people who view challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than threats will develop resilience and determination over time.

She advocates for a growth mindset, which believes people can acquire intelligence and other qualities through hard work. Duckworth places a premium on rigorous practice to achieve skill and mastery.

She recommends soliciting feedback, setting challenging goals, and intentionally improving abilities and succeeding. Angela Duckworth's "The Power of Grit" illuminates long-term achievement.

Duckworth emphasizes attitude, focused practice, and resilience to urge listeners to acquire grit and pursue their passions with tenacity.

"Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality."

24. Kurt Russell: “This is Your Time” (2004)

Theme of speech: inspiring and believing in your team.

The Miracle on Ice is still considered the biggest upset in Olympic hockey history. And for good reason. The Soviet Union won six of the last seven Olympic gold medals, and the U.S. team consisted only of amateur players.

It was obvious the Soviets were better. But, in the movie Miracle, which told the incredible story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, Kurt Russell's character — Coach Herb Brooks — knew that this game was different.

The U.S. was better than the Soviets that day. And his speech conveyed such a strong belief in his team that they pulled off one of the greatest sports moments of the 20th century.

“If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game… Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!

Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players, every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time.”

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10 Of The Greatest Leadership Speeches Of All Time

The world may be dominated by social media these days, but we should never underestimate the power of a great speech..

In fact, despite the prevalence of Facebook and Twitter, videos of some of the greatest leadership speeches are still immensely popular. Here are 10 examples of fantastic, motivational speeches that will show you why.

1. Martin Luther King: I have a dream

Any article featuring inspirational speeches must include this ground-breaking speech.

On 28th August 1963, Martin Luther King addressed a crowd of over 250,000 . In it, he calls for an end to racism and equality for all. In 1999, this speech was ranked the top American speech of the 20th century in a 1999 poll of scholars of public address.

2. Steve Jobs: How to live before you die

In 2005, Steve Jobs gave a Commencement Address to Stanford University that will leave you with goosebumps. It’s a brilliant speech, and also a great lesson from one of the most influential presenters in history.

3. President Obama: Seeking a new beginning

In June 2009, President Obama gave a rousing speech at Cairo University . This speech shows Obama at his best, building a fantastic rapport with his audience.

4. Randy Pausch: The last lecture

Carnegie Mellon Professor, Randy Pausch, gave his last lecture to a crowded auditorium.

This presentation is about achieving your childhood dreams and it’s a great one to study for tips on building a connection with your audience and really getting them on your side.

5. Rosalinde Torres: What it takes to be a great leader

In this incredibly inspirational speech, Torres describes 25 years of observing great leaders at work and then shares ways to learn how to lead .

6. Bill Clinton: 2008 Speech to the Democratic National Convention

If you’re looking for an example of fantastic communication skills, look no further than this former US President . This speech shows how great content, teamed with exceptional delivery, can really bring the house down.

7. J.K. Rowling: Harvard Commencement

Commencement addresses are always very inspirational speeches and this is no exception. Rowling immediately gets her audience on side, inspiring and delighting as she goes.

8. John Wooden: The difference between winning and succeeding

As the coach of UCLA basketball team, John Wooden led his team to record wins that remain unbeaten. In this speech, he redefines success with incredible simplicity.

9. Richard St. John: 8 secrets of success

In this amazing TED Talk, Richard St. John delivers an incredibly motivational speech asking why people are successful. Is it because they’re clever, or lucky ?

10. Nelson Mandela: Inauguration speech

When you’re thinking about leadership speeches, Nelson Mandela’s inauguration speech in 1994 must be on the list. Mandela was the first democratically elected president of South Africa. He led his country through the end of apartheid and into a united history they had never seen before.

These 10 examples of leadership speeches show you just how powerful the spoken word can be. These speakers are all experts in their field and captivate their audiences to give incredible, motivational speeches, which lift and inspire .

Want more inspiration? Get motivated by other brilliant famous team leaders here .

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Great Talks Most People Have Never Heard

Not long ago, I came across a little-known speech titled, “You and Your Research”.

The speech had been delivered in 1986 by Richard Hamming, an accomplished mathematician and computer engineer, as part of an internal series of talks given at Bell Labs. I had never heard of Hamming, the internal lecture series at Bell Labs, or this particular speech. And yet, as I read the transcript, I came across one useful insight after another.

After reading that talk, I got to thinking… what other great talks and speeches are out there that I’ve never heard?

I’ve been slowly searching for answers to that question and the result is this list of my favorite interesting and insightful talks that are not widely known. You may see a few famous speeches on this list, but my guess is that most people are not aware of many of them—just as I wasn’t when I first started looking around.

As far as I know this is the only place where you can read transcripts of these speeches in one place.

Famous Speeches and Great Talks

This list is organized by presenter name and then speech topic. Click the links below to jump to a specific speech. On each page, you’ll find a full transcript of the speech as well as some additional background information.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “The Danger of a Single Story”
Jeff Bezos, “Statement by Jeff Bezos to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary”
Jeff Bezos, “What Matters More Than Your Talents”
John C. Bogle, “Enough”
Brené Brown, “ The Anatomy of Trust “
John Cleese, “Creativity in Management”
William Deresiewicz, “Solitude and Leadership”
Richard Feynman, “Seeking New Laws”
Neil Gaiman, “Make Good Art”
John W. Gardner, “Personal Renewal”
Elizabeth Gilbert, “Your Elusive Creative Genius”
Albert E. N. Gray, “The Common Denominator of Success”
Bill Gurley, “Runnin Down a Dream”
Richard Hamming, “Learning to Learn”
Richard Hamming, “You and Your Research”
Steve Jobs, “2005 Stanford Commencement Address”
Peter Kaufman, “The Multidisciplinary Approach to Thinking”
C.S. Lewis, “The Inner Ring”
Admiral William H. McRaven, “Make Your Bed”
Arno Rafael Minkkinen, “Finding Your Own Vision”
Charlie Munger, “2007 USC Law School Commencement Address”
Charlie Munger, “A Lesson on Elementary, Worldly Wisdom”
Charlie Munger, “How to Guarantee a Life of Misery”
Charlie Munger, “The Psychology of Human Misjudgment”
Nathan Myhrvold, “ Roadkill on the Information Highway “
Randy Pausch, “Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”
Randy Pausch, “Time Management”
Anna Quindlen, “1999 Mount Holyoke Commencement Speech”
John Roberts, “I Wish You Bad Luck”
Sir Ken Robinson, “Do Schools Kill Creativity?”
J.K. Rowling, “The Fringe Benefits of Failure”
George Saunders, “Failures of Kindness”
Claude Shannon, “Creative Thinking”
BF Skinner, “How to Discover What You Have to Say”
Jim Valvano, “Don’t Give Up”
Bret Victor, “Inventing on Principle”
David Foster Wallace, “This is Water”
Art Williams, “Just Do It”
Evan Williams, “A Journey on the Information Highway”

This is an on-going project. If you know of another great talk, please contact me .

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10 Motivational Speeches That Will Inspire You to Take Action Today

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Whether you’re looking to increase team productivity or turn your daydreams into a reality, motivation is key. But, in the day-to-day of working life, it’s easy to lose sight of end goals and become distracted. Thankfully, the wise words of entrepreneurs, writers, and fictional characters can offer a reinvigorating perspective. The following motivational speeches may give you the push you need to reach your full potential.

1. Steve Jobs: How to Live Before You Die (2005)

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

In this commencement address, the CEO and co-founder of Apple Inc. shared one of the keys to his success: love. His love for the work he did kept him excited about going to work every day and working toward new goals. Often, there is a big difference between what you want versus what other people want for you . Discovering what you’re passionate about, and working toward it with achievable goals , will lead you to success and satisfaction. This is why it is our staff’s number one pick for motivational speeches that will inspire you to take action today.

2. Ellie (Jodie Foster) Meets An Alien In Contact (1997)

“You’re an interesting species, an interesting mix. You are capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares. You feel so lost, so cut off, so alone. Only you’re not. See, in all our searching, the only thing that we’ve found that makes the emptiness bearable… is each other.”

While this Sci-Fi classic might seem removed from reality, it offers uplifting advice for the workplace and beyond. In this scene, Ellie finally makes contact with an alien who offers insight into the human condition and the larger universe. To apply the alien’s words to the workplace, think of the power of teamwork. Establishing a diverse and talented team can improve employee happiness and performance. For example, burnout is a common problem at companies. Sharing the workload, and knowing you can rely on team members and managers for support, can re-motivate employees. When the going gets tough, it’s a comfort to know you’re not alone.

3. Timo’s (Rick Gonzales) Answer In Coach Carter (2005)

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

In this scene, Timo, a member of the basketball team central to the movie, responds to the question the coach asks throughout the movie: “What is your greatest fear?” Timo’s words touch on the importance of self-efficacy. By believing in yourself, you can deepen your interest and commitment to a given task, and recover faster from setbacks . If you lead a team or company, others will soon be influenced by your can-do attitude. So, stop fearing your own power and shine.

4. Chris (Will Smith) Gives His Son Advice In the Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

“Don’t ever let someone tell you, you can’t do something. Not even me. You got a dream, you got to protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period.”

In a world full of naysayers, it’s easy to become discouraged. In this scene from the heart-warming film, Chris offers his son priceless advice: to pursue his dreams mercilessly, without letting other peoples’ ideas of him get in the way. While this motivational speech is noble and beautiful, you might find it challenging to apply to your own life. Here’s where building a strategic plan — with short- and long-term goals— can make pursuing your dreams concrete. With a clear and concise vision for the future, you can put these words into action.

5. Rosalinde Torres: What it Takes to be a Great Leader

“So what makes a great leader in the 21st century? I’ve met many, and they stand out. They are women and men who are preparing themselves not for the comfortable predictability of yesterday but also for the realities of today and all of those unknown possibilities of tomorrow.”

Rosalinde Torres asserts that exceptional leaders are attuned to the world around them. They pay attention to the latest trends in their field and aren’t afraid to abandon tried and true practices for ones that are the future. Basically, she’s advising the opposite of that popular saying, “Keep your head down.” Because, if you do that, you’ll end up reacting to the future instead of making it. Further, you won’t benefit from a broadened perspective that includes different cultures, industries, and readings. Ask yourself, “When is the last time I looked around me and toward the future?” This is the start of great leadership.

6. John Keating’s (Robin Williams) Motivational Speech About Seizing the Day From Dead Poets Society (1989)

” Because you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? – – Carpe – – hear it? – – Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.”

John Keating motivates his students with a simple sentiment— seize the day. It might seem like a cliché, but it’s a useful sentiment for those stuck in careers they don’t like or struggling to achieve their next milestone. Most working people will spend around 8 hours a day at the office; that’s a lot of time to spend on something you dislike. So, if you’re feeling uninspired or sick of your career, take Mr. Keating’s advice and don’t waste any more time. What are your strengths and weaknesses and how can your harness them into a fulfilling career?

7. Jim Carrey: Commencement Motivational Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

“When I was about 28, after a decade as a professional comedian, I realized one night in LA that the purpose of my life had always been to free people from concern, just like my dad. And when I realized this, I dubbed my new devotion the Church of Freedom From Concern, the Church of FFC. And I dedicated myself to that ministry. What’s yours? How will you serve the world? What did they need that your talent can provide? That’s all you have to figure out.”

The comedian’s advice for a successful and rewarding life is simple: find how you want to serve the world, and pursue it. While it may take years of exploring to find your talent, sometimes it can be as simple as stepping back and reflecting on those moments when you felt yourself excelling and having an impact on others. Finding your calling might seem overwhelming, but asking yourself what the world needs that you can provide will surely set things in motion.

8. Rocky’s (Sylvester Stallone) Motivational Speech to His Son In Rocky Balboa (2006)

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”

Rocky’s motivational speech is all about not letting failure define you. This is good advice, no matter your industry. In 2019, 90% of startups failed . But, many successful business people, including Bill Gates and Walt Disney, failed before they succeeded. So, even if the odds are against your, it doesn’t helo to fixate on the negative. In fact, a positive attitude can improve mental and physical health , which will improve your performance in the workplace.

9. Dan Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation (2009)

“There is a mismatch between what science knows and what business does. Here is what science knows. One: Those 20th century rewards, those motivators we think are a natural part of business, do work, but only in a surprisingly narrow band of circumstances. Two: Those if-then rewards often destroy creativity. Three: The secret to high performance isn’t rewards and punishments, but that unseen intrinsic drive– the drive to do things for their own sake. The drive to do things cause they matter.”

There is an outdated belief that rewards and punishments are vital to improving employee performance. Pink argues that intrinsic drive— doing things because of internal satisfaction as opposed to external factors—is the real secret to high performance. So, whether you’re a manager or a new employee, consider why your work matters. Aside from your salary, what gets you to work every day? If these questions are hard to answer, you might need to incorporate or seek out a more creative approach. Pink gives the example of companies giving employees flexible schedules, where they can use their time as they want to accomplish set tasks. The schedule allows for more creativity and independence, and thus improves employee performance.

10. Coach Tony D’Amato’s (Al Pacino) Motivational Speech In Any Given Sunday (1999)

“I’ll tell you this, in any fight it’s the guy whose willing to die whose gonna win that inch. And I know, if I’m gonna have any life anymore it’s because I’m still willing to fight and die for that inch, because that’s what living is, the six inches in front of your face. Now I can’t make you do it. You’ve got to look at the guy next to you, look into his eyes. Now I think you going to see a guy who will go that inch with you. Your gonna see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team because he knows when it comes down to it your gonna do the same for him.”

This emotional scene drives home an important point: There is no “i” in team. Both entrepreneurs and executives who work their way up the corporate ladder know that they won’t achieve success all on their own. Attracting and retaining exceptional team members is the foundation of any lasting business. So, think about the skills you’re looking for in an employee and implement a process that’ll allow you to root out those people who will go the extra inch for you. If you’re not in a leadership position, think about the skills that will make you an invaluable hire.

The Bottom Line on Motivational Speeches

No matter what industry you’re in, you can harness the wisdom of real and fictional characters to achieve your wildest dreams. So, get out there, explore your interests, make connections, and create a fulfilling career.

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8 Best Motivational Speeches of All Time for Entrepreneurs

The first steps of any new venture are the hardest. From opening your doors to signing your first client, building your team to hiring your first marketing agency — every choice you make has substantial consequences for your business.

Some choices could propel your business forward while others could set you back years or force you to close your doors.

Making these pivotal decisions is tough; that’s why entrepreneurs like yourself need to find motivation where you can.

Seek out advice and guidance from those that have come before you. Start by watching some of the best motivational speeches that we’ve ever seen.

#1: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Speech that Broke the Internet

“I went to college. I went and worked out 5 hours a day. And I was working in construction. Because in those days in bodybuilding, there was no money. I didn’t have the money for food supplements or anything. So, I had to go to work. So, I worked in construction. I went to college and worked out in a gym. And at night from 8 o’clock at night to 12 midnight, I went to acting class 4 times a week. I did all that. There was not one single minute that I wasted.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger's speech was published on the Milligan Brothers YouTube channel on May 2, 2019. At the time this post was written, the video had already gotten more than three million views.

#2: J. K. Rowling’s Harvard Commencement Speech

“Ultimately, we all have to decide for ourselves what constitutes failure, but the world is quite eager to give you a set of criteria if you let it. So I think it fair to say that by any conventional measure, a mere seven years after my graduation day, I had failed on an epic scale. An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless. The fears that my parents had had for me, and that I had had for myself had both come to pass, and by every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew.”

J.K. Rowling is a well-known name in almost every household, but there was a time when that was not the case. Before she achieved success with her Harry Potter books, she was rejected by several publishers and was in a bad state financially.

Facing bankruptcy and constant rejection, it would have been easier for her to give up, but she carried on. She didn’t let her failures stop her. She used them to push her closer to success.

You can find the text of her speech published in the Harvard Gazette.

#3: Will Smith in Pursuit of Happyness

“Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something—not even me. You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can’t do it. You want something? Go get it. Period.”

In this moving scene from the movie “Pursuit of Happyness,” Will Smith tells his son he can do anything. Smith plays a real-life character, a single father who is struggling to take care of his son throughout overwhelming adversity.

While playing basketball, Chris—played by Will Smith—finds himself doling out some harsh criticism to his son, but he quickly recovers. After seeing the discouraged look on his son’s face, he used his harsh words to deliver a motivational speech to his son that included admitting he was wrong for what he had previously said.

#4: Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech

“And 17 years later, I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents’ savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn’t see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was, spending all the money my parents had saved their entire life. So, I decided to drop out and trust that it was all going to work out ok. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out, I could stop taking the required classes that didn’t interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked far more interesting.”

Steve Jobs gave this speech in 2005 during the Stanford Commencement Address. He goes on to discuss how he fell in love with calligraphy by dropping in on a class teaching it. That one class is what later inspired him to develop typography and incorporate it into the Mac.

#5: Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday

“I don’t know what to say really. Three minutes till the biggest battle in our professional lives, and it all comes down to today. Either we heal, as a team, or we’re gonna crumble. Inch by inch, play by play, till we’re finished. We’re in hell right now, gentlemen—believe me. And, we can stay here and get the s_____ kicked out of us, or, we can fight our way back.”

Al Pacino delivers this inspiration speech in the movie “Any Given Sunday.” In this movie, the main character DAmato—played by Al Pacino—is trying to motivate the players on his football team to work together to win their game after they had suffered from three back-to-back losses.

#6: Sheryl Sandberg at Harvard University

“It used to be that in order to reach more people than you could talk to in a day, you had to be rich and famous and powerful, be a celebrity, a politician, a CEO, but that’s not true today.

Now ordinary people have a voice, not just those of us lucky to go to HBS, but anyone with access to Facebook, Twitter , a mobile phone. This is disrupting traditional power structures and leveling traditional hierarchy.

Voice and power are shifting from institutions to individuals, from the historically powerful to the historically powerless, and all of this is happening so much faster than I could have imagined when I was sitting where you are today, and Mark Zuckerberg was 11 years old.”

Sheryl Sandberg speaks to the Harvard graduating class of 2012 and tells her story of how she struggled to get on track with her career in the Silicon Valley back in 2001.

She explains how the timing was terrible because the bubble had crashed, and companies were laying people off. Sheryl goes on to explain how she overcame the challenges to get to where she is today.

#7: Richard St. John’s Motivation TED Talk

“And it all started one day on a plane, on my way to TED, seven years ago. And in the seat next to me was a high school student, a teenager, and she came from a really poor family. And she wanted to make something of her life, and she asked me a simple little question. She said, “What leads to success?” And I felt really badly because I couldn’t give her a good answer. So, I get off the plane and I come to TED, and I think, “Jeez, I’m in the middle of a room of successful people, so why don’t I ask them what helped them succeed, and pass it on to kids?”

Richard St. John delivered this speech as his TED talk. The video was published to TED’s YouTube channel on January 6, 2007, and it’s gotten over 2.5 million views. In this video, he provides his secrets of success in 8 words, in 3 minutes.

#8: Gary Vaynerchuck’s Hustle

“So, first of all, it’s different for everyone, but this whole notion of like, “where’s the time?” I just think people are loaded with excuses. I think that the vainer nation thinks they’re hustling, and straight to your face, I think 99.9% of you are not. Everybody has time, stop watching f_____ Lost…”

Gary Vaynerchuck’s Video “The Most Important Word Ever” stresses how important it is to utilize every single minute of your day to reach your goals by keeping up the hustle and never giving up.

Are You Feeling Motivated and Inspired Yet?

I hope you found these speeches as motivating as I did and that you’re ready to start your new venture with a renewed sense of energy and focus.

Just know that going forward, anything is possible when you set your mind on something, and you go after it with no excuses and a determination to succeed.

Don’t let failures hold you back. Failures help to propel you forward and put you on the right path by showing you the wrong one.

At Sparkitive, we know just how important having a well-thought-out and proven plan is to the success of your new service-based business.

That’s why we created a free guide that gives you the gift of a step-by-step plan you can follow to generate new leads and turn them into long-term, loyal clients.

Get your free copy of our guide now: Fast Track Your Business: The 5-Step Marketing Plan for Professional Services Firms .

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Read on to learn how to make a memorable speech that inspires others.

1. How to Plan a Motivational Business Speech

You can't just jump right into writing your speech. A great motivational speech takes planning. Here are the planning steps you need to understand:

Step 1. Know Your Audience

If you really want your speech to motivate your listeners, you need to understand who your listeners are. People respond differently to messages based on their interests and background.

Also, understanding your audience is how you find out what they're interested in so that you can appeal to those interests. It's that appeal directly to your listener's interests that will motivate them.

If you're a student, you likely have a head start in this area. It's likely that your listeners will be other students in your class. You may even know some of them personally. But you still have some work to do in this area. Learn what you can about the makeup of your class. Here are some questions to research:

Are most students full-time or part-time?
What's the age range of the students in the class?
Have they been at the school long?
What are most of the students in the class majoring in?
What are their interests?

If you're giving a business speech, you may not know your audience members personally. But you can still do some research to find out a little bit about them.

Depending on whether your business markets to consumers or to other businesses, it's likely your audience will be made up of either consumers (the public) or representatives of businesses. Either way, here are some questions to research:

I f aud ience members represent businesses, what's their job function?
If your listeners represent companies, what's the s ize and i ndustry of those companies?
What are their concerns?
What's the age range of the audience members?
Are the audience members current clients, prospective clients, or a mix?

If you'll be giving your business speech at a public venue such as a conference, ask the conference organizers to provide you with demogr ap hic information about the conference attendees. If you'll be giving your speech at a private location, say a client's office, learn what you can about the company before you go.

Regardless of whether your audience is students, consumers, or businesses--be sure to take into consideration any cultural differences.

Step 2. Know Your Subject

You may think that you know your topic already, but a general knowledge of your subject matter isn't good enough if you want to write a memorable speech. Look for the aspects of the subject that affect your audience directly. When you can, give specific details rather than generalizations.

For example, say " 75% of our clients save money in the first year " instead of " most of our clients save money. "

Don't forget to anticipate questions or concerns your listeners might have. Research and find the answers. Plan to address the most common concerns during your speech, but remember the other questions in case you're asked about them afterward.

It also helps to have charts and graphs to illustrate and support your information. (More on this later...)

Step 3. Have a Vision

Know what you want your audience to do after hearing your motivational speech and plan your speech accordingly. Your entire speech should be focused on moving your audience in the direction you want them to take.

Explain why the subject of your speech is important to your audience. Describe how the next steps they take can make a difference. But be sincere. Remember, your audience won't care about your topic (or take action) unless you care. And they'll be able to tell if you care. You can't motivate an audience to care about a topic you don't care about.

Towards the end of your speech, ask your listeners to take the next step. Again, be specific. If you want your audience to perform a particular task, tell them what that action is and explain how to do it. If you want them to make a purchase, provide the information (such as a URL, phone number, or location) that allows them to do make that purchase.

2. How to Write an Inspirational Speech

Now that you've done some planning, you're ready to start writing your motivational speech. Here's how to write it:

Step 1. Use an Outline

An outline helps you stay organized as you write your motivational speech. Your outline should have a beginning, middle, and end.

Start by writing the introduction and conclusion to your speech. Many speechwriters find this easiest to do during the outline step. The introduction is especially important because you need to capture and hold the audience's attention in it.

Here's a good tutorial on how to create a powerful introduction and strong conclusion for your speech:

Once you've written the introduction and conclusion of your motivational speech, you're ready to add the main points (or middle) to your outline.

Step 2. Stay Focused

In the main points of your speech, explain why the topic is important to your audience. Here are some common ways to show that your subject matter is important:

Appeal to the audience's emotions or sense of justice.
Show how different things can be.
Explain how one (or more) of the listeners' problems can be solved.

As you add the main points to your outline, limit the number of points you plan to cover to three points (or four, at most). Too many points will cause your presentation to drag out and may even confuse your listener.

As you're narrowing points down, try ranking the points in importance from most important to least important. Keep your vision in mind during this ranking. Rank those points that relate to your vision or purpose for the speech higher. The other points should be ranked lower.

If you've got more than four main points on your outline draft, remove the lowest ranked points and focus on the higher, more relevant points.

Step 3. Be Conversational

When your outline is complete, you're ready to write your speech.

As you write your speech, adopt a conversational tone. Address your listeners directly. Show how each point relates to your audience members.

To be perceived as friendlier, avoid formal language and use short sentences. The goal is to write your speech so that it flows naturally and is easily understood.

Ideally, your speech should sound like you're talking to a friend. Avoid obscure phrases, legalese, and other speech patterns that are difficult to follow. If you'll be giving the speech in a language that's not native for you, you may need to enlist a native speaker to help you with this.

Step 4. Tell an Inspirational Story

Some of the most inspiring speeches include inspirational stories. Stories can illustrate your vision for your audience in a concrete way.

But be real. Audiences can spot a phony story. Positive case studies and inspirational examples can be quite motivational. So, it's a good idea to include these if you've got them.

If you can get quotes that support your speech's points, use them too. Audiences love to hear the experiences of real people. Even better, record and play short videos (a minute or two) where customers or others share their experiences.

3. How to Make a Speech Memorable With Templates & Images

Now that you've written a memorable speech, it's time to pull the entire presentation together. You'll do this by bringing your motivational speech into a presentation tool and incorporating graphics and other media. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Choose a Presentation Tool

The presentation tool you use to give your presentation is important. Some tools are easier to use than others. And not all presentation tools are available in all venues. Make sure that the venue where you'll give your motivational speech supports the presentation tool you intend to use. If you're not sure, ask.

If you're required to use a particular presentation tool--for example, if you're a student--then the decision of what tool to use is easy. But if you can use any presentation tool you like, you may be wondering which one to choose. There are many choices available. This article compares three of the most popular presentation tools:

Once you've selected a presentation tool, make sure that you can use it. Our PowerPoint learning guide and our Google Slides learning guide can help you get up to speed quickly.

Step 2. Use Templates

Once you've chosen your presentation tool, it's time to start thinking about how your presentation will look. You want it to be eye-catching, but professional. A sloppy, unprofessional design distracts from your message. Avoid the following:

using too many different fonts
p utting too much on a single slide
c lashing color schemes

Of course, you could design your own presentation template for your motivational speech. But that could take hours--especially if you're not a professional designer.

A better plan is to use pre-designed professional template such as those available through Envato Elements or GraphicRiver . With a pre-designed template, you'll get the use of template designed by a professional designer that can be customized for your specific needs. To get an idea of what types of templates are available, look at this article:

Step 3. Choose the Right Images

A good presentation should also include photos, charts, and graphs to support the points being made. Powerful images can evoke emotion and capture your listeners' imaginations. They can play a large role in an effective motivational speech.

However, the images you use in your presentation must be professional to be effective. Sloppy graphs or poorly focused images make a bad impression and take away from your effectiveness. Make sure that any images you add to your presentation are of high quality.

If you're wondering where to find good quality images, look no further. You'll find a wide variety of photos and other types of images on Envato Elements .

4. How to Prepare to Give Your Motivational Speech

Once you've finished putting your speech into your presentation tool, you may think you're ready to give it. You're not. Follow these steps to make final preparations to give your motivational speech:

Step 1. Review and Revise

Whether you're a student or representing a business, mistakes in your inspirational speech make you look bad. Review your presentation carefully to ensure that there are no errors in it. Here are some common mistakes speakers make:

d e s ign mista kes like cutting a graphic off the edge of a p age or wo rds that flow off the edge of a slide
factual errors, such as misattributing a quote or typos that make statistics incorrect
spelling and grammar errors and other typos

After a careful review, fix any mistakes that you find before giving your inspirational speech.

Step 2. Practice

Once you're sure that your presentation slides are error free, it's time for you to practice giving your speech. The more you practice, the more comfortable with it you'll be.

Practice is also important, because it can help you judge how long your presentation will be. Practice can also help you get the pacing right. After you've practiced your speech several times, you may decide to make a few minor adjustments to your inspirational speech so that it's easier for you to give.

Learn how to avoid some common presentation mistakes and discover other presentation tips in these tutorials:

Learn More About Making Great Presentations

Download The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations eBook now for FREE with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. Get your ideas formed into a powerful presentation that will move your audience!

You've just learned how to prepare a motivational speech. Your speeches should now be more memorable and more effective at reaching your listeners. Now that you've learned how to inspire your listeners, you're ready to give your motivational speech. Good luck!

Editorial Note: This content was originally published in 2018. We're sharing it again because our editors have determined that this information is still accurate and relevant.

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman (St. Martin’s Press).

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10 Inspirational Speeches and Emails by Leaders

10 Best Leadership Emails and Speeches by Leaders

Have you ever felt greatly moved and inspired after listening to a speech by your role model? Or read an email by your CEO that made your day? Nothing can compare to the power of the right words at the right time, especially when they come from someone we respect and appreciate.

If you’re here, you’re probably looking for some motivation or preparing to inspire your team on a big day. In any case, we have got you covered with examples of the best leadership speech examples (and some leadership email examples too!)

10 Best Leadership Emails and Speeches

Here is a curated list of some of the most inspiring speeches and emails from leaders across the world in different industries.

1. Email by Starbucks’ ex-CEO Howard Schultz, August 2015

Whether you like him or not, you have to admit that Schultz knows how to make a difference. In August 2015, signals of a Chinese economic slowdown sparked panic, causing more than $1 trillion worth of losses in the Asian markets. This brought the Dow down by 588 points and gave birth to the popular hashtag #GreatFallOfChina.

Howard Schultz, Starbucks’ CEO at the time, wanted to make sure that all 190,000 of the company’s employees were aware of the issue. As a result, he sent a persuasive message, asking them to pay special attention to customers. Excerpt:

“Our customers are likely to experience an increased level of anxiety and concern. Please recognize this and—as you always have—remember that our success is not an entitlement, but something we need to earn, every day. Let’s be very sensitive to the pressures our customers may be feeling, and do everything we can to individually and collectively exceed their expectations.

…The experience we deliver in our stores, the strength and equity of our brand, and the primary reason for our current and future success is because of all of YOU. I believe in you and have never been prouder to be your partner.”

It’s not only about using inspirational words. It’s not just reassuring employees that Starbucks, as a publicly-traded company, will continue to do well despite market volatility.

It’s not even about Schultz’s admiration for his partners alone. It isn’t just one of them; it is all of them.

2. “A Tryst With Destiny” by Jawaharlal Nehru, August 1947

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is one leader whose words and actions touched the populace. Nehru gave the “Tryst with Destiny” address on the eve of Independence Day. It shed light on India’s century-long fight against the British Empire.

It addressed issues that go beyond India’s history. It is regarded as one of the finest leadership speech examples of the 20th century. This pivotal address captures the triumphant finale of India’s largely nonviolent freedom movement against the British empire.

Excerpt:

“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance….”

Tryst with Destiny is definitely one of the orations that not just Indians, but people across the world, will keep going back to.

3. “Learning From the West” by Narayana Murthy, 2001

One of Narayana Murthy’s most compelling speeches was given at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management. It focused on certain Western values that all Indians should imbibe, such as intellectual independence, professionalism, and accountability, among others.

“As it is said in the Vedas: Man can live individually, but can survive only collectively. Hence, the challenge is to form a progressive community by balancing the interests of the individual and that of the society. To meet this, we need to develop a value system where people accept modest sacrifices for the common good.”

4. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s email to employees, 2017

In 2016, Microsoft launched a Twitter bot called “Tay” to enhance artificial intelligence communication between humans. However, things went horribly wrong when hackers and others forced Tay to start making racist and vulgar comments, causing Microsoft to shut down Tay and apologize just a few hours later.

Without a doubt, the “Tay crew” was devastated by this failure. You may imagine their surprise when they received the following statements in an email from their CEO.

“Keep pushing, and know that I am with you … (The) key is to keep learning and improving.”

This is one of the top leadership email examples. Your team needs to know you’re looking out for them. We all make errors. The point is, how can you assist your employees in recovering from their mistakes?

5. Stanford commencement address by Steve Jobs, June 2005

Steve Jobs delivered a commencement address at Stanford University in 2005, and it will give you goosebumps. It’s an awe-inspiring speech, as well as a wonderful lesson in determination from one of history’s most prominent speakers.

“You have to trust in something: your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever,” he said. “This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

You must watch the full speech. It will leave you inspired and motivate you to do better.

6. “Go Kiss the World” by Subroto Bagchi at IIM Bangalore, 2006

Bagchi, the co-founder of Mindtree, spoke to the Class of 2006 at IIM Bangalore about how to define success. His blind mother’s final words to him were, “Go kiss the world.

This speech is an inspiration to India’s youth, encouraging them to recognize and develop their inner qualities, allowing them to fulfill their truest potential.

“… success is your ability to rise above your discomfort, whatever may be your current state. You can, if you want, raise your consciousness above your immediate surroundings. Success is not about building material comforts – the transistor that he never could buy or the house that he never owned.”

7. V.K. Krishna Menon’s speech at the United Nations, January 1957

V.K. Krishna Menon defended India’s position on Kashmir in a remarkable eight-hour address. The speech given on January 23, 1957, is still the longest-ever given at the United Nations Security Council.

“Why is it that we have never heard voices in connection with the freedom of people under the suppression and tyranny of Pakistani authorities on the other side of the cease-fire line? Why is it that we have not heard here that in ten years these people have not seen a ballot paper? With what voice can either the Security Council or anyone coming before it demand a plebiscite for the people on our side who exercise franchise, who have freedom of speech, who function under a hundred local bodies?”

8. Email by Jeff Bezos after Times criticism

The New York Times published a critical article in the summer of 2015, positioning Amazon as a cruel employer, that prioritizes company performance over employee well-being.

Amazon’s CEO, in an internal memo, asked his employees to read the Times article and to “escalate to HR” any incidents similar to those reported, even urging them to email him directly.

“I strongly believe that anyone working in a company that really is like the one described in the NYT would be crazy to stay. I know I would leave such a company.

But hopefully, you don’t recognize the company described. Hopefully, you’re having fun working with a bunch of brilliant teammates, helping invent the future, and laughing along the way.”

Criticism is never pleasant, but it sure helps us identify blind spots and opportunities for progress.

9. Kiran Bedi’s speech on visionary leadership, 2010

The talk by India’s first female IPS officer at TEDWomen on innovative leadership was truly amazing and inspiring. In her speech, Kiran Bedi shares her journey to become who she is and what visionary leadership entails.

“I joined the Indian Police Service as a tough woman, a woman with indefatigable stamina because I used to run for my tennis titles, etc. But I joined the Indian Police Service, and then it was a new pattern of policing. For me, policing stood for power to correct, power to prevent, and power to detect. This is something like a new definition ever given in policing in India—the power to prevent.”

10. Email by PepsiCo’s Indra Nooyi after Donald Trump’s presidential victory

Last but not least is an email from Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo. She wrote to non-American citizens to cast aside their fear of joblessness after Donald Trump’s victory in the election for the 45th President of the US.

She knew that an America under Donald Trump could cause a slew of issues for her minority-race staff. She wrote to her employees an email, an excerpt of which is mentioned below.

“We serve more countries and territories than the United Nations, and our associates encompass virtually all of the world’s nationalities, cultures, faith and traditions. That diversity is a source of strength, an engine of creativity, dynamism, and prosperity. And it reflects the simple recognition that no matter what our differences, each of us is committed to doing our part for one another and this company that fills us with pride.”

An unforgettable leadership email example, this well-written piece of communication went a long way in reassuring the employees at PepsiCo.

As humans, we need to inspire and be inspired from time to time. We hope this list of the best leadership speech examples, as well as emails, will help you get inspired. If you have come across any interesting leadership speech ideas , do let us know!

Here are some examples of excellent speeches that inspire. – “Tryst with Destiny” by Jawaharlal Nehru – Narayan Murthy’s speech on the role of Western values in Indian society – The Stanford commencement address by Steve Jobs – “Go kiss the world” by Subroto Bagchi – Kiran Bedi’s speech on visionary leadership

There are many ways to start a speech. You can begin with a quote, personal anecdote, powerful statement/phrase, an interesting statistic, a “what if” scenario, and so on.

You can greet the audience with phrases, such as the following. “Hello, ladies and gentlemen.” “Good morning/good afternoon/good evening.” “Welcome, fellow colleagues.” “It is my pleasure to have you all here.” “Thank you for joining me today.”

Speeches hold the power to motivate us, especially when they come from someone we respect and appreciate.

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15 Inspirational Speeches to Share with Your Team

These days, you might be feeling on the edge of burnout. Finding the time and mental energy to get everything done is simply overwhelming.

Whether you’re managing fine or barely holding on, this is a great time to reflect on your well-being and build habits that bring you long-term success.

If you’re ready to take it to the next level and make 2021 your year, start by inspiring yourself and your team with a mind-expanding talk. We’ve put together 15 inspirational speeches ranging from educational to motivational that are sure to get you ready to grow yourself in 2021.

1. Are you an ideal team player?- Patrick Lencioni

Best-selling author and team dysfunction expert Patrick Lencioni breaks down the questions every member of your team can ask themselves to improve their teamwork.

2. Developing a Growth Mindset- Carol Dweck

Developing a growth mindset is critical for successful advancement in life. Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck explains why growth mindsets are so powerful and how to develop one in this Ted Talk classic.

3. The Art of Stress-Free Productivity – David Allen

Productivity guru David Allen explains his simple method for ensuring you get things done. This is a must-watch for any team struggling with procrastination and prioritization.

4. The power of vulnerability- Dr. Brené Brown

Pioneering vulnerability researcher Brené Brown shares her findings on the impact embracing emotional transparency can have on teams and relationships. This is a must-watch for any team looking to improve their communication and teamwork.

5. The 3 Most Important Things for Every Entrepreneur- Verne Harnish

Verne Harnish, EO Founder and best-selling author of Scaling Up , is a popular speaker at business conferences around the world, as well as the host of his own . His message resonates with entrepreneurs and business leaders with entrepreneurial mindsets.

6. These Are Not Unprecedented Times – Simon Sinek

Delivered over Zoom at the start of the pandemic, popular speaker Simon Sinek gives an optimistic message for anyone stuck in the dark tunnel of coronavirus quarantines and lockdowns. The Start with Why Author’s message also resonates with those emerging from the tunnel and motivating themselves for what’s ahead.

7. The Science of Habits – Marco Badwel

Harvard researcher Marco Badwel shares the secrets of forming successful habits as explained by science. If you or you’re team is trying to adopt a new habit, this talk is for you.

8. The 5 hindrances to self-mastery – Master Shi Heng Yi

Shaolin Master Shi Heng Yi shares lessons for a fulfilling life and from his time as a traditionally educated monk living in the west. “The universal law of being successful and happy at the same time means finding the balance”, says master Yi.

9. What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness- Robert Waldinger

Looking to motivate your team to find fulfillment in their work-life harmony? Look no further than this classic ted talk on the research of what’s important to life-long happiness.

10. The habits of happiness- Matthieu Ricard

Former molecular biologist and Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard explains how to develop habits of well-being to generate a true sense of serenity and fulfillment. This is a great watch for anyone working to find balance and peace in their lives.

11. Oprah Winfrey- Spelman College Commencement Address 2012

Among the greatest commencement addresses ever, Oprah Winfrey’s 2012 speech lays out a motivational path to success anyone can connect with.

12. 2005 Stanford Commencement Address- Steve Jobs

This classic speech by the famous Apple CEO makes a lasting impact on all that listen to it. Steve Jobs pushes the listener to aim high with their goals and take advantage of every setback.

13. Darkest Hour (2017) – We Shall Fight on the Beaches Scene

Nothing stirs the soul like Sir Winston Churchill’s timeless words that roused a nation to arms against a great evil. During tough times, a little cinematic and historic motivation may rouse your team.

14. A Pep Talk from Kid President to You

If you’re looking for a feel-good pick-me-up, look no further than this viral classic from Kid President.

15. Van Down By The River – Saturday Night Live

When you’re sick and tired of motivational speeches, watch the greatest parody of motivational speakers ever made. Chris Farley gives a legendary performance in this video that is just to delight and inspire change.

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15 Great Speeches By Leaders

In the age of social media, great oratory still resonates with the masses. It’s still true, and was always true — that great, truly great leaders are charismatic speakers. Below are some of the best examples of great speeches that will stand the test of time.

Written by Murray Johannsen. I welcome connections via LinkedIn or directly from this website .

Learn How To Make a Great Speech

Great speeches go hand in hand with great leadership. There’s power in the words if you know how to make the perfect pitch — how to deliver a speech — that holds their attention.

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A Great Speech That Changed History

Great presentations — great persuasive presentations — have a strong motivational impact. They can sometimes be so powerful as to change history.

Pope Urban II: Speech at the Council of Clermont

This link accesses six versions of what was said .

In November 1095, Pope Urban the second called the European nobility to the Council of Claremont. There gathered the power elite of the day (kind of reminds you of Davos, doesn’t it).

Inspirational

Martin luther king: i have a dream.

This seventeen-minute video captured the powerful words of a truly great speaker—one who polished his craft with hundreds of hours of practice. While it is hard to tell from the video, it appears Dr. King started his presentation by reading from a script, then stopped reading from his prepared notes and started speaking extemporaneously. You might say, that’s when the magic began.

Admiral William H. McRaven

Commencement speeches are always a special event. For the speaker makes a special event to share the lessons of a life time with those who are about to start their work life.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Schwarzenegger is truly a special person who succeeded in multiple roles. A famous body builder, a movie star and a governor of California. Not bad for an immigrant from Austria.

Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action

This was the video that founded an extremely successful career as a speaker and author. Not only is it a great speech about leadership, but it contains some timeless wisdom on marketing as well.

Steve Jobs — 2005 Graduation Speech — Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

The backstory here is that you have a college drop-out making a presentation to the graduating class at Stanford. He presents three stories, only three. Yet, in each of these teaching stories you get a deep understanding of how the founder of Apple Computer thinks.

Randy Pausch — The Last Lecture

University professors are generally not known for memorable lectures. However, this is the exception to the rule. In the video, we hear words of wisdom from a professor who knew he was dying of cancer. This has been a viral classic for a while and it really has a timeless quality about it.

Teddy Kennedy, Jr.: A Eulogy for My Father

A great speech does not have to belong, this one is only 12 minutes. But it captured the many elements that make for a great presentation — there was emotion, there was fluency, and there was humor. You’ll also hear several great teaching stories, especially one which I call, “The Hill.” In the rush to make a living, we often forget about our legacy. How will we be known? How do you want to be known?

Gavin Newsom: Governor of the State of California

There is no more important time for leadership than during a crisis. The context here was a presentation to those in California on what government was doing to deal with the lockdown brought on by Covid-19.

Michele Obama — Summer and Fall of 2016

Normally, a first lady is not known for her ability to inspire and motivate. However, Ms. Obama is clearly the exception. The first speech is one made that had an impact on the 2016 presidential election.

Pope Francis: Speech to the US Congress, September 24, 2015.

Access: Full Transcript

The content is extremely well written and delivered. It plays well to a set of aspirational cultural values, in this case, values strongly held in the American culture. That said, he also reminded these political leaders of the moral and ethical basis for exercising power.

Bill Clinton — 2008 Speech at the Democratic National Convention

American president’s while in the office tends to be rather boring (meaning statesman-like). However, they do liven up the rhetoric on the campaign trail. Although it is fairly ethnocentric, focused as it is on American politics, you get a feel for how to good delivery interacts with good content to generate audience enthusiasm .

Elizabeth Warren — December 12, 2013

It is not that often that a single speech can capture the imagination of many, but that is what happened with this 2013 speech by Senator Warren. Essentially, this short ten-minute speech was a populist one that catapulted the Senator into a position as a national spokesperson for the Democratic Party in America.

Business/Commercial

Steve jobs — i-phone introduction.

So how to you introduce a new product category no one had seen before? Let’s face it, most business presentations are terribly boring, but Jobs was one who mastered the art of a truly great pitch.

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The 12 Best Motivational Speeches of All Time [Ranked]

Get inspired by some of the most influential people on the planet. Learn the best motivational speeches to take action and change your life!

Brett Helling

Brett Helling is the founder and owner of Gigworker.com. Having worked in the gig economy for nearly a decade, he has mastered freelance, remote, and app-based work. You can learn more about his journey in his book, "Gigworker: Independent Work and the State of the Gig Economy", now available on Amazon.

Key Takeaways

Recognizing employees significantly boosts performance, productivity, and morale.
Motivational speeches can transform views and inspire action in challenging times.
Speakers emphasize courage, perseverance, and embracing failure for personal growth.
Learning from successful figures helps ignite passion and boost confidence.

Include a personal profile or introduction statement at the top of your resume

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Use headings and subheadings throughout your resume to highlight key sections and make the information easier to read

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Utilize space by using bullet points to outline skills and job qualifications

“Nec nunc morbi dolor volutpat a ullamcorper fusce gravida condimentum sit turpis nunc est vitae ornare augue odio nec varius sed”

Incorporate visuals and images such as graphs and charts

A study by Harvard Business Review made an important discovery: recognizing employees for their work contributes significantly to their performance, productivity, and morale.

This stresses the importance of motivation, especially today, where impossible success stories and unhealthy expectations set by social media smother us.

Now, anyone can motivate you anywhere, be it your classmate during a graduation speech or your CEO during a conference keynote.

After all, motivational speakers don't have to be famous or successful, but they tend to have a specific audience in mind their ideals resonate with.

Usually, their speeches attempt to alter your view of your current challenges, but they can also be a call to action.

We also believe that part of the human experience is feeling overwhelmed and helpless at some points.

Our list of motivational speeches is an attempt to help pull you out of whatever pit you feel stuck in and fire you up for your next journey, be it for personal growth or career success.

Continue reading to get inspired!

The 12 Best Motivational Speeches

Your journey is unique, and we understand that your struggles differ from those of others.

These motivational speeches revolve around various facets of life, and you should find something for yourself below, no matter what challenges you face.

These talks are not ranked in terms of superiority, by the way!

Al Pacino: Scent of a Woman – 1992
Les Brown: It Is Not Over Until You Win! Your Dream is Possible – 1996
Steve Jobs: Stanford Commencement Speech – 2005
J.K. Rowling: The Fringe Benefits of Failure And The Importance of Imagination – 2008
Will Smith: The Pursuit of Happyness – 2006
Elizabeth Gilbert: Your Elusive Creative Genius – 2009
Al Pacino: Any Given Sunday – 1999
Bill Gates: Harvard Commencement Speech – 2007
Jim Carrey: Maharishi University of Management Commencement Speech – 2014
Sheryl Sandberg: Get on a Rocket Ship Whenever You Get The Chance – 2012
Denzel Washington: Fall Forward – 2011
David Foster Wallace: This Is Water – 2005

1. Al Pacino: Scent of a Woman - 1992

Theme: Courage, Integrity

Few Hollywood actors can match Al Pacino's eloquence, especially in the 1992 movie Scent of a Woman .

Pacino, playing blind retired army Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, delivered an emotionally charged speech highlighting the importance of courage and integrity near the end.

Slade defended Charlie Simms, a student who stood up for what's right despite adversity and emphasized the importance of integrity. He contended that you must be courageous to act honorably and justly, even when faced with hardship.

He commended Charlie for his unwavering commitment to justice and truth and the immense character it takes to stand up against wrongdoing and not succumb to peer pressure.

The context, you may ask? Charlie was pressured to snitch on his friends, who pulled a prank against the headmaster, Mr. Trask, in exchange for keeping his scholarship. Expectedly, Charlie refused to sell his soul and betray his friends for his benefit.

The movie challenges attitudes common today. The lesson it presents is simple: don't step on others to get your way, and have the courage to stand up to oppression and wrongdoings.

2. Les Brown: It Is Not Over Until You Win! Your Dream is Possible - 1996

Theme: Perseverance, Ambition

Les Brown's famous motivational speech started with an interesting quote: "I do not believe that any of us have dreams that were not given to us for the purpose of accomplishing those particular dreams."

This means that Les Brown believes that our dreams are given to us by some higher power or purpose and that we have the responsibility and—focus on this—the ability to pursue them and make them come true.

He spent time sharing his personal story with his audience: how he started from humble beginnings and faced many obstacles that didn't stop him from completely changing his life and finding success.

The takeaway from his speech is that your potential is endless, and failing is part of your journey to success.

To make it in life, protect your ambitions from the criticism of negative people and persevere despite being faced with disappointments, frustrations, and obstacles.

How do you do that?

Surround yourself with people sharing the same hunger for success as you, be creative in finding solutions to problems and ways to motivate yourself , and understand that your responsibility is to take risks and work hard toward achieving your goals.

3. Steve Jobs: Stanford Commencement Speech - 2005

Theme: Destiny, Love, Death

Steve Jobs was a pioneer and magnate in the business world before his untimely death in 2011.

His Stanford motivational speech revolves around three stories from his life: connecting the dots, love and loss, and death.

During the first story, Steve Jobs recounted his experiences as a college dropout who attended a calligraphy class at Reed College which seemed utterly useless then.

It didn't dawn on him until later in life that that class was indispensable to designing the typography of Apple computers—the best back then, according to Jobs.

Jobs said to trust in something to build faith in your abilities and pursue your passions, which make all the difference in life. It doesn't matter what it is: karma, your gut, destiny, or whatever you fancy.

Second, he said: "You can only connect the dots looking backward." This is about having confidence that everything you do will have a purpose later in life.

His second story revolved around his getting fired from Apple, the company he started, and his fearless motivation to try new things that ensued.

He said that the best thing that happened to him was getting fired. It opened him to new opportunities and enabled him to rekindle new passions.

Jobs said: "Sometimes life is gonna hit you in the head with a brick."

He also added a quote that reflects what people struggle with today: "You've got to find what you love."

Never settle. You'll do great in what you love once you find it, and you'll know when you do. It just gets better as the years roll on, too.

Finally, Jobs spoke about the inevitability of death. It was a stark reminder that our time on Earth is limited, and what we do with it is what matters.

We must follow our dreams and not succumb to others' dogma to live a fulfilling life.

4. J.K. Rowling: The Fringe Benefits of Failure And The Importance of Imagination - 2008

Theme: Failure, Imagination

Among the most inspiring motivational quotes you could read is: "It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default."

What constitutes failure? How do you define success? J.K. Rowling, the mastermind behind The Wizarding World , says it's up to us to decide.

Rowling shared two crucial lessons she learned from her life experiences: the benefits of failure and the importance of imagination.

You will fail miserably at one point in life. You may even hit rock bottom. For Rowling, rock bottom was a divorce and complete destitution seven years after graduation.

However, that rock bottom could become the foundation of your new life.

It liberates you to connect with your authentic self, start fresh, pursue your dreams, and gain wisdom you can't learn from any other aspect of life.

It's what helped her discover her true passion for writing novels, resilience, and inner security.

Imagination

Rowling also emphasizes the importance of imagination in empathizing with others.

Many choose not to express their imagination, preferring comfort over the courage to step outside and make a positive difference in the world.

She urges us to use it and our intelligence and influence to better the world.

5. Will Smith: The Pursuit of Happyness - 2006

Theme: Ambition, Dreams

Motivational speakers will often inspire you with long speeches carrying many anecdotes.

After shattering his son's dream by telling him he likely won't become a professional basketballer, Will Smith, in 40 seconds, rectified the situation by telling him what everyone must hear in a speech so short yet so powerfully moving.

"Hey. Don't ever let somebody tell you you can't do something. Not even me. All right? You got a dream? You gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they want to tell you you can't do it. You want something? Go get it! Period!"

The Pursuit of Happyness is based on the real-life story of Christopher Gardner . We recommend checking it out.

6. Elizabeth Gilbert: Your Elusive Creative Genius - 2009

Theme: Fear, Success, Determination

Elizabeth Gilbert's famous motivational speech is more of a philosophical food for thought than a "Get up. Do it."

She spoke about the challenges and pressures of creative people in the modern world. She also explained how differently people have understood their creative impulses from ancient times to the present.

The key takeaway is that today's idea of creativity (as a whole) as something that comes from within the individual is harmful and unrealistic as it's too much responsibility for a single frail being to handle.

Gilbert suggests that we return to the older notion of creativity as something that comes from outside the individual and that we can't control.

What you have to do, in turn, is to keep showing up for your work. Find your niche and keep trying, even if you fail.

It doesn't matter if you do a horrible job. Learn to enjoy life . Embrace the mystery and unpredictability of creativity. "Olé!" to you if you dare to be creative.

Her talk is captivating, and a summary can't do it justice. Give the video a watch.

7. Al Pacino: Any Given Sunday - 1999

Theme: Fear, Winning

The speech Tony D'Amato, played by Pacino, gave before his football team's crucial game during the movie Any Given Sunday is invigorating.

That said, the talk doesn't apply to football only, as it's about overcoming obstacles of all sorts.

He emphasized that life and football are both games of inches, where the margin for error is small and every inch matters.

His team (and you) must fight for every inch with passion, courage, and sacrifice. His team must also heal together and trust and support each other, as they're all in it together.

Living, to D'Amato, is overcoming fears, doubts, and failures and finding your inner strength and will to win.

This speech is a rallying cry for individuals paralyzed by fear and unable to step forward and achieve their goals.

It's a resounding affirmation message that says: "It's okay. You can do it. And, if you think you can't, you have friends to help you do it."

8. Bill Gates: Harvard Commencement Speech - 2007

Theme: Change, Progress

During his Harvard commencement speech, Bill Gates reflected on his time at Harvard and the intellectual and social experiences that came with it.

He commented on how the worst part about dropping out of Harvard was his leaving without a sufficient understanding of the world and its inequities and the millions of issues impoverished and less fortunate people face daily.

His speech is a call to action. He emphasized that reducing inequality is humanity's greatest achievement and calls for applying new technologies toward that endeavor.

In other words, Gates urges those who are more fortunate intellectually, financially, and socially to be the change this world needs.

9. Jim Carrey: Maharishi University of Management Commencement Speech - 2014

Theme: Risk-Taking

People know Jim Carrey for his hilarious roles in comedy classics like Ace Ventura and The Mask . But did you know that he also has a profoundly deep side that can surprise you?

His commencement speech at the Maharishi University is philosophical and impactful, but one part stands out:

"...Sometimes, it's okay to eat your feelings. Now fear is going to be a player in your life, but you get to decide how much.

You can spend your whole life imagining ghosts and worrying about the pathway to the future, but all there will ever be is what's happening here and the decisions we make at this moment, which are based on either love or fear.

So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality. What we really want seems impossibly out of reach and ridiculous to expect. So we never dare to ask the universe for it..."

Carrey's father chose to be an accountant instead of a comedian in fear of failing. You can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance at doing what you love.

The lesson to take away is simple: take risks in life. It's the only way you can progress and truly enjoy it. Decisions based on fear will only get you to a future where you'll be neither proud of yourself nor satisfied.

10. Sheryl Sandberg: Get on a Rocket Ship Whenever You Get The Chance - 2012

Theme: Opportunity, Personal Growth, Honesty

Sheryl Sandberg is an ex-Facebook COO. She imparted many crucial qualities that people in the business world should have. Her 2012 speech at the Harvard Business School covers three main points. They are:

Opportunity

Eric Schmidt said: "If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat. Just get on."

Lori Goler , Schmidt's co-worker, also compared careers to a jungle gym instead of a ladder.

You'll get tired of working and stagnate if you don't look for opportunities and growth.

Today's overly competitive, hyperconnected world demands a new approach. Viewing jobs how people did thirty years ago is no longer viable.

Sheryl urges us to look for a mission, move in all directions (hence the jungle gym comparison); build our skills, not our resume; and evaluate what we can do, not the title we'll get.

"A good leader recognizes that most people won't feel comfortable challenging authority, so it falls upon authority to encourage them to question."

Being honest in workplaces is difficult, as people fear challenging authority. Sheryl urges leaders to welcome dissenting opinions and feedback, not punish them.

This doesn't apply to leaders only, though. Everyone should ask for input, especially from those who might disagree with them, and listen to their perspectives.

Admit your mistakes and share your vulnerabilities, as it's the best way to build trust and transparency and grow.

Personal Growth

"As you lead in this new world, you will not be able to rely on who you are or the degree you hold. You'll have to rely on what you know."

Pieces of paper don't define you; your skills do. Working on your professional and interpersonal skills to stay ahead of others is crucial.

Focus on talent, skills, imagination, vision, and the ability to communicate authentically.

Developing such skills isn't exactly easy, though. That's why reading is important . We recommend checking out some of these must-read books .

11. Denzel Washington: Fall Forward - 2011

Theme: Failure, Risk-Taking

Actor Denzel Washington gave an inspiring speech about the importance of failure and taking risks at the Pennsylvania 2011 Commencement Address. There are two parts to his speech.

Risk-Taking

"I found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks. Nothing. Nelson Mandela said: 'There is no passion to be found, playing small and settling for a life that's less than the one you're capable of living.'"

Washington highlighted how people always tell you to ensure you have something to fall back on. He said he never understood this concept and that falling back on your faith or forward is always better.

His example? Thomas Edison conducted 1,000 failed experiments. Few know that because the 1,001st experiment was the lightbulb.

Take risks. People don't care about your failures; they only remember your successes. There's nothing to be afraid of.

Washington also spoke about how every failed experiment is a step closer to success.

He emphasized that you'll fail at some point in your life; you must accept it. He also said you're not trying in the first place if you don't fail.

Failure is inevitable, but what sets the winners apart from the losers is perseverance, and he gave an interesting—and funny—quote to exemplify his point:

"There's an old saying, you hang around the barbershop long enough, sooner or later, you're going to get a haircut. So you will catch a break. And I did catch a break."

It doesn't matter how long it takes to achieve your mission. Small steps accumulate. Take it easy, one step at a time, and you'll inevitably reach whatever you set out to do.

Accept new views, be open to new opinions, meet new people, and take new chances. They're what's going to define you. Keep going forward. Never stop.

12. David Foster Wallace: This Is Water - 2005

Theme: Thinking, Open-Mindedness

David Foster Wallace 's talk is another overly philosophical didactic that makes you say: "Woah, I never thought of it this way before."

He invites us to free ourselves from the prison of self-centeredness by being more conscious, humble, and compassionate.

His motivational speech mainly revolved around the value of a liberal arts education. He said it's not about the knowledge you gain, it's about being taught how to think and what to pay attention to in life.

Most of us are trapped in our default setting of self-centeredness and automatic thinking, making us unhappy and unaware of what's unfolding around us.

He explained it best in two quotes:

"Learning how to think really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience."

"But if you really learn how to pay attention, then you will know there are other options. It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer-hell-type situation as not only meaningful but sacred, on par with the same force that made the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down."

The speech is called "This Is Water" because of the metaphor he proposes at the beginning: fish swimming in water. It's about how we often take life's most important things for granted.

Wrapping Up

Life isn't easy. Sometimes, it can be so overwhelming that we consider giving up on our dreams and aspirations in return for some peace of mind.

Luckily, we don't have to face our problems alone. We learn from them, and motivational speakers ignite our passion to chase our goals with vehement determination and boost our confidence.

We shared some impactful speeches by some of the most brilliant minds the world has ever seen in hopes of implanting one belief in your mind: It's okay. You can make it. And, if you don't, you have a lifetime to make it. Don't give up.

We hope you found these talks as touching as we did. Don't forget to leave your feedback and share this article with your friends if you enjoyed it!

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How to give a great speech.

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Giving a speech

It's the season of speeches.

Every four years, Americans are treated to oratory by speakers of both parties who address their national party conventions. The purpose of such oratory is less to persuade than to fire up the attendees who will sally forth from their respective conventions determined to mobilize forces for their candidates up and down the ballot.

Some of the speeches are downright scary, while others are joyous and uplifting. Regardless, the focus on so many speeches in such a condensed period of time emphasizes the power of the spoken word.

As a former speechwriter turned executive coach, I have helped many women and men hone their messages. I want to share a few things I have learned, mainly through trial and error.

Know Your Audience

People want to hear what you say, but you need to do your homework before you can connect. Understand what the audience expects of you and tailor your remarks to resonate with their needs.

Trump Signals He May Skip ABC News Debate After Bashing Network

Real madrid coach ancelotti fires warning to vinicius jr., fc barcelona announces third transfer in four days, acknowledge your limitations.

Many times, what a leader has to say is what they must say. That is, the situation is challenging and presents problems. A leader can only accomplish so much. Failure to acknowledge what you can do and what the organization must do is asking for trouble. People will simply tune out.

Address Objections

Everyone wants to give an uplifting speech that resonates with harmony and joy. Unfortunately, life is not like that. Leaders need to paint a realistic picture, citing the pluses and minuses. What the leader must do may conflict with what the organization wants to do. It is the leader's responsibility to be honest about the decisions and set the course forward.

Tell Stories

Reveal yourself through stories. Cite examples of individuals in organizations who are making positive contributions. No leader succeeds alone. Every leader needs the team's buy-in. So, make that clear.

Issue The Call To Action

Not every speech may need a formal call to action, but every public utterance needs to be understood as a call for unity, a coming together to achieve the mission. However, if there is a call to action, learn from the politicians—ask for their support. Simultaneously, include your commitment to supporting the individuals and teams that make up the organization.

Uplift Your Audience

Knowing, acknowledging, addressing and challenging are just the basics of speechmaking. Each speaker must craft a message that reveals who they are and what they want to accomplish. Give people a reason to believe in you because you believe in them.

One thing I have yet to emphasize in this little essay is delivery. So let me quote the legendary film director, John Ford , who famously said “You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart.” In short, relax. If you have a good message, speak directly. Show people how you feel with the words you deliver. Doing so will encourage listeners to have faith in you and your leadership.

So often, it is said that a leader's job is to elevate followers and enable them to do their best. If that is the case, a good speech—well-honed or off-the-cuff remarks—is an excellent way to begin the uplifting process.

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‘Let’s get to business’: ranking the top 10 stars and their best quotes from DNC 2024

The top 10 moments of the dnc.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images; CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

I for one am sad that the convention is over, but thrilled to move forward with Kamala and Coach Walz and watch them take us full speed ahead to victory in November. The convention was flawless, with the exception of going way over time on the first three nights, but hey, all conventions do that.

So, after watching each night, and live blogging and writing about it for The Advocate, here are my choices for the top 10 stars of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, along with one quote that stood out.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris

Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images

“Let’s get to business!”

Harris certainly did in her speech Thursday night, and Democrats showed, through a series of exceptional speakers, moments, and videos that they are ready to get to the business of electing not only Harris but other Democrats in federal, state, and local elections.

The vice president last night was able to give the American people an idea of who she was, her background, what she stands for, and what her principles and priorities are. The speech didn’t have any memorable lines for the ages, but that was a good thing. Harris' sspeech and her candidacy shouldn’t be a buzzy sound bite. It’s more nuanced than that.

Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz (and his family)

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

"Hope, Gus, and Gwen: You are my entire world, and I love you.”

America fell in love with Tim Walz and his family, whose love for each other jumped through the TV screen on Wednesday night. The exuberance of his son, Gus, stole the show for many, but what really stood out was the closeness of the family and their love for each other. The cameras caught Hope, Gus, and Gwen twice with tears running down their cheeks.

America also had a chance to see who else Harris could have picked for her running mate. They all spoke, Josh Shapiro, Gretchen Witmer (stopping here, Trump’s first word “chauffeur” drove big laughs — pun intended), Mark Kelly, Andy Beshear, J.B. Pritzker, and Pete Buttigieg (we’ll get to him in a minute). And while they all showed the depth of the Democrats' bench of talent, watching Walz — and his family — proved Harris made a stroke-of-genius choice.

President Joe Biden

"I've made a lot of mistakes in my career, but I gave my best to you.”

It’s easy to forget that President Joe Biden kicked things off Monday night and received perhaps the longest sustained applause of all the week’s speakers. And while his speech seemed angry at times, and references to Harris forced at times, the above line said it all about who Biden is. He has the humility to admit his mistakes, and he did give his best to us over a remarkable 52-year career in public service.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

“Who's going to tell him that the job he's currently seeking might just be one of those 'Black jobs'?"

There were some remarks on social media Tuesday night that said, in effect, “Obama’s speech was amazing, and her husband didn’t do a bad job either.” And her husband validated that point when he said, “I am the only person stupid enough to speak after Michelle Obama,”

Michelle Obama brought her best game, as she might say, in her wildly popular speech. And she was the right person to let Trump have it about “Black jobs.”

She has a way of getting under his skin — well, after this week most everyone did because Trump’s lunatic, desperate, frantic posts on Truth Social show he’s running scared.

The convention wasn’t making a big issue that Harris was Black or a woman; instead, speakers found ways to use Trump’s words about Blacks and women against him that quietly underscored Harris.

Former President Barack Obama

“There’s the childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes,.

Barack Obama had so many wonderful lines, like his wife, that it was hard to choose one. But someone had to do it: address Trump’s obsession — and it is — with crowd size, and Obama found the perfect way to do it.

I remember my jaw dropping when the first press conference Trump’s White House press secretary Sean Spicer gave was trying to convince the media and the public that Trump's inauguration had the biggest crowd in history. Photos show he was glaringly short of even coming in 45h place.

And, what else was Obama referring to when he delivered the line? Just asking!

Former President Bill Clinton

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

“I will be so happy when [Kamala Harris] actually enters the White House as president because she will break my record as the president who spent the most time at McDonald's.”

At 78, Bill Clinton still has the ability to make people laugh with casual language while making a point. As with the cats, there were so many references to Harris working at McDonald's, and there should have been, because nothing speaks more to humility than working at the fast food restaurant.

But Clinton was the perfect person to highlight that about Harris. If you are old enough, you probably thought about Phil Hartman’s portrayal of Clinton on Saturday Night Live, when he shows Clinton ostensibly coming back from a run (three blocks), going into McDonald's, and going table to table, talking to “the American” people while eating their food, fries, burgers, shakes and all. He was famous for his penchant for McDonald's. Here’s the video if you haven’t seen it .

Former First Lady Hillary Clinton

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

“So no matter what the polls say, we can’t let up. We can’t get driven down crazy conspiracy rabbit holes. We have to fight for the truth. We have to fight for Kamala as she will fight for us.”

The biggest danger for the Democrats is complacency among the party’s constituents in going out to vote on Election Day, and no one knows the danger of being complacent more than Hillary Clinton , given what happened to her failed bid for the presidency in 2016. It’s something that needed to be addressed at the convention, and it was reinforced by reminding voters about what happened to Clinton — polls showed her beating Trump handily right before the election, and many just assumed that “someone else” would take the time to go and vote for her so they wouldn’t have to.

Oprah Winfrey

“When a house is on fire, we don’t ask whose house it is. If the place happens to belong to a childless cat lady, well, we try to get that cat out too.”

There were several references to JD Vance’s now-infamous line about childless cat ladies. And so many have found unique ways to call him out on uttering such a stupid remark; in fact, I went from laughing about the line to shrugging, thinking, OK, so many curious jokes are killing the cat.

But Oprah’s line put that in a context that showed Vance’s remark was cruel, cold, and uncaring, and that the Democrats care, revering the lives not only of childless cat ladies but their cats too. In other words, they both matter.

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

"For generations people debated when to call the person you're being set up with. And never in history has anyone suggested 8:30 a.m.”

The second gentleman, Doug Emhoff , talked about a specific moment that so many of us have lived and agonized through — how to approach a love interest for the first time without making an ass of yourself. Movies and TV shows are littered with phone calls, first dates, and first approaches gone wrong. It brought the second couple down to something that is so common and often joked about when people reminisce about how their love affairs started.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

“Here’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear myself saying. I’m Pete Buttigieg, and you might recognize me from Fox News . ”

If you’re bold enough to do a Sunday morning drinking game during a Fox News political show, take a sip every time Pete stymies a derogatory question from a Fox interrogator. You will be passed out by noon!

Pete Buttigieg continues to amaze and endear himself to the American public. Arguably, he is the most famous LGBTQ + person in America — and if not the country, then most certainly to Fox News viewers. I’ve said it before, but If there's a deity in the LGBTQ+ community, let's be honest — it's Pete.

When he spoke to the crowd Wednesday night, there was a sea of Pride flags, hats, and bracelets — a visual symphony of Pride that was absolutely stunning and, at least to me, tear-inducing. It was one of those "wow" moments. Pete doesn’t just make us proud; he makes us downright euphoric. Those Pride flags weren’t just flying — they were soaring.

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PRIDE NEWSLETTER - 8/23/24

Tratamiento y prevención del VIH por inyección: Todo lo que necesita saber

V. I. Lenin

Speech delivered at an international meeting in berne, february 8, 1916 [1].

Published: Berner Tagwacht , No. 33, February 9, 1916. First published in the Russian in 1929 in the second and third editions of Lenin’s Collected Works , Vol. XIX. Translated from the German. Published according to the text in Berner Tagwacht . Source: Lenin Collected Works , UNKNOWN, [19xx] , Moscow, Volume 22 , pages 123-126 . Translated: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN Transcription\Markup: D. Walters Public Domain: Lenin Internet Archive (2005). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet Archive” as your source. • README

Comrades! The European war has been raging for more than eighteen months. And as each month, as each day of the war goes by, it becomes clearer and clearer to the masses of the workers that the Zimmerwald = Manifesto [2] expressed the truth when it declared that phrases about “defence of the fatherland” and the like are nothing but capitalist deception. It is becoming more evident every day that this is a war between capitalists, between big robbers, who are quarrelling over the loot, each striving to obtain the largest share, the largest number of countries to plunder, and the largest number of nations to suppress and enslave.

It may sound incredible, especially to Swiss comrades, but it is nevertheless true that in Russia, also, not only bloody tsarism, not only the capitalists, but also a section of the so-called or ex-Socialists say that Russia is fighting a “war of defence,” that Russia is only fighting against German invasion. The whole world knows, however, that for decades tsarism has been oppressing more than a hundred million people belonging to other nationalities in Russia; that for decades Russia has been pursuing a predatory policy towards China, Persia, Armenia and Galicia. Neither Russia, nor Germany, nor any other Great Power has the right to claim that it is waging a “ war of defence ”; all the Great Powers are waging an imperialist, capitalist war, a predatory war, a war for the oppression of small and foreign nations, a war for the sake of the profits of the capitalists, who are coining golden profits amounting to billions out of the appalling sufferings of the masses, out of the blood of the proletariat.

Four years ago, in November 1912, when it had become clear that war was approaching, the representatives of the Socialist Parties of the whole world gathered at the International Socialist Congress in Basle . Even at that time there was no room for doubt that the impending war would be a war between the Great Powers, between the great beasts of prey; that responsibility for the war would rest upon the governments and the capitalist classes of all the Great Powers. The Basle Manifesto, which was adopted unanimously by the Socialist Parties of the whole world, openly stated this truth. The Basle Manifesto does not say a word about a “war of defence,” or “defence of the fatherland .” It castigates the governments and the bourgeoisie of all the Great Powers without exception. It said openly that war would be the greatest of crimes, that the workers would consider it a crime to shoot at each other, that the horrors of war and the indignation these would rouse among the workers would inevitably lead to a proletarian revolution.

When the war actually broke out it was realised that its character had been correctly defined at Basle. But the Socialist and labour organisations were not unanimous in carrying out the Basle decisions; they split. We see now that in all countries of the world the Socialist and labour organisations are split into two big camps. The smaller section, the leaders, functionaries and officials, have betrayed Socialism and have deserted to the side of the governments. Another section, to which the mass of class conscious workers belong, continues to gather its forces, to fight against the war and for the proletarian revolution.

The views of this latter section also found expression in the Zimmerwald Manifesto.

In Russia, from the very beginning of the war, the workers’ deputies in the Duma waged a determined revolutionary struggle against the war and the tsarist monarchy. Five workers’ deputies—Petrovsky, Badayev, Muranov, Shagov and Samoilov—distributed revolutionary manifestoes against the war and energetically carried on revolutionary agitation. Tsarism ordered the arrest of those five deputies, put them on trial, and sentenced them to lifelong exile in Siberia. For months the leaders of the working class of Russia have been pining in Siberia; but their cause has not gone under; their work is being continued by the class-conscious workers all over Russia.

Comrades! You have heard the speeches of representatives of various countries, who have told you about the workers’ revolutionary struggle against the war. I merely want to quote one other example from that great and rich country, the United States of America. The capitalists of that country are now making enormous profits out of the European war. And they, too, are agitating for war. They say that America must also prepare to take part in the war, hundreds of millions of dollars must be squeezed out of the people for new armaments, for armaments without end. And in America, too, a section of the Socialists echoes this false, criminal call. Let me read to you what Comrade Eugene Debs, the most popular leader of the American Socialists, the Presidential candidate of the American Socialist Party, writes.

In the September 11, 1915, American weekly, The Appeal to Reason , [3] September 11, 1915, he says: “ I am not a capitalist soldier; I am a proletarian revolutionist. I do not belong to the regular army of rite plutocracy, but to the irregular army of the people. I refuse to obey any command to fight for the ruling class.... I am opposed to every war but one; I am for that war with heart and soul, and that is the world-wide war of the social revolution. In that war I am prepared to fight in any way the ruling class may make it necessary.... ”

This is what Eugene Debs , the American Bebel , the beloved leader of the American workers, writes to them.

This again shows you, comrades, that in all countries of the world real preparations are being made to rally the forces of the working class. The horrors of war and the sufferings of the people are incredible. But we must not, and we have no reason whatever, to view the future with despair.

The millions of victims who will fall in the war, and as a consequence of the war, will not fall in vain. The millions who are starving, the millions who are sacrificing their lives in the trenches, are not only suffering, they are also gathering strength, are pondering over the real cause of the war, are becoming more determined and are acquiring a clearer revolutionary understanding. Rising discontent of the masses, growing ferment, strikes, demonstrations, protests against the war—all this is taking place in all countries of the world. And this is the guarantee that the European War will be followed by the proletarian revolution against capitalism.

[1] [ A] This speech was delivered at an international rally during the enlarged meeting of the I.S.C. [executive of the Zimmerwald group] in Berne.

[2] [ PLACEHOLDER.]

[3] [ PLACEHOLDER.]


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35 Best Business Voicemail Greeting Examples for 2024

Maintaining a professional voicemail greeting is crucial to keeping your business reputable. See best business voicemail examples for 2024.

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Key takeaways

A well-crafted business voicemail greeting should be clear, professional, and to the point, providing essential information and clear instructions for the caller.
Different types of voicemail greetings can be tailored to specific scenarios, such as general company greetings, after-hours messages, individual employee greetings, and special situations.
While professionalism is key, incorporating personality and brand voice can make your voicemail more memorable and engaging. Consider using humor, unique identifiers, or relevant references to stand out.

When calls come in for your business but no one is available to answer, what happens next? Is it a lost cause? Do you shrug and think, “Better luck next time”? Do you chain a robot to the desk to answer calls in a stilted voice while the humans are off-duty?

You can accomplish a lot with a simple business voicemail. A well-crafted voicemail greeting can do more to pitch your brand and build goodwill than just about any other touchpoint that doesn’t directly involve a living human. The tricky part is that “well-crafted” bit. But we’re here to help with that.

In this brief guide, we’ll outline some of the important elements of a voicemail greeting, what to include, and some examples for different scenarios.

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Key elements of an effective voicemail greeting.

A voicemail greeting can be a lot of things, but it should be at least three things: clear, professional, and to the point. It will need to cover any essential information and should provide unambiguous direction for what the caller should be doing next. A basic template might look like this:

“Hello! You’ve reached [business/department/employee name]. We can’t answer the phone right now, but if you leave your name, number, and [insert situationally relevant specific details], we’ll return your call [insert time estimate, or “as soon as possible”].”

Here’s a list of a few dos and don’ts:

Don’t try to pack too much info into the message; people get tired of waiting for the beep.
Do specify clearly any information that you need the caller to leave in their message (and then expect that many of them won’t).
Don’t set and forget the greeting; update it regularly, especially if it contains information that’s time-sensitive (everyone’s off-put by a year-end greeting in mid-June).
Do consider recording in additional languages if appropriate (and if you have staff who can do that).
Don’t use a greeting that’s confusing, misleading, or easy to misinterpret.

Those are the basics to get you started. Now, let’s take a look at some potential greeting themes and some examples for each.

General company voicemail greetings

This is your go-to, standard greeting, the one that basically writes itself. Intro, business name, message instructions—it could be as simple as that.

How to create a welcoming business voicemail greeting

Some tips for creating a welcoming and informative message:

Make sure you enunciate, avoiding mumbling, stuttering, or slurring your words, as that will make it harder to understand. Phone systems have a tendency to amplify audio issues, so give yourself a wide margin for error.
Consider using an identifier you can append to your brand name, especially if you’re in a competitive market or trying to establish a strong brand identity. Phrases like “home of the [insert flagship product]” are a good start, but feel free to get creative with it.
Aim for a professional but upbeat tone of voice. It doesn’t need to be cheerleader-level of pep, but avoid sounding apathetic.
If your physical location is a key part of your business and you’re located somewhere easily identifiable, leverage that. “Across the street from the stadium, next door to the giant rooster statue” is very identifiable, and it makes you stand out visually the next time the caller sees those landmarks.

Some simple examples:

“Thanks for calling McDuck’s Swimming Pool Installations. Our office hours are 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday; absolutely no refunds.”
“Hey, you’ve reached Arnold’s Pizza Shop. Nobody orders pizza at 6 am, so call back between noon and midnight, and we’d be happy to take your order.”
“You’ve reached the voicemail of Parker and Sons, your friendly neighborhood photography studio. Sorry to leave you hanging. Leave a message, and we’ll be sure to leap into action.”
“Hello there! You’ve reached Old Ben’s Salvage and Repair, located to the right of Tashi Station (from a certain point of view). If this is the business you’re looking for, leave your name and number, and we’ll reach out promptly.”
“This is Bag End Bed and Breakfast. Sorry, we missed you! We must have been preoccupied with visitors, well-wishers, or distant relations. As always, we’re happy to make time for old friends and new friends alike, so leave a quick message, and we’ll be in touch.”
“Thank you for calling Three Sisters’ Pot Removal Service. Hey, listen: If you’ve reached this message, we’re out of the office at the moment. But leave a message at the beep, and we’ll wake up one of our staff and send them galloping out your way as fast as the wind will carry them.”
“This is the voicemail for Neeson Repossession Services. We can’t come to the phone right now. We don’t know who you are or what you want, but if you leave a message, we’ll return your call to determine if we have the particular skill set you need.”
“You’ve reached Thomas Riddle, Magician Extraordinaire, the magic act that always leaves a mark on the audience. I’m terribly sorry I missed your call; I’m probably in my study, sorting through my magic hat collection. Leave a message, and I’ll return your call promptly.”
“Thanks for calling McFly’s Cultural Museum, where the past and the future collide. We’ve stepped out for a moment. Leave a message after the beep, or just hang tight, and we’ll answer if we’re back in time.”
“Thank you for calling Cindy’s Cleanup Crew, open every day till midnight. At the tone, leave your name and number, and we’ll help you make your dreams of a clean home come true.”

After-hours voicemail greetings

These greetings are slightly more specialized, though they may still be fairly generic, as most businesses have times when they’re closed.

Some guidance on creating a straightforward and effective message:

Not every voicemail needs to include a forwarding address, figuratively speaking. In many cases, it’s perfectly fine to tell callers that you’ll get back to them ASAP and leave it at that.
In situations where there might be some urgency, it will be longer than usual before you respond, or callers frequently call the wrong line (and it has shorter hours than the one they actually want), then telling them who to call instead is a good idea.
Since you don’t have any way of identifying through a pre-recorded message exactly what the caller needs (and, by extension, who they should call next), you can make some reasonable assumptions based on normal caller behavior, the line of work you’re in, and the timeframe (e.g., weekend closures vs. seasonal closures vs. just calling outside of normal office hours).
Keep the forwarding instructions brief, and consider repeating the pertinent numbers because people don’t always have something to write with immediately ready.
You might also consider explicitly defining which callers should call the next number and who should just wait for a callback.
“Thanks for calling McDuck’s Swimming Pool Installations. Our office hours are 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. If you’ve reached this message, I’m afraid you’ve caught us after closing, and you’re out of luck, laddy. Leave a message, or try again tomorrow.”
“You’ve reached the voicemail of Parker and Sons, your friendly neighborhood photography studio. We’re closed right now, but we’ll swing back into the office tomorrow morning, ready to suit up and leap into action. In the meantime, please send any urgent requests to Stark Raving Mad, Roger That Productions, or Thursday’s Best.”
“Hello there! You’ve reached Old Ben’s Salvage and Repair, open every day from noon to 7pm. If you’ve reached this message, then these aren’t the hours you’re looking for. Feel free to leave a message or give us another call during open hours, and we’ll help you get things into order.”
“This is Bag End Bed and Breakfast. We’ve slipped out from under the gaze of our patrons and headed home for the evening. But we’ll be there and back again, first thing in the morning, ready to assist you. Any concerns too precious to wait for can be directed to the local Eagles association.”
“Thank you for calling Cindy’s Cleanup Crew, open every day till midnight. If you’re calling past pumpkin hour, we’re sorry to have missed you, but even a princess needs her beauty sleep. At the tone, leave your name and number, and we’ll return your call to see if our services are a perfect fit.”

Individual employee voicemail greetings

These are the greetings you’ll use for individuals running their single-person operations or for individual team members of larger organizations.

Greetings for individual staff members can follow very similar patterns to those used for the business at large, with a few tweaks based on how that individual’s role relates to the brand as a whole.
If that individual is the primary provider of goods and services (like a solopreneur, who does everything personally), then the individual is the brand, more or less, and the only thing you really change to the format is adding the person’s name.
Those who are part of a larger team, though, will likely need to add a bit more specificity to the message to narrow down the focus and help callers identify if they’ve called the right person or not.
You may want to include specific information about what they should say in the message or how they can get in contact with you otherwise. Much like an after-hours message, you might leave contact info, but in this case, it might be an email address, a number they can text, or something similar.
“Thanks for calling McDuck’s Swimming Pool Installations. Mr. McDuck isn’t available at the moment, but leave a message here after the tone, and he’ll return your call to spend a few minutes answering your questions.”
“Hey, you’ve reached Arnold of Arnold’s Pizza Shop. I listen to every message before erasing it, so chill out, leave a message, and don’t terminate the call until you’ve stated your name and number.”
“You’ve reached the voicemail of Parker of Parker and Sons. I’m sorry I didn’t stick around to answer your call, but I treat every message as a great responsibility. Leave a brief message, and I’ll be sure not to leave you hanging.”
“Hello there! This is Ben of Old Ben’s Salvage and Repair. I’m out handling some trade negotiations but should be back shortly. After all, it would be so uncivilized to make you wait. In the meantime, leave a message, and I hope to return your call soon.”
“This is Bag End Bed and Breakfast. Bill here; many sincere apologies for missing your call. Please leave a detailed message, and I’ll get back to you once the second breakfast has been served.”
“Thank you for calling Three Sisters’ Pot Removal Service scheduling team. Saria and the rest of the crew are currently assisting other clients. At the tone, leave your contact info, and we’ll save some time to return your call.”
“This is the voicemail for Neeson Repossession Services. I can’t come to the phone at the moment. Please leave a message at the beep. If this is not the first time you’ve called, and we’ve taken longer than expected to follow up, I apologize for the delay. I promise we will find you, and we will be in touch.”
“You’ve reached Thomas Riddle, Magician Extraordinaire. I know you’re dying to speak to me, but all things come to those who wait. Notoriety can be quite the curse that way. But fear not; I shall return your call by quarter-till ten tomorrow.”
“Thanks for calling McFly’s Cultural Museum. I can’t answer the phone right now, but once I find the time, I’ll return your call. Just leave your name, number, and your favorite historical period after the beep.”
“Thank you for calling Cindy’s Cleanup Crew. You must have caught me while I was away at the ball. Don’t worry; I’m back every night before midnight, and I’ll return your call first thing in the morning.”

Voicemail greetings for specific situations

These are your greetings for temporary, irregular, or uncommon situations where the information may not be readily available or expected.

Some guidelines for creating a welcoming and informative message:

You might expect that you’ll only ever need one greeting. But even over the course of a single year, there are ample opportunities for aligning the greeting with more situational themes. Capitalizing on said opportunities can do a lot with regard to brand perception.
Take seasonal greetings. These can be used to highlight time-sensitive promotions, temporary changes to open hours, and other information that might be tied to a holiday or calendar event.
You can also create greetings that directly address uncommon or non-standard variations in availability or circumstances. These might include essential employees taking a vacation, interruptions of service, emergencies, or other hurdles that might merit asking for the caller’s patience.
If you use a time-sensitive greeting, be sure to change it once you’ve passed the date in question. A holiday-specific greeting becomes a bit garish once the holiday is over and everyone has already moved on with their lives.
“Thanks for calling McDuck’s Swimming Pool Installations. Our office is open as normal through December 23. We’re open half-day on Christmas Eve.”
“Hey, you’ve reached Arnold’s Pizza Shop. Due to the recent machine uprising, we will be closed until further notice. Hasta la vista!”
“You’ve reached the voicemail of Parker and Sons, your friendly neighborhood photography studio. In observance of the memorial services, we will be closed during the following dates and times…”
“Hello there! You’ve reached Old Ben’s Salvage and Repair. In partnership with Wretched Hive, we’ll be hosting a community fundraiser and adoption event. Come join us, and find your newest chrome-plated addition to the family!”
“This is Bag End Bed and Breakfast. Unfortunately, we are closed for the season as we make preparations for our next adventure. Please bear with us, and we’ll happily see you after our mountain trek.”
“Thank you for calling Three Sisters’ Pot Removal Service. We recognize there has been some uncertainty and confusion regarding timelines and schedules this season. We are working to correct any conflicts and issues. In the meantime, please leave a message detailing your concerns, and we’ll get back to you soon.”
“This is the voicemail for Neeson Repossession Services. I’ve taken a leave of absence while my daughter is away on vacation. Please forward all urgent messages to…”
“You’ve reached Thomas Riddle, Magician Extraordinaire. If you’re calling about the you-know-what, please be aware that I cannot provide any secrets or spoilers that are not already publicly available.”
“Thanks for calling McFly’s Cultural Museum. Our main attraction is currently out of order while we attempt to arrange for more sustainable power generation (1.21 gigawatts is a lot, after all). We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Choosing the right business voicemail greeting for your company

We could go on for ages with advice on dos and don’ts. But we’ve all got places to be and calls that need answering. And honestly, you’ve humored us for a lot longer than we expected.

Our best parting wisdom is this: There’s nothing wrong with a simple, no-frills greeting that gets the job done. Don’t be afraid to have a little fun with it too, though. After all, we deal with machines, computers, and artificiality enough as it is. A little humanity can do quite a bit to put people at ease and build their trust.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What is a good voicemail greeting for a business.

A good business voicemail greeting is concise, polite, and informative. Example: “Hello, you’ve reached [Your Name] at [Your Company]. I’m currently unavailable, but please leave a message, and I’ll return your call as soon as possible. Thank you.”

How to create a professional voicemail greeting?

To create a professional voicemail greeting, keep it brief, clearly state your name and company, mention your unavailability, and provide instructions for leaving a message. Use a friendly but formal tone, and make sure there’s no background noise.

What is a good voicemail sentence?

A good voicemail sentence is: “Please leave your name, number, and a brief message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”

What is the business etiquette for voicemail?

Business voicemail etiquette includes keeping the message brief, clearly stating your name and reason for the call, avoiding personal information, and being polite. Always review your greeting for clarity and professionalism.

What is a busy greeting on voicemail?

A busy greeting on voicemail could say: “Thank you for calling [Your Name] at [Your Company]. I’m currently on another call, but please leave a message, and I’ll return your call as soon as possible.”

What not to say in a voicemail?

Avoid saying anything unprofessional, using humor that might be misunderstood, giving out too much personal information, or being vague about when you will return the call. Keep the message clear, professional, and to the point.

What Is Interactive Voice Response (IVR)?

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Who is speaking at the 2024 DNC? Here's the list of speakers for the Democratic convention

By Kaia Hubbard

Updated on: August 22, 2024 / 6:48 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — Party leaders and rising stars are addressing delegates in Chicago this week as the Democratic National Convention continues, with speeches honoring President Biden's time in office while celebrating a new name atop the ticket.

The party is rallying around its newly minted nominee, with renewed enthusiasm for Vice President Kamala Harris, who has ascended to the party's helm . A slew of Democrats from across the country are addressing delegates over four days in the lead-up to speeches from the new presidential and vice presidential nominees.

Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz , officially accepted the vice presidential nomination Wednesday night, while Harris will take the stage on Thursday to formally accept the presidential nomination.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz greet supporters during a campaign event at Temple University on Aug. 6, 2024, in Philadelphia.

Speakers for the 2024 Democratic National Convention

Three presidents, leaders in Congress and other prominent members of the party are addressing the convention this week as Democrats gear up for November's election.

On Monday, delegates heard from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , first lady Jill Biden and the president himself .

Tuesday's session featured addresses from former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and others.

Wednesday night heard from former President Bill Clinton, Gov. Josh Shapiro, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Walz.

Here's the full speakers list for Thursday:

Minyon Moore , chair of the 2024 Democratic National Convention Committee
Invocation by Everett Kelly , national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, and Imam Muhammad Abdul-Aleem of Masjidullah Mosque of West Oak Lane, Pennsylvania
Presentation of Colors by the Illinois State Police Honor Guard
Pledge of Allegiance by Luna Maring , a 6th grader from Oakland, California
Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas
Becky Pringle , president of the National Education Association
Randi Weingarten , president of the American Federation of Teachers
Sen. Alex Padilla of California
Marcia Fudge , former secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Rep. Ted W. Lieu of California
Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, House Democratic Whip
Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado
Mayor Leonardo Williams of Durham, North Carolina
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois
Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts
Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado
Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan
Rep. Pat Ryan of New York
Rev. Al Sharpton
Members of the "Central Park Five": Dr. Yusef Salaam, member of the New York City Council, and activists Korey Wise , Raymond Santana and Kevin Richardson
Amy Resner , former prosecutor and friend of Harris
Karrie Delaney , director of Federal Affairs at the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
Lisa Madigan , former attorney general of Illinois
Marc Morial , president of the National Urban League
Nathan Hornes , former student at Corinthian Colleges
Tristan Snell, former New York State assistant attorney general
Gov. Maura Healey of Massachusetts
Courtney Baldwin , youth organizer and human trafficking survivor
Deb Haaland , secretary of the interior
John Russell, content creator
Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida
Rep. Colin Allred of Texas
Joint remarks on "A New American Chapter": Anya Cook, Craig Sicknick, Gail DeVore , Juanny Romero and Eric, Christian, and Carter Fitts
National anthem by The Chicks
Kerry Washington
Joint remarks by Meena Harris , Ella Emhoff and Helena Hudlin
D.L. Hughley
Sheriff Chris Swanson of Genesee County, Michigan
Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia, joined by Abbey Clements of Newton, Connecticut; Kim Rubio of Uvalde, Texas; Melody McFadden of Charleston, South Carolina; and Edgar Vilchez of Chicago.
Gabrielle Giffords , former member of the House
Performance by P!NK
Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona
Leon Panetta, former secretary of defense
Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan
Eva Longoria, actress and film producer
Adam Kinzinger, former member of the House
Maya Harris
Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina
Vice President Kamala Harris

Who spoke at the 2020 Democratic National Convention?

The 2020 convention, which was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, featured speeches from Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, along with some of Mr. Biden's rivals in the 2020 primary like Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Cory Booker of New Jersey. Prominent party leaders like Pelosi and Schumer also spoke, as did rising stars like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Aaron Navarro , Nikole Killion , Scott MacFarlane and Ed O'Keefe contributed to this report.

Democratic Party
Democratic National Convention
2024 Elections

Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C.

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News Analysis: Trump seeks to reclaim spotlight with old playbook of lying, talking smack to media

Trump, in a dark blue suit and red tie, points with one hand while speaking at a lectern

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Standing next to a spread of coffee, cereal and breakfast meats at his New Jersey golf club on Thursday, former President Trump started what he billed as his second news conference in as many weeks by highlighting increased costs of everyday foodstuffs due to inflation — a major issue for voters in November.

Then, he veered off into a rambling 40-minute speech — uninterrupted by media questions — in which he aired old political grievances and debunked conspiracy theories, and lied, repeatedly, about the state of the economy, the safety of the nation and the policies of Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running against him in the presidential race.

Among other things, Trump made the false claim — easily debunked — that Harris, a former San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general, made it legal for thieves in California to “rob a store” if what they take is worth less than $950.

Thieves are “going into stores with calculators, calculating how much it is, because if it’s less than $950, they can rob it and not get charged,” Trump said. “That was her that did that.”

Trump’s event was part of a new campaign strategy to draw a contrast with Harris, whom the Trump campaign has been hammering for not taking media questions as she rides a wave of Democratic enthusiasm . But it and other recent events have had the additional effect of reviving a much older Trump strategy for drumming up attention — which is essentially for him to stand in front of reporters and talk smack.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a news conference at Trump National Golf Club, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Bedminster, N.J. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Trump says he’s ‘entitled to personal attacks’ on Harris in rambling news conference

At a news conference at his New Jersey golf club, Trump said he thinks he’s ‘entitled to personal attacks’ on his Democratic rival, saying he’s ‘very angry’ at her because of the criminal charges he faces.

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At his recent events, Trump has delivered a steady stream of insults about the country, about Harris and about the media — which have responded by showering him with headlines.

Some of those headlines have been critical, such as an NPR analysis that concluded Trump made at least 162 “misstatements, exaggerations and outright lies” during his hourlong presser at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida last week — or “more than two a minute.”

However, many others have simply repeated his most outrageous claims, furthering their reach.

The Harris campaign has largely ignored calls for her to speak more often with the media — which has frustrated reporters — and responded instead by mocking Trump’s gaggles as pathetic grabs for the spotlight. Before Trump’s Thursday event, for example, the Harris campaign predicted to the press that the GOP nominee would “deliver another self-obsessed rant full of his own personal grievances to distract from his toxic Project 2025 agenda, unpopular running mate, and increasing detachment from the reality of the voters who will decide this election.”

“Tune in for the same old thing,” the message concluded. In another statement after the event, which it called “Our statement on Trump’s ... whatever that was,” the Harris campaign reduced Trump’s long speech into him having “huffed and puffed.”

Jennifer Mercieca, a political historian and communications professor at Texas A&M and author of “Demagogue for President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump,” said the Republican’s latest use of news conferences — and interviews with sycophants such as billionaire Elon Musk, who this week lobbed softball questions to the former vice president on his social platform X — is classic Trump.

“It’s information warfare. He wants to flood the zone with his content, he wants us to be talking about what he wants us to talk about, through his frame,” she said. “He cares about dominating — dominating the news cycle — and these press conferences provide him with an opportunity to dominate the news cycle.”

Many of Trump’s deviations from the truth stem from his style of political speech , where he routinely speaks in superlatives and employs populist language to cast himself as a strongman leader who can do no wrong. In his version of things, everything he does is the best or the “greatest,” while any plan, policy or output from his opponents is the “worst.”

At Thursday’s event, Trump was cheered by a group of supporters — making it feel more like a campaign event than a news one — and took only a handful of questions, some of which seemed teed-up for him, such as one in which he was asked why God decided to save him during the attempt on his life in Butler, Pa.

He railed against California and Gov. Gavin Newsom — whom he called “Newscum” — and suggested Harris had destroyed the state.

“San Francisco, you know, was a great city 15 years ago. Now it’s considered almost unlivable. You can’t live there,” he said.

Las Vegas, NV - August 10: Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz Campaign Rally in Las Vegas on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, NV. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

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He repeated a false claim that all new jobs in the country are going to migrants, and said if Harris is elected, the U.S. would have a “1929 crash” — a reference to the Great Depression — and watch Social Security and “probably the nation itself” go bankrupt.

“You don’t have to imagine what a Kamala Harris presidency would be,” he said, “because you’re living through that nightmare right now.”

He said Harris “is in favor of the death of the American dream,” and repeatedly insinuated that the 2020 election was stolen, which it was not . And as with his other recent media events, he ridiculed the press — at one point alleging without any evidence that members of the “fake news” were destroying old video that would prove Harris has flip-flopped on policy.

“All you have to do is go back and look at your tapes — which many have been discarded, discarded by the fake news, because they don’t want people to see what she said just a year ago,” Trump said.

Robert C. Rowland, a professor of rhetoric at the University of Kansas and author of the book “The Rhetoric of Donald Trump: Nationalist Populism and American Democracy,” said Trump has never shown any real capacity to focus on policy, at least not in any detail. The former president has always spoken off the cuff about what threatens his base.

That can work, but it has become more difficult lately, Rowland said, as inflation has slowed , food prices have moderated and some wages have been increasing. Making matters worse for Trump is that his ramblings are becoming less coherent than ever.

“That tendency to ramble, to elaborate on stream of consciousness and to brag shamelessly — all of those things have become much stronger, and much less coherent than in 2016 and 2020,” Rowland said. “The stream of consciousness has become less clearly connected to real events, and more connected to a sense of grievance and anger.”

Mercieca said that politicians answering questions directly from the media is a good thing — an important part of any democracy — but that Trump has managed to flip that on its head, using his lies to undermine the media, people’s trust in the Fourth Estate and “democracy itself.”

Trump says whatever he wants — truthful or not, bigoted or braggadocian or cruel — because he knows the media will repeat it, and because he knows he won’t be checked on any of it by his base or the Republican establishment, which has handed the party over to him.

To avoid being used, Mercieca said, reporters should write about Trump’s “news conferences” only if he says something newsworthy, not whenever he says anything outrageous — because the latter, at this point, is his standard shtick, a stump speech that’s old news.

“When a plane lands safely, that’s not news, because it happens every five seconds,” Mercieca said. “When Trump says something outrageous, that’s not news, because it happens every five seconds.”

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Kevin Rector is a legal affairs reporter for the Los Angeles Times covering the California Supreme Court, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and other legal trends and issues, and chipping in on coverage of the 2024 election. He started with The Times in 2020 and previously covered the Los Angeles Police Department for the paper. Before that, Rector worked at the Baltimore Sun for eight years, where he was a police and investigative reporter and part of a team that won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in local reporting. More recently, he was part of a Times team awarded the 2023 Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting of Congress for coverage of Sen. Dianne Feinstein. He is from Maryland.

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Ukraine war latest: Zelenskyy pleads with allies for help after deadly Russian strikes

At least three people were killed this morning after Russia launched a round of air strikes against several cities in Ukraine. In the video below, watch a Sky News exclusive report on the Ukrainian resistance operating behind Russian lines.

Monday 26 August 2024 15:00, UK

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Russia unleashes missile and drone barrage across Ukraine
At least three dead as 15 regions hit - with explosions heard in Kyiv
Zelenskyy pleads with allies for help - as Kremlin issues warning
'Military object' entered Polish airspace during Russian strikes
Catch-up: What you need to know from this morning
Watch: Who are Ukraine's secret resistance?
Your questions answered: Can Ukraine advance further inside Russia?
Live reporting by Faith Ridler

If you're just joining us this bank holiday lunchtime, it's been a significant morning for the war in Ukraine.

Here's what you need to know:

Russia has launched a deadly barrage of missile and drone strikes on 15 regions across Ukraine - including Kyiv;
At least three people are dead after Moscow used what it described as precision weapons to damage energy infrastructure;
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded with Western allies for more help , including allowing the use of long-range weapons in Russia and shooting down drones and missiles near their airspace;
An unknown military object reportedly entered Polish airspace during Moscow's barrage this morning.
The Kremlin has warned there will be more to come in response to Ukraine's ongoing incursion into the Kursk region;
It also downplayed the chances of any ceasefire talks with Kyiv, suggesting the prospect had "lost relevance".

That's all for now - stay with us for more updates and analysis through the afternoon.

Ukraine does not appear to be letting up on its surprise invasion of the Kursk border region in Russia which began earlier this month.

Readers have been sending in their questions to our senior correspondents and military experts for their take on what could happen next.

Today, Justice asks:

Will Ukraine be able to advance more inside Russia?

Military analyst Sean Bell says this…

Ukraine's audacious military incursion into Russia's Kursk region - the first such action by a military power since 1941 - appears to have caught Vladimir Putin by surprise.

Although it is unclear what Ukraine is ultimately seeking to achieve, it has stated it does not intend to "hold" ground, so its current occupation is temporary.

But what next? If Ukraine had planned to push further into Russia it would probably not have blown three key bridges across the Siem river which would have been vital to its further plans.

What's the goal?

Instead, it looks likely Ukraine was seeking to seize the initiative, to demonstrate Russia is not in control of the war, and to force Moscow to respond to the attack by transferring forces from the frontline in the Donbas, thus relieving pressure on embattled Ukrainian forces.

Destroying the bridges would make it more difficult for Russia to counterattack and expel Ukrainian forces.

Although Ukraine could push further into Russia, it would create an increasing logistics challenge to keep those forces resupplied, and also divert scarce resources from the front line.

Militarily the incursion into Kursk might appear risky, but it is probably designed to apply political pressure on Mr Putin, albeit we have yet to see whether the military or political objective prevails.

A Ukraine foreign ministry official has claimed a Russian attack on Monday targeted a hydropower plant in the Kyiv region.

"Today's Russian attack ... targeted Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, including Kyiv HPP," Andriy Sybiha said on X.

Meanwhile, the Russian defence ministry claimed gas compression stations were hit in three regions of Ukraine.

It also alleges to have hit power substations and Western-supplied weapons airfields in a heavy round of bombardment on Monday morning.

Telegram says its chief executive Pavel Durov has "nothing to hide" after he was arrested in France, adding the charges against him are "absurd".

The billionaire founder of the encrypted messaging app was detained after his private jet landed at Le Bourget airport on the outskirts of Paris on Saturday.

News broadcasters BFMTV and TF1 have quoted unnamed sources as saying the Russian-born entrepreneur - who became a French citizen in 2021 - was the subject of a search warrant.

Both outlets suggest the investigation was focused on a lack of moderators on Telegram and potential criminal activity by users.

They said the warrant alleges his platform has been used for money laundering, drug trafficking and other offences, though French authorities are yet to comment.

As we've been reporting today, Russia has claimed that Ukraine has launched a number of drone attacks on buildings in Saratov.

Ukraine has yet to respond to these claims, but the video below alleges to show the moment a drone hit a high-rise apartment building in Russia.

Russian officials say a number of people were injured.

Hundreds of people have taken cover in an underground metro station today as Russia launched a barrage of missiles and drones at the Ukrainian capital.

People in Kyiv were photographed sitting on stairs inside the stations, waiting for the all clear as missiles hit energy and water infrastructure sites in the city.

Russia has admitted to the strikes on Ukraine today, claiming it was targeting sites linked to the Ukrainian military.

A "military object" entered Polish airspace during the Russian attack on Ukraine this morning, reports have claimed.

It comes amid the largest Russian strike on Ukraine in weeks, with Moscow targeting energy infrastructure in three regions.

The Polish state news agency, PAP, reported that searches for the object, which was not a missile, are under way.

By Deborah Haynes , security and defence editor

One of the most secret weapons to combat Russia's invasion of Ukraine has started to raise its profile.

A new video posted on social media seeks to promote the covert activities of a network of Ukrainian civilians, living - and fighting - behind Russian lines.

Run by the Ukrainian special forces, this resistance movement is growing, according to its commander, who said any adult - old, young, male, female - can join.

They just need to be loyal to Ukraine - and brave.

A British citizen - who was working for Reuters - has been found dead after a suspected Russian airstrike in eastern Ukraine, the news agency confirmed.

Ryan Evans, who was a safety advisor for the news agency, was found dead under the rubble of Hotel Sapphire in the eastern city of Kramatorsk - which is under Ukrainian control but near the front line - on Sunday.

Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian forces struck the hotel in the eastern Donetsk region. Russia has not yet commented.

In a statement, Reuters said: "We are devastated to learn that Reuters safety advisor Ryan Evans, who was with our reporting team in Ukraine, has been killed.

"Ryan was part of a Reuters crew staying at Hotel Sapphire in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, when it was hit in a missile strike on Saturday, August 24, 2024.'