speaker spotlight 12 CORPORATE MEETINGS & EVENTS corporatemeetingsnetwork.ca CM&E:WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO INSPIRE IN THE PEOPLE WHO SEE AND HEAR YOU? JOE: I want them to understand that they have the skills to create the change that they desire. Oftentimes we get stuck, and we forget that we have these tools, we have this resilience inside of us. It’s a very simple message: If a guy like me can do it, anybody can do it. So you start with the inspiration, but then you bolt onto that tools that people can take and go create that change in their own life now that they’ve been fired up. CM&E:WHAT DO YOU PERSONALLY GAIN FROM BEING A PUBLIC SPEAKER? JOE:One of my resonating why’s or purposes in life is to be that encourager or be that thought leader or teacher. And when I’m done in a group and a meeting planner comes up and says, ‘Wow, that’s exactly what we were looking for.’ And then I hear that same message from the participants. And then I run into people a year or two or five years later and they tell me what they learned in that workshop or that keynote presentation helped them transform their business. Or helped them deal with an issue at home or helped them make a contribution in their community. For me that’s the best job in the world, to be that person that encourages people to be able to go out and learn that there’s more to them than they see. If they only have the courage to apply some of the things they already know. And that ultimately drives business. It drives bottom lines that create excellent culture. It addresses a lot of the soft skills that companies are looking to get better at. When you’ve got inspired, motivated and engaged people, you’ve got a healthy company, and a healthy company makes good money. CM&E:WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT SO FAR? JOE:One moment that was absolutely incredible was at a We Day event in Toronto in the Air Canada Centre in front of 25,000 parents and students talking about youth empowerment and the ability to change the world. Before me was Gord Downie, after me was Margaret Trudeau, and backstage was Colonel Chris Hadfield, Rick Hansen and Craig and Marc Kielburger, so that was a pretty huge moment for me. CM&E:WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE SOMEONE IN FINDING THEIR OWN SUCCESS? JOE:It’s three very simple things: you have to stay in action, you have to make sure that what you’re doing you love. And you have to know, acknowledge and anticipate the roadblocks. I’m not the smartest guy, and I certainly didn’t have a lot of good breaks in life. But by staying in action and connecting to my purpose or my inspiration, I’ve been able to overcome extraordinary roadblocks to produce extraordinary results. For more information on Joe Roberts and how to book a “Skid Row CEO” keynote, visit skidrowceo.com