V.J. Smith
V.J. Smith is the author of the book, "The Richest Man in Town". He is a motivational keynote speaker and a two time finalist in Toastmaster's International "World Championship of Public Speaking." Drawing on his lifetime experiences, Smith peppers his talks with anecdotes and personal stories to illustrate key points. He feels he is better equipped to be a storyteller, not a preacher.
Smith has also been a bill collector, solar collector salesman and a fundraiser. “Being a child of the early ‘70s, it took me a little while to figure out what I wanted to do with my life,” he says. As for his speaking ability, he credits that with growing up with three brothers and four sisters. “You had to learn to talk loud and fast or you didn’t get much to eat,” Smith muses.
A 1978 graduate of South Dakota State University, Smith spent the decade of the 1980s working for the Allied Signal Aerospace Company in Kansas City, MO. He returned to his alma mater in 1990 to serve as Assistant Athletic Director for the SDSU athletic program. He was appointed Executive Director of the SDSU Alumni Association in 1996 and resigned from that position in January 2007 due to the overwhelming requests for speaking appearances.
VJ Smith's keynotes:
The Richest Man in Town
This talk is based on the life of 'Marty', a wonderful man who ran a cash register at Wal-Mart. He was considered rich because he was loved and respected, but most of all, he was content with every aspect of his life, no regrets. Marty's simple philosophies show what happens when you take the time to be kind and compassionate. All that you give, you get back, and more. Audience members will go on an emotional roller coaster ride... guaranteed.
Simple Choices, Big Rewards
We are judged by the choices we make. In our personal lives and our business lives, we are faced with simple choices on how we interact with the people around us. In this talk, the speaker focuses on five major situations we face each day. The audience will laugh and reflect during this one hour rapid-fire session.
Got Goals? A Personal Journey
This is a journey from procrastination to destination. Smith shares his 15 year battle against setting goals. In this inspirational talk, the speaker tells how he found himself at a football game at Notre Dame, eating lobster in Maine, and planting a tree. According to Smith, “Too many of the so-called goal experts have made goal setting cumbersome and sets people up for failure. I found my own path.” That simple path, filled with moments of great happiness, was built on the idea of getting better at this thing called life.
The Exceptional Employee
Drawing on his twenty years serving as a supervisor, Smith gives ten qualities associated with exceptional employees. This talk is filled with anecdotes and humorous stories to illustrate key points. Every person in the audience will relate to the various categories in which we are judged in our working lives. People will be able to determine where they are on the “Exceptional Scale.”
