Fake It ‘til You Make It: Mary Kneiser on Easy Self-Confidence

This is Mary Kneiser, running enthusiast and motivational speaker. One of the biggest reasons some of us lack motivation is low self-esteem. Often, we are crippled by an overwhelming fear that we are inadequate or incompetent – not smart enough for the job, not good-looking enough for the position, not funny enough for the spot, not capable enough for the post.

From Running

It takes years of therapy to completely rid yourself of the causes of your low self-worth, but if you don’t mind taking a shortcut, I’d gladly share with you some techniques to handle situations with completely believable, totally harmless aplomb.

From Running

• Spice Up Your Dressing – Personal appearance contributes not only to how other people see you, but to how you see yourself. I, Mary Kneiser, am one of those people who like to dress better when I’m nervous about something. Putting on clothes that make you feel good about yourself gives you a jolt of positive vibes that affects your performance and the way you interact with others.



From Running



• Season with Gratitude – When you focus too much on what you want, your mind can turn awry and create reasons why you haven’t reached your goal. This slippery slope leads you to dwell on your weaknesses. To avoid this, set aside some time at the end of the day to make a mental list of everything you are thankful for, and watch your mood swing from deflated to elated.


• Pepper with Compliments – When you think lowly of yourself, you may tend to project this feeling onto others in the form of insulting criticism or gossip. Break this cycle of negativity by adopting a habit of praising others while avoiding backstabbing. When you look for the best in others, you indirectly bring out the best in yourself.

From Running

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Mary Kneiser’s Ten Easy Ways to Get Motivated

Though motivational authority Mary Kneiser is an avid fitness runner in her free time, she believes that motivation does not mean you have to force yourself to pull off huge changes that will drastically change your life. Instead, the personal success coach is a firm believer that making baby steps with dogged consistency is just the thing that will get you started. Here are a few ways to get you motivated faster than you can spell “determination.”

1. Begin with the end goal in mind. Defining your aspiration lets you make a bee line toward your goal.
2. Figure out where to start. For starters, Mary Kneiser suggests choosing something simple and encouraging that lets you move onto the next step.



3. Keep track. Make regular progress checks to see how you are getting on, or if you need to make adjustments to help reach your goal.



4. Believe. Become your biggest fan and have inner strength from which you can draw energy to make positive changes for yourself.
5. Spread the joy. Motivating your team makes everyone feel happier, more involved, and more productive.



6. Keep a support group close by. People you know and trust well, such as friends and family, can help you greatly.



7. Think positive. Keeping the vibes good allows the unconscious mind to focus on seeing a way around any obstacle.



8. Reward yourself. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done as incentive to keep going forward.
9. Have the balls to change tack. Being brave enough to change your course of action allows you to find better ways of arriving at a solution.



10. Visualize your success. Visualizing your goal allows your body and mind to follow suit to success.

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Mary Kneiser’s Basic Pointers for Beginning Motivational Speakers

It is inspiring to see that there are now many individuals motivated to impart motivation to others. There are just people gifted enough to become motivational speakers. Mary Kneiser, a professional motivational speaker herself, shares some information that beginning motivational speakers can use to kick-start their career.

Define the “message” you want to share

Having a specialty is always good for any profession or business. Being known for a specific style works well for motivational speaker as people will get to remember your presentations better. If you are comfortable with a certain style (e.g. humor, audience participation) do not hesitate to incorporate it in your talks.

Master the craft

It may sound a tad intimidating but professional motivational speaking requires professional level public speaking. Excessive use of fillers (e.g. uh, uhms, etc.) and awkward pauses may hurt your career. Mary Kneiser recommends working out areas of improvement constantly while gaining knowledge and experience in this profession.

Be willing to do free work

Getting the word out is always a challenge for any beginning motivational speaking professional. This is an industry where reputation and credibility means a lot. Be willing to offer free services to gain traction in the industry.

Make connections

Once you have the word-of-mouth going, start contacting nonprofit organizations and ask if they ever require motivational services for their employees. Always be ready to give away a business card whenever you make new connections.

These are just a few pointers for beginners. Just like any craft, the motivational speaking profession requires a lifetime of constant and vigilant improvement.

More on Mary K. Kneiser at her Facebook.