NezSez

Motivational Books Abound

Visit a bookstore today, and you will find a self-help section filled with books, all claiming to offer ways to help you with your productivity, love life, finances, and everything else under the sun (well, stuff “under” the sun would probably be in the Astronomy section…)

The Motivation Niche Blogs

Go online, and you will find a multitude of websites and blogs who offer information to similar effects, including the excellent Zen Habits, the inspiration for this one.

But Who’s First?

I’ve been wondering who was the first motivational speaker?

“Influencers” on Today

Last century we had Napoleon Hill, Dale Carnegie and others whose books are still popular today (I’m currently working my way through a Napoleon Hill book). This site features an article that suggests that Ralph Waldo Emerson was the first motivational speaker of modern times.

Historic Figures

Of course, I have not read every single historical book out there, but with my somewhat typical college-level education, I would wager that some of the better known historical figures with whom people are familiar were actually the first motivational speakers:

• Shakespeare - perhaps he spoke more through his “players” than himself, but can anyone argue against all the life lessons found in his plays?
• Socrates - going back further, I would have to say many of the principles espoused by today’s great motivational speakers were explored in ancient Greco-Roman times
• Confucious - the Chinese philosopher and scholar to whom we usually attribute the Golden Rule offered principles a hundred years earlier

Of course, there are lots of other notables, including religious and political ones, that we can consider motivational speakers, for they truly did motivate people to do things (good or bad things, that’s up for debate).

We will never find out who was truly the very first motivational speaker (most likely, it was probably a caveperson who wanted his/her clan to move to a new spot where there were unpicked wild berries.)

What Really Matters

In the end, it doesn’t really matter. Today there are tons of motivational speakers, life coaches and other pundits. As long as the principles they put forth are constantly explored, analyzed, questioned and tested, and those that “make the cut” for the critical thinker are practiced in a way to better all of humankind, that’s all that really matters.

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