A Message From Jeff

As an educator, my work is to teach our youth the keys to success: respect, direction, choice-and-consequence. At a time when children will literally die for acceptance, I must instill in them a sense of the bigger picture, a life beyond hormones.

My work is to get inside our kids and prepare them not only for scholastic tests but for the real-life trials that lie ahead. I capture their attention with stories that educate and stimulate, messages they can’t help but remember. Psychologists call it the “flash bulb memory,” these a-ha moments that come with emotional charge. Kids are glued to their seats, eager to hear more—staying after, in fact, to ask questions. They are receptive to my message because I speak in a language they can understand.

To quote one high school senior, “Jeff says what our parents would say if they only knew how. He speaks with us, not at us.”

And here’s the great part: While the audience laughs and learns, I myself resonate with a sense of connection—connection with the students and with the mission. Any teacher will tell you how rewarding it is to reach a child; I find that the best way to achieve this is by “keeping it real.” Smart, but real.

Okay. Enough background. Please find here a handful of testimonials from people whose lives I’ve had the fortune to touch.

Some of the Things I Cover With Students and Staff

My experience working with MTV and my feelings towards MTV’s influence on young people. The importance of our role models and how they influence our decisions. My philosophy to “Play Like a Champion Today” — with class, respect, and generosity. How to change our self-image by facing the tough questions. The “eight most powerful phrases” for building respect. How comparing ourselves to others can sabotage our potential. The essence of Self and how to create it. The difference between “Why” and “How” questions (and how they affect self-esteem). The importance of setting goals. Great stories of love and hope — Warning: They’re hilarious! Drugs and alcohol — public enemy number one. Three rules to give you life purpose.

A Letter from Jeff

Dear Educator:

Since 1992, I have been speaking to youth all over the world. My clients include The University of Notre Dame, NASSP, The U.S. Department of Defense, The PRIDE World Drug-Free Conference, the National Student Council Conference, the National Autism Association, and thousands of middle school and high school audiences. In my travels, I have learned that a successful speaker must be at once entertaining, inspirational, and in the student’s eyes, “awesome.” A successful speaker is someone whose spirit stays in the school long after the auditorium empties and the lights go out.

I like to think that I have met these criteria, stimulating students and getting them excited about their futures.

Why are motivational programs like mine important?

As any educator knows, it takes only one poignant message to inspire a student to consider the world in a new light, or to make a moral life decision. Not everyone leaves my program with a new worldview, but everyone can agree: “That guy made sense.”

My name is Jeff Yalden. I am a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) with the National Speakers Association, a distinction earned by less than 10% of all professional speakers. Because of my simple but commanding approach, I have become one of the most sought-after speakers for school assemblies, leadership conferences, teacher in-services, and at-risk youth. From middle school to university, from parent to teacher, my program changes the way people look at life.

Perhaps the secret to my success is how my own life is a story of transformation. I graduated 128th out of 133 high school students. My counselor thought that my 680 on the SATs was a mistake, so I took them again, scoring this time 610. My self-esteem plummeted. Sixteen of nineteen colleges rejected my applications. Hopeless and depressed, I searched my life for meaning.

My life began to change only when I took responsibility for my thinking. It was a like a coup to assume my rightful power. My personality changed, my appearance changed … my destiny changed.

I entered The Mr. New Hampshire Male America Pageant and won! From there I won Mr. Male America Mr. Personality and started to feel the power in what I was doing. I joined the Marines and learned the meaning of both self-reliance and being of service.

Today I travel the nation inspiring youth to take responsibility for their own life, no matter how bleak it seems. And no other motivation speaker is more requested for middle school or high school programs.

I understand your frustration in planning meaningful school activities. Between budget and orchestration and pressures from every side, it’s a miracle you ever get through. I can’t relieve those burdens, but I can promise that when the final curtain falls, I will have everyone on their feet applauding.

Kind regards,

Jeff Yalden