Note To Self: Don’t Judge A Book (Or Speaker) By A Title

Usually when I hear that someone is a motivational speaker, I mentally click off.  How much “rah, rah, life is good” mumbo jumbo can one take? But when the principal of my daughter’s school emailed they were going to have motivational speaker Scott Chesney speak to the kids, I wanted to be there. Not because I knew who Mr. Chesney was, but I needed “Face Points” with my kid. You know, those, “My mommy was at my school during the day, so I feel special” brownie points you try to score with your kid before they hit middle school and you’re nothing but an ATM/taxi service who embarrasses them at every turn.

So I stared at the Diva, in all of her kindergarten cuteness, and got a chance to listen to Mr. Chesney. He’s an engaging, funny guy who clearly loves kids and knows how communicate with them. He talked about the importance of respect, a concept the kids are exploring with this week’s Red Ribbon Week theme. As he sat in a chair in front of his audience, he praised them for showing him respect by listening; he pointed out that the best way to get respect is to give respect.

Then he described his best friend, a normal guy who likes to have fun and with whom Chesney likes to spend time. Oh, and the friend just so happens to be in a wheelchair. He asked the kids if being in a wheelchair should stop them from being someone’s friend. Of course, the “friend” is Chesney himself. And that’s where the magic in the assembly began.

He asked if it would make them nervous or scared if he moved from the ordinary chair he’d been sitting in to the wheelchair he’d be more comfortable in. And in that second, in that whisper of a moment, he made his audience a partner in the presentation. He showed a degree of vulnerability that the kids responded to.  They sat up. They watched him joyfully popping wheelies. And Chesney showed them that even though he was different from them, he was also the same. Here was a guy who could easily have been one of their dads, putting himself on the line as he asked if they had any questions about his paralysis or his life. He shared with the kids his accomplishments (world traveler, athlete, skydiver, public speaker, being a father), his likes (food, having fun, playing with his kids), and he demonstrated that paralysis of the body does not mean paralysis of the mind or spirit. 

By opening up to the kids, by helping them to know him, he taught his younger audience that being afraid is okay but it shouldn’t limit you from following your dreams. He ended his presentation with a montage of moments from his life as he invited the kids to think about their own lives – how can they make their existence better every day.

Pretty sophisticated stuff for kids age 6 and up. But self-examination is too often overlooked in the very young. How can we expect them to change unwanted behaviors when we don’t teach them to reflect on their thoughts and actions?  Chesney invited them to do so. 

And he taught this mom something. Instead of making generalizations and judgments about someone based upon a title (“motivational speaker”), maybe I need to get past that and listen to the wisdom being imparted. I’m happy I had the chance to see Scott Chesney. I’m even happier that my daughter did, too.

NOTE: I have no connection to this guy, other than the fact that I was in the audience today.  However, if you want to see what he does, log onto www.scottchesney.com.