Welcome to my blog! My name is Sarah Whitten and I'm the Marketing Director at FIVE STAR Speakers & Trainers. I constantly get feedback in the world of keynote speakers, receive new information, hear & meet speakers - and I wanted to share my insight with you! If you are looking to hire a speaker, trainer, entertainer, etc - please visit our website at www.fivestarspeakers.com. The information shared on this blog is purely my opinion - just Sarah's, and that's all! Enjoy!

Friday, February 18, 2011


FIVE STAR Speakers & Trainers would like to personally congratulate & give a big SHOUT TO:

CHARLOTTE RAYBOURN
 
For winning the 2010 Art Directors Guild Award for her role as Art Director in the movie, Inception, with Leonardo DiCaprio.
_______________________________
Charlotte Raybourn started with FIVE STAR in September 2010 as our Public Relations Director & Account Executive.

Charlotte has a strong background in PR [hence the ADG Award she just won on February 5, 2011!] and has been an amazing asset to FIVE STAR since her arrival! She has an incredible background that fits perfectly within our industry, as well as bringing an expertise of public relations with her - which is our newest department at FIVE STAR. For Charlotte's full career bio & background, visit her
About Us Webpage.

If you'd like more information on how Charlotte can assist you with your personal PR needs, go here to the
FIVE STAR PR webpage. [You may also contact Charlotte directly - her contact info is below].

We are SO PROUD of Charlotte and wanted to recognize this amazing accomplishment and give her a BIG FIVE STAR
CONGRATULATIONS
!! WAY TO GO CHARLOTTE!!

Best Regards -
The FIVE STAR Team

www.fivestarspeakers.com
fivestar@fivestarspeakers.com
913.648.6480

For Charlotte's direct contact information -
 

Charlotte Raybourn
Public Relations Director | Account Executive
craybourn@fivestarspeakers.com
913.754.3440









Charlotte Raybourn
at the 2010 ADG Awards









Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Evolution of Dance - Judson Laipply Interview on Tosh.0: [02.09.11]

Evolution of Dance - Judson Laipply Interview on Tosh.0: [02.09.11]


Judson's Evolution of Dance Video:

Seth Godin's blog: An acre of attitudes

I thought this was DEFINITELY worth sharing... the blog post from Seth Godin today -

An acre of attitudes - Seth Godin's blog:

Anne Lamott relates an image from a friend in her great book on writing, Bird by Bird.

My [Seth Godin] version:
Everyone is given an acre of attitudes at birth. It's yours to tend and garden and weed and live with. You can plant bitterness or good humor. Feel free to fertilize and tend the feelings and approaches that you want to spend time with. Unless you hurt someone, this acre is all yours.

Probably worth putting up a decent fence, so that only the attitudes that you choose will have a chance to put down seeds, but it's certainly a bad idea to put up a wall, because a walled garden is no good to anyone passing by. You get to decide what comes through your fence gate, right?

Watching out for invasive species—spending sufficient time on weeding and pruning and staking seem to be incredibly powerful tools for accomplishing the life you want. I refuse to accept that an attitude is an accident of birth or an unchangeable constant. That would be truly horrible to contemplate.

Happy Valentine's Day. Good luck with your garden.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Daniel Burrus' book, Flash Foresight is a Best-Seller!

Daniel Burrus' book, Flash Foresight has achieved the following amazing results:

#5 New York Times Best-Seller (published Feb 6th)
#3 Wall Street Journal Best-Seller
#2 USAToday Money Best-Seller
#1 Hot New Books Amazon Business Life (Current)

(The week of launch I was #1 in "all book categories" on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble for the first few days)

Obviously this book is worth checking out!!

Great job Daniel!

Valorie Burton Blog Post: Week 7: Are You Easy to Love? Seven Keys to Love and Be Loved

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Valorie Burton Blog Post: Week 7: Are You Easy to Love? Seven Keys to Love and Be Loved

Dear Friend,

Since February is the month we talk most about love, I'd like to share a column that I wrote previously, and think you may enjoy it this week.

I bought a cute card for my goddaughter. Her birthday falls on Valentine's Day and the card jokingly said, "People born on Valentine's Day are easier to love." It occurred to me, "Some people really are easier to love, aren't they?" Why is that? I think it is because some people are better at loving others. Because they express love in healthy ways on a consistent basis, they also attract love into their lives. It is a simple principle most of us have been taught repeatedly: What you sow, you will also reap.

This week, I would like to serve as your loving reminder of what it means to love someone. These are seven straightforward, at times difficult, but always effective strategies for loving others - and experiencing more love in your life. Saint Paul wrote them in the 13th chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians. We often hear the scripture recited at weddings. This week, meditate on these seven principles. Find news ways to express love on a daily basis and strengthen your daily interaction with others -- whether loved ones or strangers, co-workers or neighbors. The greatest use of your life is to love. When you apply this kind of love to a situation, it never fails:

1. LOVE IS PATIENT.
People won't always do what you want when you want them to. Practice being patient - whether with your children, your significant other or the grocery cashier who takes too long to ring up your order. Everything happens for a reason - and that includes the timing of when things happen. Be patient and learn the lesson that comes in the process of enduring the wait. Sometimes the lesson is simple: Slow down and enjoy life.

2. LOVE IS KIND.
Every single day, choose to be kind. Ask yourself each morning, "How could I be a blessing to someone today?" Whether it is a kind word, a loving gesture or helping someone in need, seek ways to be kind daily. Not only will it be a blessing to those you encounter, but it feels good to your soul.

3. LOVE DOES NOT ENVY.
There will always be someone who appears to have "more" or to be doing better. Make a decision not to be envious of others, but in every circumstance of life to find a reason to be thankful. Jealousy poisons your attitude, builds resentment and can ruin relationships. Rather than envying others, learn from them. Even be inspired by them. And simultaneously, choose to be content with what you have while you journey towards something better.

4. LOVE DOES NOT BOAST AND IS NOT PROUD.
Resist the temptation to boast about yourself, your accomplishments or your loved ones. It often only makes others feel "less than," which of course, is not an expression of love. Practice humility. Allow your accomplishments to speak for themselves. Others often notice your good work and deeds, even without you having to make a big deal of them. In fact, it is far more attractive to simply "be" great than to try to convince others of your greatness.

5. LOVE IS NOT RUDE OR EASILY ANGERED.
We've all had our moments when our behavior has been less than considerate. Next time you feel the urge to be rude, inconsiderate or to jump to conclusions, stop yourself. Take a deep breath and ask, "What would be a more loving response to this situation?" That doesn't mean that you allow others to walk all over you. You can speak the truth to people in a very matter of fact way, without being rude. Be considerate of others' feelings and be willing to give people the benefit of the doubt.

6. LOVE KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS.
Have you ever known someone who remembered every mistake you ever made or everything you ever did wrong? As you have grown and become a better person, all they can remember is the person you used to be. It is very frustrating and you may even find yourself ready to distance yourself from that person. Learn from the past behavior of others - and protect yourself accordingly, when necessary - but resist the temptation to continually bring up everything someone has done wrong. Love others by encouraging them towards a better future, not defining them by their past.

7. LOVE REJOICES IN THE TRUTH.
So often, it seems we are afraid of the truth. When something is wrong, we pretend everything is OK. Often both parties will pretend even when both parties know there is a problem. One of the most important love skills you can learn is to be honest. Refuse to live lies or to accept lies as truth. Have truthful conversations with yourself and others. It allows you to get to the core of issues faster. It empowers others to trust you. It relieves the stress of tiptoeing around the real issues. Learn to speak the truth in a spirit of love and kindness, and your life will be richer and more fulfilling.

My challenge to you this week:
In a situation that is challenging or frustrating to you, find a way to express love. Perhaps it's time to call a truce, forgive someone who has done you wrong, tell the truth or be more patient. What could you do to be more loving?

Journaling assignment:
What makes the person most important to you feel loved? What are three ways that you could incorporate more of it into your interaction with this person? What makes you feel loved? How could you communicate this in a loving way?

Until next time...

Warm wishes,
Valorie's Signature 

Friday, February 4, 2011

Introducing Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success

Introducing Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success

In April 2011, the VitalSmarts team of best-selling authors and world-class speakers will release their fourth book, Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success, a follow-up to their blockbuster hits Crucial Conversations and Influencer. To see what Change Anything is all about, watch author Joseph Grenny's introduction to the book and topic by going here.

Are you intrigued and want more? Pre-order your book by clicking the image of the book!

As part of the release and promotion of Change Anything, FIVE STAR is offering a discount on speaker fees for any speaking events booked between April and June 2011. Now’s your chance to bring one of the VitalSmarts authors to your next event to share their science behind personal and organizational change which is already being heralded as a "strategic, step-by-step guide to breaking longstanding bad habits" and a "smart, sensible work" for "adopting—and sticking to—better behaviors" (Publishers Weekly, January 10, 2011)
 
Choose from the following discount options:(events MUST take place in April 2011, May 2011 or June 2011).

Option 1: Receive a presentation by one of the VitalSmarts authors and 100 copies of the book (a $37K value) for a total price of $12,500 (plus first class air and travel expenses.)

Option 2: Receive a presentation by one of the VitalSmarts authors and 200 books (a $40K value) for a total price of $15,000 (plus first class air and travel expenses.)


 


Note: Lower fee options are also available. VitalSmarts has a team of New York Times bestselling authors, researchers, and business strategy experts. FIVE STAR can recommend the right speaker to make your next event extraordinary!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

NBC’s Minute To Win It Live is now available for corporate and private parties.

NBC’s Minute To Win It Live is now available for corporate and private parties. With a corporate appropriate host, we bring the live show to corporate events and private parties. Please let me know if you would like more information.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Congrats Britt for Booking Cynthia Nixon!

CYNTHIA NIXON
Brittanny Kreutzer, Account Executive & the ultimate people connector at FIVE STAR just booked Cynthia Nixon for a client today! Most people know Cynthia from her role on Sex & The City as Miranda! It's always fun to book EVERYONE - and get the right person in front of our clients that provide them the most value - but, it's also pretty sweet to book a celeb you LOVE. (and - I'm loving me some Miranda & SATC!) So fun!