Positively Speaking . . . A Very Funny Lady

Funny motivational speaker Linda Larsen gets results with people by helping them upgrade their thinking, and improve their communication skills, while laughing all the way to success. She does this in such extraordinarily fun, fast-paced and memorable ways that she is sought after around the globe by meeting planners looking to blow people’s socks off at their annual conferences.

Linda’s passion and spontaneous humor stem from over 20 years as a professional actress in film, television and on the legitimate stage. Her experience and training (she holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of South Florida and a Master of Fine Arts from FSU) give her the unique ability to combine the entertaining, dynamic aspects of live theater with practical, high-value content to produce lasting, positive changes. What makes Linda so sought after is her “Funny Factor.” Maybe it comes from performing in comedies along side Sid Caesar, Beau Bridges or Ed Harris (OK, perhaps he’s not so funny…). Maybe it comes from just having a bit of a whimsical, skewed look at the world, but Linda can find humor, comedy and hilarity in almost any situation and is more than happy to share that perspective with her audiences. The result? People REMEMBER information that is set to a backdrop of laughter and fun.

Her critically acclaimed book, True Power, is the riveting and true story of how she was kidnapped and held at gunpoint by an escaped convict for over 5 hours. Her escape, and the positive, practical strategies she used to rise above one of life’s most potent challenges led Investor’s Business Daily to feature her in its Leaders & Success column. And yes, she can even tell THIS story with moments of strategically placed humor.

Linda is the author of 5 video programs, and 2 audio programs, including the popular 12 Secrets to High Self-Esteem (over 80,000 copies to date). She has also written or been featured in over 100 articles in such publications as The Chicago Tribune, Women in Business, and Personal Excellence. She is a member of the National Speakers Association and is a Certified Speaking Professional, (CSP), an earned designation awarded by the National Speakers Association and the International Federation for Professional Speakers to recognize demonstrated commitment to the speaking profession through proven speaking experience. Only 175 women worldwide hold this designation.

She lives in beautiful Sarasota, Florida with her meteorologist husband (a/k/a the Weather Muffin), 4 wacky dogs, 1 plucky cat and Buster the Big Alligator.

NOTE: The Certified Virtual Presenter Badge verifies that a professional speaker has the right equipment, the right environment, and the right skill level to deliver an amazing virtual experience for every customer.

For more information about Linda’s Virtual Program offerings, go here. 

 

Most Popular Topics:

ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN

YOU! Super Hero! Super Star! Super Exhausted! – NEW!

How to Effectively Help Others Without Frying Your Golden Goose

(This high energy, fun session is particularly well suited for people in the healthcare and service industries, and for all women’s groups)

With all of life’s fast-paced, high stress demands, it becomes very easy to put ourselves rock-bottom last on our own “to-do” list.  And the result?  Compromised health, exhaustion, frustration, strained relationships, depression, guilt, and acute crankiness. In this incredibly funny, fast-paced and potentially life-saving session, attendees will learn practical, doable strategies that they can immediately put to use to bring more focus, mental acuity, good health and happiness into their lives.  They will recognize what they have been repeatedly doing (with the best of intentions) that adds to their stress levels, and how to proactively change those behaviors.  They will also leave knowing:

1. The number one thing most people do AUTOMATICALLY (many times a day) that takes them to the breaking point – and how to stop it!

2. One powerful technique to help them shift their emotional state from cranky and irritable to peaceful and relaxed within minutes.

3. How to say “no” without feeling guilty – in such a way that actually BUILDS relationships rather than compromises them.

4. Why “the pursuit of happiness” is not only a worthwhile goal – but a potentially life saving one as well.

5. How to turn “shark-infested waters” into gentle pools of happy angel fish (or… how to turn cranky people into happy ones!)

 

 

Staying Right Side Up When Everything’s Upside Down — Healthy, Happy Living in a Hurry-Up World

In this fast paced, FUN, presentation, audience members will learn how they can achieve MUCH greater physical and emotional health and reduce a lot of life’s heart-damaging stress – by increasing their “Happiness Quotient.” Linda’s riveting stories and hilarious anecdotes will give them very practical ideas to help them skip the light fantastic right over life’s most challenging obstacles and make much better choices to support their own heart-health. They will also learn:

1. The two top activities guaranteed to take them from misery to joy – instantly!

2. How they can resist succumbing to other people’s negativity and agony

3. One of the biggest things that we AUTOMATICALLY do that causes major stress in our lives – and how to stop it.

4. The number one tool to help people gain more control of the time and their life – and accordingly – their health!

5. The well known psychological principle that can either set them up for success or smash them into smithereens

6. Why the “pursuit of happiness” is not only a worthwhile goal – but a potentially life-saving one as well!

 

Playing to Win It’s Not Your Mother’s Playground Anymore

The rules in business today have changed. And yes, you can break the rules if you choose, but first you must know what they are. In this workshop, participants will learn the different ways that men and women approach situations and how they can adapt to meet challenges and solve problems effectively. They will investigate how, as women, they can position themselves for success – and actually strengthen relationships with others at the same time. Additionally they will learn:

1. 25 distinct differences in how men and women think and behave

2. How to ask for what they want in a way that works

3. Specific communication techniques that are a MUST when communicating with the opposite sex

4. 30 common mistakes most women make and how to avoid them

5. 7 keys to enjoying healthy competition6. Non-verbal body language that helps you get what you want – and that which undermines you.

 

MORE TOPICS:

All presentations and titles will be tailored specifically to your needs. While most are keynotes, several of them can be half day workshops (up to three hours). They can also be modified to be gender specific and/or re-titled. Linda will speak at length with the meeting planner and 3 or 4 of the organization’s high performance members to further customize her presentation.

 

Gripers Complainers & Whiners, Oh My! — How to Deal with Chronically Cranky People

They’re everywhere! We work with them, live with them and do business with them. And the truth is that they can make our lives miserable AND negatively impact our bottom line if we don’t know the most effective ways to deal with them. In this fun and lively session, participants will learn:

1. How to ask for what they want in such a way that dramatically increases the odds they will be heard and complied with

2. How to keep calm when tempers start to flare

3. Three human commonalities that they MUST know before they speak to anyone – cranky or otherwise!

4. How they can dramatically turn an irritable person into a pleasant one – by using Linda’s “Success Cycle”

5. How to de-escalate any disagreement

 

The Art of Providing Positively Outstanding Customer Service — How to Create Unprecedented Buyer Loyalty

Every single person in your organization IS your organization. Does everyone understand the vital role they have in creating and keeping customers who want to do business with you for life – AND refer all their friends to you? In this information-packed presentation people will learn very specific skills to help create the kind of environment that makes people LOVE you and your product or service, and sing your praises to anyone who will listen. Attendees will learn:

1. Three things about every human being that they MUST know before they ever interact with any customer

2. The #1 thing people will ALWAYS remember about their experience with you

3. The customer service words that work miracles – and the ones that create problems

4. How to de-escalate any potential problem really quickly

5. How to say “no” to a customer, or decline their request in such a way that actually leaves the person happy

6. The information that customers pick up about you before you ever open your mouth – and how to make that information the right stuff!

Innovate! Generate! Accelerate! — Inspiring Yourself and Others to New Heights of Creativity

In business today we cannot rely on past successes to keep us going. We must be continually thinking ahead, and in different and more creative ways. In this workshop, attendees learn how to inspire individuals, teams (and themselves, if necessary!) to new heights of productivity by challenging old assumptions and shifting perspectives. This presentation gives people the 5 essential tools they need to break out of their comfortable little boxes and be exponentially more creative. Interactive, fun and revealing! Attendees will also learn:

1. The #1 thing that stops most people from expressing their creativity

2. Twenty-one no and/or low cost ideas that will inspire people to go beyond what they think they can do

3. “Killer Phrases” – What they are and why they absolutely MUST be eliminated

4. The one essential creativity ingredient that is absent in most uninspired, uncreative, lackluster workplaces

5. Why change is resisted so fiercely – AND, how to get people to actually welcome it!

6. Ten qualities of highly creative people – that you ALREADY possess. How to bring them out of hiding and put them to work for you

 

Staying Right Side Up When Everything’s Upside Down — Achieving Excellence in Challenging Times

It is absolutely possible to achieve excellence when the world around you seems to be falling apart – IF you know the secrets. In this fast paced, fun program, Linda will give participants practical ways to light their own fire of excellence and motivate themselves to take positive, consistent action when they just want to give up. Attendees will learn what the most successful, effective people throughout history have all known and consciously applied. They will leave knowing:

1. How to acknowledge and enhance skills they already have

2. How to recognize, own and change behaviors that don’t serve them

3. How to stay level, calm and professional when their instincts make them want to scream

4. How to communicate effectively to resolve differences

5. How to take 100% responsibility for the interpretations they place on situations, circumstances and other people’s actions