October 21, 2009 11:46 AM

George W. Bush to Speak at Motivational Seminar

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Republicans
(AP/Keith Srakocic)
Updated 1:39 p.m. ET on Oct. 22nd

On Monday, former President George W. Bush will be the "special guest speaker" at the "Get Motivated! Business Seminar" in Fort Worth, Texas, according to the event's Web site.

"Attend This Dynamic Seminar to INCREASE Your Productivity and Income!" the Web site says.

Other listed speakers include Gen. Colin Powell, who will discuss leadership, former football player Terry Bradshaw (speaking on competitiveness), former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani (perseverance), and a trio of motivational speakers – Zig Ziglar, Dr. Robert Schuller, and Tamara Lowe.

Lowe, the Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Get Motivated! Seminars, told Hotsheet that Mr. Bush is the sixth former president to speak at one of the organization's seminars. Former presidents Clinton, Bush Sr., Reagan, Ford, and Carter spoke as well, she said, and other speakers have included Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Speakers are "generally compensated" for their remarks, Lowe said, though some wave their honorarium or donate it to charity. She said she is contractually forbidden from discussing Mr. Bush's compensation or that of the other speakers.

There is a write-up accompanying each speaker on the Get Motivated! Web site, with the exception of Mr. Bush; Bradshaw, for example, will tackle how to "Turn Workplace Stress into Gridiron Success," while Ziglar will discuss "How to Happily Live Life on Life's Terms."

A representative for Mr. Bush confirmed that the former president is planning to speak at the conference.

"He's proud to appear before the thousands of small businessmen and women who will be attending the get motivated conference in Fort Worth," said David Sherzer.

"He'll offer reflections from his presidency, including some of the lessons he's learned," Sherzer continued. He said the former president is looking forward to discussing "decision-making and managing complex organizations, which he had the opportunity to do at the highest level."

Lowe said past presidents had talked about their experience and challenges in the White House and offered insights on current events.

Advance tickets for the all-day event, to be held at the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena, go for $4.95. (It is also possible to "Send Your Entire Office for Only $19 – Not Per Person But Per Office")

Lowe said that between 10,000 and 50,000 people attend each "Get Motivated!" seminar. Typically on sale at the event are motivational CDs such as the ones listed here.

"Your life will be changed and you will leave refreshed, ready to rise to the top of the pack and achieve your dreams," the Web site says. "Everyone who's anyone will be there! Will you?"

Lowe said the event is designed to "give the average American the opportunity to be able to experience the really amazing story of being face to face with the greatest leaders and achievers on the planet."

She added that it allows attendees to "kind of get the download" on "how they got to the top."

Add a Comment See all 47 Comments
by pjk12 October 30, 2009 12:26 PM EDT
Perhaps he could repeat the little skit done at the Radio & TV Assoc. Dinner - joke and pretend to look for non-existent weapons fo mass destruction. To make it really entertaining Get Motivated! could display picures of bodies blown apart in the background while he jokes about it. Yea, that would be funny - not!

What on earth could that creature share about motivation? How to make a profit off war and the deaths of young men and women? How to profit by destroying another country and stealing its assets? How to use your father's financial and political influence to evade the draft?

I don't want to hear anything George W. Bush has to say unless he speaking at his murder trial.
Reply to this comment
by scgreenberg October 21, 2009 6:20 PM EDT
I work as a motivational speaker, and in my industry, fame goes a long way. If he can avoid political commentary and instead share stories, lessons learned and demonstrate some humanity, he'll connect with audience members from both sides of the spectrum. Americans have great affection for former presidents and turn out in large crowds to see them in person. Whether or not you like the guy, he's had an experience like no other. He's faced difficult decisions and certainly made some mistakes. That's where there's opportunity to motivate. No stranger to public speaking, he's certain to entertain.

www.scottgreenberg.com
Reply to this comment
by pjk12354 October 21, 2009 5:32 PM EDT
Aren't George W. Bush & motivational speaking a contradiction in terms?
Reply to this comment
by stuart-johns2 October 21, 2009 4:52 PM EDT
by IL-Independent October 21, 2009 2:11 PM EDT
by stuart-johns2 October 21, 2009 1:29 PM EDT
How did the Clinton's "tear apart" Air Force One? Funny. I don't remember hearing anything about that? I'd like to read about that. Got a link by chance? A source?

Oh this is funny coming from you. You are one of the kings of lies, and you have the nerve to ask for a source. LOL
===================

And your comment is even funnier. Who said anything about lies???
Reply to this comment
by Oregon_State_OSU October 21, 2009 4:41 PM EDT
I would not pay a dime to hear GWB's "Get Motivated! Business Seminar" in Fort Worth, Texas.

The worst president in US HISTORY GWB with the most corrupt V.P of all time. I hope somebody pelts him with an EGG !
Reply to this comment
by HemiHead66 October 21, 2009 2:54 PM EDT
I am not a Bush fan and am definetly not an obama fan. but under Bush 05-06 we had one of the lowest unemployment% in history until people like your beloved obama took office in 06 and then obama in 08 started to trash this country so stop with all the it's all Bushes fault BS and all your hate filled posts. you go on and on about the fear and hate mongoring from the other side but you and your kind are the worst or should I say the best at that? TRy taking the blinders off and put down the obama koolade
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You're the one drinking the Kool-Ade . Bush's economy was built on imaginary wealth. Borrowed money. Zero substance. Borrow = spend = bubble = bust. And Obama and the Dems didn't take anything over in 2006. The senate was split evenly because Lieberman was a turncoat. Pelosi couldn't even pass a bill in 2008 to stop speculation in oil futures because the Republicans killed it. You need to stay away from FOX and Limbaugh.
Reply to this comment
by BushIsAnIdiot October 21, 2009 3:02 PM EDT
Good call HemiHead.
by IL-Independent October 21, 2009 3:40 PM EDT
Your so full of it. But if that is what you want to believe then be my guest
See all 5 Replies
by HemiHead66 October 21, 2009 2:41 PM EDT
by IL-Independent
Do you want to know why Pelosi did not file charges against Bush? Because she knew with out a doubt that it would take down some of the key democrats in congress.
================
Yeah - there might have been some Dems involved. The same ones that are giving Obama problems with healthcare today. Like those Blue-Dogs that side with the Republicans most of the time. Pelosi should've hung them all out to dry. I think she didn't do it because she was scared. With all of those people's heads on the line - she would've turned up hanging in her closet with a suicide note attached to her shirt.
Reply to this comment
by IL-Independent October 21, 2009 3:41 PM EDT
Pelosi, Reid, Dodd, were all a part of this. Everyone knows it
by HemiHead66 October 21, 2009 2:29 PM EDT
by IL-Independent
Stuart,

Sir I do not understand where you get this 19% number when 46% of the American people voted for John McCain. Now I know you like to believe that only 19% of this country is Republican, but that is wrong. The other thing I would like to point out is that there is no way in hell that 80% are Democrats. So stop using these numbers when you use them to falsify information

19% of Americans Approved of Bush's Job rating.

50% right now (down 30% in one year) approve of Obama. Hell at least at this time during Bush's years, more people liked him.

Stop using the numbers wrong, because we all know it is a lie
=================
The only reason why Obama's numbers are down are because of lies about healthcare and a number of other things put out by the Republicans and their crony friends. And the PNAC mafia did destroy this country. They lied us into war. They didn't pay any attention to what Democrats had to say - they just ran right over them. Fired judges. Refusing to testify. Hid environmental reports. Lied about torture / murder. Bush even tried to free himself of war crimes going all the way back to 2001. I think he actually passed that one. The Republicans ran rough-shot over the White House for eight years.
Reply to this comment
by IL-Independent October 21, 2009 3:44 PM EDT
What ever bud
by stuart-johns2 October 21, 2009 5:00 PM EDT
Hey Il-Independent. It's been all over the media. 19% of Americans currently identify themselves with the Republican Party. It's not my figure. I did'nt make it up. Go read the polls! And stop embarrassing yourself.
by BushIsAnIdiot October 21, 2009 2:03 PM EDT
Oh isn't that cute. Who exactly is he going to be motivating though? Just how many other mentally challenged people wanting to become president by becoming a shill for the oil companies will be attending this seminar? I guess they can shoot a little lower and become a CEO of some financial corporation where their greed and incompetence wouldn't necessarily destroy the country's and world's economy. Well on the other hand I'm guessing you would have to be mentally challenged to pay more then a nickle to listen to the worst president in US history stammer on and on like some sort of insane jackass.
Reply to this comment
by HemiHead66 October 21, 2009 2:01 PM EDT
You mean there's actually somebody left that wants to hear what Bush has to say? If you're the leader of a country looking for tips on how to spur growth - you better run as fast as you can while you still have a chance. The last thing you want to do is turn 70% of your economy into borrowers that keep the Chinese employed. To this day I can still hear Bush saying - we're in the services business now. Yeah - we service everybody else's country while ours is spinning down the bowl.
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