VJ Smith
Biography

V.J. Smith has been a professional speaker for more than a decade. He is also a published author.

Smith has also been a bill collector, solar collector salesman and a fundraiser. "Being a child of the early '70s, it took me a little while to figure out what I wanted to do with my life," he says.

As for his speaking ability, he credits that with growing up with three brothers and four sisters. "You had to learn to talk loud and fast or you didn't get much to eat," Smith muses. Drawing on his lifetime experiences, Smith peppers his talks with anecdotes and personal stories to illustrate key points. He feels he is better equipped to be a storyteller, not a preacher.

Smith honed his speaking skills through his membership in Toastmaster's International. On two occasions he was a finalist in that organization's 'World's Championship of Public Speaking. '

A 1978 graduate of South Dakota State University, Smith spent the decade of the 1980s working for the Allied Signal Aerospace Company in Kansas City, MO. He returned to his alma mater in 1990 to serve as Assistant Athletic Director for the SDSU athletic program. He was appointed Executive Director of the SDSU Alumni Association in 1996 and resigned from that position in January 2007 due to the overwhelming requests for speaking appearances.

Smith is the author of the book, The Richest Man in Town.

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SIMPLE CHOICES, BIG REWARDS

We are judged by the choices we make.  In our personal lives and in our business lives, we are faced with simple choices on how we interact with the people around us.  In this talk, V.J. focuses on five key situations we face each day.  Members of the audience will laugh and reflect on their choices during this one-hour rapid-fire session.

WHERE IS YOUR THERE?

It can be a life changing experience to write down your goals. The seven "file folders"of your life include: Family; Financial; Career; Educational; Community; Spiritual; and, Self. What do you want to do? What do you want to see? What would make your life complete? Giving deep thought to each of these areas and then writing down goals will provide a road map for a fulfilling life. It's a transformational experience and you are never too old (or young!) to start.

EXCEPTIONAL IS AS EXCEPTIONAL DOES

Drawing on his twenty-plus years as a manager, which included a stint in a Fortune 100 company, V.J. shares the qualities that separate the exceptional employee from the average employee. This is guaranteed to be a real eye-opener for many members of the audience. Using the categories V.J. illustrates, the listener will make a personal assessment on where they stand on the "Exceptional Scale"and the potential areas of improvement. As is his speaking style, V.J. uses appropriate anecdotes and humorous stories to drive home key points - and to keep the audience entertained.

REPLENISHING THE OH-ZONE

Do you want to put new life in customer relations? Or, your personal relationships? Successful people and admired leaders share a common trait - they are great listeners. In this lively and entertaining one-hour talk, V.J. hits a homerun in getting audience members to reflect on their own listening skills and the simple steps to improve. V.J. is a fantastic storyteller and his memorable stories are sure to inspire and motivate about the great difference maker in life - listening.

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VJ Smith

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