1) Conduct computer searches of your industry, your company and your competition. The advent of the internet has allowed Bob to bring some amazing creative ideas and value to his presentations and audiences. Bob is the Canadian ‘Idea Man’ and loves to share creative ideas and best practices with his audiences and readership;

2) When possible, conduct advance phone interviews with audience members, your leadership, your event planning team and industry leaders (sometimes incorporate their quotes into color visuals and/or handout materials as well as his comments.) Bob can work with you in creating a short survey to give you both better direction as he prepares his remarks.

3) Review your trade and industry print and e-publications; (You’ll need to send some for review). Perhaps, Bob can remind your audience of some of the tips, techniques and success stories they have forgotten or were too busy to read?

4) "Mystery shop" your retail establishments, whenever if appropriate. For example this Feb. (2006) Bob is keynoting in Cancun for a national Canadian Tire Chain and prior to flying to Mexico, plans on dropping in on their dealers in Alberta, BC, Ontario and Nova Scotia during his other travels. This will allow him to personally meet some of the leaders/owners who will be in the audience and perhaps glean some personal success stories to share with their colleagues.

5) You get value-added learning guides and handout materials that reflect and support your meeting theme. Bob will often create a ‘secret – just for your event attendees’ webpage with electronic copy of his learning guides and material, as well as additional resources for your audience. This allows you to reinforce your message and give on-going value to your team. Bob can also create a series of short, follow up articles for this purpose.

6) Create advance, teaser copy and articles that support your theme and create additional interest in your event and my session. For example, one of his groups recently did this. To Bob's dismay, they ended up with substantially over ½ of the conference audience in his breakout session (1 of 4 being held at the same time.) He ended up with standing room only and the organizers were scrambling to get additional handouts for those in attendance. Guess it worked, too well?

7) Titles and subjects are customized to your event. Bob is not locked into using specific topic titles. He gives them names as suggestions. Over the years he has been very creative in blending or personalizing his titles to support his clients across North America.

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Bob's professional presentation will be designed to fit your available time from 30 minutes to several days. He is experienced, professional and flexible enough to adapt when his segment needs to be cut or expanded unexpectedly. Bob will do whatever to accommodate your needs.

For example, he was able to slice and dice time on a program in San Francisco to get the meeting back on track, (from 75 min to 35 min) for which the meeting planner was overjoyed.

Bob customizes and tailors his programs for your group’s needs, as defined in our pre-program discussions, questionnaire and survey.

Over the years, Bob has worked in, consulted with and spoken to a wide range of audiences from a diverse collection of industries and fields, including the volunteer and professional association sectors.

The fact that Bob has researched and addressed such a wide range of audiences (more than he cares to count) is a big part of his on-going value to your team and organization.

Every group is different and has unique stories and connections. Bob has found that we face many similar challenges. In his areas of expertise, he brings the best practices and portable ideas of 'what works' and research from other industries to your group.

Now, based just north-east of Edmonton, Alberta; Bob brings a fresh, unique Canadian perspective and Alberta entrepreneurial view of what you do and what you can provide for your existing clientele.

Often, Bob hears, “Why didn’t I think of that?” in response to an idea or an area of opportunity not presently being explored or utilized. Bob brings solid value to his programs and the wider the net of experience and creative ideas he can share, the better for you and your team.

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A word of wisdom. In booking a presenter -- the farther out you can lock in a date the better chance you have of getting the presenter you really want, who will design and deliver the program you need for your group. You may even get a better price, if you lock a speaker a bit further. Visit our Successful Meetings Meeting Planner Resource website for more information.

Some speakers charge more for last minute fill-ins or bookings to offset the rush in preparation of both material and program… more so if you customize, as Bob does for each client. Bob sometimes has dates available within a couple of months, but is often booked 6 months to a year or more in advance.

Bob limits the amount of dates he accepts each year, including his fee-donated, reduced or non-profit ones.

For example, he sets aside time to present for 3 Toastmaster events each year, 2 CAPS Chapter events and a maximum of 2-4 NKBA Chapter events. Practicing what he preaches, in creating a flexible balance in his life!

As a presenter, our real inventory is our knowledge, which is sold or allocated to blank dates on a calendar. When booked, that date becomes yours. Bob will be glad to fill in for a last minute cancellation, if his schedule permits.

Call now to explore how to put Canadian motivational, business and association keynote speaker, inspirational leadership, sales and management trainer, Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey and his innovative Ideas At Work! for your company, convention or association event.

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Our commitment is to professionally serve you and your team and to be an active part in helping you succeed. Bob and his staff will handle all the details of your event in a professional and timely manner. Every effort will be made to keep necessary expenses and on-site equipment needs to a bare minimum.

You will never have any alcohol or extravagant expenses of any kind charged to your master account. Whenever possible, AIRFARE WILL BE PRORATED FAIRLY between clients. You will find we are always courteous and very accessible. NO ‘super star,’ ATTITUDES are allowed… we are here to serve you and Bob won't let us ever forget it! Please call when you are ready to plan your next great event. Use our North American, client toll free number (1-888-848-8407) when you are ready.

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Bob has a published fee schedule for keynote, breakout/concurrent sessions, up to half day and full day rates. Each December or January, he sets and locks in his fees for the subsequent year. In addition, he can work out special pricing for spaced repetition, if your situation is applicable to that format. Call us for a quote today.

Keep in mind the value of your speaker is often less than you would invest for a drink or dessert for each of your participants. Protect your conference investment – leverage your training dollars. Invest with a professional like Bob.

If you are planning a conference, why not plan to fully use Bob’s services and only pay one travel fee and accommodation fee? This can save you from having to hire several presenters. You can have him do a motivational keynote, or interactive breakout, an executive training or debriefing, moderate a panel, MC a lunch or awards banquet, or a combination of several activities on the same day. Other than a possible small fee for additional materials and preparation, Bob is pleased to offer this extended service to assist you and your team keep your expenses in line.

Details for any additional costs such as: pre-meeting briefings, research, extensive creation of customized training materials (Bob provides customized handout masters at no additional charge for his motivational keynotes), or post meetings, bulk orders of publications, custom design or consulting service fees are available. Call us at 1-888-848-8407 for details.

In addition to speaking fees, there is a modest $60 per diem (where applicable) to offset non-event included meals, etc. Incidentals (such as airport departure fees, shuttles, taxi’s etc, are limited to a maximum of $100 per engagement, unless otherwise agreed.) Mileage, as applicable, is .44/KM in Canada.

Having been an event planner and an active consultant to the meetings industry, Bob pro-actively works with his clients to keep travel expenses to a minimum. Wherever possible he will travel coach fare discounted by clients sharing. If his schedule permits, he will travel to accommodate Saturday or multiple nights to maximize travel discount. Often, even after picking up additional night’s accommodation and per diem you (client) can save substantially on airfares.

For example, on a trip to PEI for SUBWAY™, he saved his client over $800 (even after client coverage of meals and two additional nights.) In another example, Bob was able to save a New Jersey client close to $1000 by stopping over in Toronto (staying with friends) for the weekend, en route.

Note: Airfares will be booked by Bob’s agent at best available price; with the understanding (unless a last minute fill-in) that client will reimburse Ideas At Work! immediately on receipt of invoice - prior to Bob flying to your engagement.

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Other than a last minute booking (less than 30 days), we sometimes extend a 2% discount when the client pays our fee in full at the time of booking. We also offer special pricing for multiple days, and series engagements. Ask how you can leverage and reinforce your training dollars by booking multiple events.

For example, in the fall of 2003, Bob created and conducted a 3-part (monthly) leadership training series, “Prepare Yourself to WIN!” for one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies’ President and VP Group. They went on to break the billion dollar retail sales mark the following year.

Many NSA and CAPS speakers claim they don’t give discounts – that is not really accurate. Many of us do in specific cases – often we find ways to creatively work with our clients or groups we would like to help, who do not have the normal fees to engage us.

We work with you by tapping or leveraging your education budget, helping you in finding sponsorships or working out a trade off for fees. If it is a non-profit registered charity or church group, in working with you to do a joint fundraiser with a split fee. Ask us how we can help you afford to engage Bob for your group.

For example, Bob has been sponsored to speak at National Kitchen and Bath Chapter events, November (2004) where UPS sponsored him at a CT. Association of Realtors™ Leadership Summit in Groton, or more recently where NAPA sponsorship enabled him to speak for OK Tire in Cancun (Feb. 2006).

Over the years Bob has occasionally worked out special arrangements when the engagement was in a location he wanted to visit – such as Cancun, San Diego, Phoenix, or Hawaii, October through May. Bob travels as needed, but is especially open to going somewhere warn during the winter months. After all, it does get a bit cool, during those months, where he has his creative offices in Northern Alberta.

You might get a deal if Bob can visit his family and friends, or visit a CAPS or NSA Chapter en route or in your destination. Call and see if you are in one of Bob’s target destination cities.

For example, Bob has been booked to present in sunspots on numerous occasions in winter months, and in each case the client got bonus value-added services as a token of Bob's appreciation for the warmth. He will be speaking in Cancun again in Feb. (06) and is doing a motivational keynote with a bonus (value-added) interactive session following lunch for a national Canadian Tire Chain.

Toastmasters International recognized a need to challenge and recognize those members whose speaking abilities and professionalism are of the highest caliber. In 1981, they initiated the professional level, Accredited Speaker designation with stringent qualifications and a challenging two-tiered judging process. Each fall, qualified Toastmasters from around the world are invited to submit audition tapes, which are juried by an international panel of judges.

If the speaker is deemed good enough in the first round of judging, they are invited to present a live presentation at the world conference in front of a live audience and a panel of five judges. Only, if 4 out of 5 judges concur, does the successful applicant receive the award.

In 1995, Bob was one of only 5 speakers world-wide invited to present in San Diego, California. In 1996, one of only two world-wide invited to speak in St. Louis, Mo.

In 1998, in Palm Dessert, Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey, DTM, PDG walked across the World Stage and was inducted into their Hall of Fame, as the 48th Accredited Speaker in Toastmasters 75 year history.

2200 plus cheering Toastmasters shared that moment with Bob – a highlight of his speaking career to that time. Bob remains the last person to receive this highest speaking honor and the last Accredited Speaker for the 20th Century. There were no successful speakers inducted in 1999 or 2000. The next successful inductees were in 2001.

To date (2007): there are only 56 Accredited Speakers world-wide, and just 7 of them are from Canada.

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Bob is along time professional member and professionalism advocate of the National Kitchen & Bath Association and continues to serve as a teaching professional with their in-house speaker’s bureau. He earned accreditation as one of 75 Canadian professional designers, as a Certified Kitchen Designer, in 1993.

After a number of years away from active design, Bob retired his designation in 2004 and was awarded the Certified Kitchen Designer – Emeritus (CKDE) designation in recognition of his leadership and commitment to the industry. Schedule permitting, he continues to travel to 2-3 NKBA Chapters each year.

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Many of Bob’s readers have seen the picture of him wrestling a tiger (on bottom of page) and asked about it.

Like many of us, when Bob was going to College, he worked to pay his way. One of the positions he had with a home show promoter, was to host special guests such as Playboy’s Miss April 1963.

The picture of Bob and the Tiger was taken on his 21st birthday, when he was engaged to work with a 400-pound Bengal Tiger and do daily shows at the Edmonton Home Show. Bob learned first hand how to work co-operatively with a larger, more powerful force and the value of being prepared. He also learned first hand the value of persuasion and a more gentle approach to leadership and teamwork working with GT.

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Bob now has a creative office where he lives part of the year in the Northern Prairies just outside Edmonton, Alberta. He frequently sits in on coffee chats with some of the local farmers. A year or two after he moved his offices to the country, he began to recognize parallels between what he did and what the local farmers did. He has to work the land (potential clients) to prepare for a successful seeding of ideas, he needs to fertilize and care for them until ready for harvest and then needs to work to harvest and bring them to market.

Sowing his ideas (presentations and publications) has brought him some amazing results, recognition and success over the years. This term reminds him to he needs to keep farming if he wants to continue providing solid value to his clients and readers. He is committed to assisting his clients and readers in growing their leadership, career and organization, profitably to the next level. Engage his creative services today!

A catalyst is an agent of change – something happens when a catalytic agent is in place and Bob is fully committed to being a creative leadership catalyst for his readers and audiences. In that leadership role, Bob regularly challenges them to re-visit, re-examine and re-frame their belief systems, ideas, processes and ways of looking and doing things. This is the essence of what makes him so valuable to his clients… he gently pushes them outside their comfort zone to grow to the next level. Call now to engage his creative mind and put his Ideas At Work! for your leadership, team, or event.

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Bob will provide customized learning guides or handouts for your group. These pdf masters will be sent to you at least two weeks prior to the event for your duplication. Our suggestion is to over print 10-15% of estimated attendance. It is better to have some left over, than have people not getting one, as that reflects badly on both the speaker and the organizer. In the event of Bob using a power point presentation, it will be emailed to you at the same time so you can arrange to have it loaded and ready to use when he arrives.

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Subscribe to Bob's Ideas@Work! e-zine

Your confidence and support, as we work together toward our agreed goals and learning outcomes. In addition to your organization’s leaders and key players, Bob would like access and contact information to at least 5-10 people representing a cross section of those people who will actually be in the room.

Part of Bob’s continued success is built on building relationships and finding out in advance, what people in his audiences need; and then endeavoring to give it to them in an easy to understand and apply method.

At the successful completion of our time together, Bob would appreciate a letter of reference or usable quote. Another group, just like yours, may appreciate learning of your experience and this will help them decide to engage Bob for their team.

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