Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ's)

A motivational speaker inspires in the moment. A motivation specialist helps people understand what actually drives them, individually and as a team, so they can keep themselves motivated when I am not in the room. I am interested in lasting change, not just the buzz. That means I bring the science of motivation, practical models people can use straight away, and the option to go deeper with Motivational Maps if you want measurable insight for your team.

The honest answer is usually no, for the same reasons your venue and your caterer charge you. Speaking is my profession, not my hobby.98% of the time I speak for a fee.

I do, like most speakers, sometimes choose to do a ‘no-fee’ or expenses only speaking event either because it has the right people in the room i.e some potential clients, I’m speaking for the Professional Speaking Association (aka The PSA) or I occasionally speak for a charity that is special to me. I am always happy to have an honest conversation about it, so do ask.

It depends, which I know is a frustrating answer. My fee varies with the sector, the format, the travel involved and how much preparation and follow up the work needs. A short keynote for a local association is a different proposition to a full conference keynote or a workshop plus Motivational Maps® for all the delegates. I am open about fees and happy to talk them through, and if I am not the right fit for your budget or your brief, I will gladly point you towards someone who is.

I usually charge standard travel expenses and, where needed, accommodation. Whatever we agree, it will be clear and in writing before the day.

That motivation and mental health are connected. In all my years doing this work I have never met anyone with high motivation and poor mental health. When we understand what drives us and build our work and lives around it, wellbeing tends to follow. When we are motivated, engagement, performance and wellbeing is improved. That idea sits at the heart of my TEDx talk, What Drives Us, and everything else I do.

I work across business, education, healthcare, the care sector and professional associations, and I have delivered for schools and organisations including the NHS, AstraZeneca, Trinity College Cambridge and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.

Sailing is genuinely part of my life, including an Atlantic crossing on a tall ship, and it shapes how I talk about motivation. A voyage needs a destination, a crew that knows its role, and the ability to adjust to the conditions rather than fight them. Motivation works the same way. My company is called Plain Sailing Motivation because my job is to help your people navigate work and life, not to promise the sea will always be calm.

Warm, honest and practical. People tell me I am down to earth and easy to listen to, and that I give them tools they can actually use rather than a sugar rush that fades by Monday. I draw on real experience, mine and other people’s, and I aim for those “me too” moments where the room realises they are not the only one.

My TEDx talk, What Drives Us: Rethinking Motivation, Engagement and Mental Health, is online and a good place to start, and there are more clips across my channels. I am also a Finalist for Best TEDx Speaker at The Speaker Awards 2026, if that is helpful for your decision

Keynotes are a big part of what I do, but not the whole picture. I also run training, interactive workshops, team and individual Motivational Coaching sessions, and I have a set of motivational postcards that work brilliantly as a takeaway or as the basis for ongoing team conversations. We can shape the format around your goals and your time. I’m also happy to speak as a panel member.

Not much, and I will send a clear pre-event checklist well ahead of time. As a guide I prefer a clip on or discreet headset microphone so I can move and connect with the audience rather than stand behind a lectern, and I will confirm slide and AV needs with you in advance. My aim is to be easy to work with and to make you look good.

I am based in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, so the East of England, the Midlands, London and the South East are all very easy. I also travel nationally and internationally. Travel and accomodation just gets factored into how we work out the fee.

Because I bring experience as much as expertise. As someone living with a disability and having had cancer twice, I know how challenging life can be. I have a genuine specialism in how motivation and wellbeing connect. I do not do hit and run. I turn up early, get involved, and care about your people still feeling the benefit weeks later.

Get in touch through the website or by email and tell me a little about your event, your people and what you want them to walk away with. We will have a proper conversation, I will send you a clear proposal, and from there I make the process as plain sailing as possible.

Motivational Maps are a simple, validated diagnostic that shows what truly motivates a person or a team, scored across nine motivators grouped into Relationship, Achievement and Growth. You do not need audience members to complete a Motivational Map® Report. They are an optional way to turn a great talk into something measurable and lasting, whether for an individual, a team or a whole leadership group.