A MOTIVATIONAL speaker who visited the Island this week has credited his tough childhood with making him the success he is today.
Richard McCann was five years old when his mother became the first victim of the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe.
It is this, and the difficult childhood that he faced thereafter, that Richard has credited with giving him the courage and determination to succeed as a bestselling author and motivational speaker.
Richard was invited to the Island by Anne Gundry, the head of student services at the Isle of Man College, after she heard him speaking at a UK conference.
He spent his time in the Island delivering presentations to secondary school students, members of the Chartered Management Institute and Institute of Directors and as one of the guest speakers at a conference organised by The Children's Centre.
In his presentations he spoke about the key strategies that helped him survive his turbulent past and create the life he wanted. He also taught students the importance of preparation, attitude and taking responsibility for their actions.
He explained: "I love what I do, I'm passionate about what I do and my theme is always about having an "I can" attitude.
"For example right now we are talking about the difficult economy and change. Change has always been a key message for motivational speakers but right now it's massive.
"Yes it is hard out there right now and there is a shortage of jobs - but there are jobs out there.
"Whatever job you do – even if it's stacking boxes in a warehouse – be the best at it that you can be - make yourself indispensible.
"I know it's difficult out there but there is always something you can do. Just do whatever it takes to improve your situation – that's always been my motto.
"You can all do more than you think you can. Believe in yourself – that's the key. You're a walking miracle."
Speaking about his own success Richard said it was "fantastic despite the terrible start".
He explained: "The book that I wrote (Just a Boy which sold more than 400,000 copies) would not have been the bestseller that it was if that had not happened to Mum."
Just a Boy led Richard to his career in motivational speaking after he was approached by someone, who had heard him promoting it on Radio 4, who wanted him to speak at a conference they were organising.
Richard continued: "Up until then I was always fearful of meeting people - I was a very fragile person with no self esteem or confidence but I thought it might be good for me. I went along and did an abysmal job – it was terrible.
"That year I spoke three times and then in 2006 someone suggested I joined the Professional Speaking Association to see what other people did. I went along and was blown away by them. I thought 'that's what I need to be doing'. I walked away from university (where he was a mature student) and the rest is history.
"I'm not naive - I realise that success came from the fact that Mum died at the hands of Peter Sutcliffe. Of course I would give it all up tomorrow to have Mum back but that is not going to happen.
"I don't think I'd have been as successful at speaking had that not happened to Mum. You could say that success has partly come due to what happened.
"I think what it's done it for me is that it's given me the courage to get on stage, not give up and to persevere and get better and improve.
"I absolutely love what I do - for every person I inspire it means my Mum's death wasn't in vain."
Richard McCann is the president of the Professional Speaking Association in the North East. For more information on Richard visit www.richardmccann.co.uk.
