Blog - Jody Urquhart

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Overwhelmed with Work? Here’s How to Make Self-Care a Priority

May 14, 2025 No Comments

When you’re overwhelmed with work demands, self-care often feels like a luxury you can’t afford. But here’s the truth: the

Motivational Speaker Soothes Hustle Hangover with the Power of Deep Work

May 6, 2025 No Comments

As a motivational speaker I can be on the road alot, on exhausting travel days it feels like a hustle

Leadership Speaker: How to Get People to Take Initiative

May 1, 2025 No Comments

1. Make It Safe to Act Getting people to take initiative isn’t about pushing them—it’s about creating the right environment.

The Pitfalls of Hiring a Motivational Speaker: Inspiration Alone Isn’t Enough

April 24, 2025 No Comments

Hiring a motivational speaker can feel like a quick win — a burst of energy to shake things up and

How to Get People to Take Initiative

April 22, 2025 No Comments

Are you struggling to inspire initiative within your team? Learn to create an environment where people feel safe and valued,

How to Be a Motivational Speaker: Most Speeches Fail Because They’re Too Self-Centered

April 16, 2025 No Comments

Most speeches fail because they focus too much on the speaker rather than the audience. The mistake many speakers make

What Clients Are Saying

Tracy Dejong Discover Card

Jody creates breakthrough moments of self-reflection that fundamentally changes how teams collaborate.

Victoria McPheat Sunlife Global Investments

Jody’s use of comedy helped break down our defences and encouraged our team to stop living on autopilot

Marisol Kroll Kruger

This isn't about another motivational speech. It's about rewiring how professionals authentically engage, lead, and create meaningful workplace connections.

Donna Balter Cambridge Health Alliance

It’s a huge relief to experience a motivational speaker with no PowerPoint. You are authentic, hilarious and relatable.

𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞. 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞.

That was me.
High-functioning. Applauded. "Fine."

But behind the scenes?
Anxiety. Emptiness. Disconnection.

I still remember standing alone after a big event—heels on, claps fading—feeling invisible.

That’s what anxiety does.
It hides behind perfection and silence.

What helped me?
Letting the mask slip. Naming my emotions. Talking to someone.

If you're feeling this too, try this:

1. Name it.
Labeling emotions helps you process them.

2. Understand it.
Your reactions are clues—listen.

3. Be kind to yourself.
You don’t have to fix it all—just be gentle.

4. Talk to someone.
Connection heals. Isolation doesn’t.

You’re not broken.
You’re human.
You’re not alone.

💬 What’s helped you deal with anxiety?
Let’s talk in the comments.

#mentalhealth #canadianmotivationalspeaker #burnout #humancenteredleadership

Your Team Sees It—Even If You Don’t.

(And it’s quietly breaking trust.)

( thank you 😊 photo credit a recent talk to the Retail Council )

When leaders keep choosing the same people—those who think, act, or work like them—it sends an unspoken message:

You matter more. Others? Not so much.

That breeds silos, resentment, and disengagement.

Favoritism isn’t harmless—it’s divisive.

A Journal of Business Ethics study shows it lowers morale, trust, and drives people out.

Most of the time? It’s not even intentional.
It’s just comfort.

But leadership isn’t about comfort—it’s about awareness.

✅ Want trust? Check your patterns.
✅ Want unity? Include those who challenge you—not just those who flatter you.

Strong teams aren’t built on favorites.
They’re built on fairness.

💬 What’s one habit leaders should unlearn to be more inclusive? Drop it below. 👇

#canadianmotivationalspeaker #humancenteredleadership #favoritism #inclusionmatters

Hi, I’m Jody—and I’m a fixer. Not like a mo

Hi, I’m Jody—and I’m a fixer.

Not like a mob fixer. More like, “You look sad—have you tried journaling?”

I used to think helping meant offering advice, solutions, or a TED Talk on personal growth on demand

Turns out, most people don’t need fixing.
They need me to shut up and listen.

Fixing says: “You’re broken.”
Listening says: “You’re human.”

So if you’re about to jump in with a solution… maybe don’t.
Just sit there and be kind. It’s harder than it sounds.

#StopFixingPeople #humancenteredleadership #LeadershipWithHeart #selfimprovementjunkie
#EmotionalIntelligence #SelfHelpHumor #CanadianMotivationalSpeaker #FemaleKeynoteSpeaker

You’re not addicted to results. You’re addicte

You’re not addicted to results.
You’re addicted to the chase.

It’s not the outcome you crave—it’s the rush of almost arriving.

The sprint. The grind. The pressure.

And when it’s over? You don’t feel relief.
You feel restless.
Because chasing gives you purpose.
Finishing makes you feel lost.

But here’s the thing:
You don’t need to keep earning your worth.
You were never meant to live on a treadmill of proving.

Real success isn’t about chasing—it’s about choosing.
Choosing what matters.
Choosing where your energy actually lands.
Choosing to be enough, even when you’re still becoming.

#LeadershipSpeaker #HumanCenteredLeadership #FemaleKeynoteSpeaker #MotivationalSpeaker #WorkplaceWellness #EndBurnout #LeadershipDevelopment #DoLessLeadMore #ReclaimYourEnergy #CanadianSpeaker

To the dedicated education and facility managers—I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.
Together, we’ll explore how to stop letting stress run the show—and start finding the joy in the important work you do every day.

#LeadershipWithHeart #FacilityManagers #EducationLeadership #JoyAtWork #BeatBurnout #MotivationalSpeaker #HumanCenteredLeadership #StressRelief #WorkplaceWellbeing #CanadianSpeaker

Stop Being Nice. Start Being Kind. One connects. T

Stop Being Nice. Start Being Kind.
One connects. The other avoids.

Being nice is about being liked.
Being kind is about being real.

Nice avoids conflict.
Kindness tells the truth—with care.

Nice says, “I’m fine,” when you’re not.
Kindness says, “This isn’t working,” and invites honesty.

Kindness doesn’t perform—it connects.

It doesn’t gloss over—it works through.
It doesn’t sugarcoat—it sets boundaries.

The cost of being “nice”?
→ Your voice
→ Your energy
→ The depth you deserve

When you manage everyone’s feelings,
you lose touch with your own.

Kindness makes it real. Niceness keeps it surface.

So stop being nice.
Start being kind.

#HumanCenteredLeadership
#FemaleKeynoteSpeaker
#CanadianMotivationalSpeaker
#AuthenticLeadership
#KindnessOverNiceness
#SpeakYourTruth
#LeadWithKindness
#BoundariesAreKindness
#RealConnection

Don’t Just Talk Culture—Write a Speech That Bu

Don’t Just Talk Culture—Write a Speech That Builds It

I was recently asked to help a leader write a speech on belonging at work.

But speeches are so… linear.

I’m a visual thinker (and a recovering overtalker), so I created a mind map instead.

Here it is—because when it comes to belonging, I always come back to three things:
Being seen. Feeling safe. Knowing you matter.

Or as I like to say: no one ever felt truly included because they crushed their KPIs.

Let me know what hits home for you.

#BelongingAtWork #HumanCenteredLeadership #WorkplaceHumor #MotivationalSpeaker #FemaleKeynoteSpeaker #TeamConnection #LeadershipWithHeart #CultureShift #EmployeeEngagement #NoPowerPointJustPeople

95% of Self-Talk Is a Choice—Here’s How to Tak

95% of Self-Talk Is a Choice—Here’s How to Take Control

If you talked to your team the way you talk to yourself… you’d probably get fired.

Most of our self-talk isn’t kind—it’s critical, anxious, or downright harsh. But here’s the truth: 95% of self-talk is automatic—but not unchangeable.

You don’t have to believe every thought that pops into your head.
You don’t have to take direction from a voice that doesn’t serve you.

Not every thought deserves your attention.
Not every story needs to be lived out.

Let’s stop letting old narratives run the show.

#MindsetShift #SelfTalk #MotivationalSpeaker #Leadership #BurnoutRecovery #MentalWellbeing #FemaleKeynoteSpeaker #LeadershipSpeaker #JodyUrquhart

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