Karl Mecklenburg Q&A with Robert Tuchman

Karl Mecklenburg was one of the last players to be drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 12th round of 1983—he was the 310th pick overall. But despite his low selection, Mecklenburg went on to become an integral part of the Broncos’ Super Bowl teams of the 1980’s. He played in six Pro Bowls and his 79.5 sacks is the second highest total in franchise history. In 2001, during half time of a game against the Baltimore Ravens, he and Dennis Smith were inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame. He is also in the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and serves on the Broncos Alumni Council. Since retiring from pro football in 1994, Mecklenburg divides his time between family, motivational speaking, and his ongoing charity involvements.

In my most recent column for Incentive Magazine, I interview NFL legend Karl Mecklenburg about his career, his post-NFL public speaking engagements and, most importantly, what drives his motivation. (Remember, you can read my articles here or you can always read them at incentivemag.com.)

Q. What is your typical speaking topic?

Karl Mecklenburg : My presentations revolve around the keys to success with an emphasis on teamwork and leadership. Many of the same qualities that allowed me to be successful in the NFL are keys to success in business, in achieving personal goals and in relationships. My six keys are teamwork, courage, dedication, honesty and forgiveness, desire and goal setting.

Q. Tell me about your career after football…

KM: After retiring from the NFL, I dabbled in broadcasting and coaching but had a hard time recreating the adrenalin and satisfaction of playing football. I have found that the preparation, pre-event adrenalin and high-level performance that keynote speeches demand are very similar to the demands of the NFL. I loved playing football but speaking gives me the same level of excitement along with the opportunity to change lives.

Q. What do you enjoy most about giving speeches?

KM: Both of my parents have been involved in public service. My father is an obstetrician gynecologist and my mother has been a right-to-life activist and was deputy secretary of health and human services in the Reagan administration. I was raised with the understanding that I would do something socially significant with my life. Speaking fulfills that desire.

Q. How do you prepare for these speaking engagements?

KM:When preparing a speech I will speak with the meeting planner and ask questions about the reason for the meeting, the organization’s mission statement, what the biggest challenges are that the attendees face, the size and makeup of the audience and how long I have to speak. I organize my presentation around their needs. Taking the information I have gathered about the client, I arrange appropriate football and family stories around the points that they have asked me to stress.

I am a story teller. I don’t use a PowerPoint. Most of the conferences that I present at have days of PowerPoint presentations. They don’t need another one from me.

Q. Do you enjoy the interaction with clients, signing autographs and taking pictures?

KM: One of the most rewarding and I think necessary parts of my job is meeting people, signing things and posing for pictures. My impact on audience members lives is multiplied when they feel a personal attachment to me. By taking the time to listen to their stories and relate to them personally, the significance of what I said grows exponentially in their minds. I am always one of the last to leave a venue.

Q. Most outrageous thing you have been asked to do by a client who booked you?

KM: I haven’t had clients ask me to do outrageous things, but I had a humorous challenge at an event once. I was at an event with an inflatable stick battle pit. The kids there had a blast thumping each other harmlessly with the air filled weapons. The guy running the attraction recognized me and challenged me to battle. After he talked a little trash, I decided to take him on. There we each were: bent over with our sticks flat on the inflated surface; in a four-point stance; face to face in the middle of the moon-walk-like battle pit. He said, “Ready. Set. Go,” and I hit him in the chest before he moved. He landed in the grass—unhurt but very surprised—after flipping over the low inflatable wall that kept the kids inside his contraption.

Q. How many private appearances and or speeches will you do a year?

KM: I had 35 speeches and appearances last year.

Q. Are your speeches more motivational, spiritual or comical?

KM: I believe that in order to motivate you need to entertain. My speeches are motivational, but humor is one of the ways that I keep my audience’s attention. I will also give spiritual talks for churches or church groups like FCA or Priority Associates.

Q. How do you come up with your speech topics?

KM: The “Six Keys to Success” has evolved from my life and football experiences and the feedback from years of making presentations. The specific speech topics I cover at a presentation are developed in concert with the organization I am speaking for.

Q. What motivates you to do speaking engagements?

KM: My mission as a speaker is to inspire long-term positive change in teams and individuals. I have found nothing more rewarding then receiving e-mails or running into people years later who tell me that my speech changed their life.

Q. Do you prefer speaking to certain types of groups or industries?

KM: I have been mostly presenting to associations lately but I can’t say that I have a favorite industry. My keys to success are universal principles so people from all walks of life will benefit.

Q. Favorite speech you gave or motivational moment?

KM: One time a woman came up to me after my presentation and she was crying. She told me that I reminded her of her deceased father, and that I had told her just what he would have said, had he been there and known her circumstances. Anytime I have an audience member say, “You told me” something, it means that we have connected, and that the other two hundred people in the room weren’t even part of the conversation in her mind. That’s the best!

Q. One of your favorite speakers to listen too?

KM: The pastor at my church is an amazing speaker. I have never walked away without learning something that I could apply to my life.

Q. How does the fact that you played in Denver consider into your business today?

KM: I still make Denver my home and am very involved in the community with my foundation and many other charitable interests. Having played my entire 12-year career with the Broncos identifies or brands me as the Bronco who does speaking. This opens some doors, but it also lumps me in with many athletes who take a fee and don’t do a good job. Ultimately, I would rather be known as the speaker who used to play for the Broncos.