A pitch to change from a man who’s changing

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Meet motivational speaker Red Katz

By Malka Eisenberg

Issue of January 1 2010/ 15 Tevet 5770

When Red Katz was down and out, he relied on his father’s advice to read Shir Hama’lot twice each morning.

“My Dad says, ‘I’m not any smarter, I’m just on the earth longer,’” Katz related. “Do this and somehow it works out.”

Asked to recommend a book for inspiration, he suggested “the Five Books of Moses,” the Torah, and then motivational books.

Red Katz is a motivational speaker who is an Orthodox Jew and speaks from personal experience. Born in Brooklyn, raised in Monsey and currently living on the Upper West Side, his education spanned Yeshiva Chaim Berlin, Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Rockland and Yeshiva University High School (MTA). He studied in Israel for a year at Yeshivat Hakotel and majored in business and economics at Queens College, learning once a week with an uncle affiliated with Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Queens.

Katz made his living working in “accessories” — men’s and women’s hats, gloves, scarves and bags-- for six years and had his own shop for 14. He was quite successful and sold his company and bought an apartment in Manhattan.  Katz still sells accessories and brokers Section Eight real estate deals, but his real passion is his side-job: motivational speaking.

About once a month he speaks to audiences of 20 to 250 people, ranging from college students to corporations. His clients have included Hofstra University, OU job fairs, and an African-American job fair.

He has received positive feedback via email from attendees with messages Katz himself finds motivational.

“I was inspired,” one person wrote.

“Your words were ringing in my ears.” “30 days later I got a job.”

Katz himself is still working out the details of his own life.

“I like to plan my life in one, three, five and ten year goals,” Katz said. “My ten year goal is to live in Israel for the three major holidays and speak and continue helping people. I don’t know what the nine-to-five would look like. I’m still searching so I can relate to people. My dream is to speak full time and get paid for it, where it can give me the financial freedom I want. It’s my passion and I love doing it; money comes second for me. It serves my soul,” he explained, “helping people who desperately need help.”

“People are really searching,” he continued. “I don’t have the answers, I’m just a guy with a gift for speaking and passing along a message. I feel like I’m not worthy. People are really looking for answers. I feel that there is a real need for someone like me in the Jewish community. I haven’t seen anything like it.”

Katz can be contacted at red@redspeaks.com — he’s working on a website, www.redspeaks.com, that he hopes will be up in about three months.