APA05701

It’s been quite a while since Hall of Fame Speaker Marilyn Sherman has been to a Payroll Congress, so she was understandably thrilled when she learned she was going to be one of the three keynote speakers at the 40th Annual Payroll Congress.

Sherman, who has been a professional speaker for more than 25 years, has shared her message with corporate audiences comprised of health care and hospital professionals, payroll professionals, restauranteurs, and nuclear power plant consultants.

 However, speaking to a crowd of payroll professionals is her favorite type of audience. Aside from the 2005 Payroll Congress, Sherman has taken part at other payroll events in Florida and Texas, and she has tremendous respect for those who work in payroll.

“I know payroll is not all unicorns and roses. There are challenges that are common, yet can be overcome,” she said. “APA attendees will walk away with notes from my keynote that they can immediately implement to be a better leader. Leaders face the same challenges that sabotage success: fear, doubt, negativity, or even shame. Or as I like to say, ‘holes in their bucket list.’ I give people a perspective shift that they can use to overcome these holes, which can be patched with courage, compassion, and kindness.”

On Thursday, May 12, Sherman took the stage in front of a thousand payroll professionals to deliver a big dose of inspiration with her presentation, "The SEAT of Success: How Top Performers Never Settle for Balcony Seats."

Her words, according to Sherman, served as a reprieve from the stresses of an ever-changing payroll world fraught with regulations and near constant change and offered a shot of positivity and a renewed sense of focus.

Sam McAtee, CPP, with McLane Company, Inc. in Temple, Texas, enjoyed Sherman's presentation and admitted she got emotional listening to some of her stories.

“She was truly amazing," McAtee said. "Her energy was great. I loved her analogies. We have all been searching for a seat at the table for so long, so to talk about it from the perspective was perfect for us. It’s perfect for this profession and what we as professionals try to do everyday.”