by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Tom Abbott

Age: 32

Occupation: Motivational speaker

Bio: This winning NDG resident has been motivating people to get it together and make millions of dollars for a little over four years now. Originally from Vancouver, Tom, who is fully bilingual, came to Montreal two years ago to spread the good word on generating wealth and attaining personal career goals and has since become nothing short of the bee's knees on the local motivational speaking and seminar circuit. A former high school thespian who "has always loved the centre stage and helping people get to where they want to be," he is the author of two self-published self-help books, and says that a future career in politics is certainly not out of the question.

The kind of money it costs to have Tom come speak at your next social gathering: "Typically between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the group."

One place where you can be motivated by Tom for next to no money: The Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi in NDG, where he has been conducting a series of free entrepreneurship workshops for the last year and a half. Go to www.busy-bodies.ca for more info.

Has he ever felt the need to snort a half-gram of cocaine to inspire the motivation needed to go out there and address yet another audience of confused wannabe entrepreneurs? "No. I'm always up for a talk. Because this is what I love to do."

Is it safe to assume that he's what might best be described as "an upbeat kind of guy"? 'Oh yes, most definitely."

Is it also safe to assume that his relentless enthusiasm is tempered by frequent bouts of overwhelming, devastating depression? No-sir-ee. "The 'on' switch is always on. It drives my wife crazy. But this is the way I live my life. You have to practice what you preach, and that's what I do."

Do people often come up to him after speaking engagements figuring he is all-knowing and mistaking him for God? "Yes. All the time. But I absolutely love it."

Do chicks regularly approach him at these engagements, hoping to motivate a little action in his trousers after everyone else has gone home? "All the time. I actually have a core group of what I call groupies who seem to come out to all of my workshops. I never thought that I would get groupies when I got into this, but yeah, I've got a pretty big female following."

The two primary driving forces that motivate human beings to even bother getting out of bed in the morning: Pleasure and pain. "And people who spend their lives always chasing after pleasure have a good chance of attaining it."

Something else about him: A top notch tennis player, Tom hopes to be ranked within the top 50 competitors in Quebec this year.

Fave TV shows: Alias, CSI, Friends, Law and Order.

Musical preferences: Judas Priest, Metallica.

Last book read: What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles

Words of wisdom: "Throw New Year's resolutions out the window, anything worth doing is worth doing right now."

Comments? dimwit@openface.ca