Rethink Your Current Lifestyle Before You Jump. If you are going to launch your speaking career or you want to start any business, now is NOT the time to buy that big house. You shouldn’t go for the fancy car, or the toys either. Now, I’m not really telling you what to do. It’s your…
Living Beyond Your Means If I ruffle some feathers here, it’s not by accident. I intend to. But don’t worry. I’ll be gentle. First, let me tell you this. So many people have a twisted notion of starting a business. I have had this conversation many times with entrepreneurs while coaching or consulting with them….
Stories Are More Important Than Facts You instantly connect with your audience the moment you engage them in a story. Having multiple stories and vignettes throughout your speech is like subtly putting your audience in and out of hypnotic trances.
You Gotta Tell Your Story You probably, at one point or another, say to yourself you don’t have a story to tell. This is a very common concern for beginning speakers. And it’s even more so for those that are born in the US. Listen, if you think you can connect with your audiences without…
Think Business Instead of Speaking Gigs. I’ve heard this one over and over. Yet, for whatever reason, my mind got stuck on standing ovations, accolades, the check, and more gigs. I completely overlooked the fact that speaking is not a business in and of itself. It’s a means to an end. It’s a pillar of…
I often resist talking about money when it comes to speaking. I just don’t want to send the wrong signal. You see, if money is the only motivation that brings us to speaking, we are doomed to fail. There’s no doubt that there is a lot of money to be made. I’m making a of…
How to become a motivational speaker. Please do NOT set your speaking fees too low. I know it’s tempting… But don’t. “How much should I charge when starting out?” That’s the question I get a lot. I will not attempt to answer it in details here. It’s a bit too complex. And it depends on…
Learn From Those Who Are Living Your Dream. Alright, we talked about not taking advice from people who are out of touch with reality. But you should also avoid taking advice from people who are not in the trenches. Simply put, seek out advice from people who are living your dreams versus those who still…
Rich Gurus Aren’t Always Right. Do not just drop your load and start following their advice. I remember contacting one of the gurus in the speaking field for advice to print my one sheet. He referred me to one of his high priced suppliers. Well, I called to get a quote. I almost fell out…
Avoid the voodoo advice out there. Just like in any field, there are many ways to succeed in the speaking business. As a result, you are bound to hear many conflicting pieces of advice from different people out there. Be very careful. Listen, if you keep going around taking advice from everyone, you’ll be confused….