I Want to Be a Speaker!

 

I think it might be that I appear simple-minded and approachable that so many people ask me about wanting to be a speaker. I have gone on many coffee dates to help someone figure out the “key” to their desire for speaking.

Like my earlier career as a cosmetologist, I fell into speaking. It was not something I thought too much about but it wasn’t a total surprise either. Hair-styling on the other hand was a complete surprise. I became an entrepreneur at age 21 and have been self employed since that time.

 Speaking More and More

For the last 10 years of my 29 years as a business owner in the cosmetology field, I was speaking more and more and in the salon less and less. It became obvious I had to leave the precious, salon business, and my dedicated clients that I loved and knew and move into a new challenge…speaking with an entertaining twist.

Making A Choice

I had been doing both careers but with my energy diverted I didn’t feel like a truly professional speaker until I left the salon business behind and took the plunge entirely into speaking and writing. I haven’t looked back. In the past, I pleased my clients one at a time, now my clients could be 1000 at a time and I try to please them too!

Finding A Niche

I found great success in combining my love of stand up comedy with inspirational and educational speaking. And I talk about a subject that doesn’t have a lot of competition, a niche you might say. I once heard an introduction about me referring to me as the queen of bowels and butts. Okay, I’ll take that, now where’s my crown? Lately I have added speaking about humor as we age. I am no expert, mind you, just because I am pushing 60! Recently with my new book, Your Glasses Are On Top of Your Head, it became a natural fit. My specialty is in bringing humor to discussions that most people don’t laugh about. It’s been working for me for almost 20 years now.

5 Basic Tips

Here are some very basic tips if you want to learn how to be a speaker.

1. Find a subject that you are passionate about that an audience might be interested in hearing about.
2. Learn your craft. Take classes on speaking, go to toastmasters or a local community or university class. Read books about your subject so that you are very knowledgeable on your chosen topic.
3. Check out your local National Speakers  Association and attend some of their meetings paying the guest fee to be around others that are speaking full time.
4. Start speaking anywhere that seems appropriate to try out your material for a nominal fee. Look for opportunities to improve in front of a live audience.
5. Pay for coaching, get a mentor, ask friends for honest feedback.

Know your topic and hone your skills if you want to go to the next step. This will get you started.

More To Come…

2nd in a 5 part series

Tips on how to build a business speaking.