ISBN: 9781483509099
1–A Poor Utah Teacher
1.1 That’s what some of my students tell me!
1.2 Fear of Speaking
1.3 I’ve tried it all
1.4 Disclaimer – not a get rich quick scheme
1.5 The most important book you’ll ever read
2–From Coasting Teacher to Speeding Speaker
2.1 I can do this
2.2 My first paid speaking engagement
2.3 How much money can I make?
2.4 The accelerated speaking course
2.5 It’s actually happening
2.6 Don’t be overwhelmed!
3 Killer Content (how to find what to speak about)
3.1 The 3 biggest challenges speakers face
3.2 Why do I Want to Speak? (defining your success)
3.3 What Should I Speak About?
3.4 How to Create Your Own Content
3.5 In niche’s there are riches
3.6 What’s your story
3.7 How to find your area of expertise
3.8 What are company’s looking for?
3.9 Presenting your own seminar or someone else’s
3.10 How to become a subject matter expert
4 –Building the Brand of You
4.1 How to organize your material
4.2 Speaking or training?
4.3 How to develop crafty and creative titles for your material
4.4 How to turn one topic into 2 with merely a title change
4.5 Author Matters (do I have to write a book?)
4.6 How to write an eBook quickly
4.7 Self-publishing strategies
4.8 Now that you have your content start speaking for free!
5-Monetize Your Message (how to get paid to speak)
5.1 How to set-up and run your business
5.2 Tax benefits of owning your own small business
5.3 Let the Records Show
5.4 Show Me the Money (full or part-time income)
5.5 How to turn your presentation into additional income
5.6 How to package your idea in a unique and eye-opening way
5.7 Getting paid speaking commitments
5.8 How to find paid speaking engagements
5.9 Travel free (including cruises) as a speaker and trainer
6 – Digital Connections
6.1 The importance of an excellent website
6.2 How to start and build your web presence
6.3 Website construction and promotion strategies to get noticed now!
6.4 How to use social networking to build your business fast
6.5 Easy and strategic social media marketing techniques to get more jobs
6.6 Best web sites for speaking engagements
6.7 Website tips and strategies
6.8 Marketing with articles
6.9 The amazing power of networking
6.10 How to reach thousands of prospects at no cost
6.11 How to Brag without tooting your own horn
7-Dynamite Deliveries (how to speak with amazing results every time)
7.1 How to deliver dynamite speeches, seminars and workshops every time
7.2 Practiced preparation
7.3 How to eliminate the need for notes
7.4 How to gain and maintain attention
7.5 The power of play and humor
7.6 Strategies for better PowerPoint
7.7 Stage presence and the entertainment factor (from backstage to on stage)
7.8 Discover the power of stories and how to deliver your own
7.9 7 step formula to help your audience never forget the material
7.10 How to open and close your speaking/training sessions with impact
Conclusion
My father was a poor teacher. We were so poor… (sounds like a joke lead in). When I was young the last thing I wanted to be was a poor teacher. Well, skip a few years and guess what I’ve turned in to…a poor teacher; at least that’s what some of my college students tell me!
As a “coasting” college professor I began to explore the world of training and speaking. It interested me for a couple of reasons. First, I have attended many painful training sessions and some good ones. The painful ones were painful because they were boring and I didn’t learn much from them. We’ve all sat through them. So, I began to pay attention to what makes a great speaker or trainer. It was fascinating to watch those that “captured” and “held” their audience and how they did it. So, I became (at age 48) a lifetime “student” of effective speaking and training and tried to emulate those things as a recovering “poor” teacher.
The second reason I was exploring the world of training and speaking was that I was curious to know if I could do this. Was this an opportunity I could attempt? Could I be a successful speaker and trainer? I continued to watch hundreds of training video clips from a wide variety of speakers and trainers. The more video clips I watched the more I excited I got. I got excited because I could see the opportunity. I convinced myself that “I could do this!” The thing that excited me the most was the fact that there were a large number of mediocre trainers out there. I realized that I could do this as well as, or better than many of the so called trainers I was watching.
It is amazing how the power of one’s own belief plays a huge part when embarking on a new journey. As a poor teacher my mind had to be open, at some point, to the possibility that I could be a rich speaker. So, the first thing you have to do is BELIEVE in yourself! You will have to continue to believe as you build your business. Our “inner critic” tries to discourage us. Be bold and believe.
The world of speaking and training is an interesting one. Most of the world hates getting up in front of other people and speaking. On the top 10 fears list, the number one fear of people is the fear of public speaking. However, some of us find great joy and satisfaction in being able to stand and deliver an engaging and successful presentation. Some may find it an egotistical experience. I get excited about the opportunity to deliver something that’s entertaining, interesting, and yet purposeful.
You need a basic understanding of the industry. The speaking, and especially the training market, is huge. I have seen hundreds and hundreds of different topics that people speak and train about. Companies and associations spend billions of dollars on meetings and training each year.
You must think like an expert, not as a speaker. You don’t need a golden voice. You don’t have to be an amazing speaker. You do have to be pretty good in front of people. I’ll show you fast and simple ways to get started speaking now.
As a poor teacher I’ve tried many things to make a little extra money. I have finally found something that works and that I love doing. I figured out some of the things that work and some that don’t work so well in the professional speaking industry and that is what I want to share with you. I have condensed several years of research and study of the speaking industry into this book. It will save you hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars. And, of all the businesses I’ve owned, and I’ve owned a few, this one has the best lifestyle and makes the most money for the effort expended. I’ll show you the business side of speaking and show you how to wow an audience.
I have compiled a proven system based on my experience as a paid speaker. This system will save you a great deal of time and money as I’ve mentioned. I have an easy-to-follow process that would help anyone get started in this business. My sandwich shop cost me about $200,000 and it returned me nothing. That was a hard lesson. I will show you what I did to move from a poor Utah teacher earning just $20/hour to a rich (more than just money) speaker making $1000/hour in just 6 short months!
Paid speaking is not a get rich quick scheme. Anything worthwhile takes work. This is no different, but all you need is a topic and be good in front of people, both of which I can help you with. There are books and tapes and programs you can buy promising you much more money than I’ve talked about, but my proposal is realistic. I can show you what I’ve done to make money as a professional speaker and trainer. It is a process. I have loads of information for you. I spent a lot of time and can shorten the learning curve for you.
This may be the most important book you will ever read. This concept certainly has changed my life. My decision to become a professional speaker and trainer truly has changed my life in so many ways! It has brought me great joy, as I’ve been able to influence and persuade people and organizations in helping to bring about change. I have found great satisfaction as I continue to build my business.
I have also made more money as a professional speaker and trainer. In my first year of speaking, for example, I have paid for my daughter’s wedding, my son’s senior class trip to Texas (for both of us), a work/vacation trip to Denver with my wife, and a recreational vehicle to do more camping with my family. I really am not trying to brag. I would never have been able to do these things I’ve just mentioned as a poor teacher! I don’t know how I would have been able to afford my daughter’s wedding.
I wish I had discovered what I know now 20 years ago. I wish I would’ve discovered a sense of confidence in my ability to speak in front of other people long ago. I wish I would have done that many years ago, instead of wasting so much time on other businesses, such as fast food.
I do however, have a few good years ahead of me (I just turned 51). I can’t wait each morning to rise and continue to build my speaking and training business.
As I said earlier, this is not a get rich quick scheme or plan. It’s actually kind of easy—you just have to work half a day. You can either work from 6am to 6pm, or 12 noon to 12 midnight. Either way, it is just a half day! It does take work, but for me it really has been more about making my business venture my new hobby and that’s where I spend a lot of time.
Based on my research I decided that the market is huge and I have the ability to be a pretty good speaker and trainer. My gut feeling said I can do this. Doubt as I mentioned, creeps up periodically. I began to strategize and make decisions about a business name. I began to brainstorm content topics and titles.
