Confessions of a Paid Speaker: Getting Booked Without a Demo Video

Have you put off starting your speaking business because you don’t have a demo video? Are you a new speaker who can’t afford to hire a professional videographer? A short video of you on your website is one of the best ways to market your talent and expertise. A five to seven minute clip adds instant credibility and in some cases, will set you apart from other speakers in your field.

I’ve been a paid speaker since 2006. I’ve spoken at major conferences and educational and financial institutions but yet, there’s no promotional video of me anywhere on my website. Since we’re being honest with each other, I may as well admit that I didn’t have my own YouTube channel until the summer of 2009. Had I listened to those who told me (for my own good I might add!) I wouldn’t be taken seriously as a result of not having footage of me presenting live, my aspirations of speaking and teaching would not have materialized.

Just as with anything you desire to have and/or achieve in life, always remember: where there’s a will there’s a way. Your career as a public speaker shouldn’t be put on hold because you don’t have thousands of dollars to shoot and produce cinema-grade videos. For an investment of less than $300, you can purchase an easy to use hand held video camera along with a tripod and learn to master DIY videography. Once you’ve gotten footage of yourself in action you can then pay a trusted professional to edit the film and add a bit of flash.

In addition to giving meeting planners a taste of what to expect when they book you for their next event, video is also a great way to deliver valuable content, establish an internet presence, and grow your audience. Public speaking can be incorporated into any business model and provides an additional revenue stream to boost your bottom line.

 

 

 

Photo credit: cisco

10 Traits of an Abusive Leader

I’ve been on Facebook now for about five months. I’m liking it because it’s really giving me the opportunity to connect with even more like-minded people.

One of those people is Regina Baker, co-host of Careers from the Kitchen Table on CNN 650 Radio. Regina shared the following quote which inspired this post:

"You do not lead by hitting people over the head. That's assault, not leadership." ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

No matter if you’re an entrepreneur, President of an association, or a shift leader at a fast food joint, leadership skills are critical to your success. The things you do – or don’t do not only impact you, it also impacts those who look to you for guidance and mentorship.

Take a look at these 10 questions. If you lead in any capacity, sit down and answer each one truthfully. If you answer “No” to more than 3, you may want to question your motives as commander in chief. If you’re being led by someone else, evaluate your leader and 3 “No’s” should have you wondering if the leadership style is self-centered and toxic:

1. Are the leader’s comments/suggestions biased and disquised as “orders” or mandates to further advance his or her own goals/purpose?

2. Is the leader building confidence or using intimidation/fear-based tactics?

3. Is the leader encouraging you to take risks to help you grow?

4. Does the leader describe/view themselves as part of the team or put themselves above the team?

5. Does the leader create opportunities for others?

6. Does the leader do anything other than delegate and make decisions?

7. Does the leader push you to take actions that drive results?

8. Does the leader hold you accountable?

9. Is the leader open to receiving constructive criticism or only giving it?

10. Does the leader value your opinions and perspective (even if different from their own) or assert too much control by telling you what to think?

The more in tune you are to leadership best practices, the easier it will be to find those who are trustworthy, optimistic, and offer unconditional support. You’ll know you’re in the right place when the leader does what they say they’ll do. They’ll offer an environment built on fairness and encourage you to work cohesively with others on the team. He or she will celebrate your successes by recognizing, rewarding, and praising your contributions and efforts.

Most importantly, they will lead by example.

Photo credit: lumaxart

Does Your Brand Have Street Cred? : A Forbes Post

My most recent Forbes post was on personal branding. This one was well received and shared extensively on Facebook and Twitter. Read it for yourself and let me know your thoughts.

Branding Basics: The Word on the Streets

Are You in My Niche?

Identifying a target audience is a must for anyone in the service industry. I struggled with this myself initially. I knew from the beginning I had a knack for communicating and genuinely connecting with real people – the types of people that don’t have hidden agendas and also feel the need to have the connection reciprocated. This isn’t something I have to work at because it’s who I am, therefore it comes naturally. I don’t like hard sells or propaganda. You must be authentic, trustworthy, and honest if you want me to do business with you.

With all of the gurus, mavericks, and mavens popping up on the internet, one can easily be misled. If you’re aligned with these core values – authentically good, trust, and honesty – I’d love to teach you, learn from you, and just get to know you better. The world wide web could use a few more “regular” people. You are my target audience.


Photo credit: patlow