How Top Speakers Make More Then $100,000 per Year Talking About What They Love
If you are really serious about making money as a paid speaker, let me give
you a few things to think about.
First, the way you speak is the most prominent aspect of your personal
brand. Yes, you do have a brand. You manage it either consciously
or otherwise. Your brand is the sum total of everything people expect of
you when you show up. Everything from what you normally wear to the things
that you always do and say, and how you say them. If you are curious as
to what your brand looks like, here is a quick way to check out the
status. Ask five of your friends to each give you five words that
describe you, one of which is how you sound. This exercise is usually an
eye opener. If you think you don’t give many presentations, think again.
You are ALWAYS presenting. Whether you are
speaking to your staff, a vendor or your supervisor you are presenting your
opinion or view, and often you don’t even need to say anything.
Your body language is speaking volumes about you.
Secondly, what is the main function of speech? What are we normally
doing when we talk? Most of the time when we are communicating
information, we try to influence or persuade someone to agree with us, or do
something we want. Maybe it’s to persuade someone to hire us, or buy some
of our stuff. So, look around you. Do you have all the things you
want? Are your relationships, finances and career where you want them to be? Are you as persuasive as you can be or are
you sometimes disappointed? Motivational speakers are skilled at
presenting a compelling visual picture that other people will naturally aspire
to. These are the skills that will pay
top dollar.
Lastly, have you ever been asked to speak before some group? Do you
remember how nervous and scared you were? I remember when I was learning
to speak, I was so nervous before I was called to the stage I almost lost my
lunch. I never wanted to be that afraid again. This is the fear
that holds many people back from being able to present in public. But, over
the years I have found an easy method for managing this fear. It is a
Tibetan breathing technique , coupled with some simple instruction and a little
visualization that keeps tension easily under control. I have covered all the details of that
technique in another article.
Consider this. The main difference between the really talented kid
playing basketball behind the school and the really talented professional
athlete who gets paid to play is a coach. Are you serious about
making money by speaking? Then get real. Get a coach. It’s the only way to get to professional
grade.
About the author
Michael Larsen is a professional speaker, consultant and
trainer. He is the owner of the web site
http://www.Coaching-Institutes.com. He writes on public speaking and succeeding
in business. For his newsletter go to http://www.SpeakingOfBusiness.net.
Tags: body language, exercise, eye opener, fear, lunch, making money, motivational speakers, personal brand, relationships, speaking volumes, sum total, supervisor, top dollar