One Reason Why “Speaking Mastery” Rocked

Feb 26

Photo by Nicholas Laughlin

Many of you know that I just got back from Business Growth Solutions’ Speaking Mastery Conference in Kansas City because I was pinging about it periodically through the weekend.  There was so much great information and energy, I though my cranium couldn’t hold it.  For those solopreneurs and small business owners who use public speaking to promote their business, I highly recommend both the Grow Your Business Live! event and the Speaking Mastery.

As a small business owner myself, I speak as a way to get my name out there.  One of my challenges has been that while people love my talks, they aren’t really sure at the end how to continue the business relationship.  One of my many “vivid epiphanies” at this conference was that for people who want to take their work and life to the next level, I wasn’t offering them that opportunity in a clear way.

This was my hang up.  I didn’t want to be “that girl,” the one who didn’t provide anything of value and then became the “used car salesman” at the end hawking my services.  So, I tended to go ridiculously overboard on the value proposition part.  I mean, you couldn’t write fast enough, even with one word fill in the blanks on my accompanying worksheet because I wanted to be sure that I’d packed as much into my talk as would fit.  Then, when my time was up, my offer became the afterthought that came after the close.  It was a muddled jumble, because I still couldn’t “own” the message.  It felt too salesy, too icky, even after providing all that value.  After all those “run to the back now,” closes at many seminars, I really didn’t want to be “that girl.”

This does a disservice to both myself and the people who need my coaching services.  Who’s attracted to discomfort?

Besides, there is a distinction to be made about how one makes one’s offer.  Making that offer isn’t what’s sleazy.  What’s sleazy is doing it in a way that’s outside of my integrity.

This conference taught me how to provide value and how to invite people into my business in a dignified, comfortable way.  The other nuggets – how to gain attention, how to speak powerfully, how to outline my talk so that it is effective, how to best use my style to entertain – were icing on the cake.

I love learning new things.   This past weekend felt like a leap in my forward progress, and I felt like I was my best me all weekend.  Gotta love it!

Be Your Best You Today,

Carolann

p.s. – for more information about upcoming conference dates, I’m happy to hook you up.  Send me an email!

Tags: Action Coach, Active Listening, business coach, Career Coach, Career Management, Carolann Jacobs, coach, coaching, Extraordinary Results, facilitation, Inimitable Leadership, Inspired Workplace, Interview Strategies, Job Interview, Land Your Dream Job, Leadership, Legacy Leadership