Today I met with someone who told me that his wife had terrible fear of public speaking and stage fright, to the point of being physically ill.

Not uncommon, my friends.

While most people’s jitters are limited to feeling something on a range from mild to extreme discomfort, it’s true that many people do more severe manifestations of fear.

Then this afternoon, I was reading a story about a man who lost his sight, but has gone on to achieve many great things and now speaks about his experiences to encourage others – I liked this quote of his:

“Little did I know a year (after losing my sight), that I would be facing a much greater challenge,” Crosby said sincerely. “I discovered I was going legally bald. It’s one thing to be legally blind going through life, but come on, my hair? How much can a guy take?”

If I wasn’t trying to be so “male”, I’d admit that practically brings a tear to my eye. I mean seriously – what a terrific sense of humor in the face of the hardships he’s endured. I’m not sure I have that kind of strength, and frankly I hope I don’t have to find out if I do.

But here’s my main point, for those of you who aren’t way ahead of me here:

When you read this man’s story and see all that he’s done and is doing, you’ve got to admit that even being physically sick about doing public speaking pales in comparison to the problems Crosby has to overcome – daily.

And if you’re this side of being physically sick at the prospect of doing public speaking, you almost have zero right to complain or say public speaking is hard, scary, or otherwise something you’d rather not do.

Public speaking is the best, fastest, most fun – and least expensive – way to promote your business. If you’re a professional person in insurance, finance, or real estate you are just throwing money away and wasting time in your marketing strategy if you’re not getting out and speaking to promote your business and generate/convert new leads.

Sure, it’s easier and a lot *safer* to just sit around on Twitter and Facebook all day, but at some point, you’ve got to go out and “get your money where your mouth is” – literally!

Catch you later,

David

PS: if you want to see a little “travel log” online of my relocation from CA to WA, you can see pictures and read about my “Epic Journey” here:

PPS: if you’re dead serious about public speaking training, here’s the fast track to seminar success:

That’s the dream that most public speaking training’s would sell you on, and it’s the dream that many, many speakers and wanna-be speakers have.

But what’s the reality? If you’re a new speaker or thinking about being one, here’s something you should know:

Most “professional speakers” are being supported by their spouse, or their full-time day-job.

Before you set out to become a professional speaker – or even if you already are on that path – watch this eye-opening video on how to make money speaking.

Catch you later,
David

Very aware.

You might even lose your voice, or find your throat getting tired or sore or your voice hoarse after speaking for an hour or more.

I’ve got a few tips for you on vocal development, and an “inside secret” that professional speakers have been using for years to keep their voice from going out on them – check out this blog post and video I just put up on taking proper care of your voice:

Catch you later,
David

In fact, you don’t have a single funny bone in your entire body.

When you tried humor in your public speaking, seminar, or presentation, it flopped badly.

Well, I’ve got a solution for you – rather than tell you how to be instantly funny, I’m going to show you:

Watch this video on public speaking humor, and prepare to be instantly hilarious – yes, you!

Catch you later,
David

How can you maximize your chances of being remembered at all?

If you do any kind of speaking or presenting, you have to accept that people are looking right at you, but their attention is wandering.

I already showed you a video on how to wake them up and make a point – and be remembered – combine that technique with the technique I’m teaching you today, and you will be remembered and you will get them to remember what you want them to remember.

Watch my public speaking training video right now:

Catch you later,
David

Most people try to accomplish this the old-fashioned way… by telling the group about your accomplishments and abilities.

And frankly, that’s fine and does work – and in fact I recommend you do that.

But here’s a secret trick for you – you can convey an aura of expertise without even uttering a word.

That can come in very, very handy if you’re fielding tough questions, have a “prove it to me” audience, or you’re sharing facts with the group.

You need to be believable, and experts are often seen as believable.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I suppose a one-minute video must be worth at least 10,000 words…

My point is, you can go watch a video on this presentation skill to convey expertise and you’ll see the secret of how to do it right now – the good news is, it’s very simple and easy to learn and master!

Catch you later,
David

I’m not sure how people sleep at night making those kinds of promises when they know it’s not true… well, come to think of it, they probably sleep great on their extra-large, oversize, super-expensive king sized bed paid by sales of their hyped-up course.

I also have a public speaking home study course, but it’s a real, down-to-earth “kit” for business owners, entrepreneurs, and solo-professionals who want to generate and convert leads in the fastest, easiest, and most fun way possible.

Is that hype? Nope – one of my students recently did a seminar, total costs were $200 for the room, plus 2 dozen doughnuts – she’s pulled in 3 commissions so far at $3,800 each!

I don’t promise my students they’ll fly first class all over the world and be famous or any hoopla like that.

But I do know that if they just follow my proven system for speaking & seminar success, they’ll be able to go out and turn on a flood of new business – yes, just by flapping their lips!

You can find out more about my public speaking home study course for business owners, business professionals & entrepreneurs here:

It might seem ridiculous to propose that you – yes, you! – could conquer stage fright in less time than it takes to eat your lunch today.

Risking ridicule and outrage, I’m going to propose exactly that.

And I’m not only going to tell you how, I’m going to show you!

Go watch this video on my 5 minute stage fright cure:

Then, come back here and post your comments of ridicule and outrage!

Catch you later,
David

And that is the very real fact that people’s minds are going to wander.

That’s a huge problem because right when you most want them paying attention, they’re thinking about something else.

They’re thinking about other things they have to do, or what the person next to them is saying on Twitter with their iPhone, or that weird stiffness that suddenly appeared in their neck that morning.

So then – how do you shake them out of their slumber and get them to pay attention to the important points in your talk?

Rather than tell, I’ll show – check out this video on how to wake up your audience and drive your point home.

Catch you later,
David

Today I’ve got a little quiz for you – don’t worry, this won’t affect your final grade for this class. Hahaha…

Here’s the scenario:

You’re running an event where you’re going to have a roster of speakers – this is your brain child – you’ve arranged a large hotel meeting room and you’re having speakers come in to speak on a topic near and dear to your heart.

Your event will be on a Saturday – an all-day event, and you’re allocating 90 minutes for each expert speaker.

You start making phone calls to experts inviting them to come and speak at your event.

You’re excited because this event will bring together experts to speak on a topic very important to you, and you have an audience paying to get in to your event, and the audience is also very excited to hear these experts speak.

To offset the hotel banquet room and marketing costs, you’re charging the attendees a nominal fee, so you’re hoping to cover expenses or even make a profit. So far you have over 100 attendees confirmed, good job!

Now quiz time:

You’ve got one last slot to book, and you’ve got 2 speakers you’re considering:

Speaker #1 wants a guaranteed speaking fee of $2,000, plus air fare and accommodations and those are the terms on the contract they’ve faxed over to you.

Speaker #2 does not charge a speaking fee but they do want air fare and accommodations covered, and their contract says that they’ll deliver 80 minutes of solid content and then a 10-minute soft sales pitch for a $997 information package they’ll make available for purchase after their talk, and they will split the gross proceeds with you.

You do the math and figure this:

Speaker #1 is going to cost you $2k plus the air fare and hotel room.

Speaker #2 is going to cost you air fare and hotel room, and you estimate that if 10% of the attendees buy the $997 package, you and the speaker will split $9,970, netting you $4,985.

All other things being equal – the expertise of the speaker, their “star power”, each has a solid reputation, etc. – which speaker would you choose?

And, if you’re a speaker, which speaker would you rather be?

Just curious….

Catch you later!

David
PS: If you enjoyed this article, please forward to a friend – and you might also be interested in a new article I posted on my website titled “Speaking in Public“