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I stood with my mouth open, speechless, staring at a woman
I’ve never met before.
She came up to me moments after I finished speaking at a
prestigious networking group of about 75 professional business
men and women. I don’t even remember exactly what I talked
about that day. All I remember is what she said to me.
It was the early 1980s. I was a systems consultant for
Deloitte Haskins and Sells, one of the most powerful
accounting firms in the world. I trained people to use
computerized accounting systems.
One day my boss unexpectedly called me into his office and
said, “We want you to go out in the community and speak to
bring in more clients and build our consulting practice.”
I thought to myself, “Piece of cake!” I took one speech class
in college, I was good to go. I knew everything there was to
know about public speaking. Or so I thought.
Six months later -- I hadn’t made a single sale! I hadn’t
landed one new client. And for the life of me, I didn’t know
what I was doing wrong and, even worse, I feared I would lose
my job.
That’s when this woman walked up to me after my speech and
said, “Honey, I hate to tell you this…”
“Then don’t!” I thought to myself, because I knew nothing good
was going to come out of her mouth next.
I bravely replied, “Tell me what?”
She continued, “Did you know that after every sentence you say
‘okay’?!”
I stared at her. And the only thing I could think of saying
was, “okay.”
At that moment, I got it. I was my own biggest distraction. My
audience never heard my message. They were too busy counting
my okays!!!
I could have quit right there, but I didn’t.
Instead, I decided “never again.” I decided to become a
student of public speaking and learn everything I could. I
read every book I could find on public speaking. I took
classes, went to seminars, hired a coach and years later I
even joined Toastmasters. People in my firm noticed my success
and asked me what I was doing. Before long I was teaching them
what I had learned.
I used public speaking throughout my 23 year career in
corporate America. I used it to attract clients, close sales
and build my consulting group. I used it in management
meetings, staff interviews and evaluations and to climb the
corporate latter.
Once at the top, I realized I was no longer effective. I was
no longer making a difference in my industry. There was
nothing that I could do that my own staff couldn’t do better.
I knew it was time to make a change. However, I didn’t have a
clue what that change might be so I did what every smart woman
would do, I prayed about it. And it wasn’t long before the
answer came – public speaking!
Teach businesspeople how to become more successful by becoming
more persuasive speakers and leaders.
In 2003, I left the corporate world and started my own
business. Since then I’ve taught people all over the world how
to use public speaking as a marketing strategy to attract more
clients, generate endless leads, and grow their businesses
effortlessly while getting there message out to the world and
making a BIG difference!
How cool is that?!
That woman who spoke up so many years ago made my career as a
speaker and trainer possible. As you read this chapter you
will learn how you too can attract high-paying clients and
gain market visibility just like I did.
In addition to being a Persuasive Speech Coach, I am a professional storyteller, author, and Distinguished Toastmaster (the highest credentials Toastmasters International offers). Above all, I am passionate about showing others how they can attract more clients by learning the secrets of persuasive speaking and turn their words into wealth!
What do I do for fun? I
run. I've joined Team in Training a fundraising organization.
In turn for training me to run a marathon, I raise money for
the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help find a cure for
blood cancers. I ran in the LA Marathon
on March 4 2007. It took 7 hours and 9 minutes and was an awesome
experience. On October 21, 2007, I ran in the Nike Women's
Marathon in San Francisco and cut 1/2 hour off my time. |
