Self-Devpt. Nuggets™

Publication: Tayo Solagbade’s Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Page (PSIP) Newsletter

Date: Monday 19th November 2012

No: 64

Title: Enough Reading – It’s Time You Started Giving Talks!

Author & Publisher: Tayo K. Solagbade [234-803-302-1263]

Blog URL: http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/blog

Archive (For E-mail only version started 14th May 2012): Click here to view

Archive (For Blog version started 24th September 2011): Click here

Hi,

Please find below the latest issue of my weekly Public Speaking Ideas page for 2012. 

*****PRESS RELEASE*****

New EBook for Writers Uncovers 10 Often Overlooked Habits Keeping Many from Achieving Their Writing Goals

 Click here to learn more…

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No. 64: Enough Reading – It’s Time You Started Giving Talks!

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“One thing is certain: the accepted way to learn to swim is to plunge into the water” – Dale Carnegie in his book titled ‘How To Develop Self-Confidence and Influence People By Public Speaking‘.

Public speaking is a very practical endeavour. There is only so much you can learn by reading up on it. To really make progress you must at some point commit deliberate effort to put what you learn into practice.

In 2002, when I started out in business, the only real experience I had of speaking in public was from my participation in the Nigerian Institute of Management’s Young Manager’s competition at the zonal and national finals – where I placed 5th overall (after flopping badly).

Nothing I had done in Guinness Nigeria as a paid employee compared to the experience of standing before a hall filled with strange faces from different parts of the country, silently evaluating my every utterance.

Amongst them were Ph.D. degree holders as dignitaries and judges. Others were journalists from different media houses. The attention of everyone in the packed auditorium was focussed exclusively on each presenter for his/her 15 minutes in the spotlight.

The rush of adrenaline I had felt each time I stood before the audience as the competition progressed was what convinced me I wanted to be a speaker. The irony was that rather than look for a school where I could learn to speak effectively, I chose to purchase a copy of Dale Carnegie’s above mentioned book and devour it from cover to cover more times than I can now remember.

I’ve always been that kind of person – with a DIY and self-tutoring mentality.

In January 2002, I decided I would use public speaking to simultaneously earn income and also promote the products and services I offered to the different audiences I spoke to. As I’ve explained in past write ups, this approach not only got me invited to speak to audiences in places like the Centre for Management Development (CMD), it also enabled me win orders for my information products, as well as my natural aquariums.

What’s important to note is that I did the needed reading up, and then went out to put what I’d learnt to use in the real world. And that’s what I’m asking YOU to start doing from today!

Should You Be Afraid When Looking For Gigs?

Was I afraid when I first did it?

Not that I can remember – and I mean that honestly…not to brag.

You see, the truth is I needed to succeed so badly that I knew I could not afford to let myself become afraid of taking action to find PAID speaking opportunities.

That’s what Napoleon Hill said would happen to those who burn all their bridges, to cut off all sources of retreat. They effectively put themselves in a situation where going forward is the only logical thing to do.

You basically realise that fear is not an option. You either succeed or sink!

Looking back now, I realise I was probably a bit too ambitious, because I actually started out looking specifically for paid speaking opportunities.

And when I smelt one, I proved quite a hard nut to crack during negotiations. Mr. Akindele of CMD said that much by the time we managed to agree a revised amount for the honorarium he offered me based on what past speakers had been paid.

Should YOU be afraid as you go out to look for speaking gigs – whether paid or free?

It’s not bad to feel afraid, but my experience suggests that with proper preparation fear will become less of a concern for you by the time you decide to go hunting for gigs.

Suggestions About What You Can Do

1. Write And Publish Something Authoritative..And Use It To Get Invited

That’s what I did in my very first year as an entrepreneur to get paid speaking opportunities. Months before I left my job, I’d distributed questionnaires across Lagos and Benin, and analysed the completed ones to complete a management research paper titled “Self-Development As A Tool for Career Advancement (A Practical Guide Based On Experience) “.

When I launched out in January 2002, I sent copies of my new paper to key experts, and professionals in different organisations, with a cover letter stating that I would be glad to deliver a talk to share my insights based on the paper’s findings.

That effort eventually got me invited as a guest speaker at the CMD, where I spoke to over 100 staff, managers, and directors based on my newly published management research paper.

As I’ve noted elsewhere, this strategy also got me invited by (then Dr.) Pat Utomi to meet with him in his office at the Lagos Business School.

When you create something new, unique or different, and do it to a high quality standard, those who matter will take conscious notice of you. What’s more, what you offer will be appealing because people who matter usually like to be seen as thought leaders, and may wish to put it on record that they saw and acknowledged you first.

I have repeatedly used variants of that same strategy via low cost media like the Internet to create self-marketing opportunities for myself. Most recently, I’ve published a new ebook (titled “Why You Keep Failing To Achieve Your Writing Goals!“) which is already yielding beneficial exposure, leads and sales for me just 2 weeks after I published it in my online store.

NB: One of the students who heard me mention the above when I spoke to them at the University of Lagos auditorium asked me how I found the courage to contact “big people” like Pat Utomi.

I answered him by saying I basically reminded myself that “Pat” and all the other “big people” were made of flesh and blood just like the rest of us.

That, to me, implied they were not spirits to be feared, but high performing persons to be emulated.

And to emulate them, I needed to reach out to them and LEARN from them. Once I got that clear in my mind, finding the courage to contact them became easy. Try it, and you’ll see it works, I told him.

Now, I’ve told YOU as well!

2. Re-Package What You’ve Written In Other Forms, Then Use It To Offer Other Talks, And To Generate Back Room And Other Sales

In that same first year (2002), I was engaged by the Corona Schools Trust Council to speak at all six branches of their school over a two month period. This happened after I delivered a free talk to an audience comprising the Executive Director and other members of staff at the Trust Council.

What did I speak about?

It was simply a list version of lessons from my management paper which I’d titled “Ten Ways You Can Use Self-Development To Become A Flyer At Work“.

About a year later, two of the teachers who’d heard me speak at their branch had moved on to head their own schools. And both separately hired me to build my custom natural self-cleaning aquariums (which I’d mentioned during my talks as being useful teaching and learning aids) for their new schools.

By the end of that year, I’d converted that talk to an e-course which people subscribed to online. A year later, I’d made it into an MS Word based book manuscript – which I would eventually convert to PDF and publish as a print manual (called the Self-Development Bible) using Print On Demand Technology in my online store.

By 2004, I had written about 5 additional reports designed to interest decision makers in target organisations I had in mind. Then I went out and promoted them using a flyer, offering to speak FREE to teaching staff and administrators in schools. Adrao International School on Victoria Island invited me to deliver a talk based on my new report titled “How To Be A Jack Of Many Trades, And Why It Can Make You Succeed More Often“.

I used a lot of the ideas I’d learned from reading Burt Dubin’s articles, to find out what interests they had. Then I built what I learnt into the talk. By the time my one hour talk was over on the agreed day, the principal gave a vote of thanks and then led the others in placing advance orders for virtually all the reports and books that I had on display in the back room. 48 hours later, I delivered the reports, and got paid.

3. Talk About What You Do, Whenever You Sense Value To Be Had

I think someone called it having a nose for business or something. If you really apply yourself to what you do, you’ll actually get to a point where your senses become so finely tuned, that you can literally “feel” an opportunity when it becomes available.

I cannot explain it, but most authentic entrepreneurs will confirm that this does happen.

You develop a sixth sense that helps you identify useful selling opportunities, so you can make the most of them. I do this a lot, and interactions that would normally have ended on a friendly social note, sometimes evolve into a serious business transaction within 24 to 48 hours as a result.

Basically, what I do is indirectly talk about my products and/or services (including talks I offer), by narrating entertaining anecdotes to interest listeners. Once I get their interest, I then try to steer the conversation towards discovering whether or not I can offer a similar solution to those I speak to.

Interestingly, sometimes doing this may not yield any immediate results. Then one year later, you could get a call from one of those you told your little story. And she could invite you to give a paid talk at say, a one week training event she’s conducting for a corporate client of hers.

The above financially rewarding experience happened to me. And I could not help thinking if I had chosen to be “over-humble”, and not spoken up about my CMD outing to the consultant, he would never have thought I could be useful to him in that manner.

Final Words: Don’t Wait Any Longer – Get Started Giving FREE And/Or Paid Talks Today!

It’s important to avoid becoming a professional student.

There’s a time to learn and a time to put what you learn to work in the real world. Why not think up a 30 minute (or one hour) talk on a topic relevant to your niche or target market? Then offer it to target organizations fitting the profile you have in mind.

If no invitations are immediately forthcoming, consider approaching non-profits and socio-religious organisations. Many have members who are decision makers in organisations you wish to reach. A good showing in such outings could make those decision makers tell their companies about you – or even contact you there and then.

The point I’m making in this issue is that you need to put together an action plan to get your public speaking business started.

And there are many ways you can go about doing so. What’s worked for me may not necessarily work the same for you. However, there’s often only one way to find out – and that’s by JUMPING into the pool of life, and getting yourself wet with learning by discovery.

Don’t wait any longer. Get started today. And if you need help, consider getting coaching support from Burt Dubin, creator of the Speaking Success System, who has done it, and coached others to do it VERY WELL, for over 25 years – details provided below!

Comments?

What do you think of the above message? Do you have any personal experience to share on this subject? Are there some other points you feel can be added, to help persons looking for answers? Please share your thoughts!

Share this issue!

Do you know anyone who might benefit from reading this newsletter issue? Why not hit the forward button now, and send it to him/her with a short recommendation. You can also use share it via your social media channels. Thanks in advance.

What fears or doubts are keeping you from (a) taking up Burt Dubin’s monthly speaker mentoring, or (b) buying his products?

You can choose to purchase Burt’s mentoring at any of the three (3) levels listed below:

1. Top Shelf [Click here] | 2. Mid Range [Click here] | 3. Budget Delight [Click here]

Burt’s three mentoring packages can be likened to the seating options offered by airlines: Budget Delight (Economy); Mid Range (Business); and Top Shelf (First Class).

At least that’s how I like to think of them!

All three will get you to your desired destination of “speaking success-ville” – so long as you meet the requirements/play your part well (your fare, abide by the set guidelines etc). During the “flight”, the seat you have will determine how much personal service attention and preference the provider will accord you. It’s that simple

So, make your choice:1. Top Shelf [Click here] | 2. Mid Range [Click here] | 3. Budget Delight [Click here]

Send me an e-mail with your questions via tayo at tksola dot com. In the meantime, why not get started by subscribing here to get his 7-Part Course (How To Succeed And Get Paid As A Professional Speaker) .  . . and receive his monthly newsletter (Speaking Biz Strategies Letter) at no cost.

Have a lovely week!

Tayo K. Solagbade*

Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

*Sole Agent For Burt Dubin’s Speaker Mentoring Service In Africa

Mobile: 234-803-302-1263

 

http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com

Tayo Solagbade is a Performance Improvement Specialist & multipreneur. He works with individuals/businesses who want to achieve highly profitable outcomes, and also with parents who want to raise real-world competent children.

Tayo earns multiple streams of income providing clients with performance improvement training/coaching, custom MS Excel-VB solutions, web marketing systems, freelance writing services, and best practice extension support services (for farm business owners).

When he’s not amazing clients with his superhuman skills (wink), Tayo works as the creative force behind his Self-Development Nuggets™ blog, and Public Speaking IDEAS newsletter (which he publishes to promote Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring service to experts working across the African continent).

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For over 25 years, Burt Dubin has provided a variety of speaker mentoring products and services to clients worldwide.