KEY5 Speaker Podcast

Having an engaged audience is every speaker's desire. How do you engage your audience?  In this sixth podcast in Season 3 of the KEY5 Podcast Sarah Jo Crawford and Robert Ferguson unpack interesting options speakers use to emotionally and physically engage their audience. Here is some of what is included: What props are useful and how do they work well? How can the space you've been given best engage the audience? The stage as a visual experience - choreograph your presentation. Technology can engage! Use a "catch box", audience cell-phones, etc. Preparing for engagement before and after the presentation, and more. Plan ahead to engage and to continue the engagement after the presentation! Use some of these ideas to add value with engagement - it will help you win future opportunities. Anton Gunn shares ideas on audience engagement. Anton Gunn is an Author, Leadership Consultant, Speaker, Presidential Advisor, and Diversity Officer. He often does the exact opposite of what people are expecting, and this begins the engagement. Listen as he shares some of his unique ways of capturing attention. Connect with Anton Gunn on LinkedIn, or on his website.  Reach out to Sarah Jo Crawford on Twitter - and Robert Ferguson on LinkedIn. The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio

Is a speaker website important? What needs to be included? Robert Ferguson and Sarah Jo Crawford talk about websites for speakers and explore this aspect of the speaking business. They cover naming your website, platforms to use for your website, finding someone to build your site, the important items to have on your website, best and worst practices for your website and more... This episode of the KEY5Podcast answers questions about your website as a speaker - and if you're serious about building a speaker business, you need to continue to regularly refresh your site. Reach out to Sarah Jo if you need more questions answered because this is one of her areas of expertise. And then Robert chats with Grant Baldwin, the creator of The Speaker Lab Podcast. Grant Baldwin - Creator of The Speaker Lab Podcast Grant Baldwin, in addition to being a speaker himself, teaches other speakers how to find and book paid speaking engagements. Robert and Grant continue the discussion on what's needed on a speaker's website. They dive deeper into what's really needed so a speaker is more likely to book paid gigs, including a quick reference to website SEO. "Be the steakhouse, not the buffet." ~ Grant Baldwin, Creator of The Speaker Lab Podcast Connect with Grant on Twitter, or on his website, TheSpeakerLab.com Reach out to Sarah Jo Crawford on her website, Sparkworth, (website development, content creation, & digital strategy for public speakers) and Robert Ferguson on LinkedIn. The KEY5Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio  

In this 4th KEY5Podcast in the 3rd season, Sarah Jo Crawford and Robert Ferguson discuss: Will your presentation slides look good on the day you speak?  the best aspect ratio for the slides, fonts that will cause issues and why, animations - what not to use and why, video files - how to be sure you have the video in your slides, best practices for sound and speakers if you have video/audio. Other technology: live polling during the presentation (with suggestions), set up a single slide that will encourage connection via social media, scheduling auto tweets ahead of the presentation to show up to retweet, your "clicker" for slides - not all clickers are made equal, how to use your clicker to make your screen go light or dark, laser pointer or not? Are they outdated? microphones - what can go wrong - how to test and practice, recording your own audio for later use, and add in "redundancy" backups - what are they? At the end of all this discussion, Sarah Jo and Robert feel you need to be able to present without any technology... just in case! Evan Carroll shares his view on technology. Evan Carroll, Customer Experience Keynote Speaker and Author, shares his experiences and suggestions when dealing with technology and presentations. He gives tips on his favorite tech, including microphones and new technology that will capture your imagination. He shares his caveats and must-dos. The KEY5Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio.

Robert Ferguson and Sarah Jo Crawford discuss the 8 "P"s of public speaking. Some call them rules and always follow them and others delight in breaking these 8 P's. And then there's the bonus "P". Do you follow the public speaking rules or break them? Robert interviews Alan Hoffler, the author of "Presentation Sin: The Practical Guide to Stop Offending (and Start Impressing) Your Audience ". Robert's copy of the book is dog-eared because he's constantly referring to the ideas. In this 3rd KEY5Podcast in the 3rd season, Alan shares some of his presentation "sins". Robert and Alan talk about what to do if you don't have a great voice as a presenter, Alan shares some of his observations of political candidates, their posture and how it impacts their presentations, and how to avoid predictability and more. Alan Hoffler is the Executive Director and Chief Instructor at MillsWyck Communications. Connect with him on LinkedIn You can find Robert Ferguson and Sarah Jo Crawford on LinkedIn also. Reach out and let them know if you break the public speaking rules or uphold them! The KEY5Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio

Sarah Jo Crawford and Robert Ferguson discuss the ideas on how to develop content: mine social media for discussions dig deeper in specific areas use audience "magic moments" solve a problem or pain point trending topics and their impact on your area of expertise On developing content... should you plan all your content ahead of time? What do you think? And then they turn to an expert, Karin Wiberg, to weigh in on content creation. Robert interviews her and they chat about: brainstorming and other tactics how to generate specific content for an area using your own voice to be fresh after research using triggers from daily life reasons why speakers (and others) find it hard to find content creative ways to develop content Karin's ideas on a content calendar and more. Karin Wiberg is a Ghostwriter, Editor, Publisher, and Coach. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Listen to the Podcast to learn all the details and more! Sarah Jo Crawford is a marketer, writer, and professional speaker - connect with her on Twitter and LinkedIn. Robert Ferguson is a speaker, writer, and consultant with a passion for values. Reach out on LinkedIn to connect. The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at YourLocalStudio.  

Welcome back to our 3rd season of the KEY5Podcast!  This season we're raising the bar to include the delightful Sarah Jo Crawford as a co-host. The two co-hosts share relevant ideas surrounding the topic of the featured guest interview, and then you'll hear the interview. KEY5Podcast Season 3 will directly address Speakers' questions. In the first KEY5Podcast this season, the interview guest is Graeme Newell, a marketing researcher, author, and speaker. He was also a guest in season 1, and is returning to talk about a topic every speaker needs more information on: how to market yourself as a speaker. Question: How can you market yourself as a speaker? Graeme Newell shares his insights on how to sell yourself as a speaker by designing a system to quickly and easily make contact with people. He tells you how he does it, and how long it takes. Pretty cool. Listen to hear the ideas and details! You're going to hear ideas you've never heard, with specific details that you can translate into your speaking business. the KEY5Podcast is produced by the Team at YourLocalStudio.com    

Jay Izso motivates and inspires audiences by speaking on how to apply psychology to enhance both business and personal areas of life. He's known as the "Internet Doctor" and is the author of the book, "Got Social Mediology?: Using Psychology to Master Social Media for Your Business without Spending a Dime". Tips On stories: The demographics and psychographics of the group you're speaking with are important. "What would make the audience say,  "Wow!" is one of the questions Jay asks the organizers. Listen for more information on how Jay crafts his stories. On speaking for free: Jay says even when speaking for "free", always invoice the organization. Jay may speak for free for churches and non-profits, and for groups where a specific opportunity is available, including selling books. More tips: Be well scripted when being asked to speak. He has a few key phrases with which to respond, and Jay shares those phrases on the podcast. Brilliant! He also says that it's important to add new stories and research to be fresh for your audience. Connect Connect with Jay Izso on LinkedIn and on his website. MillsWyck Minute Alan shares what, how and with whom you should engage before you speak. The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio! This concludes Season 2 of the KEY5Podcast! Thanks for listening!

Meridith Elliott Powell speaks to audiences about how to succeed in business no matter what the economy does. She's the author of three books, the most recent is "Own It: Redefining Responsibility". Tips Create and participate in a community. Community makes the difference in your speaking career and life. She goes on to expand this topic throughout the podcast. On stories:  Have a bank of story options. However, having your audience relate and connect to the story is almost more important than having a great story. On preparation: Interview people who will be in your audience - doing a 3-question survey, for example, is a good way to prepare for an upcoming presentation. On the podcast, Meridith provides some example questions she's used, and how she puts those answers into play. On speaking for free:  Meridith says that each speaking career is unique. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't speak for free, or that you should speak for free. Connect Connect with Meridith Elliott Powell on LinkedIn, on her website, or on Twitter. MillsWyck Minute Alan shares ideas on how to tailor your speech to your audiences. The KEY5Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio. Are you a speaker?  Check out the KEY5 Conference!  

Robert Kennedy III helps leaders communicate more effectively with confidence, clarity, and credibility. He's the author of the book, "7 Ways To Know You Were Meant To Lead". Tips Be Bold.  That's one tip Robert wished he knew when he began speaking in front of audiences. Messing up happens because we're all human, he suggests you turn it into a joke and keep moving on. He uses himself and his own history to find the stories that will relate to the audience. Listen as he explains how he breaks out a story to vary what's needed. People connect at the heart level, so what you use depends on your audience. On speaking for free:  when you're beginning as a speaker,  you have a passion for the audience, or if your career is shifting from one space to another, speaking for free is an option. However, if you have a long history in a niche, with much to share with audiences, then perhaps speaking for a fee is a better choice. The biggest tip Robert says is not a secret: it's to practice. And surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. Connect Connect with Robert Kennedy III on LinkedIn and at his website, RobertKennedy3.com. MillsWyck Minute Alan gives examples how to make your story relevant for your audience. The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio.

Stephen Monaco is a forward-thinking marketing strategist who speaks on innovation, strategy, marketing, and entrepreneurship. He's an IBM Futurist and author of the book, "Insightful Knowledge: An Enlightened View of Social Media Strategy and Marketing" Tips Stephen continues to edit and tweak the message he's giving until he's able to provide the most value to the audience. He then uses the rest of the time to rehearse his presentation. He has some unique activities he uses to overcome anxiety before speaking. Listen to the podcast to learn his ideas. Not everyone is an extrovert or born for the stage and this might resonate with those who are a bit anxious before speaking. Gaining exposure as a speaker can be a reason to speak without a fee. Stephen feels called to share the wisdom he's gleaned. Instead of a Q an A time after the presentation, Stephen warmly invites the audience to meet with him afterward one-on-one. He says it's important to him to demonstrate he's approachable and accessible. Connect Connect with Stephen Monaco on LinkedIn and on his website. MillsWyck Minute Alan suggests 3 practical tools to address and overcome nerves in this MillsWyck Minute.   The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio.

Becky McCrary is a fun and funny motivational keynote speaker and trainer who has been called the Carol Burnett of Conventions, the Energizer Bunny in High-Heeled Shoes, a redhead Amy Poehler and Southern Sass. You'll chuckle all through this podcast! Becky is the author of "Relationship Networking on Purpose." Tips At the beginning of her career Becky McCrary says she wishes she knew that there would be lean years. No matter how well things are going, be sure to save along the way. Developing a key story is done on your feet and out loud, Becky says. Her stories are always true - because it's easier for her to remember the truth. The best stories come from reliving an experience, not just telling a story. She believes in using her quiet time, perhaps while driving, to develop a story. She goes on to explain even further in the podcast and unpacks a wonderful progression. On speaking for free: at the beginning she didn't understand why speaking for free was good, but then she realized that the more you speak the better your skills grow. She has a very organic way of explaining why she doesn't speak for "free", but rather, arranges for other compensation. And finally, Becky says that speakers need to stay in touch with meeting planners to keep their business growing. Connect Connect with Becky McCrary on LinkedIn, Twitter and on her website. Check out her book on Amazon. Millwyck Minute How do you develop your own stories? Alan gives you something to think about...   The KEY5Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio

Jimmy F. Blackmon is a combat-experienced leader, speaker, author, and consultant, dedicated to motivating today's millennial generation. He speaks to audiences on how to maximize the leadership potential of individuals in every organization. Tips Transitions are key - make sure your transition from a mesmerizing story to the applicable point works well. It's important for the audience to feel the emotion, but a speaker must find the best transition so they can also understand the takeaway. Options for different groups are important, but his leadership message is the core. He wants the audience to understand that they're all in the "people" business. According to the direction the group wants to take, he will pull out the sound bites applicable for the need. On speaking for free:  early on when beginning your career, speaking for free is a valuable tool, but once you have a pricing model, be careful - do free, or an honorarium - but stay consistent in your fees. Connect Connect with Jimmy Blackmon on LinkedIn, Twitter  and on his website, Out Front Leadership . MillsWyck Minute Alan goes over what a transition might look like... The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio

Chip Eichelberger is a motivational sales expert who persuades and inspires audiences to take action on priorities in their personal or professional life. He brings a positive energy in highly interactive sessions with audiences. His approach to speaking is different from many speakers and on this podcast, he explains how he plans and executes his talks. Tips As a speaker, Chip suggests following the Jerry Garcia quote,  "You don't want to be the best at what you do, you want to be the only one."  Listen to the podcast to understand exactly what he means when it comes to being a speaker. People will forgive anything except a lack of energy and a passion. Don't just talk to the audience - carry on a series of interesting, connected conversations. Then move with purpose. Look at one person, move toward them with your physiology, plant yourself, then move when you're going to the next thought. Chip uses Tony Robbins as an example of this idea and expands the idea with some of the benefits of this behavior. Presenter or Persuader. Which are you? Listen as Chip describes the difference and what he does with his business card so that a person is still carrying it 10 years later. Connect Connect with Chip Eichelberger on LinkedIn, Twitter or on his website, GetSwitchedOn.com MillsWyck Minute Though you're a "speaker" - when does it make sense to interact with your audience? The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio

Diane Wolfe is a speaker, author and a founder of a publishing company. She speaks on publishing, marketing, websites and blogs, leadership and goal setting. She began speaking when working with a motivational company, and her career on the stage has developed as she's written books and created a business on publishing. Speaking to promote your book. Diane Wolfe, known as "Spunk on a Stick", says your enthusiasm and knowing your content makes all the difference when you're speaking to promote your book. She explains why she's known as "Spunk on a Stick" in the podcast - sometimes your loved ones know you best! While in seminars about publishing and promoting books, she came to realize that having a book on the topics made sense. She's since written for those topics with the book, "How to Publish and Promote Your Book Now!"    When Diane speaks to audiences she makes sure she knows exactly where they are in the process to write, publish or promote their books, and then she can use stories as parables to teach on each area of what it will take to get to where they need to go in the publishing world. On the Podcast, she tells the story of frogs in a milk jug as an illustration. Diane recommends speakers use their books as another form of revenue - which makes speaking for free a viable method to promote what you do. Connect Connect with Diane Wolfe via LinkedIn, and on her publishing website. MillsWyck Minute Alan shares how to differentiate yourself from other speakers. The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at YourLocalStudio.com

Vincent Ivan Phipps is known as “The Attitude Amplifier” and specializes in presentations and training to improve communication and the motivation to sound more polished. "The best speakers prepare and know how to speak succinctly with a positive message and focus behind what they say." Tips Be genuine and clear and you'll be appreciated. Audiences want you to sound like you - they want authenticity. Speakers need to make the event coordinator look awesome. And they also need to customize the message. Listen to learn Vincent's specific points on how to do that in the Podcast. On Stories Your points need to be relevant. Vincent tells the story of his Uncle who missed the mark in his stories, to make his point. Know the goal of the presentation - be sure your stories meet that goal. What have the audiences heard before - don't just be different, but bring value with new stories. On the podcast, Vincent explains where he mines the stories he uses to make his message unique and how he customizes each story. On Speaking for Free Vincent never uses the "free" - because it suggests there's no value to your speaking. Rather, he uses the term "waive" the fee. He also suggests speakers need to do one other thing - listen to the Podcast to hear his process when waiving the fee for speaking. Connect Connect with Vincent Ivan Phipps on Linkedin. MillsWyck Minute Alan shares how to save yourself from a dreaded situation. KEY5 Podcast is Produced by the team at Your Local Studio  

"Audiences will respond when you have their best interest at heart." ~ Tim Moore Tim Moore speaks with audiences about generational differences - specifically as it pertains to North America. Tips Tim Moore's podcast was filled with so many relevant and valuable tips. You'll want to take notes - these are just the highlights! Sit with your audience before you speak and engage them in conversation. Once you get up on the stage the audience will pull for your success because you've made a personal connection. Tim talks a little bit about his strategy doing this on the podcast. Also: Don't be afraid to speak about your personal life. It creates a connection. Always wear a lavalier microphone - you want to be able to work the stage. Listen to speakers before you so you can tie a thread from your speech to others. Get in early and stay late. Don't be the person who arrives just in time to speak and heads to the airport directly after. Give more than anyone expects. When does Tim speak for free? He goes into detail on these three points: to help a cause to find new customers to test new material One caveat: Be careful when speaking for free if you're a regional speaker - listen to the podcast as Tim expands on this idea. Connect Connect with Tim Moore on LinkedIn or Twitter and on his website. MillsWyck Minute   Alan says feedback has use that you'd not expect!     The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio.

Donna Cutting is a Keynote speaker in the area of customer service. She provides insight on how to engage your team members to create a red-carpet experience for customers. She leads a team of customer service experts in her company, Red Carpet Learning, and is the author of "501 Ways to Roll Out the Red Carpet for Your Customers". Donna's speaking career grew from sharing her expertise and then reading Dottie Walter's book "Speak and Grow Rich".  Dottie Walters was a founding member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) and founder of the International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB), so the information was especially useful for Donna Cutting.  Tips One of Donna Cutting's signature stories started from an anecdote about something her mother did - and grew from there. Donna explains more in the Podcast - and also provides her thoughts on what needs to be a part of stories to work best for speakers and how to make them relevant for each audience. She goes into depth explaining how she does research for the stories for presentations.  She also wants speakers to know that audiences are looking for implemental ideas - the "how to" - rather than only strategy and theory. Go ahead and be inspirational, but provide practical takeaways. She echoes Lois Cramer's thoughts on this topic. On Speaking for Free Donna Cutting suggests the topic of speaking for free changes if your business is more than speaking. She explains very specifically on why she speaks for free and when. She also says that newer speakers need to speak for free to get experience. Connect Connect with Donna Cutting on her website, Red Carpet Learning, and on LinkedIn, and Twitter.  Check out her book, "501 Ways to Roll Out the Red Carpet for Your Customers" on Amazon. MillsWyck Minute   Alan says, "Don't show up ... and throw up!" Find out what he means by listening to this Podcast!   

Dr. Jack Singer is a Professional Keynote speaker, consultant, trainer and mentor to financial advisors and their organizations.  He's also fun - and you'll be chuckling all through the podcast! He helps people recognize the psychological obstacles everyone encounters that stop them from being successful and then helps them overcome those obstacles. He's the author of five books, and a Professional Sports Psychologist. Learning As a speaker, Dr. Jack Singer says he wishes he knew not try to do it all yourself at the beginning. Get help. His experience joining a speaker's association was the best way to begin as a professional speaker. He goes on to give more ideas for those working on their speaking business on the Podcast On Stories He says they need to be yours, and they need to be true. They also need a point that fits into what he's teaching. The message is core, but it's customized for the audience. On Speaking for Free When you're first beginning to speak, it's good to speak for free. But Dr. Jack Singer says he has 3-point criteria in his current speaking career to speak pro-bono or for a small fee: Is it a non-profit? Can this audience help me speak elsewhere?  Is it a location that would be good for a get-away with his wife? Maui? Yes! In the podcast, he explains in more detail what each of these points means. You'll chuckle. Connect Connect with Dr. Jack Singer on his website, on Twitter, and LinkedIn. MillsWyck Minute  What's the tone of your event? Should your speaker "tone" match the tone of your event?   The KEY5 Podcast is produced by Your Local Studio!

Karl Sakas speaks on agency management to those who lead, and as a consultant, helps digital agency owners and managers make their work fun and profitable. His parents got him on the track to being a speaker. Listen to the KEY5Podcast to learn where it went from there! Using Improv Using his improv comedy training on stage, Karl Sakas invites audience members to introduce the situational challenges they've encountered with agency clients. With two decades of experiences with clients in the agency world, Karl has encountered almost every problem imagined, and he leads what happens on stage with improv as the catalyst to engage the audience. You'll hear his view on how improv works on stage as a speaker, even if it could appear a bit risky. And Karl even covers what he has done when the experience ran off the tracks. Tips Even with the best slides, and the best stories, what do you do when the technology lets you down? Listen as Karl talks about how speakers need to have technology back-ups at hand. Connect Connect with Karl Sakas on LinkedIn, on his website, SakasandCompany.com and on Twitter. MillsWyck Minute How can a speaker deal with a hostile audience? Or, as Alan tags them, "Prisoners"...   The KEY5Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio  

Dr. Ann Kulze has the uncanny ability break down down the science behind healthy living into an easily-digestible message. She is a physician but doesn't have a practice - rather, she's on a mission to inspire people to use diet and lifestyle to totally transform their health, happiness, and quality of life. Her speaking career grew from a calling to promote wellness. On the podcast, Dr. Ann shares her journey from a lucrative primary care practice to finding her personal flow on the stage. Process and Preparation Dr. Ann feels her process of and toward speaking has been organic. She says she wouldn't change how she came to be an international keynote speaker, but she definitely knows a lot more today than when she began. She comes to the stage with a desire to teach, and sprinkles in stories to make each talk relevant and inspiring to each unique audience. Though you need a polished message as a speaker, she suggests a speaker needs to have a personal and in-depth conversation with the person bringing you into the group. She breaks this idea out on the podcast. Should a speaker speak for free? There are times when speaking for free is the right thing to do. But speakers must maintain pricing integrity. Listen to the podcast as Dr. Ann goes deeper into this question. Connect Connect with Dr. Ann Kulze on her website, Dr.AnnWellness.com, on Facebook or Twitter. Get her books and companion resources to Eat Right for Life on her website. Also - for health and wellness inspiration check out her videos on YouTube!   MillsWyck Minute Are speakers naturally energetic? This podcast is produced by the energetic Team at Your Local Studio!

Charlie Engle says, "I'm an addict who runs, and a runner who  writes."  He has run across deserts, summited ice-covered volcanoes, swam with crocodiles and served a stint in federal prison. But his greatest challenge is the one he takes on every single day—sobriety. He's the author of the book Running Man. He speaks to audiences about the idea that any obstacle can be overcome if you're willing to adapt to changing circumstances. Developing a Story and Being Prepared Go out there and do things - it's the experiences that will create the anecdotes for your speaking. Charlie expands a bit on those ideas in the podcast - listen to hear more of where his stories grow from and about being prepared to speak to each new audience. Tips Charlie Engle says the first thing he learned about speaking is that you don't need to inform the audience about every detail of your life - they can check you out later if they're interested. In the podcast, he expands his experiences when asked to speak for free. A hard lesson to learn for speakers is that their speaking has value. Use videotape yourself every now and again.  Speakers need to know how they sound and act on stage, and video is a humbling, but vital way to view your strengths and weaknesses. Connect Connect with Charlie Engle on his website, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. We recommend checking out his Instagram feed as an adventurous runner he has a great feed! MillsWyck Minute Should you memorize your presentation? The KEY5Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio

Chris Daltorio and his company New Velocity helps people become the superstar versions of themselves. He speaks to audiences on leadership and sales. In the podcast, Chris tells the story of how he moved from selling toys to starting a sales & leadership development company. Telling Stories Stories take your audience on a carefree ride. No one feels pressure when they're hearing your story - they're just coming along with the story and they can learn without pressure. Chris Daltorio suggests using stories often and in most cases use them first rather than boring mumbo-jumbo.  Ensuring the stories are relevant to your audience starts with knowing your audience. Look through the lens of your audience at the stories you want to use. Frame the story with valuable nuggets. Speaking for Free Chris feels speaking for free can be the right thing to do - just make sure you have a referral and backend process. And speaking without cost is way one to give back to charities you value. Tips A Speakers Traveling Life... in a humorous way Chris recommends speakers learn quickly how to get outstanding status with one airline instead of good status on all the airlines.  Reframe and or teach something the audience didn't already know when you speak. Chris feels your voice makes the difference. Use your time and money to hone your tone, and delivery - it's part of what makes you unique as a speaker. You can't fake confidence - and preparation is what creates confidence. Connect Connect with Chris Daltorio on LinkedIn - or at his website MyNewVelocity.com. MillsWyck Minute  Alan explores how matching your language to your audience is valuable.    The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio

When speakers seek to take their content into the online world, many consider creating a course. That's the expertise this podcast speaker provides. Dr. Kelly Edmonds designs and builds online ready courses. What she provides is more than a simple online course - she provides learning journeys. She brings everything she has discovered in the last 20 years about teaching, learning, and people to her instruction. Her design work is informed by her research, advanced degrees and mastered techniques, and she shares many free ideas on her site. Speakers and Online Courses Speakers who want to create an online course to scale up their business are one of Dr. Kelly's valued segments.  The online market is busy and noisy. In the podcast, Dr. Kelly Edmonds shares some tips and ideas when creating a course so speakers can be successful. One of the tips is that speakers who create online courses need to know what they want participants to do with what they're learning after the course is completed. Relevant course content needs your involvement along the way.   On the podcast, Dr. Kelly Edmonds suggests the speaker needs to be involved in some "live" way with the course participants using webinars, online discussion forums or live call-in sessions. She feels that completely self-directed courses can't have the full impact a course creator/speaker is hoping for without their involvement. On her blog, she has articles and a page with resource options/ideas to use when building an online course. Connect Connect with Dr. Kelly Edmonds on her website, Dr. Kelly Edmonds, Creating Learning Journeys and on LinkedIn. MillsWyck Minute   Going off script... should you? And if so, when? Listen as Alan Hoffer provides some guidelines in this coaching MillsWyck Minute.   This Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio

  Cory Mosley is a Change Catalyst who speaks professionally about how to become more credible, likable and bankable in the marketplace. Know Before You Go Corey Mosley says that when you speak you should hone in on your cornerstone content. When you speak, learn about the group before you go - know the break-up and make-up of the room so you can make the message new and unique for each audience. On speaking for free, Cory suggests speakers think about the strategy on how to make the deal when you have the opportunity to speak. Listen to the Podcast to hear his suggestions on how to be strategic. A Tip Authenticity comes from being aligned with your strengths. It's important to focus on those strengths when you're speaking. Connect Connect with Cory Mosley on his website, and on LinkedIn. MillsWyck Minute Do you love or hate your voice? Hear what Alan Hoffler suggests in this MillsWyck Minute!     KEY5  Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio

Wayne Olson is an International keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant in the areas of Fundraising and Customer/Donor Relations. He's also the author of "The Disney Difference: The Complete Guide to Adding Disney-like Magic to Your Corporation or Organization". Show Vulnerability Audiences appreciate when you tell stories that demonstrate you, the speaker, are the same as them. These stories increase character and credibility in the minds of the audience. Using Stories to Relate People relate to stories. Make your point using a story. What makes a great story? It's your story. Listen as Wayne Olson provides examples on how to shape the same story so it works for any audience. 3 Questions Wayne Olson provides the three questions he always asks when someone wants him to come to speak and how these questions are quite revealing. Tell me about your audience? Why are you calling me and what do you want the audience to get from me? When the audience leaves, what do you want them to talk about? Giving Back by Speaking For Free There are specific instances where Wayne Olson will speak for free. In the podcast, he shares his criteria, and how he is specific about making sure the value of his services are documented. Tip 17 years ago another speaker gave Wayne words of advice and they ring as true today as they did almost two decades ago. Listen to the podcast to find out! Connect Connect with Wayne at his website, WayneOlson.com, and on LinkedIn Wayne Olson is the author of "The Disney Difference: The Complete Guide to Adding Disney-like Magic to Your Corporation or Organization". On the podcast, he offers the listeners of the KEY5 Podcast a discount if they go to his website. MillsWyck Minute - Coaching for Speakers In this MillsWyck Minute, Alan shares the question to add to any story that will cause the audience to relate the story to themselves.

Lois Creamer works with professional/public speakers who want to get more bookings and create alternate revenue streams with their intellectual property by repurposing their content. She's the author of the book, "Book More Business: MAKE MONEY SPEAKING". What do Event Planners want from speakers? Content. Event planners are looking for content. Lois Creamer says that the days of motivational speaking are over. Listen to understand how she's come to this conclusion and how speakers can respond to remain relevant and build their business. Tips Continuing in the area of content, Lois Creamer feels that speakers must have a deep expertise in a specific area. Also, the sooner they can target a relevant industry, the greater their speaking business' momentum will become. She goes on to give specific suggestions and illustrations in the podcast. Connect Connect with Lois Creamer on her website, Book More Business, on LinkedIn and on Twitter. Check out Lois Creamer's book, as a general primer on the speaking business. Do you think your impact begins and ends with your speaking? Hear what Alan Hoffler says on this week's MillsWyck Minute!

Casey Cobb helps organizations thrive by keeping founders focused on delivering value. He has co-founded and invested in 13 different companies, including web development agency Project Ricochet, and speaks regularly at conferences, accelerators, and companies on topics ranging from co-founder selection to his popular “Avoiding Accidental Evil” keynote. Learning from Mistakes Being passionate about speaking isn't going to automatically make your speaking business come together. If he were beginning over, Casey Cobb would reach out to a speaker coach much sooner in the process.  On the podcast, he talks about all the benefits of engaging a consultant. Preparation Precision Casey Cobb talks about Chip Conely, as an example of someone's style he admires - listen to understand his view of what's important to prepare as a speaker. His experience in preparation is a bit different than other speakers we've interviewed this season. Tools and Tips Mindset is the best tool in every venture - if you are pushing your speaking business forward in a small way, every day, week and month, you will eventually be successful. Casey Cobb feels this mindset is as true in speaking, as it is in business and every other part of life, including parenting. Improve little things over a long time and you'll achieve great things. Connect Connect with Casey Cobb on his website, on LinkedIn, and Twitter. MillsWyck Minute Take a lesson from the field of aviation... The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio.  Recommendations? Do you have any recommendations on who Robert should interview in Season #2 of the KEY5 Speaker Podcast?  Connect with Robert on Twitter as FergusonValues to spark the conversation! This concludes our first season! Thanks for listening! See you in October 2017 for Season #2

Katherine Fabrizio, the founder of Daughters Rising, helps adult daughters who had difficult mothers, empower themselves to parent their daughters in such a way their daughters receive what they never had themselves. Katherine is also a psychotherapist in practice for many years and author of "Daughters Rising". Learning from Mistakes Saying too much, and offering disclaimers or conditional statements are the mistakes Katherine highlights in this podcast. She suggests speakers need to be confident in their message. Preparation Precision One point Fabrizio shares is that standing on the stage - practicing on the actual stage - helps you realize the lights are going to be in your eyes and you'll have difficulty looking into people's eyes to connect. She discusses more on how speakers stand and move. Listen to the podcast to hear ideas that impact all speakers. The speakers that Katherine Fabrizio likes to watch and emulate are Meryl Streep and Marriane Williamson because they command the stage in a feminine way. One Tip Grab everyone and anyone you can, including the dog, to practice your speech. Connect Connect with Katherine Fabrizio on her website, Daughters Rising, on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and see her KEY5 presentation here. MillsWyck Minute When you're speaking, having someone say, "You rock!" is not a good thing. Listen to the podcast to understand Alan's tip this week. The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio

  Evan Carroll is a professional keynote speaker and workshop facilitator who inspires companies to leverage technology, data, and analytics to drive customer loyalty and advocacy. He's the author of two technology books, Your Digital Afterlife and Blue Goldfish. Learning Assuming your marketing materials will work (all on their own), Evan says is his greatest learning from mistakes he's made. "Having all the marketing pieces in place does not equal gigs," says Evan Carroll The best marketing a speaker can do is be on the stage and speak! Preparation Precision What should you do to ensure you're staying on the stage is to seek out every possible stage you can - even if it means you're not being paid. Fill up the month with speaking even if their local events or you've created your own event. Speakers Speak. If you want to be a professional speaker you must be seeking the opportunities. A Process to Prepare work through ideas before pen goes onto paper (listen to hear more) create a way to connect with the audience deliver a powerful message through a consistent theme - Evan expands on this idea in the Podcast - it's brilliant! convey the message through story Process to Deliver the Speech After the usual things you need to do to prepare to deliver a presentation (Evan lists them), having the right emotional state as you go onto the stage is the most important part of delivering the presentation. The Team at the KEY5 Conference in January 2017 can endorse Evan's ability to get into the right emotional state! Evan Carroll became our pinch hitter Master of Ceremonies when weather circumstances grounded our scheduled MC. Evan jumped in on the morning of the event and he performed with panache! About Q & A in a Presentation Evan has a specific way he handles questions in a presentation. He gives some practical suggestions for all speakers on the Podcast - listen to find new ideas to add to your repertoire as a professional speaker. Connect You can connect with Evan Carroll on his website, on LinkedIn, and Twitter. Take a look at his YouTube channel to see him in action! MillsWyck Minute Alan's tip today will make you chuckle... or maybe not?   The Key5 Podcast is Produced by the Team at Your Local Studio

Wendy Gates Corbett is a Presentation Consultant who fixes boring presentations and presenters by providing presentation design and delivery consulting. She speaks nationally on the power of visuals and presenting powerfully with presence. Learning from Mistakes Make sure you're in sync with the theme, vibe or tone of the event at which you're going to speak. Wendy shares her story of learning from her experiences - listen to the podcast for the details. Robert is sure there are many speakers who have a similar experience to share - what about you? Your Visuals and Slides Wendy Gates Corbett provides a great number of valuable ideas for all speakers on preparing their visuals and slides. Be sure to listen to the podcast to hear all Wendy's suggestions. You're going to hear ideas you've never considered. Preparation Precision It's an ever-evolving process to prepare, Wendy says. One of the main ideas in her preparation process is to focus on having one main idea that's practical for everyone in the audience. She then expands her presentation to support that one practical takeaway. Memorability is Wendy Gates Corbett's desire for each presentation. She has a solid point about using specific vocabulary and how visuals may need to change!  A Tip from Wendy Practice your presentation out loud.  Practice even if you feel you know your presentation. The more energy you can give to your audience, the greater impact your presentation can have on your audience. We all have a finite amount of energy and using that energy to remember your content does your audience a disservice. Use your energy to connect with the audience. Connect Connect with Wendy Gates Corbett on her company's website, Refresher-Training.com, on LinkedIn and Twitter on her speaker website, WendyGatesCorbett.com MillsWyck Minute   Alan has 3 reasons why your slides are not your presentation.   The Key5 Podcast is produced by the Team at YourLocalStudio.com

Tim Toterhi provides executive coaching, HR consulting and message management services to help individuals and companies shape their success stories. Check out his business website, Plotline Leadership to see videos. Tim has a valuable way he looks at being a professional speaker... A speech is like a high-wire act with no net - you're out there and need to make it happen in one take! Learning From Mistakes As a speaker be confident enough to ask for exactly what you need from the event coordinator. Listen to the podcast to hear the story behind how Tim Toterhi came to this learning! Preparation Precision Tim says he focuses on these three things Have the first minutes of the presentation/speech down cold. Know your stories and then work the transitions. Use "burst into flames" preparation. (Brilliant - listen to the podcast to understand!) Once he's on the stage, Tim Toterhi develops the relationship with the audience and it's OK if he goes off script at that point. Learning Tim refers to himself as a student, so he chooses at least one thing to learn from every speaker. His favorite group of speakers to learn from are comedians. They bring their ability to tell a story, their timing and their emotional connection to the audience to the table.  Tim says, as a business guy, it's helpful to look to comedians for inspiration. Building a Business  To build your speaking opportunities, Tim suggests leveraging your professional contacts and associations you've worked with and speak in front of them as much as possible. Those who hire speakers need to see your work live or on video for you to make the sale. Tips Spend the time to learn the basics of speaking, but don't become enslaved by them. You must be yourself on stage, and being relaxed on stage helps you become this way. Speaking as an introvert, Tim says you need to take a breath and realize it's not about you - it's about your audience you're serving. Connect Connect with Tim Toterhi on his website, Plotline Leadership, on LinkedIn and Twitter. MillsWyck Minute So you want to be relaxed? Alan discusses how to appear relaxed and confident. The KEY5Podcast is produced by the team at Your Local Studio

Stephanie Scotti has dedicated her entire career to preparing speakers for high-stakes events. Her expertise enables clients to consistently outperform the competition, gain recognition, win new business, shape policy, and influence decision-makers. At the beginning of the podcast, Stephanie explains the journey her career has taken from her first love of public speaking to working with key policy makers, including the President’s Cabinet, preparing them to speak on energy policy and onward to coaching CEOs and business executives. Learning from Mistakes Two ideas came immediately to Stephanie's mind when Robert asked her about learning from mistakes: Remember that your power point deck is not your presentation. People resist or neglect practicing out loud. She went on to explain in detail these two points - listen to learn more! Different Presenters Over the years, Stephanie Scotti watched business leaders deal with time constraints when preparing to speak to a group. She asked herself a question... (you'll need to listen to the podcast to know what that question was). From that question, she realized speakers fall into one of three categories: expert - interpreter - catalyst.  In the podcast, Stephanie expands on these three types of speakers and then explains her assessment tool, the Value Chain of Public Speaking. It's a fascinating tool and her explanation of the three types of speakers will cause you to wonder which type of speaker you are! One Tip "There are enough ways in the world for everyone to have their own." was Stephanie Scotti's final tip to speakers. There's no need to imitate anyone else. Authenticity is a speaker's greatest strength. Connect Connect with Stephanie Scotti on her website, ProfessionallySpeaking.net, on LinkedIn, and Twitter. MillsWyck Minute What does practice make... ?  (It's not perfect!) Alan talks about why it's so important to practice out loud and then provides an extra, advanced tip! The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio

Graeme Newell is a researcher, speaker, and author who guides businesses in finding and implementing their authentic business purpose. He's the co-author of "Red Goldfish: Motivating Sales and Loyalty Through Shared Passion and Purpose"  Graeme’s company, 602Communications, has consulted with some of the world’s most emotionally passionate brands, including GE, CNN, Sony, Disney, Metlife, CBS, News Corp, CNBC, and Madison Square Garden. One Mistake One mistake Graeme Newell sees is that speakers don't realize that speaking is a business. He says that 95% of speaking is selling - cold-calling, doing PR and being on social media. It's critical that speakers have a defined revenue model and that connects to his one tip: a professional speaker who wants to make a living at this has to be a great business person first. Building a Business Speaking for free is good for the practice - to try out new material in front of an audience. He has a whole list of places where he can speak to hone each presentation. In addition, Graeme's revenue model is to get in front of people who can pay him for consulting, research or training, so speaking for free is fine if there's a qualified audience at the event. Networking in associations and getting out to meet people, and other speakers are all part of building a business - Graeme Newell is candid in his explanation that you can't wait at home, but rather speakers must do a great number of cold-calls to find the people who can hire you. Communication is the key to building a business. Preparation Precision Graeme Newell's video blogs (vlogs) are the genesis of his speaking content. All the video and social media pieces can become formatted and segmented for a larger purpose, all packaged into a central theme. Graeme has a library of hundreds of vlogs that can be recycled to demonstrate a specific concept. To address the fluctuating nature of how much time a speaker has, even after being promised a certain number of minutes, Graeme has a planning process where every speech can have a perfect 20-minute version, 40-minute version or 1-hour version. It's about planning. His presentations rely on being able to use video, so Graeme has a complete plan (up to a 4th redundancy) to cover technical issues. Listen to the podcast to hear his technical planning strategy - it's brilliant! Connect You can connect with Graeme Newell on his website,602Communications, on LinkedIn, and Twitter. MillsWyck Minute Alan gives you tips on what to do when the technology fails!       The KEY5Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio.

Stephanie McDilda is a heart-based leadership expert who helps leaders reduce turnover and absenteeism while increasing engagement and employee satisfaction. She knows that the key to leading successfully is to come from your heart, communicating authentically, building rapport, providing real developmental experiences, enforcing tough decisions and expecting the best from your employees. Learning from Mistakes She says this learning came to mind as soon as she saw the topic: investigate to understand the needs of the group you're speaking with before showing up to speak. Stephanie McDilda shares from her experiences one instance where what she was told to address wasn't what the group felt they needed. Great, real-life, on-the-ground learning! Preparation Precision Find out who is in the room, and know their expectations. And because "Heart-Based Leadership" is a relatively new term, Stephanie will connect with some of the attendees to ask them what questions come to their minds when they hear the term "heart-based leadership" so she can include answers to those questions in her presentation. She does some customization preparation to her core presentation to make it relevant and then she'll speak her presentation out loud. Many times. Stephanie says that her two cats are great practice partners! Promotion Stephanie McDilda is active on social media, but her greatest success has come from referrals. One unique thing she does is to go onto Thumbtack.com to see if there is anything suitable. The other way Stephanie reaches out is to SHRM - in the podcast, she clues listeners into the details on how to do that. Tip Be aware of time restraints. You may need to adjust your talk to the time available but reflect your professionalism by being time aware and end on time. Connect Connect with Stephanie McDilda on her website, Flashpoint International, LinkedIn, and Twitter - also take a look at her KEY5 interview video. MillsWyck Minute   What can you cut from your presentation to adjust for time challenges? That's what Alan covers in his MillsWyck Minute!   [optin-cat id="81"]     The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio

Dr. Dave Minionis likes to say that he "unwraps" people - he helps them discover their gifts and their greatest areas of improvement with respect to presentation skills. He leads the training company, Humanetrics - making smart people... people smart! Learning from Mistakes Dr. Dave Minionis says the greatest hindrance to an effective presentation is to rely on your ability to "wing it". In his interview, he tells a story of how he came to understand that preparation is the most important step for a great presentation. Preparation Precision With the right preparation before a presentation, you make it easy to be natural and genuine, in addition to making the presentation easier for the listener's ear. He suggests organizing the content into 3 or 4 idea chunks. Then add stories. A speech without stories is boring! Rehearse for flow, including speaking the talk aloud to feel the cadence and to find the right words to convey the message. It's better to find you need other phrases to convey your message in the preparation stage, then on stage! Top Tip If, as a speaker, you can keep people interested and alert, and also do the intangible of making them like you... Likeability is the first ingredient in a successful presentation. When Dr. Dave coaches people one of the ways he develops their gifts is to work with them on the four keys to develop likeability: Mind, Face, Body, and Voice. Connect Connect with Dr. Dave Minionis on his website, Humanetrics, and on LinkedIn. Take a look at his 2017 KEY5 interview video. MillsWyck Minute Is feeling "natural" important for an effective speaker? Alan Hoffler explores this concept in this MillsWyck Minute.   The KEY5 Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio

Karin Wiberg is an editor and publisher, and so much more. She works with thought-leaders to write and publish nonfiction books. Many of those thought-leaders speak on their topics. Writing and collaborating with speakers is a natural fit for Karin. Speakers Writing Books Firstly, Karin says don't worry about feeling qualified to write. You have topics you speak about - and some of the audience will want to go deeper so the book you write allows them to do that. You have a built-in audience -  you're qualified to write about what you speak. If a speaker has difficulty writing, Karin Wiberg says she's found one of the secrets is to "talk your content". Turn your topics into questions. Expand on the level of detail you want to write about. Then have someone interview you. Have the interview transcribed and those words become your initial draft for the book. This process is one of the many techniques Karin uses when her clients struggle with blank-page-syndrome! Learning From Mistakes Don't imitate someone else's style - find your own. Too many people are mimicking the Ted Talk style of formal presentation and not taking the time to find their own voice.  It's no different than new writers who take a while to find their own voice and style on the page. The trick, in both cases, is to watch and read other writers and speakers to take in what you like and what you wouldn't replicate until your own style and voice emerges. Recommendation  Know when to listen to the opinions of certain people, and what to listen to when you're working to find your own style. Not all opinions are created equal. Use your own judgment to know when to listen and when to shut other voices out and listen to your own inner voice. Preparation Precision Karin has two specific suggestions: When working on a new speech, develop content early, run it by many people, including live audiences even if it's your spouse and friends. Iteration is the key to improvement. If you're someone who talks about emotional topics, be sure to do the live practice. If you're going to tear up, and/or lose your voice you want to that when you're with your spouse or friends - not on stage. Connect Connect with Karin Wiberg on her website, Clear Sight Books,  LinkedIn and Twitter. Take a look at Karin's KEY5 interview video. Mills Wyck Minute Have you mastered "The Pause"? Alan gives you 3 ways to work toward mastery of the "The Pause".  

Stephen Scoggins began his public speaking telling his personal story, which led to sharing life lessons, and those life lessons morphed into transformational lessons and then into transformations for people. He's an entrepreneur, an author and founder of Journey Principles. Practice to Connect When asked about how we learn from mistakes, Stephen Scoggins recommends two points - practice and be "you". First - Create a framework. Don't just get up on stage and start speaking. Practice and have many stories to pull from to make sure you connect with your audience. How do you know when you're connecting? You'll see head nods, smile, and even tears. Secondly - Be you. You'll never be like someone else - know your own style and your strengths. Take the stage to light and draw attention to what the audience needs to look at. Preparation Precision The points themselves might not bring transformation, but the points within the story will make the difference. Tell the story of.... "Tell the story of...." is Stephen's only prompt. By describing the color, sound, smell and all the details to paint a picture, the audience will join him on the journey. Paint a picture so, in the end, the points people need to hear are evident. What about the audience? Stephen Scoggins is creating his own audience. He feels those in his audience are seeking transformation. He began speaking on a regular basis for the USO (United Service Organization) on conflict. That led to TransformULive. And his audience has found him. "No matter your story, you may need to start out speaking for free." Tips & Take-Aways Record yourself speaking, and then watch with the sound turned off. Next, turn on the sound and don't look at the picture. On whether you are meant to be a speaker, Stephen says, If you feel desperately, in your heart and soul, that you have a message this world needs, then don't stop at anything until you've shared it. Connect Connect with Stephen Scoggins on his website, Journey Principles - on Twitter - Facebook - LinkedIn  -  and watch him speak about Journey Principles in the KEY5 Speaker video.   Do you provide a lecture or interaction?  Alan talks about the difference.   The KEY Podcast is produced by the Team at Your Local Studio  

Holly Buchanan is a speaker, researcher, author and consultant who focuses on two areas: the first is in the financial industry on the differences in how men and women buy differently and the second is on how professionals win and lose credibility. Learning from Mistakes One profound and painful lesson learned involved a conference running overtime and a sponsor. Holly explains the incident so well in the podcast. Holly says, "When conferences are running behind - and they will - be very clear about the expectations of your time and end on time." Precision Preparation She finds everything about her audience: what do they want to hear, and what do they not want to hear, and more. Holly has a checklist of things she does. Her speaker reviews/ratings demonstrate the value of arriving early and speaking with audience members to address specific questions from the people within her presentations. She also prepares for all the challenges and expectations Her speaker reviews/ratings demonstrate the value of arriving early and speaking with audience members to address specific questions from the people within her presentations. She also prepares for all the challenges and expectations and then begins strong and ends strong. Books make a difference for speakers. Having a book provides credibility for a speaker, and she offers a discount if the organization wishes to purchase a book for each person in the audience. A book might be an expensive business card - but it's very effective for a speaker. In addition, Holly says that having a professionally edited video has made a big difference for her speaking business. It's been difficult to get permission to videotape herself, so the KEY5 Speakers Conference was a wonderful opportunity. Who does Holly Buchanan watch? Brene Brown is someone Holly Buchanan watches and models her own style after.  Why? Brene Brown is transparent, authentic, has a great sense of humor and does a great job relating to the audience. Holly's Tip Assume your audience is hard of hearing. From Holly's research, she's found that many people have hearing loss, so, as a speaker, always ask for a microphone and use it.  Also, too many speakers talk very quickly, and perhaps swallow their words - she recommends speakers take up "conversational real estate" - make sure you speak slowly and clearly on the important points. Connect Connect with Holly Buchanan on her website , on Twitter, and LinkedIn.  Take a look at Holly Buchanan's KEY5 presentation. Find out why Alan recommends you never publish and/or schedule breaks if you're speaking longer than an hour.

Dr. Kevin C. Snyder is a speaker who inspires audiences with passion, purpose and a powerful call to action. He's also a speaker coach, author, and publisher. He began as a leadership "junkie" and it all grew from there. Signature Story A good story is engaging - but a signature story differentiates a speaker. His signature story is about The Price is Right - it's a personal experience.  What must a signature story contain? it must engage the audience it has a universal message it has a solution to common problems Even years later, a speaker's signature story is what people remember. On Meeting Planners Meeting planners are looking for: an extraordinary speech that the speaker can deliver expert content and the people at the event will find value while they're being engaged Preparation Precision Preparing a speech like planting a seed. It grows and develops. you must have a story - it's your message you need to be engaging you need to have a concrete call to action and frame your content to solve your listeners' problem.  Strategy A strategy is key. It's not about secrets, tips or tricks. surround yourself with people who are speaking use a speaker coach for the specifics on speaking your business of speaking must have other revenue models Speak for free - until you get the fee! Connect Connect with Kevin C. Snyder on his website - on Twitter - Facebook - LinkedIn - Instagram    The KEY5 Podcast is produced by YourLocalStudio  

Carol Linden is a speaker, consultant, corporate trainer, a member of the National Speaker’s Association and author of  "The Job Seekers Guide for Extraverts and Introverts".  She says, My company is "Playing Well with People" because playing well with others is just good business!" On Speaker Associations We can't learn it all on our own. Be aware of the value of being a part of a local speaker group, and seriously consider joining the National Speaker's Association and eSpeakers Bureau. Though Toastmasters doesn't fit Carole's needs or style, she's seen definite advantages for other speakers who have gone the Toastmaster route. Preparation Precision Before you get to the location, connect with the planner and get all the logistics right: cords, clicker, and technology in general. Then practice your talk, especially the transition points. On paper, highlight in bold all the transitions and then practice over and over and over out loud. It's not only athletes that need practice! One Recommendation Believe in and be passionate about your message. Be genuine and share what will be of help and service to the listeners. Connect Connect with Carol Linden on her website - on Twitter - on Facebook - on LinkedIn - and watch her KEY5 presentation. Alan tells you the secret of what will keep a speaker on the stage?    

Matt Drayton is a decorated combat veteran, corporate speaker, consultant, and leadership expert. He merges his military and corporate experiences to convey points on leadership, success, and productivity. He is quick to state, There are no shortcuts to a successful speaking business - time and practice are necessary. Preparation Precision Matt believes in preparation checklists - for rapport, for practicing and over-practicing. 80 hours of preparation for a 20-minute presentation provides the opportunity on the day for extras in a lead-in, and the comfort to adjust to what's needed, and then return to what's been prepared. Making a Living Speakers need other revenue streams in addition to speaking, Matt believes. Therefore he's involved in: his website writing articles participating in and conducting webinars and interviews and consulting. Speakers to Watch Matt admires the late Keith Harrell and recommends watching and learning from Keith's expertise as a speaker. Tips for Speakers Be deliberate - take your time. Don't rush into things. Put the work into your business, even when it's not easy. Remember that a speaker is an entertainer. Connect Connect with Matt Drayton on his website - on Twitter - on Facebook - LinkedIn and watch his KEY5 presentation. Alan shares how to break out of a monotone... tone!  

Marcey Rader, an author, and speaker who focuses on productivity and health wants to disrupt the status quo of ill health and reactive behaviors and inspire people to be and do what they think they can’t. Preparation Precision In addition to the obvious preparation, when a company wants to customize their presentation, Marcey sends a "score card" to attendees - it's a survey on Google Docs to gather information and then creates an infographic and handout from those score cards Her material for new presentations invariably comes from feedback from the audience. Her newest presentation is about distraction in the workplace which is directly from insight Being Hired as a Speaker Marcey Rader talks about various ways to be hired as a professional speaker including, a new source for her - the eSpeakers Bureau asking for a connection with a decision maker referrals - which takes a long time to build the pipeline Speakers To Watch Marcey enjoys watching Tony Robbins and Brendan Bouchard because of their energy when speaking.  Marcey also enjoys a Raleigh native, Dave Rendall.  At the Key5 Conference Marcey was impressed by Karl Sakas' unexpected humor. Marcey Rader's Tips Find a mentor. Receive feedback on pricing your value as a presenter. Connect Connect with Marcey Rader on her Website, MarceyRader.com - on Twitter - on Facebook - LinkedIn and watch Marcey Rader's KEY5 presentation HERE. Check out Marcey's books on Amazon - "Beyond Travel: A Road Warrior's Survival Guide"  and "Hack the Mobile Lifestyle - 6 steps to Work Well and Play More" Your face should match what you say!

Stan Phelps is a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator at PurpleGoldfish.com, an organization that inspires leaders to think differently about their most important stakeholders: customers and employees. He is the author of six books on customer experience and employee engagement. Stan Phelps went from marketing to writing about marketing and then into speaking. After his first book "What's your Purple Goldfish?" was written, he was approached to speak. He says about speakers and the importance of having a book: A book helps you stand out in a "sea of sameness". How to get hired as a speaker? If you want to be hired as a speaker, first consider the needs of the group and/or the person hiring you, then position yourself to stand out as a speaker by how you can do one or more of these three things: make them money save them money make them look good Preparation Precision Preparation ensures your message will resonate with the audience. Ask the event coordinator for people to interview. Set up a phone interview with 3-6 people.  Use the insight you receive from these interviews to hone your content. and you'll walk into the room with a group of champions waiting. Use the first 1/3 of your preparation time to organize what you'll be presenting. Then invest the next 1/3 of your time with how the presentation will flow. The last 1/3 of time for preparation should be used for practice - even by arriving early to become familiar with the room, the presentation in the room, and the people. By doing all this, you'll create a rich experience for everyone at the event. Handling Q & A? Finish your presentation with a "last story". Build the Q & A timing into the presentation before your a "last story".  By doing that, it ensures the audience's memory of you will be something to resonate with the entire room. Connect with Stan Phelps Connect and learn more about Stan Phelps at his Website - Purple Goldfish Think Tank - on Twitter - Facebook - LinkedIn. Tip from Stan Phelps & Alan Hoffler Single Thought - One Person  S.T.O.P. Share one thought while looking at one person, before you move onto the next thought and the next person.

Melissa West of Xtreme Results Coaching helps people think differently so they do differently. She inspires, energizes and empowers her clients to create the amazing life and business of their dreams and her speaking presentations do the same. The phrase she tells herself as she prepares for every speaking opportunity is, "Don't let what I want to say get in the way of what the audience needs to hear." In her interview with Robert on the KEY5Podcast, Melissa touches on: When might you tweak your speech? What homework do you do before you begin your speech? Heart or Head? What works best for the audience? How to be sure you connected with the audience? Coaching or Speaking - which comes first? From where do you get your "style"? Her final tip for other speakers? "Don't give up on working on your message - your voice is meant to be heard!" was the final tip from Melissa West. Connect with Melissa West (Malueg) on Facebook - Twitter - and LinkedIn and visit her website XtremeResultsCoaching.      Value the feedback you get - even seek it out!  

  Professional speaker - or business professional? It doesn't matter. Everyone is a communicator. Everyone is in the speaking business, whether they realize it or not. Alan Hoffler is the Executive Director and Principal Trainer at MillsWyck Communications. He believes that communication has the power to change a person, an organization, a community, and the world. With a coach’s passion, a teacher’s heart, and an engineer’s mind, he creates practical paths to greatness for his clients. In this first KEY5 Podcast, Alan Hoffler touches on: mistakes we all make if all you hear is praise, it limits how you grow why watching a video of yourself speaking is needed why a speaker needs a coach conduit, content, connection - where do people struggle? and more! Alan recommends studying other speakers, study yourself on video, and keep practicing - professionals continue to improve. Want to win a copy of Alan's book, "Presentation Sin: The Practical Guide to Stop Offending (and Start Impressing) Your Audience"? One listener a month will win a book. Each Podcast will include a "MillsWyck Minute", where Alan Hoffler will highlight one speaking concept.  In this podcast, Alan talks about making mistakes as a speaker - how should you respond when you make a mistake?