In the MYTH WARRIORS™ series we are targeting ideas to begin to assess whether they are credible or not. This is Part 2 of a 3 part episode that I feel I need to do in order to address some of the myths, misunderstandings and misconceptions about the Professional Speaking industry. The target for this episode is “Professional Speakers earn $5,000 USD an hour and no education is needed!” (Part 2 of 3)
In part two of this three part episode, we focus on what it takes to “make it” as a professional speaker. Even more important that how to “succeed” is a pragmatic assessment of whether you want to actually be in the professional speaking industry. Focusing on perceived financial rewards, public admiration, etc., is not sufficient for determining if something is the right field for us to enter into. I would love to be an Olympic Gold Medalist! Was I talented enough and did I possess the drive, intense sacrifice and dedication sustained for years to achieve that end result? No, I didn’t so I am not one. It is the same with professional speaking. Is it more important that you are an engaging stage performer? Or, that you have immense amounts of knowledge and content? If you are scared of public speaking, hate traveling, or despise people looking at you; is this the right field for you? Just because a person can speak (they open up their mouths and words come out) do they have what it takes to be a professional speaker (being paid for their performances)? Do you need to join Toastmasters? Should you give free speeches? What are public seminars and [...] In the MYTH WARRIORS™ series we are targeting ideas to begin to assess whether they are credible or not. This is Part 1 of a 3 part episode that I feel I need to do in order to address some of the myths, misunderstandings and misconceptions about the Professional Speaking industry. The target for this episode is “Professional Speakers earn $5,000 USD an hour and no education is needed!” (Part 1 of 3)
In part 1 of this 3 part episode, we focus on what the speaking industry actually is (I had never heard of it until I stumbled across it in an online job posting). Is it real? Is it a scam? Are there people who make a living as a “speaker”? If so, how? What are the requirements? Is a degree required? First, the speaking industry is one of the joys of my professional life. I am grateful that I was able to enter it and that I have been able to serve clients around the world while growing as a speaking professional and as a person. I have won awards, given hundreds of clients thousands of hours of speaking events and I have worked in the US, Canada, South Africa, India, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands and Mexico (just to name a few locations). Secondly, the Professional Speaking industry is real. The show “60 Minutes” did a report on it several years ago. The largest industry group is the National Speakers Association (NSA). Most of the reputable [...] In this HELP! SITUATION™ episode, we explore the reality of the power of the resume in obtaining high income professional opportunities. This episode is based on an increasing amount of individual coaching clients that I have worked with who drastically underestimate the “make or break” impact of their resume (and cover letter, etc.). If a person wants a $75,000 USD annual income yet their resume (and cover letter, etc.) convey that they are worth $12 USD per hour, what will be the result? It appears that some people treat the resume as almost an afterthought and proceed in the professional opportunity search as if they can utilize the same type of resume for a high income opportunity that they used to obtain a minimum wage job as a teenager.
The written documentation (resume and cover letter, etc.) is everything in professional opportunity searches. It is the only written documentation that will screen you out of moving forward in the candidate pool or push you to the top of the possible hire list. Nominal information, misspellings, bland generic terms, poor grammar, etc., will doom your opportunities. You cannot “make up” for the low quality resume with a high quality interview. Your [...] In the MYTH WARRIORS™ series we are targeting ideas to begin to assess whether they are credible or not. We are warriors fighting to establish clarity between what is accurate and what is simply a myth (or falsehood) in life. All of this is in furtherance of our mission to surpass our goals! In this episode we delve into the somewhat deceptively simple concept of, "I Need a Mentor!"
Mentor. Umm…The idea of a protector, supporter, advocate and powerful guide to take us under their wing and lead us toward professional success is alluring. It is wonderful that some individuals were fortunate enough to have been born into (or later joined) a family or group with powerful lifelong mentors (who open doors for elite education, high level employment and exciting professional opportunities). For the remainder of us who were not born into (or have not yet joined in) that good fortune, we can (and should) spend some time and resources seeking out successful individuals to help us achieve our goals. Yet, it is a myth that we "need" them in order to move forward with our goals. If we are lucky enough to have one, that is super! For those of us, myself included, who do not have these personal advocates committed to our success and happiness (seemingly out of a fairy tale), we must move forward on our own. It is a [...] |
What is
|