Article - Nine Skills of Successful Paid Speakers

(Prentice-Hall Simon Schuster) - considered the Handbook of the Professional Speaking Business. In 1996 this book was selected in an industry wide survey - by over 200% - as THE most valuable book ever written for professional speakers.

When you sit in an audience and watch and listen to a star keynote speaker, or take part in a fact-filled, smoothly flowing seminar presented by a professional, the business of speaking looks easy, like a circus trapeze artist performing flawlessly.

The trapeze artist, however, has spent many months outside of the public eye, practicing and perfecting his daring flights above a safety net. Before they can succeed, professional speakers must also perfect their speaking skills. Great speakers constantly work on ways to improve their performances. Speakers like Harvey Mackay, a very successful celebrity business speaker, continually hire speech and drama coaches. He never stops learning or creating new products.

But there are several other skills, that are equally important as speaking skills. A professional speaker must perfect all nine of these skills-if they wish to be paid for their craft!

As you go through the list, compare your own background and knowledge against the requirements for each skill. This process will enable you to see where you stand now and which of the skills must be strengthened to support your career. Our book will show you the steps you must take for each

Study these nine skills. You will see these principles used throughout this book.*

(* Chapters noted below are from the 2nd edition of "Speak and Grow Rich" by Dottie and Lilly Walters, Prentice-Hall Simon Schuster)

#	is ...	How	Why
1	... *a passionate expert on a topic*	Love the business of speaking. List the business subjects you know and approach with enthusiasm. You must develop expertise in your chosen topic and constantly keep working to improve your knowledge to stay on (See Chapter 4-Free to Shining Fee )	What people are willing to buy are experts. Passion will drive, not only you to become that expert, but it will give enthusiasm and zest on stage that compels. Brilliant speakers do not say "I could speak on 100 topics" or even worse, "I can speak on anything" Our speakers bureau has never had a meeting planner ask us to find a speaker for them who speaks on "anything."
2	*... compassionate towards the audience*	Love the audience you speak to. Research will show you the aspects of each audience for which you will be able to feel empathy. Speak to several members of your audiences before the presentation, then you will hold a conversation, not a talk. (See Secrets of Successful Speakers - How You Can Motivate, Captivate and Persuade by Lilly Walters, McGraw Hill)	Cavett Robert, founder of the National Speakers Association, NSA, says, "They don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."
3	*... a target specific marketer*	From the topics you are passionate about, ask yourself, which of these subjects are ones that audiences will pay to learn more about? Find the appropriate and specific market (See Chapter 4-Free to Shinning Fee)	Audiences believe that a "jack of all trades is a master at none." They want experts who can solve their problems practically.
4	*... able to customize the topic to a particular audience within their market*	By carefully researching the problems of this specific audience. Personal interviews with former and current attendee before the presentation (See Secrets of Successful Speakers - How You Can Motivate, Captivate and Persuade by Lilly Walters, McGraw Hill)	Even an expert on a specific topic and a specific market will have that extra magic touch-they also know and understand the actual group in front of them. Customization can often be an extra fee item and can be lucrative.
5	*... a creator of marketing tools*	Create presentation folders, content one-sheets, demo tapes (audio or video), business cards and letterhead. (See Chapter 6, Marketing Tools for the Speaking Trade)	A professional has these tools. Without them, bureaus and you will find it almost impossible to book you.
6	*... a sales-person*	You will need to learn to sell yourself to buyers and speakers bureaus, then to sell your products to all kinds of companies. Follow the ideas and suggestions in this book, a compilation of many successful speakers' great ideas, to give full measure and value packed deals to clients. (See Chapter 4, Free to Shining Fee)	Nothing happens until somebody sells something. If you wait for someone else to sell you, you may never be bought!
7	*... a service-person*	Cultivate a 'you' (not 'me') attitude. Make everything you produce to serve your clients' needs, wants and potential problem situations. Make it easy for them to buy you.	Sales skills get them the first time, service brings them back. The market is very competitive, there are thousands of brilliant professionals out there working towards the same buyers you are. Often the victor is simply the one who offers ease and pleasure in the purchase.
8	*... a business person*	Follow up all booking leads and sales in an immediate, business-like, concerned, friendly, and consistent manner. Have a professionalism surrounding everything concerned with you: your letterhead, the people who answer your phone, etc. Chapter 6 Marketing Tools for the Speaking Trade)	There is nothing which turns a buyer off faster than not being able to reach the speaker. Time is of great importance.
9	*... a great speaker*	Practice, practice, practice. Then constantly strive to be even better by improving delivery, content, and knowledge. Speak with a sincere, eloquent speaking style. As you speak, keep your eyes on the audience, talk to them as if they were one person. Tape yourself speaking, and listen carefully. Always practice out loud. (See Secrets of Successful Speakers - How You Can Motivate, Captivate and Persuade by Lilly Walters, McGraw Hill)	Pope Pius II said, 'A mighty thing is eloquence ... nothing so much rules the world.' Your passion pulls you to gather your expertise, and as Benjamin Disraeli put it, 'Eloquence is the child of knowledge.'

Amazing Motivational Keynote Speakers,
Professional Public Speakers,
Seminar Leaders and Trainers

Article - THE NINE SKILLS OF SUCCESSFUL PAID SPEAKERS,
by Lilly Walters, from "Speak and Grow Rich"

(* Chapters noted below are from the 2nd edition of "Speak and Grow Rich" by Dottie and Lilly Walters, Prentice-Hall Simon Schuster)

The leading resource for Speakers and
those wishing to hire Speakers

Amazing Motivational Keynote Speakers, Professional Public Speakers, Seminar Leaders and Trainers

Article - THE NINE SKILLS OF SUCCESSFUL PAID SPEAKERS, by Lilly Walters, from "Speak and Grow Rich"

(* Chapters noted below are from the 2nd edition of "Speak and Grow Rich" by Dottie and Lilly Walters, Prentice-Hall Simon Schuster)

The leading resource for Speakers and those wishing to hire Speakers

Amazing Motivational Keynote Speakers,
Professional Public Speakers,
Seminar Leaders and Trainers

Article - THE NINE SKILLS OF SUCCESSFUL PAID SPEAKERS,
by Lilly Walters, from "Speak and Grow Rich"

The leading resource for Speakers and
those wishing to hire Speakers