NSA Northwest's Quarterly E-zine -- April 2006
In this Issue
- Message from President Jan Dwyer
- Saturday Workshop on Branding -- Sign Up Today!
- Articles for Speakers!
- Welcome to our Newest Vendor Partner
- Dr. Daren Penry Attains Member Status
- Welcoming our New Members and Affiliates
- NSA Northwest People in the News
- Keepers from NSA Winter Workshop in Washington DC
- Upcoming Saturday Workshops, Bonus Sessions & Meetings
Message from President Jan Dwyer
Dear Friends,
By the time you read this, it will be Spring -- the sun will be shining and you will again remember why you love living in the beautiful Northwest. Spring reminds me of Spring Cleaning not only for our homes but also for our businesses. What do you need to throw out as it relates to activities that are just not working for you? What is working that you need to do more of? My recent home purchase has helped me experience the incredible freedom that occurs when we throw out things that add clutter and stress and incorporate things that can lead to more peace. Where do we start the process as it relates to our speaking career? One place to begin is to compare your speaking competencies with the four competencies of Expertise, Eloquence, Enterprise, and Ethics as developed by the National Speakers Association board of directors. As you assess your own development as a speaker, see what you can take out of your business that doesn’t add value to make room for those “high-value” activities that are aligned with these four competencies:
- Expertise - Refers to knowledge or skills in a particular area, with a particular emphasis on the application of this knowledge or these skills.
- Eloquence -Refers to the speaking skill or power of using persuasive and powerful expression.
- Enterprise -Refers to the skills needed in the purposeful or industrious undertaking of a speaking business venture. It involves running a business, sales and marketing knowledge, as well as skills and techniques to generate speaking engagements and income.
- Ethics – Refers to the rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of the speaking profession.
Our chapter events are geared with these competencies in mind and give you the tools that you need on a local basis to help your careers. Make sure to carve out the time to attend both our Saturday workshops and in-home programs.
There is a wealth of information to learn outside Puget Sound! Attend one of NSA’s workshops or conventions - this year, the convention is held July 22-25th in Orlando. Not only will you exponentially increase your impact as a speaker and a business owner, you will experience the tremendous joy of getting to know speakers from all over the country. Indeed, I have established two accountability partners from my recent trip to the DC workshop (read below for some of the nuggets from those of us who attended). Along with the “Antionnette” group I joined with my local speaking friends, these support and accountability relationships will help keep me focused on my goals. As you “clean out your business,” you will increase your service level to your clients. If we all do that, NSA Northwest will continue to be a “community of service!” Happy Spring!
Technology Tip:
If you are an AOL user and want to switch to another service but don’t want to lose all of your AOL email – there’s a great product designed just for you called ePreserver. This software enables you to export all your AOL emails and folders to your new email address in Outlook. I highly recommend it having just used it myself! For more information, go to http://www.connectedsw.com/Overview/57266. (Tip from Jan)
As you may remember, we recently moved our manual email address list to our Kickstart Cart online. Recent tests of our mailings show that the majority of AOL users on our list may not be receiving NSA Northwest email messages! We don’t want you to miss any announcements such as the recent location change for one of our events. Please ensure that info@nsanorthwest.org is included in your AOL Address Book so that our emails get through.
Productivity Tip:
Looking for a time management book specifically for entrepreneurs? Check out Dan Kennedy’s book entitled, No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs: The Ultimate No Holds Barred Kick Butt Take No Prisoners Guide to Time Productivity & Sanity, published by Entrepreneur Press.
Saturday Workshop on Branding -- Sign Up Today!
I'm particularly excited about having our Saturday Workshop speaker, Dick Bruso, visit NSA Northwest to talk to us about developing our own brands as speakers. I have personally worked with Dick one-on-one, so I know firsthand how effective his techniques are. He is the one who helped me develop my brand "Toolie" and turn it into several websites, digital products, and an entire line of travel guides to be published this year. I learned from Dick how creating a brand helps narrow the endless creative possibilities into something more manageable: a cohesive strategy for my business that guides everything from determining my market niche, to creating a logo, to choosing colors for my product labels and promotional materials.
Besides his Workshop presentation, Dick is going to give 3 people an opportunity to work on their brands with him during our Bonus Session. If you sign up for the Bonus Session with your Registration, your name will be entered into a drawing from which those 3 names will be chosen. Dick will interview each person and start the process of developing a brand that distinguishes them from their competition. By watching how Dick works, we'll learn how to think about the process of developing a brand that's based on who we are: our backgrounds, our experience, and our passion for communication as speakers. I hope you'll join us!
You can register now by clicking this link.
Articles for Speakers!
NSANW is enriching the RESOURCE page of our website with articles by our members and others that relate to the business of speaking and training. Each ezine we'll feature several. Or you can go to www.NSANorthwest.org/resources.html to read these and others.
You can add to our article list. Please write a 200 - 400 word article on a topic that would be helpful to speakers or to meeting planners. Or email the link to Linda@LindaKeithCPA.com when you run across a good article. Linda will get the needed copyright permission and add it to our site.
Deconstructing E-Learning
Advocates of web-based training have learned a big lesson: Classroom interaction matters. No sooner had Luis Sanchez Navarrete, director of training and knowledge management at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), launched a bold training initiative using web-based technologies, when things started to take a turn for the worse. Read full article...
A Frequent Flyer's Guide to Reduced Travel Stress
My past eight years as a professional speaker has taken me to hundreds of cities and dozens of countries around the world. Last year alone, I presented in 60 cities, in twelve countries involving more than 140 days on the road. In these travels, I have picked up a number of tips that make life on the road fun and much less stressful. Read full article…
Cashflow Counts!
When you have enough dates on the calendar you have enough cash, right?
And if you have plenty of cash in the bank, your business is doing well, right?
And you can’t be overdrawn if you aren’t out of checks, right?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, you don’t understand the realities of running a small professional business. Read full article…
Welcome to Our Newest Vendor Partner
JD Fields, Catch the Beat
JD The DJ has been performing and planning events for over 15 years, entertaining thousands of people, making people dance, having fun, and smiling. Taking the stress out of planning an event...catering the special occasion to you, allowing you to relax and have fun. Visit www.catchthebeat.com for more information.
Dr. Daren Penry Attains Member Status
The entire NSA Northwest Chapter extends its congratulations to Affiliate-turned-Member Dr. Daren Penry, who recently qualified for National Membership. Daren has been an Affiliate of NSA Northwest for the past 2+ years, serving as an Affiliate Coordinator and volunteering in several roles. Daren has his own chiropractic practice (http://www.drpenry.com/) and gives presentations on mind/body health.
Welcoming Our New Members and Affiliates
We want to give a warm welcome to our new members and affiliates who have joined NSA Northwest since January 1.
Ann Ray, Affiliate
Query Group
Leanna Blackmon, Affiliate
John L Scott Real Estate
Randy Boek, Affiliate
RavenFire
Deborah Chase, Affiliate
Fernette Eide, Affiliate
Frank Forencich, Affiliate
Specializing in health and human performance, educational neuroscience, stress and creativity.
Molly Gordon, Affiliate
Certified Professional Coach
Jean Hamilton, Affiliate
Speaking Results
Jean offers coaching and training on presentation and communication skills. Her work enables executives to connect to their audience with confidence and clarity.
Earl Johnson, Affiliate
9-11 World Trade Center Survivor & Author of Stairwell To Heaven. "LIFE is filled with adversity, LIVING is the process of overcoming it."
Marilyn McGuire, Member
Management Methodologies
Susan Parker, Affiliate
Susan is a performance coach, trainer and consultant. Her niche is golfers who want to perfect their mental game. She also trains and coaches personal trainers, business owners, and sales teams in building their 'in-the-moment' communication skills; communicate with all types of people and use language as a key to reveal and adjust belief systems that limit peak performance.
Gary Schwartz, Affiliate
Intutive Learning Systems
Sarah Taylor, Member
Sarah is the author of "Secrets of Successful Pharmaceutical Salespeople" and a renowned speaker in the medical industry for pharmaceutical sales motivation and speaker training.
Bill Thomas, Affiliate
Bagley Creek Associates
Rosemary Vohs, Member
Storyteller
NSA Northwest People in the News
Marcia Brixey has been selected as a 2006 YWCA Woman of Achievement in Kitsap County. She is speaking in April at the 1st Annual Stepping Out Conference in Santa Clara CA and Chicago.
Tracey Conway will be speaking Emergency Resucitation Congress in Stavanger, Norway on behalf of Medtronic, Inc. She'll be doing two sessions at this 4-day conference.
Fernette Eide recently spoke at the President's Council on Bioethics. She spoke on the Fundamental Needs of Children, and covered topics like vulnerability of children being diagnosed with ADHD or autism spectrum disorders.
John Gibson or Dr. John, as his clients call him, has taken a partial sabbatical to complete some writing and do battle with cancer. He's happy to report good news on both fronts. John’s completed two books, Family Dynamics of Aging Families: A Handbook for Adult Children, and Health Care Issues of Aging Families: A Handbook for Adult Children.
Linda Keith just signed a $40,000 training contract. The client in the southeast found her on the internet because of website changes she made after attending Corbin Ball's NSA/NW program!
Laura Leist’s new book "Eliminate Chaos...The 10-Step Process to Organize Your Home & Life" published by Sasquatch Books will be available in bookstores nationwide in mid-April! She’s traveling to Boston and NY at the end of March to promote the book. While in New York she will be doing an Office makeover in the offices of Glamour Magazine. In June she travels to Chicago to promote the book.
Vicki Rackner has been invited by Johnson and Johnson to contribute content to their new caregiver web site www.strengthforcaring.com. She was a guest on 20 radio shows during heart disease month. The favorite story in the Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series Heart Disease....that of our own Tracey Conway. On a more personal note, she’s back in her house that was destroyed by a fire in June. Vicki thought she was having a spiritual "why do bad things happen to good people" chat with my 8-year-old son. She said, "I know God has a big plan, but we might not understand it for a while." Her son looked at her and said, with a whiff of impatience, “Mom, we got a brand new house!"
Deborah Read has three noteworthy paid speaking engagements: Society of Research Administrators NW Regional Meeting in Portland in May; Association of Washington Cities 20th annual Healthy Worksite Summit in October; and as a continuing education provider at a conference/workshop in Seattle in June.
Bob Seidensticker’s book Future Hype: The Myths of Technology Change will be in stores April 13. He’s been interviewed by US News and World Report and Fast Company magazine has selected his book to be in their Reader's Choice competition for the May issue. Visit www.future-hype.com for book excerpts.
Bill Stainton is headed to Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia for three weeks of speaking and coaching in March. He’ll also be doing an occasional radio show.
Keepers from NSA Winter Workshop in Washington DC
From Patt Schwab
What will they keep that will serve them and remind them of me? Put quotes from the client’s website into your PowerPoint.
From Roxanne Emmerich:
Your job as a speaker it to show them how to manage tension in life. Ask questions, cause them to think. Training films give answers and that’s why they are boring. Be strong on the platform by:
- Telling stories of your success with clients
- Tell lots of stories
- Be somewhat confrontational on hard issues
The best titles address:
- Client’s Pain
- Benefit you bring to the client
- Are cute and memorable
From Sarah Taylor
- Publishing articles is an excellent PR strategy to keep your name in front of customers and attract new ones. Commit to writing for at least 30 minutes every morning, and publish the resulting articles frequently.
- Market your services to “achievers”, not “strugglers”. For example, if you teach speaking skills, create ads with high-achieving statements like, “Do you want to be a World-Class Speaker?” instead of, “Terrified to speak? We can help!” If you market to strugglers, they will continually call you (because they are always struggling), and your sales will reflect that of a struggler.
- Have a “call to action” on every page of your website. “Click here to purchase your copy of Secrets of Successful Pharmaceutical Salespeople” – put it on every page – not just the products page!
- Pain motivates people more than pleasure. Therefore, create titles for your work that help them to avoid pain. Use “10 mistake to avoid…” instead of “10 tips for helping you …”
- As member of NSA, we are automatically members of the International Federation for Professional Speakers. Use this in your marketing materials and on your CV.
From Candace K. Belair
I like the "1-2-3" rule I learned. After a speaking engagement:
- Write a thank you note to the contact person
- Include in your note positive comments you received from audience members
- Since your program was such a success, ask the contact person if she/he knows of other associations who would benefit from your services.
Another keeper: have a "call to action" on every page of your website.
From Michael Fraidenburg
As my granny used to say, “Ya can’t do it all (you little pip-sq…).” My lessons learned from attending this big NSA event – collect one or two things that are in synch with who you are and what luck will let you do. What I learned from the NSA Winter Workshop 2006 is to quit trying to prepare the perfect presentation! Speak from the heart and create more humor by having the participants in my sessions do it for themselves. Most of all have fun!
From Jan Dwyer
From the session on article writing by Barbara Bartlein, CSP, How to Get Published 100 Times in the Next Year :
- Hire an editor to do the final draft of your articles. www.finaldraftliterary.com.
- Purchase software package – articlesubmitter.Pro – to submit your articles.
From Mary Pankiewicz, Clutter-Free & Organized
- Stand up in your office while de-cluttering. You're less likely to pause and read what you're tossing if you stand rather than sit while de-cluttering.
- Set a few times during the day to look at emails.
From Halaine Guidry DeWerff, 60 Tips in 60 Minutes to get 60 Bookings
- Develop a program for schools and get local business leaders to sponsor it.
- Fill the room to cover costs and then target decision makers that are the right target for your speech. ( This tip from Vanna Novak!)
- Call back a client the anniversary when you spoke.
Upcoming Saturday Workshops, Bonus Sessions & Meetings
How to Be Heard Above the Noise: Branding Your Uniqueness
Speaker: Dick Bruso
Date: Saturday, April 8, 2006
This jam-packed and highly practical program is designed to help professional speakers develop their distinctive brand, focus on their uniqueness to successfully reach their markets, and position themselves to truly be 'heard above the noise' in the marketplace. Examples of powerful branding, unique positioning, and creative marketing approaches, successfully utilized by fellow speakers and other professionals will be shared throughout Dick's presentation. In a highly competitive environment, professional speakers need to set themselves apart as the go-to experts if they are to achieve true and lasting success.
Bonus Session
This is your opportunity to begin the process of creating your very own distinctive brand today! During this hands-on Bonus Session, Dick will help you and your colleagues develop brands that will truly set you apart in the marketplace. You'll learn the secret of how to apply the umbrella approach to branding that will cover all your services from speaking to consulting to product development.
Speak to Persuade! How to Make Powerful & Persuasive Presentations
Speaker: Vanna Novak
Date: Saturday, April 22, 2006
Affiliate Meeting
Most speakers and presenters can develop and deliver presentations that are informative. But what happens when being informative is not enough?
Intellectual Property Protection for Speakers
Speaker: Carol Desmond, Attorney, Trademarks to Go, Inc.
Date: Monday, May 8, 2006
You’ve spent time developing your brand and your products; now it’s time to learn how to protect them. Attorney Carol Desmond specializes in working with speakers, authors, and publishers to identify their valuable intellectual property (IP) and to keep it safe through appropriate legal means. Bring your list of products and services that need attention, and get answers to your most pressing IP questions.
Affiliates Speak Up
Fourth Annual Affiliates Showcase
Date: Monday, May 22, 2006
The spotlight is on! Four of our NSA Northwest affiliates will take center stage and share their wit and wisdom with us. Affiliates include those just starting in their speaking business as well as people adding speaking to an already thriving consulting, coaching or professional practice. With four Presenters and an Emcee, you’ll get a sampler of topics from the serious to the funny, business to personal.
Increase your Inclusivity Quotient: Break Down the Barriers that Block your Message
Speaker: Lenora Billings-Harris, Incoming NSA President
Date: Saturday, June 10, 2006
A fun, interactive and non-judgmental session will help you enhance your inclusivity quotient so your passion and message can be fully received by everyone in your audience.
For further information, visit our website at http://www.nsanorthwest.org/events/index.html.