3 Ways to Create Excitement Everyday

Everyone feels has days where they feel like they are going through their days like a robot. Day in...Day out...boring! Discover how you can create more zest and passion in your day (and your career) by following these 3 simple strategies:

1. Realize that you are your own promoter. You must create and fuel the buzz around what you do, even if it seems silly. Even movies that bomb have a huge promotional schedule to stick to. 

2. Realize that you are the only one responsible for how you feel.

3. Surround yourself with people who stretch you. These are not just people who will sit idle while stay stagnant. They are people who seed more in you than you may see in yourself.

Please share this video on your social media sites, and comment below on how you create excitement in your world.

For more information about booking The Shef for your next event, visit http://www.theshef.com or call our offices at 1-563-343-5412

Speaking Business Stuck?

The speaking business is awesome...except for when it's not. I can't count how many speakers who I've met who have possessed amazing talent, great passion, and a sincere desire to help people with their message...until they give up! 

Most speakers give up when the "newness" of their business loses it's luster and it becomes a business, complete with the normal ups and downs of any business. 

Here are 3 tips that help hundreds of speakers going when they are ready to quit:

1. Always carry a pocket full of mental floss! 

The right Podcasts and audio books will feed your mind with "can do" when the world keeps throwing "doo-doo" at your dream. When I began speaking, I owned a janitorial business. I was literally listening to inspirational tracks from Les Brown, Jeffrey Gitomer, Zig Ziglar, and Tony Robbins while I was cleaning bathrooms!

2. Attend a multi-day personal growth seminar. 

Surrounding yourself with success-minded people provides you with amazing tools and connections that you won't find anywhere else. The Think and Grow Rich Summit on April 25-27 is guaranteed to rock your socks off, and is a steal at only $177! You will see amazing speakers like Jeffrey Gitomer, Bob Burg, and a host of others (including yours truly). Get there!

3. Pick up the 300 lb. phone!

Don't worry about being perfect on the phone, simply connect with people you know and let them know that you would like to speak to their business or civic club. "How can we make that happen?" is a magic phrase that will fill your calendar.

Whatever you do, don't let your message die inside of you. If God gave you a dream, He also gave you the means to make it come true. How do you keep your dream alive?

For more information about booking The Shef for your next event, visit http://www.theshef.com or call our offices at 1-563-343-5412

3 Ways to Become a More Flexible Speaker

The only thing that will never change is...CHANGE! Any speaker who markets, promotes, and sells at their events like it was 2006 is destined for massive failure! Some people feel that even though the business landscape is constantly changing; their business is immune from having to change. They call those people "Former Speakers".

Shef;s Hair Band Days!

While persevering toward a meaningful goal is an essential trait of all successful people; realize that it is okay to change your goals. During my late teens and early 20's, I was destined to be a rock star. I invested countless hours practicing my guitar, spent days in recording studios, and thousands of miles on the road...pursuing the dream of "making it" in the music business and needing security to fend off beautiful women who were just trying to get my autograph!

Then...my goals changed. I hung up the guitar and picked up a vacuum cleaner. I was learning the world of direct sales and sales management. That decision afforded me the ability to travel around the world, build huge sales organizations, and introduced me to the world of personal development. From there, I launched a successful speaking career and have written several books. The goals changed, but I never gave up (Although, I thought I would be signing a boob, not a book!)

Here are 3  ways that any speaker can grow their speaking business by being flexible:

1. Always ask, "So What?"

No matter how awesome or heart-wrenching your story is; the audience will remember you when you show them that you are tuned into their needs. If you think that your story is different, it's not. Get over it.

2. Get to know your audience before the event!

So many speakers miss the mark on this one! Here are a few basic questions that every speaker should know:

- How many people will be attending?

- What is the gender split of the audience? (anything heavier than 70% either way will require customizing. Women often respond best to relationship and feeling based stories. Men like achievement, recognition, and legacy.)

- What are some challenges that they are dealing with currently?

3. Ask the event planner, "What would make this an awesome event for you?"

Winning a game is so much easier when you know what winning looks like! If you event planner wants the audience to walk away with a particular feeling or action plan; frame your program around that. Talk to several attendees and ask them what they would like to hear. It doesn't matter what you want; it matters what they want.

Being a great speaker requires constant improvement and flexibility. Continue to hone your craft, and realize that you will never get noticed if you blend into the background. For additional marketing ideas, read my previous post here.

What are some ways that you customize your speaking programs?

For more information about booking The Shef for your next event, visit http://www.theshef.com or call our offices at 1-563-343-5412