When it comes to potential speaking engagements – you always want to weigh the pros vs. cons when it comes to considering whether to speak for free. There are a NUMBER of ways you can still get “paid” even if the organization can’t give you money. But for right now, let’s just look at WHEN […]

Recently, I competed in the area level (the second level) of the speech competition I’m in. I lost and came in second place. Let me tell you something… I HATE to not win a speech contest! However, this time was different. Even though I’m still disappointed I lost, I can tell I have grown in […]

Last night I competed in a Toastmasters International speech contest, and am excited to share with you that I placed FIRST!! I had taken a three-year break from competing, so it felt especially GREAT to take home the top honor at the club contest! I will move on to compete at the area level in […]

It’s a new year and you may be thinking about what resources you need that will help you accomplish your goals. If you’ve been telling yourself year after year that you need to improve your public speaking and presentation skills, and this year has to be different – you may consider working with a public […]

I can’t believe we are winding down the last month of 2022 already! It seems like we just started the year. I pray you are taking time to enjoy yourself and not getting overwhelmed with all the hustle and bustle that often comes in December. Below is a great article from Black Speakers Network that […]

If professional speaking is a goal of yours, your Speaker One Sheet is one of your most important marketing tools to have. However, there are still some lingering misconceptions about them! Let’s clear up some of the biggest ones… 1. IT NEEDS TO BE ONE SHEET It does NOT need to be one sheet! Many […]

A situation many speakers find frustrating is looking out into the audience and seeing faces glued to cell phones. You’ve taken the time to prepare this talk, and their attention is on a device instead of you. Like it or not, mobile phones are everywhere now and you can pretty much expect at least one person to look […]

“Is it ok to use notes?” “What’s the right way to use notes when speaking?” These are the two most common questions I hear when it comes to speech notes. First, let me make it clear that it IS OK to bring your trusty notes with you. I have been to conferences where I was […]

If you’ve ever looked out into your audience and noticed confusing looks on their faces – it can feel unsettling to you as a speaker! You’re wondering why they look that way. There are a host of reasons, but here are three major ones:  Your speech has no real structure and is going all over […]

You were feeling confident before your speech. But after speaking for a few minutes, those butterflies start flying out of control in your stomach. 😳 So what can you do to calm yourself and finish your speech on a high note? 1. Focus on why the audience needs to hear your message. Always keep their […]