Professional Speakers Guild

Being a professional speaker is not an easy path. It may take you years to gain the credibility you need to enter into this competitive field. If you have the fire in your belly and you think you have what it takes, this is what you’ll need to develop the skills.
Toastmasters International is a good start. You'll also need plenty of practice, so that's a great way to get it.

Should I write a book?
Often, writing a book appears to be a daunting task, and some well-meaning people suggest that new professional speakers skip the whole process. I believe that offering a book (or other materials) to your clients is a good idea. Here's why:

1. You cannot tell your clients everything you know in a 45 minute keynote. Your audience will clamor for more, and you can serve them well by having a resource.
2. Your clients can't remember everything you told them in a 45 minute keynote. They will need a reference.
3. It's a great way to monetize your expertise, adding to your MSI (multiple streams of income).
4. A book provides a value-added "plus" to your client's overall experience (they can offer attendees copies, even signed copies, which are included in the event price, etc.)
Just to clarify, I'm not talking about some "thrown together" garbage to pass off as a book, but it doesn't have to be "War and Peace", either. HIRE A REAL EDITOR!
Finally, remember that a well-written 25 page book is much better than a 250 page book which you never finish.

Thought for the day.... ;-)

Interesting read....

How much should I expect to pay for a keynote? | MarketingSherpa Blog When hosting an event, one main consideration is choosing and hiring a keynote speaker. How much should you pay?

5 Myths That Only Bad Public Speakers Believe If you believe any of these common myths, you're not as good a speaker as you could be.

Thought for the day.....

Employers Find ‘Soft Skills’ Like Critical Thinking in Short Supply Companies across the U.S. say it is becoming increasingly tough to find job applicants who have the ‘soft skills’ to communicate clearly, take initiative, problem-solve and get along with co-workers.