O.K. I’ll admit that I’m a born-again public speaker. What do I mean by that? Well, when I first took speech in High School, I was so painfully shy (and, I actually still am) that stepping in front of the room full of classmates who I just knew wanted to ridicule me felt like walking into a dragon’s lair and shouting, “Fresh virgin meat! Get it while it’s still moving!”
But apparently, I have the gift of gab, despite my introvert leanings, and was recruited onto the speech team, where I …

1. Getting there late.
Walking frantically into a room full of people who have been waiting for you to arrive can be an embarrassing situation. Unless you are a magician, you might as well turn around and leave. It would take a miracle to get this audience to forget the inconvenience you have caused them. They probably have already passed judgment on you, deciding you’re an inconsiderate speaker rather than a viable expert in your field. Make the extra effort to arrive at least ½ hour before the event begins.

Speakers can open their presentation using one of a host of methods. So why do most non-professional speakers begin their speech with those attention-grabbing words, “Ah, I am so-in-so, ah . . . um”? Beginning your speech with filler words such as “ah” or “um” immediately tells your audience that you are an untrained speaker. In a flash, you’ve lost credibility as a speaker, or even worse, as an expert in your field, and your audience has taken a mental exit. You might as well be talking to an empty …

1. READY, SET, GO
When does your speech actually start? When you arrive at the lectern? Does it begin with the first utterance of a sound or word? No. Your presentation begins the minute the emcee begins to talk about you. The audience automatically sweeps the crowd searching for the speaker. Keep poised and confident. Remember all eyes are on you!
2. RISE TO THE OCCASION
The emcee announces your name, and the audience breaks out into applause. Now it’s time to rise …

This month, I’m going to share with you an audio where I am interviewed Jen Blackert, a remarkable Client Attraction Marketing Coach. Her Web presence can be found at: www.jenblackert.com.
We spend an insightful 30 minutes discussing my’s spiritual steps — and my inspired actions — for booking public speaking engagements, and attracting new clients.
Listen in, and learn my secrets about what I call my “inner game,” as well as the “outer game” of creation — whether it’s getting new clients or developing your public speaking engagement list.
In less than 30 …