Every week as SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with experts on my Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. The show takes place every Wednesday on Twitter from 8-9 pm ET. This is excerpted from my recent interview with @MarshawnEvans. Marshawn Evans Daniels is a Reinvention Strategist, Influence Expert and Best-Selling Author known as The Godfidence® Coach. This former Sports Attorney, Miss America Finalist and Donald Trump Apprentice, left her stuffy law-firm job & turned her passion for people into a million-dollar enterprise helping emerging and established women leaders of faith to Believe Bigger, Live Bigger and Profit Bigger. As the Chairwoman of the Godfidence Institute & Business School, her firm’s courses, events, and results-based coaching programs equip influencers and entrepreneurs to monetize and market their message to the masses.
Featured regularly on CNN, Fox Business, and ESPN, her client roster includes HP, Home Depot, EY, Delta, Tiffany & Co., Nike, Rolls Royce and NFL & NBA Athletes. Her signature programs include the Speak for Pay® Bootcamp, Brand Class, Attract Sponsors, Find Your Purpose, and The Godfidence Women’s Summit. Join the Godfidence movement today at Marshawn.com.
SmallBizLady: Why is professional speaking so important in building a business?
Marshawn Evans: Professional speaking is the most powerful branding strategy in the world. It empowers you to easily and effortlessly make more money, attract more clients, gain more exposure and expand your influence. If you want to make a lasting impact, you have to share your voice, purpose and message with the masses. Also, speaking helps you to establish instant credibility as an authority. The true test of any brand or business is connecting and building trust with their audience. When people trust you, they try you out and tell others about your brilliance as well!
SmallBizLady: Is it difficult to find speaking opportunities in a challenging economy?
Marshawn Evans: I tell my clients that this is the best economy for life-changers and thought-leaders. We’re in the information economy now, which means you can always make money sharing what you already know. People are hungry for the information you have to share. Whether it’s your expertise, your wisdom, or your story…it is a fantastic time to share your message with the masses. And with social media, the internet and other tools in the digital space, it is now easier than ever before to get your message out there and to be found. As a speaker, you need to provide solutions, answers, and value that meet the particular need of that marketplace. And if you meet a need, you’ll always be in demand as a speaker.
SmallBizLady: What are some tips you have for someone who wants to get started speaking?
Marshawn Evans: If you’re just getting started speaking, there are two things you must do: 1) Craft a clear message and 2) Create your signature talk. One of the biggest problems aspiring speakers face is finding their voice and crafting a clear message. They need structure, clarity and a plan. You may be very passionate about your message, but if your message comes across as muddled and cloudy, your audience will be confused. And you don’t want a confused audience because a confused mind does nothing. Secondly, you must create a signature talk. When starting out, it’s very tempting to create dozens of speaking topics and speeches. Not only will it be difficult for you to remember multiple topics when you’re just starting out, but you will not be able to develop your speaking style and improve your craft. Instead, it is best to be known for that one signature talk and work your way from there.
SmallBizLady: You believe that every speaker should become a published author. Why is that?
Marshawn Evans: Becoming published gives you instant authority as a thought leader. Plus, it gives you media relevance. Business success requires an interested audience. Further more, becoming a published author is one of the best vehicles to professionally expose your speaking brand to an interested audience. By writing down your perspective and expertise, you build an attentive base. However, becoming published is not always easy. I had to be persistent and tenacious in order to gain the interest of publishers for my book SKIRTS in the Boardroom, but it was truly rewarding when my book was accepted and became a best seller. Becoming a published author shows commitment to your purpose, expertise in a specific area, and vision that your brand is worth building.
SmallBizLady: You recommend having a mentor who is a successful speaker. What other resources do you suggest?
Marshawn Evans: Every potential speaker should have a mentor. A mentor should understand your speaking goals, and be eager to see your success. Find someone who is neutral, knowledgeable, and accessible—and be sure to find someone who has built a successful speaking brand and has been where you want to go. Second, there is something magnetic about making an investment in growing. If you want others to invest in you, you must be willing to invest time, money, and energy into developing your skill-set as a speaker. Enroll in coaching programs, seminars, and conferences that will equip you with the tools to become profitable and connect you with others in your industry.
SmallBizLady: What is the difference between a speaker and a speakerpreneur?
Marshawn Evans: A speakerpreneur is someone who consistently makes money speaking—across a number of platforms. In other words, they speak for pay…not for play. He or she has built a successful speaking brand that generates multiple revenue streams that go beyond the keynote. He or she has books, products or programs and sustainable systems to continually increase their income, impact and influence. For example, I remember a speaking engagement where I generated $45,000. That’s a salary in one day. This can happen when you turn your speaking brand into a business.
SmallBizLady: Can anyone be a professional speaker?
Marshawn Evans: I believe that anyone can. The main thing that holds an aspiring speaker back is fear and the feeling of unworthiness. Fear is the thief that holds you back. You start to question: is it really my time, there’s too much competition, I don’t have enough degrees or credibility, etc. But faith speaks in “Cans” and not in “Can’ts”. Every person who has done anything great has had to step out on faith and ask, “Can I do this?” To be a paid speaker you must trust your divine gift and take risks with courage and faith.
SmallBizLady: Why is it important for professional speaker find and use their unique voice?
Marshawn Evans: Speaking is a powerful income attraction tool. It makes it easier to attract clients instead of chasing them. It also opens up opportunities in media, publishing, and sponsorships. And, it’s a unique vehicle for inspiring others using your story, your experiences, and your insight. The most powerful thing an entrepreneur possesses is their voice. It enables us to standout, to have greater income, influence and impact.
SmallBizLady: What are the challenges aspiring speakers face?
Marshawn Evans: The biggest challenge is figuring out their voice and a clear, compelling message—what are they designed to share and offer? It’s important to be unique in the marketplace. Most entrepreneurs who are looking to speak professionally struggle with how to streamline their ideas into a cohesive message. The next issue is getting booked. Once you have your message, then it’s time share it…but bookings don’t just come out of thin air. You have to learn how to pitch, negotiate and set your fees. And, often speakers forget to work on their speaking! Sounds obvious, but winging it isn’t a good strategy! The final issue is standing out and having a magnetic spea
SmallBizLady: You also talk a lot about faith. What role does that play in success as a speaker?
Marshawn Evans: Success as a professional speaker requires two things. The first is mindset. I define Godfidence as using the power within you to manifest the life that God has always intended around you. So first, have a mindset of Godfidence and learn to see the way God sees. For example, see that on the other side of the obstacle or the fear lays the opportunity. To me, business is the ultimate exercise of faith. But mindset is not all; you’ve also got to develop the skill set. You’ve got to be willing to invest in what you want to grow—invest in your blind spots and where you’re weak. If you don’t know how to be a speaker, invest in learning about it. The life you have today is a byproduct of the investments you made or failed to make yesterday.
SmallBizLady: What kind of organizations pay speakers?
Marshawn Evans: I encourage my clients to speak on a variety of stages. In our Speak for Pay Formula, the big four are: Colleges, corporations, conferences, and churches—or faith-based organizations. No matter what kind of a business you’re in—from business coaching to website design to cupcake baking—these are the key four places in which to get paid as a speaker. A note about associations: These are a huge opportunity area for speakers as there is an association for everything. There are more than 10,000 different associations in the US and the majority of them have paid speaking opportunities.
SmallBizLady: What is the best way to build a speaker platform?
Marshawn Evans: Position yourself as an expert. If you constantly have people asking to pick your brain on a certain topic or area of expertise…guess what…you’re an expert! Expert positioning works best when a business owner steps forward as the face of business. A sustainable speaking brand requires that you be visible, vocal and visionary….think Steve Jobs at Apple. In addition to speaking on big stages, I also teach entrepreneurs about the power of creating information products, publishing a book, working with the media as a commentator, and using social media to make your mark in the marketplace.
SmallBizLady: How can speakers use social media for brand building?
Marshawn Evans: Position yourself as an expert. If you constantly have people asking to pick your brain on a certain topic or area of expertise…guess what…you’re an expert! Expert positioning works best when a business owner steps forward as the face of business. A sustainable speaking brand requires that you be visible, vocal and visionary….think Steve Jobs at Apple. In addition to speaking on big stages, I also teach entrepreneurs about the power of creating information products, publishing a book, working with the media as a commentator, and using social media to make your mark in the marketplace.
“Business Team Of Four Applauding” courtesy of stockimages/www.freedigitalphotos.net
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