Great Advice From Influential Speakers
In late July, I attended the National Speakers Association’s annual Influence conference in Denver, CO. I had the opportunity to watch and learn from many professional speakers. Below is a recap of wisdom shared by some of the main stage and break-out speakers. I was inspired – and perhaps you will be, too!
The opening keynoter for the Influence conference was Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Erik has also kayaked the stretch of the Colorado River that goes through the Grand Canyon – again, he is blind. Not only did Erik succeed in kicking off the conference with his “No Barriers” message, he was a masterful storyteller. He challenged each of us to “embrace the reach”. Erik has a dedicated team that supports him through his endeavors.
Take-away: Have a clear goal. Surround yourself with supportive people who can see things you can’t. Don’t quit. If Erik can accomplish all that he has with his physical limitations of blindness, what in the heck is holding each of us back from accomplishing our goals?
Shelita Burke delivered on transforming a speaking business through social media. Shelita is a data scientist (she used to work for Microsoft) and is now a global influencer in the pop music world. Using social media she exponentially increased her followers by studying her “super fans”. She used artificial intelligence to better understand them so that they would champion her work. She shares this FREE TOOL, which analyzes LinkedIn connections and what motivates followers.
Have you considered speaking on the College/University speaking circuit? Eric Lambert, founder and Executive Director of the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities, connects student activities directors with prospective speakers. He suggested this article on understanding the changing college market: ARTICLE
Student activity directors are focused on student retention and student success through engagement. Hot topics on the college circuit include: personal development speakers, organizational training, life skills, and effective communication speakers.
Want to know how to immediately make a connection with your audience? This advice came from social psychologist Robert Cialdini, author of the best-selling books, “Influence” and “Pre-Suasion”. He was also on the conference main stage. “Smile broadly when you first get on stage – find a reason to flash a big smile at your audience.” This will endear them to you.
One of my favorite speakers was Jia Jiang: What I Learned from 100 Days of Rejection. Quite humorous, yet relatable because we all experience rejection at some point in our daily lives. Jia made rejection a game, and deliberately sought rejection. What if we could become immune to rejection? Watch Jia’s TED talk.
And while we are discussing conferences, have you ever wondered if it is worth it to speak at a conference (or attend a conference)? Tamsen Webster has developed a calculator for this: CALCULATOR.
Happy conferencing!