There are lessons to be learnt in your journey.
I stepped cautiously into the professional speaking industry about 3 years ago. And this is what I learnt.
Back in 2021, I wanted to "up my game" as a small business owner. I had been a facilitator and coach for some time and was curious to enter the coveted world of professional speakers ๐ค .
All my instincts were telling me that it was too difficult and there was no way I would make it. But a small voice in my head kept nudging me to take a small step and just see.
And so I did. Here are the small steps I took and what it taught me:
๐ I attended meetings and talks by associations such as APSS, PrimeTime and Keynote Women Speakers. I can't remember the content of those talks but ๐ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ต๐ ๐ป๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐น๐ฎ๐ธ๐น๐ต๐ฎ ๐ ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฝ. The speaking community is lovely and so ready to help newbies. It was in one of these sessions that I met my speaking coach Simone Heng -Human Connection Specialist whose guidance literally changed my life!
๐ I wrote a book. Ok, this was not exactly a small step ๐
but I completed the book in small steps. At times I felt I was going backwards when the company that was supposed to help me publish my book filed for bankruptcy ๐ But I kept going and met an amazing publisher Timmy Bauer and editor Chas Hoppe who kept me motivated and on track. ๐ฒ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐๐พ๐ ๐๐๐พ ๐๐๐บ๐
๐
๐๐๐พ๐๐ ๐ผ๐บ๐ ๐ฟ๐พ๐พ๐
๐
๐๐๐พ ๐๐๐'๐๐พ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐บ๐ผ๐๐๐บ๐๐ฝ๐ ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐พ๐๐พ ๐๐๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐บ๐ ๐๐พ ๐๐๐๐
๐ ๐
๐พ๐บ๐๐.
๐ Listening to client needs. Becoming a speaker, ironically, made me a better listener. Because when I speak, I need to address the needs and concerns of my audience. And the only way to do that is to listen to the challenges and issues of the audience and speaking to that. Sแดแดแดแดษชษดษข ษช๊ฑ แดแดแดแดแดสสส สษช๊ฑแดแดษดษชษดษข!
There are lessons to be learnt in your journey.
It's often not what we expected. Agree?
If you are on a journey, keep going. And do share with me what are some lessons you've learnt:)