By Thom Singer, CSP A lot of speakers look at “MC work” and think, “That sounds fun.” I like being on stage. I can introduce people. Yes, you can. But before you add “Master of Ceremonies” to your speaking business, get clear on two realities. First, it’s a lot of work. The best MCs are … Read more

By Patrick Henry, CSP Twenty years ago, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, Cavett Award Recipient, told me something that changed how I viewed the speaking business. She said, “For every good speech you deliver, you should spin off one or two additional bookings.” That idea stuck with me. If that were true, it meant you shouldn’t … Read more

By Tami Evans, CSP Hi. I’m Tami. And I’m a recovering People Pleaser. I wish I could say I’m fully healed, discharged, and living symptom-free. But recovery, like speaking and business, is not a straight line. It’s more of a spiral. Some days I’m enlightened, boundried, and grounded. Other days, I’m one impulsive “Sure, I’d … Read more

By Bob Phibbs, CSP, MDSG, the Retail Doctor My client’s voice was blunt. “Just got the surveys back. They hated you.” Not some of them. Not a mixed response. They hated me. Everything from my content to the way I asked someone to turn off the lights. This was three weeks after what I thought … Read more

By Harvey Mackay, CPAE It’s been said there are two times in life when you are truly alone: just before you die and just before you deliver a five-minute speech. Stage fright can be terrifying, but it needn’t be paralyzing. Delivering over a thousand speeches teaches a person a thing or two about getting through … Read more

By Kymberli Speight Should you get involved in service to your local NSA chapter? The short answer is Yes. However, the truth is you will have to identify your personal reasons that motivate you to make this commitment. When I am asked what the reasons are to get involved with your local NSA chapter, my … Read more

By Maura Thomas, CSP Ask a bunch of NSA members why they join and attend events, and I bet the most common response you will receive is some version of, “It’s the people.” But this short phrase really doesn’t convey the powerful meaning behind it. Admittedly, my first few NSA events were intimidating, and it … Read more

By Alan Weiss, CSP, CPAE Once you identify yourself by a category—speaker, trainer, facilitator, coach, consultant, and so forth—you become a commodity, and subject to price comparisons. I tell everyone who approaches me for advice that they need to: Understand this is the marketing business. Build their brand so that they are unique. Focus NOT … Read more

By Tony Chatman, CSP In late October of 2021, I received a text from a friend from college. She simply asked if my wife and I would like to join them in Mexico in five weeks. They owned a place in Playa Del Carmen, so all we’d need to do is get there. We jumped … Read more

By Jason O. Harris If you’ve ever spent any time around aviation, you know there’s one rule pilots repeat so often it becomes muscle memory: Aviate. Navigate. Communicate. It’s the principle we fall back on when things get bumpy or when the fit hits the shan at 3 a.m. over the Atlantic Ocean. It’s what … Read more