Reading your Enneagram results, especially from a company like Integrative Enneagram, can feel like being completely exposed. However, this experience of vulnerability, coupled with the necessity of self-honesty, can lead to profound happiness. It offers insights into the reasons behind your actions and behaviors and guides you on a path to transform into the person you aspire to be.
Everyone experiences fear of public speaking, including you. This fear manifests uniquely for each individual, with nerves presenting in various ways. Yet, there ARE strategies that can help ALL speakers prepare to deliver a meaningful and impactful presentation. Click the link below to learn more!
2024 a new year a new me. A moment of reflection reveals insights including a journey of rediscovery and rejuvenation, with hopes of a transformative 2024 filled with new ideas and exciting opportunities.
Energy is the essence of impactful communication. Yet, without granting ourselves the permission to rest and recharge, our ability to connect and inspire as professional speakers dwindles.
I want to emphasize the importance of understanding the "why" behind sharing one's story, illustrating how personal narratives serve others and how facing vulnerabilities can lead to personal development.
Explore the art of storytelling in speeches with key strategies: uncovering the narrative spine, delving into the stakes, and mastering the technique of "show, don't tell."
Facing "social quicksand" or stonefacing from an audience can be more daunting than heckling, a lesson I learned during a high school speech competition.
Despite the desire to adjust speeches based on immediate audience feedback, I believe that effective public speaking should not be swayed by these reactions.
I realized that setting constraints and adhering to discipline over motivation leads to increased productivity and stress reduction, even when it's tempting to do otherwise.
Motivation, while uplifting in the moment, is fleeting and does not sustain the discipline required for long-term success, a point underscored by emphasizing that true commitment—far less glamorous and often challenging—is the real driver behind achieving goals.
Lured by the promise of a lucrative speaking career, I remember the pitfalls of investing in a speaking program that offered grandiose but ultimately empty promises. This experience emphasizes the importance of building credibility in the speaking industry through genuine expertise and proven strategies, rather than falling for quick fixes.
I want to emphasize the importance of trust, actual expertise, and relevant experience as the three pillars of establishing credibility, cautioning against combining personal experience with genuine expertise in communication and authority.
An unexpected discovery highlights the importance of sharing and embracing stories of struggle and resilience, emphasizing how personal narratives can profoundly impact understanding and empathy for cultural and social challenges.
Celebrating Latin Heritage Month allows for personal reflection and cultural sharing, emphasizing the importance of understanding and empathy through the celebration of traditions, storytelling, and culinary exploration.
Self-exploration leads to a deeper appreciation for oneself, improving not just personal well-being but also effectiveness as a speaker and leader, highlighting the impact of self-like on overall confidence.
True confident leadership emerges from authentic self-awareness and the capacity to adapt to challenges. Leaders can develop lasting confidence not through dominance, but through understanding their own strengths and vulnerabilities, thereby enhancing their ability to lead effectively.
Discover how overcoming fear and perfectionism can unlock new avenues for professional speakers. I learned about the benefits and challenges of digital content creation and how it can serve as a powerful tool for clarifying my message and reaching a broader audience.
Our personalities influence how we communicate with others. I'll explain how our unique traits shape our communication styles and the impact they have on our effectiveness as communicators.
Nerves can play a crucial role in enhancing public speaking performances. Embracing and managing nerves can actually improve your confidence and effectiveness as a speaker, turning potential anxiety into a powerful tool for dynamic and impactful communication.
Overcoming speaking nerves may not be possible, but managing anxiety is within reach. I will explore practical strategies for speakers to transform their anxiety into a controlled force that enhances rather than hinders their ability to deliver powerful, confident presentations.
Burnout can hit you when you least expect it. For me, it happened while sitting in a Tesla, in the parking garage of a rental car company, struggling to figure out how to operate the car and feeling overwhelmed by everything around me.
Speaking is a physical and emotional act. While it is energizing, it can also be depleting. Address your speaker fatigue involves trusting your prep, refreshing your content, and prioritizing your audience to maintain engagement.
Confidence comes from self-awareness. Arrogance comes from fear. I would know. I lived my life in fear and arrogance, and, unfortunately, I burned many bridges in my life because of it.
Confidence comes from being able to respond to your environment. However, if we are not being honest with ourselves and with others, it is nearly impossible to have confidence and to lead others, especially as a professional public speaker.
I was truly unstoppable and my results proved it. As a speech and debate coach, we were essentially unbeatable in state and a powerful force nationally. However, it came at too high of a cost to be "unstoppable" and was not a healthy mindset.
Critical feedback, when seen as neutral, can boost performance by up to 39%. Discover how to transform critics into coaches, using their insights for personal and professional growth.
If you are a professional speaker, at some point, your speaking time will be extended or cut short. These are the stories of how I handled each occasion and what I learned about managing my time in speeches.
There is only one public speaking rule: respecting your time limit. Discover strategies for impactful, concise delivery that honors your audience's time.
I was truly unstoppable and my results proved it. As a speech and debate coach, we were essentially unbeatable in state and a powerful force nationally. However, it came at too high of a cost to be "unstoppable" and was not a healthy mindset.
Confidence comes from being able to respond to your environment. However, if we are not being honest with ourselves and with others, it is nearly impossible to have confidence and to lead others, especially as a professional public speaker.
I was truly unstoppable and my results proved it. As a speech and debate coach, we were essentially unbeatable in state and a powerful force nationally. However, it came at too high of a cost to be "unstoppable" and was not a healthy mindset.
The distinction between confidence and foolishness is subtle, yet crucial. Sadly many media sources advocate for leaders to be 'unstoppable' or 'unshakable.' Such terms can create unrealistic expectations about what leaders are capable of and what they ought to strive for.
Wisdom comes in many forms and mediums. I thought I had a good view of empathy until a chance encounter with a bumper sticker left me pondering and reconsidering. The mindset I learned from a chance encounter is one I use every day.
Empathy frequently emerges as a vital element in today's social media and corporate leadership circles. This idea significantly shapes leadership and communication.
That's right, the only time I felt truly qualified for a job was the one that I resigned from. I resigned for many reasons, but one of the main reasons I resigned is because I knew what I was doing, and it was not challenging me.
Imposter syndrome shouldn't be feared. Although it can make leaders feel uncomfortable, it actually indicates you're leading purposefully and innovatively. Remember, imposter syndrome is just a mental construct and, in reality, it's not true.
Oh, how silly of me! What a typo! Let me try that again...Then there WERE the timeS someone walked out of my keynote when I mentioned I am an immigrant. Being an immigrant keynote speaker in the Midwest can certainly come with challenges.
Real solutions come from open conversations, not from intense debates where someone has to lose. Talking about our country with kindness and respect is really the best approach to make things better, not tear us apart.
This will surprise none of you who know me well, but here it goes: I am competitive. This is the story of how I rose to the top of the oh-so-niche profession of being a professional competitive speaking coach.
We've all experienced knowing what to say and how to say it, yet holding back. Whether it's a fleeting moment or a habitual silence, learn how to break free from this self-imposed muteness and confidently share your story.
This will surprise none of you who know me well, but here it goes: I am competitive. This is the story of how I rose to the top of the oh-so-niche profession of being a professional competitive speaking coach.
A reality check for aspiring professional speakers, emphasizing the importance of investment, clear messaging, and visibility through real-world speaking opportunities.
Through a series of fortunate and unfortunate events, I found the Enneagram and finally found a test that typed me correctly as an Enneagram 2.
Unlock the core motivations and fears driving your behavior with the Enneagram. Discover why the Enneagram matters and how to use it.
I wish I could say I was heckled; that would have been a thrill in its own right. Instead, what I faced was something Amy Cuddy refers to as "social quicksand"—stonefacing.
Learn to connect with the fear of public speaking instead of overcoming it with a different mindset. Discover how to transform fear into fuel!
I wish that was an exaggeration, but it isn't. It was rare to have a day when I didn't own a beer (or four), and those "off" days were usually because I was too hungover to even think about alcohol.
Joy-seeking is a new mindset to keep us looking to the positive. But when do we take that joy-seeking too far? When does it become harmful? Read more to explore how joy-seeking could be killing your confidence.
Practice is a non-negotiable for me. I need to improve my speaking skills to serve my clients effectively. I don’t want my audience to hear a speech. I want them to have an experience.⏰ And I run into the same problem you often encounter: time.
Confident communication is key for any keynote speaker, team leader, and client-facing customer service representative. Read how to develop lasting speaking confidence.
I knew how to be a powerful and effective public speaker. But because my intention was not in the right place, neither was my impact. Read the story here.
Discover the art of effective communication that goes beyond words. Learn why 93% of communication is nonverbal and vocal, and explore three crucial questions to ask before any interaction to make your message memorable and impactful.
Being an introvert doesn’t mean you can’t be a powerful communicator. I’ve stood alone in rooms full of extroverted speakers, but my journey taught me that confident communication isn’t about volume—it’s about authenticity. Discover how I turned my quiet strength into a powerful voice and how you can too.
Confident communication is not about power points, and podiums, and posture. It is about the self-awareness you have when you are in front of others.
Welcome to Mic Check! Practical tools for communication, confidence, storytelling, leadership, and the enneagram.