I got a panicked call from Jane. She had a speaking engagement booked and had no idea what she was going to say. I had known Jane for many years. She was successful, confident and intelligent. She had a wide range of friends and connections. She had a big heart and was beloved. Then why was she so panicked?

Jane had a secret. She didn’t feel comfortable speaking in public when she needed to have a plan. She liked to “wing-it” and had gotten away with that method for a long time. But now she was moving up in her business. She wanted to have an event and create a mastermind group. She had big dreams, but she also had big fears and doubts.

Jane had a “Get Your Talk Ready to Rock” session with me. In her session we created a talk that she was THRILLED about giving. It allowed her to share her heart, be humorous and fun (because that’s her style) while also keeping her on track so that she could see results! Her energy going into her talk was palpable - no more fear and self-doubt. Instead, she rocked the stage - they were laughing, crying and emotionally connected to her message.

Jane went on to become an international speaker and booked 5 speaking engagements in her first 2 months of her membership in the Get Speaking Gigs Now Academy. She also filled her event with 100 people using speaking, enrolled people into her first mastermind and generated thousands of dollars in sales. Talk about a 180!

When you can safely face your innermost fears about being visible with someone who has been there, it is empowering. It’s different than being empathetic. Yes, I was empathetic to what she was feeling in the beginning, but more than that, I honored her fears and championed her dreams. And once that we had that trust, we were able to quickly implement the strategies she was ready to learn to become a successful speaker. That skill can never be taken away.

My first public speaking gig was when I was 13 years old, and I was asked to speak about seat-belt safety to my entire junior high school. How could I make this dry topic interesting? My dad was my first speaking coach. He helped me bring humor and authenticity to the talk.

By the time my first week in college came, I was hooked on my major, Speech Communication. After my Bachelor’s degree, I went on to earn a Master’s and taught Interpersonal Communication for 2 years at California State University, Fullerton. It was one of the most fulfilling jobs I ever had.

After using my communications skills in higher education sales, executive management and small business ownership, I was approached by a personal development company to be their spokesperson. I would need to book speaking engagements and develop new business. In my first year, I booked 83 speaking engagements, and kept that pace up for many years.

Speakers would ask me all the time, “How do you get so many gigs?” Finally, it hit me. I could really help other people if I taught them my system and strategies. In 2017, my company, Get Speaking Gigs Now, was born.