SPEAK+ Week Nine

Welcome to Week Nine of SPEAK+.
Be Authentically Audacious.

I want to share some insights into my own personal experiences as a booked speaker. Specifically, the mental show that goes on for me between the moment I am booked and the moment I walk on stage.

Let me take you on a ride in my brain…. :)

I receive the booking and instantly think, “Oh geesh, now I have to actually do this.”
2 months out I start researching the event and past speakers.
In some cases I see the previous speakers and think, “Do I compare?”
1.5 month out I book a pre-event MasterMind to learn about the client and their event goals.
Most often I relax a bit now that I know the “people” behind the event.
I begin to stress about needing to get the presentation customized and ready.
1 month out I customize the program. Tweak and then retweak…and then retweak.
In some cases I have to send in my slidedeck in and then I am committed!
If not, I continue to retweak :) Can’t. Help. Myself.
Pressure begins to build in my brain about the event.
I start wondering if what I created is going to be what they want/need.
1 week out I feel the pressure but use that pressure as energy while I practice.
Day before event I feel all the feels of nerves and excitement.
Morning of event I always say to myself, “This is going to be a great day.”
As I stand by the tech booth, ready to walk on stage, I embrace the energy of the room.
I release all expectations and ask that I be a conduit of wisdom that is not my own.
As I walk on to the stage I transition into a state of energy and flow.
THIS IS ALWAYS THE MOMENT I FEEL EMPOWERED BY MY COURAGE.

Post event I am often mentally exhausted.
I evaluate my performance but never let it overtake me.
Perfectionism has no place as a creative and speaker.
Focus is on self care and growing forward. xooxx

This is a quick example of my common journey. Yours may be similar, or different, and will evolve over time. I share this with you so you can see that 100% confidence is not required to do this work…COURAGE is. So this week I challenge you to ask yourself a critical question (see lesson plan below) and then to choose a courageous action step to grow forward with.

The lesson is simple. Think, choose and then DO. It’s in the doing that your speaking career evolves, grows and ultimately FLOURISHES.

And hey, don’t forget to enjoy the journey. I know, I know…easier said than done right?

Welcome to Week Nine of SPEAK+

Whew. It has been a busy 8 weeks up to this point. This program has guided you through some heavy lifting self-exploration, expertise development and content/landing page creation. If you are still here (and you are since you are reading this) you are kicking ass for getting this far!

This week we are going to focus on the PLUS side of SPEAK+. The PLUS side is the courage and confidence it takes to do this work. The PLUS side is the deep seated beliefs that may be getting in your way from taking action (and the ones driving you forward!). The PLUS side is the little voice that whispers doubts to you along your journey. The PLUS side is EVERYTHING when it comes to moving forward with authentic audacity.

Authentic audacity is the ability to forge forward, doing the work and sharing your expertise, with boldness, courage and soul-deep conviction that simply by sharing YOUR energy you do make impact.

There is no short way through this process. You must courageously put yourself “out there” to reap the rewards as an impact maker….as a thought leader…as a speaker.

Are you willing to get uncomfortable to grow?
Are you willing to not be great at something at first?
Are you willing to share your teachings even if you think they are not good enough?

These are really important questions. And you know what? Some days you may be more willing than others. And that’s OK. Truly. Have grace with yourself on this journey. The road is long and the goal is to maintain momentum (even if the momentum is going from 120km per hour to 10km per hour).

Please remember: you are here doing this work it is because you have been called to do it. It’s just that simple. That inner truth will guide you along the way, even in the moments of doubt, paralysis, imposter syndrome and everything in between.

I am going to keep this lesson short and sweet. I need you to be honest with yourself in answering this question: WHAT IS ONE THING YOUR SOUL WHISPERS TO YOU THAT STALLS YOU FROM DOING THE THINGS YOU KNOW YOU NEED TO DO?

That’s the question. Think about it. Answer it as truthfully as you can. When we acknowledge our deepest truths we create awareness…and with awareness we can create change.

YOU CAN CREATE CHANGE.

And when you have an answer to the question above I want you to ask yourself this: What can I do this week that will courageously move me away from this limiting mindset and closer to my goals?

CHOOSE TO BE COURAGEOUS and growth will follow. #everysingletime

Write both answers down.

Execute on the one thing you can do to move away from your limiting mindset and closer to your goals.

That’s it.

Think and then do.

YES. YOU. CAN

Your Action Steps for this week…

• Take the time and energy to answer the questions above as honestly as possible. Execute on the one thing you can do to move away from your limiting mindset and closer to your goals. If you are open to it, share your challenges, successes and insights via the SPEAK+ Private Facebook Group . When we share we inspire each other.

• For 1on1 clients please refer to your google doc for additional action steps and customized feedback.