Speaking of Resources

Be sure to check out the latest Speaker Resources to help you grow your business and improve your speaking.


Upcoming June speaker Darren LaCroix has a great list on his site with anything from shrink wrap machines and CD duplication to fulfillment and speaker boot camps.

I've just posted resources from John Kremer (huge!), especially if you're interested in publishing. He also has great info on podcasting and promoting your business online. After all, he's the author of "1001 Ways to Market Your Book!"

I also "stumbled upon" some great free NSA-sponsored webinars on Social Networking and Social Media. The first one that is archived is from none other than David Nour, a speaker earlier this year. The rest planned for 2009-10 will be archived as well, but you can register to attend each one live if you like.

Visit the link at: http://www.freshbizideas.com/SpeakingResources.html

Catapult Your Career!

Would you like to advance your speaking career at lightning speed? Then sign up today for the Pro Track Speaking Academy. You will advance and polish your speaking skills under the tutelage and guidance of seasoned pros. You will also learn other essential skills that will help your speaking business grow. Pro Track is limited to 12 people, and there are only a few spots left, so hurry.

Pro Track grads are eligible to compete in June 2010 for the “NSA Idol Contest” and the top prize is valued at over $1,000. Other prizes are worth hundreds of dollars. All 12 contestants will receive prizes, so get your application in today!

Visit http://FreshBizIdeas.com/SpeakingResources.html for details and program overview.

Register today by clicking on the above link and printing the form to fax in. See you in the limelight!

April's "Big Shtick"

Need a mix of humor and good business sense to ramp up your speaking biz?

Mikki Williams is a professional speaker with her own speakers school. She will focus on great presentation techniques, including using humor and being different to stand out when you speak.

As a Vistage chair coaching CEOs, you can be sure her time with us will be content-rich as well as fun!

Here's what a couple of our members have said about her presentations:

Whether your audience is 2 or 2,000, international speaker and trainer to companies worldwide, Mikki Williams, will show how to dazzle your audience and get over your fear of speaking. You’ll walk away empowered!
- Sandy Dumont, www.theimagearchitect.com

I’m not sure how many NSA-VA programs I’ve attended in the past ten years, but I’ve only missed a few. Every program gives me something I can use to steadily grow my business.

There are some programs that are CAN’T MISS opportunities to see a phenomenal talent! I would NEVER want to miss an opportunity to laugh and learn with Mikki Williams!

I had an opportunity to see Mikki speak at a Winter Workshop in 2006 and I’ve never forgotten it. She is a FORCE of NATURE! As a speaker, she brings a rare combination of laugh-out-loud humor and SOLID, practical content.

Be there this Friday and bring your friends, family and staff. Mikki does it all – she keeps her audiences roaring with laughter AND she coaches CEOs and entrepreneurs through Vistage – The World’s Leading Chief Executive Organization. If you want to build your business in a down economy, Mikki will show you how to use your authentic, unique qualities to build the highest level of speaking skills and a solid business structure.
- Gloria Thomas, www.wizardinc.com

For more info about her, visit: http://www.mikkiwilliams.com/

You can also see a short video clip of Mikki on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgtNGQuZico&feature=related

If you haven't yet signed up for the program in Chesapeake this Friday, April 17th, you'll want to do so as soon as you can! Click here to see program details and register: http://www.nsavirginia.org/events_Detail.php?EventID=13

Tough Talk for Tough Times?

Thinking the speaking business is in for tough times along with this challenging economy? The Northern California NSA sponsored a panel of four Past Presidents, including the founding president (Patricia Fripp, who recently spoke at our NSA meeting), who addressed that topic.

Here are the links to the 4-part panel discussion, which I'm sure you'll find enlightening and encouraging - with suggestions about what you can do to improve your bottom line this year. I've condensed the links here for you:
http://tinyurl.com/spkrspanel-1 http://tinyurl.com/spkrspanel-2 http://tinyurl.com/spkrspanel-3 http://tinyurl.com/spkrspanel-4

For more insights, you can visit NCNSA member Ian Griffin's blog (he recorded the above) at: http://www.exec-comms.com/blog/

IMPROV Training Opportunity 4/27

Want to become more spontaneous or physical in your speaking?
Just want to have fun?

Improv for Speakers and Trainers

Join PLAYBACK Hampton Roads on Monday, April 27, 2009

You Tell a STORY, we ACT it out.

The public is invited to attend this hilarious, educational, and thoroughly entertaining performance by this talented ensemble. Be introduced to improvisational theatre – in a unique and eye-opening manner.

A short Toastmasters meeting will open the evening events at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 27th at Unity Renaissance Church, 1120 Eden Way, Chesapeake. (2 blocks behind Greenbrier Mall). Playback Theater will “Raise The Curtain” promptly at 7:30 and will extend to 8:15 p.m.

Contact Dick Biondo at 460-2829 for further information and directions to the church, or visit our website at http://comunity.freetoasthost.com/.


For full information and to view this as a pdf file you can print out, go to: www.freshbizideas.com/SpeakingResources.html

FRIPP Teleseminar this Thursday

Join Patricia Fripp for this no charge teleseminar Thursday of this week – a great lead-in to our NSA Virginia March program (Friday the 20th) when she will be here in Richmond !

“Taking Your Presentation to the Next Level: How to UP Your Value in a DOWN Economy,” with Patricia Fripp

It is no secret…corporate travel budgets are down, associations are predicting less attendees, and convention committees are asking speakers to cut their fees. What can ambitious speakers do? They can UP their value in a DOWN economy!

Patricia Fripp says, “We need to increase the effectiveness of our marketing and revisit the quality of our presentations.” Being perceived as a dynamic, inspiring, and persuasive presenter is no longer a nice skill to have; it is a matter of business life and death!

This starts with your marketing and is magnified in your presentation. If you are a novice, intermediate, or even advanced business or professional presenter, you will benefit from this TeleSeminar. Patricia has a unique ability to demystify the process of what it takes to transform a good presentation into a GREAT one! With Patricia, you will learn some often over-looked marketing philosophies and hear Fripp’s Good to Great: 10 Little-Known Techniques to Transform Your Speech…and a bonus!

Your registration link is: http://www.speakermatch.com/teleseminars/022609/register.asp

During this call, you'll discover how to:

• Revisit your marketing with fresh eyes
• Identify do's and don’ts that ensure a successful presentation
• Adapt two comedy techniques that add retention
• Open and close with more impact
• Avoid the unconscious goof that will hurt your credibility
• Improve listener buy-in for your point of view
• Be remembered and repeated
• Be persuasive, clear, and concise
• Make your stories memorable

BOTTOM LINE....Receive high caliber advice for a low investment

WHEN
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Eastern Standard Time
Cost: Complimentary

We will not be using a toll-free number. You will be responsible for the small long-distance charge if dialing out of your area code. This will appear on your phone bill.

Your registration link is: http://www.speakermatch.com/teleseminars/022609/register.asp


IN CASE YOU ARE CURIOUS
SpeakerMatch is the only service of its kind when it comes to matching speakers and speaking opportunities. SpeakerMatch reaches emerging professional speakers, business leaders, technical gurus, educators, and other subject-matter experts who want to communicate what they know. There is no better service available for event organizers who need to reach this very diverse group of experts who speak.
http://www.speakermatch.com/cmd.asp?af=934702

Need A Marketing Coach?!

Three great opportunities to plug into the mastermind of an innovative marketing speaker (and internet marketing guru) are coming your way this week. Of course, I'm referring to Ford Saeks of http://www.primeconcepts.com/ who is our February 20th program speaker.

Here are the perfect combination of opportunities to move your business ahead of the curve:

• Bonus dinner with Ford for NSA-VA members Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. Contact Ron Chapman at ron@5starperformancesolutions.com for details and to reserve your place.


• Three-hour program Friday morning: Innovative Marketing Mastery to Grow Your Business. Reserve here: http://www.nsavirginia.org/events_Detail.php?EventID=8


• Special one-on-one coaching opportunity Friday afternoon or evening at half off the normal $500 hourly fee. (Email derlanger@erlanger-inc.com to reserve your coaching session asap!)

Take advantage of one or all of these opportunities to get your questions answered or develop some strategies that will kick your business to a higher level!