Starting your speech: What professional speakers should NOT do

Much of the information I find on the Internet about speech writing hearkens back to Toastmasters or Speech Class 101. Avoid it! It could actually harm your speaking style. Seriously! However, I found this article by professional speaker TJ Walker to contain some good information, especially on what NOT to do.

What is the best way for me to start my presentation?

There is no one perfect way to start a presentation. You don’t have to tell a knee-slapping joke or start with a poignant anecdote. But you don’t want to start the way most presenters do. Why? Because most presenters start of by talking about themselves too much.

As a presenter, you have to make one fundamental choice about how you start: are you going to focus on yourself, or on your audience? If you focus on your audience, you will likely be a success. If you focus on yourself, no matter how polished you are, you will likely fail.

Here’s how most people start a presentation.

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Using your mouth: Are you harboring a latent talent for becoming a motivational keynote speaker

I create and promote web sites and marketing materials for keynote speakers and during that time, I have met some extraordinary speakers on their way to the top. I’ve met people considering becoming a keynote speaker and others looking back on a life time of success sharing their information to thousands from a large stage.

The idea of being a motivational keynote speaker holds a touch of glamour and mystique. Honestly, I have received a lot of comments along the lines of “I could do that”, or “I want to do that”, or “I have been thinking about doing that.” Usually, those comments go no further than the momentary wistful moment in which they were uttered. However, I know full well that it is very rare for a person to actually move forward and pursue that dream.

Here are some examples:

• I have always thought I had a knack for speaking, how do I become a motivational speaker?
• I speak all the time, how do I get paid for speaking?
• I feel I have *the answer* to a major problem for humankind, how can I make a career out of that?
• I have had this extraordinary thing happen to me. Is it really possible people would want to hear about it; much less pay me for it?

Can you be a successful motivational keynote speaker? Do you have what it takes? Is it as hard or easy as it seems? Let’s take a look at the key factors I have witnessed in the professional speakers I know who have started from nothing, perhaps just a distant dream or a vague idea and then proceeded to obtain that dream one big risk after another.

Get your pen out and start making a check list. The more points you can check off below the better chance you have of have of becoming a professional motivation speaker:

• What qualifies you to speak? Why would anyone care?
• Have you done something rare and extraordinary?
• Have you survived a traumatic experience and come out stronger despite all the odds?
• Have you been uniquely successful in some area?
• Do you get a rush out of being in front a crowd (Stage fright plays no part in this. Everyone has stage fright.)
• Are you able to be self-employed? Are you self motivated and driven?
• Are you entertaining? Do your friends enjoy listening to you talk?
• Do you have a unique perspective?
• Does a part of you yearn to share something you feel will really help other people?
• Can you sell yourself?
• Are you willing to ask for help (and spend money on that help) when needed?
• Is there a substantial market for your topic?

This is just a short list; but, a critical one. If you said yes to about half of the questions above, you may have a shot. Some issues are more important than others. For example, you could join toast masters and learn to speak with precision and style; but, if you are not naturally entertaining or funny, your career will be limited. It is important to note that the definition of entertaining I am speaking about is very broad. Every successful speaker has had to devote time to figuring out the individual ways in which they are entertaining or enjoyable as a speaker and develop those aspects as much as possible. Just check out all the speaker services related to story telling, humor, etc.

I encourage feedback and comments on this list. Most of all I encourage people who after reading this article think they might have what it takes, to move forward. We need more people like you.