Have you ever delivered a well-prepped, fine-tuned, engaging presentation to a group of people….who were drinking?

I was very excited about my recent opportunity to speak at an annual conference of women business owners!  And I was quite pleased with my thorough preparation: I knew the makeup of the audience, I had a solid idea of their concerns, and was prepared to provide value that spoke directly to those concerns.

I did not, however, think to ask if this event could possibly turn out to be their annual let’s-spend-last-dollars-of-the-budget-on-wine-get-together.  Oh, the things they don’t teach in school!

Tackling the topic of time management and effectively organizing paper is challenging enough, but who the heck wants to hear about those topics when you’re socializing and enjoying a glass (or three) of Pinot Grigio with colleagues you only get to see once a year?

Fortunately, I was able to hold their attention for the full 45 minute presentation because I kept things a heck of a lot more interactive and casual than I would have if there weren’t bottles of wine on the table. “Yay!” for being able to speak off the cuff and turn potentially boring information into an opportunity of sharing, practicing and laughter.

Lesson learned: When presented with my next speaking opportunity, I won’t presume the event is like others I’ve been to. I will ask questions. Many questions.  Even possibly uncomfortable questions.  

This experience was valuable, forcing me to step up the level of engagement in my presentations, but I’d rather avoid surprises like this one in the future!

Recently I gave a talk on entrepreneurial productivity at a local morning business event.  I’m often concerned about the perceived value the audience has for such topics – especially early in the morning!

I was one of many speakers on the agenda, so I was even more concered about the audience’s reaction to my topic.  But, I had a very exciting experience!

Afterward, four of the attendees approached me individually and said they felt I was the best speaker of the day….one even wrote a note.  And, get this: one of the compliments was from a professional speaker & 3-time published author, so coming from him, it meant a lot.

I’m flattered and so appreciate this positive feedback!  But I’ll be honest here: I know I’m good at it!

I make great effort to keep my audience engaged, awake and smiling, even on a potentially boring topic. I really enjoy public speaking.  Like most high energy entrepreneurs, I love to talk!

But the best part is receiving feedback a few days – or even weeks or months! – after the gig, hearing attendees report back on how they are more productive than they’ve ever been before.

This “productivity stuff” that I practice and preach works, and I’m so grateful that I have the opportunity to enlighten people while also entertaining them!  While I’ve been using public speaking as a way to promote my business, I never considered its potential as a business.  Anyone have advice in this area?

With the clock ticking down to my April 22nd event - Organizing & Time Management Seminar for Success-Minded Professionals and Entrepreneurs - and a client schedule too packed to direct my full attention to promoting the event, my marketing specialist has encouraged me to “go viral”.

And I’d like to know what you think of the advice I was given.

Here’s what she told me:

1. Contact all the raving fans from my January event, remind them of the massive value they received from the session and ask them to promote the event on my behalf.  Provide a sample email, sample Facebook updates, and sample Twitter Tweets (complete with the registration link, of course!) to allow my biggest fans to effortlessly spread the word.

2. Encourage my supporters to use the super-easy Facebook & Twitter links on the registration page for ease of promoting the event.

3. Ramp up my Twitter account and intersperse tips from my expertise with benefits from the seminar.

4. Assemble the testimonials collected the week after my January event and leverage the heck outta them.  Here’s a sample:

I cannot believe that I was able to gain so much, in just two hours. I’ve been getting more accomplished these past two months, than I ever have before.  I didn’t even know there was THAT much room for improvement, but wow, my bottom line proves it. I am not kidding, this is the first time that someone has actually given REAL solutions to the challenges I face as a very busy business owner.  -Karen Cooney, business owner-KDC Enterprises, LLC.

 

I suspect this approach will work, especially due to the positive feedback I continue to get from my January attendees about the little changes I recommended that are making big differences for them in their businesses.

And I like the idea of a little effort creating some big results!

But I’d like to know what you think about these ideas – have you had good results with a viral approach, and do you recommend this route for an event like mine?  All input is welcome – thanks!

Well, they’re right:  When it rains, it pours.

A fresh flow of new clients, increased referrals from prior clients, and a few unexpected speaking opportunities have filled my schedule so much that I’m feeling very Crazy Busy about my upcoming seminar – the topic of which is teaching people how not to be such Crazy Busy Entrepreneurs!

Of course, I’m thrilled with these new developments, and would never complain about the increased growth in my  business, but I’ve got to at least mention the irony!

There’s another blessing regarding my upcoming seminar: I have saved my prospective clients some money. 

I’ve met a few people in the past week who are seeking assistance with organizing and prioritizing, but who did not have the budget for the one-on-one services I provide.  Solution?  Attend my upcoming seminar!  They were pleased with the price (just $59!) and I still have some breathing room in my April schedule. 

If you’re interested in learning how to maximize your time, how to create systems specifically suited to your needs, or how to prioritize intelligently so you’re always completing the most vital tasks, join me at the Organizing & Time Management Seminar for Success-Minded Professionals and Entrepreneurs.

Here’s a peek at some of the content I will cover:

Learn the SECRETS of hugely successful professionals:

• Maintain an organized office and actually see your desktop
• Maximize your time so you accomplish all you set out to do in the short and long-term
• Prioritize intelligently so you’re always completing the most vital tasks
• Overcome procrastination and say adios to stressful moments of waiting until the last minute
• Learn the best ways to deal with all that never-ending email
• Know immediately, what to keep, for how long, and what to throw away
• Find paperwork instantly with an organized file system
• Avoid the hidden dangers of multi-tasking
• Conquer those distracting ADD tendencies and learn to focus
• Get more done, in less time with streamlined systems
• Manage your tasks effectively, so nothing can fall through the cracks

So, if you’ve been meaning to take action in any of these areas, I’d love to have you join us on April 22nd.  For the $59 tuition, you’ll walk away with as many actionable, easy-to-implement ideas as my clients typically receive in a one-on-one session!