You Can Lead a Speaker to a Speech…

My TEDx event at Loyola Marymount University is fast approaching on October 27. I’m the speaker coach for all nine speakers! And I’m the emcee! The speeches are written, edited, fine-tuned. Now the work begins. I say “You can lead a speaker to a speech, but you can’t make them learn it.” And you need…

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Does the coach need a coach?

Does the coach need a coach? Female referee signaling time out

So the coach needs a coach…really? YES! Over a year ago, I was asked to do a SUE Talk—not TED—SUE. It stands for Successful Unstoppable Empowering women—and they are. As the website says, “Join us for one incredible evening of bold, passionate and inspiring talks by successful, unstoppable and empowering women changing the face of…

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Mostly, Your Stuff is for Your Book . . .

Years ago, I asked, ”What’s a keynote?” My client answered, “We just want the funny, pithy parts.” I’ve never forgotten that. And now, in the age of TED Talks with an 18-minute limit, it’s even more relevant. Attention spans have shortened. You cannot afford potential eye-rollers, like “Let me tell you the whooole story from…

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Resist the Urge to Overshare

Ever thought “Why is she telling me this?” “Why am I listening?” “I want the last 10 minutes of my life back.” My client was at a conference. She introduced herself to the woman sitting next to her – – and the floodgates opened. The woman started talking about her hip! And her surgery. And…

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Mimi is an Official TEDx Talk Speech Coach!

TED Talk speaker on stage with TED Talks logo

Have you had dreams of being a speaker on a big stage – – lighting up the audience with empowering thoughts and meaningful laughter? I have been doing that for over 30 years on the keynote stage. Lately, however, the keynoting business is celebrity-driven. So unless you are already “famous” or have a best-selling book…

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Leave It All On the Ice

Like some of you, I just spent two weeks watching 6 hours a day of Olympic coverage. Whew! I love figure skating more than football or any other sport. I find the Shib Sibs (Shibutani siblings) synchronized twizzles (multi-rotational one-foot turns) in ice dancing moved me to instant tears, just as the running back who…

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No Resolutions – – Just Do It!

When someone you want to have lunch with says, “Let’s have lunch sometime,” do you say, “Yes, let’s,” and leave it at that? Or do you get out your calendar? I get out my calendar and I schedule it. PLAN is not a 4-letter word. Most things get done because they are scheduled. Ask a…

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Why You Should Never “Wing It”

Remember, one of Mimi’s Laws of Great Speaking: “Never make an audience nervous.” It’s not just that the audience is reminded of 8th grade speech class. They are more sophisticated now. With the popularity of TED Talks, people are used to well-structured excellence from the speaker on stage. They expect you to be smart, polished,…

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Nervous to Speak? Ask a Friend

“A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.” —William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) Author, Educator, Motivational Speaker Speaking in front of groups? Called on to speak at meetings? Here’s some useful stuff…

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A Business of One's Own

Last night, I attended my regular meeting of women business owners (NAWBO) in the South Bay. I find whenever women gather together to be a very healing process. We introduced each other in an interview fashion. One of the questions was why we started our business. For me, ten years in Human Resources Development for…

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