It’s Your Birthday—Who Have You Become?
I haven’t always loved my birthday. When I was five years old, the cruel Chicago winter got in my way. The Mayor issued a traveler’s advisory and my party was canceled. The next February, the same thing happened. Mom suggested a half-birthday party on August 4th – in our small backyard – with Japanese lanterns. It was glorious!
Now, I love my birthday. I celebrate the entire month of February, actually. It’s when I take stock of my life – where I stand. And I look at who I have become in the year since my last birthday.
In 2016, I completed the transition from a “speaker who coaches” to a “speech coach who speaks”. And I have been loving every minute of it! My “why” story has evolved: I lived for the bright lights of the keynote stage. Now what lights me up are the bright lights in my clients’ eyes when we create a sentence they can hardly wait to say.
Since my last birthday, I no longer spend energy marketing myself as an onstage keynote speaker. I realized I need to engage more closely. When I meet with people one on one, time goes away. My client and I get goosebumps as we create their speech. Applause? I’ve had enough. In fact, my next book will be my autobiography. The title? “I’ve Had Enough Applause.”
I have become a true TEDx and TED Talk coach. (Check out google—“speaker coach, TED Talks”). I became someone who coaches people’s words to change the world. I have had 13 speakers on the TEDx stage, two more soon, and one on the way to TED. My clients are clear-eyed about giving back with their unique “ideas worth sharing.”
So now I claim my promise to my clients. I verbalize what they can expect from me and the standard I will live up to. I assist you to find your voice and claim your values through your words. I help you own your voice so people are drawn to you.
I coach you to convert nervousness to positive energy. Energy is the most important quality of verbal communications. So when you speak, energy is your superpower. I have become your cheerleader, using lots of my energy to react as your audience—every time.
On a content level, I draw out your words. I help you delight in what you say to potential customers and clients—and to the world. We find your ideas worth sharing and articulate them with energy.
People are remembered for how they make people feel.
I hope my legacy will be one of contributing to you feeling valued and valuable.
Who have you become since your last birthday? If you feel like saying it out loud, please call me for a complimentary conversation. I can help you get it into words.
[Photo Credit: HuffPost]