About Rene Godefroy
From Hotel Doorman to Corporate Keynote Speaker
I Started With Five Dollars, No English, and a Dream That Seemed Impossible.
My name is Rene Godefroy. Keynote speaker, author of Kick Your Excuses Goodbye, and the founder of Speaking For A Living.
$5
What I had in my pocket when I arrived in America at 21.
Rene has spoken for
Coca-Cola
AT&T
Marriott
Aflac
Verizon Wireless
U.S. Army
My story
I wasn't thinking about becoming a speaker. I was trying to survive.
Chapter 1
A village in Haiti
I was born in extreme poverty in a small village in Haiti.
We had no running water. No electricity. No medical care.
As a child, I experienced conditions that many people would find difficult to imagine.
Chapter 2
America at 21
At 21, I came to America with five dollars, two shirts, one pair of pants, and no English.
I wasn't thinking about becoming a successful speaker. I was trying to survive.
I worked as a janitor in Miami. I washed cars. I took whatever honest work I could find.
Chapter 3
The hotel door
Eventually, I became a hotel doorman in Atlanta, earning $4.25 an hour.
Then something happened. I discovered personal development.
I started buying books, reading, learning, and looking at possibilities I had never considered.
I learned that people were earning a living by standing in front of audiences and sharing ideas that could change lives.
I wanted to do that.
Chapter 4
Every reason to quit
But I had every reason to believe it was impossible.
I didn't have a college degree. I didn't have a high school diploma. I didn't have connections. I didn't have money to invest in a speaking business. And I was still learning to speak English.
People questioned whether I could make it.
Chapter 5
I kept learning
But I kept learning.
I studied public speaking. I practiced my presentations. I learned how to market myself. I looked for opportunities to get in front of audiences.
Eventually, I began to get paid. And the opportunities grew.
Where it led
Keynotes and training for organizations I once only dreamed about.
Over the years, I've delivered keynote speeches and training programs for companies and organizations including Coca-Cola, AT&T, Marriott, Aflac, Verizon Wireless, and the U.S. Army.
I've also written Kick Your Excuses Goodbye.
● Rene Godefroy, live on stage
But here's what matters most.
I didn't reach those stages because I started with advantages.
●
I learned the skills.
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I built the relationships.
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I did the work.
The reason
Why I Created Speaking For A Living
I meet people who dream of becoming professional speakers.
Some have powerful stories. Others have expertise that could help businesses and communities.
But they don't know how the speaking industry works.
They don't know what event planners look for.
They don't know how to create a speaker reel, position a keynote, develop a website, or approach organizations.
I remember what that uncertainty felt like.
That's why I created Speaking For A Living. To share the lessons I learned while building my own career.
Not because every person will follow my exact path. But because understanding the business can help you make better decisions about yours.
What I believe
You don't need to be famous to begin. But you do need to take your craft seriously.
1
A message that matters
You need a message that matters to a specific audience.
2
The ability to deliver it
You need the ability to deliver that message.
3
A way to reach buyers
And you need a practical way to reach people who hire speakers.
The stage is only part of the business. The work you do before and after stepping onstage matters just as much.
My core belief
No Condition Is Permanent.
I didn't choose the conditions I was born into. But those conditions didn't have to determine the rest of my life.
I believe the same principle applies when you're working toward a new career.
Where you start is important. But what you learn and what you do next matter, too.
If you're serious about becoming a professional speaker, start by discovering which step you need to take next.
Rene Godefroy
Keynote Speaker | Author | Founder of Speaking For A Living