Let’s face it. You have a message to share. The desire is burning deep inside of you because transforming lives is your calling. Friends and co-workers always tell you it is time to start sharing your wisdom with the world.
Sometimes you feel like you are working a thankless job. You are hoping one day you can tell your boss to kiss your rear end and walk away. You want your life to matter. You want to obey God and start reaching out.
But you feel trapped. You feel like the caterpillar that is stuck inside the pouch. You are struggling to break that silky cocoon without success. You feel like you are running out of time.
What is the problem? Why can’t you just push through? The answer is fear.
Stop Worshipping Your Fear
You cannot serve two masters. It is either you trust God or you trust your fear. Your reluctance to proceed is all because of those insecurities holding you back.
I heard mega celebrity Dustin Hoffman talking about times when he feels inadequate. Everyone in Hollywood experiences that same emotion. If you are waiting until you get rid of your insecurity before you start, you will never start.
The actions you take are the cure for your discouragement. Read that again. You already have the staff in your hand.
1. Choose a Topic That Solves a Specific Problem
It is not enough to get on stage and share feel-good words. You HAVE to solve a problem. Whether you are speaking at a corporation or a school, you must be the solution to a challenge.
Think about poor customer service, low morale, or change resistance. For example, I mention the title of my presentation: No condition is permanent! Then I ask the audience if they agree that rapid changes make it harder to have a joyful day in the workplace. I let them know exactly what to expect. People are willing to pay to get rid of problems. They are more interested in improving their condition than just hearing a story.
2. Come Up with a Solution Framework
You need to create a structure to position yourself as an authority. A framework is a blueprint. It is how you offer a step-by-step formula to achieve a result.
Come up with 3 to 7 steps. A great example is Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Do you see how simple that is? Companies all over the world use it to develop their teams. Your framework can serve as the basis for your book and your digital products too.
3. Choose a Hungry Audience
Make sure your target market has the money to pay you. You deserve adequate compensation for the transformation you provide. It is hard to make a significant impact without money.
For me, the insurance industry is my primary market. Aflac is a big client. I have spoken in 38 states for them.
You might think you need to speak to everyone. But you will get more gigs when you choose a primary target. That way your marketing materials will be more magnetic. You will stand out in a marketplace with a gazillion other speakers.
4. Create Your Marketing Tools
You need a piece of content that offers a sample of your solution. Make a list of 3 to 5 ways to solve a particular problem for your market.
Create a special report, a CD, or a DVD. It is easier than you think. You can create all three at once.
- Create the video for your DVD.
- Extract the audio from that video for the CD.
- Have someone transcribe that audio for the special report.
If you love writing, do it in reverse. Write the report first and then read it in front of your camera.
5. Launch Your Campaign
Once you have your physical tools, you are ready to market. Send your DVD and report to 50 companies in your local area. I call this your "Target 50."
The reason I say 50 and not 500 is to save you money. It is more inexpensive to mail to 50 people. Also, you need many touch points. You will get better results mailing to 50 people ten times than mailing to 500 people once.
Send your package via the post office one week apart. Your prospect arrives at work and finds a hand-addressed package with a blue pen. It is not competing with a hundred emails. They will not throw away a DVD that promises to solve their problem.
Do you see my point? It is a simple process. I challenge you not to complicate it. Your audience is waiting for your authentic self.I challenge you not to complicate it.
I'm not sure if you really get the steps I shared with you. Let me know if you have any questions.
