Be the opposite of AI

Be the opposite of AI.

Have you seen these promos?

"No more spending hours designing slides; create visually stunning presentations with AI in just seconds!"

🙄

👉🏼 If you care about accuracy and facts...

👉🏼 If you care about authenticity and human connection...

👉🏼 If you care about being known for your own thought leadership and unique perspective...

Please be the opposite of AI.

Natalia Sanyal wrote this as one of her two top marketing trends for humanity-first businesses in 2024: "With AI-generated content taking over our feeds, humanity-first businesses seemed more motivated than ever to show their audience that their content is human-generated and anything but generic."

Creating an effective presentation requires more than just feeding some text into an AI app. And your presentation is more than just slides.

Before you can make slides, you need content. How do you create content for your presentations?

By figuring out who your audience is and what they need, want and care about so you can solve their problems using your expertise and experience.

AI is absolutely helpful in brainstorming, organizing, and even structuring a presentation.

But you still need to personalize it with your own voice and your own ideas. You need to create engagement and collaboration with the participants to help them learn and apply what you're teaching.

Otherwise, you just end up saying and doing what everyone else is already saying and doing. And sure, if you don't care about being generic, have at it. 

Jar of rocks? Starfish story? I asked ChatGPT for additional examples of overused presentation stories and it added the boiling frog story and the bamboo tree story, along with "Einstein’s Definition of Insanity," which Einstein never even said. Which somehow doesn't keep generic presenters from using it over and over.

And then, of course, you have to deliver these ideas physically, in a room or on a screen. AI certainly can't do that for you. It's up to you to bring the human touch, the emotional connection, the humor, and your one-of-a-kind point of view. 

AI is a great tool. I LOVE it. I use it all the time to help me cut short some of the brainstorming time with my presentations. And it can definitely help me round out some of my ideas, clarify and condense some of the things I want to say.

But it's no substitute for my own thought leadership, lived experience, personal examples, stories and experiments.

If you want to create a relevant, practical, useful, engaging presentation that is meaningful and memorable for your audience, AI is not gonna cut it. 

And any presentation you create "in seconds" with AI is probably gonna be junk. Like these images I made to try to illustrate this post.

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

Nonprofit messaging in 2025: Where do we go from here?

Sharing some soundbites and rough thoughts about making nonprofit messaging more clear, relevant and practical, from CalNonprofits annual policy conference.

"'Democracy is at risk.' What does that even mean?" State Senator Anna Caballero 

"Misinformation is free; digging into policy is behind a paywall." Jodi Hicks, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California

"Don't obey in advance." Anand Giridharadas, journalist and author

The conference was sobering and exhilarating at the same time.

I attended in order to gather intel on how upcoming policy changes will affect my nonprofit training clients, and what support they might need in the next year to continue #SpeakingUpForChange.

How might Californians be affected by the new administration and how will the nonprofit sector adjust and take action?

I wasn't surprised to hear the following takeaways regarding both messaging of candidates and of nonprofits in helping their communities understand the election process and outcomes (from my perspective as a communication professional):

🔴We need better messaging that meets people where they are (climate change impacts everything from insurance rates to energy bills - people don't know this)

🟣We need to speak their language (not give high-level policy reports or make existential claims like "save democracy")

🟡We need to actually ask people what it means for them personally

⚫There is huge disconnect between policy and people's actual lived experience 

🔵People do have an appetite to be better informed: We need to make accurate information more accessible - not hide it behind paywalls 

🟠We need to teach people how elections work, to help combat apathy and overwhelm, and get voters out for midterms and off-year elections (remember Schoolhouse Rock?) Check out America the Possible, a new site that promotes civic engagement and understanding how our country works "one simple, tiny MicroByte at a time."

🟤Communities need to invest in nonprofit and local media because people don't trust national outlets

🟢Nonprofits and media need to show people doing good work in their communities to illuminate a pathway for those who don't know what to do and how to help

⚪Organizations need to improve their communications overall - talk to their communities in a way that they can hear, learn and retain

🔴Collaboration and communication are essential to fill in gaps of information and services 

Where do we go from here? Now that the problems have been acknowledged, will we take action?

Several of my nonprofit clients use "ambassadors," volunteers who are the clients of the organization, for community outreach and legislative advocacy. More need to be doing this!

P.S. The quote "punk rock time" is from Henry Rollins. "This is not a time to be dismayed, this is punk rock time. This is what Joe Strummer trained you for." ~ Henry Rollins

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

Time, flow, engagement: Top three presentation challenges

You're a business leader in the cutthroat corporate world, and presentations are one of your battlegrounds.

You may or may not love giving presentations, but they're a critical part of getting your message in front of the people who need to hear it.

So what's getting in the way of you delivering your most compelling, concise and powerful message? There are probably more, but let's just focus on these three...

1. No time

You're busier than ever, juggling countless tasks and projects, and barely coming up for air. So when it comes to prepping your next presentation, let's just say you wing it. 

You rush through the process, your ideas are all over the place, and the final result falls flat. 

Deadlines, meetings, and daily chaos leave little space for dedicated preparation, so your presentations never get the time priority they deserve.

2. No flow

Ever sat through a presentation that made you go, "Wait, what just happened?" We've all been there. 

Lack of a clear and logical structure that actually leads your audience to a desired result is one of the biggest issues I see. Especially when your main presentation prep involves opening a PowerPoint and typing in a bunch of bullets... (yes, I'm looking at you). 

Without a clear navigational flow, the audience is left scratching their heads, missing out your core points. It's like trying to follow a treasure map without any landmarks - a confusing journey that goes in circles.

3. No engagement

Effective presentations - the ones that actually get results - are all about engaging and connecting with your audience on a human level, but honestly, this is one of the biggest struggles for business presenters.

You fill your presentations with jargon-filled monologues, acronyms, charts, graphs and data that leave your participants nodding off. Too much information crammed into too little time can turn a potentially amazing presentation into a snoozefest.

When you spend so much of your time trying to impress your attendees, you don't connect, they don't relate, and you've just wasted a bunch of your - and their - time. Engagement is required to move people into action.

How to get on top of these three issues without spending a ton of time or money?

Brace yourselves, my friend: the Presentation Prep Reset Package is here to get you EXCITED about your next presentation in a compact format that is easy and fast!

With its step-by-step guidance and 12 powerful prompts, you can kiss chaos goodbye and say hello to presentations that flow and connect.

The Presentation Prep Reset Package puts the spotlight on clarity, simplicity, and audience-centered design. It facilitates making the most of your time and creating presentations that actually make an impact.

Tackle your time troubles, messy structure, and engagement issues with this easy and quick workbook, video guide and written transcript (for those who hate taking the time to watch videos, like me!).

Check it out here: https://coachlisab.com/prep

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

You don't have to start a revolution

Guess what! You don't have to start a revolution! The revolution is already happening.

There are plenty of people out there, established groups and organizations that you can join. There's no need to reinvent the wheel. 

Do some research. Look around to see who's already doing what you want to do. And then get involved. You do not have to start from scratch! 

Here are some to get started:

EMILY's List

HIGHER HEIGHTS FOR AMERICA

She Should Run

LGBTQ Victory Institute

Black Girls Vote

National Organization for Women

In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda

Red Wine and Blue

Everytown for Gun Safety

Rock the Vote

Postcards to Voters

National Women's Law Center

SisterSong

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Elevated Access

Sister District Project

Southern Poverty Law Center

Anti-Defamation League

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

Five free and low-cost ways to learn about public speaking!

Tag and share with your peeps!

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Free ebook

Presenting for Humans

Interviews/podcasts

YouTube Channel

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

Put me in your pocket for just-in-time coaching

Who needs a speaking coach in your back pocket? 🙋🏽‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️ 

My Unlimited Quick Results Laser Coaching program is for experienced speakers and leaders who want to grow your visibility and credibility, and still need regular tweaks, updates and refreshers (don’t we all?) to your presentation, your vision, your mindset, your positioning and your next right action. 

🌠 Clarify and strengthen your core message 

🌠 Check the flow of your ideas and audience journey 

🌠 Create an engagement strategy 

🌠 Develop or practice your powerful opening or closing 

🌠 Lay out your content structure and timing (especially for those micro-presentations that are popping up all over!) 

🌠 Make sure your unique style and personality is coming through 

🌠 Brush up on your remote delivery, engagement tools or tech 

🌠 Practice any of the above 

🌠 Work on any aspect of your content, mindset, or delivery that’s holding you back from being your best self in front of your in-person or remote audience 

🌠 Create your speaking vision, plan, process and action steps to get you where you want to be!

Reserve your 1:1 spot with me here.

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

Three key words for any Slayer

Were you a fan of the TV show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer?" I missed it the first time around; having been out of high school for some time when it came out, I didn't find a show about high school kids killing vampires to be very appealing.

However, as I recently discovered the joys of comedy-horror movies ("Ready or Not," "Cabin in the Woods," etc.), I started getting a lot of suggestions from friends to give Buffy a go! 

And sure enough, it's a perfect blend of wit and sarcasm, cheesy 90s demon-slaying, feminist superhero, and high school angst. My husband and I are well into season 3, and it helps take our minds off of some of the heaviness in the world right now.

So when I heard this dialogue, I couldn't let it go by without sharing with you:

Wesley Wyndam-Pryce: Remember the three key words for any Slayer: preparation... preparation... preparation.

Buffy Summers: That's one word three times.

That Buffy could be really snarky. 

So many speakers could be slaying (see what I did there?) their formal and informal presentations if they just spent the time to prepare properly!

Sure, Buffy's destiny was always to be a slayer. But she also regularly trained on fighting and slaying techniques and kept a supply of tools at hand (holy water, wooden stakes and crosses; you know, the usual stuff), to never be caught off guard.

Sometimes, those of us who give regular presentations—and especially those of us who enjoy being in front of an audience—stop practicing and preparing. We lose the sense of urgency we felt in the beginning when we didn't know what to expect.

Buffy is secure in her ability to take down the bad guys. Once she accepts her destiny, she's all in. But she can still be a whiny teenager, not always wanting to do the work required to keep up her skills!

Do you find yourself being the whiny teenager? "But I don't WANT to practice my presentation!" "But I don't WANT to create a new outline!" "I just want to throw a bunch of stuff together and get it over with!"

The benefit of practice and preparation can't be overstated, even for short presentations and especially for remote presentations. The more prepared you are, the easier it is to improvise in the moment when something goes wrong or something unexpected happens (and you can be sure it will)!

When a disgusting demon in a tub of water (yeah, who knows what that was about) had Buffy's true love in his grip, she spotted a light fixture hanging above and cut it loose so the monster was electrocuted. That was just plain quick thinking, no weapons required!

Part of preparation means making room in your schedule for keeping your skills and tools sharp, like Buffy makes time (sometimes reluctantly) for training and skill-building. What are you doing to stay sharp, focused and ready?

👇🏼 👇🏼 👇🏼

If you're ready to slay your next presentation, register for my Mini-Retreat on Micro-Presentations: two options coming up in April and May!

The April retreat is 4/28-4/30. You'll need three half-days available in your schedule to attend and to create your 5-minute presentation/video/message for personalized coaching and feedback. And it will be worth it!

"I was attracted to Lisa's micro-presentations retreat because of the promise of laser-focusing a tight little talk, and having it presentable by the end of the retreat, and indeed that is what I got from it!"

"Uplevel your presentations—virtual needs a lot more magic than stage, and Lisa brings it!"

"I have come away with some key learnings about myself and others, AND a 5-minute presentation framework that has set me up to present more effectively for impact, engagement, information, AND fun."

The registration deadline for your VIP goodie box expires on April 21.

The May retreat is further out (May 26-28), but the 2-pay plan expires on April 19.

Register here for either April or May retreat: https://coachlisab.com/mini.

So, are you going to ⚔️slay⚔️ your next micro-presentation, or what? 

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

Rise up out of the noise

Every day, I see more of my friends and colleagues speaking out against injustice, finding their voices, and speaking their truth.

Just yesterday I wrote about a conversation with a friend who was feeling hopeless. Later that day, another friend spoke up publicly for the first time about the issues plaguing our country.

Maybe you didn't jump on the bandwagon three or six or 36 months ago. Maybe, for whatever reason, you've been holding back. Maybe you're afraid to rock the boat, turn off potential customers and clients, or upset your boss.

You know what? There are A LOT of ways to speak your truth. You don't need to bash people over the head.

But if you're a public figure in any way (speaker, coach, entrepreneur, business or nonprofit leader), with a public platform, and you're not saying *anything,* you're doing your customers and clients a disservice.

Are you a leadership coach or speaker? A financial coach or speaker? An expert on customer service, marketing, social media, graphic design, money mindset, mental health, chronic illness, fitness or something else where your clients are relying on your support to transform their lives or work?

How does your topic/work/content apply to what's happening right now?

People need you. They need to know how to manage their money - in this current environment. They need to know how to stay mentally and physically healthy - in this current environment. They need to know how to deal with their customers - in this current environment.

What people don't need is shallow platitudes and empty clichés. People are struggling. People are hurting. They need you to rise up out of the noise and speak authentically to them about their challenges.

Stay tuned: I'm offering my FREE Speaking up for Change virtual workshop next month to help you get your message out of your head, off of your heart, and into the world. 

You'll learn the Why, What, Who, Where, How and When of #speakingupforchange!

Want to know more? Raise your hand in the comments! Details are coming soon!

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

How can I help?

You don't need any advice from me on hand-washing or social distancing. I'm not going to share "how The LisaB Company is responding to COVID-19." Pretty sure you don't care. 😉 I'm not a mental health expert, a scientist or a life coach, and I know you can find resources on how to cope elsewhere.

What am I good at? How can I help? Especially from afar, from my living room, from my laptop? (Which, honestly, is my favorite place to be...)

🗣 I can continue to support your speaking efforts, even (especially) if now your speaking engagements are virtual.🗣

If you have time on your hands because your engagements have canceled; if you're working remotely and your commute is now from the bedroom to the kitchen table; or if you're home with the kids and need a "business break" while they're doing an assignment, I've got some options for you.

Prices reduced:

👀 I've reduced prices 💰 or switched over to "choose your price" on my virtual programs temporarily, to make it easier for those in my community who want to use this time for some business and speaking growth.

These programs include:

Go Virtual: Take Your Training From Stage to Screen

Presentation Foundation Quickstart Kit

Create Your Own Exercises: Transform Your Audiences From Spectators to Participants

Speaking Success Checklist Bundle

Free:

I also want to remind you of my free offerings:

🌟My book, Presenting for Humans: Insights for Speakers on Ditching Perfection and Creating Connection (free temporarily)

🌟My blog, Speak Schmeak (over 1,500 posts on public speaking since 2006)

🌟Easy Speaker Proposal Template and tracking sheet

🌟Articles on LinkedIn

🌟Podcast and other interview audios

🌟Videos

I offer a wide range of free and low-cost tools for speakers to build skills and confidence, to learn how to engage and serve your audiences, and to make the greatest impact on those you serve, and I hope you find these helpful and practical!

Many entrepreneurs and business leaders are reassessing our business models right now, to make our businesses more robust and diversified, and I'm looking at my offerings as well to make sure I'm hitting the areas my community members need.

If there's something I'm not offering that would help you develop particular skills, please let me know!

And don't miss my next training on Thursday, May 7, "8 Steps to Ditching Perfection and Creating Connection." This affordable training is jam-packed with tips to help you get past the need for perfection and to set you up for success with your presentations.

Your audiences need you - now. Don't hold back! Kick perfection to the curb and release your genius!

Live speaking engagements will come back. This is a temporary setback. Make the most of your skills and experience NOW. And if you're so inclined, there is also work to be done to move forward.

Take care of yourself, my friends!

P.S. I have debated making some programs free. I'm just not in a position to do this, and as my business coach reminded me the other day, "Continuing to charge for our services is the only way we are going to stay afloat and save the economy. It's all a ripple." I honor every small business's struggle to keep going right now and I'm doing my best to support those I can. I hope you find my reduced-price options beneficial!

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

Fear isn't the reason you avoid speaking...

Raise your hand if you watched "Free Solo," the documentary about Alex Honnold's untethered climb of El Capitan's 900-meter vertical rock face at Yosemite National Park.

Now raise your hand if you watched with one eye closed, hands in front of your face, hiding in a closet!

Sometimes even watching someone else do something frightening scares us: even when we know he emerges unscathed!

The interesting thing about watching Honnold scale El Cap is that he wasn't scared (or at least not as much has he should have been!).

He was cautious. He was careful. He was alert. He was deliberate. He was methodical. And he was prepared.

One thing Alex Honnold doesn't do: Avoid rock climbing because he might fall.

And yes, this is a metaphor for public speaking. Cuz you know me and you know where this is going.

"I try to expand my comfort zone by practicing the moves over and over again. I work through the fear until it's just not scary anymore."

What does Honnold do in order to expand his comfort zone? He practices. Over and over again.

Makes sense, right? The more you practice, the more you put yourself into the situation that scares you, the more comfortable you become.

First of all, let's just get this out of the way: Alex Honnold is what is known as a "freak of nature," a person who is uniquely suited to what he does, because of genetics, because of training, because of his particular mental makeup. No amount of doing what Honnold does will make you Honnold.

But getting back to practical matters: You might argue, "But Alex Honnold LIKES rock climbing. He's not doing it because he HAS to. He practices because he likes doing it."

Fair enough. And here's what I say to that: You don't HAVE to do public speaking. You GET to do public speaking!

Here are a couple of examples of what you get every time you give a presentation, whether you're an entrepreneur, author, business professional, nonprofit leader or someone else who has something important to say:

• You get to share an important message with the world
• You get to transform even one person's life
• You get to raise money for your cause
• You get to show your boss that you're a rock star
• You get to show the world your expertise and authority on a subject
• You get to learn and grow from your mistakes
• You get to build confidence in your abilities

(And there are more...)

And then I might argue: What if you learned to like public speaking, or even love it? What then? What could you do with this skill? Where could it take you?

My friends, colleagues and clients do a lot of avoiding of public speaking. And by "avoiding," I mean either not pursuing speaking opportunities or saying no when opportunities are presented.

And these reasons are not all about fear, by the way. Many of my clients  are comfortable speaking, and they avoid it anyway - until they can't any longer! Some common excuses:

• They don't have time to prepare
• They don't know what to talk about
• They don't know where to begin
• They don't know how to end
• They don't know how to structure a presentation effectively
• They don't think they know enough about their topic
• They don't know how to be engaging and make their topic interesting
• They don't think they're the right person to speak on the topic

And so on...

This is a vicious circle, right? You don't make time to properly prepare or practice... and then you give a presentation that's only so-so... and you don't enjoy yourself... and the audience looks bored... so you assume that this is just something you don't like and you're not good at.

And because it's something you don't like and you're not good at... you don't take more opportunities to practice and learn how to do it right... so you only give a presentation once a year... and every time it's like starting all over again.

It doesn't have to be this way!

• I can show you how to prepare and practice
• I can help you discover what to talk about
• I can teach you where to begin and how to end
• I can give you tools to structure a presentation effectively

And...

• You DO know enough about your topic
• You CAN be engaging and make your topic interesting
• You ARE the right person to speak on the topic

If you're avoiding speaking because you don't know where to start, what to talk about and how to put it all together, I've got you covered.

If you're avoiding speaking because of discomfort, fear of judgement, fear of making mistakes, or any of the other fears that we face when making a big statement to the world:

“You’re not controlling your fear.  You’re stepping outside of it.”

 Another Alex Honnold gem, there.

I've got a downloadable, DIY, on-demand product for you that is going to help you build every presentation on a solid foundation of concrete. No more excuses. No more avoiding. No more fear (well, a little is okay, but not if it keeps you avoiding!). Just forward action.

Click the image to grab your new Presentation Foundation Quickstart Kit. Eyes wide open!

https://coachlisab.com/quickstart-kit.html

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

I can't believe I've never taught this...

So... this is weird. I just realized something yesterday when going through the surveys I've sent to my peeps about what kind of help they need with their public speaking.

What do you think shows up higher on the list than building confidence, reducing anxiety and engaging the audience? (answer coming...)
.

.

.

👉👉This: Knowing what to say and how to say it in an organized and compelling fashion!👈 (Did you guess correctly?)

Guess who has never offered support around this topic, except to my individual coaching clients! I know! ME! 🤦‍🤯🤷‍

DUH moment: I need to share these tools with more people who need them‼️

A lot of entrepreneurs, business professionals and nonprofit leaders WANT to be out there speaking, but they just don't know WHAT to say or HOW to say it.

🤸🤸🤸So here it comes: I'm developing a product for you - downloadable, DIY, on-demand - that will give you the tools for

1. WHAT to say
2. HOW to say it
3. How to STRUCTURE it
4. How to make it ENGAGING
5. And how this gets your audience to take ACTION

I already do this work 1-on-1 with my private coaching clients, but you're going to get a standalone product that you can use over and over, every time you need to give a new presentation.

And there's going to be something ✨extra-special✨ about this offering, but you'll have to wait for the rest of the details. 🤭

Want more info? Just raise your hand in the comments! ✋✋✋ (Or say "YES!" if you're emoji-challenged.)

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

10 reasons to join the Presenting for Humans Success Circle

Are you thinking about joining the Presenting for Humans Success Circle, but not sure if it's right for you?

Perhaps I can help you decide with these points about the benefits of the program to you!

1. Author-led discussion: Most book clubs and study groups are not led by the author, the person who knows more than anyone else about the process for the book, the premise of the book, the core message and teachings, and the whys, whats and hows of the book. PFH Success Circle has me, the author, leading discussion, answering questions, and coaching you along the way!

2. Practical outcomes: This is a program to help you put the concepts in the book into practice. Sure, you could read the book on your own, but we all know how much better we are at implementing (and avoiding procrastination) when we have accountability partners! Your goals will include finishing the week's reading assignment before our live call, and coming ready to review what you read and to compare notes with your fellow participants.

3. Making connections with your fellow program members: A shared love of reading is already a great connection point among you, but your shared interest in speaking adds another level of depth to your connections. It's a great online networking opportunity (when you join the Facebook group, especially) for meeting like-minded individuals—no matter where you live in the world.

4. The difference between reading a book alone and reading as a group is huge: Reading a book and discussing it as a group opens your mind to ideas you might not have considered, conclusions you might not have come to, and perspectives you might not have gained. Reading and discussing as a group supercharges your learning and absorption of concepts and takes you in entirely new directions.

5. Practice and grow your communication skills: Reading a book about public

speaking is one thing, but actually formulating ideas and sharing them with the group, defending your opinions, speaking up for your beliefs, and persuading others to see your perspective—tactfully and respectfully—are all valuable opportunities to enhance your own communication skills as well as to help you retain information better and reinforce your learning.

6. It's virtual: I get that the wine, snacks and personal interaction are big draws for in-person book clubs. But not everyone has the time (or calorie allowance) for that. You can stay at your desk or (if you're like me) on the couch in your pajamas. There's no judgement! Join the meeting from wherever you are, and even if you can't join live, it will be recorded so you won't miss a thing. You can leave your comments in the Facebook group at any time—whether you're a night owl or an early bird, whether you're in Australia or Africa. (Feel free to bring your own wine...)

7. And because it's virtual, you choose your own method of interaction: You can exclusively stick to the Facebook group if you prefer to write out your thoughts. You can come to the live Zoom calls, participate with the other members and get your questions answered on the spot by moi. You can shoot video sharing your comments and upload to Facebook. Or you can do any combination of these, or whatever else you think of! (Want to make a pic collage or Pinterest board with public speaking memes? Go ahead!)

8. You will learn to be a better speaker: There's just one book and one topic here. If you want to learn to be a better speaker, you've come to the right place. We will be 100% laser-focused on speaking. Your questions about speaking will be answered, your knowledge will grow, your opportunities to improve will expand. Period.

9. It's affordable: If private coaching isn’t an option for you right now, the PFH Success Circle is the next best thing with laser coaching and a private Facebook group—where I'm very active—and the only way to work with me for under $800.

10. It's a short time commitment: The program starts in May and ends in June. There are five weekly calls (but if you can't make it live, they'll be recorded). The reading is light: two chapters a week. We'll accomplish a lot in this short time frame, but it's not going to take months of your life to complete or hours a week of homework.

Each week, participants will read assigned chapters, do personal exploration and reflection, and return to the group for follow-up, discussion, and laser coaching on the concepts learned.

PFH Success Circle includes:

• A signed hard copy of the book (if you register by 4:00 p.m. PDT on Monday, May 7!)
• Five live coaching calls focused on action-taking and implementation of the main principles in the book
• Worksheets and handouts to help you integrate the ideas we’re discussing
• Recordings of all the calls
• A private Facebook group for discussion, support, encouragement and resources

Just think: You can start and finish a book during this five week program! You can gain some new perspective on public speaking. You can have fun and meet new friends.

The program starts Thursday, May 10. Register here.

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

Thomas Fire recovery sale

Happy holidays, friends!

I hope you've been enjoying the season. I was out of it for a couple of weeks dealing with the Thomas Fire, but I finally got myself back into work and life mode in the past week, and I've been wanting to do more for the recovery efforts in my community.

I donated to the Humane Society, which managed the bulk of animal rescue and care during the fire. Over 400 people came from all over the state to help care for the animals, even bringing their own supplies!

I've got bags of food and toys (and cat toys!) ready to go to HELP of Ojai, the organization that's managing much of the human recovery in the Ojai Valley.

And instead of driving to Ventura or Santa Barbara our nearby "big cities," or ordering gifts on Amazon, I kept my Christmas shopping local, to help our local businesses recover from lengthy closures and cutbacks.

But I want to be able to give more, so I decided to hold a quick flash sale to offer two popular items that aren't always available to my online peeps.

1) My "Take Your PowerPoint From Mess to Success" training is typically "Your Webinar Success: Speak to Engage Virtually!"
provided only to my corporate training clients, and I offer it online maybe once a year. You'll find it here, along with worksheets, downloads, and a replay of my recent virtual training

Your investment for this webinar/PowerPoint training package is only $97—and 20% of each sale will be donated to Ojai Thomas Fire relief programs through HELP of Ojai.

View the webinar offer here.

2) And my Speaker Survival Kits are not available online at all! I only bring
them to my live speaking engagements and book signings. I know a lot of people have been disappointed not to be able to make it to my events because they wanted one of my sassy beach bags full of essential items that speakers often overlook!

I sell the kits at speaking events for $67, but my special offer to you takes 30% off, for a grand total of $47—and again, 20% of each sale will be donated to Ojai Thomas Fire relief programs through HELP of Ojai. There is a limited supply of bags available, so you'll want to snag one of those first.

View the Speaker Survival Kits here.

Kick off your 2018 with a business boost and grab one of these two goodies before the offer expires at midnight PST on December 28. That's right, this offer is good for just 48 hours! Get it while you can, and while you're at it, help support Thomas Fire recovery in the Ojai Valley!

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

Are you comparing your 3D self to a cardboard cutout?

Presentation Guru has published one of my articles this week on why it's harmful to compare ourselves to others, and how to stop.

"Will you ever be a great presenter if you don’t believe in your own ability and worth? A great deal of the advice around presentation skills is focused on actual presentation techniques. Crucial – without a doubt – but just how effective if the would-be presenter isn’t in the appropriate state of mind and is constantly comparing themselves – usually unfavourably – to others? In this article, speaking coach Lisa Braithwaite explains how important it is to adopt the right mindset in order to overcome fears of our own failings and make a positive impact."

Click on over to read the whole piece!

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

Presenting for Humans: Insights for Speakers on Ditching Perfection and Creating Connection

It's coming, it's coming!

I'm expecting my book, Presenting For Humans: Insights for Speakers on Ditching Perfection and Creating Connection, to be available on Amazon by the end of March, and hopefully to have some hard copies in hand to sign for my VIP supporters!

• If you’re looking to make a significant impact on your audiences by offering a transformative growth experience… 
• If you’re ready to share the complex unabridged version of yourself onstage… 
• If you’re tired of trying to impress people and fit yourself into a cookie-cutter mold of “speaker” that doesn’t even exist, this book is the resource to help get you there.

When you look inside this book, you might be surprised to discover that it's not a public speaking “how-to” book. It’s certainly not an academic tome. There’s no step-by-step formula or system to follow, and you won’t learn what to do with your hands or how to write a keynote.

What you will learn is how striving for perfection gets in the way of making the connection you crave. You’ll learn how letting go of your need to impress your audiences frees you up to stop taking yourself so seriously and to have fun on stage.

You’ll learn how you can break the habit of hiding behind a rigid façade of “professionalism” that creates an emotional barrier between you and the audience. And you’ll learn how being real, transparent and genuine is a gift of connection you give to your audience that brings them into your world and allows you to access theirs.

My philosophy is that public speaking is fun, it's an awesome way to express yourself creatively, and that connection and engagement are worth more than a thousand techniques.

And that’s why Presenting for Humans: Insights for Speakers on Ditching Perfection and Creating Connection focuses on upgrading your mindset around how you perceive and create your relationship with the audience.

Through short essays based on everyday encounters and experiences, and reflection questions at the end of each section, the book asks you to question what you already know about speaking.

Presenting for Humans encourages you to create a meaningful and memorable experience with every presentation. It prompts you to come from a place of service, of doing what’s best for your audience rather than what’s easiest for you. It suggests that you step back and take a break from techniques and rules, instead focusing on boldly revealing your true self on stage, being present, and creating connection.

If you'd like to be the first to know when I start taking pre-orders (for signed copies), you can join my book launch advance notice list here.

This book has been ten years in the making, and I can't believe it's almost here!

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

Optimism: Finding the upside of the inevitable

Today, I was lamenting the lack of rain in Southern California, as we come to the end of our usual "rainy" month with below-seasonal totals. The ongoing severe drought is our #1 concern here, and every day that goes by without rain puts us more and more into a water deficit.

My cousin commented on my post, "So much for all the El Niño predictions last summer and fall.... Can't believe how wrong they were."

My immediate thought and response: "Maybe it's good to have hope instead of feeling completely hopeless!"

Welcome to the mind of an optimist. A perpetual silver-lining finder. A person for whom the song "High Hopes" is my true life story.

Today is Tuesday. I've been sick since Saturday. This is not the kind of cold that feels bad for two days and then starts to taper off. It's been bad for all four days. I have a flight to catch out of state in two days. Hmmm.

Here's the process going on in my brain:

"Well, at least I didn't get as sick as my husband, who had a fever and had to go to urgent care after three days of razor blades in his throat."

"It's a good thing my hotel roommate in Austin didn't book our room for Thursday, because there's no way I could fly out on Thursday. I'll probably feel better by Friday."

"If I fly to Austin on Friday, I can check into my hotel and rest all day. I can hold off on going to conference sessions until Saturday."

See how this works? Yes, it comes naturally to me. It's just the way I'm wired. But you can LEARN optimism. And why should a speaker learn optimism? 

Imagine you're invited to speak at an event that you're very nervous about. You can choose your perception about this event. You can choose your attitude about this event.

You can tell yourself one of two things:

"I'm going to make a mistake and the whole thing is going to be a disaster." Or...

"I'm going to make a mistake, but I'm human and everyone makes mistakes. No big deal."

Notice how both of those choices have a touch of reality? Yes, optimists face reality. As a speaker, you absolutely have to be prepared for mistakes and mishaps. It would just be foolish to believe that nothing will go wrong.

But then we figure out how we can find the upside of the inevitable.

Wouldn't this be a better approach as a speaker? To look at your speaking engagements as opportunities to accomplish something - even if it's small - rather than expecting certain failure?

And by the way, before I ever heard of Martin Seligman's concept of "Learned Optimism," I knew this was true. Despite my genetic disposition toward optimism, I've been through some very difficult times where my optimism took a nosedive. My willingness to keep looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, and my willingness to believe that everything is a learning experience got me through those times. And sometimes I had to force myself to really dig for those silver linings.

Seligman's website says, "Specifically, optimistic people believe that negative events are temporary, limited in scope (instead of pervading every aspect of a person’s life), and manageable. Of course, optimism, like other psychological states and characteristics, exists on a continuum. People can also change their levels of optimism depending on the situations they are in."

A client told me about an experience he had last month, where he had to record a radio commercial. He felt surprisingly confident about it because he chose to believe that "There was no reason to believe it wouldn't go well." He told himself that he was in control of his own response to the situation.

This particular client has a LOT of anxiety about speaking. It's not easy for him to make this mental shift. Not even close. But he is learning optimism. He is learning to become more philosophical about how he perceives his speaking opportunities. Instead of choosing "Every reason to believe it will go wrong," he chooses "No reason to believe it won't go well."

You can do this. You can change your thoughts. Will you choose optimism?

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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

What's your theme for 2016?

Happy New Year! 

And just like that (imagine me snapping my fingers), it's 2016. A full week into 2016. Wow!

And like the past five or six years, I have a theme to guide me. It's already been showing up again and again, through different avenues like books, Facebook memes, coaching articles and friends' experiences. What is this theme that has already drilled itself into my soul for this year? "Let Go."

I'm letting go of business practices and programs that aren't working. I'm letting go of clothes that I don't love (a little painful). I'm letting go of household items that I've kept because they were gifts, or because I thought they would be useful "someday," or because I loved them - at one time.

And I'm letting go of attitudes and habits that hold me back, keep me scared, and interfere with growth and change. Letting go is hard, but keeping stuff around that is no longer useful or helpful, that's worse.

Do you have a theme word, goals or resolutions that you're aiming for this year? And how do those goals tie into your desire to improve your public speaking? (You wouldn't be here if you weren't interested in improving your speaking, right?)

For example: Your theme word is "confidence" (a theme I see popping up a lot on Facebook). What better way to build your confidence than to learn how to master your speaking and connect with your audiences?

Your theme word is "trust" (mine from last year). What better way to honor this theme than to learn to trust your strengths and abilities onstage?

Your theme word is "achieve" (from the site My One Word). What better way to feel the satisfaction of achievement than to learn how to properly design and deliver a presentation that offers transformation and truly impacts your audience?

Improving your public speaking, learning to connect with and engage your audiences, and understanding and implementing the four basic principles of speaking will grow your life and your business no matter what your theme is for 2016.

This year, I'm offering my first live speaking retreat, here in Santa Barbara, California, from March 21-23. Watch the video below for more information and visit the registration page here. There are only four spots left out of twelve, so don't delay. This is the best time of year to make new commitments and stick to them!


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On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

My 2015 holiday speaker gift list is here!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

And it's also the time of the year, when I update my annual list of speaker gifts, to help you find the best gifts for the speaker in your life -- who might just be you! There are also oldies but goodies here that are my go-to items, so take a look and have fun shopping.

New goodies

As I've gotten more comfortable shooting DIY video, I've realized that I need
one good backdrop that I can always use in a pinch. Sometimes I like to arrange a nice scene behind me, but more often I just want a simple plain backdrop. Here are two options; one is low-tech (and inexpensive) and one is high-tech (and still pretty reasonable)!

This kit comes with a muslin backdrop, stand and two lights.

Or, if your space is limited, do what I've done and buy yourself some nice backdrop paper that you can tape or pin to the wall in the place you're shooting your video!

I've also been doing more webinars and teleseminars over the past couple of years, and good audio is a critical component of these recordings. If people can't clearly hear you, if the sound is scratchy or contains interference, they will turn off your recording, period.

It's worth investing in a decent microphone (preferably wired, for best sound); here are my picks.

For off-camera recordings, like webinars and teleseminars, I use a big ol' USB headset like this one. The audio quality is excellent and it's fairly comfortable.

When you're on-camera for, say, a Google Hangout, then you may not want to look like a big dork in a giant headset. In that case, check out a desktop USB microphone like this one. I'm still in the market for a good desktop mic, and this will likely be it.

There are lot of little things you can have on hand in your speaker kit that'll make your life easier: hand sanitizer (for all those hands you're going to shake), extra batteries, a bottle of water, some mints, masking tape, notebook and pen.... Two things I always have on hand are lip balm (this one is made by one of my favorite local companies in Santa Barbara) and a pocket pack of toothpicks (you do not want food in your teeth when you take the stage!).

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Oldies but goodies...

Technology

I've been using the Flip cam forever, and while it's no longer being manufactured, mine still works great! The video quality is excellent, and the sound is pretty good. It doesn't have a mic jack, unfortunately, so in those times when I need an audio boost, I might use my Samsung phone instead.

The problem with my phone is that there's no way to attach it to a tripod. The solution? This fabulous little GripTight adapter from Joby. I particularly recommend this one because it expands to fit my Samsung Galaxy SIII, even in its case. Most adapters are made to fit the iPhone and are too small for the Samsung. This adapter will fit any phone. It folds flat and even has a hole to add it to your keychain. I love this little guy!

Joby also makes the GorillaPod, a portable, bendable tripod that you can use anywhere and wrap around anything! A great addition to your video bag of tricks, especially if you like shooting on-the-go. (See both together in the photo on the left.)

Unhitch yourself from the laptop with a wireless presentation remote. This one fits perfectly in my hand, and has simple buttons to move slides forward, backward, and black out the screen. (It also has a laser pointer, but please don't use that.) There are a lot of nice remotes on the market; pick the one that fits best in your hand and has the features that you need.

I love my portable 4-port USB hub, and it is a permanent part of my speaking bag of tricks. I never know when I'll need more ports (for example, ports on the host's computer are too close together for more than one of my USB drives to fit).

---

Visuals

Make your flip chart notes portable when you carry a lightweight table top easel pad. The sheets stick to the wall like giant Post-It notes and can be placed around the room for further reference throughout your presentation. The easel folds out to stand on a table and folds flat for transport. You can also hang it from a traditional flip chart easel.

Or if you're in the market for a reusable flip chart, try this table top dry erase easel pad.

And for notes on the go, with clients or in small group presentations around a table, try these peel-and-stick dry erase sheets that you can quickly post on the wall, write and erase, or as I've done, just punch holes in them and keep them in a notebook for easy access. (You'll also need dry erase markers to go with these boards and sheets. This pack has nontoxic low-odor ink.)

For regular flip charts, I like these scented markers for their bright, saturated colors, but if you prefer unscented bullet tip markers and have concerns about the markers bleeding through the paper, try these instead.

---

Fun and Useful Stuff


How about trying out a document stand for your speaker notes? I keep my notes to the side of the stage, on a table or lectern, and in order to see them clearly (I also use a big font!), it's nice to be able to stand them up to make them more visible from afar. This one is foldable. I don't use a clip, however, because I want to be able to flip pages quickly.

I've brought back some of my favorite speaker sayings as magnets in the Zazzle store. If you're looking for a cheeky stocking stuffer for your favorite speaker, this is it!

To keep your audience engaged and stimulated, bring toys, toys, toys, and more toys. These are some of my favorites!

Use this hand pointer to poke some fun at the audience.

Need a way to haul all your tools and materials around? I've got a rolling craft cart similar to this one. Holds everything I need!

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Reading Recommendations

Still my favorite book out there: Learn how to make your message memorable with Chip and Dan Heath's Made to Stick.

Dump the boring templates and bullets and create engaging support materials with Beyond Bullet Points, Cliff Atkinson's book that teaches how to outline and design image-based slides with ease.

Titles a bore? Not any more! Get Sam Horn's POP! Create the Perfect Pitch, Title, and Tagline For Anything, and give your presentation and blog titles that extra WOW factor.

Learn how to persuade anyone of anything with this easy read: Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive.

An interesting sneak peek behind the scenes of the motivational speaking industry is Yes You Can! Behind the Hype and Hustle of the Motivation Biz.

If you'd like an alternative to the usual Martin Luther King/Lincoln/Churchill "famous speeches" books, how about one that shines the spotlight on historical speeches by women? Women at the Podium : Memorable Speeches in History

Packed full of useful tips based on real professional speakers' experiences, National Speakers Association "Speaker Magazine" is a must-have to build your skills.

And if you don't like lugging books around with you, maybe it's time to invest in a Kindle. Once you buy your Kindle, then you can download this blog and my 101 Tips to Improve Your Public Speaking to take with you!

---

Training

Last but not least, if you think the aspiring speaker in your life might benefit from some self-paced training for best practices in audience engagement and general presentation success, then consider giving the gift of my home study program, "Speak to Engage: 7-Step Shortcut to Public Speaking Success."

This is a web-based program with audios, videos, articles, a workbook and other resources for any speaker to complete at their own pace, on their own time schedule, with all the benefits of working with me in a live program!

Get in touch if you'd like to give this as a gift, and we'll work out the details!

Whew! The list changes every year, and I hope you find something here to make your presentations smoother and more effective, or a gift for that special speaker in your life. Happy Holidays!

____________________________________________________
On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!

Holiday gift list for speakers!

I've updated my annual shopping list again this year to help you find the best gifts for your favorite speaker -- who might just be you! You'll also find the oldies but goodies here, so take a look and have fun shopping!

Technology

If you're like me, you've been using the same video camera for a looong time. Mine is the Flip cam, and as you know, it's no longer being manufactured. I still love it for the excellent quality video, and I can boost the audio with software if it's not quite loud enough.

But sometimes it's more convenient to use my phone. The problem? There's no way to attach it to a tripod. The solution? This fabulous little GripTight adapter from Joby. I particularly recommend this one because it expands to fit my Samsung Galaxy SIII, even in its case. Most adapters are made to fit the iPhone and are too small for the Samsung. This adapter will fit any phone. It folds flat and even has a hole to add it to your keychain. I love this little guy!

Joby also makes the GorillaPod, a portable, bendable tripod that you can use anywhere and wrap around anything! A great addition to your video bag of tricks, especially if you like shooting on-the-go. (See both together in the photo on the left.)

Unhitch yourself from the laptop with a wireless presentation remote. This one fits perfectly in my hand, and has simple buttons to move slides forward, backward, and black out the screen. It also has a laser pointer, but please don't use that.

I love my portable 4-port USB hub (similar to this one), and it is a permanent part of my speaking bag of tricks. I never know when I'll need more ports (for example, ports on the host's computer are too close together for more than one of my USB drives to fit).

---

Visuals

Make your flip chart notes portable when you carry a lightweight table top easel pad. The sheets stick to the wall like giant Post-It notes and can be placed around the room for further reference throughout your presentation. The easel folds out to stand on a table and folds flat for transport. You can also hang it from a traditional flip chart easel.

Or if you're in the market for a reusable flip chart, try this table top dry erase easel pad.

And for notes on the go, with clients or in small group presentations around a table, try these peel-and-stick dry erase sheets that you can quickly post on the wall, write and erase, or as I've done, just punch holes in them and keep them in a notebook for easy access. (You'll also need dry erase markers to go with these boards and sheets. This pack has nontoxic low-odor ink.)

For regular flip charts, I like these scented markers for their bright, saturated colors, but if you prefer unscented bullet tip markers and have concerns about the markers bleeding through the paper, try these instead.

---

Fun and Useful Stuff


How about trying out a document stand for your speaker notes? I keep my notes to the side of the stage, on a table or lectern, and in order to see them clearly (I also use a big font!), it's nice to be able to stand them up to make them more visible from afar. This one is foldable. I don't use a clip, however, because I want to be able to flip pages quickly.

I've brought back some of my favorite speaker sayings as magnets in the Zazzle store. If you're looking for a cheeky stocking stuffer for your favorite speaker, this is it!

To keep your audience engaged and stimulated, bring toys, toys, toys, and more toys. These are some of my favorites!

Use this hand pointer to poke some fun at the audience.

Need a way to haul all your tools and materials around? I've got a rolling craft cart similar to this one. Holds everything I need!

---

Reading Recommendations

Still my favorite book out there: Learn how to make your message memorable with Chip and Dan Heath's Made to Stick.

Dump the boring templates and bullets and create engaging support materials with Beyond Bullet Points, Cliff Atkinson's book that teaches how to outline and design image-based slides with ease.

Titles a bore? Not any more! Get Sam Horn's POP! Create the Perfect Pitch, Title, and Tagline For Anything, and give your presentation and blog titles that extra WOW factor.

Learn how to persuade anyone of anything with this easy read: Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive.

An interesting sneak peek behind the scenes of the motivational speaking industry is Yes You Can! Behind the Hype and Hustle of the Motivation Biz.

If you'd like an alternative to the usual Martin Luther King/Lincoln/Churchill "famous speeches" books, how about one that shines the spotlight on historical speeches by women? Women at the Podium : Memorable Speeches in History

Packed full of useful tips based on real professional speakers' experiences, National Speakers Association "Speaker Magazine" is a must-have to build your skills.

And if you don't like lugging books around with you, maybe it's time to invest in a Kindle. Once you buy your Kindle, then you can download this blog and my 101 Tips to Improve Your Public Speaking to take with you!

---

Training

Last but not least, if you think the aspiring speaker in your life might benefit from some self-paced training for best practices in audience engagement and general presentation success, then consider giving the gift of my home study program, "Speak to Engage: 7-Step Shortcut to Public Speaking Success."

This is a web-based program with audios, videos, articles, a workbook and other resources for any speaker to complete at their own pace, on their own time schedule, with all the benefits of working with me in a live program!

Get in touch if you'd like to give this as a gift, and we'll work out the details!

Whew! The list changes every year, and I hope you find something here to make your presentations smoother and more effective, or a gift for that special speaker in your life. Happy Holidays!

____________________________________________________
On The Everything Page you'll find everything you need to build visibility, credibility and influence through engaging presentations that move your participants into action: freebies, low-cost products and courses, and 1:1 coaching!