8 steps to ditching perfection and creating connection

Even if we've mastered our perfectionist tendencies, these new challenges of presenting virtually seem to be bringing them all back up again. (At least for me... 😬)

So I'm launching a new workshop on ditching perfection and creating connection, based on the concepts in my book.

Ready to 🎶"let it go?"🎶 This will be a deeper dive into my core teachings, with 8 clear action steps to ditching perfection and creating connection.

Best of all, this is not an 8-week program, or a 4-week program, or a 5-day challenge.

It's a 90-minute workshop that will be packed with practical tools you can use right away (even - and especially - in the virtual training environment)!

Also: Like my other current programs, I'm offering COVID-friendly pricing!

Registration is now open! Reserve your spot here: https://bit.ly/8Steps-DitchPerfection.

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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!

Put this in your pocket for later

Will you have a speaking engagement between now and April?

Will you be:

🔸Speaking to the board of your organization?

🔸Introducing your business at a networking event?

🔸Sharing your big idea at a work meeting?

🔸Reaching out to the community for donations?

🔸Engaging community members who've already donated?

🔸Orienting volunteers or new employees?

🔸Giving a speech at a special event?

🔸Delivering a presentation at a conference?

🔸Creating marketing or educational videos or webinars?

🔸Trying to persuade a group to change a belief, attitude or behavior?

🔸Running a workshop or training?

🔸Teaching your method or technique for others to deliver?

These are the kinds of things my clients hire me to help them with - and some of these may not be what you traditionally call "public speaking." But the reality is, we are speaking in public all the time, whether it's a short but critical report to five people or a formal keynote to 500!

If you're a business or nonprofit leader or entrepreneur, you will very likely be doing one of these things, or something similar, between now and April 1.

How about proactively purchasing your laser coaching session now, so it's in your back pocket when you're ready to start prepping? This session is meant to be used by March 31 - no procrastinating allowed!

And if you could still use a 2019 tax write-off, here you go!

Reserve your laser coaching spot now.

Please note: This offer expires December 30 - Monday - NOT on the 31st!

And if you're a business or nonprofit leader or entrepreneur and you won't be having one of these conversations before April 1, may I ask why not?

Speaking is the best way for your potential clients, customers, donors, volunteers, partners, and sponsors to get to know, like and trust you and your work.

What are you avoiding and missing out on by not taking the (free) opportunity to get your message out into the world?

If you don't know where to start, guess what: You can use your laser coaching session for that conversation, too!

Let's talk.

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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'm still in it - are you?

It's two days after Christmas, and I'm working.

Am I a workaholic? Nope.

Am I under the thumb of a mean boss? Nope. (My boss is pretty swell, actually.)

Am I working by choice? Absolutely!

Because my boss is ME, I get to decide when to work and when not to work. And because my husband is in the specialty foods retail industry, and it's the holiday season, this is his busiest time of the year!

My rule is: When hubby works, I work. When hubby's off, I'm off. Which is why I'm still here, working away, during a holiday when many people are on vacation.

But look, this is a bit of a myth, isn't it? That everyone takes the holidays off?

I had two coaching clients this week who have presentations coming up in the new year. It's important to them to jump in and do the work now, and not just to throw away the last 8 days of the year.

I know lots of people, in fact, who are still working, still building their businesses, and still working on their speaking. Yes, during the holidays!

This week, I'm reading a couple of books that I've been wanting to dive into, and doing all the exercises in them to work on my own messaging and ideas.

I'm planning a 2020 speaking retreat - possibly for May - that will be completely different than the retreats I've offered in the past.

I'm working on a plan for much greater visibility in 2020 to spread my message of #speakingupforchange even farther and wider.

Stacey Boehman, in her recent newsletter, said this: "I am still very much in this year. Because the best opportunity to make change is now. This current moment."

And I agree! I'm spending my last week of the year working with clients, helping them create change and transformation within themselves as speakers, and for their audiences.

How about you? Are you still here? Are you still in this year, in the present moment? Need help with your speaking and you just haven't made the commitment yet?

There's still time, right now in 2019, for you to make the commitment to change.

Grab my laser coaching special here until December 30.

You can use it any time before March 31, 2020. Including next week, because I can still fit in a couple of coaching clients before the end of the year!

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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!

Get your free copy of Presenting for Humans before April 15

Hey y'all! I'm giving away 100 digital copies of Presenting for Humans: Insights for Speakers on Ditching Perfection and Creating Connection!

I'm celebrating the second anniversary of publishing my first book on April 14 and I want you to have a copy! The giveaway started today and 51 copies are already gone, so if you're a Goodreads member, get over there ASAP to reserve your free digital download.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Presenting for Humans

by Lisa Braithwaite

Get your free copy of Presenting for Humans! Giveaway ends April 15.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

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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!

Want to sound smarter when speaking?

I received the following email the other day, and I thought it would be worth sharing my response with you, because it goes to the heart of my philosophy of public speaking.

"I am writing an article on ways to sound smarter when speaking.

I was interested in finding out if you had any advice or tips you could offer our readers. In particular, I wanted to see if you could provide insight into:

• What is a key piece of advice you would offer to a person who is making a speech or presentation who wants to sound intelligent?
• What is one of the most common mistakes speakers make that can make them come across as less intelligent?
• Do you believe a speaker's posture and body language impact whether the speaker comes across as intelligent?
• How do you believe a speaker's tone of voice impacts whether the speaker comes across as intelligent?"

Dear reader, if you read this post hoping to find out how to sound smarter when you speak, I apologize. I tricked you.

Here's what I wrote back to the journalist:

"First of all, I think a speaker 'wanting to sound intelligent' is missing the mark.

You either are intelligent or you aren't, but that's not what the audience cares about. 

The audience appreciates a speaker who exhibits confidence and speaks articulately. A speaker doesn't have to be intelligent to connect and engage with the audience. A speaker also doesn't have to be intelligent to be clear, concise and compelling. These are skills that can be learned by anyone. 

Focusing on coming across as intelligent is the wrong focus altogether, and is too much about the speaker impressing the audience vs. the speaker serving the audience.

A speaker who wants to serve the audience mostly needs to be well-prepared and have made time to practice out loud. And you could argue that being well-prepared and having rehearsed will make a speaker sound more intelligent. :-)"

I hope I didn't disappoint you if you were excited to learn how to sound smarter as a speaker. Spending your time focusing on how you're perceived rather than what value you provide to the audience is always a mistake.

Here's what speaking is NOT about:

• Impressing people
• Being the smartest person in the room
• Controlling every outcome
• Following a bunch of speaking “rules”
• Getting a standing ovation
• Making it about you

Now, if you'd like to really dig into this stuff about serving the audience, being clear, concise, and engaging, while connecting authentically and creating a great experience, how about joining me March 20-22 in Santa Barbara for my retreat?

Shake Up Your Speaking: Get Real... Get Results

This workshop is for speakers who are looking for more than a “quick fix” to get through the next presentation, and for people who are ready to up their game in a big way. Ready to stop blending in and start standing out? This retreat is for you!

The Bring-a-Friend rate expires soon and the super duper hotel room block expires over the weekend, so don't miss out! 

Are you a former or current client? Get in touch: I have a special 50% off rate for you!

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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!

Will the timing ever be right?

How many times have you waited to start something until the timing has been "right?"

How did that go? Did you ever start? Did you wait so long that the opportunity was no longer available? Did you wait so long that you lost your chance?

The last three times I signed up for coaching programs, the timing wasn't right. I mean, literally, I signed up late for all three.

One program was starting just as I was coming into the home stretch of planning and delivering my retreat. There was no way I could commit to one more thing on my plate. But I knew this program was going to create some huge shifts for me, and I really wanted to join, and that coach very generously let me put it off for several weeks.

The program before that one, I was expecting a corporate training payment that would cover the cost of the program, but it wasn't going to arrive until the week after the program started. That coach also was very flexible and let me start late, especially since everything was recorded, and I wouldn't actually miss anything.

And the program before that one, I was just about to start delivering my 7-week virtual program, and I was waiting for a couple of participants to sign up in order to make the payment (do you see a theme here?). That coach allowed me the extra week to sign up as well.

All three of these programs have turned out to be critical to the development of my business, and without them, I would still be struggling to figure out who I am as a coach and speaker, how to brand and market myself (well, let's be honest... that's an ongoing process), and how to create and promote my programs, build my mailing list, and attract clients.

Those three coaches didn't judge me or make me feel bad for not being ready at "the right time." They so graciously allowed me the time I needed, and I'm incredibly grateful to them.

Now I want to pay it forward. 

Speak to Engage Mentoring and Mastery started on April 19. Our first live call was recorded, and the resources and materials for the program are still in the process of being added to our private web page. Our first recorded training will be delivered this week.

And I'm holding one spot open for that one person who's been wanting to join but the "timing wasn't right." Are you the one?

I'm going to hold this spot for you for one more week, until next Tuesday, the date of our second live call. (The payment plan is still available.)

I know how it feels to want to join a program so badly, but to be held up by finances, or by timing, or by some other obstruction.

I also know how it feels to make it happen. To suck it up, ask for the extension, join the program late and gain all the benefit!

So I'll ask again: Are you the one?

We're waiting for you. :-)

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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!

Want to be a better speaker? You have to take action.

Which one of these sounds like you?

>> You enjoy speaking, and you know you could make a bigger impact if you could just tweak your skills.

>> You "get by" when giving presentations, but you know you're nowhere near the top of your game, and you need to step it up.

>> You don't enjoy speaking at all, mostly because you don't really know how to create and prepare for a presentation, and thus have no confidence in your ability to pull it off.

These three scenarios describe about 90% of my clients. I do have clients who are already good speakers, they enjoy speaking, and they have a high-stakes presentation coming up that's outside the realm of what they've done before. But the majority are in one of the three camps mentioned above.

The question is this: You know you need to change, so what are you going to do about it?

Are you going to keep lamenting your circumstances, or are you going to step up to the plate and make a decision that will take you in the direction you need to go?

Are you going to make excuses to yourself about why you can't get help to implement the necessary changes (it's always money or time, right?) or are you going to find a way to make it happen?

Are you fed up with being stuck in the same place for so long with no apparent solution?

I know I was. 

At about the five-year mark in my business, I had the sudden revelation that I was flying by the seat of my pants. For FIVE YEARS, I had been making things up as I went along, grabbing this free training and that free PDF and piecing together a mishmash of materials whenever I needed to learn something new. 

And my business was stagnant.

So I finally decided to take a leap of faith, and started investing in my business. I invested in a small program at first, which taught me how to systemize aspects of my business that still had no rhyme or reason. Then I invested in a bigger program, that had me flying across the country for a three-day training.

Then I took the leap (literally, into Alicia Forest's LEAP Studio), and invested in a 9-month group coaching program. This series of events caused my business to take its own leap forward, and every year since that I've invested in my own training, my business has continued to grow -- and I've made all my investments back.

I'm telling you this because I know how it feels to be stuck, to wish that we could just magically change things without investing time or money. I offer a lot of free teleseminars, e-books, and this blog. But free will only take you so far.

So I invite you to invest in your public speaking improvement, the impact you make on your audience, the growth that you will see in yourself and in your business, through my upcoming program, "Speak to Engage: 7-Step Shortcut to Public Speaking Success," starting on October 21. 

It's virtual, so you can attend from anywhere, by phone or by computer.

It's recorded, so you can listen at any time if you can't make one of the sessions.

It's fun, especially when people show up and participate in the live calls and in the Facebook group!

There's a nifty early bird rate, some great bonuses, and a 2-pay option, all available until October 17. 

And... it's super affordable. It's dip-your-toe-in-the-water affordable. It's maybe-someday-I'll-work-with-Lisa affordable. It's I-know-I'm-ready-to-stop-stagnating affordable.

Will you take a look? And let me know if you have any questions. I hope you'll take your own leap - and join me!

P.S. It's my ninth anniversary this month of my coaching business! If I hadn't taken that leap a few years ago, I would certainly not be where I am now.

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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!

Private coaching with me for just $88?

Help me celebrate eight years in business and my 1,400th blog post, along with the winter holidays of gift-giving and thanks-giving!

It's my HoliBlogaBizaversary sale!

But there's only one day left... have you grabbed your $88 laser coaching or home study program?

Do you have a presentation coming up this winter or spring? Would you like some expert, customized advice and support to help you craft a truly memorable and engaging talk that energizes and motivates your audience?

If so, you'll want to take advantage of my 45-minute laser coaching special. This is not something I offer to the general public, by the way; my coaching packages start at 90 minutes for $397.

Or perhaps you don't have a critical presentation coming up soon, but you know it's only a matter of time, and you'd really like to get some training under your belt so you can start preparing for future greatness as you promote your business or take on a new role at work.

If this is the case, then my virtual home study program, "Speak to Engage: 7-Step Shortcut to Public Speaking Success," is what you're looking for!

It's all contained in a private member site that you can access at your convenience, from your home or office, 24/7!

What if you want both, and can't decide? I thought of that, too: Grab both for $159!

Click here to choose your best option.

But don't forget: This sale ends Wednesday, November 27, so there's not much time left.

Thank you for helping me celebrate my eighth anniversary in business and the beginning of my favorite holiday season!

P.S. In case you're waiting for a better deal to come along, I will not be offering a Black Friday or Cyber Monday sale. This is my last sale of the year! Take advantage of this rate ASAP.

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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!

Your questions about the Elite Speakers Mastery & Mentoring Program answered!

Here's a quick reminder that I have a few spots left for the Elite Speakers Mastery & Mentoring Program, so if you're still on the fence, you have one more day to make a decision!

I've gotten some good questions about the Elite Speakers Mastery & Mentoring Program and I thought I'd post them here in case you have the same questions!

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Q: What do you mean by "advanced" or "experienced" speakers?

A: As you may have noticed, this program is for speakers who've been around the block a bit and are looking for support, brainstorming, critique and community with their fellow speakers.

If you speak, on average, eight or ten times a year, then this program is for you. You do not have to be a top-level professional motivational speaker to join the program. You just have to have some experience, a message to share and the desire and motivation to improve and grow.
:-)

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Q: Do I have to be a paid speaker to join the program?

A: NO! As long as you're out there speaking on a regular basis and want to improve your skills and share best practices with others in the same situation, you can be speaking for free or for thousands of dollars per engagement. You are not required to be a paid speaker.

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Q: Why do I have to submit an application?

A: The application process is just my way of making sure that everyone in the group is a good fit with me and with each other. I'm looking for members who are open to learning, open to coaching and truly committed to positive change and growth as a speaker.

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Q: Is this program about selling from the stage?

A: No. This is not a "speak-to-sell" program, although some of you might be interested in learning more about that. If so, then I'll make sure to bring in resources for that interest. But that is not what this program is about.

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Q: How can I get critiques of my presentations if the program is virtual?

A: Members will have the opportunity to upload videos to our private Facebook group for viewing and critique by me and other members. Members can also bring ideas and content for discussion if they don't have video. There will be lots of options for sharing your speaking experiences and questions and getting feedback from the group.

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Q: How does this program work?

A: You'll be invited to 9 monthly group calls, where I'll address any questions or issues that the members have sent me during that time. Members will have the opportunity to get feedback and input from the group on any personal speaking challenges, creative questions, best practices, business issues or anything else related to their speaking goals.

If you miss a call, you'll be able to catch up later with the recording.

I'll also be bringing in appropriate experts for interviews, based on the requests of the group, and we'll have a private Facebook community for everyone to submit videos and ask questions outside of our regular call-in times.

And everyone in the group will get two private coaching sessions with me during the course of the program. Among lots of other goodies and speaking resources!

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Q: How time-consuming is the program? I'm very busy right now.

A: Your only scheduled meetings are the one call a month, that will take approximately one hour. And you'll want to schedule your two half-hour coaching calls with me sometime during the nine months.

Everything else, like Facebook discussions, workbook activities, the home study program, and any other support, questions or conversations take place on your schedule, at your convenience.

Can you fit this into your schedule? Absolutely! And I bet there are some things you spend time on right now that are lesser priorities than reinvigorating your speaking so you can get more visibility, credibility and clients! (For me, some of those things would be social media, cute cat videos, and pinning recipes to Pinterest...)

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Q: I totally get the value of the program, but I'm strapped for cash right now. Is there any way to make the payments easier on my bank account?

A: I'm glad you asked! You may take advantage of my 9-month payment plan to spread your payments out over the course of the program.

Easy peasy!!

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Let me know if you have further questions. And here's the link again to submit your application.

Here's the bottom line:

If you want to focus on your future instead of staying stuck where you are now as a speaker, this program will get you there.

If you're frustrated with playing small and you're looking to building your visibility and credibility as a speaker, this is the place for you.

If you know what you SHOULD be doing, but you're not doing it, this group will get you there.

If you want to increase your reach, grow your dream, build your target audience, get feedback from your peers, and stop sitting on the sidelines, this program is for you!

Here's a reminder of what you'll get when you join the group:

** A 15-minute kick-off strategy session to develop your focus and goals for the program, scheduled as soon as you sign up

** A workbook to keep track of your goals, strategies and successes

** 9 monthly 1-hour group mentoring and accountability calls (plus bonus interviews throughout the program with relevant experts)

** 2 30-minute private coaching calls with me, to be scheduled during the 9 months of the program

** Access to the complete Speak to Engage home study program with pages and pages of resources including articles, blog posts, audios, videos, and my own pre-presentation questionnaires and evaluations I use with my speaking clients

** Access to all my personal speaker resources and connections - if I can't answer your question, I know someone who can!

** Accountability and buddy support with me and the other group members to help you stay on track

** 24/7 access to our private Facebook group for ongoing discussion, brainstorming, video critiques and more accountability

Will I be receiving your application?

P.S. If you've made your final decision that this program isn't for you, I would appreciate your sharing this post with someone you think would benefit from it.

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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!

Top ten reasons to join the Elite Speakers Mastery & Mentoring Program

Photo Credit: sam_churchill

10. Review your overall professional package -- understand how you come across on stage and how your marketing materials, website and personal appearance help or hurt your brand.

9. Set specific action items for accountability as you work to accomplish your goals.

8. Brainstorm ideas with your peers who are out there in the trenches, speaking on a regular basis.

7. Exchange best practices with your fellow experienced speakers.

6. Get feedback from the group to help you analyze and evaluate your presentations.

5. Build your skills, your confidence and your mastery of speaking through a program that’s customized to your exact needs.

4. Test out new material before getting in front of an audience.

3. Participate in a community where you can share experiences (the good, the bad and the ugly) with your fellow advanced-level speakers.

2. Get coaching and mentoring from a speaking expert who knows what you’re going through (ahem... that would be me).

1. Get reinvigorated, break through the barriers that are limiting your progress and potential, and lift your speaking to the next level!

The Elite Speakers Mastery & Mentoring Program starts October 30, but applications are due by October 25, so don't delay! And if you sign up by Friday, October 18, you'll get a whole passel of awesome bonuses, too!

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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!

Up, up, and away!

Up, up, and away! 

Just a few more hours until the price of the SpeakUP! program goes up to $197!

Get it now for $100 off: http://www.coachlisab.com/speakup.html

Whether you're onstage, in a staff meeting, or mingling at a networking event, confidence can be the difference between being heard and remembered, and being forgotten the minute the meeting is over. 

You reveal your lack of confidence through your posture, your voice, your facial expressions, your gestures, and how you interact (or don't interact) with the audience.

Unfortunately, a speaker who lacks confidence will be disregarded and not taken seriously, no matter how much expertise you have.

Think about the confident people you know. They get respect, they get listened to, they’re persuasive -- which means they get their way more often!

In fact, confident people inspire confidence in others!

So... how do you build confidence?

Through baby steps. 

Through careful planning and preparation, embracing your uniqueness, trusting your gut, trying new things, getting out of your comfort zone, learning from missteps and acknowledging accomplishments.

All of these aspects of confidence will be addressed in my 8-week program starting July 25: SpeakUP! 8 Daily Challenges to Build Your Confidence Muscles at Work, at Home, and in Front of an Audience

If you're afraid of taking a risk, standing out or speaking up, this program is for you.

Register before midnight EDT tonight and get the special early bird rate of $97. (Tomorrow it goes up to $197.)

Join me for this transformational program and make the journey from cautious to confident!

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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!

Help me help Daisy, and get a special deal for yourself!

If you've ever had a furry friend, you know how disheartening it is to discover that she or he has health problems. You want the best for your loved ones, whether human, canine, feline, or other fuzzy, feathered or scaly family member.

Many of you have been part of my community for a long time and might remember our adoption of two middle-aged kitties (Daisy and Tiger) in December 2011, after their owner died and left them homeless.

These kitties came at a time when we were still grieving the loss of our third elderly kitty in three years, and they brought so much life and joy back to our lives!

Now Daisy, who is only nine, is having some rather mysterious health problems. She lost a significant amount of weight last year, and after having been fairly stable for a while with the help of our vet, just last week she hit a new low. We knew we would need to dig deeper, so off she went for more blood work, x-rays and an abdominal ultrasound.

Unfortunately, what they found was not only NOT good news, but also not the reason for her weight loss, so while we've discovered that she has enlarged lymph nodes and an abnormally small, damaged kidney, and that she needs B12 injections to make up for nutrient malabsorption in her small intestine, we still don't know why she's not absorbing nutrients from her food.

And the medical bills are starting to pile up, with the knowledge that there are more tests and more treatments to come as we navigate this rocky course. We are cautiously optimistic; whatever is happening in her lymph nodes does not seem to be aggressive and may be related to other inflammatory issues rather than lymphoma.

The good news is that she's eating well and all her cat behaviors are intact: She scratches her scratching post, she cleans and sunbathes, and she loves to climb into our laps for snuggles. She's not acting like a sick cat, and we think she's feeling okay.

In order to manage these unexpected expenses and make sure that Daisy has the best care she can receive, I've decided to throw a "Get Daisy Healthy" Sale!

Until this Friday, June 14th, I'm offering you a whopping 66% off my home study version of Speak to Engage: 7-Step Shortcut to Public Speaking Success. This program is regularly $297, but for the next three days, it's only $99!

Click here for the special offer...

If you wanted to join me for Speak to Engage LIVE but were unable to make the time commitment, the Speak to Engage home study program is perfect for you. Entirely self-paced, all the teleseminar recordings and materials are online on your private member site, for 24/7 access.

You've got three days to take advantage of this one-time offer. Get yourself an amazing deal on my 7-week audience engagement program and help Get Daisy Healthy!

LB

P.S. To sweeten this deal even more (and it totally doesn't need it), I'm going to throw in 30 minutes of private coaching. We'll chat by phone or Skype about whatever public speaking issues are bugging you. Are you in?

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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!

Stop playing it safe and start owning the stage!

Just a quick message to tell you about my upcoming teleseminar series "Speak to Engage: 7-Step Shortcut to Public Speaking Success." I'm offering an early bird special of $100 off for the first 7 people who register by Friday, April 12. Check it out!



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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!

Love conquers all...

In honor of Valentine's Day, I want to talk about love for a moment. Have you heard the expression, "Love conquers all?"You may not know this, but it's part of a line from a poem by the Roman poet Virgil; the complete line is "Love conquers all things; let us too surrender to love." (I didn't know this. I studied Classical Greek in college, not Latin....)

You might also be surprised to know that love is an important part of your presentation. I'm not talking about sappy, mushy, puppy-eyed "love." I'm talking about the way you care for your audience -- wanting what's best for them and showing them your appreciation and gratitude for giving you their time and attention.

Not everything a speaker prepares for a presentation is a physical, tangible item like movement, words, and slides. A lot of speaker preparation is mental, as in positive thinking, visualization and reframing negative attitudes. Add to this mental preparation the concept of gratitude.

First, think about how grateful you are for the people who have come to hear you speak and the people who are organizing your speaking engagement. They're supporting your cause, they're looking forward to learning, they're wishing you success. Be grateful for your audience, because they're here to take in and spread your message. Be grateful, because without an audience, you can't be a speaker.

Then think about how grateful you are for the opportunity to share something you care about with this audience. Think about how fortunate you are to have people sitting and listening to your ideas and your message for 10, 20 or 60 minutes. Think about how lucky you are to help people and give them something relevant and useful that they can use right now to change and improve their work or their life.

Now, dig down and find the thing that makes you care about your topic. What is it that makes you want to do what you do? What is it that makes you want to share what you're sharing? Find that motivation, that emotional connection, that energy for your topic, and bring it out. Then give it to your audience.

When you allow yourself to show love and gratitude to your audience, you can't help but forget about your own woes and distractions. When you allow yourself to be open to creating a human connection with your audience where you give them all your passion and energy and receive it back, you will find your anxiety and nervousness -- if not completely conquered -- at least greatly reduced.

I wrote a blog post a couple of years ago about Michael Jackson, a master performer and visionary for whom L.O.V.E. was a critical aspect of his success. Read it here.

I wish you much love and gratitude this week, both to and from your audiences. And I want to offer you a special Valentine's treat (no calories) to show my gratitude for you -- but grab it now, because the special offer expires at midnight EST tonight!

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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 can Hans & Franz teach you about confidence?

I have a question for you: What is confidence?

We all know that audiences are drawn to a speaker who shows confidence. We all know that we need to have confidence as speakers. But what is this magical thing called confidence, and where does it come from?

Think about the confident people you know. They get respect. They get listened to. They're persuasive, so they get their way more often!

In fact, confident people inspire confidence in others! Wouldn't you love to be that person - radiating confidence and inspiring it in others?

Watch below for my impression of Hans & Franz, and a few words about my new program "SpeakUP! 8 Daily Challenges to Build Your Confidence Muscles at Work, at Home, and in Front of an Audience."

P.S. There's a launch special with bonuses and special pricing that expires at midnight 1/26, so check it out ASAP!



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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!

A Halloween special for you... just till the stroke of midnight!

If you're like me, you have no plans for Halloween. And if you're really like me, you live on a dark street with no sidewalks, where no child would ever consider trick-or-treating.

So I'm in for an evening of comfort food, reading, and maybe a movie. Ahhh, the life.

If you happen to be poking around on the web tonight, wondering if there's anything around here to entertain you, and you find this post, I have a little surprise for you.

Just for today, until midnight Pacific time, I'm offering you something very special, and not scary at all.

I'm offering you my full set of AskLisaB Q&A call series recordings, six calls in all, for 50% off the regular price!

These calls answer some of the most common questions about public speaking, like:

"How can I be funnier when speaking?"

"How can I develop that attention-grabber opening?"

"I have a lot to say. How can I get my point across in a timely
fashion?"

"How do I exude confidence?"

"How do I avoid getting tongue-tied?"

"How do I prevent myself from blanking out?"

"How can I get more speaking practice?"

And more!

Click the link to check out what else comes with this offer: A ridiculous collection of additional resources -- blog posts, book recommendations, videos and articles are included, and all for 50% off the regular price.

Don't delay. This offer is only good until midnight Pacific (that's 3 a.m. for you night owls on the east coast). Go here to read more.

And for those of you who are heading out in your creative, funny, scary, silly or mysterious costumes tonight: Have fun and be safe!

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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!