Fall Conference – Are you a first timer to the conference?

NSA First Timers, Fall 2009

Welcome to one of the best business decisions of your career. You made the right choice to discover the jackpot of speaking resources: The National Speakers Association.

Since you have made the investment, might as well maximize your return. To get the most out of your conference, do your research both on the conference, organization, and attendees.  Regarding your business development get clear on your goals for the conference.

Ask yourself:

• What is NSA? What are the benefits? Why do people join? Who joins? Are your favorite authors and speakers part of NSA? (Yes, they are. All the big dogs are or were in NSA and helped them earn their success.)
• At the conference, what is the format? Who is presenting?
• Who are the people on the attendee list you would like to meet?  After perusing their websites and googling them, what do you want to ask them if you have a chance?

What are you goals?

• Are you looking to write a book? Improve your sales pitch, hire a PR firm, get feedback on a presentation title, change your business model, meet a sales person in the dental industry to collaborate with or form mastermind group.

First Timers tend to be overwhelmed with the volumes of rich information from many directions. You can take advantage of this great information by being focused on what you need at this time.

The National Speakers Association has set up several resources for you to get acclimated to this incredible organization.

1. To start, join the first timers group here. You can meet other people before you get to the conference. You can also ask questions.
2. Join the facebook Fall Conference attendees event
3. Read the blogs and post comments
4. Attend the first timer’s event and meet other first timers and learn the NSA norms.

The more you research, the more value you will gain. NSA is the most valuable resource existing for professional speakers.  See you online.

Jolene Jang, a.k.a. the Fun Specialist, Meeting Impact Consultant, Jo@TheMeetingMaximizer.com

NSA First Timer’s Chair, President of the National Speakers Association of the Northwest, NSA Northwest

Fall Conference Networking

The Fall Conference is designed to provide attendees with many networking opportunities. The Up Close & Personal Breakfasts that we posted about previously are just one way.

On Friday there will be a member reunion and first timers gathering then an opening reception following the opening general session. On Saturday night we’ll have a camp-themed dinner under the stars where you will enjoy mouthwatering bar-b-que and be entertained by NSA’s very own Jim Cathcart in a casual, fun environment. After dinner, we’ll roast marshmallows and make our own s’mores, sip hot cocoa, cider or coffee and listen to scary ghost stories told by our very own NSA storytellers.

PLUS all the networking you’ll accomplish between sessions and at lunch!

The Return of Up Close & Personal Breakfasts

Get to know one of NSA’s MWPs! (that’s “Most Wanted Personality.”) Saturday and Sunday morning of the Conference you will have the opportunity to spend “Up Close and Personal” time with an MWP over breakfast. Learn what their business is really about and how it got where it is.

Check back soon to find out who this year’s MWP’s will be!

For more information on the 2009 Fall Conference visit www.NSAFallConference.org.

2009 NSA Fall Conference

By 2009-10 NSA President Phillip Van Hooser, CSP, CPAE; 2009 NSA Fall Conference Chair Elly Valas; and 2009 NSA Fall Conference Vice Chair Stephanie Angelo

You are cordially invited to the 2009 NSA Fall Conference where NSA’s tradition of providing advanced thinking and learning opportunities continues. Underscored by this year’s theme, the NSA Fall Conference will spur you to imagine tomorrow’s endless possibilities despite today’s economic challenges. Experience a creative educational event and community-building opportunity that will shape your business for years to come. Now imagine honing your platform skills, increasing your bookings and making more money based on cutting-edge content and rock-solid business principles. The Conference program is specially designed to help you accomplish these goals and take your business to the next level–faster, better and more easily.

It offers comprehensive topics, including marketing, working with diverse generational audiences, and advanced platform skills. Customize your education by choosing the learning track that’s right for you–Intensive, Mega or Concurrent Sessions–or sample all of them.

We can’t imagine any reason why you wouldn’t want to attend the 2009 NSA Fall Conference, and spend two-and-a-half days setting yourself up for success in 2010.

Mark your calendar now and join us for a learning experience that’s well worth your investment in time and money. Leave with information, ideas and an action plan that you can implement immediately!

Visit www.NSAFallConference or call NSA at (480) 968-2552 for more information and to register. Save $100 when you register by 5:00pm MDT on October 23!

Top 10 Lies Told at National Speakers Association

Larry Chiang boils down an MBA into chewable chunks of genius. Harvard Business School’s, Harbus, featured him in a cover story, “What They Don’t Teach You At Stanford Business School“. He blogs at Business Week.

By Larry Chiang

A white lie is by definition… a lie. Speakers lie to each other to be polite but also to be self-promotional, self-deprecating and self-soothing (that’s me).

Here are the top ten lies that were told at the National Speaker Association’s annual convention in Phoenix.

-1- Harvard Business School just invited me to speak.

-2- I just ordered your book from Amazon

-3- I have never EVER cut and pasted your content

-4- Condoms in my laptop bag?! They’re from the Trojan sponsored giftbag after my MTV interview in NYC

-5- I am so going to order your session

-6- I have a Twitter account, I just can’t remember my username

-7- I am friends with Nido Qubein

-8- I am recommending you to speak to our local NSA chapter

-9- My phone is dead or else I’d totally give you my number

-10- I blogged about your book and am going to write a review on Amazon

Ok, I lied… There are fifteen. I told you ten because I didn’t think you’d click an article with 15 things

-11- I am going to wake up early for services on Sunday with Glenna Salsbury.

-12- I’ll totally visit you next time I’m in San Francisco

-13- We should collaborate on a book!

-14- What happens in Phoenix, stays in Phoenix.

-15- It is your turn. What lie(s) did you hear?! Post them in the comments.

Larry Chiang credit educates college students with his company, Duck9. He has testified before Congress and World Bank on credit.

The powerful shift from member of a group to part of the community

By Carolyn Strauss

I just got back from the National Speakers Association annual convention in Phoenix. AZ.  This is my tenth convention and to have the opportunity to play with a group of people who are amazing and more outgoing than I am, is a blast….and very noisy!
 
Having attended this convention many times, I have an awareness of what it is to be a full fledged member of this organization, and I participated as such.  I have spoken at this convention several times, first in 2005 at the convention in Atlanta, where I got to speak to the youth program.  And again, last year, in 2008 I was invited to present a breakout session in NYC.  These opportunities came after years of attending these meetings, and getting to know some of the people who make these meetings happen.
 
This time, however, was different.  As an attendee, during the convention and culminating with the CPAE (hall of fame) dinner awards banquet, I noticed a powerful and emotionally moving shift. 
 
How the awards dinner works, is they have someone from the organization who knows the hall of fame recipient, introduced them, give their bio, and then finally announced the name of the recipient.  This year there were five. 
 
As I sat in the audience at my table with people, six of whom I knew and 3 who were new to me, I watched Scott McKain and Patricia Fripp, two members of the hall of fame, M.C. the event and bring on stage the people to introduce the inductees.  As each of the introducers came out I knew who they were.  Over the past 10 or so years, I have had contact with each of the introducers at some point.  

Then something even better happened, in their description of the nominee, even before the names were read I knew who they were.  I had a connection with each of them at some point during the past many years.  To my surprise one of them, Terry Brock, is a good friend of mine and my heart pounded and leapt for joy, seeing him receive this incredible, well-deserved and distinguished honor.
 
So not only was this a memorable night and a memorable convention for the people on that stage getting that award, I felt as if the “family” and community that NSA prides themselves to be for me become a reality.  As an adult I have always said that your friends become the family you choose. It’s interesting to me how, after so many years of being a member of an organization, I am now a part of the community.  It feels warm, inclusive, an incredibly supportive… and who couldn’t use more of that in the world. 
 
I want to invite you to choose an organization or a group that is in alignment with who you are and what you believe in.  Invest the time and energy that it takes to become a part of the community.  The gift you will receive is that every time you’re with them, you get to go “home”.

Speakers Wanted! Speaker’s Corner at Convention

Got Something to Say? Say it!

But you weren’t asked to be on the main stage, no worries. That’s why we have Speaker’s Corner This is new this year. You have two minutes to spout off. This is available to all attendees.

Talk about anything, for example:

• Rave about NSA
• Future of adoptions in China
• Technology in our lives
• PC versus Mac
• Dog people vs cat people
• Perform a Michael Jackson Revue
• Define a term: vanityurl

Take this opportunity to be spontaneous and get visibility or  share advice with your NSA community.

Go for it during the breaks between general sessions, concurrent sessions and after lunch. Slots are limited. If you want a guaranteed slot, email Jolene Jang @  Jo@MeetingMaximizer.net, or be ready to jump in. View flyer.

Location: Grand Saguaro Foyer

When: Monday and Tuesday during breaks

Monday

9:30am – 10:00am

1:55- 2:10 (15 min)

3:30-4:00 (30 min)

Tuesday

9:30am – 10:00am

11:20-11:45 am (25min)

1:45-2:10 pm (25 min)

3:30-4:00 (30 min)

See you on streets of NSA.

#4 and #5 of 10 Speaker Strategies to Get Booked and Stay Booked

STRATEGY #4.    Niche, niche, niche – There are several ways you can do this – by topic (for example: Leadership), by audience (for example, HR people, Finance people, IT people?), by industry (for example, banking, HVAC, healthcare), by level (senior execs, high school students, or first-time supervisors), by method (3-day bootcamp, 12-week program), or by media (perhaps you’re known for THE book, THE video, THE ezine, or THE blog in your particular arena of expertise).

For example: Let’s say you’re a Sales speaker. Good start; good label. Now what if you were to niche deeper as in…

Sales prospecting speaker = better (2 levels deep)
Sales prospecting using the phone speaker = best (3 levels deep)
Sales prospecting using the phone in the financial services industry = WOW! (4 levels deep)

That’s a 4-level niche! This makes your work repeatable and referable – people can easily repeat exactly what you do and refer that value proposition to others.

STRATEGY #5.    Learn to say No – when it’s not your topic, when it’s not your expertise, when you know in your heart someone else does it better than you. The more you say no to meeting planners, the more you’re on their radar for what you do BEST.

It’s always a credibility boost to a planner when a speaker responds to an invitation with the words, “You know, that’s really not my topic. I’m probably not the best guy or gal to do that program for you.” When someone asks you as a professional speaker ‘What else do you speak on?’ it’s perfectly OK to say ‘Nothing – this is what I KNOW best and this is ALL I do.’ You win. The planner wins. Your audience wins.

Join me at NSA in PHX Tuesday 7/21 at 2.15pm to get the rest of the story – see details and videos here:

http://nsaconvention.org/Schedule/DavidNewman.aspx

#2 and #3 of 10 Speaker Strategies to Get Booked and Stay Booked

STRATEGY #2.    Write a book – or write several books. I made the mistake of writing 8 books on 8 different topics – if you’re going to write 8 books, you should write 8 books on ONE topic!

Also: decision-makers like to see at least ONE professionally published book.  (Self-publishing is great, but having one or more ‘real’ books helps your buyer sleep at night after they hire you.)

STRATEGY #3.    Write articles with substance – Meeting planners need  to see a speaker’s thinking. Show your buyer good, meaty articles with lots of specifics and do-it-now tactics. Don’t be stingy in sharing the ideas that you’ll share with their audiences if they hire you.

In your articles, don’t just TELL people what to THINK about your topic – SHOW them what to DO and HOW TO DO IT. Make your articles ACTIONABLE. Top professional speakers write articles conversationally. Write the way you speak – it connects more deeply with your readers.

Here’s a 1-word shortcut to great articles: REPURPOSE. Keynotes become articles; articles become special reports; special reports can become audio programs; transcribe your audio programs – they can become the rough draft for your book! Once you’ve got a solid platform of ideas, the different ways to package and profit from them is limited only by your imagination.

Join me at NSA in PHX Tuesday 7/21 at 2.15pm to get the rest of the story – see details and videos here:

http://nsaconvention.org/Schedule/DavidNewman.aspx

Is this your first NSA Convention?

First of all, NSA is more connected than ever with videos, blogs, Ning, etc. Scour the website for all of the information already posted. But, if you don’t see what you need, do ask your questions of what you would like to know before you arrive at the convention? We have resources for you like the social networking http://classof2009nsafirsttimers.ning.com/ and the First Timers Reception and Orientation. http://nsaconvention.org/Schedule/ConventionSocialGroupActivities.aspx

Let us help you get value.

First Timers Team

Jolene Jang; Chris Clarke-Epstein, Terry Paulson