Volunteer? Are You Kidding?

By Dale Collie

 Over the years a lot of experienced NSA members made the comment that volunteering really pays off. I have to admit that I was kind of leery of their remarks that seemed a whole lot like “recruiting.”

Chapter leadership kind of pulled me into action, first as a director, then as an officer, and finally as chapter president. And all of that kind of made sense to me because my volunteer work was helping hometown speakers and myself at the same time.

I was reluctant to get involved at the national level because all I could see there was grunt work or cliques that surly wouldn’t need my expertise. One of our chapter members, however, talked me into being a “people mover,” and the next year someone I’d met as a people mover asked if I would help with something else. As I got to know more people, I volunteered to help with one of the PEGs, and that led to handling a PEG newsletter and the teleseminars and then to being PEG chair. I’ve just finished a very rewarding year as chair of all the PEGs — thanks to the great PEG chairs and leadership teams. Next year I’ll be involved in another volunteer position.

Here are some things I’ve learned along the way:

• There is no clique that brings in special people. They want capable people who are willing to do the job, not “good friends only.”
• Dozens of volunteers make NSA what it is today
•  The highly visible volunteers are backed up by many who never receive any public recognition
•  All of those people at the top have demonstrated their willingness to help others
•  ”Helping others get what they want will help you get what you want.” Zig Ziglar (paraphrased)
•  Let others know that you want to volunteer
• Do what you’re invited to do instead of “wishing and waiting” to asked to do something glamorous
• Make a contribution in your role as a volunteer; be active, meet deadlines, attend meetings, make a difference
• Stay in touch with those you meet along the way – not with an agenda, just as new friends
• Go out of your way to help staff and other volunteer leaders
• Give others credit for achievements; it’s a team effort
• Be persistent in volunteering for what you want to do; help those who now hold the job you’d like to fill
• The more I volunteer, the more good things happen to me

Let’s make sure everyone knows how they can put their expertise to work in helping others succeed. Add your comments about volunteering.

Arizona Monsoon’s

By Heilee O’Quinn, NSA Manager of Member Services

When you’re here in Arizona this July you may get lucky and experience an Arizona monsoon.  The likelihood of this happening is very slim, but just in case, bring something that you don’t mind getting wet (it doesn’t drop below 85 degrees Fahrenheit here in July so bring something light).  If you would like to read more about the monsoons here is a helpful link: http://phoenix.about.com/cs/weather/a/monsoon01.htm  

Monsoons, when they roll in typically happen in the late evenings- thunder, lightening and rain.  It usually lasts no more than an hour or so.  It is my favorite time of year!  And if you forget or just don’t want to bring anything, there is a shopping mall right across the street.  It can be a perfect excuse to buy something new.

#1 of 10 Speaker Strategies to Get Booked and Stay Booked

Since 1992, I’ve been a full-time professional speaker, trainer and consultant. In March of 2007, I was asked to take on a 1-year interim position as Conference Producer at Business 21 Publishing based in Springfield, PA. I ran their $2 million audio conference and live conference division, booking other speakers, experts, and authors for over 160 events a year. I got to see the speaking business – and whole lot of professional speakers – from the customer’s perspective.

Here’s the key point: knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have hired myself. No way!

I’m going to share with you all the stuff I did wrong, so you can get it right – and this will help you get hired more easily, more often, and at your full fee. Since returning to full time professional speaking and consulting in February 2008, these strategies worked wonders for me, and I know they’ll work wonders for you. Let’s dig in…

STRATEGY #1. Decide who you are – Negotiations speaker, customer service speaker, sales speaker. Don’t be afraid to specialize and focus your business on mastering ONE topic. ONE. Specialize and stick with it. Don’t be afraid of labels. Labels are good! Meeting planners BUY labels! Label yourself early on, and focus on getting expertise that is DEEP rather than BROAD. Wannabes know 10 topics 1 foot deep. Experts know 1 topic 10 feet deep – and beyond!

Join me at NSA in PHX to get the rest of the story – see details and videos here:

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

Are you ready to be part of the 80%?

by Linda Keith, CSP, CPA, 2009 Convention Vice Chair

In this economy, our convention team planned for about 80% of our usual attendance and we are right on track.

So who is in that 80%? Well, here is who is not…

• Head buried in the sand hoping it will all blow over
• Speaker hobbyists who do not need the business revenue
• The few whose business has not been impacted negatively by the recession

Who is?

• Serious players
• People who need to know or do something differently in the next six months to come out of the recession well
• Speakers who want others to work with either as accountability partners, brainstorm buddies or full-blown collaborators

The 80% are coming to convention with intention. Yes, we plan to have fun. But we plan to focus, to implement on the spot or come out with an implementation plan, and to connect with others to make it all happen. Through the PEG concurrents open to all, a small group that comes together in a concurrent session, or a random conversation in the hall in which you discover a common interest; the serious players will capitalize on those opportunities.

This is not a time to go smorgasbord for most of us. Don’t think of this as your only convention…or your first convention. Think of it as your next convention and focus only on what you can use in the next six months.

 Don’t forget to use the convention planning sheet that came out in your program. Don’t have it? Email NSA headquarters and ask for another copy. See you there!

Ten ways to get International publicity by Alan Stevens

2.) Keep in touch. Even if you can’t imagine any way of providing something to a reporter, make sure that you keep n touch with them by adding them to your newsletter list (you do have a newsletter don’t you?), or by sending them something of interest, such as a link to a website. One day they will call you with an interview request.

Visit http://nsaconvention.org/Schedule/AlanStevens.aspx to read the complete article, others by Alan and find out more about the 2009 NSA Convention presenter.

Three Ps in a Podcast: Power, Positioning and Profitablitiy by Dick Bruso

Ideal length. Think in terms of when and where your audience is listening. If people are listening in their cars while commuting to work, then a podcast ranging from 20 to 30 minutes would make sense. If time is a factor, then a shorter program would be more appropriate. Length also may be influenced by whether you’ve elected to produce a monthly, weekly, or even daily program.

Visit http://nsaconvention.org/Schedule/DickBruso.aspx to read the rest of Dick’s article and find out more about the 2009 NSA Convention presenter.

Top Ten Tips for Taming the Teleprompter by Laurie Brown

1. Rehearse. Rehearse before you get to the set. Make sure you rehearse out loud–words sound different in your head then they do when spoken. Rehearse with the teleprompter to make sure all words are visible. Rehearse with the teleprompter to help them know your pace.

Visit http://nsaconvention.org/Schedule/LaurieBrown.aspx to read Laurie’s remaining tips and find out more about the 2009 NSA Convention presenter.

Multiple Sources of Income Through Technology by Frank Furness

I love gadgets and technology and it has completely changed the way that I think and work. It also enables me to choose only the speaking engagements that I want to do while maintaining my earnings. It provides me with income while I sleep, an exit strategy and future pension for my business. Over the last eighteen months I have invested a great deal of time and money to discover what it takes to make technology really work and I would like to share some of these with you.

 

Digital voice recorder - I bought my first digital recorder when they first appeared on the market and now use the Olympus DS4000 which is superb. I use it to record my talks which I can then turn into saleable products. I also interview top personalities and insert these recordings into my talks and products.

Read the rest of this article, others, and find out more about 2009 NSA Convention presenter, Frank Furness at http://nsaconvention.org/Schedule/FrankFurness.aspx. 

Improve Your Networking Skills at the NSA Convention

By Linda Keith, CSP, CPA

I remember some of my first conventions, and feeling like everyone already knew everyone. It has taken me years to realize that the reason they do is that *they* connected when *they* were new.

The wonderful benefit of making solid connections at NSA is that long-time members truly are seeing good friends again after months away.

When you are new to the organization here are three ways to connect:

1) Find others who are new. As you well know, new to NSA does not mean new to speaking or new to business. People new to NSA may be just the connection you are looking for.

2) Ask established members something specific. In that conversation, find out what they are working on and offer a resource if you have one.

3) Offer to help. This usually starts at the chapter level as a volunteer. Then in chapter leadership. Then a national-level volunteer. The relationships you develop this way naturally lead to strong connections that are personally and professionally rewarding.

When you look at long-time members happily conversing and so connected, you could think ‘that is a clique and I am excluded.’

Or you could think ‘look at what I have to look forward to as I get to know people in NSA’.

Over the 20 years I have been a member, I have discovered the second is true for me.

PS: Stop by the Business Improvement Zone at convention. The groups with a topic-tent are hoping you will join them!

G’Day, want to get super-productive in your business?

If yes, join me on July 20th at 2.15 pm for a highly interactive, fun session called Super Productivity: Leverage YOUR productivity style and increase your results by 30%

Time management is out the window … it’s super-productivity that achieves results. How you spend your time, focus attention and invest energy massively impacts YOUR productivity and profitability.  Attend this highly interactive session and learn strategies to leverage YOUR productivity style and understand how 15 minute investments will profoundly impact your business.

 

1.  Identify and leverage YOUR personal productivity style.

2.  Discover practical strategies to increase your productivity by 30%.

3. Learn fabulous secrets of successful speakers to boost YOUR productivity on the road and in the office.

Join me, I promise it will be fun (and yes my voice really is that high)… www.neenjames.com