The two most dangerous words when communicating in business and life are:

I know.

You may indeed know what the other person is saying.

Or trying to express.

Still, pay attention to how you say your "I know."

Is your tone one of arrogance or dismissal of someone else's idea?

This is about being self-aware.

And self-awareness is often a struggle in A/E/C.

You may be communicating to others subliminally that you are close-minded and closed-hearted.

A slight shift can help close a bid or form a new connection.

To be seen as a subject matter expert, you must know how to articulate your message.

It's not tricky.

The magic isn't in a bid package.

It's not about your slide deck.

It's not about how long you've been in the A/E/C industry.

You have to feel like a subject matter expert and leader.

You have to be willing to speak up. With Confidence. Charisma. Heart. Stories.

At meetings and conferences. Podcast and media interviews. On videos. At internal gatherings.

Look, you know your "stuff."

If the communication piece is missing, you can't share your knowledge and wisdom. #Fact

No one-off sales or discovery calls. No weird scripts or pitches. No “pick your brain” peeps who won't hire you anyway.    

I’ve had these calls before too. You know, first, you meditate, rock out to a favorite song to get energized (Bruce Springsteen’s Thunder Road for me), recite mantras…blah blah blah. 

What if instead of talking with one prospect at a time, you could speak to 20 prospects…or 200?

And they're all warm leads coming to YOU at one time. #Stopthechase 

Sweet, right? 

This is the business and marketing strategy of successful (paid) speakers. 

• It’s what I learned in 2000 when I started my PR company and joined the National Speakers Association. 
• It’s what I’ve been teaching to entrepreneurs, coaches, and business leaders for years.
• It's the business of speaking.
• It's a sales funnel before I knew what a sales funnel was. 

Here’s how it works. 

When...

Showing up isn’t worth Jack these days.

In fact, it never was.

Showing up AND getting paid to speak up is different.

Because you're communicating in a strategic way that's relevant and meaningful to others. Now that's worth something. It's about selling your expertise AND getting in front of a captive audience (lead gen!).  

It’s a smart way of doing business that requires a tinge of boldness and self-confidence. 

It’s not about being pushy or arrogant.

It’s knowing deep in your heart that your knowledge and experiences will impact people who hear you.

It’s you knowing that your voice matters. 

And it does.

The question is: Are you bold enough to pitch yourself to event organizers who can book you? 

Look, anyone can take up space. It's a higher-level conversation when you're paid as a subject matter expert. So...no more hiding.

Here are my 3 top ways to get in the door with people who can book you to speak online and on...

Whether you're a guest on a podcast or you host one, it's super important to be prepared for the right and best conversation.

It starts long before you start recording. 

This 3-minute video sheds light on how to find the right show, virtual event, and audience to share your expertise. (Hint: Your interview is an organic lead magnet!)

Click the video above to watch and learn! 

Ready to energize and impact more people on podcasts, summits, and virtual events?

Whether you’re a host or a guest expert, toss out your list of questions.

You've gotta trust yourself and let things flow naturally.

From my experience, the most memorable interviews are just easy, casual conversations.

They're enjoyable for the host, guest, AND audience!

People remember intriguing conversations, stories, personalities, and takeaways.

When others like what they hear and see, they’ll...

· Recommend and refer you

· Sign up for your stuff

· Join –and engage—in your community

· Hire you

Hosts and guests who trust themselves (and each other) aren't rigid or stuck to a script.

They look forward to something spicy coming up.

They expect to hear a nugget that's fresh and intriguing.

They feel comfortable not knowing each word and question.

They know that they know their stuff without a list of questions.

They prepare--and listen--in a...

I want to get in front of people who can hire me; I want to grow my business! 

That’s what I’ve been hearing these past few weeks on social media and from my own client calls. 

Look, social media gives each of us access to the masses.

So, it’s not hard to get in front of people—even the right people who are your dream clients. 

Still, there’s a challenge that most entrepreneurs and coaches don’t recognize.

It’s this: What do you SAY when you get in front of your peeps?

If you’re like most of my clients, when we first start working together, they say the same thing.

You’re not alone…

• Maria thought her problem was only having a few small clients (and struggling to make money). Then she realized she needed the confidence to talk about herself in a big, bold way.
• Chris thought he wasn’t closing enough sales. Then he realized he didn’t feel worthy enough to speak up. 
• Heidi knew she...

Today is World Voice Day.

It's a perfect reminder that when you speak — online or in-person —you are merely repeating things you already know. 

So, if you want to up-level your business and yourself so that you can truly step into your power and potential, do this:   

1. Close your mouth. And watch this 3-minute video. It can change your life. 

2. Click here to more info.

It's time to learn. 

Leaders are not supposed to know everything.

Plain and simple.

People everywhere—whether they are entrepreneurs, stay-at-home parents or retired—most often succeed when they are willing to ask for help.

They are smart about their strengths and weaknesses. 

{Untangle Your Words and Share Your Story. Learn the Story Magnets Method. Save Now for New Class- Starts Jan. 4th! Click Here for Details!} 

Like many entrepreneurs, I used to think that asking for help or admitting you don’t know something was a sign of weakness. But a few years into my entrepreneurial journey, I began thinking about delegation as a sign of humility; of being a human being. 

You just can't know everything.

No one does. And no one ever will.

Leaders appreciate and respect what they know—and don’t know.

They don’t see themselves as incompetent. They take a different approach by knowing they don't have to know everything.

Instead, successful folks look for people...