by Motivation Expert, Jim Cathcart, CSP, CPAE

The National Speakers Association, the professional voice for those who do this for a living, has just completed a new book that will be announced publicly in June of 2011. I had the honor of writing the Introduction for this book.

If you’ve ever been interested in learning how to become a paid professional speaker, this is THE book for you. It is built around all 8 professional competencies needed to thrive in speaking professionally.

Covering every aspect of launching, building, and maintaining a successful speaking career, Paid to Speak is a must-read for professional speakers–whether keynote speaker, motivator, coach, trainer, facilitator, or consultant–as well as those aspiring to a speaking career.

Divided into four sections, the content corresponds with the four core competencies that the National Speakers Association (NSA) has identified for success as a professional speaker:

• Eloquence: platform mechanics, presenting, and preparing
• Enterprise: business management, sales, and marketing
• Expertise: topic development, authorship, and product development
• Ethics: professional awareness and professional development

Thirty-four working NSA members who have built thriving speaking businesses weigh in with valuable insights and proven strategies on a gamut of topics, making Paid to Speak essential to any speaker’s list of reference materials.

Here is the link to the full Table of Contents of Paid To Speak.

LEARN HOW TO

• Create compelling presentations using stories of humor
• Hone your presentation and facilitation skills
• Convey a professional image through dress and body language
• Market and sell yourself effectively
• Develop an authentic and innovative brand
• Partner with speakers bureaus
• Spice up your writing and sell book proposals
• Establish yourself as an expert in your niche
• Leverage the virtual world
• Adhere to an ethical code of behavior
• And much, much more!

Read Paid to Speak from cover to cover, or open it to any chapter, for tried-and-true, hands-on information on taking your speaking career–and your bank account–to the next level.

Call me once you’ve read this book and let’s explore your opportunities in speaking.

by Motivation & Sales Expert, Jim Cathcart

In the February 2011 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine Ruth Parry wrote an article called “Making A Connection: Ten tips for engaging an audience.” It is an excellent article, especially if you are a musical performer…and…

It is ALSO an excellent article if you are a public speaker or any kind of presenter/entertainer. Ruth has isolated ten excellent steps for connecting with any group. Here they are. (Go to her article for the full treatment.)

Acoustic Guitar: Make a Connection

1. Look people in the eye and smile.

2. Tell a story.

3. Be a good observer.

4. Include special announcements and thank yous.

5. Get people singing or clapping. (involve them)

6. Satisfy children’s curiosity. (or shy observers’)

7. Ask for input.

8. Throw a change-up.

9. Make ‘em laugh.

10. Play with passion.

Contact me if you need some coaching or insight into speaking with confidence. 800-222-4883  info@cathcart.com

by Motivation Expert, Jim Cathcart

“Profiling”

What do you think of when you hear that word? Racial discrimination or intelligent decision making?

The media has demonized this concept over the past decade or so. They’ve made it popular to believe that one should never use profiling as part of decision making. I say, that is a foolish point of view. Absurd in fact.

Profiling; the act of identifying the patterns of difference that separate individuals into general groupings, is a vital life skill. I said “vital”, meaning that we cannot get through life without it. It is as natural and useful as thought itself.

When you look at a forest, it is in your best interest to distinguish between deer and bears, squirrels and rats, rabbits and weasels. That’s the only way you’ll know the appropriate reaction to each: threat or not. The same process takes place as you walk through a crowd in a public place. You identify the people who look threatening and those who don’t. And you should do this. It is in your best interest to do so.

Security personnel at political events have to use profiling to speed their identification of threats. If they looked at the bulk of the crowd in the same way they looked at the scary looking people then much time would be wasted and threats might be identified only after it was too late to deter them. The same applies to you and me.

Everyday intelligence demands that we develop the habit of identifying patterns, “profiles” if you will. The more we recognize patterns in behavior, in appearance, in language use, and in movement, then the more we will know about who to move toward and who to avoid. Our schools teach us to recognize patterns in all parts of life, mathematics/grammar/physics, so that we can predict where the threats and opportunities will be.

So, let’s get over this hyper-sensitivity to the concept of Profiling. It is the only efficient way to use our time, attention and resources wisely in any situation. Now, having said that, I also want to acknowledge that just because you look like you’re carrying a gun or angry at the world doesn’t mean that it’s so. So, even though I might identify you as a “likely” threat it doesn’t justify my treating you as an actual threat, convicted before found guilty. But it totally justifies me in paying closer attention to you until I’m sure that you’re not a threat.

The essence of intelligence is making distinctions, noticing more. So let’s encourage our security personnel, our law enforcement officers, our military and even each other to use our Profiling skills to the optimum, while remembering that appearances aren’t realities. They are simply indicators of likely realities.

Every person in America is innocent until proven guilty under the law and that is how it should remain. So, if you belong to a minority that has a track record of violence or crime, then I sympathize with your dilemma, but I’m still going to be more cautious around you than I am around others. It is a reality of life that how we look and what we do sends messages to others as to what we are probably like. Our choices tell others what to expect from us.

And now I have a personal request. Last week I traveled from Barcelona to Los Angeles. In doing so I went through several security check points. One of them involved a full body pat-down, the intimate and intrusive new procedure that is getting so many people outraged. Well, count me among them. If I had behaved in a threatening way, shown any evidence of belligerence or threat then I’d say, check me out thoroughly. But since I was randomly selected without the use of intelligent Profiling, then give me the treatment that is justified based upon my appearance, credentials and behavior. As a multi-million-mile frequent traveler on multiple airlines with plenty of credentials to identify myself, I think that less groping is needed to eliminate me as a threat. Let’s change the policies that our TSA officers have to follow. Let them single out the likely threats and treat the rest of us with a bit more dignity and respect. It will save them time and keep us safe.

Notice more.

by Jim Cathcart, Motivation Expert

Here are some quotes that you are welcome to use in your own publications. All we request is that you clearly show your source (Jim Cathcart) and, when appropriate, you provide a link to our website: http://Cathcart.com. We hope you enjoy them.

HERE ARE SOME QUOTES FROM JIM CATHCART THAT YOU ARE WELCOME TO SHARE:

Cathcart on Relationship Intelligence®:

“The more intelligently you choose, create and grow the right relationships the greater your success will be. Relationship Intelligence® will have more impact on your life that IQ or even EQ.”

Cathcart on Embracing Change:

“Change comes from you or to you. Either way, your business doesn’t advance until you do. Learn to re-examine your thinking, your skills and your goals every day. Become the person who would attract the results you seek.”

Cathcart on Intelligent Motivation:

“Self motivation means getting yourself to do what needs to be done whether you feel like it or not. That is what separates  the achievers from the followers.”

Cathcart on High-Value Relationships:

“Your life is a series of relationships. The higher the percentage of High-Value Relationships, the greater your prospects for success. Turn each of your relationships into a High-Value Relationship.”

Cathcart on Strategy:

“To embrace change and sustain growth, people require the right: Mindset, Skillsets and Systems.

All of these must grow from the Strategic Purpose of the organization.”

Cathcart on Leadership:

“If you can’t lead yourself, you are not ready to lead others. All leadership must begin with self leadership.”

Cathcart on Public Speaking

“In speaking it is not the speaker, the presentation nor the message that matters most.

What matters most is: The Value The Audience Will Get By Listening To And Applying Your Message”

Cathcart on Sales & Service:

“The purpose of selling is to build profitable relationships. Without relationships there are only transactions and every day is just as hard as the one before it. With stronger sales relationships every day will be easier, more profitable and more fun!”

Cathcart on Growth:

“Nature never stands still, Neither can a business. A business is a living system. We must continually grow as people, as an organization and in our capacity to serve our constituents. When we stop growing we start to rot.”

Cathcart on Customer Loyalty:

“Customer loyalty is something you should Give rather than merely seek to recieve. It is best earned by staying loyal to your customers over time even when they don’t seem loyal to you. Then they always feel connected with you.”

If you’d like a weekly idea or audio clip with ideas like these, simply sign up for The Acorn E-Letter at this link: http://cathcart.com/acorn-e-letter/

by Jim Cathcart

All this week I’ll be guest hosting a local radio show, The Business of Life on KKZZ AM1400 in Ventura, California. This “drive-time” show belongs to Coach Ron Tunick and I’m guest hosting while he’s on vacation. You can tune in online if you are not in the area. It’s from 4pm to 6pm Pacific time and here’s the link.

The Business of Life with guest host Jim Cathcart

There is an exciting line-up of guests joining me this week.

Dr. Terry Paulson, author of The Optimism Advantage

Dr. Nido Qubein, Chairman of Great Harvest Bread & President of High Point University

Dr. Tony Alessandra, author of The Platinum Rule, Chairman of Online Assessment Center

Tony Hseih, CEO of Zappos

Nance Guilmartin, author of The Power of Pause & Healing Conversations

Jason Vanderpal, product manager for Guitar Center, former GM of Hollywood Guitar Center

Mark Sanborn, author of The Encore Effect, The Fred Factor & It Doesn’t Take A Title To Be A Leader

And, a surprise guest who called in and then agreed to stay for the hour, Scott McKain! Author of All Business is Show Business and The Collapse of Distinction.

This is “Life Skills Week” and we will be talking about specific things you can do to make your life more rewarding and productive. Please call in and listen with friends!

And when Coach gets back on June 14th, I’ll be interviewing Darren Hardy, publisher of SUCCESS magazine. Darren’s new book The Compound Effect will be the focus of our interview. Tune in!