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Dear friend,
Do you feel like – even though you know your material well – your message is still not resonating 
with or intriguing your audiences? Do they seem like they just don’t get it?
Do you wonder why people heartily applaud at the end and maybe even come shake your hand, but you never hear from them again? Do you wonder why they’re not inspired to follow up with you?
Do you secretly feel, deep down, that no one really wants to hear what you have to say? That you have nothing special to offer, and that you’re really no different than the next person with a similar message?
Do you secretly feel, deep down, that if you could just break free from your doubts and fears (of being judged, of looking foolish, of taking a risk that fails), that you could really NAIL this speaking thing?
Here’s the good news: There’s one missing element that can turn this all around.
This one missing element is the difference between a speaker who commands the room and a speaker who’s forgotten the next day.
It’s the difference between a speaker who stands out and a speaker who’s hiding in plain sight.
Wanna know what it is?
It’s CONNECTION.
Sound too easy?
Picture this:
You walk into the speaking venue. Maybe it’s an industry conference, maybe it’s a board room, maybe it’s a lunch-and-learn. You’ve already met some of the people in the room. You feel like a million bucks, greeting the audience members as they arrive, smiling and chatting, more like a host than a guest.
When it’s time to speak, you walk to the front of the room feeling powerful and invincible. Your energy soars. You toss that energy to the audience, and they give it right back to you, through their body language, their facial expressions, their questions and their engagement.
You feel completely FREE onstage. You feel relaxed and energized – at the same time. Your mind is clear and sharp. Your body moves with grace and purpose. There’s no stiffness or awkwardness. The words coming out of your mouth are articulate and flowing.
You’re in the moment, in your body, poised, present, and you own the room. Not only do you own the room, but you feel connected with every person in the room. You feel filled with love and gratitude for their participation, their engagement, and their openness to taking this journey with you.
You NAIL it.
That’s how it feels to connect and engage with the audience.
Is that what you’re experiencing right now in your speaking engagements?
Now, let me be honest. Not every speaking engagement is going to look like this. We all have our “off” days.
Like the time I was the last speaker in a long day of training, where the speaker before me ran long, in a room that was overheated. The audience could barely keep their eyes open.
Or the time when I had a 104-degree fever and tried to call in sick, except that the teacher whose class I was presenting in was also absent, and the substitute had nothing prepared. And, her classroom was under construction, so the class was being held in the cafeteria. Ugh.
So let’s just cross these off as the occasional circumstance that’s necessary if you’re a frequent speaker who’s going to learn to roll with the punches!
But what if…
What if – on your “on” days – you were actually 
influencing your audience to change their thoughts, attitudes and behaviors?
What if you could command the room with your presence and feel that sense of satisfaction and accomplishment at the end of your talk?
What if you could feel confident in any situation, with any audience, and know – deep down inside – that you were making a difference in their lives?
Because this is what it feels like and what it looks like to be a successful speaker who has credibility, gives value, makes an impact, and creates a meaningful and memorable experience for the audience.
What it’s 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
(Whew! That’s a relief. Takes some of the pressure off, yeah?)
The ability to connect with and engage your audience will make all the difference in your growth and success as a speaker – and as an entrepreneur.
Are you ready:
To get out of the rut of doing the same thing over and over but not getting
results?
To challenge what you already know and understand about public speaking and shake up your routine?
To try some new, maybe risky, ideas in the service of creating a memorable and engaging experience for your audience?
To truly embrace and celebrate your own uniqueness and bring that to every speaking engagement from here on out?
To stop “just getting through” your speaking engagements and instead start taking pride in mastery and proficiency as a speaker?
To own the stage like the awesome speaker you’re meant to be?
You probably have learned some of this already – logically and intellectually. And maybe you’ve already learned some of this from me, through a virtual class or short training. But learning it and actually implementing it are two different things.
Which is why I want to invite you to my 2 1/2-day retreat in sunny Santa Barbara (also known as The American Riviera):
Shake Up Your Speaking: Get Real… Get Results
You’ll have the opportunity to connect with your fellow frequent speakers in a small, intimate coaching group, learn and practice new skills, and get inspired to break out of your routine, up your game, cut loose, and actually have FUN when you speak (no matter the size of the audience)!
At the Shake Up Your Speaking retreat, we’ll cover both practical skills to improve your presentations, and mindset factors that are holding you back from being as effective and powerful on stage as you could be.
And, hey, we’ll have fun! Because there’s no point in doing all of this if it isn’t fun. Am I right?
What you’ll learn:
There are four main principles that every successful speaker will master, and these will be the main principles covered in the retreat:
Embracing your uniqueness:
Being real creates connection! How can you bring your unique and special qualities onto every stage with you, interacting with your audience in an authentic and honest way? Lots of speakers are afraid to do this, afraid of coming across as “unprofessional” or afraid of embarrassing themselves. Don’t let your fear of being real get in the way of authentic connection!
Preparing properly:
Sounds boring, right? But would you deliver the exact same presentation in the exact same way to an audience of farmers – and then to an audience of accountants? Unfortunately, many speakers do, and by not preparing for and tailoring your talk to your audience, you are guaranteed a major disconnect. I’ll be blunt: You are not doing everything within your power to fully prepare yourself. Let’s remedy that!
P.S. Preparation includes practice, so know that you will be standing up in front of our small, intimate group for the opportunity to practice your speaking. There’s no point in learning ABOUT speaking if you’re not going to DO speaking!
Engaging the audience:
This is critical to creating an experience that your audience will actually remember the next day, and the day after that, and maybe even months or years later – not to mention following up with you to create a business relationship. But if you leave this piece out and you choose to go old-school with a dreary lecture format (remember your boring high school geometry/history/Spanish teacher?), well, you just can’t expect to connect. And without connection, you’re doomed to giving hollow presentations that go nowhere.
Building confidence:
Let’s face it. You can “fake it till you make it” till the cows come home (and actually, I’ll show you a great tool for this at the retreat). But ultimately, you want to feel real, true confidence, deep down all the way in your gut. Right? Confidence in your message, your material, your abilities, your awesomeness as a person, and your certainty of knowing that you are bringing a new vision of the world to your audiences. This piece is about mindset, and you can expect to do some work on your mindset at this retreat.
Do you want this? Come to the retreat!
These are the four pillars of every successful presentation, and the keys to your mastery of speaking.
Join me March 21-23, 2016 at the beautiful historic Hyatt Santa Barbara, right across the street from East Beach.
Built in 1931, the Hyatt has gone by many names (originally Vista Mar Monte), but still retains its classic Spanish-style architecture and design. If you’re familiar with large corporate Hyatt resorts, you’ll find this one to be a sweet, intimate, Santa Barbara-style surprise!
Our tentative schedule
Sunday, March 20:
Pre-event cocktails and meet ‘n’ greet (Pick up your goody bags!)
Monday, March 21:
8-8:30: Morning warmup/yoga for early risers! (optional)
9:00-9:30: Coffee and tea at morning sign-in
9:00-12:00: Group training session (with snack break!)
12:00-1:00: Lunch provided on site – we’ve got a lovely private patio with a view of the beach across the street. I won’t tell anyone if you decide to sneak away and bury your toes in the sand…
1:00-5:30: Group training continues (with snack break!)
5:30: Dinner on your own. Explore Santa Barbara’s fresh bounty at one of our many delicious local restaurants. Everything is a walk, a beachfront shuttle or an Uber ride away!
After dinner: You’ll have some light homework, but you’re free to continue exploring downtown Santa Barbara, or snuggle into bed with a movie or a book! It’s your time.
Tuesday, March 22:
8-8:30: Morning warmup/yoga (optional)
9:00-9:30: Coffee and tea at morning sign-in
9:30-12:00: Group training session (with snack break!)
12:00-1:00: Lunch provided on site
1:00-5:30: Group training continues (with snack break!)
5:30: Dinner on your own. Explore Santa Barbara’s fresh bounty at one of our many delicious local restaurants. Everything is a walk, a beachfront shuttle or an Uber ride away!
7:30: Wine and cheese social hour! Meet us in the bar and enjoy some social time after all your hard work throughout the day
Wednesday, March 23:
9:00-9:30: Coffee and tea at morning sign-in
9:30-12:00: Group training session
12:00: Wrap up! Catch the Airbus back to LAX, or stick around for more Santa Barbara exploration! We’ve got museums, art galleries, food, a lovely Botanic Garden, beautiful architecture at our downtown County Courthouse, a historic California mission, and did I mention food?
Visit our Ty Warner Sea Center on Stearn’s Wharf, stop into Deep Sea for wine tasting, or have lunch at the Harbor Restaurant with a view of the harbor, the mountains, the pelicans, and all the beauty Santa Barbara has to offer.
Just imagine what your life and business will be like when you’re able to reach and connect with the people who need to hear your message.
Imagine what it’ll be like when you’re no longer indistinguishable from other speakers in your field.
Imagine what it’ll be like when you’re able to radiate confidence, fully express yourself onstage, and engage and persuade your audiences to take life-changing action.
If you’re ready to stand out and show up on stage, register below – and get ready to Shake Up Your Speaking!
Click the button to register with your special bring-a-friend rate!
Regular rate increases to $597 in February
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this retreat for?
This retreat is for frequent speakers, those who are on track to become frequent speakers, and anyone who gives regular high-stakes presentations for your job or your business.
This retreat 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!
If you’re a speaker who’s ready to achieve proficiency and mastery in speaking and you intend to regularly use the skills you learn, this retreat is for you.
By “frequent speakers” do you mean advanced or professional speakers?
This retreat is for speakers who have regular speaking engagements or would like to have regular speaking engagements, but you may not consider yourself advanced, even if you’ve been doing a lot of speaking. You might speak for your job, or you might speak to promote your own business. You do not have to a paid speaker to attend the retreat.
If you’re open and willing to learn, to try new things, and to expand your comfort zone, you are welcome.
Will you offer this program virtually?
This retreat is only offered in person. We come together, face-to-face, away from our everyday environments, specifically so we can stretch and grow. This is not a program to be consumed sitting on the couch or at your desk at home. The small group environment allows true collaboration and partnership in learning, and allows for practice and feedback in a real-life speaking environment. It also allows you to absorb and integrate your learning away from the daily distractions of life. And yes, you will be speaking in front of the group.
Will all of my fears and anxiety about speaking be resolved at this retreat?
Nope. I will never deceive you by telling you you’ll never be nervous about speaking again. Anyone who tells you that, well, they’re trying to trick you into giving them your money.
In fact, adrenaline plays an important role for speakers. We learn to manage our adrenaline and our nervousness, and to harness it as a tool, just like athletes and other performers. Honestly, at some speaking engagements, I’m not nervous at all. At others – even after earning a theater degree and spending more than 20 years in front of audiences (including some of the toughest ones you can imagine) – I still get the sweaty palms, dry mouth and pounding heart. It comes with the territory.
What I WILL teach you at this retreat is how the four pillars of speaking success will greatly reduce your nervousness and will allow you to turn your focus to the audience rather than to your own needs and feelings. You’ll learn how human connection and authenticity are far more critical for success than polish and perfection. And you’ll learn how adjusting your mindset, being real, and approaching your audiences with love and gratitude will change everything for you and make way for transformation every time you speak.
Will I learn to sell from the stage?
Before you can sell from the stage, you have to understand how to connect and engage with your audience. You cannot persuade them to take action if you’re not authentically in the moment with them. Once your mindset and your connection pieces are in place, then selling is really just about relationship. And guess what: We’re always selling! Selling ideas, selling causes, selling transformation, selling change. No matter what your topic, you’re selling from the stage right now. This retreat will get you to the emotional place you need to reach with your audience in order to be truly persuasive, but it will not include specific selling techniques.
Ready? Register now.
Regular rate increases to $597 in February
