When Sheryl Sandberg talked about the “impostor syndrome” in Lean In, she brought into mainstream discourse a condition most of us have experienced even if we didn’t previously have a name for it. In the last 5 years since Sandberg’s book, there have been hundreds of articles, books, podcasts, training programs, etc. discussing the prevalence of high achieving women (and …
Please put a mic in your hand
If we are Facebook friends, you may have seen me share last week that after her first Shakespeare in the Park experience, my daughter has become a HUGE fan of the Bard. Daily she asks to watch Shakespearean movies on TV, she prays for me to take her to see more Shakespeare and has even started rubbing her hands and …
Getting Booked to Speak, My Melinda Gates Moment and a FREE Master Class Invite
“It doesn’t have to be hard.” I uttered these words at least half a dozen times to the women who participated in my The Spotlight MasterTreat last weekend. From designing a profitable speaking funnel to integrating one’s stories with her “idea worth spreading” to crafting her speaking pitches, the 19 women did some divine work as they reprogrammed their mindset …
I spoke at the United Nations! (and why cultural understanding matters when speaking)
As many of you saw on Facebook, I had the extraordinary privilege of delivering a talk, “The missing ingredient in most women’s leadership programs,” at the United Nations last week – in conjunction with the Commission on the Status of Women. I’ve been asked by many of you how this opportunity emerged, and while I’ve never been one to “kiss …
My #1 strategy for making speaking profitable (plus LIVE virtual Master Class invitation)
One of the top questions I’m asked by people who are looking to start or scale their speaking is, “What’s a ‘typical’ speaking fee?” While one of the things I know for sure about the speaking industry is that very few things about it are typical, a keynote for a corporation, conference or college can earn a speaker without a …
Haters, Copycats and Raving Fans (why they have everything and nothing to do with you)
I’m finally experiencing the post-launch afterglow I’ve heard online business friends and colleagues mention which has thus far eluded me. My insides feel as soft and fluffy as marshmallows. I wake up and my first thought is, “thank you,” rather than, “What do I need to attend to first?” I laugh and cuddle with my family during non-work hours without …
The anatomy of a soul-stirring spotlight talk
One of the many things that TED and TEDx curators say is that there is NOT a formula for a TED-style talk. To quote Chris Anderson, TED’s main curator, “There is no single formula to giving a TED Talk. Indeed, the most annoying talks of all are those that seem to think there is.” So am I going to (or …
New Year, New Speaking Opportunities (time sensitive opportunity)
Whether you are “heck yeah” or a bit of a “heck maybe” about the start of another year, I know from experiencing years that went way better than planned (as well as from surviving those that drained me like the seasonal flu) that one chief factor that influenced the outcome was my network. Yes, having a clear vision was important. …
Conquer Speaking in 2016: My Interview with Natalie MacNeil
I’m excited to share with you one of my FAVORITE new resources for speaking success. It’s called The Conquer Kit, and it’s inked by Natalie MacNeil, an Emmy Award-winning media producer, Founder of SheTakesOnTheWorld.com (recognized by Forbes as one of the “Top 100 Websites for Women”), and creator of the yearlong women’s business incubator, The Conquer Club. I’ve started coaching …
Let’s Talk About What Happens at TED!
My head is think-y and my heart is happy as I reflect on my time in Geneva for TEDGlobal. From spending half a day with Melissa Fleming, head of communications for the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees (and hearing Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, be interviewed), to sharing a drink with Bruno Giussani (the curator for TEDGlobal) …