Date | Topic |
Lesson 1 | About the Course & Instructor Expectations Selecting Speaking topics– What’s relevant? What interests you? What are you passionate about? Topics that you connect with on a visceral level are the ones you can best present. |
Lesson 2 | Develop your area of expertise-Once you’ve settled on a field of interest, take the time to learn all there is to know about the subjects you’ve chosen. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel so, do your research thoroughly. |
Lesson 3 | Create Speech Titles-What catches your eye and grabs your attention? If a topic heading doesn’t make you take a second glance, your public won’t be interested either. Think about how news items are identified. Television and print news are good sources to determine how your speech titles can grab the public’s attention. |
Lesson 4 | Check out your competition-You want to become a motivational speaker because you’ve seen and heard others do it at a Masters’ level. Study them, don’t copy them. Learn how they do what they do and why they do it the way they do. |
Lesson 5 | Identify your benefits-Why should someone listen to what you have to say on any given topic? What level of mastery do you bring to the field? Of all the countless speakers on the scene, what are you bringing to the table that’s different? |
Lesson 6 | Know your target audience-Demographics are key. Knowing who you’re talking to, their interests like dislikes, who they are. Knowing these key elements is the most critical information you can have. |
Lesson 7 | Speaking Skills– Seven critical points targeting Motivational speaking success- Purpose-Plan-Principles- Platform-Product-Price-Profit |
Lesson 8 | Traits of a Good Speaker-Presentation, knowledgebase, familiarity with the audience. Each one of these elements must be mastered if you’re going to be a Good Public Speaker. |
Lesson 9 | How to Improve your skills– Practice, practice, practice. We call it “getting your reps in.” Watch your tape, be critical of your performance. Allow others to critique you and never get comfortable. Stay in front of the crown to become accustomed to the feeling. Stay focused no matter what. If you can’t speak off the cuff, extemporaneously, don’t do it until you’re comfortable enough in your skillset to start branching out. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will your motivational career. |
Lesson 10 | Who hires speakers?-Corporations, Government/Military, Non-Profit organizations, Church and, faith-based organizations, Colleges, and Universities, Education centers(K-12) The key to success is learning yours and getting connected to it. |
Lesson 11 | A Potential Employer’s Greatest Fear– What do you think that is? Not getting their money’s worth. Employers connect with you because they’re looking to increase their bottom line. The worst thing you can do is under-deliver and leave them the same way you found them. Make an impact that can be felt in the atmosphere and on the bottom line. |
Lesson 12 | Producing demo material– Your introduction to a prospective employer is the first and only chance you have to make a lasting impression. Having a professional demo to present vs. one shot in your car, in the bathroom, or even in your bedroom mirror can be the difference between a paid engagement and a pass. |
Lesson 13 | Preparing proposals & Rates of Pay– Pay scales are based on several factors. The most common is the market you’re seeking to enter, what it can support, your experience, the quality of your marketing materials, any expertise you have in the way of degrees, certificates or, recognized content you have created for the field, and finally, whether you are considered an authority in the field through television/radio appearances, authored material relevant to the field. Your proposal should take each of these points into consideration when approaching your client with your preferred rate of pay. |
Lesson 14 | Types of Employers- Each category listed has a dedicated R&D team dedicated to finding ways to motivate their teams. Those R&D team members use every medium available to them to secure the appropriate individuals/organizations tasked with increasing productivity. The various avenues they pursue to fill these goals are your products, testimonials, recommendations, referrals, following up, social media, the work of your agent, or a speaker’s bureau. |
Lesson 15 | Being Successful on the job- What else can I do?- Speak wherever and whenever you can.-Churches, synagogues, mosques, sporting events, schools, juvenile detention centers. Anywhere and everywhere. Don’t be afraid to speak for free. Establishing a name for yourself in this space is essential. |
Lesson 16 | Sell Products– To sell products, you need to have a marketing plan in place that includes branding. Designing a logo that encapsulates everything, there is to know about who you are and what you do is the second most crucial focus point after skillset. |
Graduation | Dr. Eric Thomas will deliver the keynote speech at your graduation. You can invite all of your friends and family to this online virtual graduation. |
