In the past 15 days I have done 15 events. VIDEO HERE
That’s a lot to put yourself through when not every event is in the same city, state, or company.
Add to it that I took Sundays off, and had other days without a gig, and you realize I was doubling down a few times. I’d speak at 8 AM, catch a flight at 11 AM, speak that night in a different state. That’s a fair amount of work.
But let’s be honest, is what I do really work?
To be fair, compared to most people, I have what appears to be the easiest, coolest, poshest job on the planet.
And you are correct.
I LOVE doing what I do.
It’s not really work to do the stage presentation. But to have the opportunity on stage is where the work comes in. It’s in the discipline to stay relevant, to reinvent, to change course when needed and dive deep when you find something that sticks.
I used to only do events when it was for my full fee. Turning all else away in favor of both protecting my time and my voice.
However, I was finding the end product of my Speech was good, but not yet GREAT.
My Promise is to Deliver Greatness. So how do I do that when I only have a few gigs here and there to improve my craft?
And so I began a quest to accept any and every offer, for major discounts, and often free, for groups that could never afford it but wished to have it – meaning: schools, government, military, religious, charitable organizations, etc.
Thank goodness for the full paying customers who kept money rolling in, who’s fees paid for my travel to the charity event, or it would be death by charity in our family and world.
The corporate clients who pay my asking price allow me to give back to the community, in essence exponentially benefitting thousands per week when I speak for free to teachers, local service people, or youth needing the message.
God bless em, every one!
And then there are weeks where you just end up speaking everywhere all at once.
Truthfully, it’s exhausting, but there’s nothing better than being fully immersed in a “tour” where all you can focus on is getting to the event on time, keeping your shirt ironed and eyebrows at bay, and nailing the presentation.
I record every speech I give. I listen to what I just did as I drive or fly to the next one. Adjust, fix, re-work, re-word, and go again.
It is an amazing process. I am a sculptor. My audiences are liberal judges in realtime. The next audience gets something a little better than the last.
No laughs or claps yesterday in a certain spot? There will be tomorrow. Didn’t get a standing ovation? Hmmmm, I did something wrong, time to fix. Got it today! Boom!
Most speeches are met with a standing ovation and people lauding that it was better than they expected. Even that it changed the way they look at business and life! Wow! Amazing.
The Reality is better than the Commercial.
That’s good. And it’s getting GREAT.
No better way to deliver greatness than to practice, refine, and force oneself to mastery.
Malcolm Gladwell referred to it as “The 10,000 Hour Rule”, which pretty much qualifies you to play in the game. Zappos calls it “Delivering Happiness”. Legendary Performers of music and stage call it perfecting the craft from one city to the next.
What Promise do you keep in your practice to Deliver Greatness?
~ jason hewlett
Jason Hewlett, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional), CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame, is a Keynote Speaker for the largest corporate events in the world. His primary message, The Promise, is essential for Leadership, Management, Sales, Marketing, Direct-Sales Companies, and is a combination of engagement and entertainment meets inspiration. Jason has even received standing ovations from IT guys. He has been acknowledged as life-changing by Conference Attendees, C-Level Executives and Hollywood Elite. jasonhewlett.com
Please click here to learn about how Jason Hewlett, Speaker Hall of Fame, introduces the opportunity for you, or someone you love, to have the gift of learning how to create a Career From the Stage and begin moving toward fulfilling a lifelong dream as a full-time speaker, performer, or entertainer.
To hire Jason to speak at your next event, inspire and uplift, entertain and engage, please contact Karen Harris at jasonbookings@cmispeakers.com
Always learn so much from you…..and the true masters, like you, make speaking look really easy. In reality, every presentation is supported by a huge amount of practice, reflection, reworking, and thank goodness, a bit of inspiration.
You are so sweet Anne. Thank you for your kind words! Hope all is well!