Avenues of Public Speaking, Challenges Speakers Face, and How We Show Up Consistently as our Brand

Branded

Welcome back to Branded: your comprehensive guide to creative branding. We just returned from Speakonomics in Dallas, so today we wanted to focus a little bit on public speaking. There are different ways to be a speaker, and we both see ourselves more as presenters and facilitators than speakers, which we'll explore further. We also discuss forced vulnerability and the disconnect that comes from trying to tie an emotional story to a message that really doesn't align. In an act of true vulnerability, Larry shares his own experience of giving two different presentations just hours after saying his final goodbye to his beloved dog, Buddy. He talks about how his commitment to his brand had to come first in order to follow through on the promise his brand stands for. Of course, this episode is dedicated to Buddy and we hope his tail is wagging as he chases squirrels across the Rainbow Bridge. Key takeaways: 1. Impact of Speaking Engagements on Branding: Larry emphasizes the importance of speaking engagements as a tool for building your brand and enhancing credibility. He discusses how speaking can position you as a thought leader and is sometimes a "necessary evil" for reinforcing a brand's authority. 2. Differences in Public Speaking Styles: Sara shares insights on the differing challenges and opportunities between motivational speaking versus educational speaking. She observes that motivational speaking often involves more difficulty in securing stages compared to educational speaking, where content expertise leads to opportunities. 3. The Value of Storytelling in Speeches: Both hosts discuss how powerful personal stories can positively or negatively impact a speech. They note the importance of ensuring personal stories are relevant and well-integrated into the speech’s main objective to avoid it feeling like "forced vulnerability." 4. Strategic Approach to Speaking: Larry advocates starting your speaking career as a facilitator or educator, which can be more straightforward and less intimidating. He also stresses the importance of being specific about the message and target audience when pitching for speaking slots. 5. Resilience and Commitment to the Brand: Larry shares a personal story about dealing with a profound personal loss on the day of a major speaking engagement. He illustrates his commitment to his professional responsibilities and the integrity of his brand, highlighting how crucial it is to fulfill commitments and maintain professionalism, regardless of personal challenges. [embed]https://youtu.be/TZHQ6iTN0iQ[/embed]