Intending to lead seminars - public speaking

[StevenAitchison]

My goal for 2007 is to start to write a course on personal development and blogging and deliever it in a 4 hour seminar format.

I am great with all my goals and achieve them with ease but i just can't get past this one. I intend it, visualise it and can see it I just start to lose confidence when I picture myself standing up there and giving a four hour seminar.

I am deeply passionate about personal development.

I think the problem may be I have never had much experience in public speaking, however strangely I feel confident. Another problem is I think my voice is not suited to public speaking, sounds strange but i can't get past it at the moment.

Any thoughts, Ideas?

[Erin Pavlina]

Toastmasters!

Welcome to Toastmasters International where we are"Making Effective Communication a Worldwide Reality"

Find a club near you and check them out. You can attend as a guest to find the club that you like best.

I joined Toastmasters earlier this spring and am enjoying it immensely and learning so much about public speaking. I used to fear it and now I don't. I still don't love it, but I'm getting there and at least I"m past the fear.

[Joel Chue]

Nice nice.

Toastmaster is a great way to start.

4 hours of presentation!!! I think you need to
develop advanced memory techniques as well.
To make the speech flow and not memorized
it word for word.

I be joining Toastmaster next semester in
my university as well.

I joined Toastmasters earlier this spring and am enjoying it immensely and learning so much about public speaking. I used to fear it and now I don't. I still don't love it, but I'm getting there and at least I"m past the fear.

Erin has just given me greater expectations to start Toastmaster right NOW!

[Jill]

Perhaps you should start smaller, and try a 45 min. presentation first?

[Dating Specialist]

How about getting a voice coach for your voice projection too?

Toastmasters is certainly the place to go for public-speaking!

[stephencp]

"My goal for 2007 is to start to write a course on personal development and blogging and deliever it in a 4 hour seminar format."

While unstated, it appears that you goal includes delivering it in a 4 four seminar format to an audience (as opposed to say delivering it online as streaming video, making DVDs, etc) and this is giving you a concern. How about delivering a seminar to one person first? Then two, three, etc.

Stephen
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[StevenAitchison]

Erin/Joel - thanks for the info on Toastmasters, I had the impression they were an American organisation however I have since found out there is one in Glasgow. I have spoken to the person who runs it and I will be starting next year. thanks.

Jill - I did think about this, still deciding.

DS - thanks for the tip, I am now hoping Toastmasters will help to develop this.

Stephencp - I have to admit to not thinking about that one and it was one of those moments you say 'why didn't I think of that' thanks.

[Palmari]

Hi, my name is Chris Lyons. I am a personal development speaker and fitness professional. I am up and coming in the speaking side of things but have learned alot in the short time I have been doing it. I guess the major number one point I could give from experience is: Do not speak from memory and do not worry about content because it just won't happen. You need to know your intention for each section in the seminar and tell stories to mark certain points, use metaphors and generally create a flowing discussion based on what message you intend to give, not the words you want to say.

Also, voice doesn't mean anything in seminars, Tony Robbins hazs a horrible voice but is one of the world's best speakers. As long as you engage people with humour, inspirational stories and point grabbing metaphors and have people interact and become part of the experience and not just subjects, they will forget your dentist drill voice and become your raving fans. I would focus more on the hard part, getting seats filled.

If anyone wants to know more about a program I am creating called super human, I would love to discuss it.

PS. Try joining a stand up comedy club or taking a class in stand up. This promotes on the spot wittiness when speaking and humor needs to be a part of every public speaking event.

Cheers.