$25,000 for 5,000

Visualize along with me. You peek out from behind the stage curtain. You see people making their way to their seats in anticipation of your presentation. You are the Keynote Speaker for the evening session. The auditorium has capacity for over 5000 people and it is sold out. The audience is comprised of business owners looking for keys to success, sales tips, organization and marketing techniques and your about to take stage and speak.

You think back 2 weeks ago.......

The Event Coordinator called you and asked you to speak with 5000 Business Owners at their upcoming convention. These Business Owners are looking for a new direction and significant education to take their business to the next level. They have paid $50.00 per seat. Then the Event Coordinator asks you: “Do you have the talent and skill to do this and what is your fee requirements?

What would your answer have been? Let me give one. “ I am absolutely confident that I will meet and exceed your expectations for your guests. You and I will work on a fact finder survey for the audience so we pin point their exact needs and expectations. I will make sure they leave with meaningful and significant information……. my fee is $25,000 paid in full prior to the presentation plus travel, food, lodging and car service. I will overnight the contract to you please sign and send it back with a 50% deposit and travel arrangements. I will look forward to meeting you.

Let’s end the visualization right here.

What did you think of that mind ride?  

What if it was really you in the conversation with the Event Coordinator could you have closed the deal? How many conversations since the beginning of this year have you had with prospects to pitch yourself for a speaking engagement, one, five or ten? What does your prospecting report card of effort look like for this month an A+ or a D?

We are in the month of January 2015. When is your first paid speaking event scheduled for? Actually, I hope you have already had one. What is on the slate for February? What content are focusing on? What new material have you created? What is your niche market your seeking? Do you have the proper materials to support your presentation, one sheet, business cards and web-site? Have you created your prospect list of a targeted businesses to call? What does your Facebook page look like? What speaking organizations do you belong to? Again, what is your plan?

Your next paid speech is just around the corner. It may not be $25,000, what if it were $1000.00 and it was scheduled for next month. This is doable. You have to work hard at this day by day. It's not always easy…but it is worth it. If you have skill you need to step out and get it done. 

Write me about your success story. Have a great month.

John 

John P. Slosek, Jr. 

30 years as a Sales Professional and Insurance Agency Owner. He is currently an Exclusive Agency Owner for Allstate in Chicopee, Massachusetts. (413-331-3900) johnslosekjr@allstate.com.

He is also the host of the "Insurance Coach Radio Show" which has been continuously running for 13 years. His efforts are directed to promote personal change. The show steers towards personal growth and common sense education for his listeners.His personal email:  Insurancecoach@aol.com.                                    
The show can be heard every Saturday morning at 8 am on WARE 1250 AM or
 www.realoldies1250.net. John is also a Certified Speaker in the area of Sales, Personal Growth, Marketing, Leadership Skills, and Entrepreneurship. He is available by direct contact (413) 246-5037(text). Just in case the speaker you hired cancels, he will make himself available for last minute cancellations for your company or event. John is also licensed to teach John Maxwell material and multi-level marketing concepts.

Gamble with a Better Business Card

Many of us are on the never ending journey of self-improvement. We are constantly striving to become better at our craft, looking for ways to improve our productivity, increase business and grow as human beings. As part of this journey we come into contact with people who are brilliant teachers with the ability to empower us to think and act differently. Recently , I was fortunate enough to attend a one-day workshop given by serial entrepreneur, author and educator Peter Shankman. Peter is probably most known for founding HARO, Help a Reporter Out, a popular resource for journalists , which he started in 2007 and later sold to VOCUS in 2010. He is also a public relations maven and the author of four books.

Mr. Shankman's SHANKMINDS classes have been taught across the country and involve a day long business mastermind group led by him that focuses on growing your business and increasing your revenue. These small groups, a maximum of 30 people, are broken up into tables that are arranged by Peter to place different experts from different industries together to allow the members of each mastermind group to provide each other with a variety of ideas on how you can grow your business and arrive at a solution for the most pressing business problem that you have presented to the group.

The ideas, comments and suggestions that I received from my table mates were quite enlightening and caused me to have a number of paradigm shifts. The talent, experience and breath of information that I received from this collective group of experts was truly amazing. Perhaps the greatest takeaway for me came at lunch when Peter asked each of us to hold up our business card. Naturally, many of our cards were quite similar, some were different colors, a few had printed material on both sides and others had attractive images. Peter remarked that they all looked quite nice but that he had a card that was unique, that no one ever threw away, that people kept on their desk or bureau, that they kept it in their pockets, that they were unable to put in a Rolodex , photocopy or place into a computer program. I wondered what it could be?

He then held up his card. A two-sided poker chip with printed information on each side. The chip had the weight and quality of an actual casino poker chip. It made a nice sound when clinging against another chip. It was unique and yes, I would not throw it out but leave it on my desk or  bureau or perhaps keep in my pocket. The uniqueness of this business announcement was so striking that I immediately went out, designed and ordered these marketing marvels for my law office. I began passing them out to friends, people that I do business with, family members and business associates.

I am constantly told about how unique this offering is and how easy it would be to pass it on to someone who might need my services. I share this information with you because, in our busness we can profit from differentiating what we do. What do we do better or differently than our competition? What is our unique selling proposition? How can we stand out from the crowd? I would suggest to you that a poker chip business card is one way to get the attention of people that you meet in any type of new networking opportunity. Differentiate yourself, be unique and stand out from the crowd!

And when you get a chance, visit Peter Shankman's website, www.shankminds.com, and sign up for his next mastermind group. The information  you will receive from other like-minded individuals who are always looking to improve what they do and how they do it can certainly bring you to the next level.