News from NSA Virginia

The Communicator

A Newsletter for Members of NSA-VA

October 2011

In This Issue

October Meeting

ProTrack Update

What's So Great About NSA National?

Tools of the Trade

Learning to Speak Well

Save the Date!

Board Members

Quick Links

Register Now for Oct. Meeting

More About Us

Newsletter Coordinator:

Joan Bowling

We appreciate any comments, article submissions and other ideas.

Happy Fall, NSA-Virginia!

Colleen The weather has moved beyond hurricanes to the changing of the leaves. The air is crisp and clear, and our Chapter-season is in full swing.

On September 30, Jay Speyerer, Immediate Past President of NSA-Pittsburgh, presented an informative session on "Writing for the Page and Stage." Participants, as always, went home with practical tips to apply to their works in progress.

We also introduced a slew of new and returning members and affiliates; Ron Chapman led us in an exercise to introduce the 2011-12 ProTrack session, and Mary Foley conjured Mae West's memory to get everyone excited about our parent National Speakers Association.

Up next: Michel Neray (www.essentialmessage.com). This program is a not-to-be-missed event! Not only are we importing Michel from Canada, but I've had the privilege of working the process he's bringing to the Chapter.

You know when you attend a networking event and they say, "Stand up and tell us in 30 seconds what you do!", and people always take a few minutes? Well Michel has a method called "The Essential Message" that will help you define "What you do" AND how to say it in 30 seconds. I encourage you to go to his website and check the clips for yourself! You will not be disappointed.

Also, the Chapter's itinerary is on our website so you can fill in your calendars and register early. We have an exciting season ahead... see you October 28!

Coleen Kenny

President, NSA-Virginia

What's Your Problem?

Your ability to stand out in the market and charge higher fees is directly related to the unique problem you solve. Take a giant step toward discovering your unique, differentiating problem using The Essential Message approach with Michel Neray.

If you solve big problems, you have high value; little problems, low value. But if the problem you claim to solve is that same problem everyone else in your field claims to solve, you're not doing anything to differentiate yourself -- and you're the one with a problem - a positioning problem.

The Essential Message approach is all about discovering the problems and challenges you are uniquely qualified to solve and passionately driven to solve. The result is a stronger differentiation and a higher value positioning in the market.

Michel's 'Meet the Pros' session at NSA last year in Orlando was attended by a new NSA member as well as by an established speaker who was on main stage at NSA three years ago. Both found the first round so valuable, they stayed for the second round. (And they weren't the only ones!) This is a customized program that Michel has put together for NSA chapters. You will learn:

the difference between category challenges and differentiating challenges
how to identify the unique challenge you solve
how to engage potential clients in conversation about what you do
the 5 layers of differentiation - the deepest layer is where you dig out your best signature stories

Click here to register now and learn more about our speaker.

Notable Quotable:

0.7005649717514124 The question from the platform for our October featured speaker is "How do you engage your customers in a conversation about what you do?" It's all about branding.

Janice Luvera - Director of Global Branding for Genworth says, "In today's world, companies need to earn respect from their audience. The question is - How can you make your brand relevant to them? You do this by "demonstrating how you're great" in the marketplace. In sharing stories, you help others find themselves in your products or service."

ProTrackers Getting on Track

The ProTrack class of 2011-2012 is off to a great start. The class kicked off the year with their first session on September 30. The participants have a good mix of speaking experience levels and a variety of business backgrounds. The industries represented include financial management, real estate, fire and rescue, nursing, career military, marketing, and public speaking skills.

We developed some expectations for the course and identified everyone's topic for the speaking. Each person was video recorded and will review their topic statements as homework. We are using Marc LeBlanc's book, Growing Your Business, as a guide to producing a good defining statement. They also will be able to work with their mentor to test their ideas for improvement.

In our next session, Gloria Thomas will work with the class to dig deeper into their expertise and continue to refine their topics. This will be the foundation of developing their keynote presentations that will be delivered at the Idol Competition in June.

When you get the chance, be sure to say hi to the class members ask how they are doing. With everyone's support, they will achieve the same success as past class participants. The candidates are: Michelle Barry Frano, Lori Hobson, Richard Jefferies, Steven Kirkpatrick, Susan Kirkpatrick, David Miles, Jayme Miles, and Barb Upchurch.

What's So Great About NSA National?

Submitted by Mary Foley

Remember who said these often quoted lines "Come up and see me sometime" or "Too much of a good thing can be wonderful"? The infamous old Hollywood star Mae West!

Recently I read a bio about Mae West by Charlotte Chandler titled She Always Knew How. I wanted to understand what made this unforgettable woman tick and what could I learn from her. One thing that stuck out: West was a writer, performer, and producer - the same qualities September's NSA VA speaker Bill Stainton emphasized about being a speaker who truly stands out. In fact, most of the lines by West that we remember were written by her, set up on stage or the camera just so, and delivered with an emphasis that added another layer of meaning. The only problem with learning more from Mae West is that she's no longer around! We can't listen to recent interviews or get her take on what to do in today's economy.

That's what so great about NSA national's Voices of Experience (VOE) monthly CD! It's included with your subscription to NSA's SPEAKER magazine, which you receive as a National member benefit or you can subscribe for $49 a year. The VOE CD is chock full of short but powerful segments and interviews by successful speakers who openly share their stories, their lessons learned, and their ideas for the platform, as well as your business. Whenever it arrives in the mail it's the first thing I want to listen to and absorb. It's that good!

Even better news? You can access VOE recordings online for FREE! Just click here and then click on VOE Podcast or download via iTunes. The quality is professional, the content is outstanding, and the ideas - whoa! If you only took one idea and really worked it into your speaking business for 30 days, the results could be amazing. Mae West would be proud!

Tools of the Trade

What are the newest and latest electronic tools to help the professional speaker on the road? NSA National Voices of Experience pros offer some tips.

www.evernote.com - As they say on their website - remember everything! Save your ideas, things you like, things you hear, and things you see. Access anywhere and find things fast.

www.eyejot.com - Eyejot is the first, comprehensive, client-free online video messaging platform ideal for both personal and business communications. It offers everyone the ability to create and receive video messages in a self-contained, spam-free environment. You can start using Eyejot immediately with any browser, on any platform.

www.clear.com - Tired of paying expensive hotel fees to connect to the world wide web? Try clear wireless. CLEAR has take-it-with-you internet devices designed to fit your on-the-go lifestyle.

Learning to Speak Well Can Have Its Just Rewards

By Dick Olenych

Earlier this year, I stood in front of a group of people and talked about marketing. At one point, I rolled my pant leg up to my knee and showed a little

flesh. I may be biased, but I think that was the high point of the twohour training

session.

The truth is, any time I can get in front of a group of a people and the paramedics aren't called, I've had a good day. I love getting in front of a crowd. It's a thrill. Even if it's just for a few minutes, I crave the spotlight. Let me confess

though, I was not born a good speaker. I was petrified in front of a crowd. I hated it. My "Summer Vacation" reports were stuttering, trembling disasters.

I have heard that there are no boring topics, only boring speakers. Today I

truly do believe that. Personally, I gravitate to great speakers.