Speaker - April 2007

CALENDAR
2007
National Speakers Association of South
Africa 2nd International Convention

April 20–22

Sandton (near Johannesburg), South Africa

NSA Innovation Lab
May 4–6

NSA Headquarters
Tempe, Arizona
International Federation for Professional
Speakers Global Summit
June 2– 6
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2007 NSA Convention
July 9–12
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
San Diego, California
German Speakers Association
International Convention
September 7–8
Munich, Germany
2008

2008 Winter Meeting

Feb. 14–17

San Francisco Airport Marriott San Francisco, California

2008 NSA Convention

Aug. 2– 5

Marriott Marquis New York New York, New York

2009
2009 NSA Convention

July 18–21

JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa

Phoenix, Arizona

2010
2010 NSA Convention

July 17–20

Orlando World Center Marriott Orlando, Florida

For more information on any NSA event, call (480) 968-2552 or go to www.nsaspeaker.org.

Details for International Federation for Professional Speaker (IFFPS) events may be accessed through the Web site at www.IFFPS.org.

4

Isn’t spring a great time to rejuvenate your business and create new beginnings? One way to put passion back into your business is to take a look at your work surroundings. Feng shui teaches us that office clutter disrupts the flow of positive energy. Get rid of the clutter to clarify the mind.

Speaking of new beginnings, are you reaching your business goals and New Year’s resolutions? The ideas shared this year have been abundant, but only you can turn that information into bottom-line results. If you are not as far along as you expected, forgive yourself and find an accountability partner—someone who will push you to be the extraordinary person you are.

Many times we know exactly what to do, and still don’t do it. Perhaps these words from Marianne Williamson will help…

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel unsure around you. As we let our own Light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

Our Light emanates from our Soul. Our Soul is what makes the Substance we share on the platform resonate with our audiences. It all starts with passion.

Welcome Home!

Lenora Billings-Harris, CSP 2006–07 NSA President

The theme for this issue, Putting Passion Back into Your Business, was selected more than a year ago. I had no idea then that this theme would be one I would personally need to pay attention to.

Last October I celebrated 15 years of being in business. And it’s been a great ride—if you like roller coasters. Admittedly, after 15 years I had become pretty good at managing the ups and downs of the speaking profession. So during the last six months I’ve been restless; I’ve been a little bored. A few weeks ago I realized I have been going through the motions but not really feeling passionate about my business.

The articles in this issue have given me just the push I needed to evaluate my goals, reconsider my approach to the business, update my content, and reconfigure both my business and my life. I hope it does the same for you!

April is our third issue of the new Speaker magazine. Let us know what you think about both the design and the content. Especially let us know what topics you’d like to see in future magazines. E-mail your comments to tracy@tracybrown.com and tell us what you like—and don’t like—about the changes we’ve been making.