Speaker - January/February 2009

realIty check
putting a fine point on the speaking industry
Global Warmth

As the sun crept up over the edge of the earth, rays of light stretched in all directions. Within a few seconds, the right wing of the 767 dipped and the jet turned, searching for a runway somewhere off in the distance.

By the time we touched down in Brussels, Belgium, the sun was fully exposed. It was a beautiful morning and a wonderful start to my trip to Birmingham, England, for the annual convention of the Professional Speakers Association (PSA) of the UK.

When I was in the fashion acces-

sory business, clients all over the country would tell me how “it was different in their market.” When I was in the window and door manufacturing business, dealers would always say, “Things are different here.” As a professional speaker traveling around the world, speakers ask, “How is it different here than in the United

States?”

While I have found that the market for professional speaking is more advanced in the United

States than it is in some other countries, speakers everywhere seem to be

am learning, growing and constantly
working on important aspects of my
business. Another fun part of travel-
ing to other national conventions is you
never know who is going to pop up. At
GSA, I hung out with Lou Heckler, CSP,
CPAE, Glenna Salsbury, CSP, CPAE,
and Al Walker, CSP, CPAE, to name a
few. I enjoyed wiener
schnitzel in Austria
with Robin Sieger of
the UK, and I lifted a
pint with W Mitchell,
CSP, CPAE, in the
UK.

Everywhere I go, I fi nd people who are passionate about speaking on their subject. And everywhere I go, I fi nd the friendliest human beings who genuinely want to learn and share.

the same. Everywhere I go, I find people who are passionate about speaking on their subject. And everywhere I go, I find the friendliest human beings who genuinely want to learn and share. Professional speakers around the world seem to have the spirit of NSA founder Cavett

This spring, you will find me in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and South Africa. Pick a country and join me. If you can’t make it happen this year, then put it on your calendar for

next year. You will discover speakers worldwide who will welcome you with open arms and generous hearts.

Robert, CSP, CPAE, genetically encoded
into their DNA. They are will-
ing to give first. They want
to work together to create
a bigger pie in a pure and
honest atmosphere of caring
and sharing.

I encourage all NSA members to travel abroad, visit another IFFPS country and attend one of its meetings, and build speaking relationships in other corners of the world. You will enrich your business, your friendships and your life.