Speaker - September 2010

Contributing writer Jake Poinier recently executed a reinvention of sorts, launching a Dear Abby-style advice column for creative freelancers at DearDrFreelance.com.

6 Rules of Reinvention 1;Reinvent;yourself;before;it;becomes;necessary.;If;you;wait;until;your career;is;gasping;for;air,;you;will;play;catch-up;amid;a;field;of;cut- ting-edge;experts.
2;Regularly;ask;yourself, “Am;I;still;relevant;to;my;clients;and;cus- tomers?” The;game;has;changed.;In;the;old;days,;you;could;make;a
good;living;being;an;average;speaker;spouting;platitudes. Today,;if
you;aren’t;offering;quantifiable;return-on-investment;and;original
thoughts/answers,;the;client;won’t;hire;you.
3 Never;chase;what;you;think;are;the;“hot;topics.”;Fads;don’t;build;a long-term;career,;but;tapping;into;your;deepest;passion;does.;If;you
try;to;be;an;expert;in;a;field;you;don’t;care;about,;your;performance
will;come;off;inauthentic;and;contrived,;and;you;will;wonder;why
lesser;speakers;are;getting;more;work.
4 Understand;the;impact;of;the;reality;TV;trend.;Meeting;planners in;their;20s;and;30s;grew;up;on;reality;TV,;and;they;expect;you;to
be;you.;Don’t;be;perfect.;Be;emotional;and;give;something;from
your;heart,;not;just;from;the;page.;That’s;a;reinvention;that;any
speaker;can;do.
5 Don’t;force;the;creation;of;a;reinvented;“brand”;or;“character.” The audience;members;always;will;determine;that;for;you—and;you
may;be;surprised;with;what;they;decide;is;your;brand.

Consider;the;famous;catchphrases;and;identifiers
of;these;celebrities:
•;Joan;Rivers: “Can;we;talk?”
•;Rodney;Dangerfield: “I;don’t;get;no;respect.”
•;Dana;Carvey: “Isn’t;that;special?

•;Lewis;Black’s;angry;guy;character
•;Larry;Winget’s;“Pitbull;of;Personal;Development”;character
6 There;are;some;traits;that;you;shouldn’t;reinvent.;Don’t;reinvent;your fundamental;talents.;Keep;building;on;your;bank;of;subject;knowl-
edge.;Continue;to;exploit;your;best;skills.;You’ll;need;that;broad
foundation,;regardless;of;what;topic;or;format;you;decide;to;reinvent.