Speaker - July/August 2011

Putting a fine point on the speaking industry
My “Top Ten” List
David Letterman has his “Top Ten” list and so do I. Here are my
top 10 insights while serving as your NSA president.

1 NEVER CHECK EMAIL AFTER DINNER or

7 p.m., whichever comes first. Even the slightest nuance, idea or member concern will rattle around in your head throughout the night.

2 IT’S THE PEOPLE. I am often asked, “What’s the best part of being president?” Hands down, it’s the people I have met.

It is the spirit of caring, sharing and the love of speaking that holds the NSA community together.

3 SPEAKING IS JUST A PART OF YOUR EXPERTISE EMPIRE. In addition to sharing their expertise and information via a keynote, general session, break-out session, training, coaching, consulting or facilitation, many speakers provide complementary products and services that allow clients to access more valuable information at their leisure and at their own pace.

Theoretically, all of your offerings should support your expertise empire.

4 EXPERIENCE SPEAKS VOLUMES. I was chatting with a speaker who said his area of expertise was leadership. Then, I discovered he had never managed nor led any organization! Nothing beats experience when talking about your area of expertise.

Some call it practicing what you preach. I call it “eating your own dog food.”

5 WE ARE IN A DECEPTIVELY COMPLEX BUSINESS. While it is easy to get into the speaking business, it is becoming even more difficult to stay in it. I don’t think we are ever going to be able to turn back the clock to the good old days.

We are living in the “new normal” and the NSA community is here to support you as you grow your business.

6 DON’T DRINK THE NSA KOOL-AID. Don’t adopt everything you hear at NSA as the gosh honest truth. That’s drinking the Kool-Aid. Sift through the ideas that resonate with you and adapt them to your own business model. Better yet, be a thought leader and create your own unique path that aligns with you as a person and your brand promise.

7 WE ARE LIVING IN THE ERA OF ENGAGEMENT. By asking for the audience’s contributions and comments up front, you can create an event that really engages your attendees. Keep the conversation flowing long after the presentation via social media.

8 KEEP IT SMALL AND FOCUSED. There is a global trend toward fewer and smaller meetings with more tightly focused content, and fewer attendees who are physically present. These hybrid meetings include simultaneous streaming video and content discussions so people outside the room can participate in real time.

9 THE WORLD IS INDEED FLAT. NSA is the world’s largest and oldest association dedicated to the art and business of professional speaking. Our sister associations in the Global Speakers Federation (GSF) look to us for leadership and to set standards. It is imperative that the GSF

Kristin Arnold, MBA, CPF, CMC, CSP 2010-11 NSA President

continues to be a leader in this global community and that we support its efforts to raise the bar around the world.

0 LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION. It is the long-term progress to our strategic plan that keeps us focused and motivated. I am deeply honored by your faith and trust in me as we steer this big ship called NSA toward greater value for our members.

Thank you for the tremendous opportunity to serve you and represent you across the United States and the world. I hope to see you at the NSA Annual Convention—Influence ‘ 11—in Anaheim, Calif.