I get this question a lot because I am one. How do you become a motivational
speaker or a life coach? As we start this discussion today, may I first acknowledge
that it's awesome that you even have that thought. I remember sitting in an
audience years ago before I ever started my professional speaking career. And I
heard one of my heroes and mentors Dan Clark who is a national Hall of Fame
speaker. He said... Well actually you know what? Disclaimer. I don't know if he
actually said this. But this is what I heard. You're with me?
I heard "Speakers change lives." And that stuck with me. And it changed mine. And
Dan wasn't the only speaker that I heard that changed my life. I have heard some
of the most inspiring messages given from the stage or from the microphone.
And it planted a seed in me that maybe I could do that. Maybe that could be part
of my offering to the world. And I have since developed a very exciting and very
rewarding professional speaking and life coaching practice. It is fun. I got 5
steps for you, okay? Consider these 5 and we'll see where we go from there.
Step number 1, turn your brain on. Now, your brains always on. But I'm talking
about a very specific process in your brain. Do you hear the voices? Do
you hear the voices in your brain? In your mind? Yeah, you do. Some people get
nervous when a psychologist asked them if they hear the voices. Some people are
thinking, "What voice says? I don't have those voices?" Well that's the voice that
I mean. It's the one that's giving the commentary. And that's the one that's
giving you a rundown on everything that's happening. The one that says,
"I don't think I can do that." Or "No, I don't think I'm good enough." That's the one
that I mean. When I say turn your brain on, I mean let's quiet those voices for
just a minute and engage the prefrontal cortex. The part of your brain that does
the thinking and the logic and their reason and the problem-solving. That's
the part we're going to need to do this. Because all of those self doubts and
insecurities are not serving you well right now. And not only that, they're
keeping you from showing up and blessing the lives of those whose lives
would be enhanced and enriched if you were to show up and share your gifts. So,
turn your brain on. Let's think this through and let's find how to do it.
There's a lot of people that have been there and they can even help you through
it. Now, step 2. Maybe this could have been
step 1 because I want you to notice what lights you up. What turns you on?
What gives you the passion and the desire to do this in the first place?
Because it's actually kind of weird. Did you know that public speaking is the
number one fear on most lists out there? It comes in higher than death. Jerry
Seinfeld said that this means that the guy giving the eulogy at the funeral
would actually rather be in the box. It's something that people fear. They don't
want to be in front of the mic. You do? See? That's a little weird.
But notice that there's something that lights you up. There's a message or a
process or something that you want to share with the world and you can't sleep,
it drives you. You've been called to this. So, you don't have any business ignoring
it. It's important. Pay attention to what's lighting you up. And while we're
on that topic, notice this. It's not about you. It's about a
principle that has changed or enriched your life and now you want to share it
with other people. Why? Because it's going to change and enrich their lives too.
That's important. When you think about them, you're less likely to get in your
own way and hide behind your self-doubts that has you not showing up as a life
coach or as a motivational speaker. You guys, this is actually doable. How do I
know that? I've done it. And I didn't... I wasn't always here. I was where you are
before. Looking at the people on YouTube or the people on the stage or the people
who seem to have it all together and thinking, "Oh, I wish I was one of them."
That leads to my next step. Associate with people who get it. And be selective
here. Because most people don't. They don't get it. You share with them that
you want to be a motivational speaker or life coach. And they're going to be like, "Oh,
yeah. Right. Get a real job." Yeah. Most people don't get this. There are some
people who do. Probably the best thing I ever did for my public speaking career
was to join the National Speakers Association. NSAspeaker.org. Go look it up.
The National Speakers Association gave me an opportunity to associate with
people who get it. And I got actively involved in my local chapter. I'm a past
president of the Mountain West chapter for the NSA. I go to the national
convention every year. I won't miss it. It's part of my professional development
and this is where I get to hang out with my people. And all NSA-ers out there, I
love you guys. That is what changed my mind about whether I could do this.
That's how I started to identify myself as being one of those guys on the stage
with the microphone. You hang out with people who get it. You're going to start
seeing yourself differently. You also want to surround yourself with
coaches and with mastermind groups. And with other ways that you can get your
mind entrenched in a course that's going to help you to fulfill your goal. Now,
let's go to step 4. Take courageous action. Courageous. Can we talk about that
word for a minute? Because if you don't feel fear,
you don't need courage. Notice that the word courage is defined by fear.
It means you feel the fear and you do it anyway. If you don't feel a little fear
about what you're thinking about doing then you're probably not thinking big
enough. Take courageous action and I have found
that it serves me well to launch just a little bit before I'm ready. "Oh, but I'm
not ready." I know, right? When are you ever going to feel ready? Go out and do some
things. Try it. Get in front of a mic, get in front of some people. Invite someone
to receive your coaching services. There are a lot of ways that you can get
started. I'm remembering a time in kindergarten. I'm sitting in the sandbox
in the kindergarten and it's outside. We were out for recess. And I'm sitting in
there with Kayleen Erdman. And Kayleen looks up and she sees... And we both see at
the same time this girl riding by on a ten-speed. And Kayleen leans over to me.
She says, "That's my sister. She's tan." And as a kindergartner I'm like, "Oh, I'm not
worthy." Right? And I'm looking at this girl on a ten-speed who's 10 years old.
One of my coaches in my licensing program shared with me. She said, "To a
third grader, a sixth grader is an expert." And this is so true. There are so many
people in this world who could already benefit from your sweet skills. If you
decided to bring them. Take some courageous action. Let's go find you some
third graders. Now step 5. Remember, it's not about
you. It's not about you. Yes, you're the one who's going to bring a sweet message
or your your superpowers to the equation to help people. To help other people have
a more joyful life. That's the whole purpose of this thing to start with. When
you stay focused on that, it will help you to take the courageous action.
Because it's not about you. It's about everyone's lives who are changed and
enhanced because you showed up. Can you tell I get excited about this? I love
spending my time coaching coaches. If you're interested to dig in a little
farther, go to liveonpurpose.coach. Not dot com. Dot coach. Liveonpurpose.coach.
Do a little a forward slash webinar. And I'll spend about an hour walking you
through 7 crucial clarity's that every new life coach needs to get clear
about. I'll see you there.