When I used to teach acting, my most "challenging" students—the ones who overacted or couldn't quite connect—got a very specific prop from me: food.

Yep. Real food.

Why? Because you can’t fake eat.

When you’ve got a mouth full of chips or a slice of pizza in your hand, you stop performing. You just say the line. And suddenly, it's real. It's grounded. It's human.

I once had a student eat his way through an entire play. And every. Single. Line. Sounded authentic. Why? Because the prop pulled the performance out of him, not the other way around.

And this technique? It works in the speaking world too.

One of the most powerful monologues I ever saw was just a man, a pocket knife, and an apple. He slowly sliced the fruit as he spoke. No theatrics. No gestures. Just... presence.

(Okay, don’t bring a knife on stage—I’m not trying to get you tackled by TSA. 😅)

But the idea stands: A personal prop—something meaningful that connects to your message—can elevate your story instantly.

👉 ...

You have a message. You see on social media these speakers flying to and fro making money at paid events. You've gotten offered to speak but the event doesn't pay. You've googled "paid speaking" and you still can't find the elusive strategy of how these professional speakers find paid events.

I'm going to say something controversial right from the get go. There is no one strategy to find paid speaking events. What happens is speakers throw a lot of spaghetti on the wall until something sticks. When that sticks - they hone in and refine what they are doing and keep doing whatever it is that worked.

I've paid a bajillion dollars over time learning other people's sales strategies for speaking and none of them worked for me because I don't speak on what they speak on. My audience and target market is different. So is my personality including strengths and weaknesses, which is why their processes may have given me ideas - but I was never able to implement fully or successfully.

Having sa...

I'm often asked how I became a motivational speaker. A complete accident! I didn't know there was such a things as being a motivational speaker.

It took a lot of hard work and dedication to learn the professional speaking / meetings industry. This is my journey. Video: https://youtu.be/jyZsFVXvNYk

Stacy's Speaker Coaching website and blog on how to become a better speaker: BoringtoSoaringSpeeches.com

Stacy Pederson is a #funny female #motivational business #keynote speaker who has almost died a bunch. Stacy is a full-time professional keynote speaker who has performed in front of 1,000's.

Contact Info or Follow Stacy:

-Website: StacyPederson.com

-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacypedersoncomedy

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacypedersoncomedy

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacypedersonofficial

-Twitter: Twitter's dead to me. We broke up a while ago. I only see Twitter at random family events and I act like I don't care.

Stacy entertains and ...

If you want to get paid speaking engagements I highly recommend Sam Richter's, "Intel Engine" specifically designed for professional speakers.

In this video, I take you through how I use Sam's Intel Engine for my own speaking career.

Video Link: https://youtu.be/kilm3iOtnGE

The software mentioned in this video: Sam Richter's Intel Engine (Affiliate Link): https://www.knowmore.university/a/aff_gqtxt90h/external?affcode=231462_e4qadq6x

My Speaker Coaching Website for courses and more content: https://www.boringtosoaringspeeches.com

For Video Click Here: https://youtu.be/NGr8N0NOIfI 

If you want to get paid speaking engagements, RFP's (Request for Proposals) are a great way to get started.

In this video, I take you through how I find RFP's for conferences and how I fill them out.

The software mentioned in this video: Sam Richter's Intel Engine (Affiliate Link): https://www.knowmore.university/a/aff_gqtxt90h/external?affcode=231462_e4qadq6x

Word Counter: https://wordcounter.net

My Speaker Coaching Website for courses and more content: https://www.boringtosoaringspeeches.com

Watch Video Here: https://youtu.be/R-Yx007763k

Can't get hired because you don't have video? Can't get video because you can't get hired? Here's an easy hack to break out of the, "I need a demo reel" loop.

Link to video mentioned: https://youtu.be/2yZgvFtdx54

Elephant in the room: OBVIOUSLY NOT shot at the same time as the thumbnail photo was taken. The thumbnail makes it look like a 5 star restaurant, but then when you open it and it's just ramen.

WHICH is what anyone who has ever been in a relationship with me has also unfortunately discovered....

Here's some resources if you are wanting or already are a speaker: -Blog Post: "How to Improve Your Speaking on Camera With These 4 Easy Tips" https://rb.gy/rz0spx

-Get a Free Guide on "10 Easy Ways to Look Good and Feel Great on Camera" https://rb.gy/rz0spx  

Social Media: Website: StacyPederson.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacypedersoncomedy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacypedersonofficia...