A Passion For Action

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I’m a professional global speaker, and one of the events where I will be speaking this coming year is the Global Speakers Summit in Auckland, New Zealand. The organizer is the Global Speakers Federation which is the association for associations of public speakers. As a member of the National Speakers Association – which is the American group, I am also a member of the Global Speakers Federation.

This is not my first time speaking outside of the United States, I’ve spoken in Mexico several times on different topics. In February when I’m in Auckland I’ll be speaking on how speakers can create a legacy with a podcast. I’ve reached out to about a dozen companies to see if they want me to speak for them as well, since I’m doing the travel, it makes sense for me to generate additional speaking opportunities with other professionals and trade groups that want to learn how podcasting and digital marketing can increase their business. I do not know if I’ll land any contracts or speaking gigs, but I know if I don’t take the action to ask, I’m certain to not have any gigs.

Podcasting is one of the main topics I speak on, how it can build a community, how it can educate prospective clients and truly be a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week marketing tool for businesses.

When I started podcasting, my first episode was so bad, I buried it. I’ve been told I should dig it out and use it as an example but honestly, I don’t know where it is anymore. I know I didn’t sound like anyone you’d want to listen to. The important part though of my first episode was that I moved past it. Its atrociousness did not stop me.

The key to success in any venture, or project is taking action. Having a passion for action is the more important thing anyone can have if they want to make changes in their life. I wanted to be a podcaster, so I fired up the Blue Snow Ball USB microphone with my 6-year-old MacBook Pro and hit record in GarageBand. It sucked. But the next one was better.

My first time speaking professionally was a bit rough, but the next time was better, and today I am very confident on stage and can deliver a solid message that lands with people. At first, I feel the adrenaline as I’m called on stage, my heart races a bit, and then I get out there and do my speech because I remember the words of Executive Speaking Coach John K. Bates who quotes Snoop Dogg, “Don’t be nervous, be of service.”

As I work with my consulting clients, I am often amazed at the number of people who won’t take action. They want my advice, my direction and my experience; but refuse to take the first steps. It’s been my experience that you can’t get to the second step if you don’t take the first step.

A Passion for Action is what will always separate those who ‘have done’, from those who ‘wish they had’. You can take action, you can fail, you can mess up, you can do a terrible first effort – that’s part of the process. Henry Ford said it best, “if you want to double your success rate, double your failure rate” – that’s nothing but a Passion for Action at work.

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