| I guess every profession is different.For up 'n coming | | | | function of your ability to multiply your successes.I |
| bands, maybe it's playing a sold out show two nights | | | | learned this from my mentor when I first got into |
| in a row.For new authors, maybe it's topping the | | | | the speaking business."Every speech should be |
| New York Time Bestseller List.For fashion designers, | | | | replaced by three others," Shep said.In other words, |
| maybe it's having their dress worn by Jessica | | | | if you can book three new speeches for every one |
| Simpson on the red carpet.As a professional speaker, | | | | speech you give, your calendar will always be |
| I've often wondered what the mark of a job well | | | | filled.This brings me to the best speech I ever gave |
| done was in my industry:Receiving standing ovations? | | | | in my life.No standing ovation. No life changing |
| Commanding high fees? | | | | audience testimonials. Not much in product sales. Hell, |
| Selling thousands of dollars in books? | | | | I didn't even get paid for the speech! It was a |
| Addressing huge audiences?Maybe. And I admit, all | | | | freebie!But I did book 14 speeches from inquiring |
| of those things used to sound great to me. But over | | | | audience members within the next four |
| the years I've come to learn that there are many | | | | months.Unbelievable. Yet another job well done!LET |
| other indicators of success.Same Time Next Year | | | | ME ASK YA THIS... |
| At my first NSA convention, someone reminded me, | | | | Are you sustaining yourself by multiplying your |
| "Your goal is not to get a standing ovation; your goal | | | | success?Make Your Mark |
| is to be invited back next year."Great example: two | | | | Success looks different for everybody: it depends |
| days after hosting a breakout session with one of | | | | on your profession, your unique values and your |
| my association clients, the president called me and | | | | goals. But it won't come your way unless you know |
| said, "Scott, I just wanted to tell you how much our | | | | exactly what it looks like first. So, here's my |
| members loved your workshop on approachability! In | | | | suggestion:1) Create your own list called The Mark of |
| fact, because it was one of the highest rated | | | | a Job Well Done. Ask yourself, "If everything went |
| sessions of the conference, we'd like to invite you | | | | perfectly, what would that look like?"2) Consider 3-5 |
| back to deliver the keynote at next year's | | | | attainable success measures.3) Make it your goal to |
| conference!"Nice. Not just, "Hey, great speech. | | | | achieve at least one in every single project.Ultimately, |
| Thanks." But rather, "Wow, that was awesome! Can | | | | remember that your version of mark of a job well |
| you come back and do that again next year?"LET ME | | | | done will probably change over time. Me, I've only |
| ASK YA THIS... | | | | been in this business about four years. But I've |
| How much of your business is repeat | | | | started to realize that while audience testimonials, |
| business?Positive Feedback | | | | repeat clients and referral business have always been |
| But then there's the audience (i.e., your fans.) Let's | | | | measures of my own success, there IS one common |
| face it: the mark of a job well done also pertains to | | | | denominator all of us can agree on: making a |
| the feedback you receive from them. Since they do | | | | difference.A few months ago I gave a speech at an |
| pay the bills.I remember getting an email once from a | | | | employment conference. Many of the audience |
| man who was in the audience of one of my personal | | | | members had physical or mental disabilities, some of |
| branding programs. He was a successful | | | | which had lost the ability to speak. After my speech |
| entrepreneur, known extremely well throughout the | | | | was over, a man from the front row whose badge |
| business community. In fact, I was kind of surprised | | | | read, "Hurricane Mike," came right up to me a with a |
| to hear from him."Scott," he wrote, "Your speech | | | | huge smile on his face. And even though he could |
| changed my life. I am serious. You got me thinking in | | | | barely put the words together to articulate his point, |
| whole new ways."Wow! Coming from him; that | | | | he placed his hand on my nametag and said, "It's not |
| meant a lot to me. Another job well done!LET ME | | | | the nametag; it's the heart behind it."What's your |
| ASK YA THIS... | | | | mark of a job well done?© 2006 All Rights |
| Are you just serving, or truly impacting/changing | | | | Reserved.Scott Ginsberg, aka "The Nametag Guy," is |
| blowing away your clients?How's Your Calendar | | | | the author of three books and a professional speaker |
| Looking? | | | | who helps people maximize approachability, become |
| Still, aside from customer testimonials and gushing | | | | unforgettable and make a name for themselves. |
| clients, there's also the mark of a job well donee as a | | | | |