February 2019 - Rafferty Pendery

How to Become an International Speaker (Even if You’re Afraid of Public Speaking)

Feb 11, 2019

If you’re terrified of public speaking, you aren’t alone. For many people just the thought of getting up in front of a crowd causes anxiety.

In fact, fear of public speaking is regarded as the number one biggest fear in the United States. Heights, bugs, and drowning are no match for the fear many people have when it comes to public speaking.

But it is possible to overcome your fear of public speaker and become a great international speaker. Too many people believe they are just not cut out for public speaking so give up trying.

The truth is, you can be afraid and still succeed. Here’s how to perfect the craft of public speaking.

Shake Hands With The Fear

First things first: It’s natural to be afraid of public speaking. Many people generate more fear and anxiety by judging their feelings and trying to stuff them.

But since many people fear public speaking, it is not abnormal to be afraid. As Nelson Mandella said, “The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

Allow yourself to be afraid, acknowledge those feelings, and move on. The first step in overcoming the fear of public speaking is actually giving yourself permission to be afraid.

Get In Touch With Your Body

Have you ever rehearsed a presentation over and over again and mastered the material? Sometimes it seems the more you practice, the more you generate the fear of public speaking.

What’s even worse is that it doesn’t work. The great international speaker doesn’t get that way by rote memorization.

Instead, practice your body language. How does your body feel and respond when you are relaxed?

If you can practice your posture, your gestures, your walking and talking style you are well on your way to becoming a better speaker.

The secret is in practicing how you say things, not just what you say.

Practice How You Feel

You want to be a better speaker and overcome your fear. But do you know where and how you feel fear in your body when you speak?

Just as important: Do you know how you would feel without that fear? And how would your body feel if you were giving a great and engaging presentation?

Just as practicing your body language is important, so is practicing your feelings. Meditating on the feelings you would have while giving a great talk are as important as focusing on content.

Practice Makes Perfect for The International Speaker

If you are scared to death of public speaking it is something you probably avoid at all costs. But part of overcoming the fear of speaking is practicing.

You will find the results are different and you are a better international speaker if you work on the above recommendations.

Rather than running from the chance to give a talk, it is time to run toward the opportunity.

Start locally and move internationally. Find out more now about how to become more comfortable with public speaking.

How to Find Your Niche in Tech: A Guide for an Aspiring Tech Entreprenuer

Feb 4, 2019

Are you the next great tech entrepreneur?

The road to riches is paved with the failures of those that came before you. Most aspiring tech ventures fizzle out before they can get off the ground. There’s more than one reason for this but one of the hardest things to do when you’re starting out is carving out your niche.

Do something that’s never been done. Find your corner of the market. Is anything original anymore?

This is more than a daunting thought. Coming up with an original idea and pushing it forward with a good plan of action is one of the hardest things to do. It requires dedication, creativity, and a good team of people around you.

The book on how to succeed in business has been rewritten many times. There’s no definitive “right” way to thrive in tech, but today, we’ll look at a basic guide for finding your niche as a tech entrepreneur.

Be Realistic About Your Passion vs. Your Skills

Sometimes the difference between what we want to do and what we can do is vast. It’s important to follow your passion when finding your niche, but you should also be realistic about the market for your product.

This is especially true with tech projects. You need to be able to see yourself still being in love with your product for years to come, but also you have to be able to envision sustained success. Not every startup gets off the ground quickly.

Furthermore, do some self-evaluation. Realistically examine your skills and figure out if you have what it takes to build this product from the ground up.

Find the Market for Your Niche

When you’ve decided what you think you can build your fortune on, take a step back and look at what its market will be. For example, say you want to create an online marketplace for the sale of car parts.

If this is what you’re passionate about, then follow through on some research and figure out where your market is. Who are the types of people that you want to be using your product? How much money will they be willing to spend on it?

You need to get an idea of the sustainability of your niche.

You’re Not the Only Tech Entrepreneur

There are thousands of new tech companies popping up all the time, and old tech companies are constantly adjusting to encompass more of the marketplace. In finding your niche, you should zero in on the most specific target market that you possibly can.

If you’re creating a podcast hosting app, consider that things like Stitcher and Podcast Addict already exist. You’re starting behind the 8-ball, so you need to focus in even more on what that app will do.

Perhaps when you sign up, the app asks you what your interests are and sifts through a database of podcasts to show the user ones they’d be interested in. Doing something like this gives your app a subtle edge over the competition.

Test Runs & Launching

Now that you’ve figured out what your niche is, you can begin to test the market.

Do a dry launch and see what the reactions are. Adjust your product from there. A good tech entrepreneur will reinvent their niche to appeal to larger and larger audiences.

For more articles on tech and entrepreneurship, visit our blog.

How to Be a Better Public Speaker: A Guide for the Digital Entrepreneur

Feb 4, 2019

Around 73% of the population is terrified of public speaking. Whether for school projects or a work presentation, many people clam up even thinking about talking in front of others.

Are you one of these people?

Even if you have a slight fear of public speaking, you might have a message you feel destined to share with others. Believe in yourself, because it is possible to surpass these fears.

Ready to take your public speaking skills to the next level? Want to become the digital entrepreneur everyone raves about? Keep reading this guide for five tips you need to know!

1. Accept Your Nerves

Step one is to accept the fact that you will be nervous before and during a public talk. Even seasoned speakers get a little nervous.

By acknowledging that these feelings are normal and okay to have, you decrease the power they have over you.

To help you speak through your nerves, be sure to practice a few times. Arrive at the location early so you can get used to your environment.

2. Keep Main Messages Simple

As someone with a lot of knowledge, it can be tempting to pack in everything you know into one talk. Plan each talk you give to contain a few focused message points.

Too many details will bore an audience. But if you present impactful and meaningful messages that they can remember, people will love your talks.

As you find success, you may even be able to take your speeches international!

3. Prepare as the Digital Entrepreneur

As mentioned above, preparation is key. And that doesn’t mean the day before.

To nail a speaking engagement, start thinking about your speech at least a few weeks ahead of time. Understand who your audience is. Things that young college students find interesting won’t go as well with older business owners.

One of the most important things to prepare is an introduction. You want to grab people’s attention and get them excited for what you have to say.

Just as important as an introduction, be sure to prepare an impactful conclusion.

4. Be Careful with Powerpoint and Other Visuals

You aren’t a professor giving a lecture to students. Don’t kill your audience with busy powerpoints filled with text.

If you are going to use slides at all, make them minimal. Use appealing images that add value to what you as the presenter are saying. You should be the focal point, not a slide with a bunch of information on it.

It’s also important to remember that you run the risk of technology issues when using visuals like Powerpoint.

5. Create an Outline

Notice we said outline, not a script. Creating just an outline ensures you will sound natural while giving your talk.

If you just read an entire speech from a script, you will seem robotic and have poor eye contact. The audience will immediately be turned off.

Let Your Voice Be Heard

With these tips, you are well on your way to becoming a better public speaker. Soon you will be the digital entrepreneur everyone wants to hear!

Looking for more tips on being a successful digital entrepreneur? Check out this awesome list!