“When something leaves your vocal cords it is 2-3 times more likely to become true.” ~ Thomas Leonard I’ve known for a very long time that I wanted to be a Motivational Speaker. I love public speaking. To me it is like breathing. It is something that has always felt very natural for me. Being in front of a group presenting, or doing what I really enjoy most, teaching, feels like a personal slice of heaven. There is no better way to touch people than by sharing information that can make a big difference in their lives. Most people are shocked by the fact that I love to speak publicly. Most comments range from, “I could never do that” to “I give you a lot of credit for doing what you do.” Considering most people would rather be eulogized than deliver a eulogy, it’s easy to see why that is. I can remember when I first declared I wanted to speak for a living. It was over 20 years ago as I was just getting ready to graduate from college. Someone asked me what I wanted to do when I returned home. Very clearly and very honestly I responded, “I want to be either a standup comedian or a bartender.” Considering my parents had spent a fortune on my education, I quickly laughed it off by saying I would probably never be either because a) my parents would kill me for pursuing anything that didn’t require a college degree and b) I wasn’t funny enough for standup. And although the reasons came much later as to why I chose those two professions---a standup comedian talks about real life with humor in a way that makes it easy to swallow and a bartender listens intently and sympathetically to all that share their woes and need an ear. The way I teach and present being demonstrative of both of those roles---I see it was my first attempt at verbalizing my deepest desire. There were other times I said it, a little more directly. I actually said the words, “If I could be anything, I would be a Motivational Speaker.” However, without skipping a beat, I would quickly swallow them up with, “but I have nothing to say and who would listen to me anyway?” I can’t recall how many times that happened. And then I stopped taking it back. One day a few months ago as I was writing my biweekly ezine I just felt the strong urge to share with my readers that I was going to be an “International Motivational Speaker”. I guess a part of me felt that if I was going to do it, I needed to say it out loud, or in this case, write it out loud without the opportunity to take it back. (I believe the larger part is that I received a Divine Nudge in the direction of what I desired the most because truthfully, I am not always that forward thinking.) I remember that I followed the statement with the word, “Gulp.” I was nervous about what people might think and strangely excited all at the same time. After I sent the email I sat staring a long time at the confirmation message that told me it was gone. Gulp indeed. I don’t know what I expected, but nothing really happened. A couple of people commented, but there wasn’t an earth shattering moment that proved that my desire was going to go anywhere other than that ezine. So I went back to business as usual, coaching women entrepreneurs into successful businesses. About two months later I was at a large business seminar of about a hundred people. The forum was such that the group leader wanted to know what everyone felt that they had received from the training. Before my head could catch up with my feet, I found myself standing in front of the room, again making the declaration, “I want to be an International Motivational Speaker.” The rest of what I said was a blur because I can’t even tell you if my response had anything to do with the question. All I know is that in that moment I had to blurt the words out and again, not take them back. This time I received a bunch of acknowledgements from fellow attendees that let me know the timing was just right and my truth was getting louder. I was still a tiny bit nervous, yet even more excited than before. So it was not really a surprise to me when 3 weeks ago I received an email, and I can’t even tell you who from, that was an invitation to participate in a speaking contest called, “Ready for the Stage.” The email stated that it was for aspiring speakers to be done in American Idol fashion with the finalists being voted on by the audience in the room and those watching via an online live broadcast. To be considered as a participant, each person was required to submit a 5-minute video audition. Further details stated that this contest was part of a larger 4-day business seminar called SEVEN where four millionaires would teach attendees how to build a seven-figure business model. If selected as one of 10 semifinalists, I would attend the SEVEN for free, at a savings of $1400. From the semifinalists, 4 finalists would then be selected who would do a 10-minute presentation on stage. And just like American Idol, there would be live critique and voting. The winner would take home gifts and prizes galore. Again, compelled to “just do it”, I recorded my video audition on Thanksgiving morning and hit the send button. Immediately I felt at peace and also knew I had just solidified my semifinalist position. Don’t ask me how I knew, I just knew. And this time my nerves were calm. So on Thursday, December 9th when I stood on a stage in front 4 judges, approximately 150 people in the room and Lord knows how many at home watching a livestream broadcast presenting my 10-minute message, I wasn’t nervous. I was just excited. Chosen as the first of the 4 finalists to present, it was finally the moment to speak the truth I had been waiting for all along. I am a Motivational Speaker. If you have had a burning desire within you that you have been moving away from instead of towards, here’s what you do: Tell as many people as you can. If you choose not to, it will be just a dream deferred. If you are willing to say it out loud and often, it will quickly become a dream realized. And furthermore, as soon as you declare it out loud, I promise you, you will receive the Divine Nudges you need to make sure it comes true. And if you need an audience, send me an email with what it is to info@yourvisionlaunch.com, I love to support people in reaching their dreams. Want to know the results of the “Ready for the Stage" contest? Please come on over and read the Vision Launch blog @ http://www.yourvisionlaunch.com.