INSPiRE Coaching Blog
Personal Growth & DevelopmentWe’re leading people to personal growth (Tulsa, Denver, Colorado Springs)
What We Provide:
Speaker’s Services • Fitness Training • Leadership Development • Employment Coaching • Spiritual • Finances • Personal Growth • Corporate Consulting • Conflict Management • Team Building • Goal Setting • Weight Loss • Divorce Recovery
Success has nothing to do with what we accomplish, but everything to do with who we become along the way. Success doesn’t happen overnight; it is a journey that takes place over time, and the true success is the change that takes within you during the journey, not after.
Turning Public Speakers into Exceptional Communicators
INSPiRE Coaching and Speaker’s Services is training public speakers, preachers and other speech-givers to be exceptional communicators. Through four different avenues, INSPiRE Coaching is helping speakers and presenters become more dynamic and focused in their deliveries. Those avenues are:
- The Exceptional Speaker’s Course. The Exceptional Speaker’s Course is a 10-week public speaking course designed to train anyone who has to give speeches to be a more effective communicator. The course is in a classroom setting, and not only provides training for speakers, but also gives participants hands-on experience. Each student will give at a minimum of 2 speeches by the end of the course. At the present time, The Exceptional Speaker’s Course is only being offered in Tulsa.
- The Exceptional Speaker’s Workshop. The Exceptional Speaker’s Workshop is an intense and inspirational 3-day training event held annually in Denver, Colorado. The event features inspiration and training from some of the top speakers in the country, as well as some one-on-one coaching time from some of those speakers. The Exceptional Speaker’s Workshop will prepare you and teach you:
- The key to captivating ANY crowd
- How to focus your thoughts and organize your speech
- Making your presentation entertaining and life changing
- How to ignite and move your audience to action
- Writing and presentation tips that set you apart from the rest
- How to get bookings from each speech you present
- Preparing products you can sell at events
- And much, much more!
- Personal Speaking Coach. INSPiRE Coaching offers personal one-on-one coaching for speakers and for those who have to address a crowd.
- Tulsa Public Speaking Meetup Group. This group is for those speakers in the Tulsa area that want to enhance their public speaking skills. Share your experience with others on how you conquer the fear of public speaking. Whether you are an experienced speaker, an up and coming speaker, or someone who has to give a speech and is just looking to survive it, the Tulsa Public Speaking Meetup Group is right for you.
The Speaker’s Coach for INSPiRE Coaching is Marc Adams. He has spoken at hundreds events and venues, including youth events, businesses meetings, community leadership events, churches and public school assemblies. His primary audience has been students (middle-high school & college), but more and more businesses and community leaders are using Marc to train and motivate their employees and other leaders.
Marc uses an enthusiastic blend of humorous and inspiring stories to captivate and motivate people from all walks of life. Having Marc as a part of your program is sure to add a lot of energy, excitement, and laughter to your meeting, while also being educational and inspirational. His focus and passion as a speaker can be summed up in two words: Life Change!
If you are an event planner needing a speaker, click here for more information of Marc Adams.
For more information regarding Speaker’s Services and Training in the Tulsa area, or for more information on INSPiRE Coaching and Speaker’s Services, contact us at info@inspirecoaching180.com. Or check out our website!
Need a Motivational Speaker for your next Raleigh event?
INSPiRE Speaker’s Services of Raleigh-Durham has motivational and inspirational speakers that can move any crowd to action. Whether you are looking for a motivational speaker who can give your event a charge, or a public speaker that can teach your audience on a specific topic, we have speakers who can inspire or instruct.
If you are in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill or any surrounding area, contact us today at 888-608-7476 for more information on how we can help make your next event a huge success. Our speakers are not only interested in helping you “onstage”, but are willing to serve you in any other way you need us. For more information on INSPiRE Speaker’s Services, visit our website at http://inspirecoaching180.com/training-services.html.
Public Speaking 101: Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking
Your fear can hinder you, or it can help you!
One of the greatest fears among people is public speaking. Some people are natural on a stage, relaxed, in control, comfortable. But countless others are terrified at the thought of even standing in front of a crowd, much less talking to an audience. But this stage fright does not have to hinder us when those times come that we do need to address a crowd. In fact, that fear, if properly used, can actually help us become more exceptional communicators.
According to Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, “…stage fright arises in a mere anticipation of a performance, often a long time ahead. It has numerous manifestations: fluttering or pounding heart, tremor in the hands and legs, diarrhea, facial nerve tics, dry mouth. Stage fright may be observed in people of all experience and background, from beginners to professionals.”
Stage fright, or fear of public speaking, isn’t only found in beginners or inexperienced speakers. We all get nervous, and if we don’t learn to control those nerves, we can struggle in our quest to effectively impact our audience. So how can we use our fear to help us instead of hinder us? Here are some tips:
1. Know your speech inside and out. If you show up very well prepared, it will take much of the fear out of your talk. Lack of preparation is scary. I sometimes have a dream where I am walking on a stage to speak, having not prepared anything. I wake up fearful, because for me…that’s frightening. Most speakers are at their best when they are most prepared, so do your homework, come ready (really ready), and your fear will lessen.
2. Use your fear to make you better. I actually think nervousness is a good thing. Butterflies in your stomach shows that you care. It says, “I want to do my best here.” Show me a speaker who never feels the butterflies and I’ll show you a speaker who doesn’t care whether or not they make an impact. I use my nervous energy to make me better.
For starters, I use it to motivate me to prepare as well as I can. I know how scary it is to take the stage unprepared, so I make sure that doesn’t happen by pushing myself. I also use the energy by actually feeding it during my presentation. I turn the nervousness into enthusiasm; enthusiasm in my words, gestures, and overall presentation. This makes me more effective, because enthusiasm is contagious, and audiences respond to it very well.
3. Start off right. I use a funny story (usually something really stupid that I’ve done) to kick things off. This does a few things for me. First, it relaxes me because I’m telling a personal story that I know quite well. Second, it relaxes the audience because they’re laughing. Third, when I use a story that illustrates how big of an idiot I can be from time to time, it builds a lot of rapport with my audience. They can relate to me, and if my story is stupid enough, it makes the audience feel better about themselves. They think, “At least I don’t do as many dumb things as this guy.” That makes me more likeable, and knowing this helps me relax.
For example, late one night, while in the middle of an ice storm, my electricity went out. So I got in my car, drove on the ice-covered roads to Wal-Mart, and bought an electric heater so I could stay warm while the power was out. It wasn’t until on the way home that it hit me: I just bought an electric heater to keep me warm while my electricity is out! I’m the stupidest person on earth.
When I tell that story, my audience has a great time with it, because they can relate. We all do dumb things! I’m willing to use those experiences to help me onstage.
One quick tip: If you are going to use humor, go all the way with it. Don’t try to do it half-heartedly; you will fail. Go all out. Someone said, “If you’re going to be seen, be seen.” In other words, if you’re going to jump in, then really make a splash.
4. Never tell your audience you are afraid. I saw a guy deliver a talk recently in which he was so nervous that he was physically shaking. Everyone in the audience felt bad for him. But then he made it worse by actually telling us he was really nervous. This was the wrong thing to do for two reasons. First, we already knew that…the shaking gave him away. And second, when your audience can tell you are nervous, and you reinforce it by saying as much; you really put your audience on edge, as well. This is one of the worst things you can do because you want your audience to relax, and if they are too busy worrying about your nervousness, they won’t relax, and you’ll struggle to impact them.
Get on the stage and give it your best. Know your speech inside and out, use your fear to make you better by using that energy as an enthusiastic delivery, start off strong, and never tell your audience how nervous you really are. Following these four tips will help you overcome your fear of public speaking and allow you to more effectively communicate. Stage fright can be a thing of the past for you. Happy speaking!
Marc Adams is a professional speaker, and is the Speaker’s Coach for INSPiRE Coaching. Marc has spoken to hundreds of groups all over the country. He is best known for using an enthusiastic blend of funny and inspiring stories that will captivate and motivate people from all walks of life. To book Marc to speak at your next event, or for more information on INSPiRE Coaching, contact us at 888-608-7476, or visit www.inspirecoaching180.com.
Passion drives us! It is what makes us get up in the morning, ready to conquer another day. Passion is that desire that pushes us to go beyond what anyone else thinks is possible. It is an unquenchable thirst to do what we love. Passion could be described as “doing what you love and loving what you do.” Bill Cosby said, “Anyone can dabble, but once you’ve made that commitment, your blood has that particular thing in it, and it’s very hard for people to stop you.” That is passion. And if you are not passionate about your life, you will find it difficult to enjoy.
Jesus had passion. He knew why He was here (to seek and save the lost), and He loved the reason He was here (you and me). His passion kept Him focused on His mission (see Romans 14:9). Dr. John Maxwell wrote, “Your desire determines your destiny”. You can see this is true with God, for the desire of a loving and merciful God determined the destiny of a willing and obedient Savior. After all, what could move God to sacrifice His own Son for a world full of rebellious people, except for passion?
The passion of God is evident to us by the way He responded to our sin. This Godly passion deserves to be returned to Him. We need to live with the same kind of passion for God that He has shown toward us. It is only fair. He died for us…we should live for Him. His passion drove Him to sacrifice it all just for the chance we might choose to love Him back. Talk about risky! He had no guarantee we would accept His grace, but He did it anyway.
Our passion should drive us to surrender all to Him. The difference is that we have a guarantee. God has never let anyone down. And He is not about start now. Try Him. Respond to Him with passion by giving your life over to Him, letting Him take control. 2 Corinthians 5:15 says, “He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.” Our passion for Christ should be reflected in our daily choice to please Him. Show your passion for Christ. Let it drive you!
Marc Adams is a professional speaker, and is the Speaker’s Coach for INSPiRE Coaching. Marc has spoken to hundreds of groups all over the country. He is best known for using an enthusiastic blend of funny and inspiring stories that will captivate and motivate people from all walks of life. To book Marc to speak at your next event, or for more information on INSPiRE Coaching, contact us at 888-608-7476, or visit www.inspirecoaching180.com.
Just A Little Touch Up
In March of 2003 I had Lasik corrective eye surgery. After wearing glasses and contacts for so long, it was great to no longer have the need for those things. Although I still wear glasses sometimes, because my sight has regressed over the last 5-6 years, I can still see much better than I could before.
But a few months after the surgery, my vision was not quite as crisp as I would have liked. Basically, it was 20/20, though it could have been a little better. So if I chose to, I could go back to the surgeon so he could (in my doctor’s words) “do a little touch up”. Nothing to it…just a little touch up! Forgive me for my concern, but I am having a difficult time referring to someone “opening” my eyeball and shooting a laser into it as “just a little touch up”.
You have heard the expression “there’s no such thing as minor surgery, unless it’s being performed on someone else”. Well, that is certainly true. Any kind of surgery or “procedure” is important and to be entered into cautiously, even if it is just called a “touch up”. No matter how easy the surgery is; there is always a risk.
Spiritually, we need a touch up from time to time, a refining of the “work in progress” that we are. When it comes to Christlike maturity, we are just not as crisp as we should be. So every now and then, God needs to refine us, to mold us more into His image. The problem is, we have to be willing. Just as my eye surgeon could not “touch me up” without my approval, God cannot mold and refine us without our willingness.
So what is the best way to be refined, or “touched up”? (Notice, I did not ask for the easiest way. The easiest way is seldom the best way!) One way that God refines us is through trials and suffering, or brokenness (see Isaiah 48:10 and Zechariah 13:9). While this method is not my personal favorite, it is effective. 1 Peter 4:12-13 reads, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad–because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world.”
A little refining is good. We all have things that need to be changed, ways that we can become more Christlike. Being “touched up” is not so bad. Trials are good for us. And though I eventually chickened out and did not return to my eye surgeon for a touch up, God is always welcome to refine me! Sometimes it is painful. Sometimes it is humbling. But it is always good, and right, and for the best. Lord, refine me!
Marc Adams is a professional speaker, and is the Speaker’s Coach for INSPiRE Coaching. Marc has spoken to hundreds of groups all over the country. He is best known for using an enthusiastic blend of funny and inspiring stories that will captivate and motivate people from all walks of life. To book Marc to speak at your next event, or for more information on INSPiRE Coaching, contact us at 888-608-7476, or visit www.inspirecoaching180.com.
Public Speaking/Speech Class in Tulsa
INSPiRE Coaching & Speaker’s Services will be offering a 10-week public speaking course in Tulsa beginning in August, called “The Exceptional Speaker’s Course”. The course will be taught by Marc Adams, the Speaker’s Coach at INSPiRE. This course will be for anyone who is already involved in public speaking, anyone who wants to be, and even for those who have to give speeches for work. Or maybe you are someone who just wants to overcome their fear of public speaking.
The Exceptional Speaker’s Course is a 10-week public speaking course designed to train anyone who has to give speeches to be a more effective communicator. The course is in a classroom setting, and not only provides training for speakers, but also gives participants hands-on experience. Each student will give at a minimum of 2 speeches by the end of the course. At the conclusion of the course, you will know:
* The key to captivating ANY crowd
* How to focus your thoughts and organize your speech
* Making your presentation entertaining and life changing
* How to ignite and move your audience to action
* Writing and presentation tips that set you apart from the rest
* How to get bookings from each speech you present
* Preparing products you can sell at events
* And much, much more!
The cost of the Exceptional Speaker’s Course is $350, but if you enroll by July 1, your discounted cost will be $250. That’s a savings of $100. To enroll in the speaker’s course, or more information, contact INSPiRE Coaching at info@inspirecoaching180.com, or call 888-608-7476. Check out the INSPiRE Speaker’s site at http://inspirecoaching180.com/training-services.html#training.
Public Speaking 101: Owning the Stage
No public speaker should ever forget this important fact!
INSPiRE Coaching & Speaker's Services
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” You have most likely heard that quote before, and it is true. If you are a speaker who wants to be a dynamic and exceptional communicator, then you need to start putting this into practice. Before you can “own the stage”, you have to “work the room”.
Most speakers take the stage at a disadvantage; our audience does not know us. The credibility we have is earned, not given. Unless you are a big-name speaker, or are addressing a crowd you have addressed before, you usually will not have the luxury of having your audience already know you, trust you and believe in you. Thus, taking them to place of decision and action is more challenging. So, if you are in that position (as most of us are), then you need to learn how to work the room before you take the stage. Here are some things to keep in mind as you learn to work the room:
1. Meet as many people as you can before you take the stage. Too many speakers use the stage to introduce themselves to their listeners. Of course there is nothing wrong with opening up and letting your audience know more about you, but this is a very important point you need to get: if you can get your audience to know who you are before you take the stage, you will be a step ahead of all the speakers who do not take the time. This is something far too many presenters overlook. Sure, as a speaker you’re busy, but you must make time for the people you have been hired to serve. Do your preparing before you arrive to your location. Don’t hide out in a room somewhere waiting to be introduced.
If you come across as friendly and personable on stage, but are a distant and reclusive off stage, people will question how much you really care about the needs of your audience, and it will be more difficult for you to “sell yourself” during your presentation. So introduce yourself to as many people as you can before you take the stage.
2. Learn to remember people’s names. There is nothing sweeter to our ears than our own name. When you can remember someone’s name, you validate that person, making them feel important. And can I tell you why this is so important? People who know how to make others very important are people who are always in demand because we are attracted to that kind of person. It’s called charisma. It is that thing within a person that makes other people want to be around them. Learn to remember the names of everyone you meet and you will find yourself much more popular and a lot more effective on stage.
3. Ask people questions about themselves…and actually listen to their answers. Those who have mastered the fine art of listening are typically thought of as great conversationalists, and very wise people. Have you ever noticed that? You can speak to someone, have hardly anything to say, but ask a lot of questions about them, and that person will walk away from the conversation thinking you are a lot deeper than you actually are. It’s strange, I know, but it’s true. Try it out sometime. Better yet, do it the next time you are to give a speech. The next time you are working the room, take time for people and really listen to them. You’ll be amazed how much it will help your presentation on stage.
4. Make yourself available AFTER the speech, as well. Although it may not help you during your presentation, it could help you get booked for other speaking engagements. When people (especially event planners) can tell that you care enough to “hang out” with the people, it makes a good impression on them, and makes you very likeable. There are hundreds of speakers that don’t make time for the people before or after the presentation. Be different. Show you care. Get to know people before and after. It will make a difference in your “repeat” and referral business.
5. Interact with your audience during the presentation. Sometimes being a platform speaker makes it difficult to personally interact with your audience. But when those opportunities present themselves, embrace them, because a speaker who can interact from the stage adds a dimension that many cannot copy. This is especially true if you have a good sense of humor and are quick on your feet. If you can make your audience laugh when they know it is not rehearsed, that is powerful, and you can really captivate a crowd. You’ll have them on the edge of their seat just waiting to see what you are going to say or do next.
If you really want to become an exceptional speaker and a dynamic communicator, you need to learn to connect with your audience before and after your speech, not just during. If you are going to own the stage, you must first learn how to work the room.
Marc Adams is a professional speaker, and is the Speaker’s Coach for INSPiRE Coaching. Marc has spoken to hundreds of groups all over the country. He is best known for using an enthusiastic blend of funny and inspiring stories that will captivate and motivate people from all walks of life. To book Marc to speak at your next event, or for more information on INSPiRE Coaching, contact us at 888-608-7476, or visit www.inspirecoaching180.com.
Burdened!
Let’s face it—sometimes life is tough. There are days when things don’t work out like we hope. There are times when it seems like everything is crashing in on us. Our struggles seem to have no end.
Now this statement may shock you, so take a deep breath…prepare yourself. Ready? Here it is: Even Christian people get burdened! I am sure this actually comes as no surprise to you, yet it seems as though we respond from time to time as if we don’t expect difficulties. Maybe we think we are immune to struggles because we are children of God. Surely God will not let His children suffer! Right?
The truth is, God uses trials to teach us, to mold us, to remind us of lessons learned, to develop our character. Psalm 146:8 says, “The LORD lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their loads.” This is great news! God lifts our burdens. The part of this promise that may not seem like great news is the fact that there will be burdens that will need to be lifted!
So if there will be burdens that need to be lifted, how can we best handle these heavy burdens? Here is some advice:
Learn to see burdens as a good thing, not simply as a trial.
James says our burdens are an opportunity to celebrate, for these trials test our faith and make us stronger. God knows what He is doing; we need to learn how to trust Him that everything works together for our good. One good thing about trials is that they are like kidney stones…they come to pass! They do not last forever, so take heart.
Don’t carry your burdens; let God do that.
Psalm 55:22 instructs us to give our burdens to the LORD, and promises that He will take care of us. Max Lucado wrote, “Don’t measure the size of the mountain, talk to the One who can move it. Instead of carrying the world on your shoulders, talk to the One who holds the universe on His.”
Experience the value of a trade-in.
Look at the deal Jesus offers us in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” How exciting! We can trade-in our burdens for His burdens, which He assures us are lighter to carry. What an offer!
For information on scheduling Marc Adams to speak at your next event, contact INSPiRE Coaching at info@inspirecoaching180.com, or visit us at www.InspireCoaching180.com.
Just Taking It All In
I am sure the nurses at Muskogee Regional Medical Center must have thought I was a “first-time father”, an inexperienced rookie dad, because I stood outside the hospital nursery, peering through the window at my newly born baby girl (Haylee) for more than an hour. In fact, one nurse came out to let me know that is normal for newborn babies to cry, and that the nurses were letting her cry for her own good. “Crying clears the lungs of unwanted mucus”, she told me. I thought all mucus was unwanted, but I didn’t tell her that.
I figured they assumed I was just a worried, scared, overwhelmed new parent. Or maybe they thought I did not trust them to do their job. But I did trust them. And I was not just a worrying father. Haylee was my third, and last, child (so I thought at the time). And because I thought she would be the last, I didn’t want to miss even a moment. So I stood there, just taking it all in…basking in a moment that is simply too pure for words to describe.
And that is when it hit me! In the same way that I stood in awe of God’s most recent creation, in the same way that I stood silent just taking it all in, God longs for us to stand in awe of Him. He wants our worship of Him not to be taken lightly. He wants us to realize what we have: a Mighty and majestic God Who is big enough to handle our greatest needs, yet is close enough to hear our softest cries. James 4:8 instructs us, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
God is ready for us to come to Him in worship so He can pour out blessings that exceed our wildest dreams. He is waiting for us to draw close. And just like that young father peering through the glass at his newborn baby, God can hardly wait to hold us in His arms. After all, He treasures His time with us. And He desires that we treasure our time with Him…in worship…just taking it all in.
INSPiRE Speaker’s Coach agrees to speak to youth groups
INSPiRE Speaker’s Coach & founder, Marc Adams, has agreed to be represented as a speaker by YouthSpeakers.org, an organization that provides speakers to youth groups and other youth ministry organizations and events. Adams will be available to be used as a youth speaker through this website, something he has done for several years.
Troy Holifield, a youth pastor in Oklahoma, writes, “Marc is a dynamic communicator! He is a very high-energy person and it definitely shows in his speaking. He has a powerful way of encouraging and challenging students to serve the Lord and make a difference. He will have your students ready to take on the world. I highly recommend him to anyone!”
For more information on booking Marc to speak at your next youth event or business event, contact INSPiRE Coaching at info@inspirecoaching180.com, or call us at 888-608-7476. You can also check out Marc’s bio page at YouthSpeakers.org.
For more information on INSPiRE Coaching, or on being trained by one of our Speaker’s Coaches, visit us at www.InspireCoaching180.com.
