NGS
September 2021
Next Generation Speakers
Inside This Issue:
Prescription For Excellence The Butterfly Effect The Power of Positivity
Dr. Michael Freeland From Disc Jockey to Doctor: How Michael Freeland Is Changing The Song That We Play In Our Head
2
Contents Table of
Editor’s Note... Have you ever had a song stuck in your head that just would not go away! Well, this month Dr. Michael Freeland aka DJ Mike J will help us change the song that we have had on repeat about ourselves. Showcasing his Mental RealOf-State Conference, Dr. Freeland is getting us ready to take on our future by getting our minds right! Patience is a Virtue and this month’s The Butterfly Effect will make that clearer than ever by walking us through the true understanding of virtue. The PowHERlogist and C.L.A.R.I.T.Y Coach herself La Donya Yvette will be leading this life-changing tour. The NGS Family has another guest columnist, Mrs. Angelia Williams, who will share with us The Power of Positivity! Dr. James Williams breaks down the necessary components of a Speaker OneSheet in this month’s PRESCRIPTION FOR EXCELLENCE. Every Speaker needs to read this! Email: Text:
Cicone@ciconeprince.com 251-753-6299
2 3 4 8 10 16 21 22
............Mental Real-Of-State Conference
..............................................Editor’s Notes
.....................From Disc Jockey to Doctor
......................Prescription For Excellence
....................................The Butterfly Effect
..............................The Power of Positivity
...............Get Your Own Television Show
....................The CiconePrince.com Show
I just want to know one thing, Who’s Got Next? Cicone C. A. Prince NGS Magazine Chief Editor Dr. James J. Williams Contributing Editor Cover Photo Credit: Courtesy
La Donya Yvette Contributing Columnist Angelia Williams Guest Columnist 3
Dr. Michael Freeland From Disc Jockey to Doctor: How Michael Freeland Is Changing The Song That We Play In Our Head
Dr. Michael Freeland is a Corporate DJ who has made it his mission to make it not about the music but it’s about the experience. Dr. Freeland has taken his love of music and turned it into an opportunity to help lift people’s spirits by being a DJ for over 30 years. He has spent countless hours learning the process of mixing and sharing music and knowing what to play and when to play it. Doing anything for 30 years is an accomplishment of itself but DJing is something noteworthy and something to be excited about. When you consider that DJ Mike J has spent 30 years DJing that lets you know he’s been doing something right. DJ Mike J, not only did he just want to be known as a DJ, he is now known as Dr. Michael Freeland. He has a platform entitled Mental Real-of-State where he talks about the importance of being able to free your Mental Realestate by guarding what song you play in your mind. Everything that you need in order to accomplish your goals has to come through your mind. If we are not careful, we can allow too many things to take up space on the most valuable piece of Real Estate. There are times when we run out of space. At times when we get taxed, there are times when we find ourselves not being able to properly function the way we should. What we need to do is we need to free our minds. We need to free our mental real estate, we need to keep it uncluttered. We need to take things off of our minds that shouldn’t be there and put things on our minds that should. It’s a process and just like playing a record just like having a song that’s stuck in our mind, we have records in our mind, stuff is playing over and over again. A lot of it is negative; a lot of it isn’t helping us. One of the things that Dr. Freeland does is he helps us to recognize and understand that we have a responsibility to free our own minds. 4
So many of us are trapped. We’re in situations and circumstances that keep us from being able to freely, not only give but freely receive. What I’ve learned is that in order for you to be able to give, you have to first learn how to receive. So many of us think that we’re not worthy or that we don’t deserve or that we’ve messed up or fallen short so many times. We believe ourselves not worthy enough of getting the help we need. One thing that Dr. Michael Freeland does is he helps you to understand that freeing your mind, frees you up releasing yourself from the bondage that’s holding you back. It’s what allows you to be there for the people you care about, to be there for the people you love, to be there for the people that truly mean the most to you. At his upcoming conference Mental Real-Of-State conference, he has speakers from around the world that are going to pour into you and help you understand what it is you can do to free your Mental Real-Of-State. It’s in your Mental Real-Of-State of mind that you can actually take the borders down, take the fences down, unlock the chains, open the gate and allow yourself the freedom to think beyond your current circumstances. Just like that song that gets stuck in your head and you keep singing over and over and over again, he wants to make sure that he changes or helps you change that song that you’re playing to yourself. The song that you’re singing to yourself and that’s being rehearsed over and over in your mind. Dr. Michael Freeland wants to make sure that that song is changed, because in doing that you can be more impactful and you can make a difference in the world in which you live. So I encourage you if you haven’t done so already you can check him out on Facebook on the DJ Mike J or you can also hit him up as Michael Freeland because he definitely is able to help you to get to that space where mentally you can be free. He knows that if you change that song that you’re playing in your head not only can you get Free but you can stay Free! Grab Your Copy On 5
Cicone Prince
.
6
Available Now on Amazon! The wait is over! In Cicone Prince’s highly anticipated 5th book, he shares fundamental principles of Leadership that are a game changer if properly applied to the all important role of Leadership. He makes no apologies for highlighting the importance of equipping the Next Generation with the tools they need to succeed. Leadership That Lasts will have you running to help someone else prepare for their future while realizing your success.
Order Yours Today! Click the link below: 7
PRESCRIPTION FOR EXCELLENCE With Dr. James J. Williams
Six Secrets For Creating A Killer Speaker One Sheet What is a Speaker One Sheet? Before we jump into best practices, what is a speaker one sheet in the first place? A speaker one sheet, otherwise known as a “speaker sheet” or “onepager,” is a one-page document (one or two-sided) explaining who you are, what you speak about, and why the event planner reading it should hire you. In other words, your one sheet is a brief resume for your speaking experience. Like a resume, it should highlight your strengths and showcase your connections within the industry. According to speaker and branding expert, Karen Saunders (karensaunders. com), there are a few key questions that your one sheet should answer. These include “How would you describe your area of expertise?,” “Who do you work with and give presentations to?,” and “What are the benefits of hiring you?” Although there are several others, the main idea is to demonstrate why you are worth hiring in a concise and visually attractive way. Why do I need a speaker one sheet? Now, as the speaking industry joins the wave of businesses entering the digital world, many speakers no longer see the need for a printed speaker one sheet. And that’s completely fair! However, your one sheet, because of it’s short length and design, is still essential for a virtual business. If you’re emailing an event planner, for example, your one sheet is an easy way for them to see everything they need to know in a single glance. If you’re reaching out to speakers bureaus, your speaker one sheet shows them your preparedness and your speaking skills. Plus, their sales reps can use it to sell for you, when you join the bureau’s roster. Win win! 8
Secrets to a Killer Speaker One Sheet Now that we’ve knocked out what a speaker one sheet is and why you need one, let’s talk specifics. Depending on who you talk to, there are countless tips and tricks for a perfect one sheet. However, they all have six elements in common, all of which answer those questions we mentioned above. 1. Showcase your skills and credentials. The first essential element for a good speaker one sheet is your credentials. This includes awards in higher education, speaking certifications, or honors within your focus industry. Although you can list them out, as seen on a resume, it’s also generally recommended to include a short biography explaining your background. Additionally, if you have any digital badges for your awards, be sure to include those, too. For example, if you have a badge for getting your CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) or one for being inducted into the Council of Peers Award for Excellence (CPAE) Speaker Hall of Fame, you should definitely include them in your one sheet design. That said, regardless of how you show your skills, your goal is to answer the question, “What qualifies you to educate me and my audience?” Your bio gives the greatest amount of detail, so if the event planner is interested, they have adequate information. On the other hand, if they only have a minute to check out your one sheet, images of your awards allow them to see your value at a glance. 2. Pinpoint your target audience. Next, after explaining why you are qualified, make it clear who exactly you’re qualified to speak to. Do you work primarily in education or corporate settings? Are you focused on a dominantly male or female audience? How about geographic location? All of these can be answered as a part of your biography. That way the event planner looking over your speaker one sheet will not only see why you know your stuff. They’ll also see that your presentations are tailored to their industry (so they should hire you immediately). continued on page 12 9
The Butterfly Effect THE VIRTUE OF PATIENCE La Donya Yvette
We have all come to be familiar with the saying that patience is a virtue. But do we really understand the “virtue” of patience. In today’s society, the fact of creating shortcuts or microwavable decisions to hurry the process of an event or situation only adds grief to the process itself. Patience enables us to achieve what we perceive to be impossible. It has become a lost art or a forgotten virtue when it comes to the waiting without complaint period or the ‘meantime’ experience. It is the means between the two extremes... reckless impatience and self-control. So, the question is why is patience so difficult as times? The reality is patience involves a certain type of response, while virtue is the habit of the response. Although discomforting, some may perceive patience as a type of suffering in between breakthroughs, when actually a changed perspective should be the calming factor instead. This validates indicators that only God has control of time and space. Just because the reward is delayed does not mean it is denied. In all actuality, patience involves the emotions of a person. When we analyze our lives, it all comes down to decision making and choices. A decision is a thought about something. A choice is an action taken behind the decision. So, it is important to choose your thoughts wisely. There is clearly so much work that needs to be done in order to figure out how to manage discomfort. Let’s face it, being busy and being productive are two different things. But how do we get through our day and stay sane at the same time? Well, go figure this... Have you ever seemed to be so busy that by the end of the day it seems as if you haven’t done a darn thing? I know I have. With so many interruptions or even distractions can complicate your day to 10
where it appears as if you’ve done a lot when actually you haven’t been productive at all with what you really wanted to accomplish. Imagine how much time was wasted throughout the day on things that could have waited if we were patient enough to realize that they really didn’t need that much attention at all. Here are few keys to be learned: 1. Control or eliminate self-distractions 2. Urgent vs Important and how to stay focused 3. Time blocking When we allow issues or situations to take up residence in our mind, we are giving it permission for it to happen. It’s time to pack up the static and kick them out to the curb and practice the art of waiting without complaining. Self-control and humility are fundamental when Interruptions and distractions occur. The art of the noise is designed to get into your head and get you off track, so it is important to stay focused because interruptions can take away from what matters most. The key is to paint your own picture in order to master your mindset. By clearing your thoughts and doing more with your gifts and talents, you will begin to master your own destiny. This is how you live life inspired; by patiently living the virtue.
Check Out The J.A.M. Event Flyer on page 6 11
continued from page 9
3. Explain how your clients will benefit from hiring you. We’ve covered the questions “What qualifies you to educate me and my audience?” and “Why is your ideal audience?” Now, it’s time for the most important piece: explaining the benefits of hiring you. As with the majority of sales, you can talk until you’re blue in the face about your pricing packages or experience. However, your conversation with an event planner ultimately comes down to how you can help them. How are they going to learn from your presentation? What about their work or personal life will be improved after working with you? Answering these questions can take a few different routes. The most common is focused on revenue. Outlining an increase in productivity or income for past clients you worked with is an easy way to demonstrate your positive impact. Alternatively, if you offer additional services, you could offer these as a bonus. This includes digital materials, such as consulting or online training, or print materials, like books. Offering these products or services as an add-on gives event planners an easy way to ensure the audience benefits from your training after the event ends. In light of this, mentioning these in a quick bulleted list is a quick way to hook their attention without taking up too much space in your speaker one sheet design. 4. Explain how the audience will benefit from your presentation. Speaking of the audience, the next piece of the speaker one sheet puzzle is the audience! In addition to add-on print or digital materials after the event, how will you provide value during the event? In part, you can answer this through testimonials. Don’t get me wrong – Hard evidence of your success is a win. However, there’s also the emotional side of professional speaking to consider.
12
5. Conclude with testimonials from noteworthy clients. Finally, I’ve mentioned testimonials a few times, and I feel like this is a no-brainer. Just like looking at reviews when you try a new product, event planners want to hear from your clients. Obviously, not all of your clients are going to be exuberant and over the moon with joy about your presentation. Some people just aren’t like that! Thankfully, with your speaker one sheet, you can showcase your clients that are. Narrow down past clients who sang your praises and include a quote from them on your one sheet, to let them do the selling for you. It’s also important to include happy testimonials from any noteworthy clients. This is especially true for big-name clients in your focus industry. SpeakerFlow, Dawwna St. Louis, is a perfect example of this. As a motivational speaker and entrepreneur, Dawwna spoke, in the past, for Microsoft and received raving reviews. On her speaker one sheet, adding one of these testimonials directly shows how killer her performance was. Plus, it indirectly adds to her credentials and skills. After all, not every speaker gets a gig with one of the largest tech companies in the world. 6. Have your contact information and headshot clearly visible. Lastly, make sure your contact information and headshot are included. What good is going to the work of showing your talents and past clients if the reader can’t reach you? If your speaker one sheet is a single side of the page, make sure your email address, phone number, and website is easily visible. If your one sheet is two-sided, included all of this information on both sides, such as along the page footer. Many speakers also opt for a callto-action in large text, too, such as “Call 1-800-588-2300 to book John for your next event!” This can be helpful, as it saves the event planner the time of deciding whether they should email or call you.
13
continued on page 14
All in all, whether you’re a new speaker or an expert on stage, a welldesigned speaker one sheet can be a game-changer. Hopefully, this guide provides a quick and simple way to make sure you’re checking all the one sheet boxes. That way, you can spend more time showing event planners why you’re awesome and less time having to explain it. The opinions expressed here by Next Generation Speakers Magazine columnists are their own, not those of the magazine itself. Email - jjwilliamsphd@gmail.com Cell - 301-806-8614 Webstore - ChasingTheEagle.com Twitter @jjwilliamsphd LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/james-j-williams PRESCRIPTION FOR EXCELLENCE With Dr. James J. Williams SCHOLAR | AUTHOR | SPEAKER | VETERAN | SUCCESS EXPERT
14
Nanny Nite-Nite is a FREE Podcast for children ages 2 to 8 years old that helps them fall asleep while listening to the soothing voice of their Virtual Nanny tell bedtime stories.
Click Player Above To Hear Lastet Podcast of Nanny Nite-Nite
Click Here To Follow Us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Nanny-Nite-Nite-106784454639787
15
The Power of Positivity Angelia Williams
Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels 16
There are many people that don’t understand the importance of energy and attitude in daily life. Your outlook and perception of situations can affect the outcome in either a negative or positive manner. Have you ever wondered why some people are always happy no matter what? It is because of how they mentally manage and perceive situations, even if that particular situation doesn’t go the way they expected or desired. Complaining and a lack of gratitude creates a negative environment not only for you, but for those around you. This type of energy can inhibit great business deals, ward off friends and family, and box you into a “me against the world” mentality. Although there are times where you may be successful as a lone wolf in your endeavors, there will definitely be times when you need the cooperation and support of others to help you win. This is where the power of a positive mindset comes in. Studies show that people with a positive attitude and mindset are happier, more productive, and achieve much more in their lifetimes. Positivity makes you a light to other people, and they become attracted to you and your endeavors. This helps you to draw better business partners, better opportunities, friends, and romantic partners as well. Some benefits of a positive attitude are considerable; 1. Attitude affects your interpretation of events. Obstacles are a part of any significant success. With a poor attitude, every obstacle is viewed as a threat, rather than a challenge. 2. A positive attitude is motivating and creates positive expectations. When you have a negative outlook, you are more willing to quit before you reach your goal. However, positivity motivates you to keep going until you have gotten the desired outcome. 3. A positive attitude prevents and alleviates stress. With a positive attitude, it’s much easier to be happy and relaxed. A poor attitude increases the amount of stress in any situation and is counterproductive to your goal. An optimistic attitude will always help you win! 17
continued on page 18
continued from page 17
4. A positive attitude boosts self-esteem. When you expect good things to happen, you can’t help but feel confident and good about yourself. This also prompts you to take on bigger goals and to accomplish more. 5. A positive attitude attracts positive results. It’s often said that good things happen to good people. It would be more accurate to state that good things happen to those with good attitudes. A few tips to help you develop a more positive mindset are; 1. Prayer – Prayer and religious affiliation are shown to increase a positive mindset in human beings. Prayer has also been shown to help with regulation of blood pressure and stress. 2. Meditation – Meditation increases self-awareness and is a great way to manage stress on a daily basis. 3. Watch Your Circle – Are you around positive people, or are the people around you constantly complaining and griping? You may need to change the individuals that you are spending your time with. 4. Laugh Often – When you laugh, there are many processes that take place in the brain and body. During laughter, endorphins are released into the bloodstream, and naturally calm stress and improves mood. 5. Always Look For The Silver Lining – Always look for the good in any situation and not the bad. Individuals that focus on the negative attributes of any situation carry negative energy that is unfavorable and difficult to work with. If you need assistance with this topic, be willing to find a good Life Coach. In some situations of trauma, therapy may be needed as well. Whichever is befitting, be willing to make the mental changes that are needed! You will begin to see your life take on a completely different form and flow! Written by Angelia Williams, MS Angelia Williams, MS is the owner of The Voice Studio of Angelia Williams and Epiphany Coaching and Consulting with locations in Nashville and Memphis, TN. She is a Professional Vocal Coach, Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, and doctoral student. 18
Photo by Andres Ayrton from Pexels 19
You can make these at home!
20
21
The Day Time Talkshow world is about to be turned upside down! They have no idea what they are in for with the launch of The CiconePrince.com Show. The daytime talk show will focus on Personal Development and Leadership Development along with interviews of Industry Leaders! If you are in Atlanta you can watch it on Preach The Word Network Wednesday at 10:00 AM EST. It will also be airing on my YouTube Channel at the same time! You can like and subscribe and hit the notification button to see when a new video is posted!