Update: Are you growing? It's been said, "Your income will grow as fast as you do." So what are you doing to grow you? Are you reading the books, listening to CD's and attending seminars?

The National Speakers Association's San Diego Chapter is hosting a program called "Building a Brand New Keynote from the Ground Up" with Hall of Fame speaker George Walther. It's important for me to attend if I want to grow my income. Are you attending events that will grow your income?

Feature Article: Speaking Off-the-Cuff

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"Space... the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise."

As a Star Trek fan, that intro from the TV series created by Gene Roddenberry in the late sixties is forever etched in my mind. The show's launch was the catalyst for sci-fi buffs and fantasyland aficionados to dream of space travel, aliens and technological possibilities. Of course there were the Klingons and Romulans to contend with and all the cool phaser, cloaking devices and Beam Me Up Scotty transporters at their disposal.

Gene left a generation or two of Trekkie fans wanting more when the series hit the big screen. And then when The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager continued the space exploration thread, space fans were treated to more outrageous images and possibilities like shape shifting, wormholes and even some rather cute female aliens.

After Gene passed away in 1991, part of his ashes was shot into outer space in 1997. The rest of his ashes will join his wife's (Majel Barrett Roddenberry) ashes and head for deep space where they will spend an eternity together. How befitting it is for the first space couple to end their earthly journey where it all began.

The fantasy side of me insists their molecules will be restored once again and they will beam down to earth to continue the legacy they started. But that's for a future chapter. Currently the Federation has a huge void to fill.

Speaking Off-the-Cuff

Dear Associate,

Picture yourself at a party, an engagement or an event. Someone there knows you're a speaker and asks you to say a few words. A few other people jump on the bandwagon showering you with accolades. They've put you on the spot. You're caught off-guard. What in the world will you do?

Maybe they've asked you to give a toast at a wedding reception. Perhaps they want you to give the eulogy for a departed friend. Maybe your association's conference speaker is running late and the board has given you the nod to bridge the gap until she arrives.

Should you head for the powder room trying to buy time? Will you fumble through your things looking for that stash of anti-anxiety pills? Or will you emphatically agree by giving a resounding "Yes!"

This isn't the time to feel weak in the knees. Rather it's the time to become the person everyone secretly wants to be: A person of substance whom people admire and respect. If that's you, then you give the nod back.

But here's the real skinny: You'll either be branded the hero — or someone they'd want to forget. Since I believe you want to save the day — let's turn this predicament into an opportunity for you to shine.

Three quick keys on speaking off-the-cuff:

1) Open with a compelling story. A story that relates to your audience. A story that's congruent to the event. A story that gives value to the audience.

Personal stories are best. People connect with stories in a way a knee-jerk opening joke cannot. And stories require little practice usually because you're drawing from your memory bank.

Avoid office gossip, locker room jargon and sarcasm. People will doubt your sincerity. You don't want them turning on you. You'll lose your hero status.

2) Connect your opening with your audience. They want to know what's in it for them. What they will get from lending you their ears, eyes and time.

Were they moved? Were they touched? Did people receive something from you that left them wanting more?

Did you turn a sad situation into a happy one? Did you supercharge a happy event into an exciting celebration? Will they return home satisfied because you've led them to a higher place?

3) Conclude with your opening. Bring it around full circle. Resolve your talk by touching on the key reason for your gathering. Then take them home.

If you began with a joke, then this key may not work for you. If you began with a story, you can bring your audience back to that time and place. Then share why that was meaningful.

Speaking off-the-cuff can be an exciting opportunity for you to grow and advance. It allows people to see the real you. A vibrant, resourceful and spontaneous new you.

Warm regards,