Tom Bailey 0:07
m Baileyom BaileyHello and welcome to succeed through speaking the place for experts and entrepreneurs who want high value ideas to boost business results.
Hello, I'm Tom Bailey. And in today's speaker stories episode I'll be getting to know Kristel Bauer, who is a wellness expert, keynote speaker and TEDx speaker with a mission of helping individuals thrive personally and professionally, was promoting vibrant company cultures. So Kristel hello, and a very warm welcome to today's episode.
Kristel Bauer 0:44
Hello, Tom. Thanks so much for having me.
Tom Bailey 0:47
I really appreciate you being here and just out of interest for all of our listeners. Whereabouts in the world are you right now.
Kristel Bauer 0:52
So I'm in the US and I am north of Chicago. So Chicagoland area Midwest,
Tom Bailey 0:58
awesome. Thanks for sharing. And I also know that you host the global top 1% podcast live greatly. You've spoken all over the place, and you also write for entrepreneur.com. But we're really gonna be talking about the topic of public speaking today and really finding out about your journey as a speaker. So my first question for you is how important has speaking presenting public speaking been for you in your career so far?
Kristel Bauer 1:24
Oh, it's huge. It's been huge. So that is one of the main focuses of my business right now. And being able to share the insights and education that I want to share with the world. So it's been an amazing platform to get my message out there and hopefully help some people. Absolutely. Just just spreading value all over the world.
Tom Bailey 1:45
Thanks for doing what you do. And and just to take you back to the very beginning, for a second, what was your earliest, earliest memory of having to stand up and deliver a presentation? And how did it go? Oh, my gosh, okay. So the vivid memory that I have was in college, and I never, ever would have thought that I would become a speaker that I'd be doing what I was doing now. Never. And that would have been like a nightmare for me at that point.
Kristel Bauer 2:12
But I, I had to do I was doing a public speaking class or speech and communications, it was a mandatory course where I went to school. And I had to give a talk in front of the class. And it was a small class. I mean, maybe, maybe 1520. Yeah, very intimidating, right? Yeah. But I remember being so nervous, just because we didn't really have any experience doing that when I was in high school when I was in grade school. So it was very new to me. So the idea of standing up and presenting, and I think the little note cards and stuff. It got the nerves going. And I remember just like the butterflies in my stomach the night before feeling like Oh, worrying about it. And I went up there. And I felt really nervous. But I remember I think I got an A like I did great. I got an A in the class, right. But it didn't feel that way. Like I felt like it. And I thought to myself at that time, I thought, oh, man, I'm bad at public speaking. And what I've come to realize later, after I evaluated that thought process a little bit. I wasn't bad at it. It just made me nervous because it was new. And that's normal. And that's part of it. So it's been a journey for sure. Yeah. Love that. And I guess, you know, it's fair. It's limiting beliefs. What, what do you think was going through your head? What were you afraid of? What was the worst that could have happened? Like, what was going through your head at the time? It was more just feeling like all eyes on you. Yeah, everyone's staring at you. And like you're under a microscope and that feeling of like that. But yeah, being judged, right. And the potential criticism, and I wasn't used to it, you know, and I hadn't, I guess built up that muscle yet, of being able to be confident in those types of situations. Because I do think it's like a muscle like, I think the more that you do it, the more confident you get. But that was it. That was the first step in kind of starting down that road. Yeah, I think you've made a really, really good point then. And I can really resonate with everything you said then, by the way, and I think it is that fear of being judged. What will people think of me? What if I make a mistake? Well, I get laughed at Well, I think, you know, all these things going through our heads and a lot of follow up people that stops them in their tracks, doesn't it? Totally. So. So looking back what you what you know, now, looking back to then, I guess, what advice would you have given to a young crystal? Hmm, that it's not that big of a deal. No one really cares. When it comes down to it, like in the big picture of life. This is nothing you know, so it's put it in perspective. And what I what helps me now is just focusing on the value that I'm bringing. And at that point, the thing is to I wasn't passionate about what I was talking about, I may have picked some random topic that I was trying to memorize something so I wasn't excited about it. I wasn't passionate about it. I didn't feel like Oh, I'm bringing value to the people listening and that makes such a huge difference. So I think it's paying attention
Tinder, like what's your unique value add what? What do you have to offer and then also like just be you show up as you don't have to pretend to be someone else or act this way or act that way. That takes the pressure off. I feel like just, you know, now like stepping on stage, like, just show up, as you perfect love that. And and something you mentioned right at the beginning there as well was that nobody really cares. I think that's important, because a lot of people are worrying about what they're going to have for dinner, you know, looking at their social media notifications, like, they don't really, this pressure you put on yourself isn't actually realistic in terms of what the audience are kind of doing. They actually want you to do a good job on stage. Yeah. Great. Yeah. So so. So that was we know where you started. And it's a very similar place to where I started. And we know where you are now. Have there been any big failures, any big lessons you've learned along the way? Any major speaking catastrophes that you'd like to share with us? Oh, geez.
Well, let's see. So one thing that started that happened, that was stressful, but I rolled with it when I first starting to speak. And I was just getting starting to get some experience. And this was a bigger conference. And I had sent my presentation to them in advance and was told, yep, we're good. Thumbs up, everything's good. And then it was time to start. And this was virtual. And they weren't able to load it.
Yeah. And then I was trying to get it on my end, and we weren't able to sync it. And so I was like, You know what, here we go. I'm just gonna, I'm just gonna give it without the slides. And it went fine. And I was able to, I think, at least portray the message. But I had to, in that moment, roll with the circumstances, right. So you have this idea. It's gonna go perfect. I got this, I got that. And then sometimes technology glitches things happen. So that was definitely one that shook me up a little bit. But I think in the end, I ended up okay, yeah, that's a great lesson, technology will fail. So I guess, have backups whenever in what form of that is have a backup. And, but also don't necessarily rely on technology, you know, as as much as you thought, and a lot of people use the slides as almost a crutch, like they have to have their slides because that's, that's, that's what they're gonna follow. And but being able to get away from the PowerPoint slides will be really useful in in your career, I believe. Yeah, I think it's using it to like, amplify a point, or, you know, have it up there and then expanding on it. And one thing that helped me a lot with that was my TEDx talk, because I didn't use any slides for my TEDx talk. And it was, I think, the fact that I did that, and I was able to have my top three of slides, and you really want to pack it into a shorter timeframe and have that, like, the powerful statements, and I had it mostly memorized, going up on stage, I knew what I wanted to say. But I tell myself now, okay, I was able to do that. So it's kind of smooth sailing from here, at least in my mind. Yeah. If you can, if you can do a TEDx, you know, and do it? Well, you can, you can do anything. So I love that. So if anybody's listening, that's maybe their speaker curious or starting out in the speaking career? What advice would you give to them? If they want to really take this to the next level and pursue a career as a speaker? Oh, okay. So I think be patient is really important. Because when I started out, I, when I started out, I wanted to be where I am now. Like, right away. Yeah. So yeah, I wanted it to be quick. And, you know, I was like, Oh, I have all this expertise and background, I have all this to share, like this should just happen, right? I should just start getting booked for these big keynotes right like that, why not. But I realize a lot of its branding, and a lot of it is starting to be visible in that space and searchable and, you know, via web, and then it took time for me to develop that credibility in the space. Yeah. And the TEDx was almost a year ago now, because I gave it in October of last year. And then, and that took time to get to, like, I got, you know, an applet I applied to some and I heard no, and then I just kept at it. But I think it's, it's have the goal, like have the vision and then just take steps in that direction. So whatever that looks like for you, for me, I started a podcast, I wanted more practice being on air and speaking and that was wonderful for me and I still am doing that now. It's been great fun. And I spoke for free in the beginning here there, you know, and I think you want to get some testimonials you want to try and get some footage.
So I think you know, be open to that in the beginning and then you know, start charging for your time and the value that you bring, but in the beginning I would I would be open. I would say be open to some of those things to get that expertise. And then after you have some of them
At, then, you know, maybe you start reaching out to some bureaus to and teach yourself, don't be afraid to pitch yourself like know your unique value add and kind of fine tune that pitch. Because in the beginning, I wasn't getting any responses from bureaus. And now I'm represented by quite a few. And it just took, it took trial and error to time and again, building up that credibility. Right. I love that loads and loads of great value in there. And one thing you did mention about, it's almost like transition from speaking for free and asking for to be paid to speak. So how was that transition? What did it take courage? Was there any any particular piece of advice you'd give someone who wants to go from free speaker to paid speaker?
It does take courage, yes, it does. But I think it's recognize your value. So I, once you get to that place where you're feeling like you've had some practice, you feel you feel confident, then I really do feel like you should start charging because it's your time and, and you're bringing to the table, like all of the knowledge base that you that you've worked to get to get to where you are now. So that's really incredibly valuable. And if you don't ask, you're not going to get anything. So I think you have to get over that fear of asking. And, and at this point, you know, I say no to a lot of things that are our offers were unpaid. I'm not doing any unpaid speaking engagements at this point. And and you know, if there's like a nonprofit or something like I potentially would consider it at one point, yeah, if it made sense. But in general, like I being very careful with where I'm putting my time. And so I would just say to you listening, like, value your time and value yourself and, and ask around a little bit like see where you should start. And it's definitely changed for me as far as where I started and where I am now. So just the more that you get a feel for like, well, what are other speakers in my space getting? And then that's going to change the more you do okay, well, now I can charge more. Oh, okay. Now I can charge more. So you're gonna build as you go. So just keep reevaluating it, I think. Love that and enjoy the journey as well, I guess. Yeah, the way. Totally. So. So you mentioned the the TEDx was probably around about a year ago. So I guess we're still in the pandemic, maybe coming towards the end of the pandemic, at that point? How have you had to transition between stage speaking virtual speaking back to the stage speaking? How has that process been for you? I really like the live because you get feedback. And you can see I what it was hard for virtual is that you you don't see a response. So it's hard to kind of gauge the feeling, right? Because there is a feeling that you get when you're when you're around other people. And you know, there's nonverbal communication, there's expression so and that can impact maybe you say something a little differently, or you you know, you adjust a little bit. So I think that that was the trickiest part of virtual speaking, is not having that feedback. So you have to be, I think, really confident Yes, in your presentation and get kind of give yourself that own positive feedback. Yeah, of course. Yeah. For how it's going. So that's been the biggest thing. Perfect. But yeah, hopefully, live speaking is back and for now, for the you know, the near future is here to stay as well. Yes. Yeah. Fantastic. And very last question for me now. So thank you very much for all of the value added so far. I guess the last question for me is, if somebody would like to book you, as a speaker, find out more or listen to your podcast, where's the best place for them to find you online? Oh, sure. So they can go to my website. It's www dot live greatly.co. And, you know, they can reach out to me there. My podcast is available on all the major podcast platforms so they can check that out wherever they like listening to podcasts. And then I'm also on Instagram, LinkedIn, those are two of the big platforms I post on regularly. Fantastic. And what I'll do for every listening, I'll post all of those links in the show notes, so you can just click on them, and you can go and find out more about crystal. So thank you so much again, for your time today. I really appreciate you coming along and you've just shared so much great value with me and our audience. Thank you so much for having me. It was a lot of fun.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
