How can self-employed public speakers manage their time effectively?

Consider this: You are NOT being paid for the 45 minutes you're on stage. You're being paid for the time it took to build that knowledge, stay abreast of the research and...work on your marketing. Marketing is 90% of the job, 10% is the performance. Don't think you can delegate something you don't even know how to do yourself. Pitch yourself until you get mostly yeses and then hire someone to replicate your methods. Plan "Marketing Days" where you literally spend all day picking up the phone. Do mostly that. Next comes "Planning Days" where you're working on your marketing or writing copy (use AI!) or customizing a speech. Work those two things around the days you're actually out speaking. That's how you grow into a business.

Self-employed public speakers juggle various responsibilities, such as client acquisition, content creation, marketing, and delivering presentations, and often face the challenge of managing their time effectively. To resolve this, they should set clear goals, have a schedule, break down tasks into manageable smaller units, and focus on high-priority activities that align with the set goals. Also, delegate or outsource tasks not requiring your expertise. Build a formidable support system.

Well, for self-employed public speakers, time management is a bit like giving a great speech – you've got to start with a strong opening, keep the momentum going, and finish with a memorable conclusion!

You'll quickly learn to be a a jack-or-jill of all trades! Having good habits will help you here (lots of books on these). I've always had a knack for time management as I worked on massive projects throughout my career in urban design/architecture and thus developed good habits. Here are some of the things that I do that work for me and may work for you too. 1. I am most productive in the mornings so this is when I do focussed work (such as preparing a presentation), and allocate ~4hrs to this. I run this as a solid block of time with minimal interuptions 2. I use a pomodoro clock app to help maintain focus (google it - they're great!) 3. I treat my business's own admin/marketing tasks as I would a client's work & allocate fixed time

Definir uma meta clara e específica para o negócio de oratória, podemos começar por aumentar o número de clientes em 20% nos próximos 6 meses, o que significa que somos capazes de medir progressos e determinar se estamos no caminho certo para alcançar as metas específicas. Devemos ser realistas sobre o que podemos alcançar com os recursos disponíveis, já que aumentar o número de clientes em 100% nos próximos 6 meses pode não ser alcançável. Definindo metas SMART, podemos concentrar-nos em objetivos específicos e alcançáveis, e assim medirmos progressos e comemorarmos conquistas.

A well-maintained calendar and to-do list can be game-changers when it comes to managing time effectively. They provide a visual roadmap of tasks and commitments, making it easier to stay organized and focused on what needs to be done. It's all about finding a system that works best for you and staying consistent with its use.

I have come around to the idea of embracing Calendly.com as a productivity and relationship tool. Instead of going back and forth with a booking agent or other partner, give them a Calendly link so they can book a time that works for them. I have had deals fall apart because of so much back and forth to find a time to meet with someone, and now you don't have to do that.

I am a list person, at the end of each day I prepare my list for the next day. The key to working through your list each day, is to tackle the difficult task firstly.

I'm a fan of doing tasks in the form of batching. Set aside certain times of the day to consistently do tasks and save the most difficult tasks for when you are most alert and ready to work. Also, setting reminders on your calendar can be very effective.

Self-employed public speakers can manage their time effectively by implementing strategic time blocking and minimizing distractions. - Allocate specific time blocks for tasks like content creation, practice sessions, and client interactions. - Use tools to set clear boundaries for work hours. Minimize interruptions by silencing non-essential notifications. Prioritize tasks based on importance and deadlines. - Regularly assess and adjust your time management strategies to optimize productivity. - By proactively structuring your time and minimizing distractions, self-employed public speakers can enhance efficiency, maintain focus, and achieve better work-life balance.

Email, in particular, is super distracting. If you want to be incredibly focused during the day, only answer emails at set times like, say, before 8:30 a.m. and after 4:30 p.m. It takes a TON of discipline to do this, but it's effective.

Transitioning into a state of deep focus needed to write a speech takes a bit of time. For most people it is difficult to simply switch into focus mode at will. If you set aside 30 minutes, what often happens is that you just got into the groove when the 30 minutes were up. This is quite frustrating and inefficient. In the initial phases of creating the presentation or speech, it is important to block a few hours at a time (2 to 3) so you can really go deep and get some quality work done on overall content and structure. Once you have those in place, it will be easier to set aside e.g. 45 minutes to tweak and optimize.

Block time for answering mails and missed calls from your clients and prospects, e.g. everyday between 17h and 18h or between 19h and 20h. Make sure they get a response within 48 hours. If your business allows it, create a friendly automatic e-mail response with clear reasons (e.g. I am travelling or I am taking the time to be with my family for the Christmas days). This is better than nothing at all.

Don’t forget to outsource the big heap of speechwriting to AI! Traditional self-employed speakers love to write speeches themselves, because it is “authentic”. They forget it is not the exclusivity of the content (which is almost vanished due to the internet), but mostly the Delivery and the live audience connection that makes the speech authentic. To be sure: You should still be the editor of the speech created by AI, because it misses the point once in a while.

The more you can delegate, the better! Your craft is writing your speech and delivering it. All the rest can be outsourced. Definitely all business operations. But also all activities that contribute to your talk but are not essential, like supporting slides and the like. the great news is that the cost of the outsourcing is wildly paid back by your increased ability to deliver better and better talks, more time to deliver more of these, and improved quality that will get you even more assignments.

To create a truly engaging speech, channel your energy into crafting a powerful and captivating message. Let others handle the creation of slides and supplementary materials. This approach keeps you focused on your strengths, ensuring your presentation makes a memorable impact.

Came here to say the same thing, @Kiemthin Tjong Tjin Joe! AI tools put them to use! There are numerous ways to outsource to those tools cutting down hours worth of labor.

Working independently can foster "founder's syndrome", the belief that if you don't do it, the world with collapse. To avoid founder syndrome, you first must learn to trust your team, suppliers, stakeholders. They will be more engaged and you will be a better leader. You can't be an effective speaker if you have no time for professional development.

As a self-employed public speaker, I've learned that while I'm passionate about delivering speeches and connecting with audiences, the administrative stuff can sometimes weigh me down. I've discovered that it's perfectly okay to delegate tasks that aren't my forte or that consume too much of my time. By getting a virtual assistant to handle scheduling, a graphic designer for eye-catching visuals, or a bookkeeper to manage the financial side, I've freed up more mental space and energy to focus on what I do best—crafting impactful speeches and engaging with my audience. It's a game-changer!

We are all guilty of not taking enough time for ourselves. Even if we take time off, we don't do so without our laptops, phones and tablets. Even if you start the day with 10 minutes of solitude and quiet, it is a start. There is NOTHING so important that you cannot take 10 minutes per day to center and recharge. Small steps lead to big changes.

As a retired FBI agent and keynote speaker, I often advise aspiring speakers that success requires dedication. I jest that you should give 1,000 free talks – but there's truth in that humor. In the FBI, I educated the public on cybercrime prevention, not to become a speaker, but out of passion. It’s this love for the subject and the desire to add value that paved my way in professional speaking. My advice? Find a topic you're passionate about, be engaging, and provide immense value. That’s the key to a speaking career.

Evaluate your business model once every 3 years. No professional public speaker makes 100% of his money by only giving paid speeches. Think about giving trainings, writing books, taking up master-of-ceremony roles.

Don't underestimate your network and word of mouth. 100% of my 2023 speaking engagements were referrals. And from there, even referrals to refer me. Do not be afraid to be bold and share with your network your availability and desire to speak, present and share your wisdom.