DESIGNING YOUR LEGACY (What footprints will you leave?) or THE PURSUIT OF FAME (It is not self-serving — it is what you owe your audience!) By Michael Scott Karpovich, Certified Speaking Professional   "As we walk through this experience, we leave footprints. Most are washed away by the waves of time, but some are in concrete… and if they are not smoothed away by someone or something, they leave a permanent impression!"                                                                                             Michael Scott Karpovich, CSP     DEFINE "FAME" Great Legacies are always by design! How do you want to make the world different because you were here? What will you do as a famous speaker? How do you want the world to look after you finish your service? How do you want to be remembered at The PSAM SPEAKERS UNIVERSITY in 2099? Are you doing it for yourself or are you doing it for The World? For Every Role You Play…RAISE THE BAR! If you are the keynote speaker… RAISE THE BAR! If you are a breakout speaker… RAISE THE BAR! If you do a training program… RAISE THE BAR! If you write an article… RAISE THE BAR! If you write a book… RAISE THE BAR! If you serve on a committee… RAISE THE BAR! If you are a member of associations … RAISE THE BAR! If you do anything … RAISE THE BAR! CREATE YOUR STRATEGY Decide what you are most passionate about accomplishing and work backwards to the status quo. Make a year-by-year plan on what must be accomplished to make that passion come true. Search for advocates and allies – delegate as much as possible. Give credit freely to anyone or everyone else… steer the recognition away from yourself (your goal is not getting credit…it is accomplishing the passion!) After you have achieved your goal… rethink it and create a new strategy to make it better. Servant Leadership is an attitude before it is an action… Cavett’s mentality was, "How can we all help each other raise the bar?" The National Speakers Association & its chapters have always been about helping each other become more. The greatest teacher in history washed the feet of his students… giving us the best example of servant leadership.   NEVER FORGET THE PRIVILEGE What had to happen for you to get here? What does this say about you? What is your responsibility? YOU ARE ON STAGE NOW! Every time you are at an event, you are "on stage." If you are unethical, everyone will notice! If you are a poor audience member before you go on, people will notice! On the other hand, if you are the first to smile, the first to laugh, the first to applaud, the first to show support… people will notice. Don’t forget that you are setting the stage for success and you are literally a part of the program no matter where you are during the day. If the truth is told, you are "on stage" everytime you are in public… this is simply the price of fame. FAME will always be reflected in your bottom line! Too many people work to achieve "fame" and do not use that "fame" to leverage their sphere of influence. Too many people do things out of the kindness of their hearts (which can be good) but do not capitalize on their good deeds (which can be destructive)! Burnout happens when you do good things without reaping the benefits. I am not suggesting that we just do good to get somewhere…I am suggesting that we enjoy the good that we do. RAISE YOUR STANDARD As a famous professional speaker, you are expected to be professional. As a famous professional speaker, you must "grow" your business. As a famous professional speaker, you must maintain your personal relationships. As a famous professional speaker, you must be ethical. As a famous professional speaker, you must behave as though you are always being observed. (Because you are!) Recommended Reading: Networking: The Skill Schools Forgot to Teach by Cynthia D’Amour call Jump Start Books at 1-888-994-3375. The Frugal Entrepreneur by Teri Lonier Million Dollar Consulting by Alan Weiss, CSP Money Talks: How To Make A Million Dollars As A Professional Speaker by Alan Weiss, CSP How to Write a Book One Page at a Time How to Write a Book One Page at a Time How to Write a Book One Page at a Time How to Write a Book One Page at a Time How to Write a Book One Page at a Time How to Write a Book One Page at a Time How to Write a Book One Page at a Time How to Write a Book One Page at a Time by Larry Winget, CSP

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