Episode 070 — Speak about your Fire and Meet Dr. Melissa Bird

It's not always the perfect execution of my vision but that doesn't mean I stop. And I think that's the one thing that has led so much to my successes as of late because I never ever gave up. -- @birdgirl1001 Click To Tweet

 

 

2-Minute Tip — Know the thing that lights you on fire

 

Melissa Bird explains that the key to success is to know what lights you on fire. When you know that fire and can speak to your passion, it becomes so much easier to let your voice through regardless of the audience size.

 

If you are speaking about something that makes you feel passionate it doesn't matter if it's 5 or 5,000 people it's really easy...And it sort of shifts the paradigm from intimidating to exciting. -- @birdgirl1001 Click To Tweet

 

But how do you figure out what your fire is if you don’t already know? Here’s where I think pen and paper and a quiet corner or coffee shop can help.

 

Give yourself 15 minutes and write down the answers to these questions. Don’t worry about getting it “right” or making it presentable. All you want is ink or graphite on paper.

  • What do you talk about with friends?
  • What do you post about most on social media?
  • What angers you most in the news?
  • What is your go-to advice for folks?

 

Odds are something you are passionate about will be on that list.

 

That’s great for personal stuff, but I know most folks want to improve their speaking skill at work and prefer to keep politics and life issues separate because they may not be directly related to your quarterly sales presentation or negotiating skills seminar. That’s fine. Simply at “at work” to each of those questions and the exercise will still help. It will help you identify the issues at work you most need to speak about.

 

Post-Tip Discussion

 

Melissa Bird HeadshotMelissa Bird, PhD, MSW is a passionate feminist whose education in social work has led to a career advocating for children, women, and their families. She is a fierce believer in social justice advocacy and preparing women for leadership roles in politics. She has a wealth of experience working with policy makers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to improve access to reproductive health care for women, men and teens.

 

As a writer, professor and fiery public speaker, Dr. Bird creates the genesis for a new brand of leadership. Her words awaken revolutionaries, trailblazers and powerful innovators in the quest for justice. When she’s not building her public speaking Empire, she can be found reading trashy novels, drinking fine whiskey, playing mom to three delicious humans, and loving her punk rock scientist James Thomas Kelly.

 

I met Melissa Through Melanie Childers who you heard from in episode 68.

 

It's okay not to have all the answers. -- @birdgirl1001 Click To Tweet

 

Melissa’s experience with speaking began with dealing with tremendous speaking anxiety in high school, in front of an audience of 15 other students. A great teacher helped her through it and pushed her to succeed, providing the basic tools she needed for success.

 

Melissa would later go on to speak at political rallies to audiences large and small, to conferences for social workers, and to anywhere she could share message of social justice or finding your voice.

 

Women just are hard wired to need permission to talk.... for many of us that's because we have been attacked...So when I'm coaching women it's all about giving them permission to say that thing that they want to say. -- @birdgirl1001 Click To Tweet

 

We also talked a lot about Facebook live. Melissa regularly uses the platform to connect with her audience and to work out ideas and thoughts she may want to talk about in the future. It’s a fascinating platform that frequently draws a larger audience than expected.

 

I have people coming in from all over the place now to watch my Facebook lives, and I never would have had that kind of reach had I just tried to keep doing the same old thing. To speak my words and speak my truth.-- @birdgirl1001 Click To Tweet

 

The discussion has me thinking about ways to incorporate Facebook Live into 2-Minute Talk Tips and Strokecast. After show, anyone?

 

Links related to this Episode

 

If I have a random idea or a random thought pop into my head no matter where I am I write it down and then I can go back and create a whole entire speech around that or a whole entire Facebook Live around that. -- @birdgirl1001 Click To Tweet

 

Call To Action

 

  • What do you think about finding your voice or working things out through Facebook Live? Let us know in the comments below.
  • Would you like to share your literal voice? Leave a message at 650-TalkTip (650-825-5847)
  • To share this episode on Facebook or the social media platform of your choice, click the icon below, or just copy and paste this link: http://2minutetalktips.com/birdgirl
  • To learn more about Melissa’s work or to work with her, head on over to birdgirlindustries.com.
  • Make sure you speak about the topics that light you on fire.
  • Don’t get best…get better.

 

If you have something to say, don't be afraid of having it be perfect just get out and say it. -- @birdgirl1001 Click To Tweet

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