Carol Cox: You're going to get so much value out of this
episode on specific strategies you can use
to get momentum on the speaking circuit with
our guest, Cindy Rowe, on this episode of
the Speaking Your Brand podcast.
More and more women are making an impact by
starting businesses, running for office and
speaking up for what matters.
With my background as a TV political
analyst, entrepreneur and speaker, I
interview and coach purpose driven women to
shape their brands, grow their companies,
and become recognized as influencers in
their field. This is speaking your brand,
your place to learn how to persuasively
communicate your message to your audience.
Diane Diaz: If you are trying to build your visibility as
a speaker, maybe you've landed a first
speaking gig, or maybe you've done a couple
of speaking engagements already.
But you might be wondering how speakers can
build a consistent stream of speaking
engagements and build momentum on the
speaking circuit. So you might have seen
speakers like the guest we have today
speaking all over the place, but how do they
do that? How do they build this consistent
momentum with their speaking engagements so
they can keep getting more speaking gigs?
If you're new to speaking your brand,
welcome. If you're returning to us, welcome
back. I'm Diana Diaz and I'm lead speaking
coach with speaking your brand.
And today we are going to talk about all
those things and more and the strategies
that you can use, just like our guest has
used to build momentum on the speaking
circuit for yourself so that you can get out
there and start doing more speaking
engagements. Now, before I introduce Cindy,
I just want to let you know that Cindy did
go through our Thought Leader Academy back
in June of 2022.
So if you're interested in working on your
signature talk, building your momentum,
getting more speaking gigs, enrollment is
open for the Thought Leader Academy.
You can visit speaking your
brand.com/academy. Again that is speaking
your brand.com/academy.
So let's get on to our guest Cindy Rose.
Cindy is a dynamic professional speaker,
trainer and a passionate entrepreneur,
having built two successful companies from
the ground up. She's an influential thought
leader in her community who works tirelessly
to change the narrative around kindness.
And as I mentioned, Cindy is a graduate of
the Thought Leader Academy almost exactly
two years ago, by the way, I checked the
date on that. So and Cindy was a guest on
the Speaking Your Brand podcast already,
also back in 2022.
And just so you know, episode 284,
connecting your ideas into one message.
So definitely go back and listen to that.
It is so wonderful to have you back on the
podcast, Cindy.
Cindy Rowe: Oh, thank you so much, Diane.
It's my pleasure.
I'm excited to be here and chat with you
today.
Diane Diaz: Yeah. Me too. And I'm I'm excited to have you
talk about all the strategies that you've
used, because it's a nice comparison to when
you were on the podcast last and all the
hard work that you've done to get yourself
creating this momentum.
And by the way, everybody should go check
out Cindy's LinkedIn profile, because that
is where you will see how on fire she is
with speaking engagements.
So maybe we can just start at the beginning.
Maybe you can just tell our audience a
little bit more. You know, I said that
you're sort of passionate around kindness,
but tell our audience a little bit more
about the work that you do and kind of like
your main message.
Cindy Rowe: Absolutely. So I am a self-proclaimed
kindness ambassador, and I tell my story,
uh, during my presentations on how I became
that. But, you know, I was in a dark place a
long time ago, and somebody suggested that I
do a random act of kindness, and it
literally changed my life.
So I, um, through the thought leader
Academy, figured out my message on how I can
help inspire and motivate others through
kindness and getting in front of
organizations. Um, whether it's corporate or
nonprofits, anybody can benefit from hearing
my message on kindness, and I really like to
change their idea wrapped around kindness,
because we think of it as such a basic thing
that we all should do.
And I've even had attendees come up and say
that they weren't really excited about my
message at at the beginning, and they left
changed. And for me, that is a huge
testimony on the power that kindness can
have if you are truly open to it.
So I you know, I love speaking with, um,
leadership. You know, we need more kindness
in the workplace. And that's really what I'm
passionate about right now, is getting in
front of as many people, um, in the
workplace to to spread the message of
kindness and how it actually belongs in our
workplaces.
Diane Diaz: Oh, yes. Thank you for sharing that.
That's. And I remember when you and I worked
together way back when on your VIP day.
That is one of the things that we talked
about. So we'll get to that in a minute.
But what I want to know is thinking back to
when you were in the Thought Leader Academy
back in 2022, before you joined, what was
your experience with speaking?
Were you already speaking?
How frequently were you speaking?
What were the topics of your speaking back
then?
Cindy Rowe: Yeah, so I actually, uh, run a marketing
company and I was doing speaking in my local
community on social media and just different
marketing tips, um, and strategies that
small business owners could, could utilize.
And I, I love doing that.
I love giving back.
Um, and I was actually doing I had I hosted
my own conference.
Um, and from that I started doing like lunch
and learns, uh, locally.
And then it was the chamber or my local
chamber invited me to speak at the women's
luncheon, and they wanted me to share my
entrepreneurial story, and that's when I
did. That is really where I got the bug.
I'm like, I have to do this, and I and I
felt like, um, I wasn't so passionate about
sharing social media tips.
I wasn't that didn't fire me up.
And, um, but talking about my story that
fired me up and I just got really excited.
And that's, you know, when I stumbled across
the Thought Leader Academy and and dove into
that. And I'm grateful I will not ever look
back on that decision.
So it really helped me propel forward.
Diane Diaz: Oh, I'm so glad to hear that.
And I, I'm glad that you were able to share
your story with the audience at the chamber,
because that is something we also talk a lot
about, is using your story to inspire other
people to connect with the audience.
And I'm sure, well, let me ask you this
question. What was the reaction when you,
from the audience like, what feedback did
you get when you shared your story?
What was how did they react to that?
Cindy Rowe: I had people come up afterwards and like,
they just really were grateful that I was so
open and vulnerable and they they were
inspired. I actually got a client from it
too, which was kind of funny.
Um, but because she related to me on a
different level and she wanted to work with
me. So that was really exciting.
Um, yeah. And then I honestly was on cloud
nine for several days, and I remember going
home and telling my boyfriend at the time,
I'm like, I need to do this.
I need to do this more like, I like this was
amazing. Um, and I just, you know, seeing
their faces.
I love humor, um, and I like, you know, our
lives are funny and, you know, just kind of
make light of things, but also having that
serious aspect of the struggles and, you
know, kind of opening up your heart a little
bit. You see the reaction of people.
And it just, I don't know, it gives you the
warm fuzzies, actually.
You know, I just yeah, I love it.
Diane Diaz: So yeah, that's that's you're absolutely
right. You do get the warm fuzzies.
And I think it's through vulnerability,
right, that we can connect with other humans
who are sitting in the audience.
And, and it's no surprise to me that
somebody then wanted to work with you,
because the more that we know about someone,
the more we trust them, right?
And then we trust them not only to listen to
what they're saying, but we also trust to
work with them. So it's no surprise to me
that somebody wanted to work with you from
that. And it seems like and we'll get to
this in a moment as well, that that message
that you where you started sharing your own
personal story also then propelled you into
sort of this greater momentum with your
speaking. So, uh, you know, we we worked
together again way back in 2022.
And then so we worked on your signature talk
around kindness. So, um, what was the goal
that you had with that specific talk?
Was it to generate leads?
Was it to build brand awareness?
Did you what was your goal, your specific
goal in relation to creating that talk?
Cindy Rowe: Um, I think brand awareness, just getting me,
um, known as a speaker and kind of
separating myself from my marketing company,
that was really important to me.
Um, I honestly haven't used my talks to
generate leads per se.
Um, that's kind of my next step is I want to
create a training program that I can.
So after they hear me speak about kindness,
then they're like, well, we have to have her
come in and work with our, you know,
emerging leaders or our top leaders or
whatever sales team.
Um, I want to create that next product.
So, uh, you know, I can help more people and
just like, you know, zone in on certain
things. Because during the conversation in
my presentation, we don't deep dive, you
know, it's it's not that serious, I guess.
And and so I want to be able to have that
opportunity to really go deeper.
So that's that's next level for me.
Diane Diaz: Yeah. That's great. No I like that because I
think you're now you've been setting the
foundation for that. You are known as the
kindness speaker. Right. You speak on
kindness. You're building that brand.
You're building awareness for yourself.
And then, as you said, and as we often tell
our clients, you can then turn that into
paid offerings where you then get paid to
come do a workshop with them, where you do
get to dive deeper into those topics.
But this this talk that you're giving in all
these talks around kindness are setting you
up for that. So I love that.
Now, do you do I know that on LinkedIn, when
you're sharing content, all your almost all
of your content is connected in some way,
shape or form to kindness.
So, you know, the message is out there that
you're the kindness person. You're doing
some speaking engagements. You created that
signature talk.
I'm curious, how do most of your speaking
engagements come to you?
Because, by the way, for our listeners, if
you do go to Cindy's LinkedIn, what you're
going to see, hopefully, is a post that I
saw not too long ago where you had posted
what your summer talk schedule was.
You had three talks in June, one in July and
two in August, which is incredible.
But how do how do you get these speaking
engagements? Tell us some of the ways that
and strategies that you.
Use to get those speaking engagements.
Cindy Rowe: Um, yeah. So I do Google Google searches.
I have the Google Alerts come in.
Um, and actually I pay attention on
LinkedIn. I follow a lot of speakers, and if
they're speaking somewhere, I usually look
it up. And if it aligns with, you know, the
audience I want to get in front of, I'll add
it to my little, uh, spreadsheet to follow
up on. But Google alerts have been really
great. Uh, lead source for me.
Um, what's been really cool is where I've
spoken at before, like, last year was an
amazing year for me where I really hit it
hard. Um, and I think I had somebody had
asked me, I think, I think I had 18 speaking
engagements last year.
My goal was 12.
So I, I did I did a great job with exceeding
that. Um, but I'm now getting calls from
people that saw me speak and they want me to
come speak at an event or their conference
or at their workplace.
So now I'm a referable speaker, which is so
incredible. Um, and, and, you know, you have
a little bit more of a opportunity there,
you know. With those people that have seen
you speak and want you to come speak for
them again. So that's been really exciting.
That's been the change this year is I have
more people coming to me than me, you know,
filling out applications or sending cold
emails. Um, but I work really hard on leads.
I mean, that's I still, I still, you know,
every week I am sending out emails or
filling out applications, um, and hopes that
I get booked.
Diane Diaz: Thank you, Cindy, for sharing all of that,
because I think these are things that, uh,
you know, tips that we often give out.
But I think it really shows those things in
action and the results that you can have
when you do those things. So as you said,
every week. And so for the listener, just to
reiterate, because these are things that I
think are important when you're, you know,
trying to build that momentum.
So, you know, most of us, we've done random
speaking here and there, but to build actual
momentum and keep those speaking gigs
coming. So Cindy said every week she's
working the leads, looking for places to
speak, seeing also I think another important
thing that we often forget.
I forget it sometimes to follow other
speakers because as you mentioned, they are
speaking in places. So if it aligns with
what you speak about, no reason.
You can't also pitch yourself to speak
there. So working on those leads every week,
following other speakers to see where
they're speaking. Google alerts I love that
you have that set up now do you do you set
those up? How like what terminology do you
use? Do you use call for speakers?
Do you use women's conferences?
What are you searching on in those Google
alerts? Yeah.
Cindy Rowe: So, uh, women speakers needed.
Um, yeah. Call for speakers.
Uh, keynote speaker.
Um, I have because I love, um, hr and I've
that's my sweet spot right now.
I get booked to speak at a lot of HR
conferences. I put in HR conferences, um,
women conferences, pretty much, and
leadership conferences, I think ERG
conferences, pretty much every kind of, um,
conference I've spoken at in the past, I
have a Google alert for and yeah, search and
I have a, um, so I'm based out of Illinois.
I'm right on the border of Wisconsin and
Illinois. So I do a call for speakers for
Illinois, a call for speakers for Wisconsin.
Um, and then just a general call for
speakers. But I probably have close to 20
Google alerts, um, that I have come to my I
have a special Google folder, um, in my
Gmail that it goes right there.
So I don't it doesn't clog up my email box.
And once a week that's I go and look at that
and kind of weed through those.
I also do Google alerts for um, like
kindness articles that I may not have, you
know, seen on my scrolling.
Um, that really helps me stay in touch too
with my topic.
And that's been really helpful.
So then I can, um, reference any kind of new
research that's out there or idea that I
haven't thought of or seen before.
So that's been helpful for me for content
to.
Diane Diaz: Oh my gosh Cindy it's brilliant.
These. Okay, a couple of things I had never
thought of. Number one, to start having
Google alerts for articles related to your
topic, so you can stay on top of that topic.
Mind blown for me. Like that's it's
brilliant. And also the idea to have the
Google alerts go to a folder in your, in
your Gmail so that it doesn't clog up your
email. Genius.
Because of course it does clog up your email
if you just let it come to the general
folder there, but also a good way to collect
them in one place so that you always know
where their where they live and you can just
go right back to it.
Yes. So I love that.
And I also love that you have many Google
alerts set up on different search terms.
So for anybody listening to this, if you're
not clear on how to set up a Google alert is
very simple. Just go literally go Google.
How to set up a Google alert is very easy,
trust me. But you can set them up on
multiple search terms. And I think that's
important because, you know, you have to
kind of think outside the box sometimes for
where you can speak that fits with your
topic. So as Cindy mentioned, she's speaking
to HR conferences a lot or meetings or
things related to HR, but also could be, you
know, a women's event or a corporate event
of some type. So think outside the box of
those, you know, search terms that you can
use for where you can speak and make Google
alerts around those and then work those
leads every week.
And then so Cindy, I'm wondering too, with
the speakers that you follow, do you ever
connect with any of them and either ask for
a recommendation to speak somewhere, or are
there? Is there any special way that you
leverage that.
Cindy Rowe: I have just through, um, you know, some of
the, uh, speaker systems, I guess through
Thought Leader Academy that we met.
Um, but some of the ones that I've not, I
guess, been introduced personally, I have
not reached out to them.
Um, I do interact with them on LinkedIn,
their posts and whatnot, but I've never
private messaged them.
I'm not to that point yet.
Um, and that might be a good idea to do.
I start building a relationship that way
when I'm at a conference and I have the
opportunity to meet other speakers, I always
try to get them on LinkedIn and follow up
with a quick note and just kind of stay
connected that way.
Um, and that's been helpful.
And, and actually, one speaker sat in my
session and I sat in on her session and we
both left each other a recommendation on
LinkedIn. So that was really cool.
Diane Diaz: Yes, I love that while you were I this is a
really great example for everyone listening
on how you have to work multiple angles,
right? So it's not just like, what is the
thing I can do to get speaking engagements?
There isn't one thing right.
There are lots of things.
And it does take in order to create momentum
and consistency with it.
It takes working all those multiple angles
because. So as Cindy just demonstrated,
she's getting speaking engagements, finding
them in Google Alerts, but also through
connecting and following other speakers and
also through, uh, you know, pitching
herself, of course, and working leads every
week and then reaching back out to places
she's already spoken at. So there's multiple
ways that the speaking engagements are
coming, but you kind of have to work all
those angles.
And and, Cindy, I think for you too, you've
you've built the awareness of who you are
and what you speak on.
And so as you mentioned, now people are
reaching out to you. So what for your
speaking engagements that you've done, you
know, as of late or over maybe over the last
year, what percentage were you, would you
say have come from people who reached out to
you versus you pitching yourself?
Cindy Rowe: Um, well, so it would be this year, I have.
Um. And a handful, and then I've, um.
And then I've actually booked into 20, 25
to, uh, speaking engagements from people
that have seen me speak already this year.
So that that was pretty exciting.
So yes, I've only got two on the books for
2025, and those are both referral referrals
and both paid.
Um, yeah, it's pretty exciting.
So I, I believe that number will continue to
grow and um, where I'm getting more booked
business through my speaking engagements
versus me filling out the applications and,
and doing the nitty gritty work.
But I'll continue doing the nitty gritty
work because it's been very fulfilling and
successful for me to do that.
And until I don't have any space on my
calendar, I'm not going to stop.
So well.
Diane Diaz: I love hearing that you have gigs booked
already into 2025, because and that's so to
to that point, now is the time to start
working on getting those.
Because depending on where you want to
speak, most events, organizations,
conferences, they are planning far out in
advance. So if you're if you're listening to
this and you're looking to speak in 2025,
start working on that now.
And you can start with some of the tips that
Cindy has shared on the ways.
So go ahead and set up Google Alerts and
that can help you start finding those
opportunities for speaking.
But but I love that you've built this brand
of being the speaker that speaks about
kindness, and it is clearly working for you
to build that momentum.
So do you mostly speak locally?
Do you travel a lot?
How does that.
Cindy Rowe: Look? I would say I do mostly travel.
Um, the summer is local, which I did by
design. Um, honestly.
But come August I am traveling and will be
traveling through, uh, the end of November.
I don't know if I even have a local.
I think I have one local event in the fall,
but everything else is travel, so.
Diane Diaz: And, ah, those are the travel ones.
Are those all paid gigs?
Cindy Rowe: Uh, I would say 50, 50, 50, 50.
Um, if they're not paying me to speak,
they're helping cover travel.
If they're not doing either of those, I've
negotiated other things like video and
photos and a testimonial and a referral, so
I.
Diane Diaz: Love it. Yes. No, I love it.
I think we always tell our clients that if
you if you do want to speak somewhere and
you know they don't have a budget or they
say they don't pay, then there are other
things that you can negotiate as quote
unquote payment, which could be all the
things you mentioned. Right? So you have to
again, think outside the box on that if you
want to get this, if you want to take the
speaking engagement. But also I think those
things can still work into your visibility
and building the momentum.
And like you said, maybe getting a referral.
So and I love the idea that you shared to
sit in on another speakers session and then
do a LinkedIn recommendation for it, because
that's so powerful.
And you've got, uh, you know, third party
credibility from someone who actually saw
you speak, sharing that with other people.
Plus, you never know, that speaker might not
be able to speak somewhere and then might
refer you. Right.
Cindy Rowe: Exactly. And it's just it's really neat.
I, I really enjoy watching other speakers
and not necessarily on there.
This sounds sad or I don't even know, but
not necessarily what they're speaking on,
but like how they're doing it, like their
slides. I really pay attention to what
they're doing versus their topic.
But, um, just so I can learn, you know, I,
you get stuck in your own bubble.
Um, and it's kind of refreshing to see what
other people are doing.
And I if I'm at a conference, I always try
to get to the keynote speaker, too, because
that's that's the position I want and I want
to see what they're doing that I am not, or,
you know, that I should be doing to get up
on that big stage. So.
Diane Diaz: Yeah, that's a you know, that's a really
great point that I think we need to see the
people doing the thing that we aspire to do,
and then it either gives us ideas or it
gives us motivation or it like you said, it
just gives us, you know, good insight for
how we might present something or I mean,
sometimes, frankly, even what not to do.
Right. So, you know, it's the anything that
you're doing, whatever it is, the more it's
almost like practice or research for you as
a speaker. Right? So part of your research
as a speaker and practicing being a speaker
is to see other speakers speak.
And then you can learn so much from that.
You can I've seen some speakers who the way
they manage the stage and their delivery and
their presence is just awe inspiring.
And I'm like, I want that.
And so then you can keep that in your mind
for when you speak and you say, oh, I can
pull from that, that I learned from this
speaker.
Cindy Rowe: Yeah. And I and you know, it's part of if
you're there. It's a great opportunity just
to meet somebody doing what you love to do,
too, and building that network, like you
said, you know, even if it just ends up
being a LinkedIn connection down the road,
you know, you never know where your paths
might cross or can cross again.
And I just love meeting new people.
Anyway, so.
Diane Diaz: Is there, I'm wondering, because I was just
thinking, as you were sharing that about the
watching other speakers, have you ever have
you ever, um, gone to an event or conference
or something and then connected with the
organizers to sort of say, you know, hey, I
loved this conference and I'd love to be a
speaker. And then my follow up question to
that would be, what is the strangest way
that you've gotten a speaking engagement or
the most interesting way that you've gotten
a speaking gig?
Cindy Rowe: Um, so I, I don't know if I've ever been to a
conference as just an attendee since I
started professional speaking.
Um. Oh, nice.
Um, I. I can't think of one.
So, uh, but I do I do like to find the, the
the person that booked me.
If they're on site, every time I go, I
always ask for them, uh, and just want to
meet them face to face because most of the
time we haven't.
Or it's just been a quick zoom call or maybe
a phone call.
Uh, so I really like to say hello and thank
them again.
Um, and the your second question.
Oh, the strangest way I.
Diane Diaz: Or most interesting or.
Cindy Rowe: I, you know, I had, uh.
I have a speaker friend locally and he was
unable to do a gig and he we, we kind of
speak about the same thing. He speaks about
connection. And um, and so he said, hey, you
should probably talk to my friend Cindy.
And we had a conversation and yeah, I was
booked as the, the, uh, closing keynote
thanks to him, but he couldn't do it so that
that was why.
Yeah.
Diane Diaz: So that's why it's so important to connect
with other people that are doing the thing
you want to do, because you never know when
those opportunities might come up.
And certainly, I mean, there have been times
that I couldn't take a speaking engagement
for one reason or another or, you know, or
it just wasn't a good fit for me or
whatever. And I will always refer another
speaker that I know. So I'm sure everybody
else feels the same way too.
So it's great to know other speakers.
So so I would say definitely connect with
other speakers on LinkedIn.
And you can, you know, as good as you can
connect with them, you know, in that
platform. But you can also once you connect
with somebody on LinkedIn, you can invite
them to a virtual coffee just to get to know
them better. And then now you've established
a relationship. So if they can't do a
speaking gig, they might mention your name,
or they might just refer you for something.
Or sometimes speakers, they themselves are
also setting up events, right?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Cindy Rowe: I hosted my own event this past fall, so in
September and I actually, uh, had that
gentleman that referred me.
He was one of my speakers and kind of as a
thank you, I guess I didn't pay him to
speak, but, uh, he, um, he got in front of a
different audience and a new audience, and
so, um, but.
Yeah.
Diane Diaz: That's fantastic.
And so now in all the speaking that you're
doing because you again, you're just pretty
much I see you out speaking all the time.
You're just always sharing it on LinkedIn.
That's another thing. Make sure you're
sharing your content on LinkedIn from
speaking engagements so that people know
you're a speaker. That's very important.
But what would you say, like with within the
speaking that you do?
What percentage would you say?
Or is it most for?
You know, you said you're not really doing
much from lead generation standpoint, but
are you doing workshops?
Are you doing?
And I know you said you're looking to do
keynotes, but what is what are they mostly
the types of talks that you're giving.
Like what format lunch and learns, uh, you
know, lead gen whatever.
Cindy Rowe: Um, I've been booked mostly for like,
breakout sessions at conferences.
Um, I've done actually, just yesterday I was
hired for, um, a local organization to do a,
um, a presentation, more of a recognition
and appreciation for case managers.
Then. That was a lot of fun.
I it was two hours that they had me, um,
speak and kind of but we did more activities
and it was it was a lot of fun.
It was all on kindness and and a lot of self
kindness. They really wanted to focus on
self kindness and um, but so those are
that's what I've been doing.
I've, I've done several keynotes um, and a
couple workshops, but not I wouldn't say
more than the two hour mark.
Um, but I'm hoping that, you know, down the
road, that's where I will be spending more
time to where I can really deep dive and and
help organizations take the kindness thing a
little bit further.
Diane Diaz: I love that and I, I noticed in your so, for
example, that post you made on LinkedIn
about the different the number of talks you
had in June, July and August, the titles
were different, but they were all connected
in some way to kindness.
Um.
Cindy Rowe: And it's basically the same presentation.
So when I pitch or fill out an application
or have that conversation with the, um,
event organizer organizer, we know the title
sells it right in the program and whatnot.
So trying to make the title work for the
conference theme is really important.
And making sure that, uh, you know, you're
kind of. Being open to having that
flexibility of changing your title to fit
the need of the event.
And but the the main part of my presentation
is the same, and I do tailor it to the group
I'm speaking with. So for instance yesterday
it was case managers.
So I did some research on what kind of, uh,
issues they're having.
I already knew this, but just to make sure,
you know, they're dealing with burnt out,
um, high levels of stress, overworked, um,
lack of staffing.
And so I weaved that throughout my
presentation on how kindness can actually
battle some of those things.
And I think that's really beneficial.
People really love when you've taken the
time to research their industry and drop a
few of the little nuggets in there and how
and weave it through, like how kindness can
actually make a difference with their.
Areas of, uh, levels or whatever of, uh,
stress that they're, they're having in that
industry.
Diane Diaz: So I love that.
I love that because it really demonstrates
that idea of having a signature talk that
you then tailor to some degree, but you
don't wholesale change it. You just tailor
it to that audience, tailor the title to be
appealing so people will want to come to it.
So I love that idea, and I love that you and
this is something that we also say to almost
all of our clients, because this comes up,
well, you know, I want to be doing these
speaking engagements regularly and I want to
get paid to speak. And so you can do that.
But if you look at Cindy's trajectory here,
you were in the Thought Leader Academy in
2022. It's now 2024.
It's been almost exactly two years.
And so it is about a two year trajectory to
get to that momentum and start getting
regular paid speaking engagements.
So it kind of holds true in this example.
Is it kind of it takes time to build that
momentum. But you've done it just to recap
for everyone by connecting with other
speakers, by setting up Google Alerts and
staying abreast of any event that might come
up where they're looking for speakers by
pitching yourself, filling out applications,
applying to conferences regularly weekly,
all the time to make sure that you're still
you're doing the effort.
And then while you're doing the speaking
engagements, you're building momentum where
people are then coming to you.
So you're leveraging the speaking
engagements you're already doing to get more
speaking engagements. So, so to get that
momentum, it kind of takes all of those
things. Mhm.
Cindy Rowe: Yeah, absolutely.
And consistency is key.
I still run my marketing business so I have
to carve out time.
This is really important to me.
I would love to be a full time speaker.
But um right now I, you know the, the
marketing company pays my bills and you know
hopefully I'm hoping and two, maybe three
years that it will be the other way around
where the speaking is my main thing and I
can kind of walk away, um, more from my
marketing company.
And I'm realistic, right?
You know, taking one day a week to really
focus on my speaking career.
I know it's going to take time.
If I had the opportunity to do 2 to 3 days a
week, I mean, I know I would propel forward
much faster, but it's just not reality.
And I am thrilled with the results of, of,
uh, what the effort that I've put in and
it's it's not it's not easy, you know, and I
get a lot of rejections, but with those
rejections, then I get, you know, a yes.
We can't wait to have you.
Um, and then within those is when people
reach out and say, I heard you speak and I
need you to speak at my event we're having,
you know, I'm on the chair, you know, or a
committee, and that those are all exciting.
But it it does take time.
Diane Diaz: Yeah, I'm glad you shared that because it
does take time.
And also there are going to be rejections
and that's okay.
But the more you know, who is it that said
you you miss 100% of the shots you don't
take. I don't know who said that, but some
basketball player I believe. But um, but
it's true. I mean, you you are going to get
rejections, but the more you keep at it, you
will start to get the yeses, and then you
just. That's all you need is like the one.
Yes. Just keep you going until the next.
Yes. Right. And so it's that, like you said,
the consistency in the work that you're
doing towards it. And so, you know, and I
think most it seems like most of us that are
speakers are also doing, you know, that's
not our sole thing. Right.
So you do have to carve out time, but you've
found a nice it's not a formula but like a
strategy, if you will, for how to start to
build your presence, get known and then
build the momentum. And so now here we are
two years later from Thought Leader Academy,
and you are all over the place.
So tell us, Cindy, what is next for you with
speaking? Do you have any really cool
speaking engagements coming up or anything
that you're super excited about with regard
to speaking or maybe some new speaking
goals? Yeah.
Cindy Rowe: So there's several things.
Um, I, I'm coming down to Orlando in August.
That's my first, uh, trip this fall or
whatever late summer.
Um, I had interviewed for the keynote and I
didn't get it. Um, but they gave me a
breakout session, and they just reached out
to me maybe two weeks ago and asked if I
would do another session because there's
they're receiving responses that, um, on the
schedule that they won't be able to attend
both or, you know, that it must be aligned
with two, you know, two different great
presentations. So they asked me to speak a
second time.
Um, so I'm speaking both Monday and Tuesday,
and I've never had that before.
Um, and I've negotiated my hotel and some
extra cash, um, to do that.
And for me, that that was an eye opener
that, you know.
I'm curious why I didn't get the keynote and
maybe. Maybe next time for the next
conference. I'll be considered if my session
is a success.
Um, our sessions are a success.
The other thing. Last year I spoke at a HR
conference. It was standing room only.
They actually had to close the doors.
And the feedback that the, uh, event
organizer received was that they were really
disappointed they didn't get into my
session, so she begged me to come back.
Uh, and so I'll be going back to that
conference this fall.
And, um, I was able to negotiate again
because I had leverage that they wanted me
there. And she's like, I don't want you to
change a thing.
She's like, we had so many people that
couldn't attend your session, so just do the
same exact presentation and, uh, come
prepared to have a full room.
So I that was really exciting to me.
And, you know, I love feedback and I love
when my friends are in the audience, but I
never truly trust them with their I feel
like they're just being nice.
But when you get that great feedback that
and people want you to come back or, or, you
know, you hear that you've inspired or
motivated, somebody like that is so
fulfilling. And I it just makes me want to
work a little bit harder.
My goals for the future, I would say for
probably the next year, I definitely want
to, um, apply for TEDx talks.
So that's on my agenda.
Um, I know they take a lot to get into, so I
just have to start and then I do want to
build a training program.
I've already created the outline of it.
I just have haven't had the opportunity to
sit down and nail out all the details.
So those are two of my big goals for the
next year.
Diane Diaz: Well, first of all, Cindy, congratulations on
those those two speaking engagements that
you shared about that they just I mean,
you're in demand. Literally.
They are demanding you.
I, I love to hear that because obviously you
have a message that resonates with so many
people. And if we're being frank, we really
need more kindness in the world right now.
So I think I think everybody's realizing
that that message is very important, not
just to us on a personal level, but also on
a business level. It is important.
And so kudos to you for getting these
opportunities, like having that message,
delivering it, and really just demonstrating
how important it is, what you talk about.
So I have no doubt that you will knock their
socks off. Can you share what the conference
is in Orlando? Since Carol and I are in
Orlando and anybody locally.
Cindy Rowe: And you're going to ask that.
Um, I think it's, uh, it's a, a HRA.
Diane Diaz: It's a it's like an HR, an HR.
Cindy Rowe: Yeah. It's like, I think it's health care
HRA. Um.
I knew you were going to ask.
Um, yeah.
Now I can't find it on my calendar.
Speaker4: That's okay. But yeah, I'll.
Cindy Rowe: Be there August 4th through the sixth, so.
Speaker4: Okay, great.
Diane Diaz: Good. Well, hopefully you'll bring lots of
water with you because it's very hot here,
so you do not want to burst into flames.
So. All right.
Well, thank you so much for sharing all of
that with us. Now also, let's go ahead.
If you would share with our listeners where
they can connect with you online. Because I
know after hearing this, people are going to
want to reach out to you and connect.
So where can our listeners connect with you?
Cindy Rowe: Yeah, I spend a lot of time on LinkedIn so
you can find me, Cindy Rowe on LinkedIn.
Um, my website is the Cindy Road.com and I
have a podcast as well.
It's, uh, The Kindness Advantage with Cindy
Rowe, where I share tips ten minutes or less
because it's I like quick and easy.
And I'm also on Instagram and Facebook too.
You can find me Cindy Rowe on those channels
too.
Diane Diaz: Okay, great. Well, we will share all of that
in the show notes. And also if you are
attending a conference related to healthcare
in Orlando in August, please go to Cindy
session because I know you're going to love
it and I know you're going to be blown away,
and you will be one of those people
demanding that she has another session or or
that she's the keynote speaker next time.
So. Well, thank you, Cindy, so much for
coming back on the podcast.
I can't tell you how excited I was to chat
with you, and I know our listeners are going
to love to hear your stories and how you've
built momentum. So thank you.
Cindy Rowe: Oh, thanks so much, Diane.
I really appreciate it.
I appreciate everything that you guys have
done for my success.
I wouldn't be where I'm at without it.
So, um, you have been helpful in making my
dreams come true. I know I put in the work,
but, uh, I had I had a great team behind me,
and I appreciate that. And I would love to
connect with any of your listeners.
Um, so please message me.
Let's connect. Support each other.
Wonderful.
Diane Diaz: Yes, absolutely.
Let's do support each other. Well, those are
thank you for the kind words.
And we we truly appreciate it has absolutely
been my pleasure to work with you.
So thank you.
All right. If you are getting started on the
speaking circuit and you're you're creating
your signature talk, or you want to create
your signature talk and you're just not sure
how to get all those ideas together.
As I mentioned, Cindy did go through the
Thought Leader Academy and you can do the
same thing too.
It's enrolling now, so if you want to work
on those things, create your signature talk,
create a visibility plan and get started on
this path towards creating momentum on the
speaking circuit, you can visit speaking
your brand.com/academy again that is
speaking your brand.com/academy.
And as I said we are enrolling right now.
Until next time thanks for listening.