SAMIA: Hello, Salam, Shalom, Namaste, Sat Sri Akal, Aloha, Holah, Ciao, Bonjour, Buna and Privet!

It's really really good to be with you again... and I know you will be very happy you have joined us today because we have a very special guest that we will be talking to… learning from... and that is Stephanie Treasure. And Stephanie is an Online Marketing Strategist and Business Mentor… Welcome Stephanie...

STEPHANIE: Thank you so much for having me Samia... it is a pleasure to be here... And I loved your greeting to everyone that's listening… I hope you covered all the basis... anybody that's listening that didn't hear their greeting… I'm sure you'll understand...

SAMIA: Yes I'm doing the best I can and actually my list of greetings has been growing... when I first started out I think I was doing maybe five or six greetings and now we are at 11 I believe… So...

STEPHANIE: Wonderful... No... I think you did an excellent job...

SAMIA: ..oh thank you… thank you so much for that Stephanie... appreciate that positive feedback... And I'm going to have you just tell us more about who you are and what you do... as a way to just get us going…

STEPHANIE: Awesome… sure… Thanks again... it's a pleasure to be here… thanks for having me… hello and welcome to your viewers and listeners.... And my name is… as Samia you said …is Stephanie Treasure and I'm an Online Marketing Strategist and Business Mentor to women coaches consultants and service-based business owners who are looking to grow leverage and scale their businesses... by helping them with the marketing lead generation and sales strategies that will help them to be able to attract more of their ideal clients… enroll them in their programs and make more money… And I help my clients to achieve their ambitious six-figure milestone... As well as you know being able to reach more people and make a bigger impact... So that's a little bit about the work I do… I've been doing this now since about 2012 I would say... So I've been in business for quite some time after leaving a corporate… and it's what I love to do …marketing is my background... Also I have a strong business background and that's what I get to work on …read about …study …attend conferences as I sharpen the stuff myself all about business and marketing... my happy place…

SAMIA: Nice... I love that you're doing work that you love… that makes you happy... That is so important for me... as a happiness expert… because you know doing what we love is such an important aspect of our happiness… so I'm so happy for you...

STEPHANIE: Thank you... Thank you so much I appreciate that...

SAMIA: Okay so I know there's so many different ways in which you support your clients... there's so many different aspects of marketing and you know just making sure you have a successful business… And one of the most important aspects for people who are service-based businesses… who are coaches… who are you know people like me and you... one of the most important things that we have to do in the context of growing our businesses is we have to be talking to people a lot... Oftentimes you know we have to be the face and the voice of our brand... and so that can involve a lot of public speaking and I know you have a lot of amazing wisdom to share around that... 

STEPHANIE: Yes…

SAMIA: ...so please tell me more…

STEPHANIE: Absolutely… So yeah... you know one of the main ways in terms of how I started in business… because when I mentioned that I've been working as a business mentor since 2012... I actually started business in 2006… and as in my capacity in... when I started out which involved a lot of consulting work… I was faced with having to do a lot of public speaking... And even fast… even not fast… for even rewinding quite a bit past that… like I said I've always worked... I studied marketing… and I've always worked in a marketing capacity... And speaking… right… making pictures and presentations for whether in-house teams or outside teams is an essential part of the job... And I actually came from a place where I was very very nervous as relates to presenting or speaking or you know showing up in public in any meaningful way… even as way back as you know undergrad and graduate… you know as well as working on my graduate degree when I had to do presentations… in that respect I just always had hang-ups around it… I was always one of those shaky speakers or you know I would have papers you could see it shaking… or my voice would quiver... It was just not something I would like to do because I don't like to be in the limelight… But behind the scenes I was a powerhouse right and I really had to get to a point where I came face to face with that fear of public speaking… that fear of presenting… that fear of being in the spotlight throughout my career… And especially through my corporate career and especially when as a business owner I was it… I couldn't delegate that to a second in command or I couldn't you know leave it up to my boss… I was it… right... I was the business owner… the face of my business and I had to do or die you know... do my share of public speaking… do my share of speaking engagements… speaking on podcasts like this... Now I regularly do lives… my own live stream show weekly for my community… there's several videos… if you go on my YouTube channel you see several videos there... I guess if you go back to the beginning ones… you'll see you know some parts of me that were… that was nervous around doing video but as you continue to watch the videos you see a more confident person showing up... somebody who's a little bit more... I hope a little bit more… much more sure of herself as relates to speaking doing videos showing up for my community sharing videos giving advice you know... giving tips and strategies on you know through video and through live streams…

SAMIA: Thank you for sharing your own journey... That is so... I think… important for people to know that you can actually grow... like in terms of developing speaking and public speaking as a skill... And so many people are afraid of public speaking… it's we know the number one fear that most people have… and yet it is something that we can learn to manage and even master over time if it's important for us to do... and I you know just also really appreciated the distinction that you drew... When it comes to marketing work... you… there is that possibility that you can be doing amazing marketing work from behind the scenes... but it is also true as you said… like if you have your own business and especially if you're in this kind of business where you are a service provider… where your coach trainer healer like I am... The easiest way to market your business is actually by being the brand… being the face and voice of your brand... I know that was... one of the big lessons that I learned as I started to learn about marketing and effective marketing... And so even though you don't... you could theoretically try and market your business in a way where you don't have to be the face and voice of it because you don't like public speaking... it can make it more hard make it more difficult to grow your brand…

AD HERE

STEPHANIE: Yeah right… When you do when you're not... when you're... when you step into the initial... you know coaching consulting space right... You know because it depends on the kind of business… there it depends on what depending on what you're doing that's something that you can delegate... You can hire somebody who's in charge of marketing who's in charge of PR who can be the voice of the business right… it doesn't have to be the CEO… but in the coaching and consulting space where you are the one that's… you know marketing yourself your services you're working with clients one-on-one... They need to hear from you because you're the person that they're ultimately going to be working with… And so it really... you really get to a point where you come face to face with the fact that you can't hide… right... You do have to do your share of outward content that you know involves you putting yourself out there... It doesn't have to be videos it doesn't have to be speaking all the time but you can really... make great strides when you do include what I call that 3D aspect… the 3D Marketing that involves... having a person being able to see you move speak express yourself as opposed to just doing nice bust shots… and having great captions… great posts… that's great... But when you take things to the point of doing marketing that involves video content it really puts things to the next level… And that's the content… believe it or not… like it or not… that's most being viewed… there's many stats out there that I can't quote verbatim… but video content is the most-watched content... the video content… live stream content is watched more than anything else... So if you really want to reach your people and have them hear you… you want to make sure that you have content out there for them to view in that way as well...

SAMIA: And I'm just wondering like for people who have this hesitation of being on video and so forth... because of their fear of public speaking... did you find... when you started to work on this for yourself that there's a difference between doing a video where it's just you recording a video on your own versus doing like a live... Or doing something with an audience present in terms of being able to manage your emotions better or having it be easier one way or the other...

STEPHANIE: Yes... yes… Both have their caveats… but if I had to choose I would say doing a video is... for me… was easier than speaking for an audience right... With a video you can do several takes right… you know you could do a take and you're like "ah that wasn't good" you could do another you can do more takes to perfect it if you will… although... I always submit my audience don't aim for perfection… whether you're doing a video or live stream you're gonna mess up you're gonna you know stumble over your words just you know catch your composure correct yourself and keep going... but with a live audience you know there's a component that's… you know there's a challenge there where when you're in front of people and you can't do any other takes …you know you have all these eyes looking at you... which is part of the reason why I would say I feared public speaking… you're on stage or in front of all these people who are… you feel like they're gonna be judging you… they're going to be analyzing you know whether or not you're making sense… hanging on to every word you say… You feel… you start to wonder if you're qualified to be speaking to that audience... So many things that go into it when it's an in-person… But again even with in-person… so the same way you can do retakes for video there are some tips that you can... some strategies that you can implement that will help you to feel more comfortable in front of a live audience that will get you through it just as well as if you were doing a video... So if you want I could share some of those tips with you...

SAMIA: Oh yes that would be wonderful… Please do...

STEPHANIE: Great… So what I found right as it relates to… and it's you know... let me preface this by saying that public speaking… the fear of public speaking is very real... You're speaking to someone who has… I would say… I can still say I have this real fear but I've got ways that I manage it right… So let me still put myself in the shoe of you know in the list of 10 things that people you know… top 10 fears with public speaking being number one... I would say yes I am one of those who would put public speaking as a number one right… But there's no... in terms of facing despair… there's… it's one of those like many other fears that you just have to face it and go through it… right …Because the only way to overcome it is to go through it right... So what I'm gonna share is not gonna be revolutionary and it's not gonna be a magic bullet... it's not gonna be a magic bullet strategy… It's what worked for me... and what can work for you too… right... this has been proven to work… right…

SAMIA: Yeah…

STEPHANIE: So I’ll share with you three things that worked for me to help me to manage my fear and still show up when needed… for podcasts… live streams… videos… in-person public speaking… interviews etc. right… So the first thing that was really really really really key for me is being a prepared… right... When you're not prepared for anything you're not going to… you know... if you're... if it's a dance if you're a dancer or if you're an athlete… if you're not prepared you're not going to do well... And you're going to feel when you're not prepared for something you also feel unprepared… you also feel I can't do this because I'm not ready I'm not prepared I'm not equipped right... And so it's going to be the same thing for public speaking… If you're not prepared… that's one added thing… So let's just say you already have a fear of public speaking… now add to that your fear plus oh and I actually don't even know the material… I'm not even quite sure what I'm going to say… I haven't finished my slides… I haven't finished my outline… I haven't finished adding anecdotes to each of my points right... When you're unprepared that's another thing that you're going to have to worry about or another thing that would be your concern or that will you know be preoccupied with that could affect your performance... And so I make it a point to do it especially when I really really am nervous I do a dry run... of what I'm going to prepare… if it's a webinar… if it's a master class... I've even… let me see if I remember when I've done this recently... I've had to travel for an engagement some years ago... so it was you know out of my home space …and I went to the …so it was a hotel and they had the... I stayed at the hotel where the event was being… was happening… And so I asked for access to the ballroom… to the you know... room …the meeting room where we were gonna have… where I was gonna do my presentation... And from that you know that area… as much as was set up… because you know sometimes they set up these things you know the morning off… so as much as possible I tried to stand where you know I felt I would be facing the audience and started to do a dry run of my material… So that not only do I know my material but I'm doing it in the space and getting a feel for the atmosphere in which I'm going to be presenting…

SAMIA: Yeah…

STEPHANIE: So that I'm that much more prepared and ready for the eventual and hopefully we'll take some of the edge off... It makes sense…

SAMIA: It makes a lot of sense... And you know the only sort of challenge that I know I used to run into... because I used to have... I wouldn't say like an intense fear of public speaking …but I used to be like really introverted and socially challenged in various ways... And so definitely I also had to go through a process of learning to be comfortable with public speaking… And for sure being prepared helped so much… But what I found myself doing in my early days was procrastinating on preparing… Because in my mind I think I was like… you know... like playing tricks with myself where I  was unconsciously maybe trying to give myself an excuse to say… oh I cannot do this because I'm not prepared... by not getting prepared...

STEPHANIE: Yeah yeah… I know… I mean right …just see how best you can avoid it and kind of you know avoid it and banish it from your mind... and hopefully you do prepare... Yeah… I can totally relate… I know what you mean right...

SAMIA: Yeah… right... So I… that has really really worked for me...

STEPHANIE: Yeah… Being really… preparing as much ahead of time… right…

SAMIA: And oh... and just if... for anyone who is like inclined to procrastinate on the… the preparation part… maybe have an accountability buddy or support system so that you know... so you can stay on track and make sure you take the time to get prepared...

STEPHANIE: Yes yes... yeah! That's a great idea right… Have somebody who can relate to your fear …you know somebody who's a good friend right who will you know nicely nudge you and have you do what you need to do in order to be ready for this big appearance that you have to do... whether it's a video live stream you know in-person speaking engagement or something on zoom or virtual right... Yeah… that's a great idea... I agree with that...

SAMIA: Awesome! So what's your next tip…

STEPHANIE: So the second thing that I did and I think I learned this from someone... I may have read it somewhere... was to mingle… So I would… if it's like an in-person speaking engagement which was the one at the… if there was a totem pole of the situations where I most feared having to you know speak publicly… it would definitely be an in-person event right... And so what I did… I tried to do… if I am scheduled for… let's just say it's a conference… an all-day conference… and you know how they have these slots… you know you have your keynote that goes first and then you have some other speakers behind that person... So if I know I was slated for say the afternoon slot or mid-morning but there was somebody ahead of me... I would try as much as possible to introduce myself and get to know the other people in the audience… right… really mingle with them… get to know them… befriend them... so that I can have that familiarity with them …so that once I got up on stage or the podium …wherever I was going to speak from… when I'm going to be looking at this audience... I wasn't looking at a bunch of strangers anymore...

SAMIA: Yeah...

STEPHANIE: Because I feel like one of the things that would affect me and have you know have bearing on how I felt… how confident I felt when I would speak… is that  I thought I was speaking to all these strangers… right... They don't know me… I don't know them… and they're going to be judging me… etc etc... So I felt like when I befriended people and I mingled and said hi and say Hey I'm Stephanie you know actually I'm going to be the third speaker… I'm going to be talking at 11 o'clock… I'm going to be talking at 12 about such and such you know what do you do… And you know I would get to know them so that we're all friends right... and if you're speaking in front of friends if you're speaking in front of family you know you're gonna be fine because these are people that you know right… And so that's what I was trying to do to get to know them… get them to know me... so that I didn't feel like I was standing and looking you know… all these eyes and strangers are looking at you… I'm looking at them... I don't know if that makes sense but that's worked for me… that has worked in the past for me whenever I've... especially would have had to speak at in-person events… live events... 

SAMIA: I love that idea... Because not only does it have the benefit of… just like you said… you developed that sense of familiarity with at least some of the people in the audience… you have a friendly face to look at and so forth... But also you know it's just... for example... I know… I learned this relatively recently that you know when you go to many of these like shows where you know they're doing recordings for different shows for tv and so forth… They actually have this whole like process where they warm up the audience to the host of the show before the show actually starts… Because it just… it has a huge impact… like the audience gives off an energy that the host definitely feeds off and vice versa... And so to have a friendly audience… to have… to feel that friendly presence in the audience... it is super important... And you can actually... to realize that you can actually cultivate that for yourself before you go on stage... I think that is brilliant… that is just absolutely brilliant... And I just loved the process that you shared for how you could do it so simply and so easily... and so like it doesn't have to take a whole lot of time either...

STEPHANIE: Exactly yes… And I did hear about that... I think what I did here was that if there's going to be... because I've been to a few live comedy shows... and what I understood when I heard about it was that if there's like a main...  say a keynote comedian if you will… that's going to be you know like you know the lead of the show…. They'll have like an icebreaker person come on before to get the audience you know in the mood to get you laughing at a few jokes as you get ready… Especially if they're going to film it they want the audience to already be primed and already in that jovial upbeat mood so that when they hear the jokes of the main comedian they're ready… right… And I think for those talk shows is probably the same thing where... you know… usually whenever they show the studio audience that you know... everybody's like ready and you know in an excited mood and they tried to tease that up by it like you said doing some things... I hear that you can play games sometimes just to get the audience in the mood…

SAMIA: Yeah…

STEPHANIE: ...and get them you know... in an energy of... you know being jovial being excited to be here so that they can showcase that when they do… when they start filming... So that's true I guess it's so similar… I guess it's a similar concept...

SAMIA: Yeah… but the thing that I really love about what you said about how you make it happen for you is that you know when you're going to speak at a lot of other people's events... a lot of other people... actually don't know honestly… how to set the right environment and set the right tone and mood to raise people's energy and stuff… I've been to so many events where... I mean the energy is so low… And I didn't realize… actually that's what I was used to honestly... I thought that's just how it was until I started going to like all these trainings with this very… a specific company… they're called Success Resources now… but when I first started working with them they had a different name… but anyway that's not the point... The point is that they are masters at doing live trainings and live events… And they have this… like really amazing… like process they… that they go through to just build up audience energy for themselves… And when they have guest speakers they do the same thing for the guest speakers... So like for example... when you first show up to a success resources training… right off the bat you know there's like people standing at the door to welcome you and say "Hi how are you doing?" …Like you know just having that cheerful energetic presence at the door …and then usually they even have... And then when people start to fill into the room they will have like music on… and usually they even have… you know like... they'll take the first few minutes where like a person will come in and they'll like warm up the audience like you were saying by doing things like "Hey welcome… where are you from?" Like they'll have like you know call back and forth …like different things like that from the audience… So they'll be like "Who's from California?" "Who's from out of town?"... You know like those kinds of things… just to get people used to responding to this person on stage… And they just do all kinds of little big things to make it happen… and... they actually also believe in... asking for what you need… So it's like if you want a certain kind of response from the audience… just ask the audience for it... You know that they will say things like... expect this presentation that we're going to do to be very interactive… we're going to ask you lots of questions and we want you to respond… and I for you know... and then… and they'll be like if you... And then they'll actually do that… they'll be like… if this is true for you raise your hand… And they'll actually wait for people to raise their hand… you know like that kind of a thing... And so it just keeps the energy moving… And... yeah… so I... and so what I heard you share… it made me think about you know this idea also that you know taking the power in for yourself… Like if you can go and be part of an organization or an event where they're already experts at building up energy and creating this kind of friendly environment with the audience for you… great… But if you are at an event where the organizers don't have that skill… You can still create it for yourself by talking to the audience… mingling with the audience yourself beforehand… that was the point...

STEPHANIE: Absolutely!

SAMIA: ..yeah.

STEPHANIE: Yes yes yes! Great example absolutely... It's all in your control… you can do that meet and greet you know on your own and warm the audience up to you before you deliver your talk… yeah…

SAMIA: Cool…

STEPHANIE: And the third thing that I would recommend that really worked for me was... to focus on the value that you're giving and the people who need to receive it… So like if you're giving a talk… you know the organizers or whoever invited you to give a talk… valued your expertise… valued your opinion… your viewpoint on the specific area and they want to share this with that audience... And there's people in the audience that don't know you… are not exposed to you… possibly not exposed to your type of content or the messages… the information that you're going to share... So focus on what they need to hear… focus on the value that you're giving them… so that your listeners or your viewers leave with… or walk away with something that they can use you know for the situation whether it's in their business or in their lives... Focus on that and less so on yourself… kind of remove yourself from the equation because... and I think I did hear somebody say this as well… When you remove the ego component… which is you know making it about you… because you know what you may be nervous because you're thinking… are they going to think that I'm not qualified or they're gonna be looking at me and judging me... Remove yourself and your ego from the occasion... and focus on what you're there to do… the impact that you're making… the message that you have to deliver... and the persons’ receiving that message… right... and what they need to make this have been worth their while… right... Yes… And because you're focusing on the job of that… on the importance of that… hopefully… mentally you'll be less concerned with what they think about you… right... Which will automatically make you less nervous...

SAMIA: Yes…

STEPHANIE: That's my third tip… 

SAMIA: Oh! I love that tip... I love that tip... And I know that is likely to be especially effective for you know like coaches and other service-based people who are really heart-centered …like you know where you're coming into the work because you love to serve and you love to help other people... And if that's a big value for you... I and I know pretty much most of the coaches that I know... like 90% of the coaches that I know… they do the work that they do because they love helping people... And when we are able to stay focused on doing what we love... yeah… It makes everything else disappear in terms of nervousness… fear… because you're doing what you love… you're living out this amazing value that you have... and in that just like you said it's not about you it's about the people that you're trying to serve and help... And that is just so wonderful… I love it...

STEPHANIE: Yes yes… Absolutely absolutely… So those are the tips that have helped me... and I didn't have this as a tip but… practice …right …And I guess it kind of goes with number one where I say to fully prepare… but practice you know… the more you do it… it's gonna seem… if you're at the beginning of this journey it's gonna seem difficult... but the more you speak… the more you do podcasts… more you have to speak in person… the more videos you do… the more live streams you do… the more comfortable you are going to automatically get with the process and with doing it… And you… it will reflect in the way that you're showing up in those respective places...

SAMIA: Yeah… It's like you gave your own example... on your own YouTube channel… if people go back and watch your old videos they can see your growth you know and your progress… And the same is true for me… Like when I started my very first podcast… this is actually my second podcast show... my first show… that's called Survivor to Thriver Show... And if you had listened to the earliest episodes of that... I used to like ramble and just you know... because I was… when I'm nervous I tend to talk a lot more and be very repetitious… And so I used to do that so much… But I was like… nope you know what I'm just gonna get it out there… put it out there… do it... because otherwise it would never have gotten done honestly...

STEPHANIE: Yeah yeah... absolutely…

SAMIA: Awesome… Thank you so much Stephanie for taking all this time to be with us today and sharing these amazing tips with us... They've been so helpful… I've learned so much from you... Do you have anything you want to share with people as we wrap up right now in terms of how people can best get in touch with you or any other last words…

STEPHANIE: Sure… you can reach me at my…. I have a website that's my name StephanieTreasure.com... easiest way to find me… And I have links to my social media there… But on Facebook you can find me on my Facebook page… it's called Stephanie Treasure Biz... B-I-Z like Zebra... facebook.com/StephanieTreasureBiz …you'll find me there …You'll find me on Instagram as well at instagram.com/TheStephanieTreasure …And on YouTube just youtube.com/c/StephanieTreasure …So look for me there …I'm pretty active for the most part on Facebook and Instagram. And there's a few recent videos on YouTube as well that you can check out… I love to share... you see many live streams even on my Facebook page and Instagram… videos that I've recorded sharing business and marketing tips... I speak somewhat about productivity and mindset tips as well… So once you follow me you'll get more resources as it relates to that... And what I want to encourage you to do is... kind of putting from the example of my last point where I say when it comes to public speaking take out the ego component and just think of the people that you're helping... For anybody that's watching this… that's a business owner and faced with you know going about the marketing of your business… whether you're writing… whether you're doing videos or live streams... In whatever you do that you sometimes resist doing it or procrastinate doing it as you mentioned because you're worried about how it will be perceived... Take out that ego component and focus on the people out there who need you... Persons who are actually looking for your content and they find value in it… whether it's written content or video content or live stream... Think about the people who need to… you know you need to show up for in speaking engagements and such… who need to hear about the work that you're doing because they're looking to work with someone like you... Although right you may want to shrink back and say …Oh they can you know there's many coaches out there… there's many other kinds of experts... There are persons that are… that want to work with you based on your background… your experience… your clients success stories… what you bring to the table… how you work… your specific personality… that they won't get from another coach... So think about those persons who need your support… who need your help and continue to show up for them… right... And you do an amazing job… you reach amazing clients who are really plugged in… who are your right-fit clients and they'll feel that you are their right-fit coach or mentor… And they'll be happy that your paths crossed... And it would be because you didn't give up on showing up and putting yourself out there for these people...

SAMIA: Amazing... amazing… And on that amazing empowering note we're going to say our goodbyes for now... And until we connect next time I'm just going to remind you to please check the show notes because we're going to add Stephanie's links in there so you can connect with her easily and make sure you reach the right Stephanie… although I don't think there'll be very many Stephanie Treasures out there... Stephanie Treasurer is one and only...

STEPHANIE: There is actually... which is why I had to do the Instagram that way... I had to… I wanted my Instagram to be Stephanie Treasure but it was actually taken… I was so surprised because I didn't think there were many Stephanie Treasures out there...

SAMIA: Oh...

STEPHANIE: Yes yes...

SAMIA: For sure people check those show notes and click on the links… make sure you reach the right Stephanie... I'll also drop my links in there in case you need to get in touch with me… And until we connect next time I wish you lots and lots of joy :)