The Barefoot Executive Carrie Wilkerson shares about the importance of getting your message heard…right up our alley here at Women Speakers Association! We’re thrilled she’s joined our Speakerpalooza line-up and grateful she has chosen to giveaway 3 signed hardcover copies of her book ‘The Barefoot Executive: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom & Being Your Own Boss’. Details on how to enter to win Carrie’s signed book following her post. ***Giveaway Below Ends June 15th***

By Carrie Wilkerson
Author, Speaker, Consultant & Joyful Human!
Springtown, Texas USA

“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” Arguably there is only a sound if someone is there to receive the noise, right?

Your message is the same way. The sound you make is irrelevant, if there is no one there to watch, hear or read you.

The phenomenon is that we tend to get wrapped up in ‘the thing.’ We spend so much time reading, editing and perfecting that we lose sight of the fact that we don’t have an audience.

You must have someone ‘listening’ in order to make an impact.

Unlike the fictional account in the movie ‘Field of Dreams…’ Just because we build it, doesn’t mean ‘they’ will come. We will not draw crowds of raving fans or hordes of like-minded souls simply because we take the microphone or the pen in hand, no matter how great our message is.

Now is the time to start surrounding yourself with others who will (or might) be interested in what you have to say. Audience building takes priority over book proposal writing, creating your speaker reel or even polishing your presentation.

A powerful example is pop sensation Justin Bieber. Justin didn’t progress through the ranks of the Disney or Nickelodeon star-makers. Justin honed his craft while building his audience through YouTube and social media channels.

Whether you are a ‘Belieber’ or not, Justin hosted mini concerts at public venues and invited fans through social media. Eventually, his self-selected audience roared so loudly that a major label could not deny his stardom.

That’s all good, but how to apply this personally? Establish some credibility by publishing yourself first.

➢ Publish to your blog.
➢ Collect emails on your site
➢ Produce a podcast.
➢ Create a Facebook Fan Page.
➢ Start a LinkedIn and/or Facebook Group.
➢ Be a guest interview for blogs, podcasts, teleconference calls & webinars
➢ Make YouTube videos for your channel.

In short, Validate Yourself.

If you are waiting for a book deal or speaking contract to validate your work …you’re going to keep waiting. Wouldn’t you rather be making ripples right away?

Your key asset for any publisher, promoter or producer is not going to be your manuscript or your demo, but the audience you bring along.

Make sure the forest is full that when the tree falls, the sound it makes is unmistakably YOU!

Carrie Wilkerson will never be Miss America, but she is Miss Ellaneous. From corporate to teaching school to direct sales, information marketing and coaching she has ‘been there and done that’ professionally and personally.

An ‘overnight mom’ to 2 toddlers through adoption, her priorities instantly changed and so did her workplace. She’s now built many businesses and coached others to do the same while overcoming six figure debt, losing 110 lbs and having 2 more children, for a total of 4, aging toddler to teen!

A mentor/coach/adviser to over 100,000 men and women as the Barefoot Executive through her book, videos, podcasts, mentoring and live speaking, Carrie’s business growth methods have inspired thousands
and has earned many awards.

A sought after speaker, Carrie’s humor and tough love translates to every audience, gender and generation. Her passion is teaching others to ‘Fill their Stadium’ with fans so that business is abundant!

For more information about Carrie and her work, please visit: http://barefootexecutive.tv.

***GIVEAWAY***

Carrie will be giving away 3 signed hardcover copies of her book ‘The Barefoot Executive: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom & Being Your Own Boss’.

The giveaway for a signed book has the same rules as the other Speakerpalooza giveaways: