Archive for the ‘Advice Column’ Category

Hey everyone!

Who said you have to go to college? C’mon, let’s face facts. If everyone went to college, who would run the fast food restaurants? Who would drive the taxis? Who would collect the trash? Don’t get me wrong. I do not have anything against the three fields mentioned above. As a matter of fact, I utilize all three of those services. The point I’m making is that unless you educate yourself, you will be limiting your career options and earning potential, and we spend 2/3 of our lives working. So, you better enjoy what it is you do.  

I live in Las Vegas where there are plenty of fields that do not require a college education. But who wants to valet cars at 60-years-old? I wouldn’t! But hey, if that’s what you truly want to do with your life, knock yourself out. 

The fact of the matter is the higher your education, the more options you have in life. Wouldn’t you prefer to have several choices with which to do with your life rather than one or two? It took me many, many years to figure this out. 

I was expelled from high school at the age of 17. The career choices I had were selling drugs or being a busboy. Guess what I did? I did both. And yeah, I made some cool money, but what kind of life is selling drugs and cleaning someone’s dirty dishes? Especially when you are capable of so much more! And each and everyone you reading this article are capable of so much more! 

It wasn’t until my late 20’s when I realized I needed/wanted a formal education to live the life “I” truly desired. Everyone desires something different. For me, I wanted to own a big house drive nice cars and have money in the bank. I could’ve continued selling drugs and possibly become financially successful, but the odds of going to prison or being killed were far greater than becoming successful and living the life I desired. Therefore, I took the smart route. The route adults kept telling I should take when I was younger. But when I was 17-Y-O, it was difficult to see my life at 30. And I’m sure it’s that way for a lot of you, too. That’s why it took until I was in my late 20’s to realize I needed to change, and for me, the change was to go to college. The adults who kept telling me I needed to go to college, I finally realized, were right! 

Though you should go to college, and at the very least, receive your bachelor’s degree, I know traditional college isn’t for everyone. If you choose not to go to a traditional college, you better receive some kind of education beyond high school. Otherwise, you will have the same qualification at 30-Y-O as you do as a younger person, and if that’s the case, how will you earn enough money to live as a competitive wage earner? The answer is, you won’t! It’s that simple! There are many technical and trade colleges where you will learn a specific craft. For instance, you could go to culinary school and become world-renowned chef. You could learn graphic and web design. Fashion design. Music engineering. There are thousands of careers out there. As a matter of fact, there’s a trade college for nearly every trade field. Bottom-line, you should continue your education well past high school. If you don’t, you will be left behind. 

During my research for this article, I was reading educational data from the U.S. Censes Bureau regarding the difference in income between high school dropouts, high school graduates and college graduates, and was shocked at the numbers.  

A high school graduate, on average, over their lifetime, will earn over $250,000.00 more than a high school dropout.  

A college graduate (bachelor’s degree), also on average, over their lifetime, will earn over $750,000,00 more than a high school graduate. 

Here’s the real killer…a person with a professional degree (doctor, lawyer, etc.) will, on average, over their lifetime, earn over $2,000,000.00 more than a person holding only a bachelor’s degree. 

Even for the mathematically challenged, these earning differences are not difficult to understand. We are all responsible for our own choices in life. Anything truly worth having may be hard to achieve, but if you stick with it, it will be worth it. I promise! So, if you desire something more in life, do the right thing and get an education in a field you love, and live the life you desire! 

You will get older, so you might as well have your education completed so you can earn a great living. Besides, Mommy and Daddy will support you for only so long, then it’s good-bye and good luck! 
 

Glenn Brandon Burke, M.Ed

Professional Speaker & Educator

www.GlennBrandonBurke.com

How to Become a Professional Speaker / Motivational Speaker

Whenever I want to learn something new, I research, and speak with people who are doing what I want to do. If someone is successful in a given field, you know they know what they`re doing. Otherwise, they wouldn`t be successful.

When I first decided to become a professional speaker (2002/3), I sought out mentors. I live in Las Vegas, NV, and through my research found a motivational speaker who was, and still is, very popular, and he happened to live relatively close to me. So I found his number, called him, introduced myself, and asked if I could take him to lunch for the purpose of asking him questions to aid me in becoming a motivational speaker. He responded by saying “for $1,600.00 you can take me to lunch for one hour and ask anything you want.” I laughed and asked if that crap really works? He replied by saying that if I really want a career in this industry, I will pay him. What a joke!

A couple of years later at a (paid) speaking engagement, I ran into the same guy who said if I want a career in this industry, I would pay him all that money. Since he and I actually never met in person, I introduced myself (didn`t mention our conversation other than saying, I believe we spoke a couple of years back? ?) and he said, yeah, I know who you are, you`re the guy who owns that sales company and was a high school dropout and now has a few college degrees.

Now, really curious as to how he would perceive me, I ask if he would like to get together and have lunch. He quickly agreed, and did so because he now saw me as an equal. We had an interesting conversation. He talked most of the time about how great he is, and how he began in the world of professional speaking. But I did pick up some great pointers.

Now that you know my first step into this world, allow me to welcome you to the exciting and lucrative world of professional speaking! There are many fields where you may earn a great living as a professional speaker. Corporations and associations throughout the world hire speakers. However, before you run out and start selling yourself to those who hire speakers, you must have your speaking business professionally ready. Otherwise, you will never get hired.

When I first decided to enter the professional speaking world, I learned the hard way that there were very specific things I must do in order to get hired, paid, and re-hired. I`ve listed below what must be done to become a professional speaker.

1. Topic:

To begin, you must have a sellable topic(s). Your topic must have value and be of benefit to your prospective client(s). You must present your material very effectively. A great way to begin is to practice your presentation(s) for free. Places such as the Rotary & Lions Clubs are always looking for luncheon speakers. There are also local community organizations, churches and schools. Lastly, you may consider joining your local Toastmasters chapter. Toastmasters` is a great place to improve your public speaking skills, and you may also want to hire a professional speaking coach to help you put together your topic in a coherent manner, and work on its delivery..

2. Branded identity:

Like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, you need to brand yourself with an identifiable logo. This logo will be on your business card, stationary, one sheet, head shot and promotional tape (DVD).  Place your logo in one spot on any and all material you will be giving to your potential client(s). Also make sure you have your contact information on all material. Imagine sending a promotional kit to the ABC Corporation and they liked everything about you, but somehow everything from your kit but your one sheet ends up missing. If your contact information (your web address works well) is listed, they will still be able to contact you.

3. Web site, E-mail and Business address:

With the world now working at the speed of light, it is imperative you have a web site. Your web site should contain everything you would send in your promotional kit to a potential client. My web site, for instance, contains the following:

For professional reasons, you will want to have a personal E-mail address. Though I do have an AOL account for personal E-mail, I also have a professional address. Doing so adds that touch of professionalism. You can setup your personal address through Microsoft Outlook. For instance, mine is MyName@MyName.com.

Unless you want everyone who receives your business card to know your personal business address, I would recommend getting a mailing address from a mailbox store.

4. Promotional kit:

A promotional kit (promo kit) is a package that will supply your potential client with all they need to know about who and what you are. The promo kit should contain the following:

1. One Sheet (basically, a bio of you and your speaking experience – include small head shot in or near upper right corner)
2. Head shot (8 x 10 color photo ” not always needed if on the one sheet)
3. Testimonial letters (copies from past clients)
4. Press clippings (copies from write-ups about you and your speaking)
5. Promo tape (DVD: 5-10 minutes, professionally edited)
6. Business card (include logo and consider a head shot, too)

Actually, I have now created an Online Press Kit. ? It is my web site (www.GlennBrandonBurke.com). Everything I previously used in my physical press kit is on my Online Press Kit ? and in the order in which I mentioned above. I did this because in the world of Internet marketing and sales, I found it to be far more cost effective and faster than putting together actual press kits.

I now send a personal letter (on letterhead) to potential clients, or a personal E-mail. I make sure I have the proper spelling of both their first and last name. I follow up with a phone call within 5-7 business days. And once I have someone on the phone, in their office, it`s easy to refer them directly to my Online Press Kit where they will immediately see all they need to know about me and how I WILL be of benefit.

Once you are ready to take the leap from free (practice) speaking engagements into the world of professional speaker, you need to get yourself booked. Look for my next article on How to Get Paid Speaking Gigs.

Glenn Brandon Burke, M.Ed. is a Motivational Speaker, Author, Columnist, Educator & CEO. Glenn may be contacted via his Online Press Kit ? at www.GlennBrandonBurke.com.  Article contributions by: Troy Evans (www.TroyEvans.com), Victor Antonio G. (www.VictorAntonio.com) and Rahja McKee-Cray (www.ViragoVisions.com).

When I was 16-years-old our home was robbed. Every room was destroyed. However, I had $600.00 in an envelope laying on my TV. Though it was on the floor when I returned, the money was still there. I thought that was both very cool and strange. The bulk of what was stolen was thousands of dollars of jewelry from my Dad and his girlfriend.

When I arrived home that afternoon, the police were there. I was freaked out. I thought I was getting busted. But I played it cool. It turned out that my Dad’s girlfriend had called the police because of the robbery. I recall the police asking my Dad’s girlfriend if she noticed anything unusual when she left in the morning. She said she saw an older green Chevrolet pick-up truck with a white shell over the bed. What caught my attention to that statement was that a friend of mine had a truck just like that. As a matter of fact, he wasn’t in school that day. My initial thought was that this so-called friend robbed us.

When I returned to school the next day, this “friend,” along with another “friend,” whom I realized wasn’t in school the day before either, were both wearing new gold chains. I inconspicuously attempted to question them both as to why they weren’t in school the day before, but was unsuccessful in getting them to incriminate themselves. But from that moment on, I suspected that together they robbed my home. And therefore, never again allowed them in my home.

I never accused them of breaking in and robbing us, but that was only because I didn’t have proof. The circumstances of the situation made them appear guilty. But what could I do without proof?  I needed facts. I needed evidence.

It wasn’t until 14-years later that I was glad I never straight out accused them. My Dad was now deceased and I was on vacation in San Francisco, when I bumped into an old friend of my Dad’s (also now deceased) and we made plans for dinner that night.

While at dinner, we talked about my Dad, and all the fun they had together. When all of a sudden, he begins to laugh and said, “remember the time your Dad and I faked the robbery at your home so he could collect the insurance money?” I was floored! I NEVER knew. For 14-years I suspected my two friends.

As you’ll read in my upcoming book, I loved my Dad, but he wasn’t the greatest role model. Perhaps this is why I’m what I call, an optimistical/cynic. LOL.  

Glenn Brandon Burke, M.Ed

www.GlennBrandonBurke.com