The In-Crowd, Charisma skills: Bringing clarity, confidence & charisma to every professional encounter
Program Titles
- From Introvert To Extrovert: How to Connect, Communicate & Captivate!
- Specializing, developing charisma: Enhancing your Charisma
- Branding the New You – To fit the New Economy!
- Develop a better public persona and polished speaking skills?
- Increase your visibility within your organization or your industry.
- Innovate Your Creative Self
- ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Frustration, Faith and Food!
- A family Journey of Healing the Childhood Epidemics through Family, Faith & Food!
- Super Charge Your Employees!
Mary Gardner, who has charisma, is one of those unique people called a “connector” with expertise in effective communications. Her diverse background in the entertainment, sales, and communications fields supplied Mary with hands-on experience and established her expertise in effective communications.
She collects exciting friends: notable names, from movie and TV producers to casting agents, CEOs, editors of major magazines, politicians, celebrities, and business executives.
She is part TV Talent, Talent Scout, and Charisma Motivator.
Mary worked on Capitol Hill and served on the Criminal Law Subcommittee (a Judiciary Committee division).
She worked with many renowned personalities, including Robert F. Kennedy, Jr; syndicated columnist William F. Buckley; and Charlton Heston.
Her clients have included professional athletes:
Billie Jean King,
Martina Navratilova,
Peggy Fleming,
Bernard King, and
numerous executives and professionals.
Her passion, penchant for powerful communication techniques, style, and charismatic personality have made her a highly sought-after speaker.
Among the many large corporate clients Mary has worked with are Mercedes Benz, Computer Associates, The Mony Group, and numerous Wall Street financial institutions.
She was the Lifestyles Editor for The Tony Trupiano Show on the Talk America Radio Network, hosted the regional talk show, CaféToday, and frequently appeared on QVC.
Mary has been profiled in several impressive periodicals —
The Philadelphia Inquirer,
The Atlanta Constitution,
The Charlotte Observer,
The Princeton Packet and
The Chicago Tribune.
She appeared on the ABC John Stossel special, “Social Cruelty. In addition, her published articles appear in many national publications specializing in developing charisma and communication.
Mary has reported, anchored, and featured on national TV news programs such as Nightline and ABC’s 20/20 and in many local television markets in cities such as Dallas, Boston, New York City, San Francisco, Miami, and Atlanta.
She is a famous speech coach who has worked with dozens of celebrities, executives, and performers on their public speeches, performances, and careers.
“Mary Gardner’s enthusiastic and engaging style can turn an ordinary motivational session into something like being in the locker room with Lou Holtz at half-time down by 7 …
Mary Gardner is dedicated to helping individuals understand and succeed in the global marketplace.
Becoming A Speaker
Be Prepared!
The number one reason why people get nervous is that they don’t feel prepared. Practicing your speech repeatedly in the mirror and on tape is essential to feel comfortable that your message will be vital. Fear is minimized by visiting the location of your address in advance, meeting some of the people in advance if possible, and dressing for success! If all else fails, use deep breathing exercises before you go on stage to remain calm.2. Know your subject well and have facts to support your opinion.
You will have left-brained and right-brained people in your audience. Some people respond best to facts and figures, while others will respond best to stories. But your account will be unique, and you must pay attention to getting the facts straight and listing your resources. People will remember how they FELT in your presence, not all of the facts and figures you’ll toss out. But showing your expertise and being a great storyteller is essential.
Be a great storyteller!
You must have great facts to back up your speech or training, and make it personal by adding fun, exciting stories with a point. Make the stories short enough to keep people’s attention, and if you can be dramatic during your presentation.. even BETTER! Be willing to BE YOURSELF and incorporate unique aspects of your life. If you ride a motorcycle or have a child, add it! These are ways to make people feel closer to you as a person.
Have Strong marketing tools!
Speakers traditionally have one sheet, a glossy printed sheet of a short bio, references, their picture or pictures, and the topics they can discuss. Speakers must also have a well-written biography, topic sheets, any press you have had on you, articles you’ve written or have been written about you, and as many references as you can get on letterhead if possible. If you have out-of-date reference letters, white out the date, copy it, and send it. If you have a book, you can include it, but it’s not necessary. The video is perhaps the most important and should be between 5-10 min. of you speaking in front of a live audience.
Have a marketing & PR plan in place.
These expert plans continue to evolve because of social media, but it starts with a website and is free downloadable so that people will sign up for your newsletters. Then, workshops and teleconferences are done to spread the word and network with other speakers to support one another mutually. Spending time getting your name out to the media is worthwhile, and ALWAYS mention that you are available to speak and your website by referring to it during your interview. You can offer some information. People always like to get stuff!
Be willing to be flexible and tailor presentations.
Many organizations are going to want a tailored presentation. For example, they might need a keynote and a seminar; if you can offer both, you might get the business over someone who can’t. Also, if you provide a workshop, the corporation might only have one day available for you to work, so if you can also offer a shortened version, you’ll be seen as flexible. Finally, many speakers work with the meeting planners or agents in advance to get as much information as possible about the group or industry. Again, this shows you’ve done your homework and aren’t just showing up.
Assess your audience in advance.
Organizations are made up of many different skills and skill levels. Education backgrounds vary according to industry or job title. Be aware of the group you are talking to so you won’t speak over their head or, quite frankly, below it. Audiences are savvy, and you can’t ‘wing it’ anymore. While they might be polite to your face, they WILL tell your agent or spread the word and not have you back. Avoid sexual jokes, political talk, religious references, and knocking an industry or company if they are down. It is best only to speak positively about others because you are ON STAGE, and people ARE WATCHING.
Starter speaker!
When starting your speaking business, do whatever you can, including speaking for workshops and training programs. You never know when opportunities will arise, and most speakers do a combination of all of the above in their business until they are well-known and profitable.
Create a Call to action!
This way, people will continue to engage with you!!! This must be a VERY creative idea that will make people respond emotionally!
Be a social entrepreneur!
Be involved with a cause or charity and well versed in it, so people understand you give back. This will enhance your brand!
Meet bureaus.
If you are working with bureaus, you are more than likely to get more bookings. This is because bureaus usually get a commission and earn every penny. They are on the phone and marketing full-time and developing the relationships you need to be booked at associations, corporations, and colleges.
You can meet them by visiting your city, finding them online, or going to national conferences.
Please show me the Money!
Back-of-the-room sales can more than pay for your honorarium if you can arrange it. Speakers sell books, DVDs, videotapes, websites, and workbooks and collaborate with other speakers on projects to sell them jointly. The most common advice is “do products before you think you are ready.” You can always upgrade, and you should continue to upgrade!
Learn how to:
Emotionally connect with others, so they feel comfortable with you
how to small talk to make others open up
Learn how to create engaging conversations
Learn how to captivate an audience in 30 seconds
How to work a room and mingle
How to become a likable, personable communicator
How to create lasting friendships to enhance your inner circle
How to communicate with anyone from the CEO on down with ease!
Learn how to develop and deliver a dynamic toast to celebrate others and enhance your image.
Books by Mary K. Gardner
- Insider’s Guide To Professional and Motivational Speaking
- Blessed Chaos! A family Journey of ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Frustration, Faith and Food!
- The Charisma Coaches’ Guide to Becoming an Influential Personality!
- Insiders Guide to Public and Motivational Speaking
Book Mary K. Gardner for your Event!