Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Deb Sofield, a Keynote Speaker & Speech Coach of Deb Sofield Executive Speech Coaching Co., based in Greenville, SC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am an executive speech and corporate presentations coach. I help those who need to make public presentations polish up their natural skills so they can stand on their own. I am a keynote speaker, and I conduct training in Public Speaking for Your Non-listening Audience, How to Deal with the Media and Win, and Crisis Communications.
I help people who must speak in public perfect their platform presence, so they will present well to the best of their ability. My customers are presidents of corporations, the C-suite, elected officials, those who would like to be elected, and anyone who has to make a public presentation for their job or their organization.
Tell us about yourself
Math and science were not my strong suit, but one thing I could do well was speaking. I have a degree in public speaking (now called communications). I've been on the circuit for over 30 years as a professional speaker and trainer. I always knew I wanted to be a speaker, and I started right out of college training women in business and politics - realizing that was a small universe of clients and using my own success in business, I was able to expand my offerings to become a well-known speaker and coach who trains others to speak.
There is no greater joy in my life than to see my client succeed on the stage. Just knowing by working with a coach, in a matter of a few hours, they are better is the reason I have done what I do every day for the last 30 years, and I look forward to the next 30 years.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would say my greatest accomplishment is being successful on the stage for over 30 years and being invited back many times to the same conference. Another accomplishment I'm proud of is the five books I've authored, two on public speaking and platform skills, and three books from my weekly radio show called Encouragement for your Life ~ Tough love memos to help you fight your battles and change the world.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest thing about running a business is being able to do it year in and year out and still have the joy that you had in year one. And in my case, here I am 30 years later, loving every day of my job.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
If you want to start a business and be successful, you must love what you do because it is very hard in today's environment. My second piece of advice is to do something others are not willing to do. In my case, I have to keep current on speaking trends, and I can't keep saying the same things over and over as the world has changed and the audience hears speakers differently now - you need a coach who understands. I am unusual in the fact that I make a living at what I teach.
If you're going to grow a business, you need to have topics that help people do better in life, motivational speaking is great until it wears off, and you must be a skills-based teacher/trainer to give people actionable items that they can take with them that day to make their life better, then you will have success.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.debsofield.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DebSofieldSpeaker
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debsofield/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/debsofield
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debsofield/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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