Optimistic Personality Disorder: A Journey in Comedy and Speaking

Unlocking the Power of Stagecraft with Merit Khan: From Keynotes to Comedy

SUMMARY

In this episode of Present Influence, join John as he converses with Merit Khan, a dynamic speaker and performer, about the art of landing paid speaking engagements and refining your stagecraft. Merit shares insights from her journey, emphasising the importance of mastering sales skills to sell your talks before perfecting your stories. She discusses her diverse career, including keynoting for serious audiences, coaching sales professionals, and her one-woman show, 'Optimistic Personality Disorder.' Discover how improv, comedy, and understanding your audience can enhance your presentations and contribute to a thriving speaker ecosystem. Whether you are just starting out or looking to expand your existing speaking business, this episode offers practical strategies and inspirational stories to help you succeed.

Find out more about Merit at meritkahn.com or her one-woman show at opdshow.com

Here's the link to that article on why so many great speakers are broke: CLICK HERE TO READ IT

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:40 Meet Merit Khan: Sales and Comedy Expert

01:36 Contrarian Viewpoint: Sales Skills First

03:30 Building a Business Ecosystem

06:19 Adapting to Market Needs

09:44 Balancing Multiple Business Ventures

17:55 The Importance of Sales Experience

22:35 Creating a One-Woman Show

24:44 Unexpected Connections and Personal Growth

26:09 Diving into Standup Comedy

29:35 The Power of Humour in Speaking

32:13 The Art of Storytelling and Performance

36:39 Personal and Professional Growth in Speaking

42:24 Lessons from Standup and Knowing Your Audience

46:25 Podcasting and Future Projects

49:33 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Visit presentinfluence.com/quiz to take the Speaker Radiance Quiz and discover your Charisma Quotient.

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