INTERNATIONAL SPEAKING OPENS CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, INCREASES REVENUES

MASTERING the art of public speaking—especially on the international stage—can bring even successful businessmen’s distinct advantages. Take the case of Paul Maguire, an American serial entrepreneur; and Lindsay Adams, an Australian relationships coach, who are two of the more than dozen speakers who participated in the week-long Speak in Manila conference at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas. Both gentlemen are highly successful businessmen in their respective countries who are expanding their ventures into other regions and have found international public speaking to be an effective tool, to establish new ties.

Maguire, who himself has helped fellow entrepreneurs build their brand, elaborates how speaking on the global stage has been an eye-opener in more ways than one. He says, “It sharpens your skills, and makes you a more wellrounded speaker who is able to adapt to different cultures, and geographic norms, manners and etiquette. When I am speaking in the Philippines, I have a message that is seen in the Philippines. This gives more credibility than creating content outside of Asia and then trying to deliver it in Asia.”

Relationship marketing specialist Lindsay Adams agrees that public speaking is a very effective way to strengthen professional relationships. As a business coach, he found that using the phone to interact with his clients in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines “was a lonely way to do business.”

In contrast, public speaking helped him build lasting relationships with those clients. It also helped him get new ones. Adams says, “I usually receive up to five new inquiries as a result of speaking at an event. The inquiries can be about speaking in another event or doing consulting for a company. Public speaking contributes to around 25 to 50 percent of my revenue each year.”

The Speak in Manila conference was organized by Mitch Carson, president of Impact Products Marketing. The other international speakers who participated include Rachel Mei Fang, the founder of LMF International Language Academy in Malaysia; sleep improvement coach Mayuko Yamaguchi; holistic practitioner Donna Marie Laino; copywriter Brian Cassingena; sales presentation mentor Akihiro Fujimura; sleep improvement professional Eizo Fujii; network marketing coach Lee Yee Lan; Malaysian communication coach Rizal Rashid; professional sales trainer Mindie Sai; Sinichi Sakurada, a coach to entrepreneurs; Kazuhiro Sen, an English/Japanese translator; Malaysian property investment coach Eason Tee; sales force mentor Mike Watase, who comes from Japan; parenting mentor Y Lim; and German eco-champion and Matthias Gelber. Carson has plans to launch a similar event in Cebu and another in Manila this year.