Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in public speaking but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Bev Hepting, based in Blandford Forum, Dorset, UK.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am an award-winning storyteller, TedX, and International Speaker specializing in showing women business owners how to communicate their messages and ideas with clarity and confidence.
Tell us about yourself
I have always been known as a chatterbox. Because of this, my capacity for communication became one of the main reasons that many thought I should not only speak for England but could win a gold medal. However, as I got older, I came to understand that I was frequently saying words without any reason, inopportunely. I later realised that all that I was communicating was what people wanted to hear. So I came to understand that I was essentially a babbler. My performing career in Theater, coaching vocal and speech skills to adult learners, as well as winning U.K. Speech competitions, and my experience in working with community stakeholders, project management, and convincing event sponsors helped me learn that business depends mainly on getting a clear, concise message to the masses.
I started talking to people about what it was they really wanted to say to people. When networking, I realised people would give a great job title and job description, but I still didn't know what they did. The problem we have is that we all want people to think we are really clever. So our message gets complicated, and we forget that our potential clients or customers do not understand the language we use in our own industry. I started working with business owners who suddenly found a great way to talk about their businesses. It resonated with their future clients and customers, and suddenly they were not afraid to get up and talk in public to groups of people.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I love it when people come to me, terrified of speaking in public, to becoming triumphant when they finally find their voice. I have worked with women who have never spoken about their business and who have gone on to speak to hundreds of people around the world.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Working by yourself. It can be a really lonely place to be when you are working on your business rather than the actual coaching side. A real difference between the highs and the lows.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be really sure that you love what you do.
- Know what problem you solve and how.
- Don't take yourself too seriously. There will be many days you will need a great sense of humour.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://bevhepting.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Storytelling-for-Business/100083825888023/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bevhepting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bevhepting/
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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