Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Joel Weldon, Founder of Joel Weldon's Ultimate Speaking System, located in Scottsdale, AZ, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
As a full-time Hall of Fame professional speaker and speaking skills coach, I work with successful entrepreneurs who are using speaking to grow their businesses. Whether at a live event, virtual event, video, podcast, webinar or social media post.
Tell us about yourself
After giving my first presentation in front of a live audience on September 4, 1969, at the Holiday Inn in Tempe, Arizona, an audience member came up to me and said, "You are the worst speaker I have ever heard." It was that statement that got me to join the Tempe Toastmasters club. And five years later, after overcoming my fear of speaking, I was named one of the three top speakers in the world out of 60,000 competitors in the Toastmasters International Speech Contest. And five years after that, I was inducted into the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame while standing next to Zig Ziglar, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, and Nido Qubein.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The greatest accomplishment a Speaking Skills Coach can have is seeing one of their clients deliver an amazing presentation that opens the door to so many opportunities for them in the future. Having seen this happen hundreds of times, I see it's a constant motivation and inspiration and, therefore, something I never want to stop doing.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Unfortunately, this question is not relevant. I don't feel there's anything hard about doing what I'm doing, or at least in a negative sense. The things that I'm not good at get delegated. The things that I am good at, which are what I do every day, are effortless, easy, and fun to do. Years ago, I read this statement as a definition of work... "work is what you are doing when you'd rather be doing something else" based on that definition, I've never worked. As an entrepreneur, your life is your choice; there are no excuses!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- If there were three things a new business owner or entrepreneur could start with, it would be these... 1st- Accept 100% responsibility. There are no excuses. Your life is your choice; that's it.
- Find your unique ability and use it to its full potential. Realizing that everything you do is a learned skill. You came into this world knowing nothing, and everything you now know is the result of what you've learned. If you don't know it now, you can learn it in the future. Be a constant sponge for information and surround yourself with people who know what you don't know.
- In 1955, Earl Nightingale created the audio message called The Strangest Secret. That message basically said that you become what you think about. Think about what you read, what you talk about, and what it is you want to have to happen in your life. Avoid the destructive thoughts of thinking of what you can't do that don't get you anywhere. In summary, if you accept responsibility and there are no excuses, and you're constantly learning and growing, and you're controlling your thinking, then success is the only outcome for you. Now go out and make it a great day, every day!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.ultimatespeaker.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoelWeldonUltimateSpeaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelweldon/
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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