My enjoyment of speaking in public began many years ago.  As a public school teacher, coach and administrator, I served on many local and state wide committees. It seemed that I was always the one chosen to make the presentations, to deliver the message and to get the stakeholders to buy into whatever the message was.  My style then and now remains quite the same.  I tell folks what I am going to tell them, I directly tell them and then I tell them what I told them!  Using personal stories of triumph and tragedy, often times filled with laughter and maybe a few tears, my passion and belief in my message successfully comes through.  In my professional life I had many opportunities to fine tune my speaking skills. Athletic award dinners, Emceeing various events, delivering eulogies, writing and delivering educational workshops and wine seminars to name a few. Speaking with people and to people about a common goal/purpose is natural and rewarding for me.  My sense of accomplishment upon the completion of a speaking event is energizing and rewarding.  I knew early on that I had found an avenue of expression that I would continue to build on. As I continue to develop meaningful presentations for the public I have learned that a forced fit does not work for anyone.  I have learned that doing the preliminary homework once approached by a prospective client is so very important.  Sometimes it is at this juncture that I find that I must in fact decline engagements. The goal for me is to provide some insights while seeking to entertain and engage my audiences.  Public/motivational speaking, not unlike writing,  happens best when the content is about things we know.  Thus, much of my material is born in and of myself and the lessons I have learned along the way that I can share with others.