“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is to celebrate”

~Oprah Winfrey

 

I’m writing this blog post while sitting in the airport in Toronto.  I’m waiting to fly to Orlando Florida for the National Speakers Association annual convention and I’m going there to celebrate.  I’ve been a professional speaker for nearly 13 lucky years, and this year I’ve reached an important milestone.  After a lengthy, and at times pain-staking application process that involved tracking over 250 of my speaking engagements to over 100 clients, asking some of you for letters of recommendation and evaluations, and showing proof of business and speaker competency I have earned my  Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation.  This professional designation is something that I have been working toward since I joined the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers 9 years ago, so I’m a bit giddy at finally ‘making the grade’.

Established in 1980, the CSP is the speaking profession’s international measure of speaking experience and skill. Fewer than 10 percent of the speakers who belong to the Global Speakers Federation hold this professional designation, so you can imagine how pleased I am to be among this elite group.

 

The CSP designation is conferred by the National Speakers Association (NSA) and the Global Speakers Federation (GSF) only on accomplished professional speakers who have earned it by meeting strict criteria. CSPs must document a proven track record of continuing speaking experience and expertise as well as a commitment to ongoing education, outstanding client service and ethical behavior.  This year I am one of 18 professionals to earn the CSP in the class of 2010.  I’m one of only two Canadians and both of us are women.

I don’t know… but I think that’s worth CELEBRATING!

We will be honored during a ceremony on July 18th at the 2010 NSA Convention in Orlando, Florida and I can’t wait!  Thank you. If you’re reading this message you’ve played a part in a small or large way in helping me reach this goal.  Thank-you also to my brilliant assistant Brianna Strumm who single-handedly filled in all the gaps on ‘the application from hell’.  I would not have finalized the process without her.

So here I sit, waiting for my flight, reflecting on the path my speaking career has taken over the years, and looking forward to the celebration to come.

I’m excited for what lies ahead.  My business is heading in an exciting new direction, with new presentations, a book in the works, and so much more… and I am eager to tell you all about it when I return!

I’m taking next week off. My messages will return after July 26th so stay tuned.  The best has yet to come!

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