Debra Jason Of The Write Direction On The 5 Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Public Speaker

An Interview With Fotis Georgiadis

You work hard at marketing your business, to gain visibility and exposure and secure speaking engagements.

At some point in our lives, many of us will have to give a talk to a large group of people. What does it take to be a highly effective public speaker? How can you improve your public speaking skills? How can you overcome a fear of speaking in public? What does it take to give a very interesting and engaging public talk? In this interview series called “5 Things You Need to Be A Highly Effective Public Speaker” we are talking to successful and effective public speakers to share insights and stories from their experience. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Debra Jason.

A national speaker and author of Millionaire Marketing on a Shoestring Budget™, Debra Jason speaks to organizations that want to fast forward their marketing skills so that they increase their visibility, nurture a steady stream of happy clients, and grow their businesses. A direct response copywriter, operating her business The Write Direction for more than 33 years, she also works with you to write compelling marketing messages that captivate and convert your prospects into loyal raving fans.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I was born and raised in Queens, New York. In my younger years when asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, my answer was “an actress.” From elementary school through junior high I performed in musicals like The Music Man (I played the role of Amaryllis), The Sound of Music (I was one of the Von Trapp children), Brigadoon, etc. Then, I auditioned for The High School of Performing Arts and, sadly, they turned me down. When that happened, I tucked my dreams away.

In 1976, I moved to Boulder, CO to attend Graduate School in the field of Communication Disorders. So I know about the art of communicating (and miscommunicating). Fast forward to 1989 when I discovered my niche. I realized that I wanted to be a copywriter “when I grew up!” That’s when I opened my doors for business as a freelance direct response copywriter. My copywriting business, which in addition to speaking, is still in existence today, is called The Write Direction.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

When I started my copywriting business there was no Internet, no social media, etc. At that time, I had to find a way to get my name out there, increase my visibility and boost my credibility. I did that by using public speaking as a marketing tool (remember, I wanted to be an actress so public speaking wasn’t one of my fears).

I delivered presentations to the local Chamber of Commerce and other professional organizations and I taught Continuing Education programs for the University of Colorado Boulder and the adult learning division of the Boulder Valley School District. Many years later, I transitioned from public speaking to professional speaking. Most recently, I served on the Board of Directions for the Colorado chapter of the National Speakers Association.

You might say that, as a speaker, my dream of becoming an actress has been realized — it’s simply taken a different shape and form than I imagined as a child. I may not be a movie or TV star, but I do get to make an impact and inspire others when I deliver a presentation.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I won the Judge’s Choice Award as a contestant in “Dancing with Boulder Stars” — a fundraising event for the YWCA of Boulder County. Based on the popular TV show, this event matched business professionals (i.e., me) with professional dance instructors. My instructor and I danced a side-by-side Charleston. The judges later said they awarded me the honor because, of all the dancers who performed that evening, I had to learn every single step alongside my instructor. (If you’d like to watch it, here’s a link to the video of my performance — I’m on the right side of the screen. https://youtu.be/5ZrCTRGpwL0)

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The one that comes to mind has to do with my copywriting business. I once sent out an email and the subject line included the word “your.” However, it should have been “you’re” — that’s a common faux pas many folks make. BUT I’m a copywriter and while I knew better, I didn’t catch the mistake until after I had hit the “send” button. One of my email subscribers actually unsubscribed from my list because of the typo (I knew that was the reason because that person messaged me about it).

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

When I started my business my mentor was Eugene (Gene) Schwartz. A colleague of mine referred me to Gene during a time when I was living back in New York. When I returned to Boulder, Colorado I continued to work with Gene. He was there for me whenever I had questions as well emotional upsets. He always knew the right thing to say to keep me on track.

I was touched when he sent me a note saying this, “Debra, you are an enormously talented marketing person . . . I deeply feel that you are far more than a copywriter. You have the required toughness and fortitude to be an excellent and supremely successful entrepreneur.”

You have been blessed with great success in a career path that can be challenging and intimidating. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?

If you don’t give it a try, you’ll never know if you would have been a success or not. I actually think failure is a stepping stone along the path to success. If you find something doesn’t go as planned, you can go back to the drawing board and make improvements. Or you might decide to shift and go in a different direction that leads you where you want to go.

In addition, when you want to strengthen your speaking skills, look for a Toastmasters chapter in your area. They are extremely beneficial in helping members boost their confidence and self-esteem around speaking in front of a group.

If you’re interested in walking down the path of professional speaking, then look for a chapter of the National Speakers Association in your area. You’ll connect with like-minded professionals and access many wonderful resources to help you succeed on your journey.

What drives you to get up everyday and give your talks? What is the main empowering message that you aim to share with the world?

Marketing and writing with heart, not hype. My mission is to not only inspire you, but to empower you with cost-effective business-building strategies that help you increase your visibility and grow your business. I believe marketing, like life, is about building and nurturing relationships. I encourage my audiences to make relationship-building a priority in both their personal and professional lives.

You have such impressive work. What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? Where do you see yourself heading from here?

Thanks a million for those kind words. What’s exciting me right now is expanding my presentation about “Dancing to Success.” I share the highlights of that program here as it relates to speaking, but I’m considering whether or not I can develop it into a longer program, maybe a workshop where everyone can have fun dancing and being inspired at the same time.

An aside to this, is expanding my creativity with art. At the onset of the pandemic, I began painting with a medium known as alcohol inks. After posting images of my work on social networks, some folks started to reach out asking to purchase my work. Due to the response, I’ve continued to journey down this artistic path. How fun is that? Perhaps it’s a topic I can turn into a presentation about how adversity can unexpectedly lead us in new directions that bring positive change. We shall see . . .

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

One of my favorite quotes is about being persistent. It comes from Calvin Coolidge. “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

When I started my business there were many ups and downs, days when I went from being elated to thinking, “What am I doing?” However, I kept on going. I was consistent and very persistent. I believed in myself and did not give up — and here it is more than 30 years later.

Ok, thank you for all that. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need to Be A Highly Effective Public Speaker?” Please share a story or example for each.

You work hard at marketing your business, to gain visibility and exposure and secure speaking engagements.

However, there are days when — like many businesses — marketing makes you crazy. You get frustrated because maybe that proposal you thought was a shoe-in gets turned down, or that check doesn’t arrive on time from your client and it throws you off beat.

Take a deep breath and D-A-N-C-E. DANCE is an acronym highlighting five steps to guide you toward putting one foot in front of the other and getting your rhythm back. Then, you can help people in the best way you know how, which may be through speaking.

D is for Dream. You have a Dream. Maybe that Dream is to speak at a corporate event, at an industry conference, or simply to feel comfortable delivering a presentation in front of your colleagues or clients. Whatever your Dream, you then need the Desire to pursue that Dream and to do so with Determination. You have to be consistent and persistent.

A is Authenticity. That word is used a lot, but it’s about being genuine. It’s about being true to who you are on the stage (or in front of a group) and off the stage. And I’ll add, it includes being genuine on the phone and off the phone. I had a meeting planner call me once and I said, “I’m curious. What was it about my materials that prompted you to pick up the phone and call me?” She responded, “I call everyone because I’ve gotten on the phone with some people and they sound like wet fish. I want somebody who is going to have the same energy on the phone as they do off the phone and on the stage as well as off the stage.”

Now perhaps you’re like me and you suffer from the ailment I call “comparisonitis.” You’re on social media and see that your colleague is heading off to the Bahamas for a speaking engagement. And where are you going? Podunk, Iowa. Maybe Podunk is a really nice place, but I suggest you do what author Scott Stratten says, “If you’re authentic to yourself then you won’t have competition. Just be you.” I add, come from your heart and be true to yourself.

N is for Nurture. As I say in my book, “Millionaire Marketing on a Shoestring Budget™,” when you Nurture yourself, you Nurture your business. You might hear folks say, “You have to do the 24/7 hustle. You’ve got to hustle.” The only hustle I want you do is the renowned disco dance known as the New York Hustle (back in the height of the ‘disco days,’ I was a DJ and a disco dance instructor.)

What are you doing to Nurture yourself? Many of us freak when our cell phone batteries are running low. You frantically look for a charger or charging station. We all worry about recharging our phones, but what about recharging ourselves?

If you don’t Nurture yourself, you’re going to burn out. What do you love to do outside of work? Dance? Paint? Write? Hike? Yoga? Meditation? Whatever it is, be sure to take time out for yourself. When you Nurture yourself, you Nurture your business.

C is Create Connection. Create Connection in your network and through your Communications and, do so with Confidence (two more Cs). And, that’s not just with the way you talk to your audience, it’s with your colleagues as well. Have you ever received referrals and/or recommendations from your colleagues?

When you’re Communicating with Confidence, that feeling shines through and Creates Connection with your audience. Michelle Gielan is a speaker and researcher who studies positivity and she says, “Any time we make an investment in social connection, we not only combat loneliness, but we feed our success at the same time.”

E is for Engagement. When you’re presenting, you want to make sure the audience is Engaged. When I present my program called “Dance to Success Even If You Have Two Left Feet,” I show the audience the 6 steps to the popular disco dance, the NY Hustle. I get them to stand up and follow the dance steps with me. Fellow speaker Dan Thurman juggles swords. Or sometimes he does flips onto the stage. These activities Engage people, but I also say Engagement happens when you are Energetic and Enthusiastic (two more Es). And, that comes across in the tone of your voice when you’re speaking to your audience.

If I got up to teach dance steps and said in a flat, monotone, and boring voice, “Hello, we’re going to dance to success even if you have two left feet. So please get up and follow me. 1–2–3–4–5–6.” I probably would have lost you at ‘Hello.’

You can Engage your audience with activities, but you can also Engage them with your Energy and Enthusiasm when you’re speaking to them.

To recap:
D is for Dream. You have a Dream and a Desire to pursue it with Determination.

A is for Authenticity. Be true to yourself when you’re on and off that stage.

N is for Nurture. Don’t forget that when you Nurture yourself, you Nurture your business.

C is for Create Connection in your Communications and do so with Confidence.

E is for Engagement. Be Energetic and Enthusiastic.

Next time you’re preparing to speak, keep these five steps in mind and remember that you too can dance to success even if you have two left feet.

As you know, many people are terrified of speaking in public. Can you give some of your advice about how to overcome this fear?

Breathe! Before you get up to speak take a quiet moment for yourself. Take a deep breath in and exhale with a sigh. Do it three times and your body will start to relax. Remind yourself that you’re there to serve others in the best way you know how. And keep in mind, that the audience wants you to succeed because they’re there to learn from you.

You are a person of huge influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

You might say I started a movement toward positivity, without even trying. For many years, each morning on Facebook, I started my day by posting a beautiful image I had photographed (i.e., flowers, landscapes, ocean, etc.) along with an optimistic message or question. I didn’t realize how many people looked forward to those posts. They would tell me online, but I’d also run into people in person and they’d say, “I love your morning posts. They always inspire me.”

At one point in time, I thought about stopping. I asked my followers for their input. They unanimously said, “Don’t stop. Your optimism always starts my day on a positive note” (which became the name of notecard sets I later created with my images and affirmations).

Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens!

The person I’d most like to have lunch with is my mother. Sadly, she passed onto the spirit world more than 30 years ago. Therefore, she was not alive when I started my copywriting business or when I began speaking. At one point in time years ago, she started her own real estate firm along with several of her girlfriends. Therefore, she served as one of my entrepreneurial role models (along with my dad). I’d like to know, if she were here today, that she is proud of me.

Are you on social media? How can our readers follow you online?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/debrajason/

https://www.instagram.com/debrajason/

https://twitter.com/debrajason
https://www.youtube.com/c/DebraAJason

https://pinterest.com/debrajason1

https://DebraJason.com
https://WriteDirection.com

This was so informative, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!