Royce King of 3 Waters Marketing On The 5 Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Public Speaker

Know where you’re taking the audience. I often hear speakers go down rabbit trails and as a listener that can be hard to follow. If you develop an orderly presentation, people can stay engaged and end up where you want to take them.

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 Royce King.

One of the essential ingredients to small business and startup success is experience. Over the past 20 years, Royce Gomez has founded over 12 startups and experienced the highs and lows of becoming an entrepreneur. Her knowledge and love for entrepreneurship have made Royce a go-to business coach for business owners looking to grow. She has worked with the SBDC, Founder Institute, and other organizations to deliver workshops that help businesses thrive in the marketplace. In addition, she has published several books and is a Direct Certified Copywriter and Story Brand Guide.

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 grew up in a small Midwest town in a loving, hardworking family. My mom and many of my relatives held Union jobs, and I knew I wanted something different. So, I moved to Chicago after graduating high school and began to see entrepreneurship as a path to freedom. Within 2 years of graduating college, I had a side hustle and began my career as a serial entrepreneur. After 20 years and 12 launches, I began coaching other entrepreneurs. These founders experienced success as a result of my coaching and I realized that I was a gifted coach with exceptional business acumen for startup founders.

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

After coaching an MBA student who got accepted into a prestigious program, I realized I could launch a coaching business. Every year I take on an elite group of about 12 clients in my coaching program. Plus, I serve dozens of companies through my global marketing agency.

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

Working with startups is always interesting. But, one story that comes to mind is waking up one morning to read an email that started with “I showed this to my lawyer…..”

That will wake you up! However, this email was celebratory.

My client had hired me to write a pitch for him to approach a major retailer for shelf space for his new product. He submitted the pitch to his lawyer before sending it to the retailer, and the lawyer raved about how exceptional the pitch was.

This story ends well, too. My client did get shelf space at the major retailer they were targeting!

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

I’ve made numerous mistakes! One time I was coaching a startup team that was “out of my league”, and another mentor laughed at my misguided direction to this particular team. Needless to say, this humbled me and ensured I now stay in my lane or admit when I don’t know something.

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

There are many people I could name, and the one friend that comes to mind today is named Amy. While I was visiting her, she continued to work from home on her normal schedule. One afternoon I had the opportunity to eavesdrop on her conversations. When she finished for the day, I expressed how she communicated so differently from anyone I had ever heard. She shared a leadership program she went through and encouraged me to register for it. I did, and that taught me communication and leadership skills. Plus, it brought me several private coaching clients. Her willingness to share helped me grow exponentially.

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?

Yes, know your purpose and your skill set. As you look at where those intersect, create something that uses both. There’s no need to swim upstream doing something you don’t enjoy or aren’t good at. And remember, we all fail on our way to success.

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?

I have a sense of purpose to accomplish what I was put on Earth to do. Every day I get the opportunity to help small businesses grow and encourage founders when they have moments of doubt or need to overcome business challenges. Ultimately, many clients become friends, and I get to continue to cheer them on from the sidelines.

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?

Several years ago I started a podcast, and I had some incredible, highly successful guests! However, I was never quite satisfied with the quality of the output so I cancelled the podcast. In April, I’ll launch a new podcast called “Treasured” and already have some amazing guests lined up. And, this time, the episodes will be professionally edited before being released. I am thrilled to feature some incredible female founders on “Treasured”.

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

Mark Batterson’s “Lion Chaser’s Manifesto” inspires me. I continue to set God-sized goals and blaze new trails in life and business.

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.

First, tell a story. As a factual person, this was the hardest thing for me to learn, but people connect with stories.

Second, know where you’re taking the audience. I often hear speakers go down rabbit trails and as a listener that can be hard to follow. If you develop an orderly presentation, people can stay engaged and end up where you want to take them.

Third, let them hear your story. Your audience doesn’t want you to spend time focused on you, but how your story connects with them. As you share your story, integrate empathy and authority so the audience knows you understand them and are qualified to address the topic you are covering.

Fourth, invite them to connect with you following the presentation. Whether you share your website or social channels, you provide a human touch by inviting them to connect with you.

Fifth, give value. Your speech is an opportunity for them to know why they want to connect with you and/or do business with you. If you provide all fluff and no value, you‘ve wasted your time speaking.

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

As a natural introvert, I should feel very uncomfortable speaking. But, I pray before going on stage (including virtual stages) and do my best. Do they always go off without a hitch? No! But, if I’ve done my best, I trust that someone benefited from me being there. Most public speakers have a pre-stage routine; find a routine that works for 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?

I hope “Treasured” becomes a movement where women feel valuable. There are additional things being launched around the podcast, and the goal is to encourage women who feel “less than”.

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!

Yes! Pricilla Shirer or Mark Batterson

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

All of my social links are on my website. My favorite platform is LinkedIn.

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