Before you ask yourself *what* goals you want to achieve as a speaker, ask yourself *who* do you want to *be* as a speaker and then what do you need to do to become that? Taking on that identity is what will make the goals real to you. This has been so helpful to me because traditional goal setting has never worked that well. I’d make a goal, like guesting on 2 podcasts a month or doing 1 speaking engagement a month. But, I never felt truly motivated to keep pursuing them. I’d give a bit of an effort and then it would fizzle out. Until I read a book earlier this year about a different way of setting and achieving goals: WHO you want to be comes first. Then, the goals and habits follow. In this episode, you’ll learn a different way of setting goals: First, we go through specific questions to reflect on the speaking and visibility you did this year (Diane shares hers) Visualizing the big picture of what you want with a journaling exercise Stepping back and thinking about WHO you want to become as a speaker Identifying what you’ll need to do to make that happen, using a handy acronym S.E.A.M. we came up with → Download the prompts we go through and the S.E.A.M. acronym in the free PDF guide at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/149 This episode is the first in our new series on Goals & Planning. ENROLLMENT IS OPEN! Join our Master Your Speaking coaching program that begins in mid-January: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/mastery/. You get the best of one-on-one work with us on your signature talk (Virtual VIP Day) + a 3-month online group coaching program so you learn how to position, market, and promote yourself as a paid speaker. Spots are limited to 10-12 women, so secure your spot today at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/mastery/. About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox, joined in this episode by our top speaking coach Diane Diaz. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com. Links: Download the FREE PDF guide for this episode at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/149 Join our Master Your Speaking program at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/mastery. Get instant access to our LinkedIn for Speakers online masterclass = https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/linkedin Brainy Business podcast episode 70 on goals = https://thebrainybusiness.com/podcast/70-how-to-set-achieve-exceed-brainy-goals/ Book: “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” by James Clear Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 72: How to Speak Strategically for Better Business Results Episode 118: Push Past Your Speaking Plateau JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.