Anna Perdriau | The Million Dollar Secrets of Speaking Greats
Today we had the incredible opportunity to interview the extraordinary Anna Perdriau . Read more to find out how to carve-out a core message that creates memorable moments, and channel nerves into positive energy, and much more. ‘I give my clients the ability to become a force of FABULOUS for their audience’
Anna Perdriau:
Amazon Bestselling Author of World Class Speaking-In-Action and Speaking to Hearts and Minds, Certified World Class Speaking Coach who built a community of 2000+ members in six months, Speaker who has worked with and taught audiences from more than 12 countries, travelled to continents around the globe to learn ‘secrets of the speaking greats’, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Bachelor of Communications, Accent Reduction Specialist, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Certified Coach of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Professional Member of Professional Speakers Australia.
Give us a bit of background about yourself and when and how your entrepreneur journey started?
Have you ever sat through a boring presentation? I have. And delivered boring presentations too! You know the ones; too much information, death by PowerPoint, monotone voice… In my journey as a Project Director, I overcame a range of barriers to become the youngest female civilian to direct a billion-dollar acquisition program. This acquisition program was within Australia’s largest project management organisation, the Defence Materiel Organisation.
During my years in project management, we had to listen to the top executives deliver presentations. These guys were highly technical, super smart and well, boring. I mean so boring that when we walked out of there, without fail, someone would turn to me and say ‘well there’s an hour I’ll never get back’. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to waste my time or my audience’s time! I felt frustrated. I thought ‘there has to be a better way’. How do you engage an audience? How can you connect? Can presentations indeed be fun?
These questions set me off on a journey and a half. Around the world, I went to the USA and Asia to learn what I call the million-dollar Secrets of the Speaking Greats. I discovered that presentations could be fun when you have the right tools, and I found that my passion was the combination of public speaking and helping people. Despite warnings from family and friends, I quit my job and started my own business.
I’m known as The Speaking Stylist, and I’m obsessed with helping people with public speaking. I deliver online programs, present live workshops and do speaking at events and my presentation skills are best described as interactive and fun. My absolute passion is to enable people to connect with their audience through public speaking that engages, energises and elevates their audience.
I help my clients to tap into their unique speaking-style (hence my title The Speaking Stylist), ban boring (ditch the bits your audience won’t love), carve-out a core message that creates memorable moments, and channel nerves into positive energy, and much more. I give my clients the ability to become a force of FABULOUS for their audience. I’m on a worldwide mission to create 10,000 million-dollar speakers. When it comes to public speaking, my mantra is: “Let’s Ban Boring and Have Fun!”
Do you ever get demotivated and what do you do to keep on moving forward?
I hardly ever get demotivated. I generally have the opposite reaction, ha-ha. My superpower is my energy and enthusiasm, so my challenge is to remind myself to stop! Seriously, I am currently learning the power of Self Love and Self Care. I think, as entrepreneurs, we are so passionate about what we do that there’s a temptation always to keep working, keep stretching and we often forget to take care of our wellbeing. You can easily get lost in your entrepreneurial creations. The thing I’ve learnt here is, when you stop and switch to do other things, you free your mind for more creative thinking. So, it’s a must!
What are the three business and life lessons you have learned on your journey so far?
I have a collection of 12 Life Lessons. The three that I’d love to share with you, including a speaking one, are: When public speaking, never forget “INAY-IAYA”. It’s my mantra that means “It’s Not About You, It’s About Your Audience”. INAY-IAYA is the biggest lesson I learnt from the world’s greatest speakers. Leave your ego behind, have an attitude to help and serve your audience, and they will love you. Mindset: Take charge, free yourself from your past, shed old emotions that are not serving you and holding you back. I’m talking about those that you don’t even know are there.
I didn’t realise this when I started my journey. There were a lot of beliefs I held from childhood. I did my mindset work, became a Certified Practitioner and Coach of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and freed myself from the past. It’s immensely powerful. As a speaker, your audience can pick up on your certainty and confidence levels. As I say “A Speaking Journey is a You Journey”. You have to be the best version of you. You have to show up wholly every time for your audience. It is you they buy.
Laugh: Every day! Laughter is such a great de-stressor. If we can’t laugh at everyday things, we are missing the point, taking things too seriously. This is also about the attitude you bring to all you do. Smiles and laughter are pure joy. It breaks my heart knowing that there are so many people with a fear of public speaking. My whole vibe is that, when it comes to public speaking, Let’s Ban Boring and Have FUN!
What do you think is more important, motivation or execution and why?
In my mind they are equal. What’s important is the proportion you apply them to. I think if you apply enough to motivation to get organised and do the planning up front, your execution will be easier and less. It reminds me of the Abraham Lincoln quote “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
At the same time as entrepreneurs, we have to trial, test and measure rather than spend too much time on something that is not in demand. Execution does need direction though. So, if we get the first part right, the execution is easier.
What inspires and motivates you? Why do you wake up every morning, get the work done and do it all over again the next day?
Two words: Life Purpose. This is what I was put on this earth to do. Knowing some people need this help now, actually, they needed it yesterday. It fires me up! I love what I do. I’m obsessed with public speaking and helping people shine on stage. I think when you discover your Life Purpose, you just know. It’s the thing that makes your soul sing and makes you happy. Everything else you worried about before dissolves as you put your energy into your dream with total and pure passion. There are some things we need to let go of. Dream big and keep the big picture in mind to guide you. Oh, plus it is total fun!
What is the secret to your success?
100% of it is my Self Belief. I wholeheartedly believe in my purpose; my why. I’m a believer that I am 100% responsible for my life and everything that happens to me. Having an empowered attitude makes a huge difference. I know that I’m in the driver’s seat and that first and foremost I honestly believe that I am the best in the world at what I do. My Self Belief is unshakeable; no-one can take it away from me, it comes from deep within. When you accept full responsibility for your life, there are no excuses. It’s all in your hands and, when you get that, you can fly!
Since you have become so successful, how do you handle haters or people that don’t support you? What advice do you have for fellow female entrepreneurs?
Great question! Let’s look at a definition of a hater first. A hater is someone who is simply ‘not my niche’. So, if someone is not my niche, they just don’t get it. They don’t get my vibe, they don’t think they need any help, and they don’t dare to dream. They are usually sitting in a comfort zone, a pocket. Someone who is in my niche gets it, knows they get it, backs themselves, has courage, gets my vibe and loves it.
My advice for fellow female entrepreneurs is: You are unique, you are brilliant. You have unlimited potential. You can speak! Get out there and don’t be afraid to fail. Use the feedback you get to fuel improvement. Be like the stand- up comedians, try the material, see what works, lose what doesn’t. Always carry the power of gratitude with you and see the positive. If you have haters, congratulations! It means you’re making waves. You are challenging a norm. Keep going. You ROCK!
What quote do you live by and why?
“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever.”
This quote by Walt Disney hits the right notes with me because I love laughter and it’s such an excellent de-stress tool for entrepreneurs - and a great tool for speakers. Imagination - it doesn’t matter what age you are, everyone can find their Life Purpose and imagine what could be - and THAT’s when life really clicks in; pure joy and happiness. Of course, no one can take our dreams from us - EVER!
What advice can you give female entrepreneurs on the same journey who want to achieve the same success?
I’d remind them of the power of Public Speaking. All of the world’s greatest leaders and influencers have this skill: the art of communicating with your audience. You can make them laugh, you can make them cry, you can make them feel, dream, see a better future, and you can educate or inspire. It’s a core life skill. When you can speak, you can shine. More importantly, you help others to shine. And fast! It is much easier to build rapport with an audience face to face than online. They can really get to know you, realise how real you are and want to, as we say in speaking, take you home with them! As an entrepreneur, there is great power in you being able to get out there and speak to live audiences confidently. Keep going. Back yourself. Don’t give up!
How do you differentiate yourself from your competitors, what makes you unique?
My fun and fresh approach! My teachings are a blend between what I learned from the Speaking Greats (I am a lifelong learner, I never stop), my personality bringing fun to public speaking (remember, my enthusiasm is my superpower) plus my belief in diversity and love for helping people to shine (I’m a great cheerleader for others) all rolled into one.
Traditionally, even the way people have taught (and still do) public speaking, is a bit ‘stuffy’. They focus on the process. I focus on the freedom and making your dreams come true. I bring the fresh and fun; that’s my magic.
The way I have created the intellectual property from that as The Speaking Stylist is in my 3 V’s to Vocal Victory:
Value - making your presentations uniquely ‘all about the audience’
Veritas - bringing out you and your personality when you speak
Voice - maximising the carrier of your unique sound
I do believe that you are unique, you have unlimited potential and, when I meet you, I want to see you deliver your best presentation to your audience and have them love you.
GET IN TOUCH WITH ANNA PERDRIAU
Phone +61 433 270 220
Email anna@thespeakingstylist.com
WEBSITE www.thespeakingstylist.com
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A special for Woman Entrepreneur Readers:
When you email me, I shall send you free online training on Million Dollar Secrets of the Speaking Greats!