Resources for new professional speakers

Books you should read

Speak and Grow Rich
By Dottie Walters
This is the encyclopedia of professional speaking and a must read.

Secrets of Power Marketing
By Peter Urs Bender & George Torok
Another must read because this is a marketing business. Don’t ask me about marketing if you haven’t read this book.

Be sure to check the other marketing resources on this site.

Million Dollar Consulting
By Alan Weiss
Whether you plan to consult or not, read this book to understand the concept of selling value – not time. If you consult, this is a must read.

1001 Ways to Market Your Book
by John Kremmer
When you write your book you must read this book. It is the bible of book marketing.

Sales on the Line
Sharon Drew Morgan
Metamorphous Press
a simple effective approach to cold calls

Selling your Skills
Robert Bly
Henry Holt
great tips on selling services

Marketing Your Services
Rick Crandall
Contemporary Books
great resource - covers a lot

6 Steps to Free Publicity
Marci Yudkin
A Plume Book
simple and easy to follow ideas to get publicity

The Non-Designers Design Handbook
Robin Williams
Peachpit Press
just what it says - learn six principles of graphic design that can be applied to stationary, business cards, hand outs, brochures, web sites, newsletters..

George Torok, CTM, is a best-selling author, professional speaker and a member of Skyway Toastmasters, in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. For more information visit www.Torok.com

For resources on presentation skills.

Join your national affiliate of the International Federation for Professional Speaking. This is where you will learn about the business and network with others like you. I regularly attend conferences, workshops, seminars and chapter meetings of CAPS and NSA.

The national associations and their websites are

NSA for USA
National Speakers Association

CAPS for Canada
Canadian Association of Professional Speakers

For Europe

For Australia

For New Zealand

So you want to be a professional Speaker?
You have picked a good place to start. It is an easy business to get into because ‘everyone can speak’. True, but the biggest mistake that many make is to focus on ‘speaking’ instead of ‘business’.

Why do I help?
Many have asked me, “Why would you help other people become professional speakers?” Aren’t they your competition? Why help the competition?

That’s easy. Everything I know about the business of professional speaking I learned from others. And many speakers helped me along the way. So I am happy to ‘give back’ in appreciation and also because it just feels like the right thing to do.

Are they my competition? Maybe. If they do compete with me I would rather know about them and have them feel good towards me. One reality is that the better my competition is, the better I must be, which forces me to continue to grow. Another rule of the universe is that everything you give away comes back to you. That is why true networking works as explained in my book, Secrets of Power Marketing.

Another reality is that none of us fits every client’s needs. Other speakers often refer clients to me and I to them. That is one of the strengths of this business because we each are unique – even if we speak about the same topic.

Don’t waste time – yours or mine
Another reason for this page is to save time for me and for you. If you are interested in becoming a speaker or an existing speaker who is looking to grow then read this first before you call me or email me. Invest in yourself before you ask me to invest in you. My first question will be. “Did you read this section on my website?” If your answer is no, I will tell you to contact me again after you have. Does that sound rude? My time and advice is valuable and if you want some of it then respect it that so I can offer it to you with respect.

The best way to contact me is by email – but include your phone number because it might be easier for me to call you back. George@Torok.com

Looking forward to seeing you on a platform one day. Say hello as we pass the baton on stage or lineup for our flight at the airport.

George Torok