Gettin' Started

I am so pleased to be up and running as a professional inspirational speaker. My focus will be on two things I feel very strongly about: franchising (improving franchisee performance and franchisee/franchisor relationships specifically) and family businesses. I am very grateful to be able to keep my day job as the COO of Super Wash car washes AND speak to franchise companies and family businesses.

Next week is a big speaking week for me as I will be the closing keynote for the Super Wash Franchisee Homecoming Meeting. We have been working hard for weeks to get ready for our annual meeting. My goal for our franchisees is the same as it is for any other group I speak to: that they leave inspired and ready to take action!

As I try to learn more about Chicago's network of speakers, I attended my first Toastmasters meeting yesterday. This was a valuable experience for me. The meeting I attended was very agenda-driven and finished exactly on time (which was much appreciated by all the professionals in the room who had to get back to work). There was a portion of the agenda entitled "Table Topics". There is a general topic and then five specific questions that volunteers get to pick at random to give an impromptu speech about. After all five volunteers have gone, each individual votes who's presentation they liked best and that person wins "Best Table Topic" for that meeting. Well, I don't want to brag, but I've got a shiny white ribbon that says, "Best Table Topic" sitting right here beside me! :) Thanks to the Toastmasters for welcoming me to their meeting.

With energy and purpose,
Susan