S. Renee Smith Speaks: What Is Motivational Speaking & How To Make It A Lucrative Career (PART 1)

S. Renee Smith is a celebrated image consultant, author, columnist, and motivational speaker. She’s spent years teaching proper branding techniques that has helped individuals move forward in their lives and careers. Smith has been seen on numerous television networks (i.e. QVC, UPN, CBS, 6ABC, and PBS)  spreading her own story and life lessons. Throughout her success track, her influence has been felt nationwide by top executives, corporations, and celebrities. IMAN, Susan Lucci, Joan Rivers, and syndicated columnist Mildred Culp (Workwise) just to name a few.

Recently, S. Renee Smith revealed how she made the transition into branding and image consulting. As a former student affected by bullying, her own story (of changing how others saw her) catapulted her confidence as a young child.  In a life-changing moment in middle school, she made the decision to defend herself. Once a shy and timid girl, Smith later became an exceptional student, graduating cum laude from Delaware State University, modeled (despite her small 5’3′ frame), and created a highly successful speaking career.

Smith’s ability to take spirituality and real life incidences to improve the lives of others is one of the reasons why she’s been called “a leading authority on personal branding”.

For those who wish to pursue a career in motivational speaking, S. Renee Smith shares her experience and how-to’s of the business in this exclusive interview. She speaks on what is needed to become a motivational speaker, the importance of having a “story”, knowing your worth in dollars, and why it’s important as African-Americans to remain “polished”.

On motivational speaking & ways to enter into this career field

S. Renee:  I would encourage people who would like to become a motivational speaker: 1) have a story that relates to an audience. For instance, when I entered the industry, I actually would tell my story about being teased and bullied. And from being teased and bullied, to what is the success? How did I get out of that? And what was the result?

Also, my modeling career. Being 5 foot 3 inches tall and agencies telling me how my skin was too dark, my nose was too big, and I would never model. You know, that is a motivator. I ended up working with people like IMAN. How did you do that?!  Then get fired from your job for not being able to write and then writing a book that sold over 7 (I think we’re almost at 8 thousand copies). So, the point I’m trying to make in all this, is that everyone has a story. And if you take the time to connect the dots of your life and how there was a story, you were in the script and your script had a moment that you made a pivotal decision. You could have continued on the same path and still felt broken down, beat up, and feel discontent. Or you can take another path where you came to a place of abundant. That is your story and your story is a value to a specific group of people. Once you identify your story and identify your audience, you get out and start speaking in a way (that based off of your story), the way that you were able to achieve and walk into something newer and some personal power – then you teach them how to do it and from there you have a speech and you take that speech into a market place… you package it.

The first time I spoke there was a German. This guy says “Oh, I would love for you to come speak with the state leaders. There’s no cost or offering of any money. But you will be able to talk to state leaders who act.”  I’m sorry state “trainers”. So, after that 30 min speech or so, a guy walked up to me and said I have two conferences I’d like to have you speak at. Two! He said, “How much is your rate?”  I didn’t know. I just threw out a rate. I said $3500.  He said, “You’re not worth $3500.”  I looked at him because I had just come back from television (like I didn’t understand pricing for the state). It wasn’t that [what I was worth]. What he was really saying was that I really don’t have that in my budget. But, I didn’t get it. I said, “What is your budget?” He said a $1000 for a conference and so I took it. I couldn’t say “nope I wasn’t available because I’m leaving to go to South Africa.” I did take that one and got my first $7000 gig and from there I began to build for 3 years. They were paying me $7000 to go and speak.

I share that to impress upon people the importance of having a clear concise message around how to you know what is your message. How can that message help people to transition and move their life forward? Sometimes it doesn’t have to be your story.

On African-American’s as motivational speakers

S. Renee:  One of the things about the African-American community that we have to get is that, we have to be able to be within our community. Also, be within other communities to really grow above and beyond where we want to be. I can speak to an all-black group and I can break it down and talk to them in their language. I can go and speak at the University of Delaware with 20,000 people (that is probably 5% black people on their campus) and talk to them as well.

Being polished and polishing ourselves is: 1) our language and our lingo of how we speak, 2) how we dress and that there are ways that are acceptable in this genre. It may not be acceptable in this one but then transition. The question you want to ask yourself is if you want to target just one audience. Do you want to leave money on the table? That’s really what you’re doing. If I target this group only, I’m going to leave money on the table from that group and I don’t know about you but money is green. [laughs]  It’s not black, it’s not white, it’s not Asian, it’s not Hispanic, but it is green and you know about money because you handled what about a $300 million dollar budget. So you understand, you never see black money or white money. All the dollars you’ve seen is green and all the gold and copper and silver and all that. So I encourage people to really open themselves up to understand.

On what NOT to do when marketing your brand

S. Renee: It was a gentleman who quoted. He is a motivational speaker. So, he reached out to me on Facebook and says, “Hey I would like for you to like my page.”  I went to his page and looked over it. Then, I went to his website. When I went to his website, he’s on his website appealing to his corporation to hire him and he has a Blue Tooth in his ear! [laughs]

We forget why anybody in corporate America would hire an African-American that doesn’t have enough “polish” to take the Blue Tooth out of his ear (or her ear) to feel they make an appeal. You wouldn’t even do that if that’s like a job interview. You’re basically saying “hire me” and you’re sitting there with a Blue Tooth in your ear. What will cause you to do that? What is it about that Blue Tooth that make you feel educated?

Bels: None.

S. Renee: Absolutely! So, your [his] appeal was all wrong. You were talking about the “polishing”… going back to that piece. We have to polish our language.

STACKS Magazine’s discussion with S. Renee Smith was very enlightening and contained important ideologies. Therefore, this Part 1 of our conversation will continue on via additional segments: How To Change An Introvert Into A Great Speaker & Leader, Branding Basics, The Connection Between Branding & Spirituality, and Knowing Who You Are.  So stay tuned…

For more information on S. Renee Smith and her services, please visit www.SRenee.com. The website boasts a public forum and loads of free information. Next to launch is a personal branding webinar titled “Create A Buzz: Grow Your Life and Business“. In addition, S. Renee offers ten (10) free audio downloads of “How To Keep Your Life On Track“.  

S. Renee Smith will also join the creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Jack Canfield, on an upcoming tour, “How To Become A Paid Speaker“. Check her website periodically for more information on locations and dates.