In her programs, Colette Carlson performs a customized prop skit that will leave you laughing out loud. In this skit, she “piles on” props showing the audience what a day in their lives looks like. It’s hilarious. She is very funny.
Colette teaches companies how to manage their stress and work/life balance, while also teaching how to better connect through communication and leadership. All of these skills are very important to me in middle school.
For my 8-part Summer Speaker Series, I interviewed Colette on the following topics:
CJ: What was your first job?
CC: The summer before starting fifth grade, I simultaneously took on two neighborhood jobs: babysitting and cutting grass (with a push mower, I might add). Both became my source of income through the age of 15, although I leveled up to a riding lawn mower when we moved from the inner city to the suburbs at 13 years old.
CJ: How did you become a professional speaker?
CC: We often hear “you have to see it to be it”, and that was the case in my becoming a professional speaker. Dissuaded from becoming a teacher by my teacher-mother who felt the business world held more promise for a young woman, it wasn’t until I went to work for national sales trainers Tom Hopkins and Brian Tracy that I saw another way to teach. Living on the road full-time and delivering daily sales presentations to teams solidified my desire to become a professional speaker. This led to becoming an in-house corporate sales trainer, and I eventually launched my own company through sheer determination and a passion to share my programs to support others’ growth.
CJ: What inspired you to choose your program topics?
CC: Too frequently I witnessed how the inability to effectively communicate and connect with someone cost people time, money, and unnecessary stress. Choosing to speak on the power of connection as it applies to leadership, sales, and stress allows me to maximize my strengths and knowledge in relationship-building, communication, emotional intelligence, and personal development.
CJ: How did the COVID-19 quarantine affect you as a professional speaker?
CC: We know intuitively when we’re going through something big and hairy, that we need one another more than ever. Yet COVID-19 demanded social distancing which meant all of my speaking engagements were immediately postponed. Like all businesses, I had to shift how I deliver and support clients through this unparalleled time. Especially given how important my program topics of connection, communication, and resilience are at this very moment.
CJ: What is your favorite thing about speaking?
CC: The best part of speaking for me is when an attendee shares the impact of my presentation. Of course I love hearing the laughter and feeling a connection with the audience, but when someone tells me, “Wow, you really made me think,” or they feel compelled to share their story, that’s when I feel most accomplished. Remember, I’m a teacher at heart, and teachers want students to learn and take action!
CJ: What advice would you give to a middle school student?
CC: Listen to your inner voice, the one that speaks in just a few words: “Go for it.” “Don’t do it.” “Speak up.” Too often, that voice gets muffled out of our desire to please others, be liked, or not make waves. But that’s YOUR voice, and the more you honor that voice, the more joyful your life will be.
Thank you, Colette! Every company would really benefit from better communication skills and managing stress. You can hire Colette Carlson by clicking HERE.
Our guest blogger Connor Joyce is a rising 7th grader from Huntersville, North Carolina. With a keen interest in learning more about the professional speaking industry, he produced an 8-Part Summer Speaker Series for www.MichelleJoyce.com. He is the firstborn child of Founder and President, Michelle Joyce. When he’s not interviewing speakers, he enjoys football, Fortnite, and watersports.
