This past week, my son Frank returned from a six-month Navy submarine deployment. He is a nuclear officer on the USS Indiana fast-attack submarine. My wife Elaine and I are very proud of him for defending our great country.

I thought about how my son and the other sailors on his boat must feel isolated being underwater for months. They have no contact with the outside world when they are underway.

Online-speaking entrepreneurs may also feel isolated at times. Speaking to and with others on a virtual platform differs from meeting with or presenting to others in person.

Below are three ways online speaker entrepreneurs can avoid isolation.

Join and Participate in Online and Offline Communities

Online speaker entrepreneurs often feel isolated because they lack face-to-face interactions. Actively joining relevant communities can mitigate this.

Platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook Groups, and Slack Communities host speaker networks, entrepreneurial circles, and industry-specific discussions.

However, joining LinkedIn groups, Facebook groups, and Slack communities will do little if you do not participate in them.

Plan on making weekly or more frequent visits to your online groups. Comment on the other comments in the group and contribute original thoughts about the topic discussed. You will reap many benefits by doing this.

Offline networking events, conferences, and speaker summits present tremendous opportunities to build authentic connections.

Attend these events and approach the people you meet to learn about their business, their frustrations, and how you can help them solve them. Seek always to help before you ask for help.

Consider memberships in organizations like the National Speakers Association (NSA) and Toastmasters International.

I can attest from my experience in both organizations that you will reap many benefits from joining these organizations.

Whether you earn your keep from speaking only or speak to promote yourself as a speaker, there is no better way to do this than to join the NSA, attend local and national events, and interact with their members online and in person.

To continually hone your platform speaking skills, join Toastmasters International and participate in your local Toastmasters Club. There is no faster or more cost-effective way to improve your speaking capability. The return on investment is immense.

Action Steps:

• Join industry-specific groups and participate in discussions by adding valuable insights.

• Attend webinars and virtual conferences to network with other professionals.

• Schedule coffee chats or virtual meetups to establish deeper connections.

So, joining and participating in online and offline communities is one way online speaker entrepreneurs can avoid isolation.

Another is collaborating with others through podcasts, webinars, and guest speaking.

Collaborate through Podcasts, Webinars, and Guest Speaking

Collaboration opportunities offer exposure and build credibility while providing a sense of community.

The feeling of belonging is a basic need of humans. We are our happiest as human beings when we feel part of a group. This includes you as a speaker.

Belonging to a business or speaking group will open opportunities you would not otherwise have if you were not a group member.

Reach out to other speakers, content creators, and entrepreneurs for guest appearances on podcasts or joint webinars.

Something energizing happens when you speak with others striving for the same goals. Gift your expertise to others. Give to others without expectation of anything in return.

Co-hosting workshops or panel discussions opens doors to new audiences and partnerships.

Collaborating with others on workshops and panel discussions opens other future opportunities.

Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles, first explained the Corridor Effect.

He said that when we take advantage of an opportunity, we enter a figurative corridor with doors on both sides—doors that lead to other opportunities that are not possible when we are not in the corridor. The key is to enter the corridor by taking advantage of that first opportunity. Opportunities beget other opportunities.

Creating mutually beneficial content fosters collaborative growth and long-term relationships.

When you create mutually beneficial content, people will comment on how it helps them. Comment back and start a conversation.

Not to be selfish, but Zig Ziglar once said, “You can get anything you want in life by helping others get what they want in life.”

Action Steps:

• Identify popular podcasts and webinars within your niche and pitch yourself as a guest speaker.

• Offer to collaborate with peers on topics of mutual interest.

• Consider starting a podcast or hosting live sessions to invite other speakers and build rapport.

So, joining and participating in online and offline communities and collaborating through podcasts, webinars, and guest speaking are two ways online speaker entrepreneurs can avoid isolation.

A third way is engaging in mastermind groups and coaching programs

Engage in Mastermind Groups and Coaching Programs

In his famous book Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill defined the Mastermind as the “Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.”

If you have never read Think and Grow Rich, make it the next book you buy, read it, and then implement what it says. You will accelerate your success more than you can imagine.

Mastermind groups consist of like-minded individuals who meet regularly to discuss challenges, set goals, and offer accountability.

Learning from others has existed since the dawn of time and will last until the end of time because it saves you time. You only have the time you have here on our lovely planet. Why not make the most efficient use of it?

The first thing to do is to realize learning never stops throughout your life. One of the best ways to accelerate your learning is to join a Mastermind group.

Being part of a Mastermind on your expertise is essential to your success. Don’t neglect to join one.

Accountability partnerships within these Mastermind groups are valuable for combating isolation and staying motivated. Having someone keeping you accountable for what you say you will do is essential to accomplish your goals entirely and on time.

Coaches and mentors are also beneficial to your success. They offer personalized guidance and help speakers grow personally and professionally faster than if you choose to do it alone.

Personal coaching allows you to laser-focus your efforts to achieve success. All successful people have ongoing coaching.

Action Steps:

• Search for masterminds tailored for speakers and entrepreneurs. Many are available through speaker associations or online platforms.

• Consider paid or free coaching programs designed to scale businesses and expand networks.

• Establish small peer accountability groups where you share progress and setbacks.

By actively engaging in these three strategies, online speaker entrepreneurs can foster meaningful connections, grow their visibility, and combat the isolation of working remotely

Follow these three ways online speaker entrepreneurs and you will avoid isolation.

Call to Action

• Join industry-specific groups and participate in discussions by adding valuable insights.

• Identify popular podcasts and webinars within your niche and pitch yourself as a guest speaker.

• Search for masterminds tailored for speakers and entrepreneurs. Many are available through speaker associations or online platforms.

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References

Being a confident, engaging, and effective technical speaker is a vital personal and professional asset. With more than 40 years of engineering experience and more than 30 years of award-winning public speaking experience, I can help you reduce your presentation preparatory time by 50%, overcome your fear of public speaking and be completely at ease, deliver your presentations effectively, develop your personal presence with your audience; and apply an innovative way to handle audience questions deftly.

Working closely with you, I provide a customized protocol employing the critical skills and tools you need to create, practice, and deliver excellent technical speeches and presentations. Let’s connect and explore how I can help you become the exceptional speaker you were meant to be. Please reach out to me at frank@speakleadandsucceed.com or 703-509-4424 for a complimentary consultation. Schedule a meeting with me at calendly.com/frankdibartolomeospeaks