From the Streets to the Stage: The Power of Transformational Speaking
with Ken Miller
Transforming Challenges into Triumphs: The Inspiring Journey of Ken Miller
Public speaking is not just an art; it's a transformative platform that can change lives—not only the audience's but the speaker's as well. This week on The Flourishing Entrepreneur Podcast, we had the privilege of hearing from Ken Miller, a speaker whose life story epitomizes the power of transformation through public speaking.
Ken’s journey from overcoming personal adversity to inspiring audiences across the globe teaches us that our biggest challenges can become our most powerful assets on stage. Here’s how you can apply Ken's lessons to your own path as a professional public speaker.
Embrace Your Story
Your personal journey shapes who you are. Ken’s story of transformation began with facing his past, understanding his experiences, and using them to fuel his passion for speaking. When you embrace your story with honesty and courage, you connect more deeply with your audience and inspire them through your authenticity.
Actionable Tip: Reflect on the challenges you’ve overcome or are currently facing. How have these shaped you? Consider how sharing these experiences could help others.
Know Your Purpose
Ken emphasizes the importance of knowing the 'why' behind your desire to speak. This isn’t just about career goals—it's about the impact you want to make. Whether it’s to inspire, educate, or entertain, understanding your purpose will guide your presentations and resonate with your audience.
Actionable Tip: Write down your speaking goals and align them with your personal values. This alignment brings passion and sincerity to your speeches.
Connect with Your Audience
The best speakers know their audience intimately. They tailor their messages to resonate, ensuring the audience feels seen, understood, and valued. Ken’s ability to connect comes from his genuine approach to speaking—seeing it as a service to others rather than just a performance.
Actionable Tip: Before your next speaking engagement, research your audience. What are their interests, challenges, and aspirations? Use this information to tailor your message.
Practice Forgiveness and Acceptance
One of Ken's most poignant points is about forgiveness—both self-forgiveness and forgiving others. This emotional release not only frees you from past burdens but also enhances your authenticity and relatability on stage.
Actionable Tip: Engage in a simple forgiveness exercise. Think of one thing you’ve held against yourself and consciously decide to let it go. This practice can profoundly impact your emotional well-being and presentation style.
Conclusion
Ken Miller’s story is a powerful reminder that our deepest struggles can lead to our greatest successes. By following these steps, you too can turn your life’s challenges into compelling narratives that captivate and motivate your audience.
Ready to take your speaking to the next level? Don’t miss out on more invaluable insights. Listen to the full podcast episode [here], and consider joining our Spark the Stage program to truly shine as a speaker.
Podcast Episode Overview
This episode answers the questions: "How do I get started as a professional public speaker?" and "How do I find speaking opportunities?"
Join us as Ken shares his incredible story from overcoming personal challenges to inspiring audiences around the world. His unique perspective on the power of public speaking not only motivates but provides practical advice for anyone looking to make an impact with their words.
Key Takeaways:
Start with Your Why: Ken emphasizes the importance of knowing your purpose behind speaking. It’s not just about sharing your story; it’s about why that story needs to be heard and how it can drive you during challenging times.
Finding Opportunities: Learn from Ken’s experience on how to find speaking gigs. He shares valuable tips on navigating the world of conferences and associations, suggesting starting with breakouts and gradually moving to keynote presentations.
Understand Your Audience: A great speaker knows their audience. Ken discusses the importance of tailoring your message to resonate, ensuring it’s impactful and memorable.
Courage, Acceptance, and Forgiveness: Drawing from his personal life lessons, Ken highlights these three elements as crucial for anyone looking to truly connect and make an impact through speaking.
Featured Advice:
Ken's journey from facing adversity to speaking on major stages offers a roadmap for transformation. He discusses the significance of practicing forgiveness, both towards oneself and others, as a step towards personal growth and better public engagement.
About Ken Miller
Ken Miller is a dynamic trainer, speaker, author and consultant. As the president of Denali FSP LLC Consultants, he leads transformative strategies in fundraising, empowering organizations and associations across sectors. Recognized for his dynamic speaking style, he engages audiences with his deep knowledge of business best practices, leadership, and personal growth ensuring participants leave equipped for impactful outcomes.
Connect with Ken Miller
https://www.facebook.com/denalifundraising/
https://www.facebook.com/ken.miller.10420321
https://business.google.com/locations?gmbsrc=ww-ww-ot-gs-z-gmb-l-z-h~z-ogb-u
https://www.instagram.com/kenmiller1984/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/denali-fundraising
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/105336892/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenmiller84/
https://www.slideshare.net/KenMiller9/
https://denalifsp.com/
https://kenmillerspeaks.com
https://twitter.com/DenaliFSP
https://twitter.com/millerkenneth20
About Aleya Harris
Aleya Harris is the spark for your spark™. A trailblazer in purpose-driven story crafting, she is a marketing executive and ex-Google Vendor Partner who brings her dynamic experience to her role as the CEO of The Evolution Collective Inc. Aleya is an international award-winning speaker, the founder and lead trainer of Spark the Stage ™, and the host of the award-winning Flourishing Entrepreneur Podcast. She is also the author of the bestselling book Spark the Stage: Master the Art of Professional Speaking and Authentic Storytelling to Captivate, Inspire, and Transform Your Audience. Her unique approach as a Strategic Storytelling Consultant has revolutionized the way businesses communicate, transforming workplace cultures and market positioning. With her dynamic energy and proven methodologies, Aleya guides clients to unlock their potential, articulate their radically authentic stories, and achieve unparalleled success.
Watch the Free Masterclass
Join Aleya's free masterclass "Build Unstoppable Confidence and Book Speaking Gigs Without Feeling Like an Impostor." Discover the proven framework to own your story, captivate audiences, and land speaking gigs—even if you’ve doubted your worth or have no experience on stage.
Register at https://www.aleyaharris.com/masterclass
Buy the Book
Aleya's bestselling book will help you become a more confident and authentic professional public speaker. Buy Spark the Stage: Master the Art of Professional Speaking and Authentic Storytelling to Captivate, Inspire & Transform Your Audience on Amazon or anywhere books are sold.
Buy the Book: https://a.co/d/1T4EoJ7
Sign Up for Spark the Stage™
Spark the Stage™ is an online course and 12-month group coaching program that helps entrepreneurs and executives become radically authentic professional public speakers who can confidently deliver a compelling Radical Spark Signature Talk™ from the stage.
Enroll at https://www.aleyaharris.com/spark
Work with Aleya to Craft a Better Story
An unclear strategy, confusing brand, or undefined workplace culture will repel ideal clients, visibility opportunities, and career-making connections. The Evolution Collective Inc. transforms disconnected teams and overwhelmed leaders into thriving, inclusive cultures through Radically Authentic Strategic Storytelling.
Schedule a call at https://www.evolutioncollective.com/
Book Aleya to Speak
To book Aleya to edutain your audience at your next event as a keynote speaker, please visit www.aleyaharris.com/speaking to check out her speaking topics, reels, and why. Click "Schedule a Call" to secure the speaker with "that something new" you've been looking for.
Connect with Aleya Harris
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleyaharris/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleyaharris/
Links Mentioned on this Podcast
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[00:01] Aleya Harris: Today is an amazing day because it is the first time I get to talk to a truth speaking expert, someone who speaks regularly, very regularly. And we get to ask him the number one question that most of you have.
[00:21] It's actually two questions. How do I get started as a professional speaker? And how, how do I find speaking opportunities? And to answer that for us today is Ken Miller.
[00:33] Ken Miller, first of all, is a joy. So let's just start there. I am totally fangirling over Ken Miller. One for his kindness, his heart, his story, his speaking ability, his entrepreneurship, his mentorship ability, all of the above.
[00:52] Ken Miller is a dynamic trainer, speaker, author and consultant. He is the president of Denali FSP LLC Consultants where he leads transformative strategies and fundraising, empowering organizations and associations across sectors.
[01:08] He's also recognized for his dynamic speaking style. He engages audiences with a deep knowledge, deep knowledge of business practices, leadership and personal growth, ensuring participants leave equipped for impactful outcomes.
[01:24] If you want to hear from someone other than me because you're like, okay, this Alaya chick is cool, but does she really know what she's talking about? I promise. One, I do.
[01:33] And two, don't believe me, take it from Ken. Listen to what Ken has to say about how to get started as a professional speaker. All right, let's go.
[01:45] Yuliya Patsay: Welcome to the Flourishing Entrepreneur podcast with Alayah Harris.
[01:51] If you're looking for actionable ways to overcome communication and differentiation challenges by sharing radically authentic stories, you are in the right place. Listen in and learn how to stand in the power of your unique narrative to transform your personal life, business and workplace culture.
[02:12] And now your host, award winning international speaker, strategic storytelling consultant and Japanese whiskey lover, Ruby Coral's mom, Alaia Harris.
[02:35] Aleya Harris: Ken, thank you so much for joining us here on the Flourishing Entrepreneur podcast. How are you doing today?
[02:40] Ken Miller: I'm doing fantastic.
[02:42] Aleya Harris: I love to hear that you are the first guest that I get to talk to for season five, which is all about storytelling and public speaking. And you told me that in your role as a mentor and an entrepreneur and a speaker and an author, the top number one question that people ask you is how do I get started?
[03:06] And how do I find speaking opportunities? Which I think is the number one question most people ask. So what is your best advice and your best response to that question?
[03:18] Ken Miller: Question Two questions. One, how do I get started? And the other ones, how do I find speaking gigs or speaking engagements? How do I get started? Have a dream, have a goal, have something that you want to share from the stage.
[03:30] That's how you get started. And you, but you got to have that because that's going to drive you especially on some of the times that are maybe a little more shallow or there's a dearth of engagements.
[03:41] Number two, how to find engagements that means that you would go to. Usually it's going to be conferences and associations that are going to have events throughout the year. There are over 4,000 events and they have both plenary keynote speakers and they also have breakouts.
[04:01] When you're first starting, you may have to go in as a breakout, but go there, learn it, understand how that industry works, the conference or event industry, and then move up to the keynote and plenaries.
[04:13] Aleya Harris: I want to go back to something that you said which I found very interesting and poignant. You said you have to know your why, you have to know what you're saying.
[04:21] Especially when there is a dearth of opportunities to speak. Can you expand upon that a little bit more?
[04:29] Ken Miller: Yes.
[04:31] So one of the most important things and one of the things I had to learn also, it's about the audience. It's about the audience. So yeah, you have a great story, but is it going to resonate with the audience that you're presenting to?
[04:45] Is it unique? It's not even so unique. Is it different? Is it unusual? Does it have a wow moment? And we call it the wow moment when you're doing this conversation or this speech or this delivery.
[04:59] And then the other thing is again, where are you coming from internally, so spiritually, emotionally to be able to deliver this message. But so important is to understand your audience.
[05:11] And when you look at the conferences, you'll get a, you can go to their website, you can go to the event website and you can understand a lot more about the audience.
[05:19] And then you will respond to what they call a request for proposal to speak with the pertinent information.
[05:27] Aleya Harris: So then I ask you what is your why, what, what do you do all of this for?
[05:34] Ken Miller: Great question. My wife, very simply, and I will keep it short, I was homeless for 20 years on the streets. And I mean a street level crack addict. I'm also a three time convicted felon that spent years behind bars.
[05:49] I have been clean and soul for 20 years. That's enough of mine.
[05:52] Aleya Harris: Congratulations.
[05:53] Ken Miller: I am in so much gratitude. I want to give back. And my specialty, my superpower is I can talk to truth. I can share. I have no secrets. I have no secrets.
[06:06] And in the right atmosphere, in the right environment, I will share all of that truth. It's not a secret.
[06:15] Aleya Harris: I have the adage which I feel Like I'm quoting myself, which is so odd, but it is my quote and I'm quoting myself, which is that secrets don't help anyone.
[06:27] And I'm so glad that you said that you bring forth the truth because if you kept your story a secret, you wouldn't one, be able to be as successful as you are.
[06:39] And two, there's someone that's specifically looking to hear something from someone who looks and sounds just like you when you speak to people from that story, from that why? What are three things that you hope your unique story story does for that audience member?
[06:58] Ken Miller: Courage, probably. Number one, courage.
[07:01] Acceptance. Acceptance that I'm a fallible human being. I'm still a child of God, but I'm fallible. So we have acceptance, we have courage. And then a lot of my story is about forgiveness.
[07:17] And forgiveness is a two way street. It's very difficult to ask for forgiveness if you haven't given forgiveness. And so those are just three.
[07:27] Aleya Harris: I know, I'm sure that there's so many more, but when you're talking about courage, acceptance and forgiveness, for me, I mean, I knew there was a reason why I had you on this show.
[07:37] Ken, we are so in line. Because that's how I teach people to become speakers. If you have something to say, but you're still living in the heart of the story, you haven't practice the forgiveness that you need for yourself or for others.
[07:52] You don't have the courage to step out into the truth of your story. You will not be good on stage because you're going to stick to the boilerplate response that nobody wants to hear any more.
[08:05] So what advice would you give to a brand new speaker who is struggling with courage, struggling with forgiveness, struggling to find their why. What should they do to dig into themselves to find those things that they, they need to, to get on that stage?
[08:24] Ken Miller: Well, you got to dig in and I'm talking about intellectually. You have to dig in and look at experiences that you've had, good, bad and indifferent and try to understand what was my why at that time.
[08:38] That person. You're always looking at yourself as a third party. And once you've identified the why, because I know all my whys, believe me, I know all my whys. Then we have to do what I would call the technical, the technique of, you know, going on stage or being on stage and what I.
[08:55] So the courage, that's a real important one. The courage, I would say, is start small. Start small. Whether you know, it's toastmasters or whether it's Your family in the living room.
[09:07] Start small, give a five minute, a seven minute talk because we're doing a share and then you'll get comfortable as the groups and at a certain point it doesn't matter the size, doesn't matter the size because it's my message, it's my truth and I'm going to share it with you and I believe it will be a value added to you.
[09:27] Mr. And Mrs.
[09:28] Aleya Harris: Audience, I love the way you said that. It doesn't really matter if there's one person in the audience or 1,000 people in the audience. It's my truth and I'm going to share it.
[09:38] And that is why I am on stage is to deliver a message that only I can deliver. But let's be real here, Ken. You're a three time convicted felon, former crack addict, black man in America and you're on stage in front of most likely at these conferences.
[09:54] If we're on is a bunch of white people and I love white people, black people, but there's a lot of imposter syndrome that could creep in for you to be on that stage.
[10:07] It's possible.
[10:08] Has that ever happened for you and what have you done to say to combat well, who do I think I am, this three time convicted felon getting on stage talking to all these white people.
[10:19] What did you do to get over that?
[10:23] Ken Miller: Number one prayer. Number one prayer before I go on, you know, you're in the green room or in the ready room, whatever you may want to call it. Two things I do is I do some speaking exercises, I do some breathing exercises and I go into prayer and I go back to my why, why are we going on here, Kim?
[10:42] What's our and what's the value added to the audience? And once I've done that, I'm good. I'm good because again, I'm giving this sometimes business owners, I'm giving to the corporate CEO, whoever the audience may be, I look at them as another just child of God.
[10:59] That's the way I look at them as the audience and I have a message or you're going to be entertained, you're going to laugh, you may cry, but I'm going to hopefully touch you and leave you with something coming out that's actionable and that's going to be a positive to you.
[11:19] Aleya Harris: How did you find value in your message? Because I've never been a convicted felon and I've never been on drugs. But I've talked to several and many and during that period, during the lowest period Often people feel worthless or low.
[11:36] And so you, I'm assuming, went on a journey where you went from the low to the high. And the way you present yourself now is such confidence, ease and grace.
[11:46] It's a joy speaking with you. But I know better after hearing what you said that it wasn't always that way. So what did you do to feel that your story was valuable and worthy of being told from the stage in the first place?
[12:00] Ken Miller: Probably when I first told my story and I was in a very safe environment, it was in the rooms of recovery.
[12:08] So I shared my story and especially I shared the shame based aspects of my story. And when I did that and the reaction was so positive that I was like, wow, this resonates.
[12:25] And not only that I'm here, I did it, I bent because you know, I wasn't sure if it was going to break me by sharing some of the things I share.
[12:33] It didn't and I have something of value. Then when I went into the corporate world or went into the association conference world and started sharing the same stories, I realized that many people have gone through the same things and doesn't really matter.
[12:52] It's really the feelings behind what I did. It's the feelings behind us shame based behavior. And I can go on. I'm not going to, but it's just I made it easy find a safe environment.
[13:03] Could be your family, could be again your rotary group, it could be rooms or recovery, whatever it may be for your story and what you're trying to and then move up and scale it.
[13:15] Aleya Harris: I love that advice. The best way to not be an imposter is to not be an imposter. To do the thing right to get out and share your story. I think that is huge because I think people are looking to almost use internal work at a certain point in time to hide from getting out on stage.
[13:33] Well, no, I just need to do one more meditation. Oh, I just need to write one more journal entry or just. No, you need to get on the stage. You need to open up your mouth and share your story in order to feel capable of sharing your story.
[13:46] That's beautiful advice, but I know that every time you shared your story didn't go well. It couldn't have possibly gone well. So tell us about a moment when maybe you failed on stage, when you failed in sharing your story and what it taught you about storytelling and connection.
[14:04] Ken Miller: I've never failed.
[14:06] I'm not saying that from ego, I'm not saying it from hubris. Please understand what I'm getting ready to say I have never failed to deliver the message.
[14:16] Where I've had difficulties is my slide deck would not come up, period.
[14:22] Aleya Harris: Those darn slide decks. There's, I think, a ghost that gets inside of the computer sometimes. It worked just fine in your hotel room, didn't it?
[14:30] Ken Miller: Oh, it worked fine when I sent them the slide deck and they told me they had the slide deck, and they did not have the slide deck. And I didn't. I told you.
[14:40] Told me to send it to you. And then where do you go? Do you again? Do you break. Oh, I'm not going to do the presentation. I'm not going to share.
[14:49] Or do you go out there and you know what? You know your talk, especially your signature talk, and you go out there and you do that. And sometimes it's even better.
[14:59] I don't need a slide to. To represent who I am. It's a part of my story. It's a visual great, but really, it's coming from me. And they don't need to know.
[15:10] They don't need to know, and they don't know, but I know. And then what it does is when you have these bumps in a row, you come off feeling valued.
[15:22] I did that.
[15:24] I did that. With or without the setback. When we talk about the comeback from the setback. I just came back and I'm still. I'm still a star in.
[15:35] Aleya Harris: In God's eyes, I knew you were about. You were two sets away from getting a hallelujah and an amen out of me.
[15:45] Ken Miller: That's.
[15:46] Aleya Harris: This is why everybody that's listening to me for a while knows I'm mute when other people are talking because I be loud. And I was thinking, yes, that's right, Ken. That's absolutely right.
[15:55] That's exactly what I tell people. The slide deck is not the presentation. They are there to see you. They are there to see you. Oh, man. This is. This is such a cool format for me, but it is a challenge because I am a chatterbox.
[16:10] But we are surprisingly at the end, and you have done your job impeccably. Impeccably well, sir, by giving great advice that I know that people can follow. But do you have any final words of wisdom that you'd like to leave people with?
[16:27] People especially who are trying to become public speakers.
[16:31] Ken Miller: Yes.
[16:32] Get a mentor.
[16:34] Join black nsa. If you're of color, join nsa. Join your local chapter of National Speakers Association. It's a craft, folks. It's a craft. You got a great story.
[16:48] But if you don't have the delivery if you don't know stagecraft, if you don't know inflection, if you don't know some of the heuristics of. Of doing a good presentation, please, please learn the craft.
[17:01] And then you also need the support. Don't do this by yourself.
[17:05] You know, go to podcasts like Aaliyah's got me. Go there, study them, listen to others. I'm not the font of all knowledge. I'm just a person. Just wants the best for you.
[17:15] But that's number one is it's definitely. It's to get into it and understand that if you're wanting to do this, to get paid, and I'm talking about good pay, because you can.
[17:26] Aleya Harris: We're not talking about. Oh, you're a thousand.
[17:32] Ken Miller: Yeah, you have to understand this is a business because that's where. And again, you're just talking about the starting. But let's get to that.
[17:40] Aleya Harris: Well, no, but keep telling. What were you about to say? Because that's what people, I think Ms. Is the business part. So go on. Don't say for yourself, girl, you have.
[17:48] Ken Miller: To have me come on again. But I can talk to you about the. I get paid. I get paid. Okay, so. And many people I know get paid. The thing is, this is a business.
[18:00] That means there's a sales, there's marketing, there's a funnel, there's communications, there's relationship building, there's the batter.
[18:07] I'm going to tell you, go to my speaker leads. $20 for a month. It'll have 2,000. Okay. You'll get approximately 2,000 leads or places you can go. But you got to know how to work my speaker leads.
[18:20] Another one's called Conference Connections, another great one from speakatunity. And then there is the third one, which would be E Speakers. I'm just. Just giving you the batter so you can bake your cake shoe.
[18:34] Aleya Harris: We done baked the cake, we done decorated the cake, we started a cake shop. I am so feeling blessed and excited for everything that just came out of your mouth. Thank you so much, Ken, for joining us here on the Flourishing Entrepreneur Podcast.
[18:52] Ken Miller: Very appreciative. If I could say one more thing, I just want.
[18:55] Aleya Harris: Of course you can. You're a speaker. How dare I not let you think.
[18:59] Ken Miller: And it is. It's literally a quick plug. And the plug is I have my first book coming out, and it's coming out March 15, and it's going to be. It's called Finding Ken A Black Man's Journey from the Ivy Leagues to Prison and Back Again.
[19:17] It's going to be phenomenal. I truly believe that. And if anybody wants to connect with me, LinkedIn, KenMiller84 is my, is my handle. And that's all. That's the only thing I'm plugging.
[19:27] Aleya Harris: I just, I was going to ask you that. I was not going to.
[19:34] He was like, we just talked about sales and marketing. What you not going to do up here is prevent me from getting people in my funnel. I would never. I would never.
[19:43] Ken Miller: Okay, so then let me, let me go another direction.
[19:47] Listen to this audience. I believe in you. I believe in you. I truly. I believe in you. I believe you have something to share and I believe you have something that's on your heart, on your soul that you need to get out.
[20:00] And there's people that need to hear it. That's more important. There's people that need to hear it from your voice. And I say this all the time. You talk about adages.
[20:09] I have one, Sing your song. Sing your song. I'm not country western and when I get on stage, I'm not country western, but sing your song because you got a beautiful song to sing.
[20:21] Aleya Harris: Well, all right. Now before Ken and I start, like, we are in Baptist church, we're having to end the recording. Having too much fun in this 15 minute format, which as y'all are seeing is a little more than 15 minutes.
[20:38] But that's okay. Okay. I'm learning and we're working on it. Thank you again so much, Ken, for joining us here today. It was, it was a pleasure.
[20:46] Ken Miller: Awesome. Thank you. Thank you.
[20:51] Aleya Harris: So now you have it. Now you know what you need your why he told you some websites to get started to find speaking gigs. I would also recommend joining Spark the Stage because you know where to go, you know your why.
[21:06] But then like, what do you do with your hands and like what exactly do you say and how do you craft a story? I can help you do all of that if you go to alayaharris.com
[21:16] spark and join Spark the Stage. Spark the Stage is my 12 month, not 12 week, 12 month program where you have an on demand course and you have me in group coaching and direct Spark slack access to walk you through step by step by step how to get on that stage and how to do really well on that stage.
[21:39] And guess what? It's not a membership. You don't have to pay every month. You pay once. So give me a call schedule call. Go to leaharris.com spark and we can talk so that you can do the things that Ken just told you to do.
[21:52] You can get on stage, you can shine on that stage, you can love being on that stage and more importantly, you can tell the story that only you can tell to the people or person who is specifically needing you to tell it to change their lives and transform themselves into the people they believe deep down they know they can be.
[22:13] All right. Thanks for joining me here on the Flourishing Entrepreneur Podcast. I love you. I'm so glad that you are here and as always my name is Aleyah Harris. This is the Flourishing Entrepreneur Podcast and I'm sending you lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of love, light and abundance.
[22:31] Bye for now.
[22:34] Yuliya Patsay: Thank you for listening to this episode of the Flourishing Entrepreneur Podcast with Alaia Harris. Vibing with what you hear. Leave a five star review to spread the love and be sure to click subscribe.
[22:47] We wish you love, light and abundance. See you next time.
