Episode Length: 1 Hour 16 Minutes
I met Michael Davis at a National Speakers Association Kentucky Chapter meeting, and he immediately had a positive impact.
We discuss that along with other stories about the importance and method of story telling, listening, and public speaking.
Michael’s passion for storytelling and public speaking was not obvious early in his life. As a child, he was shy and reserved – not an indication he’d grow up to be a professional public speaker and presentation skills coach.
This is especially surprising because of an incident in first grade that caused so much embarrassment he became afraid of speaking to groups of any size. That experience carried over into adulthood.
As a young financial planner, his seminars about money were poorly delivered. He was given an ultimatum – “Become a better presenter…. or ELSE!!” This stirred up all of his anxieties about public speaking.
Because of that threat, he joined Toastmasters International in 1994. There he quickly discovered a passion for the art of public speaking. He learned that crafting and delivering impactful presentations is a learnable, repeatable skill.
In the years that followed, he became a voracious student of public speaking and storytelling. He also realized that he loves to help others improve these skills. That inspired him to start the company Speaking CPR.
In 2011, Michael earned the designation Certified World Class Speaking Coach. The processes and skills he teaches help you increase your visibility, create more opportunities for advancement, save you time, and may also increase your income.
To keep abreast of new ideas from the speaking world, he works closely with World Champion and Hall of Fame speakers. He also studies the work of Hollywood screenwriters and professional comics to expand his knowledge of presentation skills and offer a unique perspective on these topics. Because of his dedication to the craft, Michael is sought by speakers all over the world.
He has produced audio programs, is a contributing author to three public speaking books, has recently written his first book, ‘THE Book on Storytelling,’ and presents public speaking and storytelling skills workshops throughout the year.
Michael also works closely with speakers in the Ted X Cincinnati event and has successfully coached several speakers in Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking annual contest.
Michael is a candidate member of the National Speakers Association (Kentucky Chapter) and a member of Toastmasters International.
He can be reached through his website at www.SpeakingCPR.com
