Just when I thought I couldn't love this community more, I DO!! I needed a form. I had an idea of what I needed it to look like but I also knew other speakers/coaches in the group likely had a similar form, so I asked during yesterday's weekly Inspiring Talks meeting. AND I RECEIVED! They sent me their forms. I took their suggestions, added my spin to it and TAA DAAA! Form ready for use! CHI MIIGWETCH (BIG thank you) to @Jerry Fletcher and @Sunni Smith for your willingness to share and for the encouragement of everyone in this group. And remember, the best relationships are reciprocal so if YOU ever need anything, just ask! Love you all tons! HUGSSSSSSS Sandi

I am awake, I am alive, and this morning I am absolutely excited and nervous and terrified and and and and ... For context, anyone in business knows the question, "What do you do?" We understand how imperative our answer is. If we can't answer in 3-4 words with a response that sums up what we do AND invites conversation, an opportunity is missed ... every single time. And in all honesty, saying, "I am a Relationship and Reconciliation Facilitator" has never invoked the right response. (To many Canadian businesspeople "reconciliation" invokes two distinct thoughts - a lot of work and expensive. NEXT!) But no more!! Thanks to my colleague, the AMAZING @Jerry Fletcher , a brainstorming session led to a lot of laughter and my answer - an attention-getting summation of all that I am and all that I do. Consider this a soft launch. A lot of rebranding must happen over the next two weeks time but soon you will learn the story and the multitude of reasons why THIS is the perfect answer for me! And sharing the news here? Well, that only made sense. So, what do I do? Oh, I'm .... Stay tuned! I love you! HUGSSSSSSSS Sandi @Crystal Wright this is why I wanted to chat. I needed your enthusiasm and support to encourage me to actually take this step (more on that later) but I AM DOING IT!! YAY!

We all want those massive national conferences, right? But I've found that the most consistent speakers built their foundation in the "Hidden Market." I’m talking about local chapters of national associations—think SHRM, AMA, or even the local Rotary. Why are these gold mines? Honestly, it's easier access because you’re talking to local volunteers rather than a scary board of directors. They also act as referral engines; if you rock a local chapter, they’ll brag about you to the regional and national levels. Plus, it’s a low-pressure environment to test new material and grab some high-quality video for your reel. The reality is that a "small" gig with the right audience is worth way more than a "big" gig with the wrong one.

Today, I want to take a moment to honor someone who shaped not only a business, but my life. Larry Ketelaars, founder of Inspiring Speakers Bureau, passed away on April 17th, 2026. He was my stepfather, my mentor, my business partner, and one of the most influential people I will ever know. Larry built Inspiring Speakers Bureau from the ground up in the late 1990s. Through sheer persistence, optimism, and (most crucially) his belief in people, he guided this business through some of the toughest periods in modern history. Inspiring Speakers survived and adapted through 9/11, SARS, the 2008 financial crisis, and COVID—times when many in the speaking industry didn’t make it. Larry never lost faith. He never lost purpose. He just kept moving forward. In 2017, Larry entrusted me with the business and passed the torch. But he never stepped away in spirit. Up until his final days, he remained a powerful and invaluable mentor, guiding me, challenging me, and continuing to shape the direction of Inspiring Speakers. Everything I know about this business (and much of what I know about life) came from him. He taught me the ins and outs of the professional speaking world, but more importantly, he taught me about people. About human connection. About branding and marketing with integrity. About building real client relationships. About conducting yourself ethically, even when it’s difficult. Larry was an incredible leader. He led with positivity. With optimism. With a mindset that no matter what was happening externally, there was always a way forward. That attitude became the backbone of this business. Throughout his career, Larry had the privilege of working with some of the greatest voices in the world—Les Brown, Robin Sharma, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Robert Kiyosaki, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and many more. But what stood out most wasn’t just who he worked with—it was how he showed up. With humility. With consistency. With genuine care. Larry was legally blind. He had only about 5% of his vision. And yet, I’ve always said—he was the most observant man I’ve ever known. Because he paid attention. He listened. He noticed what others missed. He recognized people for who they truly were. Larry saw more than most people, in both a literal and metaphorical way.

This morning, as I was starting my day, I was watching Taylor Swift's recent interview for the New York Times. In it she shares how her fans do not want to see her responses to trolls on the internet. In her summation of her fan's thoughts, "We want your art". And I couldn't help thinking of how that applies to all of us in this community. Your fans and followers and eventually customers (given enough time) do not want to see your party pics from the weekend. They do not want to see you rip apart a troll. They want to see your art, your expertise, your wisdom, your calm in the storm, the calm (or passion or purpose or whatever you preach) that they want to have which is why they follow you. The easiest way - THINK OF EVERYTHING YOU POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA as a representation of you and your company. Are there some things you should go delete? Keep it real but don't shoot yourself in the foot. Food for thought ...