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When I was 11, I was enrolled to start Taekwondo. I didnโt choose the sport, it was simply a given. My parents didnโt care about dancing or basketball: They wanted me to be safe in an unsafe world. I would need to ALREADY be a master at self-defense by the time I ever needed to […]
Something people always say to me is “Trang, you’re such a natural speaker!“ But what they don’t know is this: When I was in early school, I was so shy that I sat with my sister at lunchtime and had no other friends. None of us are born natural speakers. It’s something we learn to […]
I’m inspired by what people are doing out there every damn day. And I’m lucky that I get to see some of these feats intimately when my clients achieve cool things on the weekly. Here are just some clients who have achieved their dreams using their voice: ๐ค Elodie became a TEDx speaker ๐ฃ๏ธ Maya […]
I’ve been speaking since 2017, and there came a time when I was starting to get paid well for gigs. I thought to myself “Wow, I think I’ve made it! Finally!” The next week, I had an opportunity land in my inbox. I got onto a call with the event host and after chatting about […]
Last week, I had someone get surprised when I told them that I was plant-based ๐ฑ And I thought, maybe it’s time I give everyone a chance to understand more about me beyond the daily speaking tips that I put out. Because I’m telling you, there’s A LOT more lol! So, here are 7 reasons […]
“Hey Trang, I don’t know about these speaking techniques. It doesn’t feel authentic” This is something I hear quite often from clients once we start with the first few changes to how they talk. What is even authentic? If this is something you’re worried about, here’s something for you: Authenticity isn’t what a lot of […]
Recently, I met this bunch of legends at an event and in passing, someone brought up lettuce ๐ฅฌ I saw my opportunityโฆ Me: โWhy did the lettuce cross the road?โ They groaned and rolled their eyes, yet looked at me with smiles of anticipationย Me: โJust cosโฆ.โ ๐ You may think that’s a dead-end for […]
Here’s a quick pop up quiz for you: When youโre contacting someone after a networking event, getting in touch with an old client to ask a favour, or wanting to pitch a cool lead, how should you contact them? A. Email B. Text message C. Voice message D. Phone call Most people: Text message Me: […]
My client, James, just recently did his first-ever talk to his old high school ๐ฅณ Based on working together with him to achieve this milestone, let me share with you the three lessons that we learned about how to start your career as a speaker. Lesson #1: There is no such thing as a perfect […]
Do you hate the way your voice sounds on video? Well, I’ve got the scientific reason for why it happens. When we speak, we hear our voice through two avenues: We are hearing our voice through our own skull as well as the air, which is what we get used to. In contrast, when we […]
Contrary to what a lot of people think, the way that your voice sounds is not what you’re born with. It’s not what you’re stuck with forever. Promise. It’s just what you have fallen into and stuck with until now. Think of your voice like a burger. Hear me out ๐ When you assemble a […]
Do you want to be able to network effortlessly? Naturally keep conversations flowing? Feel confident to go to a networking event solo? Here are 5 tips that will help you skip the awkwardness and build relationships effortlessly at any networking event. Tip 1: Know where to stand in the room The best spot for you […]
If you’ve ever left a meeting thinking ‘Why didn’t I just say something?’, this is for you. Whether you want to suggest a idea to your manager, or contribute your opinion in a group meeting (Or even to your clients), these 5 steps will help you present ideas that get instant buy in without sounding […]
I remember when I first started learning communication skills, I was dumbfounded about how I could practice. How could I practice my interview skills if I didn’t have any interviews coming up? How am I meant to get good at presentation skills for my next presentation? How do I improve my sales skills if I […]
So many of my clients come to me struggling to say no to client requests, manager demands or even simple favours from friends or family. They are scared to say no in a direct way because it might lose them relationships or offend people. However, I’m telling you, the most kind thing that you can […]
It was not the day for it. It was a Wednesday and I was already short on sleep. I had a massive day of meetings, with my eyelids already heavy by 3pm. And then to top it off? I had Clare Elizabeth Dea’s glitz and glam book launch cabaret that night. Despite my original RSVP […]
Last month, I took my first-ever manual driving lesson. I was in Bali, and had to find the rare carpark to learn how to not stall a car ๐ As I pulled up to the carpark, I saw 3 men who were gatekeeping the entrance and taking 50c payments to use the carpark. But the […]
It’s 2021 and I’ve just gotten the opportunity to run a big workshop. As the first-ever external speaker taking-over from the founder (Let’s call her Sasha), I know I have big shoes to fill. To make it more challenging, I don’t get to teach my own content. Instead, I have to learn the existing curriculum […]
I’ve recently been asked whether or not I guarantee paid speaking gigs as part of my coaching, and this is my answer: A swimming coach will not guarantee her athlete that she will make the Olympics. She cannot make that guarantee because that is out of her control. The output is out of our control. […]
Let me tell you a story… Last year, I was flown interstate twice in two days for separate speaking events. For the first gig, I was up at 3am for the first flight out of Melbourne to Sydney, so I could check in to my accommodation to rest before my 2pm speaking timeslot. I board […]
I’ve probably been to more networking events than most people, and trust me, more is not more. Try to have a quick chat just so you can connect with me on LinkedIn and move onto the next person? Bye. Try to sell to me your services in the first 5 minutes of meeting? It’s a […]
Imagine launching something you’ve been working on for years, but it flops. You are led to believe your idea sucks. You think you’re not capable. That nobody wants what you have to offer. Then years later, someone else releases the exact same thing, but it TAKES OFF. It sells out. It becomes a global sensation. […]
“Hey Trang, aren’t these speaking techniques manipulative?” Honey it’s not manipulative, it’s ๐ค๐ฝ LEADERSHIP ๐ค๐ฝ Any time we open up our mouth, we are using speaking techniques of some form, whether or not we realise it. The only difference in learning these techniques? It’s about intention!! A knife can be used to chop vegetables… or […]
Every sale that you don’t close is not just lost money in your business. It’s lost opportunity to help someone who needed your service. It’s lost opportunity to gift that person the solution that they were seeking. It’s lost opportunity to lead and create impact in your business. These sales phrases are some of my […]
You know the feeling when you cut open an avocado and it’s the PERFECT green colour and softness? That’s how I felt when I got this message from my client Sumi after our first in-person coaching session together! This is what I love about speaking training. Our voice is made up of ingredients that we […]
Reminder: We aren’t just born with genes for good conversation. It’s something we can all achieve with a bit of intention! Here’s the thing: Good conversation is a science! People are wired to enjoy certain things, and get bored by other things. So, once we learn the rules for great conversation, who’s to say we […]
It’s 2001. I’m just 6 years old and still struggling at school because of my limited English. One lunchtime, I’m in the playground skipping rope with my friend. We’re laughing and giggling, trying out new tricks for the first time. Suddenly out of nowhere, I hear a jarring scream of pain “OW”. I turn around […]
Do you ever find that people often interrupt you, talk over you, or don’t take you seriously? If so, try rephrasing these common statements to immediately come across with more authority โก๏ธ DON’T SAY: Iโm so sorry, but I donโt quite understand what youโre saying. Can you please explain that again? SAY: To confirm what […]
It feels danger paralleled to if you were getting chased by a lion, but in reality, the threat is an emotional one: Exposure to judgement, rejection, failure. Your body releases adrenaline…
Itโs scary to be assertive, because it could be detrimental to our relationships, right? I get it – I used to get bullied, so I learned not to say anything that could cause friction with other people…
