You didn’t become an entrepreneur to sit in the shadows; people need to actually know who you are. You need visibility and one of the best ways to do that is through speaking--either on a stage, from a Zoom room, or on podcasts.

The challenge is getting past the “I’m not readies” and the “I’m not enoughs” to actually pitch yourself and get those speaking gigs.

News flash, friends: You won’t be ready until you actually take some action. You have to just do the thing, then think about how to make it good once you get the yes. See a need, then go start talking about it. Worry about that perfect website or perfect talk later. (Another news flash: It’s never going to be perfect.)

That’s what this week’s podcast guest did. Dr. Carmen Landrau is a cardiologist in private practice who saw a need in her industry for women’s empowerment and leadership. She had already been speaking about cardiology and health care, but wanted to step away from the stethoscope a bit and lift up women in her industry and beyond.

Now she’s a well-paid speaker who delivers engaging keynote addresses and talks at corporate events, business conferences, and, yes, health care events. Listen in to how she got started and advice she and I both have for anyone looking to add speaking to their visibility toolbox.

About Dr. Carmen Landrau:

Carmen W. Landrau, MD is a board certified cardiologist and professional keynote speaker who is also certified in Leadership and Management by Duke University. She uses her experience navigating a male-dominated and hierarchical career to empower women to embrace their talents and acknowledge their achievements so that they may transform into phenomenal leaders.

Dr. Carmen W. Landrau is a keynote speaker at corporate conferences and association events. In addition, she provides individualized teaching and coaching to professional women’s groups and female executives who have overcome obstacles and created their success to become full and equal leaders.

Her leadership talks are well received by those actively involved in the advancement of women into senior executives of an organization. She has also participated in corporate panels and workshops, receiving excellent feedback and audience response.

Dr. Landrau has been invited on numerous occasions to be the featured keynote speaker for the American Heart Association's annual conference, Latinas Go Red Houston Vestido Rojo. During the year she is frequently seen on both live and national TV interviews educating the community to help create awareness about heart disease in women.

Dr. Landrau is a contributor to online publications and frequent podcast guest. She has been featured for several years in a row in H Texas Magazine, Houstonia Magazine, and continues to be recognized among Houston's Top Doctors. In her free time she enjoys reading, dancing, exercising and spending time outdoors with her husband and three children, ages 13, 13, and 11.

Links and Resources:

• Dr. Carmen Landrau’s website

Time Stamps:

• [2:08] How Carmen got started in speaking
• [5:55] You don’t have to be “ready” to get started
• [8:30] Belief that this isn’t going to get you anywhere (it will)
• [9:38] We need to see others be successful
• [15:22] Connection is key to get past the bad days
• [16:40] Getting paid to speak
• [18:18] Take the risk, make it imperfect, then you can make changes
• [19:01] You don’t realize who you’re impacting and who’s hearing you
• [20:12] Root for yourself, even when you’re not feeling it
• [23:50] get to know who you are and who your audience is and price yourself right
• [24:18] Being on the stage is 5% of speaking
• [26:50] Speaking is a gift you’re giving the audience
• [29:25] Getting started
• [31:30] You need two different marketing plans: online and in person
• [35:35] The different levels of Amber
• [37:39] You don’t have to just talk about what you do for a living
• [40:40] Be true to yourself
• [43:40] Speak on topics where you’re comfortable 
• [45:18] Your passion will come to the surface in your talk
• [47:00] The hardest part of speaking: Mindset
• [52:13] You can only do so much, then you need to delegate