Local Business Champion: SPEAC Success
Meet Shannon Malkin Daniels, public speaking, authenticity coach and founder of SPEAC Success.
What sparked the idea for your business?
It's a bit of a windy journey. I left my corporate career after burnout and realizing I wasn't leaning into my passion and purpose (you can learn more in my TEDx talk). I originally left to write a book and start a health coaching business. At the same time, I was teaching public speaking and communication courses at the college level (I taught at Iona University and Columbia University). I was working out of the (now defunct) Stamford Innovation Center (SIC) while building my business. Even though I was a health coach, fellow entrepreneurs at SIC knew I taught public speaking and communication, and witnessed my public speaking skills firsthand, so they began asking me for help with their presentations and pitches. I found myself more excited to help them with their presentations (for FREE) than my doing health coaching work, so I shifted my business to public speaking and communication coaching. I had found my passion and purpose (and put that interpersonal communication degree to work)!
When I first became an entrepreneur, I found myself presenting in a way that was inauthentic to who I am (I was dressing, acting and speaking like a corporate robot). People told me I had great presentation skills, but when it came time for them to hire me, it wasn't happening. Finally, I let go of the perfectly polished persona I had developed after 15 years in corporate and started being myself...talking like me, dressing like me, sharing my story and perspective...and everything shifted. I started CONNECTING with people and that led to organic business growth.
What’s one small, daily practice someone can do to stay aligned with who they really are?
I'm super passionate about helping others communicate and present AUTHENTICALLY. How do you do this? Let go of who you think you should be and lean into who you are - this will help you grow confidence, make deeper connections and achieve your personal and professional goals.
HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!