Finding a Dream by Joan Posivy:

At 22 she was Branch Manager of a trust company in a small town. At 23 she was transferred to Toronto, Canada’s centre for business, banking and finance. Advancement opportunities and success were hers for the taking. She said to herself, my life is great! Fine dining, great fashion and money. What else could I possibly want? First, one year passed, then the second year.   Many people couldn’t believe it when she told them that, after two years with everything at her fingertips, she still wasn’t happy.  

Looking for a change of scenery and a change of pace, she and her husband decided to go on a ski vacation into the mountains of Nelson, British Columbia. It was love at first sight. Nelson became home.  Though still involved in the banking industry, she was eager for change.  Ideas began to percolate.  She had always been fascinated with learning and the process of learning; she continued to study books, video tapes, any information that she could find that would give her insight into the workings of the mind. Then one evening she saw a video by Bob Proctor.   The video was called Born Rich.   “You can do whatever you want”, he said.   He spoke about the mindset of the prosperous entrepreneur.   She was inspired and motivated by his words.  She began to realize that she too had learning to share, but how?   As a child she was very shy, introverted.   She had never thought about herself as a speaker much less marketing herself as a speaker.  Her name, Joan Posivy.

It has been said that when preparation meets timing, good fortune smiles and dreams come true.  It just so happened that Bob Proctor’s Born Rich program required a facilitator.   This was the stepping stone that would lead Joan Posivy into, what would become, a successful speaking career.  She facilitated the introduction and acted as the support vehicle for the program participants.   It was being in this support role that she bridged the gap from being a non-speaker to becoming a speaker. It was a 2 day program.  Sometimes people wanted more.   They would ask her to come and speak at a luncheon or at an afternoon event.  One thing led to another; soon she had a job, training, with Canada’s Federal Business Development Bank.   She then applied, and was accepted, as a trainer for an International Seminar Company.  The experience was incredible.  The learning was invaluable.  The travel was fantastic.  She loved it.

Joan Posivy was already on the seminar circuit and a professional speaker when she joined the Toastmasters organization.   It happened in the Okanagan.  She had finished her seminar for the day and saw a sign for Toastmasters in the hotel lobby.  She had a free evening, so she decided to see what it was all about.  The people in the club were so inviting, so welcoming.  As a guest, she was partnered with someone who explained the meeting as it went along.  She thought to herself, what a wonderful forum for people to improve their public speaking.  She had an absolutely wonderful time.  She thought, it would great to have a club where she lived; so Joan co founded a club in Nelson, served as it’s President and VIP Education, and remained active for five years. She maintains that the feedback people receive in Toastmasters, is invaluable. The jobs we work at everyday are the ‘real’ thing. Toastmasters helps us be better prepared and more polished, not only in our everyday work environment but also in our everyday relationships.

Does she have any advice to ‘wannabe’ trainers and speakers? Make the decision, then do it.  She says, “Examine your strengths.  Have a strong desire, be persistent, and have integrity. In the beginning, consider doing some volunteer speaking. This helps to build confidence and also helps you put together a list of references. Always remember to do your research.  To be successful, investigative work is necessary. Get to know your audience in advance by talking to, or interviewing some of the people who will be attending.   Cover the range of those present. Talk to the CEO, the secretary, the shipping clerk.  Ask what they are looking for or hoping to get from this talk/seminar or workshop.  We all have varying degrees of connectedness with others. The more you connect with your audience the higher the degree of ‘speaking’ success.”

She also suggests doing a newsletter or ezine. They help do two things.  One they help you keep in touch with old clients.  Two, they help you make connections with new ones.

Her own newsletters are filled with practical information, insights and inspiration.  

Joan Posivy no longer works for an International Seminar Company.  She has now created her own.  It’s called Programs for Peak Performance. During her years of travelling, training and speaking across Canada, through the United States, and into the United Kingdom, she found that issues everywhere, whether people were taking courses on managing stress to management training, came down to one thing.  That thing was money.  So she asked herself,   “What do wealthy people do externally, and internally that helps them to create wealth and riches?”

Her findings led her to create a delightful program, rich in content and rich in personal reward..  She found her dream.  Now she helps other people find theirs through her ‘Wealth and Women’ series.  “I love this program,” she says, “It brings together the best of the best in what I know.   We look at what habits need to change and what strategies we need to put in place.  It is practical, positive and provides life-long value.  My Wealth and Women series is designed specifically for women who want to dramatically improve their financial situation.”

“Our external results are merely an image of our internal reality.  I help women focus on both; you can’t change one without changing the other.   It’s been an amazing and incredible experience for the participants and myself as facilitator.  My joy is seeing people transformed and move in the direction of their dreams.  I love what I’m doing today, and want to do more of it in the future. That love is helping others achieve a success they didn’t think was possible.   It definitely is an amazing experience.

Joan Posivy

International Speaker, Trainer & Author of ‘No Limit Confidence’

Website: www.posivy.com