"As a new speaker, it is easy to allow yourself to quickly minimize your value.
Sandra not only guided me and helped me develop my skills - but she instilled
in me a sense of healthy confidence in my insights and abilities, and the resulting
value I am able to provide. She set me on a path to success, and for that, I am grateful.
"
Michael J. Santarcangelo, II
NSA member and Founder and Chief Security Catalyst
www.linkedin.com/in/securitycatalyst
www.securitycatalyst.com/
"Thank you for all your coaching in the past six months. It's been a real whirlwind of activities, but your inputs and feedback have been extremely valuable to me and the development of the speaking portion of my career. I'm pleased with the progress we've made in a relatively short period of time. It's been great working with you.
"
Brenda S. Bence,trainer,speaker,consultant,Bangkok,Thailand
ww.BrendaBence.com
"Just wanted to follow up with a word of thanks. The training was superb and the mask and snorkel idea made it come to life! It all worked out great and I was not nervous in the least.
"
Alix von Cramon ACMC
skillfulliving.com
"I had a speaking engagement the day after your teleclass and I was able to use several tips you provided. On behalf of Coach 21' Coach training students, I would like to thank you for your great presentation. I heard from many of my students that it was a great learning experience and they learned many practical ideas to use in their speaking presentations."
Keiko Hirano Director Coach21 Co., Ltd.
coach.co.jp
"I was happy to get your reply e-mail so soon. You gave me many useful tips and points on how to use my PowerPoint. I got a good chance to study and change my speech style. Anyway, the greatest thing is that I found out that speaking in public can be fun. Thank you very much"
Manami Maruyama
Student of Coach21, Japan
"YOU ARE A TRUE PRO!!! You delivered SO much value and entertained us along the way! Great job dear lady. You are an inspiration to me—and many others! Mazel Tov!"
Tami Walsh, Teen Coach and speaker
"I want to stress again that I found your advice invaluable and I do hope that our paths cross again. Your coaching is priceless."
Michel Scharff, International banker
"Thanks for your participation in SCN 2006..... your presentation was marked on several comments sheets at the end as "the best of the show". You were a huge hit especially with the new members. I personally came away with many useful tips for a SCN blog and "spiffying up" my own website. One of our technology members has accepted the personal duty of taking on the blog which will take the place of our Tele-bridge calls throughout the year. Thank you for that!!! " They all loved your homework of getting to know so many BEFORE the program."
Linda Miles, CSP, CMC, professional speaker, dental consultant, author
dentalmanagementu.com and founder/director of speakingconsultingnetwork.com
"Sandra, I want to thank you for our valuable time together. I truly believe that you have kept me calm during this process and I feel confident with the material I will be presenting. Your insight has been so valuable. You have been such a tremendous help to me and kept me focused on what I needed to do. You have also kept my stress level down because of your expertise and knowledge. I can't thank you enough. I do owe you a debt of gratitude. Because of you my presentation had punch and meaningful exercises. This is what made the difference Sandra and I can't ever thank you enough. You've taught me how to take a topic and now incorporate things that will have lasting teachings. Thank you, thank you and thank you."
Kathy Harris, professional speaker, life coach
harrisdevelopment.biz
"Your help has been invaluable Sandra. You are a first rate coach."
Ken Solin, Author, professional speaker,
kensolin.com
"I could not have even come close to presenting myself to the speaking circuit without Sandra's coaching help. What was particularly important to me was that she had a good working knowledge of the securities and investment profession, and what she did not know she picked up very quickly. So it was my learning curve we worked on...not hers."
"Without Sandra's coaching help, I would have stumbled badly out of the "speaking gate." Her ongoing guidance was an enormous assurance that I would be polished and right on target once I launched my speaking career. "
Thomas Grady, Partner, CCO, Trinity Family Wealth
"You were wonderful! I especially liked the way that you coached some of the kids. You interested them and caught their attention when you explained about the types of people who are paid as professional speakers. Thank you, thank you, thank you!'
Gail Dershem- teacher, San Diego City High School
"In the six months since I began working with her I have gone from an individual who wanted to be a public speaker to someone with a clear message and great content for my audiences, a track record of nearly 20 presentations, strong testimonials, and with requests to make paid speeches."
"This is due to Sandra's commitment to my success and her excellent coaching that comes from her many years of real-life experience in the field."
"Thanks, Sandra. I truly could not have done it without you!"
Jack Gilbert, consultant, professional speaker
newpageconsulting.com
"I was thinking about 2004 this weekend, and certainly my Bermuda cruise in August was a standout event in the year, in no small way because of a certain speaking coach I met on board. I just want you to know that I employed some of the techniques we discussed during the cruise in the preparation and delivery of my eulogy at my father's funeral.. And I even spoke without notes. Thanks for helping me through the most difficult two minutes of my life."
Andy Sarno, business professional
"I have found and will continue to find your insight of value. When we talk, I am very aware of your "listening." Your responses or questions provide substance and direction."
Fred M. Crean, consultant, marketing communication services for financial industry.
thesignalgroup.com
"Great working with you! "Sandra was incredibly helpful in moving me forward in my speaking career. From developing a speaking focus and marketing materials to strengthening my platform skills, she was the best! I would highly recommend Sandra to anyone wanting to become a professional speaker or simply strengthening their speaking skills."
Rick Evans, Professional Speaker, Trainer, Coach
findingyouredge.com
"On behalf of the Uptown San Diego Sunrise Rotary Club, I want to thank you for your wonderful presentation before our club on June 1. I'm sure I speak for all present when I say that your program was exemplary of the type of presentation that all professionals should give before groups if they want to get their point across effectively. Everyone learned something he or she can use in his or her own business or profession. Your style was wonderfully entertaining as well as informative."
"I can highly recommend you to anyone who earnestly wants to improve his or her effectiveness in public speaking. I look forward to having you visit with us again."
Dennis M Filangeri President of Sunrise Rotary Club San Diego 2004-2005
uptownsandiegosunriserotary.org
"During Sandra's coaching period, I felt I found a long time friend who listened to me, knew exactly what I needed, and always gave me some magical ideas to address the many work challenges I experienced. After our coaching calls, I became recharged with better understanding, a clear path-forward and more confidence. It really made my learning program a successful and enjoyable experience."
Yumin Yang
Senior Analyst, Conocophillips. Inc., Houston ,Texas
"Being coached on the speaking profession by Sandra is like being coached on the movies by Steven Spielberg: she knows it all and invented some of it."
Darrell Berger, Professional Speaker, NSA member,
darrellberger.com
"I've worked with Sandra for many years! Sandra helped me to develop my professional speaking business and with her extensive background of working with speakers, and owning her own speaking bureau for 14 years, Sandra was the perfect coach for me!"
Deb Cottle, CEO, NSA member
CCOM Inc.
"Sandra, you have taught me so many valuable things...and one thing in particular is the value and purpose of each word written and/or spoken. Thanks for the many things I have learned, and especially for the selection of words."
Cici Hunt
Speaker/Songwriter/Performer
"I have known Sandra for over 3 years and her coaching has been very helpful to me. Her years of experience in the speaking business combined with great coaching skills makes her an invaluable resource for anyone wanting to pursue a speaking career. Sandra really cares about her clients and is dedicated to helping them succeed. Thanks Sandra!"
Sig Taylor
Coach, Trainer, Speaker
Calgary, Canada
sigtaylor.com
Sandra with some of her satisfied clients!
From L to R: Stephen Fairley, Tom Crane,
Jim Nightingale, Sandra, Sig Taylor, John Boe
"Sandra Schrift is an excellent coach. Her knowledge coupled with her caring approach makes for a dynamic combination! Her advice and training has helped me become a better speaker. I would recommend anyone who is serious about their speaking career, work with Sandra Schrift."
John Boe
NSA Speaker, Author
johnboe.com
"When I decided to speak professionally I looked for someone who could help me understand the ins and outs of that business and accelerate my transition from author to speaker. I am happy to say that Sandra provided me all of that and more. The speaking business is unlike any other, it is filled with strange customs and practices and difficult for an outsider to fathom. Sandra helped me with every facet of my effort from marketing to product development and business administration. I believe that she accelerated my entry into this business by 12 to 18 months. I can recommend her without hesitation to anyone in a similar position."
Jim Nightingale
Professional Speaker, Author, Consultant
jimnightingale.com
"Dear Sandra,"
"I wanted to thank you for your support of the Professional Women's Roundtable - North San Diego Chapter. We sincerely appreciate the time you so kindly provided us with your presentation on How to Enroll Clients from the Platform."
"The content, delivery, organization and knowledge conveyed in your presentation were exceptional. Your insight on how to relax before a speech, how to provide a powerful opening and how to incorporate a call to action was very beneficial to our members and guests. I especially enjoyed the use of the candy bars as a means of grabbing one's attention and encouraging audience participation - very clever."
"You were a joy to work with and we look forward to having you speak at future PWR meetings. Until that time, best of luck in all of your endeavors."
Sher Bowman
Director, PWR North San Diego Chapter
"Speaking was a dark unknown for me until I received coaching from you. It was like a light switch was turned on, when I became more "aware" of the speaking environment. The steps for effective speaking were my road maps. You helped me to go "inside" and see what was right for me to express. Our conversations that dealt with how I envision myself was my compass. And we did all this by telephone, 3,000 miles apart from each other!"
Diane Jerome
Educator/Trainer
"You gave me great suggestions for formulating my talks and preparing a video demo. You provided me with a coaching model to take into my own practice."
Sharon Lesnik
Trainer, Speaker and Personal Coach
"What a success! Thank you so much for addressing our editors on behavioral styles. Your presentation was informative and entertaining. We enjoyed your warm, down-to-earth style. The evening truly had something for everyone and passed much too quickly."
Terry Anderson
President, San Diego Professional Editors' Network
"Sandra the Speakers University classes were wonderful. Thanks so much for the value and lots of info. I enjoyed every class immensely!!!"
Keith Harmeyer
NSA Speaker, Consultant and Personal Coach
keithharmeyer.com
"I can see why professionals seek you out as their coach. Your business instincts flow so easily, and they seem to be right on target."
Sheila Smith
Public Speaking Consultant
"What a great job you did today! I was so impressed with your professionalism (although I already knew you had it) and your ability to control the group. Your information was outstanding and I got a lot from it."
Betty Pichon
NSA Speaker
"It has been a pleasure to work with you this past year on our executive presentation skills. I feel that our ability to communicate ideas, suggestions and follow-up for improvement greatly contributed to the overall success at the District Managers' Meeting in May and more importantly at the National Dealer Meeting in September."
"As a result, the executives exhibited a more confident and relaxed persona on stage. I believe this resulted in the audience relating to them on a more personal level, thus achieving our goal."
"I look forward to continuing to work with you as we fold-in mid-level management into the training this spring."
"In the meantime, if I can be of any assistance or provide any recomendations I would not hesitate to recommend you to similar corporations considering a professional speech coach."
Kim Reynolds-Nelson
Manager, Meeting Services
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
"I purchased Sandra's "How to succeed in the speaking business" tape set and the value far exceeded the price I paid! It would have taken me countless hours to amass all the information she shared in the tapes. I took advantage of the added value of her coaching offer, and through the coaching I came away with ideas specific to my target audience that should make me money very quickly. I look forward to coaching more with Sandra as my business grows!"
Audrey Burton
Motivational Coach and Speaker
"I often even get people telling me how calm and relaxed I look when I'm in a public speaking setting. Imagine that! Many of the fundamental principles you passed on to me have really helped."
Steve Bunyard
Minister , Rolling Hills Covenant Church
"What I liked best about your three hour training class is the manner in which the content complimented my experiences in Toastmasters. The role playing was tremendous! This was a terrifc introductory class, very worthwhile!"
Dick Shope
Director, CB Richard Ellis, Inc
"My husband brought home the information you explained each time to the Wanke Painting Company employees and explained what you talked about…I am very impressed that the owner of this company initiated training like this for his employees."
Nancy Tavolazzi
employee of San Diego State University
"Sandra’s coaching was invaluable! I especially enjoyed her ability to help me make even a keynote an interactive experience. Sandra is gifted at entering into the client’s concept and helping you do what you want to do, only better! Sandra’s style is easy, practical and immediately "useable". She is especially good for us corporate exec types (past or present corporate execs). Practical information that gets results. You really know the speaking biz!"
Val Williams
Master Certified Coach
Professional Coaching and Training Inc.
valwilliams.com/
"How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. I spoke at Master Sales Academy in front of 500 ‘Sweathogs’ (May 2002). It was no small feat, and you were no small part of the outcome! Just 6 months of coaching with you, and much of what I needed was learned. Thanks a million again."
Ted Jacobsen
Real Estate Agent
tedjacobsen.com
"Thank you for all your coaching and support. Who knows why everything seems to happen. But, I think this is the start of my next career path…and I could not have done it without you!!"
Christine Wood, MD (Pediatrician)
Speaker, Author and now Spokesperson for Beechnut baby foods
kidseatgreat.com
"During the year I worked with Sandra, she became, not only my coach/mentor but my friend, confidant and dispenser of tough love when it was appropriate. Sandra’s life experience and insight was instrumental in helping me ferret out a few of my true callings. My coaching and seminars are already generating a solid six figure revenue and should yield seven figures within the next two years. If you are ready to gain personal and professional focus and clarity, hire Sandra to be your coach!"
Dave Harrington
Professional Speaker, Coach, Consultant
"Sandra - Your prior ownership of a Speaker Bureau plus your demonstrated knowledge and helpful attitude at Speakers' University classes led me to pick you as my professional speaking coach. I must say what an excellent choice! In the past few months our association has increased my knowledge of professional speaking by a tremendous amount and shortened my learning curve by several years."
"Working with you has been a delight. You shared your knowledge but you did it more like a friend than a teacher as such helping get me there much faster. Your suggestions have worked beyond my expectations; I must tell you that I was skeptical about some; like the one about telling Bureaus that I can present in Spanish. I thought it would not be of interest to them. Well, the phone calls did come in. Your were right. It worked!"
"The best I can say is that not only will I refer potential clients to you, but also I am planning to return as soon as I am ready to go to the next level of my profesional speaking career."
Joe Rodriguez
Professional Speaker
joe-rodriguez.com
"You gave me outstanding ideas for both initial marketing to a prospect as well as how to follow up better with a good lead. I received a ton of support and ideas on how to kick start my business after I had shut it down for most of 2000. I really appreciated your candor, sincerity and willingness to share your thoughts and experiences both personal and professional."
Chuck Cote
Professional Speaker, NSA Member
chuckcote.com
"Thanks to you, I'm making more money this year (2001) but I'm not working any more than last year. Yahooo!!!"
Mary Byers
Professional Speaker/Author, Writer, NSA Member
marybyers.com
"You coached me on my talk for a group of clients and peers and helped me tailor my message by lending support, criticism and best of all, refinement of my content. I have someone who wants to do business with me as a result of my presentation at this association meeting. Thank you, Sandra for all your help and support. I owe this one to you!"
Roseanne Luth
President - (Luth Research, Inc./Luth Research Online)
surveysavvy.com
"I found Coach Schrift's teleclass on Professional Speaking to be an essential part of getting my business off to a good start. The content was great and learning "insider" information from a seasoned bureau owner was a unique experience. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who is pursuing a professional speaking career."
Andy Tomko
Speaker
"Coach Schrift gets to the point, no sugar coating. If you are serious about wanting to learn the speaking industry, you really need to learn from the industry expert. I was able to focus on who I was, what I wanted to accomplish, and prepare a powerful one-page promo, which has already moved me into speaking engagements. Thank you Coach Schrift for sharing your expertise with me."
Patricia Heartsfield
Speaker
"Coach Schrift is thoroughly knowledgeable about the speaking game and shares that knowledge in a way that is immediately applicable for anyone. Well worth the investment!"
Betty Mahalik
Coach, Speaker
dynamic-coaching.com/about.html
"Great teleclass! You had around 50+ people on line and handled it very well - encouraging, professional, organized and sooo full of expertise. You are a great model!"
Judy Cullins
Author, Teacher, Professional Speaker, Coach
bookcoaching.com
"Fabulous! Informative! Organized! GREAT PROGRAM CONTENT! As an event planner who hires speakers, I was extremely impressed with the educational information that you presented at Speakers University. Your delivery style encouraged participation which created more value for each of us."
Beverly Weurding, MBA
Event Management & Marketing Consultant
"Excellent introduction on how to become a paid professional speaker. Sandra provided a step-by-step process with practical information that could be immediately applied. Using the information I learned about fee schedules, I was able to obtain a booking at $1500 more than what I normally would have charged! SpeakerU was definitely time and money well-spent!"
Jeanne Sharbuno
Speaker, Writer, Personal Coach
"Having been a professional speaker for 6 years, I didn't know if I needed a coach. However, hiring Sandra as my coach has proven to be one of the wisest business decisions I have ever made! Her understanding of this business, combined with her insights into what really "works," gives her a unique perspective from which to assist any speaker at any level."
Andy Hickman, CSP
Professional Speaker
andyhickman.com
"Your insights into the speaking business have helped me up the learning curve much quicker than I could have done on my own. My guess is that I have moved at least two years up that curve. In addition, you have pointed out several markets for my work that I would have missed or ignored. Your help in getting my media kit together was essential in my producing thoroughly professional pieces."
Bob Bapes
Professional Speaker
"I needed someone to help me transition my training and facilitation programs to be more appropriate for keynotes and breakouts. Sandra's experience as a former Speaker Bureau, and now career coach, as well as your ability and creativity presented itself in all of our interactions. In addition, your approach to the "whole person" to start the coaching process was very refreshing and helped me in my personal and professional journey. You exceeded my expectations and helped me to realize the value I bring to my audiences, clients and all relationships in my life."
Kathy Larsen
Past President, Midlands Speakers Association
Professional Speaker
kathylarsen.com
"She helped me focus on my passion and have more fun with my marketing. Now the results are better and somewhat effortless. Working with Sandra is liking having a mentor and a friend while she acts as a coach who pushed me to do more. She is full of ideas and connections! She made me stretch - it was like getting an advanced degree in life."
Connie Merritt
NSA Member, Author
theliontamer.com
"Sandra has been helpful to me for the last couple of years in marketing, writing and keynote speech writing. As a result of her help, I developed a new promotional brochure, and developed more focus in my speaking career, transitions from training to delivering keynotes."
William Stieber - CSP
NSA Member, Author, Past President of Liberty Bell Chapter
stieber.com
"Having Sandra as a coach made me more accountable. She knows the speaking business and provided me with up-to-date information in the speaking industry. I went so much faster in much less time. I couldn't have done it without her! She is a woman of integrity and is thoughtful about her clients."
Pat Wiklund PhD.
NSA Member, Author
patwiklund.com
"She has an expertise from the speaker bureau side. Sandra knows what I need to know to sell myself to prospective clients. She helped me set goals, keep me on track and market myself. She sets you on course and fills your sails with energy."
Dana May Casperson
NSA Speaker, Author
poweretiquette.com
