In two days I’m off to Phoenix for my 5th National Speakers Convention. This one is being held at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa where it’s 112-degrees and only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.

Five years after my first convention I’ve learned that advanced planning is a necessity. So, in addition to following some great tips on attending conferences and lining up informal meetings with business partners and friends, I have planned my personal agenda. I’ve chosen from among the dozens of different break-out sessions that are on offer on the full agenda.

In addition to the main tent sessions at the start and end of each day, here’s where I’ll be spending my time. If you’ll be at the convention be sure to get in touch and say Hi.

Sunday July 19

2:00pm – 3:15pm

Shift Your Expertise to a New Industry… in Less than a Week! Michael Soon Lee, MBA, CSP

Has the industry you’ve become an expert in slowed or even disappeared? Find out how to identify which industries will survive and thrive in this economy and become a leading authority in a new field. You will learn how to quickly transfer your knowledge to a new industry by developing instant credibility, powerful partnerships and high visibility. Don’t miss out on this practical and career-changing program. By attending this session, you will identify industries that are likely to survive the economic slowdown; learn to quickly develop credibility and visibility in a new industry; and learn how to partner with associations to increase speaking and product sales.

(Michael is a super-successful NSA member from our Northern California Chapter who switched his focus when his own business needed a boost.)

3:45pm – 5:00pm

Make Millions as the Expert, Brendon Burchard

How do you position yourself, promote yourself and get paid like an expert? What are the “money-models” behind the business of the industry’s greatest stars including Tony Robbins, John Gray, and Jack Canfield? Brendon Burchard will reveal his and other guru secrets he’s learned in creating Experts Academy and developing his own multi-million dollar expert empire. By attending this session, you will learn the seven things real experts do; the 11 points of million-dollar positioning; five secret wealth strategies that most experts fail to leverage; how to improve your positioning, market like a master and charge high fees now.

(Sounds like it’s very bottom-line oriented. And that’s where my attention is in today’s economy.)

Monday July 20

10:00am – 11:15am

Anatomy of a Sales Call, Deanna Turner, CSP

Take away the guesswork in selling. Learn exactly what you need to say to “open” sales conversations so they start on a positive note. Face-to-face, on the phone, one-on-one or with a group, this simple process makes certain that your prospects will be interested in learning more! Get to the point where your skill of opening becomes effective — and perhaps even pleasurable! - because you know what to do. By attending this session you will learn what you must do first…before you’ve earned the right to make a call; discover four easy steps to successfully open sales conversations (including motivators that get prospects to take action); create an opening for a current prospect, get feedback to perfect it and it’s ready to use when you leave!; receive a handout on “Avoiding the Most Lethal Mistakes that Sales People Make.”

(We’re all in sales…and I need all the help I get to sell my services.)

2:15pm – 3:30pm

Stepping Up from the TOP: Make Your Best Stories Better, Max Dixon

Do you ever feel your favorite stories need a breath of fresh air? Are you interested in new insights, methods and exercises for fine tuning a story? Would you like your stories to speak to your listeners’ learning brain? If you said “yes” to any of these questions, then this session is designed for you. Bring one or two or three of your current stories to consider during the session. By attending this session, you will learn how to make your compelling characters unforgettable and their stories irresistible through fully sensory language; learn how to embed your “callbacks” in your teaching points leading to dynamite conclusion; learn how to shape metaphors that endure and relate to the lives of your audiences, which are specifically designed to facilitate change.

(Max is an old friend and I always enjoy his presentations, although I would also like to see Laurie Brown and Robert Bradford in this timeslot as well…)

4:00pm – 5:15pm

20/20 Lightning Talks: Using 20 Slides for 20 Seconds Each (Short and Sweet Presentations by 11 NSA Members), Facilitated by Brian Walter, CSP

Just how good are you at your speaking craft? Let’s find out. Be one of 11 specially featured NSA members to present for exactly six minutes and 40 seconds. Each speaker will create and talk through his or her own 20-slide PowerPoint deck timed to advance automatically at 20 seconds. These tightly written and produced presentations can be on any topic.

(Looking forward to the ‘TED Talks’ format. Short and sweet is better than the alternative any day.)

Tuesday July 21

10:00am – 11:15am

New Online Survival Strategies: How to Find Real Value in an Overloaded World, Michael Benidt and Sheryl Kay

Does it ever seem that you’ve optimized, adworded and blogged until the cows come home and still need customers? Are Fakebook, LinkedOut and Fritter making you feel completely anti-social? Then you need this session on the real value of the Internet. Especially in tough economic times you can’t afford to wait for business—you need to go out and find it. This session is for people of all ability levels, from the technically adept to the completely hopeless. By attending this session, you will spend less time and money online and get more out of it; find new and unique content to power the priceless message only you can deliver; and learn how to protect yourself from online hype and hucksterism.

(I volunteered for room monitor duty to help Michael and Sheryl who have a refreshing and innovative approach to Social Media. This year’s convention has a dozen sessions on Social Media. This is the one I’ve chosen to attend.)

2:15pm – 3:30pm

From Zero to Six Figures in Two Years, Jim Mathis, CSP, Mdiv

Hear about the simple, easy-to-follow steps Jim used to grow his business in two years. This session includes phone scripts, motivation to market, Web site tips, publicity tools and experiences shared by Jim. If you want to market yourself and build a successful business, don’t miss this session! By attending this session, you will get focused on your value and positioning within the market place; learn successful scripts and find sources to make cold and warm calls; and discover money-saving publicity and Web design tips you can use immediately.

(Another bottom-line oriented presentation. I’ve been hitting the phones recently to drum up business. The phone scripts and value proposition focus are just what I need to hear more about.)

4:00pm – 5:15pm

Open Space

After three days of intense listening, learning and libations, it is time to take a deep breath. What happened? Can I make sense of it for myself? Only you know what you need at this point and that is the reason for ending with a shortened “Open Space” opportunity. Open Space has been called a coffee break on steroids. It is an opportunity to get together as a group and discuss the topics that are important to you. Facilitated by Steve Epner, CSP, this will be a one-of-a-kind session and a great way to end the Convention.

(I attended an Open Space summary session at the NSA Fall Conference. This will be a powerful way to wrap things up before I jump on a flight back to Oakland. I’m giving my first Vistage workshop in Petaluma on Wednesday morning so I’ll miss the Black Tie Awards Ceremony and closing dinner.)