How Public Speaking Solopreneurs Can Fight Overwhelm

For Immediate Release:

Dateline: Centreville, VA

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”

— Arthur Ashe, American professional tennis player

As a public speaking solopreneur, you are probably experiencing overwhelm right now.

There is something you can do about this to lessen the feeling.

Below are three detailed strategies a public speaker solopreneur can use to overcome feelings of overwhelm:

Prioritize Ruthlessly Using the Eisenhower Matrix

Solopreneurs often juggle content creation, bookings, marketing, finances, and client follow-up, which can lead to decision fatigue and overwhelm.

The tasks will not go away. So, how do you decide what to do at any given moment? Use the Eisenhower Matrix.

The Eisenhower Matrix, also known as the Urgent-Important Matrix, draws its roots from the productivity principles of Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969), the 34th President of the United States and a five-star general during World War II.

The Eisenhower Matrix helps distinguish between tasks that are urgent and important, allowing you to focus only on what truly matters. Break tasks into:

• Urgent & Important (Do it now) – Tasks that require immediate attention and have serious consequences if not done. Often crises or deadlines.

• Important, Not Urgent (Schedule it) – Tasks that are essential for long-term success: planning, strategy, relationship building, personal development.

• Urgent, Not Important (Delegate it) – Tasks that demand immediate attention but do not contribute significantly to your goals. Often, interruptions or distractions.

• Neither (Eliminate it) – Tasks that are neither pressing nor valuable. Time-wasters and distractions.

Do it now, schedule it, and eliminate it are self-explanatory. But how do you delegate it if you are a solopreneur?

Use one or more virtual assistants online. There are people ready, willing, and able to help you with any part of your business. They’re simply a Google search away.

A virtual assistant is not your employee. You pay them to accomplish a specific task, and you pay them accordingly. No HR, no benefits, no interpersonal entanglements.

If you don’t like the work a specific virtual assistant does, you simply go on to the next virtual assistant.

This reduces mental clutter and creates clarity about where to start.

So, one strategy you can use as a speaking solopreneur to overcome feelings of overwhelm is to prioritize ruthlessly by using the Eisenhower Matrix.

Another is to build a self-care infrastructure.

Build a Self-Care Infrastructure

Public speakers face the stress of travel, irregular hours, and emotional drain from performing.

Solopreneurs often neglect self-care because there’s “no time” for it. Counter this by systematizing well-being – plan downtime to “recharge your batteries.”

We all think we have infinite energy when it comes to our solopreneurial business. I think you know this already, but we don’t.

You know yourself better than anyone else. You know when your “batteries” are getting low. This is a sign to take action before they get too low.

Fortunately, there are software tools at your disposal to help you regulate your activity.

Use scheduling tools (like Calendly and Google Calendar) to block off time for exercise, sleep, and creative breaks.

It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that if you are not working on the business, you are wasting time.

Have you ever heard of the Law of Diminishing Returns? This law states that if you increase one factor of production (such as labor) while holding others constant (like capital or land), the additional output (or returns) from each new unit will eventually decrease.

This law also applies to your business. If your “batteries” are low, you will get decreasing output for every succeeding unit of your energy. In other words, it will take you two or three times the energy to get the same output as you produce when your “batteries” are not low. “Recharge your batteries” when they are low.

If you don’t, your stress will increase, and your life will not be what you want.

When you are tired and do not seem to be accomplishing much, your body is sending you a signal. Take a break.

You should consider using software tools to automate repetitive tasks, such as Zapier or Hootsuite, to reduce cognitive load.

You don’t have infinite energy. You must allocate the energy you do have wisely.

So, two strategies you can use as a speaking solopreneur to overcome feelings of overwhelm are to prioritize ruthlessly using the Eisenhower Matrix and build a self-care infrastructure.

A third strategy is to use a “Minimum Viable System” (MVS) approach.

Use a “Minimum Viable System” (MVS) Approach

Instead of trying to do everything perfectly (branding, marketing, sales funnels, client onboarding), develop lean, repeatable systems that deliver “good enough” results.

Creating a one-page speaker kit often offers strategic advantages over a complete media package, especially in early outreach or when making a first impression.

A single-page speaker kit has clarity and impact. It forces you to distill your message, credibility, and offerings clearly and powerfully. It allows event organizers to assess your fit in under a minute, making it more likely they’ll respond.

A single page is easier to share and print. It is lightweight, fast to download, and less likely to get lost or ignored. It allows speakers’ bureaus or event planners to forward it without asking prospects to read ten (10) pages.

A single-page speaker kit is faster to update and maintain. It (1) is easier to keep current with fresh testimonials, new talks, or recent events, (2) it can be easily tailored for specific audiences (e.g., one version for corporate, another for education), and (3) it requires less design time and expense than producing a complete multi-page media kit.

Consider using email templates for client responses to avoid having to rewrite them each time.

This saves time and reduces repetitive work. Instead of typing similar responses from scratch, templates allow you to reuse core content for inquiries such as availability, pricing, speaking topics, or travel logistics.

It also ensures consistent messaging. Templates help speakers maintain a clear brand voice and consistent tone across all client interactions. This is crucial for reinforcing credibility and professionalism.

A one-page speaker kit minimizes errors and oversights. Pre-written responses help avoid forgetting important details, such as attachments, pricing terms, or event requirements.

Templates can include placeholders (e.g., [Client Name], [Event Date]) to personalize content while still maintaining a systematic approach.

Batch record short videos or social posts for marketing weeks in advance.

This allows content efficiency through planning. Recording in batches enables you to plan themes or series, making it easier to reuse talking points, phrases, or calls to action. This eliminates the need to start from scratch for every post.

Batch recording short videos or social posts also creates content in one sitting, ensuring your message stays on-brand, aligned, and cohesive across platforms. You also avoid repeating or contradicting yourself unintentionally over time.

Finally, batch recording frees up time for higher-priority tasks. By batching, you remove daily content stress, so you can focus on speaking, client calls, or developing new offers. Reusing content formats (e.g., “Tip Tuesday,” “Audience Story”) saves creative energy.

So, three detailed strategies a public speaker solopreneur can use to overcome feelings of overwhelm are: (1) prioritize ruthlessly using the Eisenhower Matrix, (2) build a self-care infrastructure, and (3) use a “Minimum Viable System (MVS)” approach.

This shift from perfectionism to progress can dramatically reduce that feeling of overwhelm and boost productivity.

Arm yourself before you “do battle” with overwhelm!

Call to Action

• Prioritize your tasks ruthlessly using the Eisenhower Matrix

• Recognize the limits of your energy and when your efforts are yielding minimal results. Take a break.

• Develop lean, repeatable systems that deliver “good enough” results.

“Don’t try to do it all. Just do what matters most.”

— Greg McKeown, New York Times bestselling author, consultant, and speaker
___________________________________

References

• Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Habit 3 introduces time management using the Eisenhower Matrix.

• McKeown, G. (2020). Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most. Focuses on simplifying workload to avoid burnout.

• Neff, K. (2011). Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. Emphasizes self-kindness as a buffer against the stress of being a solopreneur.

• Bradberry, T., & Greaves, J. (2009). Emotional Intelligence 2.0. Links self-care to better decision-making and performance.

• Newport, C. (2016). Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. Advocates focusing deeply on high-leverage areas while automating or eliminating other tasks.

• Sivers, D. (2010). Anything You Want. Argues for simplicity and doing only what

_____________________________

Being a confident, engaging, and effective technical speaker is a vital personal and professional asset. With more than 40 years of engineering experience and more than 30 years of award-winning public speaking experience, I can help you reduce your presentation preparatory time by 50%, overcome your fear of public speaking and be completely at ease, deliver your presentations effectively, develop your personal presence with your audience; and apply an innovative way to handle audience questions deftly.

Working closely with you, I provide a customized protocol employing the critical skills and tools you need to create, practice, and deliver excellent technical speeches and presentations. Let’s connect and explore how I can help you become the exceptional speaker you were meant to be. Please reach out to me at frank@speakleadandsucceed.com or 703-509-4424 for a complimentary consultation. Schedule a meeting with me at calendly.com/frankdibartolomeospeaks

.

Adblock test (Why?)

source http://www.expertclick.com/NewsRelease/How-Public-Speaking-Solopreneurs-Can-Fight-Overwhelm,2025311283.aspx