How I Turned from a Barangay Beauty Pageant Host to a Social Media Resource Speaker

Looking back, I have never imagined pursuing a career in public speaking. I mean I have always been drawn to the arts. I love to draw. I remember my dad bringing home a briefcase filled with scratch papers from his office just so I can have some things to doodle on. I think refurbishing the walls of our rooms with my pesky little drawings took a toll on him. Hehe 😀

But kidding aside, I think life gets to you and you somehow discover how serendipitous things can be; to bring you to some ideals you’ve never thought you’ll even like being part of.

After highschool, I dreamt of taking a course related to communications, but the tide wasn’t on my side. I went to Nursing school instead, even though it wasn’t my first choice. I was actually fine with it, because learning a new thing is still good. Plus, I met really great friends!

It was not until one summer night, and that probably lead me to where I am now, that placed an essential diversion to the career I was about to take. I hosted a beauty pageant. My mom recommended me to the officials and organizers, of course! Haha 😀 She said, “Kayang-kaya nya yan!” OMG! I have never hosted anything like that before!

Aside from selling shoes online, which became a good source to cater my little luxuries back then, I realized this could be a good opportunity for me to save and buy a good phone. I was eyeing the Samsung Corby Pro that time.

I was also really worried to host, knowing that the audience may come from the masses. They might be hard to please. I can speak definitely, but I particularly lack humor, I tell you. I was the by-the-book kind of speaker.

I have to prepare, know my lines, and every little detail. I was so scared to commit a mistake, and to do adlibs even. I was hoping against hope that nothing goes wrong because I might not be able to handle it. I was sooo formal. I even watched Ms. Congeniality that morning, hoping to get some tips from the emcees.

The pageant came and it was nerve-racking. Good thing my co-host was very nice that he guided and gave me cues during the show. I learned a lot that night, and I think that the most important lesson of being a host is to incorporate good audience interaction.

You see you have to be the middle-man of the people who are on the spotlight and those who are in the bleachers. You have to engage the audience to what’s happening. You’re there too because of them anyway.

I know I struggle on that part, but the wonders of real estate training created an avenue for me to develop that.

Soon enough, I graduated and applied for jobs. Non-nursing jobs. Mind you, I had to endure and undergo 10 interviews before I landed a position. I got rejected basically because I fail to meet minimum height requirements. I was so devastated that I actually thought short girls like me can’t get jobs. 😥 Haha It was a cruel time!

Anyway, I applied for a receptionist position too, because as I’ve read it says that it was a job that would be easy to learn, well at least for me. The job posts would usually include “Any 4-year course”, and I felt like they were talking to me. I believe I was particularly chatty during one interview that they recommended me a Training Assistant position.

Back then, I had no idea how that opportunity would change the course of my career. I trained real estate sales people with me having no background in sales. I pondered on the possibility that this data may pose as a waterloo on my part; so I made researches, and enrolled in a real estate learning centre. I sat in my mentors’ training sessions as often as the schedule permits, even though I’ve sat in them a hundred times.

I always believe that there is something to learn from everyone. That is why I highly value the conversations I have with my colleagues, trainees, sales managers and directors, mentors, friends, etc. Everybody has a story to tell. Learning from their experiences even if I haven’t gone through them gives me steps’ advantage just in case I may encounter them later in life, need some enlightenment over things, or might need to advise somebody.

Fast forward to now, I believe being “trainable” is the key skill I learned from all these years. So it was so timely that I got an opportunity to share the knowledge I’ve learned with my stint as a sales trainer and a marketing specialist. I can’t believe I will be having my very first training and workshop! My 21 year old self would’ve been proud!

Since I strongly believe that sharing is caring; as a way for me to share the knowledge and skills I have obtained from selling online since 2009, training in sales, and blogging I am so happy to announce that I was given a chance to do a talk about this passion!

I will be speaking in Social Media Marketing: Promote Your Business Online on April 29, 2017 Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at 2019 Pelbel Bldg. I, Unit 210, Shaw Blvd., Pasig City.

I will be discussing about product branding, social media strategies, Facebook and Instagram Marketing. Flat-lay Photography, Black and White Hat Marketing, Leads Generation, Customer Service, and many more!

You can secure your tickets at Business Innovators Learning Centre Inc. to reserve your seat! We will only accommodate 20 attendees for this! So better hurry!

You can also join my on-going birthday giveaway and get a chance to win 1 FREE PASS! Please check out my Encyclopevia page for the mechanics!