When I started speaking I was operating my full time business, or rather it was running me! I had 27 business development groups in 12 cities in 5 states! It was a lot to manage. Then a new member who was an organizational specialist challenged me to find more time in my day to take a break! I thought having coffee with new members was my break! Boy did she show me! The techniques she introduced me to saved me no less than an hour a day! I was so impressed I hired her for the month! Once a week she'd shadow me and make suggestions on how to stream line my business. She helped me create systems that kept me focused. Did you know you don't have to answer the phone just because it rings? haha That one tip saved me more time than I could calculate! From that point on for 12 years I would hire either an organizational or time management consultant to keep me on my toes. I even created an audio program with the concepts that helped me the most. It became one more tool in my belt! Being a speaker takes a lot of juggling when you do it well! What do you do to keep up with the details?

I started out speaking only because my mentor tricked me into be the speaker at a Lion's Club. I was not a willing participant because I grew up stuttering. So my fear of public speaking rivaled the most timid speakers! About a year after that first event I was speaking at a Rotary meeting. Nothing went right! There was a major rain storm so by the time I got into the building I was sopping wet. The President of the organization who booked me was absent and the Vice President had no idea who I was. (Thankfully I always carried my intro sheet) They set me with my back to the kitchen door and every time the waiters came out of the kitchen they slammed into the back of my chair. Then it was finally my time to speak. Except, one of the members also thought it was his time to speak since he had something to say about everything I said. I looked around at the other members and the VP and no one seemed to think that was unusual. After about 10 minutes of being interrupted, I left the podium and walked out into the audience and put my hand on the culprits shoulder until he looked up at me. As clearing as I was capable I said to him "I understand they haven't booked the speaker for next week! It will be your turn to talk then!" He didn't utter another word! Then made my way back to the front of the room amidst the laughter of the rest of the members. After the meeting broke up, several of the members came up to thank me for how I handled the heckler. Apparently, it was his way of trying to heckle the speaker every week! That was a tough call! It could have gone either way and I was relieved at the way the members responded. Have you had to deal with a heckler?

Let everyone know what your message is! Some of us here could be good referral partners!!

Aloha friends! I just wanted to reintroduce myself since I’ve been MIA for a bit (My original intro is somewhere below 😉). My name is Michelle A. G. Ebalaroza Kawano—I’m an award-winning author, speaker, artist, and creative coach. But more than that, I’m a woman on a mission to help others rise, heal, and walk boldly in the fullness of who God created them to be. I’ve spent years pouring into my education—gathering wisdom from classrooms, certifications, and life itself. Now, I’m sharing those tools with the world… not just through my books and art, but by speaking life wherever God opens the door. That’s why I’m actively growing my speaking business alongside my work as a published author and visual artist. I'm still looking for those paid speaking opportunities but I know when creativity is aligned with calling, and your voice is rooted in truth, it becomes a force for transformation. As a creative coach, I help others embrace their identity, express their testimony, and turn pain into purpose. Whether it’s through writing, painting, or public speaking, I walk alongside Kingdom Creatives ready to rise and be seen. ✨ That’s why I started the Voices of ALOHA Movement— A faith-driven initiative created to help everyday people turn their testimonies into legacies of hope, healing, and impact. It's not just a book series—it's a call to remember that your voice matters. 🎙️ And through the Walking In ALOHA; Let’s Talk Story Podcast, I provide a safe and sacred space where real stories rise, shame falls, and voices are honored. 👉 It’s through both the Voices of ALOHA Movement and the Podcast that I’m inviting others to share. If you have a TMI story—not “too much information,” but a Transformational, Motivational, and Inspirational testimony—I’d love to hear from you. This platform is still growing, and I welcome new voices from all walks of life. 📩 DM me “TMI” if you're ready to share your story. No pressure. Just presence, purpose, and power. Through my company, Blessed To Be A Blessing Worldwide, I’m building bridges of hope—one voice, one book, one story at a time.

Great speakers see stories where others see noise. Even when touring the city after a keynote. Even in the most unexpected places. The place: Paris. The setting: unplanned. The insight: unforgettable. The secret: NOT in your PowerPoint slides, but in your awareness. Check out the quick video. It's just 61 seconds long. Then tell me: What’s the strangest place you’ve ever discovered a story worth sharing? UPDATE: My apologies -- not sure why some of you might have had trouble viewing my video. Just in case, here's the link: https://youtu.be/Qj39AyL02A8?list=PLBtBnQ4fhpR-UYpAwWwCHaA3MwOvV2FXQ