You care about the environment: the air you breathe, the water you drink, wild places you love. You want to protect the Earth for you, your family, and future generations. So… you vote. You send emails to elected officials and write Facebook posts to explain the issues to your community. You support organizations that are working on public policy. You donate. And maybe you get a job working for an environmental organization. But that still doesn’t seem like enough. What else could you do? Why not think about launching an environmental speaking career?

Becoming an environmental speaker can be empowering and highly rewarding.

It’s an effective way to counter the fake news that seems to be dominating social media.

It gives you a chance to set the record straight on a wide range of environmental issues that people need to learn more about.

It also is a great means to establish your own credibility and expand your social network so you can have greater impact in all the work you do. By using your knowledge and passion, you can instill a sense of responsibility in others.

This is what keynote speakers do all the time. They provide insight into a subject, and motivate and inspire an audience. You could do that, too!

We’re partnering with ICMI, an international speakers bureau, hopefully to motivate you to launch an environmental speaking career.

Why the environment needs to be the focus of attention

Many major environmental concerns require serious attention, including

• Pollution caused by everything plastic, toxic heavy metals, and oil slicks.
• Global warming and climate change due to burning fossil fuels like coal and oil and the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
• Overconsumption, which reduces the natural resources available to meet our needs for clean air, clean water, building and manufacturing materials, and even food.
• Disposal of waste, which causes additional pollution issues.
• Extinction of animal and plant species due to development, climate change, pollution and exposure to toxic chemicals.
• The specific issues that threaten your own community.

How keynote speaking can help

When you choose to speak out, a wide variety of venues become available to you: State and local conferences of groups you belong to. Events at churches, temples and other places of worship. Earth Day celebrations. Political conventions. Local garden clubs, organizing committees, and civic associations. The PTA. Business roundtables and monthly lunch meetings. County and state fairs. All of these gatherings provide a captive audience you can motivate to act.

As a keynote speaker, you can use your knowledge and concern to build support for your cause and encourage more people to participate in being part of the solution.

Becoming a keynote speaker also means that you will be invited to attend events where you can meet like-minded people of influence. It’s an excellent way to network and build your base of support.

Even if you don’t want to be a keynote speaker per se, you can facilitate workshops or be a panelist.

I’ve done all three – keynote, facilitate, and serve on panels – and they’ve all turned out to be very worthwhile ways to build momentum around important issues, sign up more subscribers to my newsletter, expand my social network, and generate enthusiasm for my cause.

You may think that actions speak louder than words, and that can be true. But, a good speaker can motivate many people to take action. Your voice can be a powerful tool, if you know how to speak with impact and conviction.

Here’s How to Launch Your Environmental Speaking Career

1. Make a list of the topics on which you have a particular expertise. You’re better off focusing on a specific category rather than being too general (e.g., being an expert on native plants that grow in your region might be more marketable than being someone who generally knows a bit about flowers).

2. Identify organizations, companies, and other institutions that convene annual events in or near the region where you live. Determine which ones would be appropriate to approach for a speaking engagement.

3. Develop a “pitch” package that includes two or three ideas for speeches you could give. Tailor your package to the individual interests of the groups you’re reaching out to.

4. Develop a biographical profile of yourself that establishes your credibility to speak on the topic you propose.

5. Contact the organization, send your pitch package, and follow up by telephone.

6. Prepare your speech and practice it in advance. Use notes if you can, rather than read straight from a written speech to come across as more personable and a true expert.

7. Deliver your speech. Voila! You’re a speaker!

Of course, if you really want to become a professional speaker, you’ll have to market yourself so people know who you are and why they should hire you. That’s what ICMI does for its clients. Check out the Health, Lifestyle & Well-being speakers on its website to get a sense of how to put together a profile for yourself, along with other marketing materials to send out when you’re looking for speaking opportunities.

Note: Our content partners help us bring you the expertise you need to lead the greener life you want. Our editorial opinion remains our own.

The post How an Environmental Speaking Career Can Help You Protect the Planet appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Whether you’re looking for a career change or want to pick up some spare change, there is lots of opportunity in the environmental field. Here’s a list of 10 green jobs worth exploring, courtesy of Don Gayhardt, a financial services executive who, among other skills, specializes in helping folks plan for retirement.

1. Solar Advisor and Installer – Millions of people need help figuring out what kind of solar system to put on their roof. Then, someone needs to install all those solar collectors! Look to companies like Solar City and Sungevity, which seem to be expanding rapidly and hiring and training folks to make solar a reality from East Coast to West.
2. Green Beauty Sales Representative – The market for non-toxic beauty products is going like gang busters, driven by women’s concerns for make-up and personal care products free of the toxic chemicals that are considered endocrine disruptors or even carcinogens.  Companies like Beauty Counter and Miessence make it easy to set up your own on-line commission-based sales business. Work full or part-time and for a product you can totally get behind.
3. Eco Virtual Assistant – Many environmentally focused bloggers and small business owners need help when it comes to planning events, scheduling newsletters, and tackling SEO. Why not become a virtual assistant? You can charge a decent hourly wage, work the number of hours it makes sense, and develop a client base that generates reliable income. Here’s a useful blog post to help you figure out if this is right for you.
4. Green Home Consultant – Are you up on the latest developments in no-VOC paint, recycled fabrics and energy-efficient appliances? Why not team up with an interior design firm or design/build company to provide expertise on “greening” the homes they design?  Figure out your exact skill set, then get in touch with four or five local designers or builders to help them see how offering more green expertise will build their market.
5. Recycler – You probably already recycle your papers and cans. But there’s a big market developing for recycling electronics, clothing, and construction waste. Here’s how to open an electronics recycling company.
6. Green MBA – If you already have an undergraduate degree and are willing to go back to school, consider a “green” MBA – in marketing, sustainability management, or communications. Companies are scooping up folks who understand how sustainability can improve their business’ bottom line – and meet their customers’ demands for greener, cleaner business practices.
7. Environmental Engineer, Urban Planner, or Scientist – There’s great demand for expertise when it comes to designing, planning and monitoring environmental systems that help reduce pollution for manufacturers or make communities more livable. Check out the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s list of top green jobs in the science and tech sector.
8. Lawyer – Who doesn’t need a good lawyer? Mother Earth sure does! Get a law degree, then go to work defending the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and other state and federal laws that exist to reduce pollution and keep us safe. You can specialize in environmental law at many law schools, and possibly work for groups like Earth Justice, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Law Institute nationally or for local land trusts and environmental advocacy groups.
9. Writer/Investigative Reporter – Demand for content about environmental issues is probably stronger than it’s ever been before, and with websites continuing to launch and grow, publishers need help! Do you have a particular expertise in green building, eco friendly fashion, or organic food? Hone your writing skills, taking some classes at the local community college if necessary, then start contributing to blogs and websites that need help keeping their readers happy.
10. Organic Gardening Coach – People want to eat organic food, but sometimes find it too expensive. That’s why, increasingly, they’re planting their own organic gardens. However, lots of folks don’t have green thumbs. Even if they do, they don’t know where to begin. If you’ve been growing and maintaining your own organic garden, why not share your expertise and become a gardening coach? You can charge people to help design their garden, and then coach them through all the phases of planting, weeding, watering, and most importantly, harvesting!

The post Which of These 10 Green Jobs Could Work For You? appeared first on Big Green Purse.