You have a message to share! Maybe it's a life experience that shaped you, a topic you have a lot of experience with, or a situation you want to help people avoid.

Mary Snyder is all about helping women take the message they have in their heart and turn it into a speaking career.

Connect with Mary on Facebook, Instagram, or her website.

Mary's favorite time saving gadgets are her timer and Asana for project management

Hear it:

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This is a transcript of the This Mom Knows Podcast - Episode - 60

Jennifer Uren
I am so excited to introduce you to my friend Mary Snyder. Mary is a speaker, event, and tour producer. One of her favorite things is to emcee events for other speakers. Mary has a passion to help women take their message that is burning in their heart and start a speaking career. She's the host of Take the Stage Podcast and founder of Activate Your Speaking Career. But more than that, she's a mom and grandma and loves life in a small town in Alabama. So welcome, Mary.

Mary Snyder
I am so excited to be here. First of all, listen, I needed this podcast so much when I was starting out in the mom world. I mean, this is brilliant, first of all, so thank you for doing this. I think it's so good. I recommend this to my mom friends all the time.

Jennifer Uren
Oh, well, thank you. So yeah, tell us a little bit more about yourself. Now you're in the south, so I'm guessing you're not actually called grandma, which is pretty generic up here. But are you Mawmaw? What are you?

Mary Snyder
No, I'm Gigi. Gigi. I named myself because it means gorgeous grandmother in my world is what it means. I don't really know that that kids think that.

Jennifer Uren
Hey, it doesn't matter what they think.

Mary Snyder
I know. I named myself I was like, I'm gonna be GG because I like that.

Jennifer Uren
So that that's a lot of fun. And I know you have a really fun hobby when you're not hanging with your kids and grandkids. So why don't you tell us about that?

Mary Snyder
Oh, absolutely. Okay, so we, we, my husband, we being my husband and I, we got electric bikes. Well, he bought the electric bike. And I thought, well, that's a great idea. And then it occurred to me, I had not been on a bike since I was 11. It's been a minute. It's been a minute. And I was terrified at first because I haven't been on a bike. So I love them. It's - electric bikes actually require you to pedal. So it's a pedal assist bike. So it's a little bit of a misnomer, but you have to pedal, but then it will assist you in the pedaling. So like I can go up to 20 miles an hour in it. But it's so much fun. We're getting ready to leave and take them to the beach next week.

Jennifer Uren
Oh, fun!

Mary Snyder
Yeah, we love riding bikes. My favorite place to ride is on abandoned railways, because here in the south, a lot of railroads are gone now. So they've taken those railroads, those railroad beds and made bike paths out of them. So

Jennifer Uren
Oh, fun.

Mary Snyder
Really fun. Really fun.

Jennifer Uren
That's neat. So yeah, I was curious about the electric bike part, because I was like, well, "How's it different than a moped?" but that makes sense. It makes it so you can go, you have more stamina, you can go further, because you're not working quite as hard to go up hill or whatever it is.

Mary Snyder
Right, exactly. And here's the thing. I mean, if you just get tired, you can hit the throttle, and just coast but that you still need to get a little exercise. So I do try to try to pedal until I'm real tired.

Jennifer Uren
So it's kind of the best of both worlds, you know?

Mary Snyder
Yes. Yes.

Jennifer Uren
Oh, that's excellent. I like that.

Mary Snyder
Yeah.

Jennifer Uren
Well, today, we get to talk about the thing that you know, which is becoming a speaker. So, you know, in 30 seconds or less, tell us what your business is the problem you solve and who you serve?

Mary Snyder
Well, my business is, well, I have a podcast so y'all knew about that take the stage. But the business I have is called activate your speaking career. And it is for aspiring or newer, for established Christian speakers that really want to take their ministry to the next level. And the problem I solve for them is because of the incredible experiences I've got gotten to have in my life that the Lord has allowed, is I get to walk you along, sat alongside you, as we craft your message and work to get you booked. So that's what I do.

Jennifer Uren
Oh, that's excellent. So how did you get started as a speaker yourself, you know, why don't you tell us the story of your journey?

Mary Snyder
Well, I made every mistake known to man, so that I did everything wrong, because I knew the Lord had called me to speaking. And so I went home and waited for somebody to call.

Jennifer Uren
Yes,

Mary Snyder
They didn't

Jennifer Uren
Because God called you.

Mary Snyder
But then the Lord reminded me that he called like, one of my friends was called to be a teacher. And one of my friends was called to be an accountant. They didn't go home and sit down. They went and got educated, and then they went out and looked for jobs. So that's when I realized I had to get educated. I started going to every conference, read every book, and then I - and this is dating me - I sent flyers out to churches...

Jennifer Uren
okay

Mary Snyder
...because no churches had, they didn't, they didn't have websites, we had email, but nobody had a website. None of the bigger churches would have website. So that's how I started and just grew from there.

Jennifer Uren
That's excellent. Yeah. Our pastor recently said, it's prayer, plus. He's like, if you need a job, you pray and send out your resume.

Mary Snyder
I had left out one of the steps that was just in the prayer man, like, Lord, I'm praying, why don't you deliver it?

Jennifer Uren
Right? Oh, my goodness. So. So what was then the motivation of shifting from speaker to start this speaker, we'll call it a speaker training business.

Mary Snyder
Yeah, absolutely. That's a great, great title, Jen. The the catalyst for that was I was a speaker for years. And I shifted, I became an event producer, which means I created events for other speakers. I did that in a variety of ways. But one of the most fun was when I worked for a cruise company. Not a cruise line, I worked for a charter company. So we would take all the talent off the ship and replace it with all of our speakers and musicians. So I love doing that. And we we did that. I did that for about seven years. And then I left there, I came to work with Compassion, I was still a speaker, still speaking. And I started working in the speaking touring world, which was brand spanking new then, nobody toured as a speaker. Musical artists do it all the time,

Jennifer Uren
right,

Mary Snyder
but we created opportunities for speakers to go out on tours. And so all of that is when the pandemic hit, as many of us did, I was like, I'm in live events, what am I going to do? So I had a lot of time on my hands. I was in pivot mode. And I thought, why not start a podcast for speakers who currently have nowhere to go? Yeah, in the middle of a pandemic, looking back, probably my timing was suspect. But it worked. And I just wanted to start a podcast. And then I thought they just wanted to hear me interview my speaker friends. And that was fun. But I started putting up short tips about how to be a speaker and people were like, oh, I want more of that. So I realized there was a need in the marketplace. And that's --- stepped into it.

Jennifer Uren
That's all, it was an opportunity. I mean, really, the pandemic, yes, slowed so many of us down that I think for the first time some of us actually had time to be creative. And think about what we could do if we had time, which we now suddenly had!

Mary Snyder
Totally agree, I did learn this Jenn. Because I consistently said when I have enough time, I will organize my closets, sort out all my pictures, make make, you know, decisions on all the things I have stored away from my kids childhood. And I did not do any of those things. But I did learn how to paint. I taught myself how to paint and I started a business.

Jennifer Uren
There's nothing like that. It's like it calls you out in saying, Nah, actually, it's not that I didn't have time, it's that it's not a priority.

Mary Snyder
Right? Right. It was not on the list. Oh, that's yeah.

Jennifer Uren
Well, I know that this speaker training business of yours is outside of your day job, which you mentioned was with Compassion. So what was really, what was your biggest struggle when it came to integrating, you know, home and family and working with building this business.

Mary Snyder
It's a balancing act. And I am fortunate that my organization has us on a 36 hour workweek and has for since the pandemic started. So we are blessed with a lot of PTO paid time off. So I am very strategic. I go away once a quarter, and I create my content for the quarter. I'm very, very cautious and careful about my time because I when I love something I go all in like so many of us. And if, if it weren't for the fact that I had a husband that you know wants to spend time with me, and I'm very thankful for that. I could work till nine o'clock at night, but I know at 5:30/6:00, I shut everything off and I go home, which really is just over there.

Jennifer Uren
Right

Mary Snyder
Through the door right back there.

Jennifer Uren
You just change seats.

Mary Snyder
We just change seats. I moved to another part of the house but I'm very strategic about that. I spend my mornings with him. We have lunch together every day and then we have dinner together every night. And as far as you know the rest of my family my children that, when they call, I just jump. I mean, I know that sounds it not every time because sometimes I can't sometimes I have other obligations, but my daughter called and she said, you know can can Ben, he's my eldest grandson, stay with you today. So I was like, of course we'd love that. So he's here hanging out

Jennifer Uren
Oh, fun.

Mary Snyder
And tomorrow she called and she said, Can you keep the baby tomorrow? Listen, I will jump at any chance to keep the baby. So I moved some things around, and I made it work. It really is about balancing priorities. For me. It's God first, he has got to be right there. And every morning Jenn, my prayer is Lord, don't let me miss what you have for me today. I don't want to be so busy that I miss serving my children. My husband. My community. Yeah, because I have a business or a job. I love what I do with Compassion. It just blesses me beyond measure, but I never want to put that in the wrong place in my life. Always it's does it get out of balance sometimes? Absolutely.

Jennifer Uren
Yeah.

Mary Snyder
But just trying trying my hardest to start every day with Lord. What are we doing today? Where Where would you have me focus my energy today?

Jennifer Uren
Yeah, well, and by definition, I mean, balance. That's exactly it, you're constantly moving back and forth. So it's rare that you have this perfect, you know, balance and you just move forward.

Mary Snyder
So, so true.

Jennifer Uren
Yeah. So what is, you know, what's the best thing that you did as you moved forward? Was there a system that you implemented, or you know, someone we talked about Mom Teams, a lot, someone that you added to your team that simplified or automated, you know, what was it that freed up your energy, so you could focus it where it needed to go?

Mary Snyder
I will tell you the best decision I ever made was, well, there are three, three decisions with a business I ever made three, I want to start with the caveat that I tried to hire both of my daughters. Neither one of them, they were like, I don't understand what you do, I don't really want to invest my time learning what you do. They both have careers once in law enforcement one has her own business, she's just she owns a salon. So I then I went to the thing I know best my friends. And I hired a virtual assistant, who is amazing. And she works just a few hours a week for me. But she takes all that content I create, and she puts it in the places it needs to go. So I get to just go and interact with the content, which is what I love to doing - interact with the people. I hired a community manager, and she is someone who helps me just again a few hours a week, she helps me run our private communities for Activate. And then I hired an editor for my podcast, that was the biggest one I did.

Jennifer Uren
Yes.

Mary Snyder
Because that is I love that resource of having a podcast, you know that. It's a great resource, but it also is a lot of work.

Jennifer Uren
Yes,

Mary Snyder
to provide. So and I also want to say because I want your listeners to know that those were baby steps that I did, I thought okay, I can do, I've got a couple of $100 I'm making now. So I'm gonna invest it in a VA. So and then when I made a little bit more money, I invested in the next person, and then I invested in the next person, I would rather invest the little bit of money I would make and am making into other people and bringing them onto my team.

Jennifer Uren
Yes.

Mary Snyder
Because that's going to make us all successful.

Jennifer Uren
Right. And they say don't plan to make, you know, an income a profit, you know, for three to five years plan to invest back in.

Mary Snyder
Right.

Jennifer Uren
And, you know, I've watched you do that you very strategically.

Mary Snyder
I try.

Jennifer Uren
Yeah, well, and one of the things that I know and you didn't say this, but to me this would be on the list would be that quarterly planning. Like I wish I could come and watch you plan like it would freak you out. But I just I so badly want to just come and watch how you do it. Because I know you do it and you do it well.

Mary Snyder
yeah. I do a quarterly plan. I do an annual plan. I do a quarterly plan. I just started my quarterly plan because quarters up y'all. I mean, I don't know when everyone's listening to our episode. But for us,

Jennifer Uren
we're recording in March and yeah.

Mary Snyder
So quarter is up and I am doing you know, what's the goal for next quarter? Yeah. And then how did I do on this quarter? Where did I hit? Where did I miss? Here's something I started. I listed everything I do for both my real job and my side business. And I rank those things from one to five one is "I would rather pull out my toenails than or do this again", five is "this is the thing that I get up for. This is the thing that makes me want to come in here." It was eye opening. It helps, but it helped me look at that and go, Okay, these are the three things I want to shift to someone else when the time is right. So yeah, so yeah, I love I love I love planning, I think it's, this is what I always say, is you have to have a goal. Because if you don't have something you're aiming toward Zig Ziglar says it's best if you do not have something you're aiming toward. If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.

Jennifer Uren
Right.

Mary Snyder
And it's so true. It's so true. But also also holding it loosely because the Lord will shift. He did some shifting in my plans, just this quarter. And I just had to go, Oh, I didn't see that coming. But that's okay. It's okay. Yeah, to shift because God's did a new thing. So,

Jennifer Uren
But because you were moving forward, you're able to shift instead of stop and start over. You know, it wasn't. It was a redirection more than it was a new thing.

Mary Snyder
I love that a redirection? Yes, yeah.

Jennifer Uren
So and I love how you just said to rank those things, because it's really easy as a mompreneur. What's easy as a mom, and then you add the mompreneur part for us to think and feel that because we can do it, we should do it. And it's okay sometimes for a little while. And in fact, I'm a big proponent that you need to do it so you understand how it works and fits. But it does not mean that it sits on you. So I love how you were able to go, here's what goes first. Here's what goes next. And and this is what I'm keeping.

Mary Snyder
Yes, yes. And that's still a work in process. And I was, I've been a mompreneur since my girls were little. I started my first business when my baby was three. She's 28 now. And she'd been we've been they I mean, they blew up balloons. I had an event planning business. They would like do the balloon arch for me and things like that. Not the three year old, she basically was just cute.

Jennifer Uren
She just batted the balloons.

Mary Snyder
Yeah, she's batted - so I completely understand the push pull of wanting to be there for my kids all the time. And then at the same time grow in a business, you know, and not and having the guilt that did not make them watch one too many Disney movies.

Jennifer Uren
Yes. Thanks for not saying Barney.

Mary Snyder
Oh, gosh, that was hideous.

Jennifer Uren
Yes. Yes.

Mary Snyder
So then yeah. So I listen, there is there's also seasons for things, Jenn. Don't you think though?

Jennifer Uren
Yeah.

Mary Snyder
Seasons

Jennifer Uren
Yes. Yeah, there is a time and I heard something recently where somebody said just because this is what it is now does not mean that is what it will always be. And this was actually in the context of depression, just because you have it now does not mean that you are this and that will always be your state. But I thought that just applies to so many things that

Mary Snyder
absolutely,

Jennifer Uren
That, you know, it's right now, not always in forever. Yeah. So yeah.

Mary Snyder
And I think we as women, when we feel like the Lord is calling us to something like speaking. And just for those of you who are listening, and you're thinking, I know, this is what the Lord's putting on my heart, I want you to hear me from the moment he called me to the first time I spoke was probably five or six years. And then it was only locally because I still had young children. And I didn't start really doing a lot of big travel until about 15 years ago, and my daughter's one of them at that time was high teen years. So it was easier to leave them alone for a weekend. You know, they had things to do an end still, I was very strategic. I would only do one weekend a month. I didn't want to be gone two weekends in a row and all those things. So it's, it's a season.

Jennifer Uren
Yes.

Mary Snyder
And what God's calling you to today can look very different.

Jennifer Uren
Yeah,

Mary Snyder
in 20 years.

Jennifer Uren
And that's a really good point. Because especially in this world of social media, by the time we see somebody they're 5-10 years into their journey, and we think that they're just starting because we just heard about them. And it's easy to forget that it was this, you know, consistent working toward, you know, I heard somebody say one time you know, it took me 10 years to become an overnight success.

Mary Snyder
Yes.

Jennifer Uren
And that's but we missed those 10 years. You know, we just see the overnight success.

Mary Snyder
You just see the overnight success. I have a very dear friend who I have walked through her success and growth over the last 20 years and we tour together I emcee she does all the heavy lifting in the speaking but it's so funny because people will consistently ask me about her and I'm happy to say who she is if it's okay,

Jennifer Uren
it's fine. Yeah.

Mary Snyder
Lysa, Lysa TerKeurst. But people will consistently ask me, Well, how do I get like Lysa? I'm like, Well, you gonna need to put in about 20 Something years of work,

Jennifer Uren
right!

Mary Snyder
Because she had, she had been a speaker for almost 15 years before she became an overnight success. And, but everyone thought that she hit the ground 10 years ago and just blew up on the scene. No, she had been out there speaking, sleeping in people's kids bedrooms,

Jennifer Uren
right,

Mary Snyder
you know, doing the hearts of getting paid with a hug and a mug? Oh, you know, showing up? And that's the thing. It's, if God calls you to it, whatever, whether it's starting a new business, speaking, teaching, what accounting whatever it is, it's, it's not gonna look today, the way it's gonna look in 10 years. Yeah, you know, that's gonna look very different.

Jennifer Uren
Well, ever since the first time that we met, there's two things that I hear you ask everyone, and those are, who is your audience? And what is your message?

Mary Snyder
Yes.

Jennifer Uren
So I think those are going to be on your gravestone.

Mary Snyder
I think they are. I think everyone is like, how she's gonna ask that question is,

Jennifer Uren
I know, just get ready. So tell. Tell us more about those questions and why they matter?

Mary Snyder
Who is your audience? So? And when I say that, the other side of that is who are you called to serve? Who am I and this is where I go really deep, I want you to talk about one person. And here's why. Because we are called to one on one relationship. Our one on one relationship starts with Christ. And then he met people one on one. For for our world. In this time, we see these platforms that have 1.7 million followers, or 100,000 followers, or maybe just 20,000, or 15, or 5000. But if you watch the people that are very effective, they are talking to one person. So who are you called to serve? And that is who your audience is. That is it changes the dynamic of everything you do. When you think is this going to matter to, I call my person, Heather, is this going to matter to Heather? Does Heather need this? That, to me is one of the reasons as believers, we get sideways sometimes. And I'm testifying from where I was, where it's like, I wanted to serve the whole world. I wanted to take care of everybody and do all the things and be all the things. But if I do that, I'm talking to too many people, and the one who needs me can't hear me. So and then it was a part two your question.

Jennifer Uren
Oh, yeah. No, your your other question is, you know, what's your message? So...

Mary Snyder
And who do you serve? And how do you serve them? So who do you serve? And what is your message? So what is the problem you're solving? So if you're a mom, entrepreneur, and you're thinking, I'm going to start this business, those are the two main questions, you're going to ask yourself, Who do I serve? And what problem do I solve for her? See, the problem I solve is I help equip you to take your message to the stage. The problem is you feel called by God, but you don't know the next step. So I walk with you in those next steps. And Jenn, like you, you know who your person is. And your problem that you solve? I mean, you help moms find the knowledge they need. I mean, to me, it's brilliant. Using other moms, so yes, those are two things you have to know. Oh, and I'm gonna say one more thing, just because Jenn's letting me

Jennifer Uren
Yes.

Mary Snyder
If God has called you to something, and he's equipping you for that, in a variety of ways, this podcast is one of them. He right now there is someone who's either gone through something, is going through something, or will go through something that you are called a minister to. And God is going to serve that person if you decide you don't want to step up and step into what he's calling you to He'll give that assignment to someone else. But he's calling you to serve her. You're what you're going through right now, whether if you're going through a situation or you just went through one, God is going to use that in his economy, to minister those who come behind you. And so that's why I tell people, particularly speakers, your message matters. And for y'all listening your ministry, your business matters because there is someone who needs you. And only you can deliver what God has equipped you to deliver, I will now step off my soap box.

Jennifer Uren
Well, that's, and that's a good reminder, because sometimes we go through something hard. And we know we're going to go through the hard things, but we want to just get past it and move on. But when we can use that, and when we let God use that in a way that it helps and serve someone else. I mean, that's the redemption in that situation.

Mary Snyder
Yeah.

Jennifer Uren
And while you may never choose to go through that, or wish that on anybody, there's something very precious about those outcomes that you're like, Oh, but I wouldn't trade this. This is good. And it's hard to explain, but, but I think that's what I hear you saying is, you know, just allow those things to, to be redeemed, and used in other people's lives.

Mary Snyder
Absolutely. And I have the great honor of knowing so many speakers and knowing their story and watching how they're now taking that story and its unfolding and serving other people. It's just incredible.

Jennifer Uren
Yeah, that's great. So we've talked a little bit about, you've been a mompreneur before. But was this the first time in building Activate, was this the first time that you built a business while holding a full time job?

Mary Snyder
Yes.

Jennifer Uren
Okay.

Mary Snyder
This was the first time and it's my first digital space business very different than bricks and mortar.

Jennifer Uren
Yes.

Mary Snyder
Very different. So yeah, it was and it was a balancing act. But again, like you said, one of the things that COVID gave us is a really open space to create. I used to travel, like, two weeks out of the year. I was I mean, out of a out of a month, I was typically on a plane, I'd be only be gone for three or four days, but I was gone, you know, six to eight days a month. And that's a lot of time out of a work week. Yeah. So it I don't do that anymore. Not as much. Now I just when I travel, I seem to be gone for long stretches. But

Jennifer Uren
yes, yes.

Mary Snyder
Yeah,

Jennifer Uren
I know. I feel like we need a map. Where is Mary today?

Mary Snyder
I start doing that I'm gonna do a map and like, do like...

Jennifer Uren
a Mary tracker. Yeah. Well, knowing what you know. Now, if you could go back, you know, to any of these previous things when you were a mompreneur with just an idea. And you could give yourself one piece of advice, you know, what would it be?

Mary Snyder
Oh, just do it. And it's not from Nike. Here's, here's the thing, I spent so much time researching, and looking at things and taking courses that were not in what I wanted to do. Now, I also took some courses and did some some programs that were right in the exact hub of what I wanted to do. And what I knew the Lord was calling me to and those were valuable. Yeah, but I literally did not need a course on how to use Pinterest because I still don't know how to use Pinterest. I don't know that I ever finished the course I did finish the course. But it just was. It was so hard. It was so far removed from what I wanted to do that it wasn't of interest to me. So find what you want to do, and do it. Put a date on it. That was the one thing when I launched my very first program, I just put it out there and like held my breath. And I literally my sales, my sales sheet was I'm gonna do this thing. Y'all want to do it with me? What do you think that was the sum total of what I did. And I just had people that are like, Well, yeah, we'll do that with you. It was stepping out. And literally the Lord met me right there. Now, caveat on that. Know what you're stepping into, know that you've got the time, know that you've got the energy, and know that you have the resources if you're going to do a service business. And if you're going to do something that is a digital base, know that you have the space to do that in your life. It because there's more to it than just what you're showing up here. So do your research, know what you need, get your education, but once you've got all that, then pull the trigger and go

Jennifer Uren
Yeah, yeah,

Mary Snyder
'Cuz I spent a year waiting.

Jennifer Uren
And what I'm hearing you say is do the research in the right places. I mean, whoo. Now out of your Pinterest course you do know that's not something that you love and want to do. So that wasn't totally lost. And I'll tell you that was the one of the first people I've hired was a Pinterest manager because I know the power of it. And I can't stand it personally so

Mary Snyder
Same, same!

Jennifer Uren
so I did I outsource that, but I'm brilliant. But yeah, and then even with that, put a date on it. Um, if you are externally motivated, like if you if you ignore your own deadlines, which is what I do, join a group, like, I joined the Christian Podcasters Association, and they asked me, When are you launching, and so I made up a date. And then I had to do it because I told somebody I was gonna do it. So...

Mary Snyder
I remember that I will tell a story on you, Jen came to our first meeting y'all. And she was talking about she had like, all these different pictures of what her logo was gonna be. And I remember I remember telling somebody I was like, she's real sweet. She just needs a launch that thing. And then the next month you came and it was, you know, you still hadn't launched. And finally, I think you got your feet to were put to the fire. And it was, it was, but you are also incredibly skillful at project management. And you had all your ducks in a row, a lot of us launched our podcasts with a wing and a prayer. You knew what you were doing.

Jennifer Uren
Somewhere, there's got to be a balance in the middle there somewhere.

Mary Snyder
Between those two

Jennifer Uren
Right? Oh, for the mompreneur, who is listening and has thought about speaking, you know, but then kind of shoes that idea away? How can she really decide how can she tell if it's just this idea, or if it's really, you know, a prompting and a calling? You know, what would you tell her?

Mary Snyder
First of all, obviously, you're gonna pray about it. And that's gonna be the first thing I tell you. But here's, here's what's the telling piece. If it keeps coming up as a burning desire, like it keeps coming up in your spirit, the Lord's doing that for a reason, explore that, explore what it means to be a speaker. Now, and I caution you, that speaking is not all about the platform. There's a lot of work to do before you ever get to the platform. So are you servant hearted, because I will tell you speaking is one of the most servant hearted things you will ever do. Standing on that platform and sharing a message that God has given you to share over these women. That's beautiful. But when you step off that platform, there are going to be people that if you do your job, well, they're going to say you are speaking right to me. And all they want is to, for you to listen. And I listen a lot. After I've been on a stage, I listen to people's stories, I listen to them tell me how much that story impacted them, and why. And there's a lot of a lot of listening, a lot of loving on your event planners. It's a it's a beautiful thing. But it is also one that if you feel called to it, you will know if it is a burning desire to serve others. And if the Lord is just giving you messages to share, and you don't know which way to turn with them, then just keep doing the work. And Jenn, you can share a piece of your message in a Facebook Live. Don't think you have to wait until you're on the big stage. I encourage people if God's given you something and you want to kind of test the market, put it, do a Facebook Live and share a little 10 Minute Message. See how see how you feel when you do that? A lot of people are like, Well, I'm scared to do it on video. Well, then you you want to rethink that stage thing.

Jennifer Uren
Right? Right. Yes. So I will say sometimes it is a different thing to talk to yourself than it is to talk to people. So

Mary Snyder
So hard

Jennifer Uren
you know,

Mary Snyder
yeah, it's a balance. Yeah, it's a balance. What I do recommend, because I make my speakers, practice, practice, practice. If you want to share a message, first of all, I would love to have you in my Take the Stage Speaker group, tons of resources in there about all of these things. But if you want to take your message to the stage it, practice, practice. And you're right, virtual is hard, because number one, I don't know about y'all, but I am so tired of seeing myself on video. I've never I don't know that I've looked at myself as much as I have looked at myself for the past two years,

Jennifer Uren
Right

Mary Snyder
I would much rather be in person and in a live audience. But as a communicator, you're going to get to a place possibly where you don't see the faces anymore. Because the lights are so bright. You are literally talking to what could be an empty room. So consider it practice for when you get to the arena size. Consider it practice because if you were standing on a stage, and there are a few 1000 people, typically the lights are so bright and you can barely see people. You can only see the first couple of rows. So think about it like that. It's practice for when I get to the stage that is so large that I can't see their faces anymore.

Jennifer Uren
I did a MOPS talk recently via Zoom. And we had them mute their side because they had some little ones in the room and that way the sound and let me tell you the hardest part was not that I couldn't see their faces. It was that I couldn't hear their reactions.

Mary Snyder
Yes

Jennifer Uren
And so yeah, there is something different when you can have that two way streets.

Mary Snyder
It's so, I'm just going to be honest, you it's so much easier. Yeah, I would much rather be in a room, then on Zoom, but we've learned and perfected it. And, again, it's always about talking to one person. When you're on Zoom. It's easier because you can literally talk to one person. Just put a picture of someone that you want to talk

Jennifer Uren
Next to your camera.

Mary Snyder
Yes, next to your camera and then talk to her.

Jennifer Uren
Yes, yes. Oh, well, Mary, this has been a great conversation. And I know, I know you've encouraged people through it. As we wrap up, there is one question that I I'm a gadget girl. So I love to ask this question to all my guests, which is what is your favorite time saving gadget, system, or tool?

Mary Snyder
Well, mine, I have two. Can I have two.

Jennifer Uren
Okay, yes, you can.

Mary Snyder
I personally, I love gadgets. I have all kinds of gadgets. One of my favorites. And this is going to this very old school is a timer. I set a timer for things that I don't like doing. I can do them for 20 minutes. It gets me through getting things tasks done on my task list. So I love a timer. And then I love Google Drive. I think it is a brilliant place to organize everything if I had organizational skills. But, but we're getting there. And then I haven't I actually have a third one. I love Asana too. It's a new one for me,

Jennifer Uren
okay,

Mary Snyder
and I'm trying to learn it. But it feels I like checking things off and then a unicorn flies across the page. So I mean, who doesn't love it when a unicorn flies across?

Jennifer Uren
Like the modern day gold star, you know,

Mary Snyder
It is!! it's like, I click a box and a unicorn flies across. I was like, this is the best ever so all I want to do is complete tasks, so I get a unicorn. So

Jennifer Uren
do you add fake tests just so you can check them off?

Mary Snyder
I had not thought of that. But I think I will today.

Jennifer Uren
You just need the unicorn.

Mary Snyder
I think I'm gonna start putting drank coffee, talk to Jesus, you know, brush my teeth. Check, check, check for unicorns.

Jennifer Uren
That's awesome. Yeah. Oh, well, Mary, how can people connect with you and how can they find your speaker group?

Mary Snyder
Alright, so to find my speaker group, you're gonna go to Take the Stage Speakers. Just a simple Facebook search. Click Join. I would love to have you over there it is a fun bunch is a great group. Yes, I love it. And you can find me online. My website is Mary R, the letter R Snyder.com. And you'll find my podcasts there. There's some free resources there. There's more about Activate there which doesn't open again for a little while. But if you're interested, there's a waiting list.

Jennifer Uren
Yes. Get on that list.

Mary Snyder
Get on the list. So yep, that's how you can find me.

Jennifer Uren
Well, Mary, thank you so much for your time today.

Mary Snyder
Thank you for letting me be here. I've loved it.