Shane Mallory is a man of many talents. He’s a professional speaking coach, MC, presenter and an actor – just to name a few. I remember the first time I met him. I was blown away by the immensity of his presence. I think that Shane is one of those rare unicorns who could talk with anyone on any level about anything.
I approached Shane for this session. He was definitely a fella I wanted in front of my lens and I wanted to see if I could lift the lid on his public persona. What an enigma!
Tell us a little about what you do for a living?
I’m a Speaker Coach. I help people learn how to speak good or even better. I’m also an MC and a general voice for hire.
Why did you start your business?
I love storytelling and performing. More importantly, though, I love seeing people grow as individuals when they get to see how much confidence they get from being able to tell their stories to anyone, be that in one-on-one situations or large groups. I started my business to help people overcome the greatest fear that so many people have – the fear of public speaking.
What has been the biggest challenge or fear you have had to overcome in business and how did you manage it?
The biggest fear for me (believe it or not) was believing in myself and as the product/service. Imposter syndrome was HUGE! When I realised that my value to people was over three decades of experience in speaking public, performing and knowing how to tell a story, this is what turned the light on for me.
This is a bit of a struggle, especially given that my MC work is often on weekends but it is important to plan as much as you can. I’ve had the luxury of not starting my business until my children were adults which have made things easier. My partner and I also plan to do things together regularly.
For a long time, I ran my business while I was working for other organisations (it was a side hustle that fermented for a loooonnnggg time). In the end, it was the organisation that I was working for that pretty much forced me to go out on my own with the business. I had to resign to keep my sanity which made me have to work the business as a necessity!
For me it all about feeling whether that be in performing/storytelling. If it feels right, I go for it.
This is something that I have to work on…
Word of Mouth was the way my business started. I also had to look outside of my local area as the need for my services in Ipswich was very foreign to a lot of people.
I do a lot of things during a week but my day often involves the financial side of things – keeping onto of the books. Given that most of my work happens in the evenings, this is when my day really starts. You have to be an ‘owl’ in my game.
Seeing the confidence that grows in people’s eyes when they really tell stories. When I’m MCing it’s the joy that I see in people’s face knowing they are having a great time at the event I’m working at. As a performer, it’s when I know that people have truly been entertained.
This is a tough one. My dad and his brothers are probably some of the best storytellers I know so I’ve always tried to model myself off them and teach the skills I have learned from them. As for performers, I love any work done by Geoffrey Rush. From a comedy perspective, I have always been in awe of the work of Robin Williams.
I was a police officer for 26 years.
Never have regret.
Amanda really knows people. She gets you VERY quickly and this is reflected in the work that she does and the subsequent results. I have been able to use the images that Amanda has created to show people my true self which in turn has increased the number of people seeking my services.
Anything 80s. I’m sorry but I’m hopelessly nostalgic for my time as a teenager. It’s where my personality was forged and I love using the music of the time to take me back there.
When one door shuts another one will always open.
It will be alright in the end and if it is not alright it is not the end.
Loyalty, Honesty and Family
Just continue to help people as much as I can but by making sure that I’m enjoying myself too.
That’s a no brainer – Dead Poet’s Society (although Top Gun comes a close second)
Hi there! I'm Amanda Waschevski
I AM A HEADSHOT AND PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER BASED IN IPSWICH, QLD. I help people be themselves in front a camera.
