STAGE TIME: “It’s Not Pointless… It’s Plentiful”
By Darren | February 24, 2010
Have you ever had a funny little “thing” happen, and your first thought was, “That could be a good little story!” So, you add it to your story file… and then you never end up doing anything with it!
In last week’s issue of Stage Time, I talked about stories. Stories are the “life blood” of our speeches. The important part of the story for presenters is the point. We use stories to make our points (lessons) more memorable. But what if you’re not sure what the point is? Perfect! Just because you don’t know what your point is, does not mean it’s pointless.
Most stories make multiple points. I use my “Stitches” story in all four of my keynotes, making different points. Often the points are plentiful, but you’re just looking through the wrong eyes, your own!
Look through the eyes of the audience. Ask them. Sometime we think of the point first, and find a good story to anchor it. Other times, we have the story and search for the point. Can you tell - in my speeches - which came first in the creation process? Honestly, I can’t even remember! It doesn’t matter. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? It doesn’t matter! Cook the chicken, or fry the egg, then feed your audience.
I’ve often been surprised when I told a story at my Toastmasters club and solicited feedback from the audience as to what they think the point could be. Most of the time, their ideas were ten times better than I could ever think of! Jay Leno has a team of writers - why not you? You are the producer of the “end result.”
Next week, friend and fellow World Champion, Craig Valentine will be soliciting feedback on new stories at our EDGEnet Members-Only Summit. I’m excited for Craig, and even more excited for our Champions’ EDGE members who will witness the power of the process.
When you do this, don’t give the audience ANY idea what you think the point would be.
Just do two simple things.
#1) Ask: What points do you think this story could make?
#2) Shut up and listen!
Sometimes we are too close. Mark Brown, when coaching me on my winning speech, helped me take a 4-minute story and bring it down to it’s true essence of thirty seconds.
In our Secrets of Storytelling Champ Camp, it’s so exciting to see participants listen to the audience’s perspectives on their stories. Last week when I was coaching Barbara, I was so delighted to show her what her personal story was really about. She had the story, but the point was more powerful than she originally thought.
Often, the audience knows better than you. They are the people we’re trying to impact. Listen to the impact your story already has at the core. Some stories are three minutes, some may be 30 seconds.
Your stories are not pointless, they are plentiful. Will you ask for help finding the powerful points of your so-called, pointless stories?
Topics: Stage Time Comments | 2 Comments »
Ask Darren LaCroix: Do you offer public speaker coaching?
By Darren | February 24, 2010
People ask this question constantly, here is my response:
Click:
Stage time,
Darren LaCroix, World Champion of Public Speaking
Topics: Ask Darren | No Comments »
STAGE TIME: Why Are Stories So Powerful? Especially for Presentations…
By Darren | February 17, 2010
Stories. Hmmm. Why are they so powerful? Why are they such a perfect tool for speakers, trainers, and presenters?
We learn about the importance of the use of stories in presentations from great speaking coaches like Bill Gove, Craig Valentine, and Patricia Fripp. Have you ever asked yourself, “Why?”
As children, we loved to hear stories! In fact, I’ll bet you know one or two kids who quietly demand “Tell me a story!” at bed time, right?
Early in our development, we became accustomed to learning though stories. It was our preferred method of digesting knowledge. As we’ve grown older, that never really changed. While we may enjoy learning the abstract via statistics and a good graph, those methods remain a distant second to a poignant story well-told.
In my article earlier this week, I told you about an “Ah-ha moment” I had while working with my Life Coach, Dawn Nocera. Actually, I had two Ah-ha moments during that conversation. The second one was about the power of stories. Dawn reminded me that:
“Stories open your subconscious mind,
so the lesson can sink in and you
can easily absorb the information.”
Do you know a great teacher? He or she is probably a great storyteller!
I have been reading a lot about the subconscious mind lately, and it’s just making more and more sense. The conscious mind is what we know, or have heard. The subconscious mind is much more powerful. It’s what controls our actions. That being the case, if we speakers are to make lasting change in audience members, we must get our message into their subconscious minds.
Let’s face it, we can all be “thick headed.” We’d all like to think we can hear words of wisdom once, and “get it,” right? I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve had to hear certain messages before it really “sunk in.” Dan Kennedy says that “we are egoistical to think that audience members can hear us once and walk away with permanent change.”
That’s why we need repetitive refrains to get our messages deeper into the subconscious minds of the audience. That’s why infomercials have the same message three times in a half hour, even if it is said a little differently. When Craig Valentine and I created the Own The Stage program, we designed it to contain the same education on DVDs and Audio CDs. First, on DVDs, because advanced speaking techniques must be learned though a visual medium. Second, on Audio CDs, for the convenience of listening in your car so that you can reinforce the message until is sinks in and creates a permanent change. That is why I’m creating my new program Get More Laughs By Next Week® the same way… to help students of humor get a new perspective into their subconscious minds.
Dawn also said:
“Stories create change, without pain!”
Stories occupy our conscious mind, while the real message slips unknowingly into the subconscious mind. That’s also why dialogue is more powerful than narration. Dialogue brings us deeper into the scene, watching it happen. This opens up the subconscious even more. Narration, on the other hand, is “telling us what happened” back then. It’s not nearly as powerful as putting the audience right into the scene.
“Stories open the subconscious mind
of your audience, so your content can easily
be absorbed and real change can occur
within the lives of your audience.”
Do you want to create more lasting change? Do you have a message that matters? What perspective-changing stories do you have that you can use?
Topics: Stage Time Comments | 7 Comments »
STAGE TIME: “What, Exactly, Is An ‘Ah-ha’ Moment?”
By Darren | February 15, 2010
Have you ever asked yourself, “What, exactly, is an ‘ah ha’ moment? How can I get more, and allow my audiences to enjoy more of them?”
If you are anything like me, you live for them. They are the discovery moments the audiences come for. For me personally, that’s why I gravitated from stand-up comedy to professional speaking. I get excited to create “ah-ha” moments in the minds of my audience. I love it!
I never really stopped to think about what the “ah-ha” moment actually signifies. What really transpires in the mind of an audience member at that exact moment? Last week, I was getting some coaching from my Life Coach, Dawn Nocera, on a few of my own personal challenges. She gave me a huge “ah-ha” moment about “ah-ha” moments.
Dawn said: “The ah-ha moments that you experience are evidence of letting of an old belief.”
Brilliant! I’d never really thought about it, but she’s right… it is a change in belief. Beliefs are what we operate on. They are our thinking and what guides us. We need to align our beliefs with where we want to go. People come to us as speakers, trainers, and presenters to get the “ah-ha” moments about our subjects of expertise.
Since Dawn is a teacher of the Law of Attraction, she added: “Your vibration point of attraction grows with every ‘ah-ha’ moment you experience.”
We change people’s beliefs when we give them our perspective if it is more enlightened, in this one area, than their own. We learn more ourselves as students when we are open to other experts’ perspectives. We communicate better with people when we try to understand their perspective.
Increase the value of your presentations by giving more enlightening moments.
What can you do to give your audience more “ah-ha” moments?
Topics: Stage Time Comments | 3 Comments »
STAGE TIME: “I want to be a speaker, but what do I speak about?”
By Darren | February 3, 2010
“What do I speak about?” is a question I hear time and time again.
Whether it’s a speaker competing in a contest, or one launching their career, they come to me for direction. How serious are you? If I gave you a ten-minute lesson to do, would you do it? Today? If you wouldn’t, there’s no reason to read on. Too often, people look outside for answers when they should be looking inside.
Why do you think people come to me with this question? Simple. I’ve done it. I am actively doing what they want to do. Doesn’t it make sense to ask someone who has done it?
So what should you talk about? Well, what have you done? People who are facing the same adversities you’ve faced want to know how you over came them. You are uniquely qualified to help people for two reasons… 1.) you have that unique experience, and 2.) you have a desire to be in front of an audience (which makes you very rare!)
We are not just speakers, we are experts who speak. Your experience is your expertise. Do you want more expertise? Get more experience!
A few weeks ago, I spoke at a Toastmasters Leadership Institute. In my session, I discussed the biggest problem experienced by speakers. (Read about it in my last issue of Stage Time.)
The problem? Speakers are waiting until the become ultimate experts BEFORE they start speaking. That’s crazy! That’s like wanting to learn how to ride a bicycle and reading every article ever written on how to ride a bike before you even get on one!
As I mentioned that day, my favorite quote on this subject is by Dan Kennedy:
“In the land of the blind,
the one-eyed man is king.”
To become an expert you have to start teaching what you know. Your experience matters. It’s your greatest asset. These are the four questions I asked the audience that day. If you are serious, take at least ten minutes to answer these:
1) What adversities have you overcome?
2) What is your business experience? (List EVERY job you’ve ever had.)
3) What are your serious hobbies?
4) What are your biggest accomplishments, besides your children?
What if you don’t have experience in the area you want to speak on? Well, interview people like I did and become a reporter. My first educational tool was Learn How the Pros Make ‘em Laugh, in which I interviewed my comedy and humor mentors. Now that I feel qualified, I’m creating my own programs to teach presenters how to Get More Laughs.
You can be a “reporter” and gather the information or tools that can help people. You have more value if you speak from your own personal experience.
So, what have you done?
Topics: Humor Skills, Stage Time Comments | 7 Comments »