A note from Darren…
By Darren | July 11, 2010
Hello!
If you’re receiving this via RSS feed, please note that we’ve moved my blog over to my new website.
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Stage time,
Topics: Random Thoughts | No Comments »
Seriously, are you dreaming by example? Are your footsteps worth following?
By Darren | May 15, 2010
If you were standing outside the diner a couple of weeks ago with my comedy mentor, Vinnie Favorito, and me, you would have heard him say something that was absolutely shocking! He was excited about his new Volvo convertible, and I was getting sappy and reflecting on our dreams and how far we had both come from our early days in Boston comedy. Every comic’s dream is to have his own headliner show, center strip in Las Vegas. Vinnie now does. I asked him, “Are you ever surprised that you made it this far?” He instantly — and in a very matter-of-fact manner — replied, “No.”
He didn’t even hesitate! He said he’d always known he would “make it.” He never had a doubt. Wow!
I wish I could say that. My whole path has been riddled with doubt. Do you have any doubt about your dream?
It’s OK to have doubt. Just don’t focus on it. Instead, direct your focus to the “next step” that’ll take you towards that dream. I have friends whom I love and care about, but who secretly drive me crazy.
One friend, in particular, tells me about her vision of speaking to thousands of woman and sharing her story of abuse. She can see the vision so clearly, she can feel it! She is very passionate, and I believe she will help many. Let’s call her Patty. Patty’s heart is in the right place. But, it’s her footsteps that bother me.
Patty has never given a speech before. That’s OK. We all have to start somewhere, but the important thing is to start. Some of you might be thinking, “What about Toastmasters?” I’ve introduced her to Toastmasters! In fact, I’ve personally introduced her to several friends in my home club, to make sure she feels welcome and comfortable. She attended a club meeting once. That’s it. Once. Now, when I ask her about going back, I hear excuses like, “That night is my workout night…”
Two things about this bother me. First, she has a great message and a passion for helping others. Even while learning to speak, there are people at Toastmasters clubs that need to hear those stories and messages. She could be helping people along her journey, as she grows.
The second thing that bothers me is that her children are watching. They learn by example. They hear what we say, and they really “register” what we do. It’s so clear to me that if you want to be a speaker… you need to speak! If you want to be a great speaker… speak more! If you want to really impact your audience, never turn down “stage time.”
Friends and family will support our dreams, though secretly may be jealous. At the same time, they are watching our “steps” — or lack of them. People don’t like to be told what to do, unless they are truly asking for advice. I find that people are inspired by action. Are you inspiring people around you with your own courage?
Next steps can be scary. In the case of my friend, Patty, I don’t want to help anymore — until she takes a step. If she’s not willing to take the first step, why should I spend time explaining the second? When I went to my mentors, I didn’t even think of asking for a next step until I had completed the first. For me, it was respect of their time.
I have never before used two quotes in an issue of Stage Time. But, these two just seemed to build perfectly upon one another.
“Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion.”
~ Jim Rohn
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”
~ Jim Rohn
There are many ways that a vision can come to fruition. What if Patty’s vision does come true, and she gets the opportunity to speak to thousands of people?
Here is the “even scarier” part to me…
Patty is a good writer, has great content, and is wonderful and helpful. What if — through writing and consulting — Patty gets this chance to speak in front of thousands? It could definitely happen. The scary part is that speaking in front of a live audience is very different from writing or dealing with people one-on-one. Nerves can get in the way of communicating the message. In my opinion, a golden opportunity to influence & make a difference would be missed because she wouldn’t be “prepared” with experience. The best content — and the best intentions — can be blocked by nerves.
Whatever you want to accomplish, ask someone who has been there to share with you the best “next step” to getting there. Then take the step. It’s OK to be nervous and scared. That’s normal and natural. If these steps weren’t scary, everyone would take them! I always say, “If you take away my struggle, you take away my growth.”
Your kids are watching. What are they seeing?
Maybe you’re like Vinnie, and you knew exactly where you’d be… with no doubt. If so, excellent! If you’re like me, and you have a dream with an occasional doubt, just focus on taking that next step.
Ask yourself,
“Am I dreaming by example?”
“How far would someone go while following in my footsteps?”
“What step will I take this week?”
Topics: Humor and Hope, Motivational Inspirational Tips, Toastmasters | 7 Comments »
The pre-launch is going extremely well!
By Darren | May 11, 2010
I’m so excited. Very cool. Glad people see the potential in Get More Laughs By Next Weektm. Summer launch will be huge!
Stage time,
Darren LaCroix, Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking
Topics: Press Release, Selling Information Products, Toastmasters | No Comments »
Finally, the pre-launch of Get More Laughs is here!
By Darren | May 10, 2010
If you are not on the pre-launch list, you won’t get a chance to be first, and get the special one-time offer. If you have any interest “get in the loop” and go to: Get More Laughs by Next Week
I feel like I’m having a baby!
Stage time,
Darren LaCroix, Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
STAGE TIME: 5 Places to Find Compelling Content
By Darren | May 6, 2010
It was 1994, Nova Scotia, Canada. I was attending a speakers’ conference. There I was, an eager student of humor, just making the transition from comedy to speaking. I was sitting in the forth row, very excited about what I was going to learn from a session titled: How to add humor to your presentation.
I was shocked when I heard the presenter say, “Find old Reader’s Digest Magazines…”
What? Are you kidding me?!
The presenter was basically telling people to steal other people’s stories. Ouch! In the world I grew up in — stand-up comedy — that was the fastest way to get “black-balled” from the stage.
At that exact moment I realized that — although I wasn’t a professional comedian — I could teach humor much better than the presenter. At least I wouldn’t teach people to steal!
I’ve been teaching humor secrets ever since. Now, for the very first time, I’m getting ready to release a Humor Home Study Course of my own.
On a World Champions’ EDGE conference call this week, we covered this subject, and I thought you would appreciate these ideas.
So, where do you find original,
compelling content of your own?
.
#1 ~ Your Ah-ha Moments
While sitting in the audience listening to an incredible speaker, Glenna Salsbury, CSP, CPAE, I finally go it! She made it so simple. I had always wondered why some stories were so powerful and others were just stories. Glenna teaches to look for our ah-ha moments from our own lives. AH-HA! That’s was an ah-ha for me.
Over the years, I’ve been telling the story of my comedy mentor, Vinnie Favorito, when he said, “Darren, if you ever turn down stage time I will never help you again.” Ouch! That story and lesson has literally resonated around the world. Why? Not because I’m an amazing storyteller. (I’m working on it!) It’s powerful because it was one of my biggest ah-has. When it comes from your heart, you’ll connect deeper. What have been your ah-ha’s? Take some time to really reflect.
#2 ~ Relentlessly Research Your Topic
Even if you’re an expert, you are still never done learning about your topic. When I was working on my World Championship speech, my coach, Mark Brown, helped me to parallel my story with the story of Dr. Robert Goddard. He was the rocket scientist who launched the first liquid-fueled rocket, and it happened in my home town.
Although I was quite familiar with his story, I decided to take some of my anxiety and channel it into something positive… research. I relentlessly read books, visited museums, and talked with experts. I learned some fascinating things about Dr. Goddard. Did you know that he invented the Bazooka? And solar panels! And, the first book to land on the moon was his biography, This High Man, the Life of Robert H. Goddard.
As interesting as the research was, not all of it was completely relevant to my speech. But, during the process, I discovered a newspaper headline that read, “Moonrocket misses target by 238,799 and 1/2 miles!”
This would become a funny line — and a very crucial part of my speech. Without the research, I would never have discovered that headline. What are you missing, that could be compelling content? Do the research!
#3 ~ Interview Experts
When I was just getting started in speaking I was still an amateur comedian, and I had no credibility. I took inventory of what resources I had. One of my biggest assets – that I didn’t even realize was an asset — was friends who were professional comedians. So many people in speaking were asking me for humor tips, I thought I’d interview the Boston Headliner Comedians & Humorists from my local NSA Chapter in Boston. I asked them the questions I wanted to know… not only to learn myself, but also to help others, as well. I interviewed each of them for an hour and then distilled the interviews down to 30-minute content-rich sessions. That became my foundation for Learn How the Pros Make ‘em Laugh.
I used the other people’s credibility, and I became the expert by being the guy who collected the information. Using that same idea, I interviewed business owners to write the book Laugh and Get Rich. Who can you interview to get more compelling content?
#4 ~ Friends and Family
I learned from Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE about going back to your childhood. She reminded me that we tell some of our best stories over and over again at the dinner table with friends and family. Fripp and I agree that the biggest problem with emerging speakers is they undervalue their own experience. Audiences will connect emotionally to our stories, more than literally.
Ask your friends and family to remind you of the best lessons and stories from your younger years. I was reminded of being born with a club foot, and how my Mom used to say that nothing would stop me. If I wanted something I would just drag my little cast behind me and crawl to get it. What stories have you forgotten about?
#5 ~ Experiments
OK, be creative! How about doing your own experiments or tests related to your field of expertise? I started taking my blood pressure right before I spoke several times last year to see what happened. Hey, I need to do that again! Be creative, have fun. It can be compelling when you’re the one who created the experiment and can share the results as a story. Your story. What experiments could you do?
Where does your best content come from?
Topics: Public Speaking Skills, Stage Time Comments, Toastmasters | 4 Comments »