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?

Darren LaCroix, World Champion of Public Speaking

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?

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?

“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?

Last weekend I was invited to speak to a group of speakers in California about speaking professionally. I asked the audience what they thought were the most valuable assets of a professional speaker.

Responses included:

· Passion
· Enthusiasm
· Knowledge
· Experience
· Confidence
· Humor
· Spontaneity
· Energy
· Clarity
· Body Language

Most of these are important, but a far second to one of them. Whether audiences pay with their time or their money, they are really paying for just one of them. Which would you guess?

The true benefit to your audience is when you clearly transfer the value of your experience.

· Passion
· Enthusiasm
· Knowledge
· Experience
· Confidence
· Humor
· Spontaneity
· Energy
· Clarity
· Body Language

What experience? All of it. You are unique. Too many emerging speakers wonder what they should speak about.

Combine your unique experience with the desire to be in front of an audience, and believe me you are different. Some people may have the same experience, but very few want to get one a stage and talk about it.

If you were sitting in our Get Coached to Speak Champ Camp with Fripp, CSP, CPAE and me, it would be so clear to you, as well. The speakers here have amazing stories about their experiences… and they’re not even using them! Why? Because they don’t see the value and the potential in them that Patricia and I see. It’s clear to me — and even more evident to her — especially with her 30 years of speaking experience.

Whether it is business, family, adversities that you have personally faced… please know that THAT is what you should be talking about. The biggest mistake Patricia Fripp and I see, is that most speakers invalidate their own experience.

Do you?

Do your actions prove that? Which do you think is more important, the student or the mentor?

The easy truth is both. Though correct, it would be a cop out and make for a very brief article, lacking insight. You deserve an answer.

Like you, I’ve been a mentor and student to many. We all have different depths of mentor / mentee relationships with varying levels of intensity.

No one becomes great alone.

The right mentor is crucial, because if we follow the advice of the wrong person, our efforts may be in vain. Though we actually learn more by immersing ourselves in the experience, we can save time if we follow the best advice. Great mentors teach what they learned from their experience. Reporters teach by regurgitating what they heard somewhere else.

One of my pet peeves is seeing someone teaching “how to do something” they have never done… like how to make a million dollars as a speaker, though they never have. That’s why it took me two years of YouTube experience before I felt I could create an educational program to teach other people how to do it: You Post It…You Profit.

As students, one of our scariest thoughts should be “I’ve heard him / her speak before…” or “I’ve listened to that program once, and it was great.”

Ouch! Great students don’t think that way! Are you kidding me?  Even worse… thinking, “I already know that.” Unless you’re at the top of your field, though you may “know” something, you probably have not internalized it to the level of the top 1%.

When I get a chance to hear Alan Weiss talk about business, I’m there every time. When I get a chance to see Patricia Fripp coach a speaker, I’m there! Even though I may have a solid business - and I may be a good speaking coach - I learn something every time from these masters.

If we want to go from good to great, we must be clear that we can’t fully absorb great wisdom the first time we hear it. Sometimes it takes awhile. And, that’s okay.

I got an e-mail yesterday from a person who watched my free webcast last weekend. He said that he wasn’t planning to tune in because he’d seen me do that topic before… but at the last minute, he changed his mind. He told me that he got even more out of it this time. Honestly, the information was basically the same. The student was different this time.

I’ve had almost a thousand people invest in my Get Paid to Speak By Next Week® program. Some students literally get paid to speak the next week… some, the next month… and some, the next year. What’s the difference? The information is exactly the same. I believe the difference is the intensity and focus of the student. Though it is not inspiring, I love the truth behind this quote:

“We humans are an egotistical breed.
We regularly ignore specialists who could help,
and we’re expert in making cunning excuses
for our self-destructive behavior.”
~ Dr. Jeffrey Lant, Author

Here’s a perfect example… The year I was competing in the World Championship of Public Speaking, I had the opportunity to hear 1995 World Champ, Mark Brown, at our regional conference. Many of my competitors weren’t even attending the session! I was sitting in the front row, leaning in, absorbing every word that came out of his mouth. My intensity was apparent, even to Mark.

Exactly one year later, I was speaking at the same regional conference, as the reigning World Champion. Three competitors had approached me in advance for advice. One had sent an e-mail asking a couple questions. One competitor had called on the phone and asked me questions for about 20 minutes. The other one had asked me to actually visit two clubs where he was speaking, and coach him. I never heard a peep from any of the other five competitors. I was the local winner — any of them could have connected with me with just a little effort.

Guess what happened the day of the contest? The three people who approached me came in first, second, and third. Guess which order? The one who e-mailed me came in third, the one who I spoke to on the phone placed second. The man who I coached at two clubs went on to compete in the World Championship.

Though I believe my coaching helped each of them, I don’t pretend to take credit for their results. I believe their level of focus and intensity can be extrapolated to everything else they did to prepare for that contest.

I’d be willing to say that people who invested in my Get Paid to Speak® program and got paid quickly, probably have also invested in other like programs as well. I’ll bet they also went through the program with great focus and intensity.

To take good care of my speech delivery mechanism (my body) I started doing Hip Hop Abs. My first goal was to create the habit of doing it daily. Now, my next goal is to do it with intensity. I have days where I do the program, and I have days where I’m ‘into it.’ I sweat more and get more benefits when I’m a better student.

In the past I’ve said:

“Take away my struggle, you take away my growth.”

What’s the fastest way from good to great? Who is more important, the student or the teacher?

When fellow speakers gave me feedback on my contest speech, they all told me to “get up from your fall quicker.” Had I listened to that advice, I would never have won the World Championship. My mentor and coach, Mark Brown said, “When you fall, stay down longer.” He gave me the exact opposite advice of everyone else. He was a crucial part of my journey.

The wrong advice will make your journey from good to great longer. (Good news: You can still get there!). The right mentors will save you time and effort.

In my opinion, the student is more important on the journey from good to great. As the student, you choose your mentors (yes, more than one… they take many forms). And, as the student, you also decide on your own level of intensity.

With which mentors are you choosing to invest your time? As a student, what level is your intensity?

Ever have someone tell you, “You’ve got broccoli in your teeth!” ? Or pointed to the toilet paper stuck to your shoe? Embarrassing, but aren’t you glad they told you?

We can be so thankful when someone saves us from further embarrassment. As presenters, why do we take presentation feedback so personally, especially when people are really trying to help?

In my program, The Path to Powerful Presentations, I stress that of the habits of great presenters is to crave feedback. It’s not enough to just ask for it.

Last week, while presenting this program in the Bahamas, a question from somebody in the audience prompted me to clarify the two types of feedback we get. Though I mention it on occasion, I feel that every presenter should be clear on the difference.

First, there is coaching feedback, meaning… Here is what you could do to be more effective. Not everyone is qualified to give you this kind of coaching. I’ve seen many people get horrible advice that actually makes their presentations less effective. When I was practicing for my World Championship speech, the Toastmaster clubs that I visited gave me lots of advice. When it came to my famous fall, most speakers told me I stayed down too long. They “felt” uncomfortable, and as listeners, they thought I should get up sooner.

Mark Brown, 19995 World Champion of Public Speaking and my speaking coach, coached me to stay down on the floor longer. His advice was exactly opposite of everyone else. Mark pointed out that many times our job as speakers is to make the audience uncomfortable. Change usually does. Thank you, Mark!

The second kind of feedback is… Here is how I thought / felt as I listened to you. Everyone is qualified to give you this kind of feedback! We need to know what thoughts go through the heads of our audience. This is crucial. My original speech title was Don’t Chop Down Your Cherry Tree. When I said the words “cherry tree,” people gave me feedback that their first thoughts were of George Washington. George Washington? That was definitely not what I meant! But, it didn’t matter what I intended, it matters what their thoughts are.

The mistake I see too many times is when a more experienced speaker gets “Here is what I thought / felt” feedback from a newer speaker. On the outside, the experienced speaker may act cordial, but on the inside, they’re quick to dismiss the feedback due to the other person’s lack of experience. Wrong! Everyone is qualified give you that feedback. Great presenters will welcome it — even if it hurts sometimes… and especially when working on new material and stories.

We need to keep in mind, however, that we should not let one person’s thoughts sway our entire program.

Look for commonalities. If many people think / feel something — and it’s not our intention — we must adjust what we’re doing, or use the feedback for a new intention. In my situation, I used the fact that everyone was thinking “he’s down on the floor a long time” to my advantage. Knowing thoughts is crucial to understanding our effectiveness, and it allows us to adjust our presentation if we’re not getting our intended results.

It is not always easy to hear either type of feedback. To become great presenters, we must be coachable. I’m so glad Mark Brown told me I had broccoli in my teeth! He made me a better speaker, as did the people who told me what they thought and felt.

By the way… Do you have broccoli in your teeth?

Stage time,

Darren LaCroix
2001 World Champion of Public Speaking

P.S. I’m trying something BRAND NEW this weekend — and I’d love for you to be involved! We’re going to attempt to video broadcast three different public speaking educational sessions… LIVE from the classroom!

Below are the details, and you can RSVP online at www.GetPaidToSpeak.com

Friday, January 22nd
“Secrets from a World Champion Coach”
7 pm - 8:30 pm Pacific Time

Saturday, January 23rd
“Speaking Outside of the TM Club for Fun, Profit, and Club Building”
11 am - 12 noon Pacific Time

Monday, January 25th
“Good to Great” Speech Coaching w/ Fripp
6:15 pm - 7:30 pm Pacific Time

]]> http://www.humor411.com/blog/2010/01/stage-time-%e2%80%9cyou%e2%80%99ve-got-broccoli-in-your-teeth%e2%80%9d-the-life-lesson-for-your-presentation/feed/ http://www.humor411.com/blog/2010/01/how-youtube-can-help-speakers-build-their-public-speaking-business/ http://www.humor411.com/blog/2010/01/how-youtube-can-help-speakers-build-their-public-speaking-business/#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:03:14 +0000 Darren http://www.humor411.com/blog/?p=605 Don’t take my word for it, what do people who learned YouTube from me say:

“Darren really took the fear out of working with YouTube. He really made it YouTube for Dummies!”
Alton Jamison, Motivational Speaker

“I’m such a techno-phobe that having Darren walk us through step-by-step was wonderful.”

Charlyne Meinhard, Management Consultant

“Darren showed us how to measure the results which will be really beneficial. I’m excited about putting it to use as soon as I get home today.”
Ron Champman, Performance Development Consultant

Stage time,
Darren LaCroix, 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking

PS What do people say about you after your presentations?

Darren LaCroix, 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking

PS I love helping people get where they want to go!