Speaking is Selling. Mark A. Vickers

Be True to Yourself!

      When you are not authentic “they” will sense it. They may not know what they are sensing, but they know something is not right.

      You can’t hide it, because it’s true; you are not being true to yourself. Those amazing elements you saw didn’t work because they aren’t yours. They don’t fit your personality, style, and message.

      I am not suggesting that you avoid watching top performers in your field . . . in fact I recommend you watch as many as you possibly can. HOWEVER, it is important to watch and evaluate other presentations, and then implement changes in the proper manner.

       Power Tip

       When observing a master of

       your craft, watch for those

       strategic elements that generate

       success.

      As you observe a leader watch for strategic elements that:

       Create a strong connection to the audience

       Establish a story within the story

       Trigger an emotional response from the audience

       Illustrate a need or benefit to THEM

       Move the audience toward action

       Assist the audience in taking responsibility

       Help the audience say YES

      For each element you identify, ask:

       What was the intent of the element?

       How did this particular element relate to other elements already presented?

       What specific wording was used that was effective?

       Is there a place in my presentation where I need to create the same effect or impact?

       How can I create the same effect IN MY OWN WAY based on what I saw?

      These questions help you identify the strategic elements and the strategic placement of those elements in your own presentation.

      Notice that the objective is to FIND YOUR OWN WAY, to create the effect using the example of what you saw, not replicating the exact style you saw.

      Having fallen into this trap myself a number of times I know how easily and quickly it happens. It has happened to almost every client I have worked with. Be aware of the issue and always work on

      “Finding your OWN voice!”

       Always be authentic

       Be True to Yourself!

       3

       Take Pride inWhat You Do

       You got your very first real

       job...

       Dishwasher, Grocery Bagger,

       Waitress, or Stock Boy

       You were embarrassed to

       admit that you were doing

       “that” job, and your mother

       suggested that you

       “Take Pride in what you do,

       regardless of what you do.”

      If you are unable to

       Take Pride in What You Do

      Maybe you shouldn’t be doing it!

      There will be no Sugarcoating this:

       If you don’t like the company you work for . . . LEAVE

       If you don’t like the product or service you sell . . . find a new product or service

       If you don’t like the work you do . . . . change the way you work or change your work

       If you don’t like the people you work with . . . learn to adapt or find new people

       If you don’t like your friends . . . get new friends

       If you don’t like your family . . . suck it up, they are your family and the only ones who HAVE to love you!

      If you don’t take pride in the work you do, the training you deliver, and the products and services you sell “they” will know it.

      They see right through any facade you try to put up and it will act like a huge brick wall standing between you and great success. If you simply cannot take pride in what you do you need to Find Your Passion.

       Take Pride in What You Do

       and

       Success will come.

       4

       Take Responsibility

       You did something, and you

       tried to blame someone else.

       Maybe you had a sibling

       named “I Dunno” as in:

       “Who made this mess?”

       “I Dunno!”

       You may have thought your

       parents had the word STUPID

       stamped on their foreheads but

       they knew,

       and you were told to

       “Take Responsibility.”

      I have spent time with thousands of seminar attendees, conference goers, and clients, and the thing that concerns me most about our society and where it is going over the next 20 years is

       PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

      It would seem these days that the majority of people think someone else should be responsible for everything.

      Here are some shocking real life examples I have experienced recently with clients and attendees:

       A client paid for 12 hours of coaching and only used 2 hours of time in a year because “they were too busy to get coaching”

       25 people registered AND PAID for a webinar, and 14 showed up

       A client who has a library of development resources that he admitted he has never looked at

       A classroom attendee asked her boss if she should spend $40 on a book that would help her

      Talk