Did you know that MOST people are used to NEVER being listened to. There's a reason for this: most of us never took a class or training on HOW to listen well. Well I took a 2-day listening training, and I'll sum it up for you in a few minutes (saving you a lot of time, you're welcome!)As you become a better listener, your world and your career opens up in a really remarkable ways, you learn a lot more, and you make other people feel amazing so then they listen better too!

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Want to feel amazing after your next talk? Check out free resources at ⁠https://speaknextweek.com⁠ or get a free recommendation from me on becoming a stronger public speaker. In less time than you think, you can transform public speaking from something you dread into something you love! 🎙️

For me, doing stand-up comedy 10 years was a great tool to be a better communicator. And it also taught me a trick that's great for you to help boost your confidence.

I call it "open mic-ing." Whether the thing that's intimidating you is public speaking, speaking up in meetings, raising your profile, or recording yourself on video to send with emails, this trick will help you get more comfortable FAST!

This will help you say yes to more speaking opportunities, even when it feels scary. And speed up your progress using a trick I call "open mic-ing" as a way to practice and improve.

⁠I still use this trick to get confident at new things (like posting videos on social media), because I still struggle with perfectionism and self-doubt, and I always will. So you're not alone! And why should that stop you from reaching your goals and amplifying your voice? It shouldn't!

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Did you know that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a deep struggle with depression and suicidal tendencies throughout his life? I did not. I want to share this with you, including an amazing clip from his final speech, and share what I've learned about how our mental health challenges make us better leaders and public speakers!

From the episode: "As a leader, in your life there are people who you lead, people who you serve, people who you love; those people need all parts of you. Not just your confidence but your vulnerability too.

They need you to manage your own mental health so you can show up for them. And you need that too. And more importantly, you deserve that!"

Article Link: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: The Depression and Empathy That Contributed to His Humanity

MLK's final Speech: "I Have Been the Mountaintop" 3-minute video clip

I've loved movies since I was a kid, and loved recapping them others who haven't seen them yet. It's where I first learned how to be a storyteller!

And how I learned 2 keys to telling good stories: know your audience and pick one scene not the whole thing!

Stories engage your audience because you're being real with them and we all love stories. But stories also engage you in what you're saying because you're no longer being "business-y" or overly polished - you're just being yourself and sharing something you're passionate about!

Want to feel amazing after your next talk? Check out free resources at ⁠⁠https://speaknextweek.com⁠⁠ or get a free recommendation from me on becoming a stronger public speaker. In less time than you think, you can transform public speaking from something you dread into something you love! 🎙️

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I've been a fan of Diana Kander ever since I read All In Startup back in 2014. Her latest book is all about pitching and presenting, and she actually charts out the proven flow of a pitch that is surprising, memorable and gets you the deal. This book taps into so many thing I consult with leaders on, I had to have her on to share Diana and her book with you!

---------Notes:

~5:00 The Mug Moment!

~7:00 The Forgetting Curve “Our research revealed that within an hour the audience forgets 50% of what you said, within a week they forget 90%. If you want them to remember more than 10% (which might not even be the 10% you want them to remember) you have to spike their emotions during the presentation.”

~21:00 The importance of being a lifelong learner… “Think of something you’re awesome at, and I challenge you to go read a book on it and not 5 things you can be doing even better. That’s how we grow. As soon as you’re satisfied, you start stagnating.”

~24:00 Colin and Diana talk about our initial exploratory/sales calls, and what we’ve both learned about how most people make this pitch in the wrong order.

~26:00 mark, there's a really cool little moment where Diana clearly thinks of something she wants to say and she swallows it to keep listening!! All kinds of meta.

~28:00 Diana offers YOU the listener, unprompted, a special surprise gift!

You can find Go Big Or Go Home, by Diana Kander and Tucker Trotter, ⁠on Amazon⁠ and at ⁠DianaKander.com⁠.

The first 30 seconds of your speech are the only chance you have to truly grab and maintain your audience's attention.

This is based on a concept by Diana Kander and Tucker Trotter's concept "The Golden Window."

Which they write about in the upcoming book Go Big Or Go Home.

I'm always committed to showing you EXACTLY what to say, so I'll give you a perfect example: how we recently made an investor pitch for a trash/recycling container ENGAGING and FUNNY.

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Want to feel amazing after your next talk? Check out free resources at ⁠⁠https://speaknextweek.com⁠⁠ or get a free recommendation from me on becoming a stronger public speaker. In less time than you think, you can transform public speaking from something you dread into something you love! 🎙️

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A Conversation with America's Joy Magnet, seasoned TEDx speaker and Media Appearance Coach... Shari Alyse!

“I got off the stage after my second TED talk, and I beelined it for the ladies restroom. After like 30 seconds of crying, I exhaled, and I literally put my arms around myself and I said, ‘I’m so proud of you. Not only did you do it, but you can show up for any challenge in your life.’ And the learning experience for me there was find joy in the process, the creation and the actually stepping out and doing it.” - Shari Alyse

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Want to feel amazing after your next talk? Check out free resources at ⁠https://speaknextweek.com⁠ or get a free recommendation from me on becoming a stronger public speaker. In less time than you think, you can transform public speaking from something you dread into something you love! 🎙️

You're about to learn one of my favorite $10.00 words/phrases: Choice Architecture.

This is the overlooked key to inspiring, motivating, and influencing your people to take action.

Whether it's your team, an individual, a potential client or partner, this will definitely help you like it's helped me!

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Do you have a speech coming up that you want to do a GREAT job with and leave a lasting impression as a result? (And you'd much prefer that to being, let's be honest, forgettable?).

Take a look at our rapid-results coaching programs:

Speak Next Week | Make Your Next Talk Your Best Talk (In Just One Hour)

Speak Like A Leader -- become a confident & memorable public speaker (in hours not years)!

Think about the bad listeners in your life. Picturing them? **If you can't picture one, it's you ;)

Now think about the good listeners in your life. They have your respect, your appreciation, your trust.

They have influence! They lead through their ability to listen!

Here is a fun way to be one of those influential listeners in someone else's life.

There is no better feeling than when someone takes the time to truly listen to us.

I get it - public speaking is uncomfortable.

But have you ever turned down speaking opportunities you know would be good for you to take?

It might be because you've put that audience on a pedestal.

No matter how impressive or intimidating the people in your audience are, they shouldn't be on a pedestal.

They don't belong there!

Here is: a funny story about a shirt that doesn't fit, and a great exercise to calm your nerves and speak more effectively.