Get Your Message Heard

What's the difference between preparing and winging? When you get serious about preparing, you shift your whole process. Instead of walking into the room and trusting your ability to read the audience on the fly, you're learning what they need in advance, and shaping your message for them and only for them. Michael discusses his shift in perspective away from winging it, and how you can use preparation to deliver your most impactful message possible.

Never wing a performance.

Michael shares a confession with us – up until a few weeks ago, he had never written a speech in his life. Some people rely on their ability to read the audience, improvise, and react on the fly. Michael shares his journey from relying on talent, to developing his skill to a deeper level.

Change your preparation.

Are you a preparer, or do you tend to wing it? If you have natural talent, winging it will get you to a decent place. But if you're committed to being someone who changes people's lives, you need to come in with your message mapped and prepared to have the impact you need to have in every situation, with every audience. Michael discusses the difference between entertaining your audience and really challenging them to change their lives and their behavior.   

Focus on the presentation, not just the tools .

Oftentimes, people will put all their effort into preparing their slideshow or their handout, instead of preparing the speech or presentation itself. But these tools have inherent limitations – if there's no message, the tool isn't going to help. Michael discusses focusing on the content instead of the tool.

Challenge yourself to write a script.

Michael explains how to move beyond relying on talent in order to hone your message and have the most impact possible. We need to do our homework – we have to learn, we have to talk to people, understand the problems they're having and the language they're using.  We need to know the solutions they're looking for, and then intentionally craft the message to help them discover a solution that works.

Develop your signature speech.

The core stuff we believe are the things we hold on to for a long time. That's what gives you integrity, and gives your business purpose. What is the big idea that drives you? What is the big problem you're trying to solve?

Recommended Action

Make the commitment to define: what is your core message? What is your core framework? Go through the process to write that 45-60 minute speech that reveals your core message. What will be different in people's lives if they take the steps you're encouraging them to take? By writing out your signature speech, you'll gain clarity on the message you're seeking to deliver, and you'll be able to rehearse your message, as you created it.

Free Download

When you meet someone who you'd like to have as a client- whether it's an actual sales conversation or just a handshake, what you do AFTER is the most important factor in whether or not you'll end up working with them. Download Michael's 4-step follow-up method at http://michaelhudson.com/followup to make sure you never miss an opportunity.

When you think of a craftsperson, what comes to mind? Probably someone who is very skilled and very talented, but who has taken that skill to a level that differentiates them and makes them stand out. Michael looks at expertise entrepreneurship through the lens of craftsmanship and getting beyond relying on your natural talents.

Talent will only get you so far.

People who are naturally talented at speaking may have a bit of a headstart. But talent can also allow you to be lazy and avoid being the best you can be. If you rely on talent to get you through, then you don't allow yourself to develop your craft, and you limit the impact you could create and the people you could be serving. Think about the times when talent has gotten you through, but maybe you walked away and thought, "I could have done more."

We all have the ability to be doing better than we're currently doing.

Our goal should be to be judged not by how well we did, but how well we did relative to the tools and capacity we have. In order to hone your craft and become a true craftsperson, you're going to throw away a lot of the things you've relied on in the past, including parts of your natural talent, because they can't get you to the next level.

The market you're in today may not be the market you really belong in.

A craftsman commands high prices because they are so talented – because their work is so much better than other people's. Many people hold back on developing their craft to the highest level because they can't currently get a higher return. But you may not have found your market because you haven't adequately developed your craft.

What are you doing on a regular basis to develop your craft?

You can take yourself from being a talented and capable person to being someone who truly is a cut above. Becoming a craftsperson is the fastest path to get yourself to a higher level. It's the fastest path to making your message more clear for the people who need it.

The biggest challenge you face is deciding what not to share.

It pays to be selective. You can't share everything you know and think that you're helping people. The goal of the craft-minded expertise entrepreneur is to reveal the secret pathway to take people to a different level in their work. A big part of creating craft is honing your message and focusing in on what you do and what you offer.

Recommended Action

Ask yourself the question: are you developing craft, or are you relying on talent? How close are you to being a true craftsperson? And if you're not as close as you want to be, what's your first step to getting there? Take an action step and move yourself in that direction.

Free Download

When you meet someone who you'd like to have as a client- whether it's an actual sales conversation or just a handshake, what you do AFTER is the most important factor in whether or not you'll end up working with them. Download Michael's 4-step follow-up method at http://michaelhudson.com/followup to make sure you never miss an opportunity.

How do we gain access to other minds that push us to think deeper, and who give us relevant, useful insight? How do we put ourselves around people who push us to go deeper? Michael expands on a key concept from previous episodes – putting yourself in the right rooms to intentionally create the space for growth – through exploring  the idea of mastermind groups.

Don't rely on your inner circle.

We care deeply about our family and friends, but the fact is, they can't always give us the feedback we need, in the context we need it. So how do we find the people we need to be in the room with to push ourselves to go deeper?

Be intentional.

What people can generate together is much more than the sum of what they can generate individually. When you bring a group of people together with the intent of focusing on helping each other achieve more success in their lives, a collective mastermind emerges. These are the magical moments we're looking for, and you need to work intentionally to create them. Creating groups of people who come together and help each other become better requires an investment. It's important to remember that the investment in time and resources is worth it to grow you and your business.   

Put together a weekly mastermind group.

Put together a group of inspiring individuals who meet once a week, whether it's in person or over Zoom or Skype. Push each other to grow, and share what works for you. When you create a live event where people meet face-to-face, you dramatically change the interaction in the group, so try to have an in-person meeting at least once a year. Or find a group that already exists that speaks to your goals, interests, and needs.

Attend a mastermind retreat.

A mastermind retreat has 12 – 15 selected people who go to another place, which is not where they normally do work. This allows us to go deeper into how we want to do our work, and where we want to go with it. Mastermind retreats can be structured around someone's particular expertise or knowledge, or everyone can brainstorm and share ideas together. Are there retreats that you can make the investment to attend? Do your research to make sure you're putting yourself into contexts with the people who can help you.

Attend events.

There are the official parts of the events that you attend, and then there are the conversations that you have in the whitespace. Going to a conference is about so much more than attending a lecture – it's about making connections with the individuals around you, and making those connections last.

Recommended Action

Find a way to get into the right rooms, with the right people. You could be the local or regional organizer who brings a group of people together to help one another grow. Or you could look into mastermind programs and mastermind groups that already exist, and decide which one is right for your needs and goals. Do what you need to do to put yourself in the right rooms, and take your business to the next level.

Free Download

When you meet someone who you'd like to have as a client- whether it's an actual sales conversation or just a handshake, what you do AFTER is the most important factor in whether or not you'll end up working with them. Download Michael's 4-step follow-up method at http://michaelhudson.com/followup to make sure you never miss an opportunity.

In this episode Michael shares his five big takeaways from the Heroic Public Speaking Graduate School Process. This program is a 16-day, 4-month, individually-tailored process to help you become a better speaker. Michael discusses how to focus on content, rehearse more effectively, and take risks to get where you need to go.

You can't be you if you're in the wrong room.

Context matters – luckily, you can choose your context. The wrong rooms are the places where you can't be you. How do the rules of the room change the way you play? You can know you're in the wrong room when your environment is holding you back – pay attention to your environment, and once you're in the right room, you will thrive.

Content comes first, every single time.

Often people rely on their ability to speak powerfully and don't go deep enough in creating content that will best serve their audience. Who will be in the room, and what do they need? Whose stories can you find that will strengthen your message? How much research have you done about your audience and your message? Michael discusses how to really hone in on the focus of what you're saying to maximize the impact of your message.

You can be a performer or a critic, but not both.

Sometimes we think that feedback is always useful. But when many people start to offer their feedback, it can take you off course. When you're a performer, you have to concentrate on getting your message across – when you think about things as a performer, you approach them differently.  If you do ask for feedback, make it tailored – ask for feedback on the specific things that will help you improve.

Playing all-out and paying attention drives clarity.

Playing all-out means stepping up and committing to go all-in, believing in what in what you're doing, and taking risks. When you play safe, when you play small, when you don't allow yourself to dream big - you hold back. Paying attention means asking: what answer passed by that you missed? The answer may appear – but are you paying attention enough to see it?

Rehearsal is everything, and you owe it to your audience and yourself.

Rehearsal is not just running through the words you're going to say. Rehearsal is much more – it is tied to the content. You need to go through and shape your performance to emphasize the meaning you're trying to get across. Your audience is giving you their time and attention – they deserve to receive your message in its most accessible and impactful form possible.

Recommended Action

Start playing all-out, and step up to the challenge of putting yourself in the right rooms. Recognize that when you're in the wrong room, there's only one thing to do: get out. If you are in that room, you've committed to step up, to share the real you, and to use your talents and gifts to the highest level.

And here's the link Michael mentioned to the Heroic Public Speaking Live event in October: http://www.heroicpublicspeaking.com 

Free Download

When you meet someone who you'd like to have as a client- whether it's an actual sales conversation or just a handshake, what you do AFTER is the most important factor in whether or not you'll end up working with them. Download Michael's 4-step follow-up method at http://michaelhudson.com/followup to make sure you never miss an opportunity.

There are three key questions that can push companies to think bigger, envision the future more vividly, and find better strategies to get there. What is your message? Who is that message for? And if you weren't already doing what you're doing now, would you start? Michael discusses how to think about these questions in ways that will get you on the path towards where you want to go with your business.

Think strategically about your business.

We often get caught up in the day-to-day work of being in business and don't step back to ponder where we're going. If you don't know where you're headed, then you're not going to know when you get there. Michael discusses goal orientation, not as a dollar amount, but as a detailed vision of the future.

What is your message?

We each have a unique perspective on the world that gives us power to impact other people's lives. The most important part of reaching people is having clarity about what that message is. Michael talks about common pitfalls in framing your message that may be preventing you from reaching the people you want to serve. This is the first question you need to answer to think about where you're going to take your business in the long-term.

Who is your message for?

Who are the people you want to reach – what are the problems they have? And how are you going to help them? Once you have your message clear, you can ask yourself: who needs that message? Remember, you're not here to serve everybody – you will do your best work when you find the people who were meant to hear your message, and who are in a place to receive it.

If you weren't already doing what you're doing, would you start?

We all have things we do because we've always done them that way – but it's important to have the guts to take stock and cut out practices that aren't helping us. Michael discusses subjecting what we're doing to scrutiny and having the courage and fluidity to adapt and grow.

Recommended action

Take the time to focus on your long-term vision for your business. Clarify what your message is, and who it is for. And re-evaluate the things you're doing, and whether they're working to get you where you're going.

Free Download

When you meet someone who you'd like to have as a client- whether it's an actual sales conversation or just a handshake, what you do AFTER is the most important factor in whether or not you'll end up working with them. Download Michael's 4-step follow-up method at http://michaelhudson.com/followup to make sure you never miss an opportunity.

Without input from the people you want to serve, your business is doomed before it even begins. You can see evidence of this: many would-be entrepreneurs try to package what worked for them and sell it. It looks great on the outside, but once their customers try to implement it, they don't have the same success. Why is this? Because the situations, skillsets, and circumstances are different.

Ask questions.

We all need to ask more questions. More importantly, we need to ask the RIGHT questions and then listen, truly listen, to the answers. It's easy to get carried away with excitement and to do most of the talking, but that keeps you from hearing what your audience wants and needs. Follow the 'ask, listen, serve' mantra.

Asking questions helps you understand.

If you've ever taken a copywriting course you've learned that you need to join the conversation in your audience's heads. What this means is you know what they're thinking about, and you're able to use the same words and phrases they are using when they think about it. And you can't do any of this if you didn't take the time to listen to them in the first place.

Using surveys.

Surveys are one way to ask your audience questions. You'll want to keep it short and focused, and you might also want to TEST your questions. Have a few trusted people in your inner circle read over them and give you feedback. That way you can ask more intelligent questions and avoid misunderstandings. This is also an evolving process. If it's not working, you can change the survey!

Talking face to face.

Surveys are useful, but nothing replaces talking to someone face to face, or even over the phone. You have access to real time clarification, thought process, motivations. Essentially, you're learning not just what the problem is, but why it's a problem, how they see it, and what they've already tried to do to fix it. A single conversation isn't enough. Remember how everyone's circumstances are different? Two people might have the same problem for different reasons, and you'd never know it unless you asked.

How to operationalize the process.

Think of the 3-5 things you deliver to people. Once you've figured those out, create an opening question for each. Avoid making a list of questions; instead, have an idea of the deeper things you want to learn. The opener starts the exploratory conversation, and the questions you ask are both relevant to the conversation and also steer it toward the things you know you want to learn. You might have ideas for other questions, like the followup or closing question, but ultimately, every person is different. Your questions should follow the 3-5 things you can deliver, but it shouldn't be a rote list.

You aren't convincing; you're finding a fit.

Not everyone you talk to will want what you're offering, nor will you want to serve everyone you talk to. Part of asking questions is to find a mutual fit, so asking the right questions is paramount. Can you relate to them? Do their wants and needs sound like something you can deliver? You'll never know unless you ask.

Recommended Action

Figure out what your 3 to 5 things are and come up with an opening question for each. Then come up with a follow-up question. Then go out and have 2 conversations a day for the next few weeks. Most importantly, LISTEN.

Free Download

When you meet someone who you'd like to have as a client- whether it's an actual sales conversation or just a handshake, what you do AFTER is the most important factor in whether or not you'll end up working with them. Download this 4-step follow-up method to make sure you never miss an opportunity.

In this episode Michael answers three very frequently asked questions that keep coming up again and again. First: what can I do to get my first speaking, coaching, or consulting engagement? Second: how can I get better at writing content, whether it be for sales copy, speeches, or promotion? And third: how can I get testimonials and referrals when I don't have clients yet? An essential listen for new entrepreneurs and veterans alike. Michael shares scores of practical tips to help you grow and improve your business.

1. How do I get my first paid speaking, coaching or consulting engagement?

Sometimes when you're just starting out building your business, breaking into a field can feel daunting. Michael shares his personal strategies, including a step-by-step process to get that first paid gig.

Leveraging your network

Michael discusses the importance of using your network to get off the ground – learn strategies to help you figure out who to reach out to and how to ask the right questions to make solid business connections.

2. How do I get better at writing content?

Whether it is sales copy, speech content, or promotion, you need to be able to produce powerful content to grow your expertise enterprise. Michael walks us through 3 things you can do to improve your content right now.

You can learn a lot just from watching.

Yogi Bera said it first, but Michael explains how consuming good content and studying how others craft content can help you find your signature voice and really connect with your audience.

3. How do I get testimonials and referrals when I don't have clients?

Getting referrals isn't a race to sign on the dotted line – it's a relationship-building process that takes time and investment. Step one is to ask. Your friends, acquaintances and business partners can attest to your skills. Step two is get creative – don't limit yourself to testimonials from paying clients. Michael gives some concrete but innovative tips to get people's feedback and use it effectively.

Recommended Action

Go out there and ask your friends, acquaintances and business connections for referrals. Leverage your network, make a list of names you can draw on, and reach out to the people at the top of that list. Consume great content, watch great speakers, and make note of what resonates with you.

Free Download

When you meet someone who you'd like to have as a client- whether it's an actual sales conversation or just a handshake, what you do AFTER is the most important factor in whether or not you'll end up working with them. Download Michael's 4-step follow-up method at http://michaelhudson.com/followup to make sure you never miss an opportunity.

Do you hate the phrase, 'trust the process?' If so, you're probably someone who wants to jump right into action and there's nothing wrong with that. We all love doing what we're good at and it can be uncomfortable to do what's counterintuitive. But sometimes we have to. We might need guidance on when to take action and what action to take. Today, Michael talks about trusting the process for all of you who don't.

I don't have time to trust the process.

It might not seem like you have time. But the truth is trusting the process is worth it every single time. It doesn't take a genius to define a process that will work every single time. What you see as wasting time is actually being more efficient and able to succeed far more often.

Whatever you are seeking is seeking you.

While you're busy taking action and flying by the seat of your pants, it's possible you will miss the answers you need. Have you heard of the concept of white space? It's something that far too few of us honor in our busy lives. Giving yourself room to breathe rather than chasing the next thing is invaluable. You actually CAN consume too much content, or put too much of yourself out there in the world.

Can you simply create?

When you're in the creator frame of mind, trusting the process means getting the idea on paper. Nothing more than creating – no revising, no tweaking, no editing, no going down the research rabbit hole. One great way to do this is to record yourself speaking. Just talk about your idea, let it flow, then get it transcribed. Then let it sit for a while. Let it gestate in your mind. This raw act of creation will have so much more potential than something you squeezed the life out of before it was ready.

How do you consume content?

You NEED white space for your brain to process what you consume. Choosing to be more picky about what you consume is key to that. Are you afraid you'll miss something important? Don't worry; many of us feel that way. But the truth is, all the time you're spending consuming without processing is wasted.

Recommended Action

The next time you sit down to create content, trust the process. Create for the sake of creating. Then give yourself some white space for the ideas to gestate. Then come back to your creation with a fresh mind and new insights.

Free Download

When you meet someone who you'd like to have as a client- whether it's an actual sales conversation or just a handshake, what you do AFTER is the most important factor in whether or not you'll end up working with them. Download this 4-step follow-up method to make sure you never miss an opportunity.

It takes courage to be candid, to be called an agitator, a contrarian. If you are, it probably means you're pushing people outside of their comfort zone. They don't always appreciate that. Michael and his guest Jody Maberry talk about how you should 'own' who you are even if it makes people uncomfortable. You might help someone with a breakthrough that could change their life.

What it means to provoke

Jody and Michael talk about Michael's keynote speech at Mike Kin's Influence and Impact conference, and how to wow a crowd. He didn't do it by pandering; he provoked. He spoke into them, not at them. Michael shares what parts of his life made him that way, and the lessons he took from it. Jody doesn't throw Michael any softballs. He poses a very important question: if you're such an agitator, why doesn't your podcast audience know it? Why are you so polished and professional without being the agitator you truly are.

Living up to your potential

Michael has an inexplicable drive to help people live up to their potential in spite of themselves. He speaks from experience. Being adopted, having ADHD before doctors knew what it was, and being sexually abused as a child all took their toll on him. Michael talks about what pisses him off the most, not about what happened to him, but when people stop trying. Michael talks about the 3 types of work, and what it takes to start living up to your potential.

Are you sitting on a nail?

You don't need Michael in your ear yelling 'wake up!' Chances are if you're feeling dissatisfied, like something is missing, then you have hidden potential you haven't uncovered. Michael and Jody talk about ways to root out the source of the angst and identify what it is you're missing. Furthermore, if you try to take action on your angst without understanding it, you might just miss the message your heart really wants to share.

Recommended Action

Take a self-inventory. Are you feeling some sort of angst? Talk through it, write through it, and when you feel like shying away from something, that's when you need to lean in. Take what you learn from being your own contrarian and do what Jody did: ask your peers the hard questions. Be candid. Put your finger where it hurts.

Free Download

When you meet someone who you'd like to have as a client- whether it's an actual sales conversation or just a handshake, what you do AFTER is the most important factor in whether or not you'll end up working with them. Download this 4-step follow-up method to make sure you never miss an opportunity.

One of the best ways we can extend our thinking is to talk to people who see things differently. They ask different questions and can inspire you to think differently. Sometimes we think our goal is simply networking – trying to meet as many people as possible. But how do you go deeper to make real connections and develop your thinking? One of the pathways to thinking bigger about your business is by talking to people at a deeper level, and Michael discusses how to make it happen.

Are you thinking big enough for your business and your future?

Are you looking for ways to transfer your knowledge to new contexts in order to grow your business? Or are you playing it safe? Michael talks about how to take the skills and knowledge you already have and transfer them to new contexts and markets.

There are three levels of markets that your business is going to serve:

1 – people who just want the free stuff. They are interested in the information, in learning, and in getting what they can out of the content you create.

2 –  People who will invest more in your business, but have some questions and demands of you. These are people you can add value for, but how can you think bigger about what they need?

3 – People who are going to come to you from solid referrals. You can use those same skills you already have to access and serve these people.

How do we decide how much energy to dedicate to these different levels in order to bring in new people, while also creating deep and lasting connections with clients? Michael discusses how to engage on deeper levels and broaden your engagement with others to create a vivid vision of the future.

Recommended Action

Create a vivid vision for yourself. Read it multiple times a day. Live the vision so you can internally activate the things you need to make it happen.

Free Download

When you meet someone who you'd like to have as a client- whether it's an actual sales conversation or just a handshake, what you do AFTER is the most important factor in whether or not you'll end up working with them. Download this 4-step follow-up method to make sure you never miss an opportunity.