Over 70 years ago Dale Carnegie released the self-help classic called How to Win Friends & Influence People. Since then, it has gone on to be read and applied by many people, some of whom accredit their success to this book.

I have been planning for a while to bring a series of book reviews back into my regular content. At first, I was planning a new show, then maybe just on YouTube and now I have decided to simply include it in the Speaking Influence catalogue. It's not so often you get to hear from me just by myself or that I give you more digestible episodes than my usual long interviews but this is essentially a test run to see if you like the content and enjoy these solo episodes or would prefer to have them added on to the main show? Your feedback is welcomed.

You can contact me on Twitter @johnaball or through my website presentinfluence.com with any feedback or suggestions.

If you want a copy of How To Win Friends & Influence People, please consider using my affiliate link https://amzn.to/3q8zPKq I may only make a few pennies from your purchase but it won't cost you anything extra and it helps to support the show.

Did you enjoy the show? Did you learn anything new or useful? If you did, then the best way to show your appreciation is by sharing the show to your online network. Tag me and I'll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode. Leave a review and I'll read it out on the show.

Of course, if you REALLY liked it, you're welcome to support the show financially too using the link below.

Support the show (https://speakinginfluence.supercast.tech/)

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

What's one of the best, cost-effective, time-effective ways to build a following these days? Podcasting.

My guest Alex Sanfilippo is a podcaster with an entrepreneurial eye for opportunity. He's the founder of PodPros.com and PodMatch.com, both sites I enjoy using as a member and he is also a super nice guy. We chat about the opportunities in podcasting and what we see happening as it hits a huge growth spurt with YouTube, Facebook and now Twitter getting in on the podcast action.

In this episode:

1. Starting a podcast do's & don'ts
2. Why podcast?
3. Keeping the main thing the main thing
4. Do you need to be an expert?
5. What Alex wishes he'd known sooner
6. What makes a valuable show guest?
7. The opportunities in podcasting

and more besides.

I encourage you to check out Alex's sites and to connect with him since he's a super nice guy.

Visit https://strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email [email protected] or find me on LinkedIn

You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algo recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating.

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

People do business with those they know, like, and trust. Yet likeability is one of the most underrated influence skills in professional speaking -- consistently overlooked in favour of flashier tactics that rarely work as well.

Jackie Goddard has spent her career bridging the worlds of theatre, communication, and presentation training. With a background in the dramatic arts and a passion for helping professionals find their authentic voice, Jackie brings a genuinely distinctive perspective to the art of connection and influence.

What you'll learn in this episode

Why likeability and reliability are more powerful influence tools than most speakers realise, how a single person can directly change the course of your life for better or worse, what professional speakers can learn from theatre and the dramatic arts, what it's actually like working with Dame Judi Dench, how to bring out your joy and uniqueness in front of any audience, what improv does to your brain and why it matters for speakers, and why you have to memorise in order to truly improvise.

About Jackie Goddard

Jackie Goddard is a communication and presentation skills trainer whose business and podcast both share the name The Power to Speak. Find out more about Jackie's work and listen to her show wherever you get your podcasts.

TED talk mentioned: Charles Limb on musical creativity and the improvising brain -- available on YouTube.

Books mentioned in this episode

Plato's Lemonade Stand by Tom Morris, The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, and The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.

Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect, email [email protected] or find John on LinkedIn.

All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.

Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.

Related episodes: How to Connect With Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime with Simon Lancaster

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

Even in these challenging times, we must think about the future. I hope you will consider checking out my weekly newsletter where I talk a little about this and about our need to be wanted and how we can fulfil it. http://rb.gy/1upba9

This episode is all about the future of Speaking Influence and my plans to bring new and different elements to the show that will hopefully benefit all of us and keep things interesting. Your guidance as to what you like and don't like will be paramount but without experimentation, we end up with stagnation.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and if you're interested in getting involved in the show, here's my email: [email protected] or find @johnaball on Twitter.

To find out more about BrandFace, visit BrandFaceStar.com or to get your Brand Score go to BrandFaceScore.com but remember to act fast, as it will not be available for long.

Find out more about the amazing all-in-one platform New Zenler which I use myself for my website, course hosting, blog and more besides https://www.newzenler.com/invite/c8eaxu

Go and make great things happen.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podfluence Weekly

Join us for the official Podfluence Weekly newsletter https://present-influence.ck.page

He got to the part of his pitch where he asked for the investment -- and they laughed. When he spoke to his team afterwards, one of them said: did you go in dressed like that?

How we look affects how others see us before we say a single word. For professional speakers, that first impression is part of the performance -- and most people are leaving significant credibility on the table without realising it.

Joseph Rosenfeld is a style advisor and image consultant with years of experience in personal branding. Named Best Personal Stylist by Modern Luxury Silicon Valley in both 2020 and 2021, Joseph helps leaders, speakers, and executives maximise the power of their presence from the inside out and from head to toe.

What you'll learn in this episode

Why appearance is the key to mastering your presence as a speaker or leader, how personal style acts as the prism through which others filter your gravitas, Joseph's unusual influence and persuasion role model and what it taught him, why personal style became a life-changing pursuit for Joseph, the most common style mistakes professionals make, and Joseph's three-part method for creating a precise personal style that works for you.

About Joseph Rosenfeld

Joseph Rosenfeld is a personal style advisor and image consultant based in Silicon Valley. Find out more at josephrosenfeld.com.

Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect, email [email protected] or find John on LinkedIn.

All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.

Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.

Related episodes: How to Connect With Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime with Simon Lancaster

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

If you don't know how to effectively talk about what you do and who you help then how can you expect others to be able to talk about you?

Brand Face is all about helping you build authority and influence through your brand and connect with and persuade your ideal clients and customers through having your professional brand dialled in. I'm happy to say they have become sponsors of Speaking Influence since the start of 2022.

This conversation with Tonya Eberhart and Michael Carr is very helpful in understanding how much personal branding affects your results and can be the difference between making it or breaking it.

In this episode:

1. There are 77 points in personal branding to work on
2. The common mistakes on personal branding
3. How do you look to your customer?
4. The 5 most important questions any brand should ask
5. The importance of consistency
6. Why pruning helps things to grow, including your brand

all this and much more.

You can get help with your brand by visiting HTTP://brandfacestar.com

Did you enjoy the show? Did you learn anything new or useful? If you did, then the best way to show your appreciation is by sharing the show to your online network. Tag me and I'll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode. Leave a review and I'll read it out on the show.

Of course, if you REALLY liked it, you're welcome to support the show financially too using the link below.

Support the show (https://speakinginfluence.supercast.tech/)

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

How do you deal with genuinely difficult people without becoming one yourself?

Jeremy Sherman has spent years studying the psychology of what he calls psychoproctology -- the science of understanding the asshole mindset. Drawing on multiple disciplines across the human sciences and years of study at some of the US's leading academic institutions, Jeremy has developed a rigorous framework for understanding why certain people argue the way they do, whether they know they're doing it, and how to counter it effectively.

This is a fun, frank, and genuinely illuminating conversation about one of the most universal human challenges -- navigating the difficult, the toxic, and the deliberately obstructive.

Please note this episode contains strong language.

What you'll learn in this episode

What psychoproctology actually is and why it matters, what actually qualifies someone as an asshole -- and whether they know it, why Yoda was wrong in Star Wars and what that has to do with human behaviour, how to use irony as a tool of persuasion, practical strategies for tackling trolls and bad faith arguers, and why failing to counter difficult behaviour could have consequences far beyond the individual encounter.

About Jeremy Sherman

Jeremy Sherman is a researcher, writer, and self-proclaimed psychoproctologist whose work spans psychology, philosophy, and the social sciences. His book is What's Up With Assholes. Find out more at jeremysherman.com.

Books mentioned in this episode

Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace by Joseph Williams, and Building Great Sentences by Brooks Landon, available via Audible's Great Courses series.

Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect, email [email protected] or find John on LinkedIn.

All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.

Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.

Related episodes: Mind Control, Mentalism and Manipulation with Duncan Stevens

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

Body size and body image are important to influence and persuasion, whether we like to admit it or not. As someone who has always struggled with my weight, I thought it would be fascinating to have a chat with someone who is using influence techniques to help her clients lose weight and keep it off. In this episode we will look at weight loss coaching from the inside and the outside.

Renee Jones helps women (and a few men) get free of emotional eating so they can lose the extra weight and keep it off.

In this episode:

• It's not hard to get free of emotional eating, just get the HANG of it
• What to do in a snack-filled home, at a family event, or at a buffet to stay on track
• The number one reason diets fail and how to make it work
• Food addictions and emotional triggers
• How to develop self-discipline
• Is low-carb right for everyone?
• Are you body positive?

and more...

Renee is the author of 'What's really eating you?' and you can claim her free gift of an exercise she does with her clients here at https://www.packyourownbag.com/friends

Remember to take the FREE Brand Score Challenge at https://brandfacescore.com It's only free for a limited time, so go and find out if your brand is being seen the way you think.

Did you enjoy the show? Did you learn anything new or useful? If you did, then the best way to show your appreciation is by sharing the show to your online network. Tag me and I'll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode. Leave a review and I'll read it out on the show.

Of course, if you REALLY liked it, you're welcome to support the show financially too using the link below.

Support the show (https://speakinginfluence.supercast.tech/)

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

Getting paid to speak may be more achievable than you think -- but most speakers are going about it the wrong way.

Grant Baldwin is the founder of The Speaker Lab and author of The Successful Speaker, one of the most practical and honest books on building a paid speaking career available. He has helped thousands of speakers find their niche, land their first paid gigs, and build sustainable speaking businesses -- and this conversation gets into the real mechanics of how it's done.

What you'll learn in this episode

How to decide what to speak about in a way that leads to paid bookings, how to find paying opportunities to speak and where most speakers look in the wrong places, the realities of running a professional speaking business that most people don't talk about, which topics have the strongest earning potential for speakers, Grant's S.P.E.A.K. framework for building a speaking career, the two essential tools every paid speaker must have, and the silver lining the pandemic created for professional speakers.

About Grant Baldwin

Grant Baldwin is the founder of The Speaker Lab and host of The Speaker Lab podcast. His book The Successful Speaker is available in print, digital, and audio formats. Find out how The Speaker Lab can help you build a paid speaking career at thespeakerlab.com.

Books mentioned in this episode

The Road Less Stupid by Keith Cunningham, and Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson.

Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect, email [email protected] or find John on LinkedIn.

All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.

Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.

Related episodes: How to Build Authority as a Speaker and Grow Your Speaking Business with Chris Ducker

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

The curse of having a common name is that you can be mistaken for someone else but on the plus side it can be easy to remember. This is something I have in common with my guest Steve Smith. Our names may not be so distinctive but the knowledge and conversation really was.

Steve is a business coach, keynote speaker and podcast host, so we had a few more things in common. In this episode:

• Why the right kind of clout matters
• How speaking in a professional capacity could harm your brand
• Why message matters
• What leaders need to possess
• My own challenge with presentation energy
• Why are your audience checking their devices? (May not be what you think)
• What happens when people think you're inauthentic?

and a few more things besides.

Special thanks to our show sponsors at Brand Face. Find out how they can help you get the right message for your business to connect with the right audience in the right way. Visit LearnAboutBrandFace.com

Did you enjoy the show? Did you learn anything new or useful? If you did, then the best way to show your appreciation is by sharing the show to your online network. Tag me and I'll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode. Leave a review and I'll read it out on the show.

Of course, if you REALLY liked it, you're welcome to support the show financially too using the link below.

Support the show (https://speakinginfluence.supercast.tech/)

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.