This Moved Me

So today's episode is based on a conversation I had with one of my speakers, who has also been a guest here on This Moved Me… I'm a HUGE fan of his, and he's doing such important work. Tony Loyd. He's the host of the Social Entrepreneur podcast, and he's really building up his speaking work, because he's so driven to get his ideas out into the world. He is NOT interested in getting HIMSELF out into the world… he's

So he's a very typical - what I call - unspeaker. Despite the fact that he's incredibly experienced - he's been in the C-Suite, he's been up on front of audiences for years - he still has a level of self-doubt or fear or myths that get in the way of him fully owning the moment and… to the point of my show today… his story.

(By the way, EVERY SPEAKER struggles with this… unspeakers just admit it, and vulnerably walk into their efforts to change it… which is what makes their talks so compelling, authentic, and moving…)

So when Tony and I sat down to work on his 2nd TEDx talk… he shared that he wasn't as happy with his first talk as he wanted to be… it was good, great response… but he also knew he could do more, dig deeper (unspeaker!)… And he mentioned - so honestly - that he knew he needed to share more of his story… but he was afraid.

Of what, I asked?

That somehow sharing about HIS story made it about him. All me me me, he said.

Which is a myth of our origin stories - or ANY story we tell. If it's our story, the point isn't to talk about US… the point is to open up the connection between the experience, and the idea.

I want to talk about Origin stories.

I'm going to be sharing a course over on Movers-U on how to develop and own a powerful and authentic origin story in October… so excited about it. And so I'll be - starting today - a series about our Origin Stories - to prepare for it.

So before I dive into some ideas around the challenges and importance of doing this - and walk you through some critical steps in terms of HOW to do it…

I wanted to spend the show today talking about WHAT IT IS.

What is an origin story?

Carmen Simon - neuroscientist, best-selling author, speaker - uncovers the importance of knowing why and how we can remember things in the hopes that the message we have will stick with our audience forever. Her neuroscience background gave light to important insights to how we can tailor our talk to be extra impactful!

Welcome, Movers! The new and improved WEBSITE is finally here! I am so proud of how it came together and hope you enjoy it as much as I do. My hope is that this website will become a home of resources for you as you begin or continue on your speaking journey! Check it out: http://www.thismovedme.com

Articulating clearly the point of your talk is one of the most difficult areas for speakers to master. It is not uncommon to start your talk and pretty soon you have five talks within one actual talk! Sometimes the idea we are trying to articulate is complicated - our job is to make it easy for our audience. Keeping the audience in mind when narrowing the point of your talk is essential.

As speakers, we are meaning makers. We are trying to convey a new idea and bring meaning to that, which is why delivering it in a simple way is crucial. To effectively do this, the point of your talk must be these three things:

• Clear
• Meaningful
• Intriguing

Now, here is the challenge! I believe that in order to achieve an effective talk, you should be able to pass the 7/7 test! You should be able to articulate the point of your talk in 7 seconds so that a 7-year-old can understand it.

Want to become a Thought Leader? Of course you do!

Tony Loyd - raido host, author, speaker and thought leader! - moves the world with his unique perspective on how to do well and do good at the same time. Like many of us may have felt at some point in our lives, Tony needed a change in his life. He decided to take the leap to go do what his heart was longing for - mentor others on how to live a life where profit and purpose are intertwined.

Through Tony's journey, he learned an important lesson that would ultimately shape the speaker and thought leader he is today. He began to understand what it means to show up as your authentic self when you speak. To bring every piece of your self to your talk in order to serve your audience in the way they need. Although this wasn't easy at first, it helped Tony to create talks that move the world and to help others to do the same.

A few weeks ago I got a text message from one of my speakers who needed a little encouragement before jumping up on stage. And I am always honored to be able to do the encouraging. It's not a small thing, and it's not fluffy. It is essential, and empowering!

So - Who is your cheerleader?

Movers, this episode is all about something every speaker should aim to master in their talks.

My friend Scott reached out and asked me, "I wanna get better at being a storyteller with my talks, any recommendations?"

So, I came up with my top five recommendations for becoming a master at the art of storytelling!