Unforgettable Presentations

Script writing takes work and the practical, time-saving methods that Darren and Mark discuss today will make the process easier. Listen as they examine how to create your first script, edit with impact, and use your script as a presentation roadmap.    SNIPPETS: • You can’t edit what you don’t create   • In Microsoft Word use DICTATE to generate a transcript   • Create your ‘sloppy first copy’   • Separate each line of your script   • Add LINE NUMBERS in Google Docs, MS Word, etc.   • Add WORD COUNT   • Insert PAGE NUMBERS   • Insert LINE NUMBERS                                             • Customize with pause cues, timing cues, emotion cues, and stage direction   • Color code notes as you wish   • Say it better with fewer words

Quotations from famous speakers, authors, and celebrities can be very appealing and can support your message. The same can be said of oft-quoted statistics. Today Mark and Darren discuss the importance of accuracy when using quotes and statistics, share a few examples, and provide simple yet effective advice for ‘getting it right.’   SNIPPETS:   • Do due diligence   • Your reputation and credibility are at stake   • Verification sources abound…web searches, AI, etc. Use them   • “Stop quoting dead white men!” – Patricia Fripp   • Create your own quotes   • Quote the people who have influenced you…teachers, friends, family                                             • Your audience needs your perspective   • Verify EVERY quotation for accuracy   • Double check the context of every quote and statistic   • Name the source of each quote and statistic   • Your accuracy…and inaccuracy has a global reach

Sometimes, even after your best pitch, the answer is “No.” But that need not be the end of the relationship. Darren and Mark offer some sage wisdom about taking advantage of every ‘no,’ and sometimes turning a “no” into  “yes.”   SNIPPETS: • No can mean several things   • “Not yet, not the right time, not the best fit”   • Be remembered   • Have CONTENT and INTENT   • Don’t take “no” personally   • Build relationships, regardless of the outcome                                             • Play the long game   • Record and replay each sales call to learn from every “no”   • Be a referral resource when you get a “no”   • Be a favorite

In this follow-up to Episode 253 (What Do You Ask An Event Planner) Mark and Darren talk about questions to ask participants ahead of your speaking engagement. This episode will help you to unearth critical material and help you to customize your unforgettable presentation.    SNIPPETS: • Discover the organization’s mentors, matriarchs, patriarchs, and legends   • Get permission to call event attendees   • Schedule a 10-minute call to weeks before the event   • Ask questions and listen carefully to answers   • Learn the organization’s language   • Find out why they attend these events                                             • Ask about taboo topics   • Find stories that connect to your content   • Invite them to seek you out at the event                                            

You’ve got the speaking engagement, now what? What can the event planner tell you to help you to deliver an unforgettable presentation? Darren and Mark discuss the pre-event questionnaire and offer insight into how you can set yourself up for presentation success.   SNIPPETS: • Prepare an Event Planners Questionnaire   • Have a call and connect casually first (video is ideal)   • Ask questions and listen carefully to answers   • Your client is the event planner   • Identify the economic buyer                                             • Read the Zoom room   • Be a Planner-Pleaser   • Critical question: Ask about taboo topics   • Ask about recent company/organization changes                                             • Strive to be their favorite   • Ask permission to interview 10 event attendees                                             • Start your own questionnaire as an editable document

“Why would I need TWO coaches?” you may ask. To answer that question, Mark and Darren have a conversation with Stage Time University coaches Chris McGuire and Mike Davis. They have coached together, as have Mark and Darren, and in today’s discussion they explain the benefits of having a duo coaching team.   SNIPPETS: • Different coaching styles are complimentary   • Different perspectives create multiple options for clients   • Client gets twice the value in half the time   • Coaches learn from each other   • Coaches become better when they coach together                                             • Duo coaching is more engaging   • Duo coaching is more dynamic   • Duo coaches trigger each other’s thoughts   • Duo coaches must check their ego                                             • Duo coaches grow in each other’s strengths   • Duo coaches must be sponges                                             • Batman and Robin roles interchange

Speakers make a common mistake when seeking audience participation. They ask “HOW MANY of you…” That question needs a NUMERICAL response. Today Darren and Mark explain how to ask BETTER questions, and how to use the audience’s non-verbal response to enhance their own experience.   SNIPPETS: • How would you say it over coffee to one person   • Use the language of a conversation   • Respect the versatility of the word YOU’   • Ask you-focused questions   • Put the audience into your story                                             • Tap into their world, and transport them into yours   • Give the audience time to answer questions in their heads   • Read the audience   • Acknowledge their responses, even non-verbal                                             • Take inventory of the questions that you ask   • Ask yourself, “Is there a better way to ask that question?”                                             • Speaking is dialogue, not monologue

Speakers sometimes ask for help making tweaks, adding humor, or finding more powerful stories…a few days before their presentation. All too often, it’s just too late. Today, Darren and Mark share their experience with speakers who have waited too long, explain the benefits of getting help early, and offer advice on how to avoid waiting until it’s too late.   SNIPPETS: • Get a speaking coach sooner   • Speech contestants, don’t assume you will reach a certain level automatically   • Stop making changes several days before the presentation. Freeze the design   • Don’t expect last-minute miracles   • Get help perfecting your script before focusing on stagecraft                                             • Getting help early has several benefits   • You will be more confident   • You will have stronger content   • You will find your best stories                                             • You will uncover humor in time to perfect it   • You will present more effectively                                             • You will deliver a more unforgettable presentation

You can’t teach everything you know in an hour. (At least we hope not!) So, if you are a speaker, consultant or coach are you allowing people to take more of your wisdom home? Anyone can write a book, but do you have the right book? Do you offer it in your proposals? What if you could wave your speaking fee and still earn revenue. Darren sits down with his publisher, Henry Devires to get some insights from experience. Why other experience does Henry offer? "The Agency Owner Book Guy" | Author of Marketing With A Book For Agency Owners | Agency Owner News | Agency owner TV show host | Professional Speaker | CEO of Indie Books | Ghostwriter & Writer for Forbes.com & Inc.com   SNIPPETS: • Henry’s background   • Tapping into other budgets   • Why the right book matters   • What is an independent publisher?   • 3 Critical Mistakes author’s make   • It easier, faster and more affordable now than in the 1990’s   • The two biggest book revolutions publishing in the past 20 years   • Persistently helpful   • Success stories from Henry’s authors   • Write the Right Book Workshop

Every time you introduce a character in your story, you have an opportunity for humor.  Quirky characters are familiar, engaging, and create memorable moments in presentations.  Darren is joined by Television Writer & Producer Chris McGuire to discuss the people in our stories and how to make them unforgettable.     SNIPPETS: • Use quirky characters to create memorable moments that enhance speaker relatability with the audience.   • Character traits are the qualities that make a character memorable.  (Brave, smart, loyal) Quirks are exaggerated, unusual or unexpected qualities that add humor or intrigue to stories.   • Base your characters in reality and avoid making logical jumps that lead the audience to “crazytown.”   • Use the following quirks to make your characters memorable: Distinctive habits, ususual interests, eccentric speech patterns, exaggerated fashion and physical traits.   • Good joke formats for explaining quirks include “They were so [QUALITY]m that BLANK.” Or, “They’re the type of person who [GIVE EXAMPLE OF QUIRK]                                             • Use comedic twists to introduce quirks   • Quirks usually involve something the characters in your stories don’t know about each other.   • When using twists, you set expectations and then subvert them.   • Use sparingly or risk the audience noticing the “magic trick.”

How do four inexperienced presenters, who have never delivered a presentation to an audience of 1,000 people before, each get STANDING OVATIONS? Mark and Darren review their recent experience coaching four CEOs to deliver deeply personal 8-minute stories to their peers in the Young Presidents’ Organization. The lessons learned are invaluable and will help you to deliver your unforgettable presentation.   SNIPPETS: • Invest energy an effort   • Be coachable   • Practice, practice, practice   • Rehearse handling distractions   • Trust your instinct about what works well for YOU                                             • Talk to your coach about your ideas   • Tell your story in your own unique way   • Find your 11…that which makes you stand out   • Build a relationship with your coach                                             • Learn from others who have given similar presentations   • Don’t focus on a standing ovation

Humor is necessary to make a presentation interesting and entertaining. Uncovering humor can be a challenge, and to learn more about how to get more laughs, Mark and Darren sit down with Hollywood comedy writer and humor expert Chris McGuire. Chris shares tips and techniques for uncovering humor and being unforgettably funny.   SNIPPETS: • Use levity at the beginning of your presentation   • Connection with the audience is critical; always connect first   • Find out what the event attendees have in common   • Use People, Places, Things, Events, Sayings, and the Weather   • Be sensitive and avoid potentially offensive material   • Only poke gentle fun at things that folks can change, like haircuts & clothing   • Learn about your client’s industry   • Get interesting, unusual or significant details about the event location                                             • Get information from the client and venue’s websites   • Review event itinerary/schedule   • Connect the location to well-known celebrities if possible                                             • Look for awards humor

As presenters, we should expect the unexpected. At times, we will encounter unexpected circumstances and situations, and today Darren and Mark discuss steps that we can take to not only adapt, but to give our audiences unforgettable experiences.   SNIPPETS: • Assess the situations   • Explore options   • Use creativity   • Go heart-to-heart with the event planner   • Let go of your ego                                             • Adjust your presentation as needed   • Ask: How can I best serve my client and my audience   • Always have slide decks for different presentation lengths   • Learn about your audience and adjust your references if necessary                                             • Take an improv class

You want to ‘make it’ in the speaking business so you seek advice from a seasoned pro. Are you willing to take their advice…even if it’s hard to receive? Mark and Darren talk about advice they have received…and given…that some people don’t accept. These poignant nuggets of wisdom can help any presenter along the path to becoming unforgettable.   SNIPPETS: • Get your sea legs   • Find a way to give 100 speeches   • Invest the effort to get XXX rated…Xperience, Xpertise and Xposure.   • Take and pass the ‘book test’   • Get stage time from service clubs, Toastmasters and more                                             • Speak for free before you speak for fee   • Pay the mountain   • Do what others won’t   • Speak virtually even if it’s uncomfortable                                             • GET A COACH

You have just attended a conference, heard good speakers, and received powerful content. You walk away with a folder full of notes, e-mail addresses and phone numbers. NOW what should you do? Darren and Mark share best practices to keep your enthusiasm and momentum alive and productively take full advantage of the event experience.   SNIPPETS: • Review KEEPERS and ACTION ITEMS   • Prioritize ONE ACTION and follow through on that action consistently   • Connect with another attendee as an accountability partner   • Create a mastermind with other attendees   • Connect with fellow speakers and attendees on LinkedIn                                             • Connect with the event planner and thank them   • Eliminate items that create bad habits   • Apply the principles your learned                                             • Revisit your notes from the last event you attended and take ONE ACTION

You have just presented at an event and after all your hard work planning, preparing, and presenting, what should you do? Today Mark and Darren offer solid suggestions to help you stay on top of your game after every speaking event.   SNIPPETS:   • Schedule a day off   • Block time for your family, even if they are at the event with you   • Don’t ruin your “speaker’s high”   • Debrief with the client within a week   • Treat the debrief as a sales call   • Connect with fellow speakers and attendees on LinkedIn                                             • Ask for other opportunities to serve

So, you want to travel the world and share your message. Perhaps you’ve wondered what it’s like to be a ‘road warrior.’ Mark and Darren pull back the curtain on their experiences of a combined 50+ years of traveling to speak, and share their time-tested tips for being a successful road warrior.   SNIPPETS: • You are not alone   • It’s not always glamorous   • Give yourself grace   • Going international hire an agent/bureau to manage proposals & negotiations   • Examine the systems you set up to function while you’re on the road   • Arrive a day early to prepare yourself   • Tack on an extra road day to refill yourself; self-care is critical   • Decide what’s best for your stress   • Join frequent air/hotel/rental car programs   • Take photos of room numbers and parking spaces   • Use airport security programs like TSA Pre-check, CLEAR and Digital ID   • Maintain balance

Imagine, your largest audience so far has been fewer than ninety people, and you now get to tell your most emotional personal story on a BIG STAGE to more than 1,300 CEOs! What thoughts swirl through your head, and how will you pull it off?   Today Darren and Mark get answers from Management Consultant and Executive Coach Jody LaVoie. Mark and Darren helped to prepare Jody for her first time on the big stage…a global conference for CEOs. Jody’s lessons learned and wisdom gained will help you to get ready for your first (or next) time on the big stage!   SNIPPETS: • Be open to your coaches’ point of view   • Start preparing your presentation with the end in mind   • Build your story in scenes   • Invest time refining your message   • Use  Foundational Phrase to make your message more meaningful   • “Don’t over-Darren” - Bring YOURSELF to the platform                                             • Focus less on delivering your next line, and more on your audience   • Make sure your message lands with the audience   • Serve your audience   • After your first time on the big stage, take time to do nothing tomorrow

Have you ever received advice that changed the game in your business, career, or relationships? Today Darren and Mark discuss some of the nuggets of wisdom that they’ve received…and successfully applied…throughout their careers.   SNIPPETS: • Let no one out-prepare you   • Strive to be the client’s favorite   • Your money should make more money than you do   • A true champion overcomes all adversities   • Write a speech you can’t wait to deliver   • Humanize data          • Invest in your success   • Don’t be informative; be transformative

Don’t memorize, internalize! Do you have a stage plan? Had you considered using the stage with purpose? A stage plan can help you internalize your speech while giving your audience clarity.   It helped me and four CEOs that Mark and I coached over this past month. It was a game changer.   SNIPPETS: • Why are you moving?   • Are you clarifying or diluting your message?   • Do you move on your key lines? Don’t!   • Do you know stage left vs. stage right?   • Do you use the depth of the stage?   • What is your plan? Do you have one?