Let’s explore how YOU make people feel.
DARE TO ASK: Reach out to clients, colleagues, friends and family. (Maybe have a survey at one of your speaking engagements.) Ask people who have EXPERIENCED YOU the following questions:
What ONE word would you choose to describe me?
How would you describe our interactions/conversations? Our work together?
IF YOU ARE A SPEAKER: What was the one thing you learned from my presentation?
DESIGN YOUR AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE: What if we could literally DESIGN how we make our audience feel? This is what I focus on during my LAND YOUR TEDx STAGE SPEAKER PROGRAM. The goal is to meet our audience where they are–and consciously design the journey we invite them to take–so when we part ways, we have INTENTIONALLY CREATED a memorable experience for them.
I would love to learn how YOU make people feel. Have a great day!
So let’s try it. Let’s find your FLOW:
- WHAT FLOWS? On a piece of paper write down all the activities that you enjoy doing… write them all, even if some of them you think might not apply to your business… heck I was «arranging flowers» as I recorded this video… everything goes!
- THE MATCHING GAME: With a highlighter and an open mind go through the list we just made. Highlight those activities that you enjoy doing that could be adapted, modified and applied to activities you currently need to do for your work. Be creative. The other day I was coaching a client who is a researcher at heart but over the years, she has moved away from medical research to focus on her practice. With some creativity, we designed a strategy that will allow her to put on her «researcher hat» again and explore the functioning of her business so that we can redesign it in a way that flows better for her and brings her more joy… at the pace she is going she is heading for complete burnout.
- LET’S PLAY: Commit to incorporate one of the activities in your first list into a daily activity at work. Whatever it is, do it. Notice the impact, modify, tweak if needed, then repeat.
There are still a few spots left – Join me for a whole day of CLARITY
WHEN: FRIDAY JUNE 2nd 9-5PM
WHERE: GROUNDWORK! – 1213 Purchase Street New Bedford | MA | 02740
WHAT TO EXPECT? 8 HOURS WORKING WITH ME ON:
- Reviewing your accomplishments in the last 3 months
- Clarifying your goals and objectives for the next quarter
- Creating a road map for realizing your goals
- Networking
- Brainstorming
- Masterminding
- Finding CLARITY
- Learning a cornerstone strategy for growing your IDEA BASED business
Lunch will be provided.
SPACE IS LIMITED! REGISTER NOW!
I look forward to learning about your list and join me on June 2nd!
It’s MAY here in New England and I’m loving the longer days and the signs of spring all around us!
This past weekend my husband and I were working on our garden– covered in dirt and with big smiles on our faces. We were creating something we will enjoy all summer long–we are even building a patio!
Earlier in the season, we sat down and we talked about the core IDEA which anchors our family. Maybe it’s because we are approaching our 20th wedding anniversary? Maybe it’s because of our family crisis this year–and the loss of family members which has made us rethink, regroup and recalibrate our priorities?
Or maybe it’s because my coaching and IDEA METHOD is rubbing off on him? I don’t know, but we found ourselves anchored on our family’s CORNERSTONE IDEA. Do you want to know what it is?
«To create a safe, judgement-free, empowered home where our children and anyone that walks through our doors can find a safe haven within our walls.»
So, you might think, what does that have to do with coaching, growing a business, CLARITY or clarifying your message? Let me introduce you to the IDEA METHOD:
Everything we do, everything we create in our lives is either INTENTIONAL or not! Every moment of the day we are taking focused, intentional actions or not!
As an entrepreneur, I realized I have taken actions for years that were NOT intentional, focused or anchored. Instead, I was DOING either what I was being told/advised to do or what I saw my colleagues doing. Unfortunately, in those actions, there was a lack of grounding, a lack of coherence– and ultimately the desired outcome was not realized.
Anchoring EVERY action of my business on the CORE IDEA of my business allows me as an entrepreneur AND my clients to consistently grow our impact and reach our goals.
So where do YOU start?
CLARIFY YOUR IDEA FOR IMPACT:
- What is your QUESTION/NEED worth answering? What problem are you looking to solve? What question are you looking to answer? (Think about the questions that led you to start your business in the first place.)
- What is your business all about? What are you looking to accomplish? You can use the following framework: To ACTION so that OUTCOME to clearly state your CORE IDEA. For example, my CORE IDEA is: «To help entrepreneurs (IDEApreneurs) CLARIFY their IDEA for impact so that their IDEA can grow into a successful business with positive impact in the world.»
- What is the desired IMPACT you want to have with your IDEA?
Having absolute CLARITY on your CORE IDEA will help you gain CLARITY in the how you bring your iDEA to the market part of the equation. Stay tuned for emails in the coming weeks where I will present more on this framework.
Some time ago I was asked to be a judge for a StartUp Weekend event. A Startup Weekend is a fast-paced, (two and a half days) where teams come together and spend 54 hours mapping out a business idea– well enough to present it to a panel of judges by the end of day Sunday.
The goal is to help entrepreneurs move fast from conception to execution. This organization has helped launch thousands of startups across the world and has matched great ideas with the resources and brainpower needed to grow a company and bring those dreams to fruition.
As I sat with my fellow judges that Sunday evening, I was excited to learn what the teams had cooked up over the weekend and which solutions we, the judges, would choose to help move forward. (The winner of the weekend moves to the next round of competition [regional] and moves up the ladder towards potential funding and support.)
There were five teams presenting that night– and as we listened to their five-minute presentations and then participated in five minutes of Q & A– I couldn’t help but wonder how many presenters leave “money on the table” simply because they CANNOT engage with their audience.
Some of the ideas presented were simply too early in their development. Others seemed to have potential, but the presenter was not able to communicate this potential effectively to the audience. The speaker was not able to make the judges care. They did not peak our curiosity or achieve an emotional connection, and thus, we did not vote for their idea.
Most speakers focused on their product and the features of the product, but they failed to state the overall idea. Why was this idea going to be a positive impact in the world? After all, startups bring solutions– sometimes disruptive solutions– to existing or future problems. A speaker while pitching their idea, needs to make that problem, that need, very prominent at the onset of their presentation. Almost enabling the audience to connect with the “emotional gap” of not having that problem resolved– and from there, offer a solution.
Needless to say, the winner of the event was a company that is ready to grow, has a clear value proposition and was able to make the judges react. Was it my favorite product? No. But were they the ones that engaged with us and the audience? Yes!
So, how much money are you leaving on the table? How many opportunities are you failing to realize?
The next time you are standing in front of a group of people (whether you are selling your product, pitching your company or motivating your staff) keep these three tips in mind:
WHO ARE YOU SPEAKING TO? Make sure you know who your audience is and use the language, the humor and the terms that will resonate with them. (If you speak multiple languages, make sure you are using their language.)
WHY DO THEY CARE? Be very clear about why your audience will care about what you have to say. Tap into their emotions, make them see what’s in it for them.
WHAT IS YOUR MAIN IDEA? If I were to ask you before you take the stage, what is your main idea would you be able to answer it in one short sentence? If you can’t then you need CLARITY. Remember a confused customer never buys. If you want your audience to take action (buy your product, adopt your idea, follow you, hire you, work with you) you have to be very clear in your communication.