Chances are, if your lips are moving you’re selling something. The importance of stellar communication starts with active listening - not talking.

If you’re trying to get across a message to an employee, coworker, or even a teenager then it’s important to, as Stephen Covey says, “seek first to understand then to be understood.”

Once your lips start moving it may be too late to really have impact and influence. As we all attempt to go through our days and accomplish certain objectives it’s clear other people will likely be part of the solution.

Please join me as I walk through this topic with Rock and Rich. Their style of podcasting is one I think you will enjoy.

In the meantime, just know, that if your lips are moving, chances are you are selling something. Choose your words wisely based on what you’ve first sought to understand.

Hear the podcast with this link:
https://lnkd.in/gZZtWC-V

#influence #coworker #communication #rockandrich #setbacktobreakthrough

Passion makes up for a lack of humor chops or mediocre speaking skills.

Over the years, our office regularly gets calls from folks wanting insights regarding the speaking business. 100% of the time I personally take those calls because I was in their exact same position many years ago. Hence, I pay it forward with 15 minutes on what’s essential in this biz.

Every few weeks we’ll get a call from a celebrity agent, or best-selling author looking to go from good speeches to great audience experiences. In these cases, I’ll offer a three-month speech coaching contract. (PS I have my own coach as one should never underestimate the value of an outside perspective.)

One of my past speaking clients had a significant market presence in the financial world. This guy lives entirely in his left brain. Data makes him all giddy. Telling jokes and presentation humor is NOT his jam.

“Vince, how can I be funny?” he asked during one session.

“You can hire Mack Dryden. Also, you can also lean into your passion,” I replied. “When you talk about compound interest as the 8th wonder of the world it’s truly entertaining in a dorky sort of way. You get all animated and passionate about it. Keep doing that and you don’t necessarily have land jokes in your financial talk.”

Another gentleman who netted over $200m per year approached me to be his speech coach. He wanted to improve his speaking skills at his industry events. On our 15-minute call, I reviewed what I saw from his recording in front of 500 business leaders. I declined to coach him for one reason - his desire for presentation skills was not worth 3 months of his or my time. He had all the passion in the world. He was better on stage than he thought. His passionate take on overcoming obstacles superseded any “ums” or lack of speaking chops he demonstrated.

Whether it’s a presentation, leadership style, or sales acumen ➡️ lead with passion and your platform skills become secondary.

#leadershipskills #salesskills #speakingskills #speechcoach

Here’s what I learned from writing eight books on leadership for the self. It’s easy to write a bad book. It’s a worthy challenge to write a good book. What makes a good book?

Psssst. This also applies to memos, emails, and letters.

If you’ve got a book in you, here are a few objectives that I personally strive for (and hopefully achieve):

💡 Make it a Page Turner. Every sentence, paragraph, and chapter should entice the reader to want to read the next sentence, paragraph, and chapter. If you get the reader so flipping curious to know what’s next, give yourself a gold star.

💡 Make it Innovative or Counter Intuitive. If the reader thinks, “No $#1+ Sherlock,” then you’ve missed the mark. Use this as your mantra… “Never state the obvious.” Example: “Fall is here and the leaves are turning color,” or “You may be stuck between a rock and hard place,” then you have lost your audience.  Think of clichés and aphorisms as toxic book sludge.

💡 Bring People Into an Experience. Content does not rule the day if the experience doesn't lead the way. Yes, you want to grab someone’s attention with a point that has them think, “Gee, I didn’t think of it that way.” But then quickly transition into a story that has them noodling on what this must have felt like. At this point, you can support the story with your irresistible content.

This video is an exploration of a story-forward concept that is full of content designed to help people like you and me to get past any personal earthquakes. Heck, the Dalai Lama liked it…

I trust this helps.

#authortips #leadershipskills #TheEarthquake #dalailama #setbacktobreakthrough

Catch a decision maker off guard with your willingness to walk away and they’ll lean into what you have to offer.
 
In 2010 Music World Entertainment hired me to motivate their staff to “do what the competition is not willing to do.” MWE’s founder, Mathew Knowles helped his daughters Beyonce and Solange Knowles build their careers. First guiding Destiny’s Child then managing two successful solo careers.
 
From the age of 10, Max Poscente made it clear he would be a professional musician. I brought him to Houston to check out his dad's speech while he might gain some insight from the rest of the agenda. COO John Cawley was the first to recognize Max's potential and suggested my pre-teen son perform his own music while everyone ate lunch. Max rarely played covers back then.
 
Mathew jumped up, “Max how about you come down to Houston in a month or two and we’ll record one of your songs? Would you like that? Come to my office at the end of the day and we’ll talk about it.”
 
Waiting in the lobby, as the setting sun peeked through the window, Max insisted we should leave because “Mr. Knowles wouldn’t get my music.”
 
I encouraged Max to hear Mr. Knowles out. It was a fascinating conversation as Max finally admitted, “Mr. Knowles, I appreciate your interest, but I don’t think this will work. I just don’t think you’ll get my music.”
 
Mathew went from tilting back to leaning forward. He started selling Max on why he would be good for Max’s music career.
 
Skip ahead to Mathew and his A&R team flying up to Dallas to see Max’s band rehearse plus the makings of a 360-degree deal. At that time Beyonce wanted to spread her wings. She left MWE. With this tectonic change, Max, Mathew, and John continued their friendship as each went their separate ways.
 
I think back to that time, 12 years ago, when a music icon went from a gracious posture to a let’s-do-this vibe.
 
Here’s to friends knowing what they want and going for it.
 
#DecisionMakers #Beyonce #MusicWorld #setbacktobreakthrough

Here's a little experiment going head-to-head with Chat GPT with my own Vince Poscente style of writing.

First read the article I wrote.

Second is the Chat GPT version. What do you notice?

Building Character (by Vince Poscente)

Who sets out to build character? Maybe someone who has hit rock bottom and realizes a different way is needed. Possibly someone who doesn’t like what they see in the mirror? It could be a simple case of just trying to be a better person.

Helen Keller perceived it this way, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”

Any way you approach the development of character, chances are it will be a path of either discipline or a dose of ‘ye shall overcome.’ Ease and quiet is definitely a curl up and enjoy this moment but driving forward and skinning knees is going to be a way to a richer life experience.

Is there a way to enjoy trials and struggles? Look to your character to answer that riddle:

💡 Are you curious? Then make your curiosity character trait front and center. Take away learning from this challenge.

💡 Are you creative? Do you get energy from the process of seeing the world in a new and fun way? Then ensure you fashion your approach creatively.

💡 Are you a solution-oriented person? Does the feeling of solving problems give you the spice of life?

There is a myriad of ways to develop your character. You can both grow by choice or circumstance.

Either way, let’s grow.

OK... here is the Chat GPT version of my "Building Character" article:

Building character is a journey that requires discipline and perseverance. This journey can be initiated for various reasons such as hitting rock bottom, wanting to be a better person, or simply realizing that a change is necessary. The development of character is not a smooth road, as Helen Keller once said, "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

Trials and struggles are a natural part of the character-building process, but that does not mean they cannot be enjoyed. One way to make the most of this experience is to embrace your unique traits and use them to approach challenges. If you are curious, make sure to make your curiosity a character trait and take away learning from every challenge. If you are creative, use your imagination to fashion a creative approach to every situation. If you are solution-oriented, allow the feeling of solving problems to give you the spice of life.

There is no one right way to develop your character. Some people grow by choice, while others grow through circumstance. However, one thing is for certain, character growth is a personal journey that requires a significant amount of self-reflection, self-awareness, and introspection.

Character development is a lifelong journey that is essential to living a rich and fulfilling life. Whether you grow by choice or circumstance, the process will involve discipline and perseverance. Remember to embrace your unique traits and use them to make the most of every challenge. With the right mindset, you can turn trials and struggles into opportunities for growth and personal development.

****************

So what do you think? Please leave comments below.

You may think you're the exception. BUT... everyone has Blind Spot Bias.

We each have a tendency to see other people being more biased than we are. In fact, in one study - over 85% of Americans reported they are less biased in their thinking.

People are motivated to see themselves in a positive light while biases are generally seen as undesirable.

Everyone has unconscious patterns and personal ‘factory defects’ if you will. There are things about each of us, we don’t know we have.

Let’s say elbow skin for example.

Roll your sleeve up and give your elbow skin a pinch. There, see that, you have no feeling in your elbow skin. A factory defect you weren’t likely aware of.

Another 'factory defect'... you have a Blind Spot.

Take this quick test. Cover your left eye. Keep your right eye on the + sign while you slowly bring your face closer to the screen. At some point the black spot will disappear then reappear. THAT is your blind spot.

When it comes to topics you’re passionate about, you also have a combination of blind spots. Blind Spot biases are enhanced by confirmation bias and repetition bias. You recognize data as aligning with your way of seeing the world, and bingo you have reinforced or confirmed your bias. Or, you hear a certain bit of information repeatedly and you are in the sights of repetition bias. 

If you hold your gaze from a fixed position, there is nothing you can do about your optical bias. It is by seeing something from a different angle or position will you then see what you couldn’t see before. The same can be said in life.

If you are posting your bias on social media or arguing your point with a significant other, know, you may have an unconscious bias, A BLIND SPOT that’s a factory defect somewhat like the unfeeling elbow skin of objectivity. 

For leaders and sales folks who are driving forward without an awareness of your blind spot biases... give us a call. The value of an outside perspective can be priceless. 

#Goals #selfawareness #biases #BusinessLeadership #setbacktobreakthrough

It’s hyper-competitive out there and we all seek ways to protect what we’ve built. There are those who are determined to attack your book of business, storm your sales territory, steal your market share, displace you from the job you enjoy, or a litany of ground assaults. Lead with value first and you will effectively create a protective moat. The more valuable your upfront offer, the more you fortify unassailable walls. Be creative with the value you provide.

Here’s an example:

This past week I attended this compelling session by @RichardBliss. He talked about the tactics to get the highest engagement on LinkedIn. While he conducted the session, a real post was initiated by an attendee.

By the end of the 90-minute course, she had over 1,000 impressions. It was impressive. I tried my own LinkedIn post and checked most of the boxes:

• Write a compelling post,
• include names of individuals,
• add original images,
• insert 3-5 hashtags,
• and make it a priority to answer all the comments that would appear in the first two magical hours of the posting.

Alas, the post only had a few dozen views.

Undeterred, I realized I needed to encourage comments by providing value to them first.

I texted 155 friends on Wednesday with an invitation to participate in this study and (here's the value part) a promise to provide the results.

At the time of posting this to you, the impressions on Thursday’s post were 4,500.

By offering value first, you are effectively competing at a higher level. With a background in ski racing, I learned it is conventional and average to do what your competition is not doing. Instead, do what the competition is not willing to do, and you’ll put a moat around your business.

With this moat of value, you will better secure that castle of yours.

#businesslife #innovation #digitalmarketing #winningstrategies #setbacktobreakthrough

Audio branding impact is not just for large companies. Entrepreneurs who seek distinction from their competition are in on the sound logo advantage. A sound logo will elevate your customers’ experience.

Audio branding is not new. If I were to quiz you on the following sound logos, chances are you’ll be able to sing them immediately. Intel. Netflix. HBO. McDonalds. A good logo resonates with the sense of sight and is meant to elicit an emotional response. Adding the sense of sound further elevates a customers’ experience of your product or service.

Audio branding is next level entrepreneurship. Just ask GaryVee (Gary Vaynerchuk) about the Rise of Audio Branding as a competitive advantage. He supports the fact that audio branding is important.

"Sonic branding is about how your brand sounds and how it gets recalled or remembered — like the little jingle in the beginning of video games or the sound when you boot up your computer. It’s about to become dramatically more important for every single brand."

Note that jingles are the predecessor to sound logos. In fact, there's anecdotal evidence that Elizabethan musicians, wandering from town to town in the 16th century, were known to be sponsored by local entrepreneurs to come up with catchy tunes. Over the centuries, music has been used to enhance a company's brand image. In the roaring 20's Wheaties introduced a jingle. The first jingle broadcasted on radio was a General Mills initiative. "Wheaties, the best breakfast food in the land" first aired December 24th, 1926. It only aired in Minneapolis market. Sales in that area blew the roof off sales compared to the rest of the country. Advertisers caught on. It wasn't long after, alongside the popular 'radio in every home' companies took advantage of the infectious power of a catchy jingles from "plop plop fizz fizz" to "Like a good neighbor." 

The next iteration of sound branding are audio logos. The addition of sound, and the subtle difference of a moving logo, your audience (or customer) is trained to get a shot of endorphines. Think of THX prior to a movie. That bone rattling wwwwwwwoooohhhhmmmmm sets up the audience for a "This is about to go down." 

The internet, websites, and proliferation of video communication facilitates immediate access for savvy entrepreneurs to do the exact same thing as the corporate 'Big Dogs.' 

The accessibility of having your own sound logo has become immensely accessible. Answer these questions:

1. Where can you get a Champagne Sound Logo on a Beer Budget? (see @MaxLewisPoscente cell 214-240-9987 below)

2. What are the Top Ten Jingles of our time?

1. 1. McDonald's "I'm Lovin' It"
   2. Kit Kat® "Give Me a Break"
   3. Oscar Mayer "I Wish I Was an Oscar Mayer Weiner"
   4. Subway "Five Dollar Foot Long"
   5. Empire "800 Number"
   6. State Farm "Like a Good Neighbor"
   7. Lucky Charms "They're Magically Delicious"
   8. Huggies "I'm a Big Kid Now"
   9. Alka Seltzer "Plop Plop, Fizz Fizz"
   10. Band-Aid "Stuck on Band-Aid"

3. What are the best sound logos of our time?

1. McDonalds
2. Honda
3. THX 
4. Netflix
5. HBO
6. Intel
7. Microsoft Windows 95
8. Apple
9. XBox
10. MGM Lion

Full disclosure, @MaxLewisPoscente is my son and I learned this from him. He produces audio branding and sound logos for companies of all sizes who are wanting to elevate their brand experience. If you'd like to learn more about how a sound logo would benefit your business, contact @MaxLewisPoscente cell 214-240-9987.

#breakthroughs #soundlogo #businessgrowth #audiobrand #wegotthis

Everybody's running around trying to do what the competition's not doing, especially when there's chaos. Here's how to have a competitive advantage.

Instead of trying to do what the competition's not doing, imagine your competition is the highest performers, that person that does what you do, and instead of doing what that person's not doing, try this. Do what the competition is not willing to do. What is that high performer not willing to do?

Typically, those are the things you're not willing to do either. The biggest advantage of virtual presentations is we're creating a dialogue, people communicating better. The biggest mistake is we're taking a bucket of content and dumping it on people's head and hoping that it sticks. The only way content is gonna stick is through an experience, and it's especially true with virtual presentations.

For you, I've created a virtual presentation for you that accomplishes three things.

First, that it's ENTERTAINING. The people are engaged in the story because of storytelling. This recreational skier to Olympian in four years is also the motivational piece.

The second piece, being MOTIVATED to move forward and to be inspired by someone else's story that draws them in to that experience.

The third piece is the CONTENT, the content that gets inside their head that's both innovative and counterintuitive. The people go, "Okay, that's a great idea. "Hadn't thought of it that way." 

For example, use a gold dot is a trigger for your emotional buzz. I put them everywhere. On the back of my cell phone. On the odometer in my car. On the bathroom mirror. On my toothbrush. A gold dot triggers that emotional buzz of where you want to go.

When you have an emotional quotient attached to where you want to go, your people are going to get exceed their goals faster than you ever thought possible.

Listen, bring in a professional speaker. As an Olympian, a "New York Times" best-selling author, and Hall of Fame speaker, I'm able to take people on an unforgettable experience in a virtual presentation where they're engaged. It sticks for a lifetime. The best part of my virtual keynotes is they are interactive.

We had a comment the other day, the attendee said, "I felt like I was in the front row." Put your audience in the front row of this virtual presentation and given them an experience. We had zero people drop off the call. Zero. Zero people because they were entertained, educated, and motivated all at the same time.

Let's do those three things within your virtual presentation.