Ep. 340 FIVE STORY ESSENTIALS – PART 1

Feeling nervous before a presentation or feeling insecure when facing an intimidating audience can be positive. That may seem counterintuitive, but Mark and Darren clarify in today's episode. Drawing on their combined 60+ years of lessons learned, they provide advice and specific techniques for using nervousness to your advantage.     SNIPPETS: • Being a little nervous can be a good thing   • Use nervous energy to fuel additional preparation   • Let no one out-prepare you   • Research: get more than you need, to give what they need   • Get over yourself, and into your audience   • "Skillset without mindset leaves your audience upset" – Craig Valentine   • Before each presentation ask FOUR QUESTIONS:   • WHAT IS MY INTENT   • AM I PRESENT ("Don't be perfect; be PRESENT" – Darren)   • WILL I HAVE FUN   • HOW WOULD I GIVE THIS PRESENTATION IF I KNEW IT WAS MY LAST   • If the character doesn't change, there is no story   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

Stories can transform presentations, and when certain essentials are met, a story can be unforgettable. Today's episode is the second of a two-part conversation about five story essentials…tools which, when used effectively,  will make your story unforgettable. This is PART 2 of 2.     SNIPPETS: • Identify a GUIDE/GURU, a source of wisdom, insight, guidance, and help   • The guide need not be a human   • Letters, pets, or inanimate objects could be guides   • The guide may say very little but still be very effective   • You cannot be your own guide/guru   • The hero must undergo a TRANSFORMATION   • The audience must clearly see the hero BEFORE and AFTER   • The audience must witness the change take place   • If the character doesn't change, there is no story   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

Everyone enjoys a good story, and unforgettable stories contain certain essentials.  In this episode, Mark and Darren expound upon three of their five story essentials, showing not only how they work, but why. This is PART 1 of 2.     SNIPPETS:   • STORY is a FORCE MULTIPLIER   • Define the HERO/protagonist/main character   • Help your audience to SEE the character   • Give the audience a reason to identify with the character   • Give one physical and one emotional characteristic   • Consider giving a character name   • Be very clear on the hero's DESIRE; declare what they want   • Get to the depth of desire…WHY they have the desire   • Listeners lean in to the WHY   • Establish the CONFLICT, the challenge, the obstacle   • Escalate the conflict, and escalate it even more   • Show the INTERNAL and EXTERNAL conflict   • Use inner dialogue, the voice inside a character's head   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

How are writing and producing films connected to delivering presentations and storytelling? Mark and Darren get answers from award-winning filmmaker/director/producer/actress Susie Singer Carter as she shares her perspective on telling powerful stories. Her insight provides tools for telling memorable stories that resonate with any audience.     SNIPPETS:   • Avoid being preachy   • You can confront and entertain in a seamless manner   • Balance your message without being too heavy   • Resonate with as many people as possible   • Let your audience shift their perspective and see themselves in your story   • Find the memorable moments in your story   • Don't be married to any part of your story; editing is key   • Uncover organic humor   • Give your audience permission to laugh   • Your title should be like a book cover, and your content must support it   • Tell your story from the heart   • Leave a call to action that galvanizes   LINKS TO HER FILMS:   My Mom and the Girl   No Country For Old People; a Nursing Home Exposé   http://nocountryforoldpeople.com'   https://www.roar4ltc.org/   Susie's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Susiesingercarter   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

Every once in a while, speakers encounter circumstances that they didn't see coming. How can you handle them and make the best use of them in the future? Today, Darren and Mark share their experiences and offer meaningful suggestions for handling situations that you don't see coming.     SNIPPETS:   • Situations occur that will keep you in check   • You never know when your misfortune can serve others   • Anticipate the unanticipated   • Ask: What can go wrong   • Cover all your bases   • Leave a good buffer of time before you present   • Arrive a day early   • Contact event planner with challenges immediately   • If you get a gut feeling, follow it   • Have a back-pocket Plan B   • Don't be afraid to over-communicate   • Learn from experiences that you didn't see coming   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

  Emerging presenters and professional speakers want to know best practices and proven processes for running a successful speaking business. You would be hard-pressed to find a more reliable source than business growth innovator and Hall of Fame speaker, Ford Saeks, co-founder of the Million Dollar Speakers Group. In today's conversation with co-hosts Mark and Darren, he reveals five insider secrets that will help you build an unforgettable speaking business.     SNIPPETS: • Be great on stage, on screen, and on demand   • Hit your audience's key targets   • Share data, information, knowledge, wisdom, and tactics   • Have a clear value proposition   • Identify the problem you solve that people will pay you to eliminate   • Establish your revenue model   • Create a menu of services   • Display your menu clearly on your website   • Don't tie your identity to a delivery method   • Maintain an active digital footprint   • Develop a coherent, lifestyle-friendly sales and marketing playbook   • Use social media tools, a blog, podcasts, etc.   • Apply the 'Create, Borrow, Buy' technique     Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

What does it take to create maximum impact while serving your audience? To find out, Mark and Darren chat with business growth innovator and Hall of Fame speaker, Ford Saeks. Ford clearly lays out principles, practices, and perspectives that presenters must embrace to create maximum impact and become unforgettable.     SNIPPETS:   • Your impact depends on your intent and your audience's reception   • Always provide high value   • Your keynote is judged by its description   • Your description and bio should be benefit-driven and compelling   • You must be coachable, open-minded, proactive, and accountable   • When using AI, never lose the human loop   • Use AI wisely and strategically   • Don't get seduced by technology   • Always offer ways for clients to learn more from you   • Future-cast and be a guide   • You're responsible TO clients, not FOR them   • It's not what you know; it's what you do   • EXECUTE Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

Anyone can give a presentation, but what does it take to truly OWN the stage? Calling back to a recent OWN THE STAGE 3-day workshop, Darren and Mark provide some key insights and principles that will help any presenter to own the stage and deliver an unforgettable presentation.     SNIPPETS: • Care more about being world class that delivering one good presentation   • Structure is important; the order matters   • Great speeches aren't written; they are re-written   • Be willing to experiment   • Let your audience picture the scene and characters   • Reactions tell the story   • Use the stage as a prop   • People often see the result, not the work   • World-class doesn't happen alone   • Your audience helps you write your speech   • With effort and help, anyone can own the stage   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

To meet customer demand, organizations take inventory, then replenish and upgrade their offerings. As a presenter, it's wise to take inventory of your speech…and everything that surrounds it.   Today, Mark and Darren focus on your Speech Skills Inventory and offer suggestions for upgrading your speech over the next 12 months     SNIPPETS: • Upgrade your speech   • Decide how you want to improve each facet of your speech in 12 months   • Your speech title is your unique identifier   • Craft an unforgettable Foundational Phrase   • Tell better stories, and tell stories better   • Transform case studies into case stories   • Improve laugh lines   • Rewrite your introduction   • Consider a video introduction   • Work on your open and close   • Use Toastmasters as a practice ground   • Let audiences give you their perspective   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

Audience members can have different experiences depending on where they sit in a meeting venue. Darren and Mark explain and give some sage advice on how the meeting space can maximize your audience's experience.     SNIPPETS: • Arrive at the venue at least a day early if possible   • Sit in the four 'worst' seats in the house   • See what the audience sees   • If necessary, reset the angle of large screens in conference rooms   • Be aware of distracting sounds from neighboring breakout rooms   • Ask: "What is the audience HEARING?"   • Move the platform lectern to the side and back if feasible   • Educate meeting/event planners about logistical concerns   • Make the environment conducive to learning   • Ask: "What adjustments can I make to facilitate learning?"   • Make it a habit to connect with the four corners of the room   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com