Ep. 312 YOU ARE THE AVERAGE OF…WITH JULIA NICHOLSON

Darren freely admits that early in his career, he resisted writing out his presentations because he always spoke from the heart. In this brief episode, he and Mark discuss the value of speaking from the heart, and the additional benefit of doing so with the right preparation and structure.    SNIPPETS: • Speaking from the heart is good, but passion doesn’t equal effectiveness   • The heart isn’t the best editor   • You can’t edit what isn’t written   • What’s in your mind doesn’t always come out of your mouth   • Speak in a way that the audience can absorb the message   • Speak from your heart into a device/app that can transcribe it   • Edit your transcript, use a proper structure, and prepare to present   • Words prepared from the heart, spoken from the heart, will land on the heart   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

When is it too late to start a speaking career? Today Mark and Darren discuss this question with Julia Nicholson and Maria Garaitonandia, both mature presenters, at the beginning of their speaking careers. They talk about their concerns, their plans, and their process for achieving success later in life. Darren and Mark cite examples of well-known speakers who became professionals after the age of 40, and their guests also offer encouragement to anyone who wants to start their speaking journey during their later years.    SNIPPETS:   • Follow your purpose   • Use your experience to shorten your learning curve   • Investigate what it takes   • Join Toastmasters for the art   • Join NSA for the business   • An NSA Academy program is a good investment   • Avoid naysayers and keep the wind beneath your wings   • Connect with pros and build a network   • Have fun and enjoy the journey   • ** Greats like Zig Ziglar and Les Brown began their careers after 40 **     ** SOURCE: ChatGPT

“Can’t I just add a couple of exercises to my keynote and create a killer training program?” Over the past two decades, Darren and Mark have heard that question numerous times, and the short answer is “No.”   Today, they get comprehensive answers from their fellow World Champion and Certified Speaking Professional, Ed Tate...the trainer’s trainer. Not only do they discuss the differences between speaking and training, but they also delve into the mindset and methods that will help you deliver unforgettable training.   SNIPPETS:   • Speaking and training are different   • Keynotes contain a higher level of abstraction   • Keynotes affect thinking, training affects behavior   • Audience engagement is key   • Make ideas actionable   • Instructions have various levels   • Provide content in digestible pieces   • Serve different learning styles   • Repetition is your friend   • Give content in different modalities   • Debrief activities   Check out Train-the-Trainer Workshop: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/workshops/train-the-trainer/

Well-chosen quotations, song lyrics, poetry and statistics can enhance any presentation. However, it’s important to attribute the sources and let our audiences know the sources for validation. If we don’t attribute, we might become unforgettable…for the wrong reason.   SNIPPETS:   • Provide the sources for polls, studies, statistics, and research findings   • “Studies show”, “research proves,” “a recent poll reveals” isn’t enough   • Attribute lyrics, quotations poetry etc. to their source   • Quote accurately; someone always spots errors   • Misquoting can negatively affect your credibility   • Do your due diligence and verify quotations and sources   • Verify using more than one source   • Don’t use too many quotations/lyrics/statistics, etc.   • Use AI wisely and verify the results that AI provides   • Never plagiarize; you will harm your reputation   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

Jim Rohn is often quoted as saying, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Today Mark and Darren speak with Julia Nicholson, a former executive who finds value in Jim’s words. She is passionate about spending time with world-class communicators, and she shares lessons that she is learning along her journey to becoming unforgettable   SNIPPETS: • Find your purpose and LIVE your purpose   • Success fills your schedule, significance fills your soul   • Know where you are in your speaker process   • Develop your craft   • Lean in and learn   • There’s no substitute for getting on stage   • Find the coach who is the right fit for you   • You’re more effective when you’re DRIVEN, not COMPELLED   • Don’t just create a speech, create an unforgettable speech

In this second and final conversation about RHETORICAL DEVICES, Mark and Darren once again review Mark’s winning Toastmasters speech, identifying ways that RHETORICAL DEVICES enhanced his presentation. THIS IS PART TWO OF TWO.   SNIPPETS: • Rhetorical devices multiply your message   • A rhetorical device can help to personify inanimate objects   • Rhythmic rhetorical devices make your message more sticky   • Rhetorical questions provide moments of introspection   • Rhetorical devices can provide a frame of reference   • Employ these devices to help your audience to ‘see’ characters and situations   How to Write Your Own Introduction: https://markbrownspeaks.com/set-up-your-success-with-your-introduction/   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

RHETORICAL DEVICES are language tools that help presenters to be more compelling and memorable…and there are more than forty such devices.   Darren examines Mark’s Toastmasters World Championship-winning speech, and together they discuss how Mark used some of them effectively. By applying rhetorical techniques, you can elevate the impact of your presentation.   SNIPPETS: • Use rhetorical devices to connect emotionally   • Elevate your audience’s experience   • Tools like HYERBOLE can elicit humor when used well   • Rhetorical devices add rhythm to a story and make it memorable   • Couple rhetorical devices with body language   • Combine delivery and rhetorical devices to bring your audience into the scene   How to Write Your Own Introduction: https://markbrownspeaks.com/set-up-your-success-with-your-introduction/   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com  

You’ve worked hard on your presentation and it’s time to rehearse for readiness. In this episode in the series on their book DELIVER UNFORGETTABBLE PRESENTATIONS, Mark & Darren share tips for adding the final touches before taking the stage. This episode covers Step #7: OWN YOUR STAGE.   SNIPPETS: • Use your script to indicate emotions, stage movement, pauses, and more   • Create a stage plan   • How you use your stage will enhance your audience’s experience   • Don’t memorize your talk; internalize it   • Your audience wants you to be present, not perfect   • Walk through your presentation   • Rehearse for a live audience and CRAVE FEEDBACK   • Use slides as guides   • Well-chosen props and illustrations clarify, solidify, and edify your message   • Get a qualified coach   How to Write Your Own Introduction: https://markbrownspeaks.com/set-up-your-success-with-your-introduction/   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

Impactful presentations are memorable, and today Darren and Mark share techniques for adding this final touch to your presentation before taking it to the platform. This episode covers Step #6: MAKE IT UNFORGETTABLE.   SNIPPETS:   • The more complex your topic, the more you need a simple structure   • Make your points digestible   • Use a proven story structure   • The ‘THEN/NOW’ model is a powerful option   • Show a day in the life of the main character   • Introduce a challenge   • You must have a guru, guide, source of wisdom   • The character must experience a change   • Your Foundational Phrase will make your message memorable   • Cater to different learning styles (See podcast episodes 70, 71 & 72)   How to Write Your Own Introduction: https://markbrownspeaks.com/set-up-your-success-with-your-introduction/   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

A weak presentation closing can dilute your message and at worst, nullify your impact. In Part 4 of this series, Mark and Darren explore both principles for a solid closing, and mistakes that inexperienced presenters tend to make. This episode covers Step #5: CREATE YOUR COMPELLING CLOSE.   SNIPPETS:   • Your close should reinforce your premise   • There are several closing options   • Select the most appropriate closing for your specific presentation   • The DIALOG CLOSE is a flexible and easy option   • A compelling close is an opportunity to repeat and reinforce a guru’s wisdom   • Internalize your closing; know it cold   • Prepare your closing and opening like choosing slices of bread for a sandwich   • Avoid the common mistake of delivering multiple closings   • Use Q & A to set up your closing   • NEVER end on Q & A; leave one final point that inspires your audience   How to Write Your Own Introduction: https://markbrownspeaks.com/set-up-your-success-with-your-introduction/   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com