On this episode of Rhodes to Success I interview Brad Szollose, the international bestselling author of Liquid Leadership. Brad is a serial entrepreneur, former C level executive of a public company, business advisor, and a millennial expert. If you have any interest in becoming a speaker then this episode is definitely for you!
Main Questions Asked
- What has made you a millennial expert?
- What are some of the steps entrepreneurs can take to becoming a keynote speaker?
- Talk about how comedy, improv, and storytelling help you to be a better speaker?
- Can you give us tips on how to start the actual presentation?
- Talk more about switching from ‘I’ language to ‘you’ language
Key Lessons Learned
- No one is going to know about your brand, who you are, and what you do unless you are going to stand up and be a ‘celebrity.’
- If you are going to increase the amount of money you can make or attract people to your product or service, you have to learn to stand up on stage and deliver the goods.
- If you are an interesting and a dynamic presenter then people will flock to you because they like what you are doing.
- In the 21st century people have to know, like, and trust you before they buy from you (speaking gets you there faster.)
- Toastmasters is great if you want to become good at giving the perfect speech.
- Be careful not to be trapped in the mode of being a ‘lecturer.’
- As a keynote speaker, your job is to give the audience three memorable experiences that they can take home and use as a tool or strategy to solve a problem.
- Start out with the stories you want to tell. What is the point you want to make?
- When you start a keynote speech don’t begin with “I am x and today we are taking about x.” The trick is to get straight into a story.
- The beginning point of your keynote speech should be the same as the end point but worded a little differently.
- If you are overwhelmed by having to prepare for a long speaking engagement then just start with 10 minutes at time. The structure should be a point, a story, and an end point.
- Switch from ‘I’ language to ‘you’ language then everyone can place your story in their imagination.
- ‘I’ language is simply you are telling a story, however, ‘you’ language engages the listener.
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The music in today’s episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic
Links to Resources Mentioned
Liquid Leadership (website)
Liquid Leadership (book)
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