Update: "Where's your story," I asked Jeanine, my fundraising founder friend. "Your story has to connect with people with gut-level emotion. It has to touch their hearts. They want to be sure they can make a positive difference in someone else's life through your organization."

"I don't have one," she replied.

"Yes, you do," I argued. "It's inside you. We just have to get it out."

The power of a personal, moving story can activate people for a cause, end violence and even build your business empire. You don't have to look for it out there because it's already within you. Get crackin' on your powerful, personal story with today's...

Feature Article: Secret to World-Class Speaking

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Warning: Are Your Techniques Off-putting?

Speaker/trainer/consultant Rebecca Morgan got a little hot under the collar about a certain seminar speaker. She didn't appreciate his technique at all. Yet she still found a powerful lesson that would benefit you and I, the public speaker.

Thanks Rebecca. Take it away:

"I recently attended a seminar where the presenter seemed to be stuck in the ’80s. Manipulative and condescending techniques were a regular part of his repertoire. He seemed to feel everything was going swimmingly because most people did what he asked them to do. However, a third of us were not so lemming-like and didn’t shout back what he asked nor applaud when he sought approval. He confused participation with engagement.

"It made me wonder how easy it is for us presenters to be convinced a technique is working because most of the audience follows along. However, we are missing out if we don’t realize that a third of our audience is not only disengaged but put off by our techniques. It was a wake-up call for me to be more observant and also get candid feedback. Maybe my wake-up call will apply to you as well."

Secret to World-Class Speaking

Dear Associate,

It was downright devious, definitely bordered on preposterous, and decidedly over the top. Maybe even a little cheesy. Yet the audience gobbled it up.

The speaker gave a brilliant performance. He courted his audience's emotions. He pushed and pulled on their hot buttons. He pandered to the whimsical fancies of the crowd.

Effective?

Yes... if you're looking for a temporary high.

Valuable?

No, not at all. I remembered what he did—but I didn't get anything meaningful from his talk. In short, it seemed like he was just blowing motivational smoke down into our collective consciousness.

With his deep, thundering preacher's voice he rhythmically concluded his speech in a poetic cadence. Then he ripped open the front of his shirt ala Hulk Hogan. The buttons danced all over the stage injecting spontaneous combustion to his ending.

And the crowd roared with abundant enthusiasm...

They chanted. They cheered. They fed off his energy. They wanted more. They rose off their seats applauding His Highness.

I discreetly shook my head in disbelief...

He gave the crowd a buzz and milked it for what its worth. He sold them their fix by shooting them in the arm with a rush of "feel good" adrenaline. I thought the days of rah-rah hype ended in the 80's. Guess not.

You see, His Highness didn't engage his audience at all. He pumped them up with motivational "feel good" bullet points. This type of oratory works well if you balance it with substance and meaning. Otherwise people will lose that good feeling somewhere between the time they drive off the parking lot and the time they swing open their front door.

So what's the secret to engaging your audience at a world-class level?

1) Start with a story. But not just any story. A personal story. One that puts you right dab in the middle of it. Preferably, one that no one else in the world can tell but you. And by all means, let us know who you really are.

2) Expose the conflict. Is there a problem that needs resolving? Is there an archenemy? Can you quote facts and figures? Who are the victims if nothing is done?

3) Identify the solution. Is it a product? Maybe a program. Perhaps it's an organization. What makes this solution unique? How does this stand out from other solutions?

4) Name the beneficiaries. Who benefits from this solution? Are they your clients? Maybe they're your donors. Do they live overseas? And how are they benefiting?

5) Give your reason. Now answer the why question. What do you get for doing this? What caused you to get involved? Why should prospects join, buy or promote what you offer?

I know you're smart enough to not follow in His Highness' footsteps. You have an authentic, passionate message you want to present at a world-class level. And you realize giving genuine value through a personal story will touch, engage and affect an audience much more and much longer than chants and cheers alone.

Warm regards,