This Moved Me

Last week in Part One of this series, we talked about the importance of walking into the room to give a talk with the mindset of "I can't wait to share this with them." It's about turning your fear into excitement. And I know it's more complicated than just saying it over and over again in your head, but truly, saying it over and over again in your head helps. Eventually, you convince yourself. (Not unlike those power stances; sometimes we have to trick ourselves into feeling confident.) Today's mindset - part two - is about embracing the live theater aspect to this awesome work. We need the mindset of "It is what it is - so I might as well enjoy it." Improv, anyone? Live theater! Who knows what will go wrong, but you can count on something going wrong, and most of the time it's not the thing we expect. How cool is that?! Sometimes, not cool -but guess what? You can't do a darn thing about it. So - you might as well make the best of it.

When I had the awesome Michelle Evans on the show a few weeks back, she suggested that I connect with Michelle Mazur, my guest on today’s show. The crazy thing is, I had JUST found Michelle organically and was already in the process of scheduling some time with her! I love this small world. Michelle is a “rebel speaker” and presentation coach – meaning that she bucks the trends that are worth bucking (something I always cheer on). Gotta love that. And, she has a passion for encouraging women speakers on the importance and value of the business side of speaking. She is passionate, savvy and though she takes the business of speaking seriously, she doesn't take herself too seriously - something I appreciate. Let me just point this out right now: Michelle has a Facebook group for speakers that I'm in, and that has been a wonderful way to connect with other speakers who are trying to turn their love of speaking into part of their business. Check it out!

Something that comes up time and time again in my coaching is the idea that this is an emotional journey as much as it is a skill journey. We can learn how to deliver better and differently; we can spend hours upon hours navigating and editing our content until it's lovely and perfect; we can make a killer and beautiful slide deck. But who are we when we step out on "stage"? Let me be clear: I am not a psychologist. Not even close. But I often help people with all the baggage that comes with us up on stage. And we do indeed bring all our baggage with us up on stage and into rehearsals! Fears, assumptions, myths, old adages and leftover 7th grade scars. Yay! It's all a part of us! Aside from doing the hard work of dealing with all of that - some of which is beyond my scope as an armchair psychologist/presentation coach, of course - Well, we can do our best to control the incredibly powerful thoughts that come into our minds.

Oscar is a fellow in this band of presentation podcast fellows, which includes many wonderful people (see also: Lea Pica)! We support each other. So, when Oscar let me know that he’s starting a crowd-funding campaign for his next book called “Giving a Killer Technical Presentation” and wondered if we could talk about what that means… I thought two things: 1) what is a technical presentation? And 2) You bet! Oscar is the podcast host of Time to Shine, an interview-based podcast about public speaking, and he has been studying and is now speaking about what it means to give a killer technical presentation – the likes of Steve Jobs and Guy Kawasaki. I have to admit: these kinds of presentations aren't normally my jam. The selling - the 'reveal' - but I'm reminded in watching these and talking with Oscar how important they've been to us as a culture. Taking our ideas and turning them into realities. Sharing IDEAS as much as they are a commercial. When done right, they are about more than the stuff.

This - the final part of our series on The Creative Process (check out the rest here: Part One: Theory, Part Two: Research, Part Three: ReFrame/Retreat, Part Four: Realize). Today's part is about REACT. Going public. Putting it out there. Or, as the amazing Seth Godin says, "shipping it." Getting it in front of an audience. Testing it. Getting feedback.... and then starting this whole darn process over again. It's about getting comfortable with the discomfort of failure and learning. As I've said many many times before - the only way to better is through.

Scott Savage – a Twitter friend! - found me through one of my all-time favorite episodes – Hank Fortener. Hank and Scott have many things in common – they are both speakers, they are both pastors, they both have this wonderful combination of skill and insight that makes them both really good at what they do, but also WISE at what they do. These are my favorite kinds of guests – guests that dig deeper with me on why this matters. In Scott's life - whether as a blogger or speaker, his goal is to empower us with new perspective - and he makes good on that promise. And here’s what I really appreciate about Scott – he is so clear and honest on the WORK that it takes to become a transformative speaker. He believes in the opportunities that are in front of us when we “take the stage.” And he prepares, invites feedback, polishes, invests himself… and then starts over again the following week. That kind of dedication and commitment has earned my respect – and I can’t wait for you to also lean into his insight.   Sh

I'm on week two of an unexpected hiatus from the shows while I revive my dead website. And, as promised, I have a show for you...  I decided to share with you some of the many (many!) outtakes that I have gathered over the last year...A little fun, a little laughter - a little reminder that even we people behind the mic get it wrong. Enjoy!

My website is broken - so I'm taking an early "spring break" - or hiatus - from my interview episodes to share with you a few This Moved Me Moments that have struck me in the last few weeks! -Send in YOUR This Moved Me Moment by tagging @ThisMovedMe in Facebook, Instagram or Twitter - and I might share yours on the show! Also - if you want to support This Moved Me financially (I mean, why not?! ) even $1 an episode can make a HUGE difference! Check out http://www.patreon.com/thismovedme to learn more.

  This is my favorite part of the process.   It's the AHA part!  The part where you're standing in the shower... or wandering through your commute... or sitting on the porch with a glass of wine (ok, that one doesn't actually happen all that often, but isn't it a nice image?!)... and then BAM! IT COMES TO YOU!   When I was in grad school, finishing up my Master's degree - with a brand, spanking-new one-month old! - I remember waking up in the middle of the night with the PERFECT ending to my final project! I was so excited! But I was also so tired. So without realizing what was happening, I fell back to sleep (like only a new parent can do) and when I woke up the next morning, I couldn't remember it! It was gone. Like, poof. Gone. Totally blank. All I knew was that something brilliant came to me in the middle of the night.   That's how these things work. (If you want to hear more about this kind of magical idea-floating thing, just read Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Big Magic. I am slightly obsessed with it.)  

Joel Boggess – author, speaker, broadcast journalist – and host of the highly-acclaimed podcast “Re-Launch” with over 200,000 listeners – joined me for a conversation about how to build your influence, whether in front of an audience or over the airwaves. Joel is a generous spirit – giving so thoughtfully of his expertise in the podcasting community, which is where I met him! Together we talked about the growth of Re-Launch, and how he’s translated his expertise to become a teacher and mentor through his speaking engagements. Enjoy!   Show highlights: On Bringing Your Story to Life [Tweet ""There's almost no more intimate connection than a #podcast." ~@JoelBoggess on @ThisMovedMe"]   On the show, we talked about: Joel's history and experience as a communicator The growth trajectory of his podcast, and how he's brought his expertise to his audiences The essential trust between speaker and audience - and how to build that What community has to do with our work as speakers The power of MESSAGE to connect us

We are in week three of this 5-part series on the creative process! Yay! If you haven't yet listened to parts one and two, go ahead and do that first so this all makes more sense. Today's Mini Moved Me is all about how we can REFRAME our work. In other words, are we open to seeing our work in a different way? Exploring the possibilities? Stretching the approaches? Often, the tools in our tool belt - i.e., all the research we are continuously doing - makes it possible to see our work in a different light. Creating something "new" is really about seeing the old in new ways, and making it your own. [Tweet "As #speakers - reframing is important if we are to bring new insight to old ideas (and they're all old ideas). "]     Some ideas from Andy in terms of how we can "reframe" as we're creating something new: -What Works Matrix by Jack Welch - identifying people, companies, organizations that are doing it well (not exactly like you - but something you aspire to) -Expect and plan on trying and failing. There is s

Paul is back! This it the third time I’ve had Paul on the show with me, because… well, I love to listen to Paul talk. :) And, because he has wonderful stories to tell and ideas to share with us! He sent me an email a few weeks back and shared a story with me – and I thought – there is so much good stuff in here, we gotta share it with my movers (that’s you!). So, sit back, take a listen – and enjoy a story by Paul about the power of the metaphor in moving your audience.   Listen to the podcast You can listen in iTunes, Stitcher - or, if you're on the website, scroll to the bottom of the post for the player! Show highlights: On the Power of the Metaphor [Tweet ""What business are we in for this presentation? In the business of change." @PaulTomes on @ThisMovedMe"]   Today's show is all about a story that Paul shares of a coaching moment with one of Paul's speakers. This story was inspired by the movie As It Is in Heaven - a Swedish film from 2004 that moved Paul greatly.  And then, he used the inspiration

  We are in week two of diving into the Creative Process! Last week's episode laid the foundation for this series - so if you haven't listened to it yet, go back and listen to that one now as it will help this all make a little more sense! Today's Mini Moved Me is all about RESEARCH. "Research" means feeding your brain with good stuff. Podcasts, audio books, music, YouTube videos, Lynda courses, UdeMe, reading books, taking online courses, talking to experts, talking to friends. Even scrolling Facebook could be considered "research." (Or, at least, that's my excuse for the wormhole of time I spend on there sometimes...)  It can be specifically about your topic - or, it can be seemingly un-related. Of course, we all know that things are connected in ways we can't always see initially. We feed our brains as a part of the process  so when an opportunity arises to CREATE, we have all this juice in our nogins that makes our creations rich, connected, vibrant, interesting, thoughtful... Sometimes, this "research"

Have you heard of the Women’s Speaker’s Association? The WSA has been a great source of support and resource for me – and it’s also where I’ve made some great connections, including today’s guest. Christy Primmer is a speaker, author, coach, counselor – even spelling bee champion! - and she is a pro. She brings her sassy self to the stage, mastering the art of taking about tough subjects with finesse and care.

How many of you have gotten STUCK before?! Struggled with making the new?!  Felt at a creative loss?! Felt tired, bored, uninspired, alone!? Ugh, yes. Me too. A few months ago, I got a wonderful question from my friend (well, I like to think we're "friends" - do Twitter-friends count?) Grant,  who asked how he, as a pastor and frequent speaker with a demanding schedule, stays inspired, energized, creative. My first reaction to Gavin was to share with him this framework for the creative process that I've learned from my hubs, Andy. So, I did a Mini Moved Me and blog post - and talked through the essential creative process when we're making something new, hoping that within this framework would be something helpful for Gavin. But there is so much more to dig into here - because it applies to ALL of us. If we're creating ANYTHING, we are in the various stages of this framework several times a day, many times over. And there are things we can do to get better at creating.

Today’s guest – Ann Imig – blogger (Ann’s Rants), humorist, performer and the creator of the Listen To Your Mother events (and author of the book of the same name) – is living out the idea of sharing our stories. LTYM, a live event that brings voice to people’s experiences with motherhood. And this has grown tremendously in the past 6 years, with shows in 41 cities throughout North America. Ann is funny, insightful, determined – and bringing her mission of live storytelling to life.

Sometimes the biggest hurdle we face when rehearsing is actually standing up and jumping in.  As a coach, I know all the signs... prolonged chit-chat, sudden stories of our kids, last-minute bathroom visits, extra goofing off, changes of subject... I know, I know - it's a challenging moment, when you have to stand up and say out loud these ideas that you've been playing with. It's the first time you are really putting yourself out there. And we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. But what if we took off some of the pressure?  What if, instead of thinking of it as a rehearsal, we thought of it as a "stumble-through"?  

Self-promotion is the woe of many of us speakers, entrepreneurs, creatives, authors... if we're creating something, we must also face the reality that if we want people to see this thing that we've created, well, we've gotta promote it. We've gotta promote ourselves. For many of us, that's no fun. And it's for sure a ton of work. My guest today, Michelle Evans, is a pro. Her career spans from working as highly sought-after talent at Microsoft to coaching newbies to help them get discovered and now creating her own business full-time. She is a speaker herself, and her message is on helping people like us find our audience. As she says, "You can't buy a secret." And though we know it's not all about people buying what we're creating, it's a wonderful gift to be paid for our passion. And luckily, Michelle has volumes of advice - not just for me - but for us all! Enjoy!

For the next few weeks, we're talking about the SASI Method. (If you haven't listened to Part One - Part Two - or Part Three yet, go ahead and listen to it now to help set the foundation for today's final part!) SASI = SPACE, AUDIENCE, SPEAKER and IDEA. These four elements are essential in preparing for a talk. And today's topic is about IDEA. 

Remember Joe Schmit, one of my guests from last season? Suuuuper nice guy - TV sports anchor - speaker and author? Well, he sent me an email (I love it when guests stay in touch!) and said to me, "You should have Kelly Fern on your show."  (If you know this show/know me, and think someone would be great for me to talk with, let me know!)  I thought, ok sure! And then I read her story. You guys, her story is incredible. It's the kind of story that you think is likely made up in some back room in Hollywood to sell tickets to movies - but no, this story is real. And for us as speakers and storytellers, there are so many important facets to bringing voice to our own experiences. So, Kelly - author, speaker - the subject of documentaries and interviews on radio and television - well,  we talked about how we can bring our stories to life - even difficult stories. Even stories that haven't been told before. Maybe even especially those stories.