Beware of Seminars that promise to show the easy way to become a media superstar
Published September 18, 2009 | 
Promotions surface everyday for seminars that promise to show the easy way to become a media superstar… start a video blog… or pitch yourself to Oprah. Ee gads! One seminar’s landing page had video testimonials from past participants that had spent $5,000 to meet reporters and producers in hopes of becoming a guest expert. Not one of these people could look comfortably at the camera, and I cringed at the money they had just dropped for the weekend. Without camera awareness, they don’t have a chance of being booked as a guest.
There is a certain camera savvy that must be in place before you put yourself in the vulnerable position of media exposure.
Still not sure if this media training is really what you need?
Here’s the experience of an unpolished guest on a TV interview show as seen
- through the eyes of the interviewer: They are struggling to keep the segment running at a smooth pace, the guest is running on, and falling off topic… they are tiring, and the guest will not be asked back if the host has anything to say about it.
- Through the eyes of the producer; He sees the obvious struggle of his host, and wants the guest out of the chair asap.
- Through the eyes of the editor; A guest that doesn’t know how to find camera and doesn’t speak in clear sound bites for him to edit easily, makes his job much more difficult.
- How about the audience?: They will find they’ve lost interest, and may not be able to explain why, but they change the channel, or go get a snack.
As a guest you have responsibilities! Media wants you to be entertaining, high-energy, hold their audience and teach them something. It is actually more important HOW you say what you do than WHAT you say. Learning interview structure, camera awareness, story telling, sound bites are all crucial to maximizing your media opportunities.
That’s what media training does. Good media exposure is powerful, and builds on itself… be ready out of the gate! Your message is important, and the media wants you to be a star… it makes them look good! Your job is to be ready!
The True Story About Overnight TV Sensations
Published September 18, 2009 | I must admit, I have on more than one occasion, actually run my necessary errands while on a teleseminar. The cashier at the grocery store looked at me a bit concerned at first when she saw my distant expression, until I pointed to my ear piece, and then she realized that I was just rude. Hmmm.
Ditto with the dry cleaners, and the horse supply store.
Yeeaaaaa. I do believe I have taken multitasking too far.
I am not alone in my desire to learn as I move my business forward. That’s why we train in marketing, and social networking, sales pages and website building. Our time is value as entrepreneurs and one more class has to really qualify.
So, is media training important?
Today I saw a video of a seminar where each participant paid close to $5,000 for the privilege of meeting TV show producers and reporters in hopes that they would be considered to be a guest expert. What frightened me was watching these same participants handle the video testimonial so badly! I gasped, realizing that there is a misconception about TV opportunity that is surfacing within the entrepreneurial community.
Read this issues article to be aware and prepared!
As for my multitasking… I didn’t like how that felt, so I now make a point to open a conversation with my sweet dry cleaner owner… I get a 10 percent discount now! Bonus!
2 Essentials for On-Camera Charisma: Simplicity and Truth
Published September 4, 2009 | Several days ago I came across a quote by Leo Tolstoy, “There is no greatness where simplicity, goodness and truth are absent.”
The word “simplicity” struck me as I read it, and then, “truth”.
These are the two primary essentials that I strive to perfect when I am working with a passionate client that is sharing their talent, or message, or product with the world, and wants to prepare for major media exposure.
“What about ‘goodness’?” you might be asking; Let’s just say, that I assume that my client is well intentioned, and I believe man is fundamentally good. Goodness is a given.
So then, about simplicity: it can be a challenge to simplify a message that strikes someone in such a passionate way. While the history of the business, or the origin of the program that you might speaking about may very well be fascinating, the media needs it in a nutshell. And I mean a very small, informative and entertaining nutshell. We call these sound bites, and I recently wrote an article where I explain further the importance of speaking this way for interviews. It is important information, but too much to expand on right now.
A second thing about simplicity is the retelling of your brand…. Simply, and many times. I spend a significant amount of time with my clients clarifying their brand for media. Your brand in print may not translate the same way when you bring your personal flavor to it in conversation and appearance. But, ultimately it is your personal flavor, and your simple message that we will remember, so they must resonate with what you want to achieve, and attract. This is true, not just in media, but really, in all aspects of your business. Want proof of a simple message that worked in the media? Here are some:
The ultimate driving machine: BMW
You can “Just do it” with these: Nike
Country first: John McCain
Change and Hope: President Obama
I am sure you can think of many more like this. No matter what, every opportunity that these individuals, or companies are given to share their brand, it is a version of the ones stated above. They are simple. You can do the same thing. When deciding what media-attended event to enter, which charity to endorse, which way to answer an interview question on a current topic… remember the simple message of your brand, and choose what best fits in every situation. You have probably done this with your print ads, and website already but with every media opportunity you must showcase your brand as you live it.
And that transitions us perfectly to “truth”. We have been appreciating a simple message that is born of passion, evokes emotion and is purely based in truth. One element (and there are many tangents that I could go off on about truth in all of it’s amazing philosophical levels) of truth that I strive to bring out in my clients is their humor. Everyone has a sense of humor, and why, oh, why do so many people think that they need to hide their sense of humor from the camera? The warmth of humor, whether you are a sarcastic wit (sarcasm is humor), or possess a charming giggle, or love a good guffaw (there’s a word from great grandpa’s day!) it begs to be seen if you are spending time in front of a device that is capturing your personality. To hide your humor is to not be truthful.
Obviously, there is a level of appropriateness, but if you are a jovial individual who regularly laughs at yourself in “real life” and that’s what your friends like about you, why stifle that in an interview? Add a bit of laughter to your website intro video! Especially if you are a coach of some kind; your potential clients want to know what they are buying, and they are buying you. Trust me, great leaders laugh, too.
I learned the freedom of letting your humor when I was shooting a skin care commercial with a lot of dialogue, and I was looking straight into the camera. The day was very long, and we all got a bit punchy. That combination of silliness on set, and exhaustion left me unable to hold up the walls of serious pretense that I mistakenly had thought that I needed. I laughed, and had a few silly moments on camera! I thought for sure, I would never be hired again! To my surprise, the producers loved it! I had a great time; I enjoyed it! I could have just been me, all along! What a great day that was.
The best thing about sticking to the simple version of your brand, and allowing yourself to show your humor is, you will have fun! Hellooo? Isn’t that why you want the media attention? You enjoy what you do, so let us see you enjoying! You will be so much more interesting, and you will find that this on camera stuff can be a blast!
The world will be a whole new playground.
Control Issues, Anyone? Let Your Body Be Your Guide
Published August 31, 2009 |
By Dr. Kirk Prine
Are you sitting quietly somewhere? Do a quick scan of your body. What do you feel and where? Is there any rigidity or tightness around your heart? Any place that you are feeling rigid in your body or in your heart may mean that you are trying to control things. Control is a great thing when it is being used, propelled, and impelled by Spirit. However, control when it is coming from you and your ego, because you are contracting in your business, afraid the resources aren’t there, saying to yourself, “I don’t know that I can do this” or “I would feel so embarrassed if this didn’t work” is control that mutes your purpose, deadens your business and squelches your dreams. The Jesus story is told of John the Baptist coming along immersing Jesus through a water ritual and then Jesus hearing a voice saying, “You are my beloved, in whom I am well pleased.” This is the antidote to control. You know, all of us need to be reminded that we are pleasing to ourselves, to the Divine and that we are on our purpose. We need to know we belong. Most of control comes out of many fears, but the basic one is that we don’t belong. So if your business is not working easily and you are feeling like you have to “tighten up the ship” to get through this economic storm, then you may want to check in with yourself about control. Not in judgment, but with compassion, offer yourself a new way of being. Check in with your body, where it is tight or rigid, for this is the area that is awaiting your compassionate reminder that “you belong”. Breathe into that tight area, reminding yourself that “it is safe to relax”. The place that we often feel the least at home or welcomed is in our own body. All that tightness is just a sign of not feeling at home or belonging. When you know you belong, the grip of control softens and the energetic release needed for a mindset of prosperity is supplanted. Mother Theresa was an Albanian nun who learned English in the British Isles. Her story says she was on a train going around a mountain when she had the vision of what she was to be doing, helping the poor in India. This woman, who didn’t belong, found a home among the poor in India. She had no trouble manifesting money for her work. She belonged even though many thought her mission foolish. What is the grip that is draining your energy rather than renewing it? For each of us the particular spin that you have on control and how it seemingly protects you from something is unique to you. The release, however, can result in your business moving forward with more ease and more money. One of our clients contracted a large financial deal after clearing some old relationship pain with his father. By surrendering and releasing control in order to find a new frame for a childhood struggle, he allowed himself to make room for a new paradigm. He knew he belonged and the wealth was right there. As I often teach people in seminars, it takes a lot of energy to hold a clinched fist. Relax your grip just for a moment, remind yourself you belong and see what happens. Your body, your heart and your business will appreciate it.
“Dr. Kirk Prine and Donny Lobree, Body Story Experts, are founders of The Missing Thread. They are healers and entrepreneurs who help other entrepreneurs tap into the wisdom of their bodies to achieve greater abundance. “Mindset is not just in the mind, but in the Body as well.” To learn more, visit http://www.themissingthread.com to get your complimentary selection of Dr. Prine’s new book as well as a free subscription to the Body Stories ezine.”
Loosen the Reins! Is he Crazy?
Published August 31, 2009 | “Loosen the reins up, don’t hold her so tight!” yells my instructor across the arena. “You are absolutely nuts, ” the frustrated voice in my head yells back.
It takes more than a leap of faith to loosen the grip on the fantastically energetic quarter horse as I am watching the fence posts clip by at such a pace that they seem to become a solid wall of white. “She’ll only take off faster if I let go!” but I do as instructed and … bingo: she speeds up.
“Isn’t this nice? Will I regain control of her speed, or will I have to just stop?” my inner voice sounds like an angry teenager.
Again, I follow the shouted instructions to reconnect with her using a gentler, more consistent feel. Hey, it took a bit of practice, but I got it! Now this beautiful mare and I can have a much more enjoyable, and speed appropriate ride usually! Every so often, I have to remind myself to let go, and be gentle, have faith and things will go smoothly.
Funny thing is, I discovered that I often behave in a similar way with my business, or anything new that I am trying to master for that matter. I frustrate myself, because I need to have complete control over what-ever-it-is and I keep holding on until I exhaust myself! Sometimes, like when I am striving to accomplish as much as I can for my businessI have had to be stopped by exhaustion, or illness at the worst circumstance, because I would not loosen the reins on my need to control it all.
I know I am not the only one who does this! I have clients that I have told to go home and rest, because I can see that they were driving themselves to the breaking point trying to do it all, and I sure did not want to see them fall ill, and lose the momentum that we were working with.
Whatever it might be that you are learning to master, be it business, marketing, or mountain-biking; loosen the reins every once in a while. Take a break. Enjoy the heck out of that break and then gently head back to the task at hand. Have faith that the path to mastery will continue to unfold, and the ride can be quite enjoyable if you allow it!
Carry-on Only! (Only carry the necessities in your story)
Published August 17, 2009 | Have you taken a trip in a small plane? I mean truly small… the type that requires a limit of one carry-on bag only? Aside from the apprehension that I personally feel about bouncing around in a small airplane, I feel a slight anxiety about the packing of this all-important bag.
“Carry on only,” the travel documents read; which means that one seemingly diminutive piece of gear has to contain absolutely everything that could be needed for the travel time and the destination. What do you do? It’s what we all do: lay out what you think you need and then…you pare it down.
- You eliminate the excess: you do away with every bit of clothing that doesn’t make you feel absolutely fantastic (ok, maybe that’s mostly how girls think, but I bet a few guys do, too).
- You eliminate anything that is too similar to anything else (for example: one pair of neutral flip flops, not 5 in every color).
- You limit the toiletries and makeup to only what is really needed to allow you to make a good impression, and stay healthy.
There is something almost cathartic about packing this way, isn’t there? There is a sense of accomplishment when you can look at that small, efficiently pared-down bag of stuff, and know you’ll be just fine.
“Paring down” your message, or your story is a requirement for media opportunities, and is often just as tough a thing to initially comprehend. Experts are usually passionate about their field of work, and eliminating anything about our story may not seem possible at first. There is an attachment that develops to the intricacies of what makes us tick and the experiences that drive us. However, making the most of a television opportunity means relaying that passion in short 15 to 30 seconds sound bites.
It may sound cold, or as though you are manipulating your message but actually, the audience attention will stay with you when your expressions are shorter in length.
Bonus #2: Shorter sound bites can be lifted and re-used. Examples:
- A concise answer to an interview question may be re-broadcast during a similar news period where they need an expert “quote”… there you are again. Doubling your exposure.
- A short version of your message will be a perfect video clip for your website, (or an affiliates website!) quickly building rapport with site visitors and increasing your conversion rate up to 300 percent!
- Eliminating specifics of your story allows room for future questions and more in-depth interviews later. If you don’t lay it all out first time, you can be asked back to the interview show, if at all possible. That’s how experts are “recognized.”
I hope this makes sense as you are contemplating what “stuff” to pack in your virtual “carry-on bag” on the way to an interview. Keep only the good stuff that makes the best impression by letting go of negative words and phrases. Then, eliminate any elements that are too similar in order to eliminate redundancy, and be sure to include what is at the heart of your passion for what you do; What drives you is something that you can relate every time that you appear as an expert.
One last essential to include is as important as toothpaste… be sure to always make yourself available by including your website address, or some way people can find you after the show is off the air; there may be a producer of an even bigger show needing you ASAP, and they need that info!
Your journey can be as great as your destination.
Sound Bites from Sandra
Published August 17, 2009 | Hats off to all those professional party planners out there. I have full appreciation for the art that is your field of expertise!
My husband has a significant birthday this weekend, and the celebration plans I gladly took as my responsibility; Of course, initially there were grandiose plans of splendor and excitement with live bands and catering and a guest list a mile long. Reality hit when I realized that some resources (particularly the resource of time) are limited, and I need to adjust! Thank goodness for friends who have been great with party suggestions and shortcuts. I even have one beautiful friend who is doing 90% of the cooking! (I am in awe of her lack of concern about the extensive menu… I’d be worried if it was all up to my culinary skills! So would my guests!)
I may not be able to have everything the way I thought I wanted it but, ultimately, the day will be rich with memories, good fun and the warmth of friendship. So what if my Ipod playlist replaces the band? It’s easier to manage the volume!
I often see parallels in different parts of life, and just as I have had to pare down my plans for this birthday celebration I have been working with clients who have a challenge paring down their message for usage in their interviews. That’s where the inspiration for this issue’s article came from. It may hit home for some of you struggling with the same thing.
Gotta go put together the slide show and order the cake! I’ll need a day off after this production!
We've been skunked!
Published August 7, 2009 | It was bound to happen. Around 1 am my husband and I were awakened by our young German Shepherd barking in the backyard, within seconds, it was all too obvious just what had peaked her curiosity: the smell of fresh skunk filled the house! If you haven’t experienced the unique power of these little creatures, let me tell you…up close and personal is NOT where you want to be! A quick internet search, and a 4 vinegar baths, 2 baths with dish detergent and a creme rinse later… we were snuggled back in bed, laughing at the situation. Happy with our teamwork!
You never know what situations will arise in every day (or night!) Sometimes the “situation” may stink (literally), but sometimes that situation may be an opportunity that you have been waiting for. It’s not always possible to be prepared for things like a surprise wildlife visit, but being prepared for success… now THAT we can do.
This issue talks about what we can leave behind for the world after we are gone. Our legacy is built by what we stand for, who we help, and the better prepared we are to spread our message, the stronger our influence can be. Envision what you can build that will last!
Hiring a business coach? STOP!
Published August 7, 2009 | Business coaches are hot right now. They are everywhere. However, I do not recommend business coaches for the sake of having one… but I do recommend working with someone that I think is absolutely outstanding at what they do. To explain: If you are thinking of hiring a coach for your business you are ready to not only invest financially in your business, but you will be heavily investing your energy and emotion as well. The coach you choose should have a proven record, a great mind set, positive attitude, and absolutely kick your butt in the way it needs to be kicked. ( Sorry, but true!)
When I first met Amy Applebaum, I knew two things:
- I need more people in my life like this genuinely caring yet amazingly driven and smart woman.
- I need to find a way to be coached by her!
Truly, I’ve seen what she can do… and now, I am thrilled to share her with my friends and clients. I know my clients are driven, and want the best advice and guidance they can get. Here’s the opportunity to work with Amy for many weeks, and at a cost that is what I have spent on a one-day seminar! It’s her Release Your Inner Millionair-ess program.
She has a free preview call on the 10th of August… click here to sign up and check her out
For more about her Release Your Inner Millionair-ess Program click here
What do I have to gain here, you ask? If you’re my client, I want to work with Amy because I it makes me look good when you are successful. So I admit, there IS a big benefit for me! My favorite clients are the ones that stay focused, and know what they can achieve and how. You have everything to gain, and too much to lose if you don’t have a coach, but only get the best!
What is Your Legacy?
Published August 7, 2009 | “Built to last” is not just a marketing idea for cars and houses. What are you doing to leave something significant that will last beyond your lifetime?
You started your business or wrote your book, because you have a message that the world needs to know. Your message will change people’s lives.
Building something significant can be as simple as your message shared with as many in the world as possible, and your ideas then put into action in a large scale. Do you see it? Doesn’t that look great?
It’s no secret that the best tool for making this happen is television, and other visual media (internet). One good “hit” on TV can expose you to millions. It can happen to you. Imagine how that will feel! Get ready. Your legacy is waiting to be built!
3 “Drive-time ponderances” for the week:
- What would you like your autobiography to be called?
- How many people do you want to hear your message? What would the result be if this happened?
- How prepared are you to relay your message if the big opportunity for TV exposure were to arise today?
It’s your legacy to build. No one can do it for you! The world is waiting.
