Three things to consider before major media exposure

As I sip my morning coffee and view last night’s election results, I’m evaluating the power of the media once again; I’m contemplating if a small tweak here and there in the candidates’ media presence could have changed the outcome. I find myself reflecting to a conversation just a few days ago with a former White House speechwriter:

Troy Senik was a member of the Bush Administration and the youngest presidential speechwriter to date. What I recall most from the evening that I sat with him is his explanation of how political campaigns can be forced to respond slowly to attacks in the media.

The subject of dirty political commercials was raised to Troy, and then a very specific question about one smear that seemed easy enough to rebut.  “Why,” the question was posed with disbelief and a bit of frustration, “doesn’t she just explain her situation and stop this madness?”

His answer gives surprising insight into the logistics of a political campaign: A rebuttal can be formed quickly, but then it must pass through about 90 people on the team before it might actually surface in the media.  With the crazed schedule of a political campaign, quite often the people who must approve the rebuttal that could save the candidates reputation cannot be reached.  It’s as sadly simple as that.

So, if that politician referred to in the question had the opportunity to “explain her situation,” could it have changed the outcome of the election?  There’s a very good chance. But timing is everything.

What can we learn from this?

Fortunately, most of us do not need the approval of 90 people to speak, but those who have a PR person or media trainer can have some extra support in this arena, and that’s a good thing.

The media can be unrelenting, and sometimes downright mean, but prevention is the best medicine against this modern threat.  If you are a high profile professional taking the next step and preparing for media exposure there are three things that are crucial:

1. 1. History examination. And I mean with a fine-toothed comb, and surgical precision.  Revisit any situation in your past that may deflect from your current point of view or beliefs and prepare your answer should a question be raised. Use positive words, and bring the focus back to your current intentions.

2.  Self examination. Review your current situation in life, your political and religious views included.  I believe in being authentic, but there may be some things that, at least in the beginning of your media exposure, you might want to categorize as “back burner” lest your mission be diluted or misunderstood by the public initially.

3. Know your strengths.  This is not just for politicians, but it is a key for anyone headed increasing media exposure.  Being true to yourself, and authentic in your brand can help to make the media your biggest asset, even if you deal with controversy, being able to bring it “home” to your area of strength and intellect is the key to media success!

It will take time to be thorough with the steps above, but your reputation is worth it!

Get to thinking outside the box to use video in your biz

Last year only 30 percent of businesses grew according to ThomasNet.com.  While it is a low percentage, we can learn from those that are increasing in this down economy. 

So, why did they succeed?  They refocused and tried new things.

Innovative thinking in your business might lead you to utilizing video. If you already use video, maybe this would be a great time to step it up. 

Keep in mind, videos need not be expensive to be effective, and you might be the first among your competition to use it in a new way.

To get you thinking, here are three ways to think outside of the box when using video on your website:

For Realtors, video is already somewhat commonplace, but it is usually in the form of virtual tours of homes.  “Been there, done that” for most homebuyers.  The old style video tour is informative but expected.  Idea: If you have the personality, and you’re comfortable on camera, why not take the potential buyer through the house yourself?  You might even use this in conjunction with virtual tours on your website.  It can be done simply, with very little editing on a simple camera. There are a few benefits to this.

1. The home can be described in potential stories: “Imagine having your morning coffee here in this breakfast nook, watching your dogs play in the yard…” or” This room is perfectly suited for dinner parties.” Show them the experience of the home not just the walls and windows.

2. Show them the experience of working with you. Better than just a referral, they get to get a sense of you.   You’ll share your energy in a video, and chances are (here’s the bonus!) you will attract more of the clients that you like to work with!

What if you own a clothing company? Pictures are great, but again, they are expected.  Something different: A simple video with the designer sharing their ideas then the clothes being worn.  Just to see how the clothing moves can be enough to secure a sale. Another idea might be to show how the clothing is made if there is something unusual about the process.  Video can be Innovative and unexpected, and that makes it that much more effective.

Recent polls have shown that Americans trust small businesses more than large corporations right now.  Build that trust faster by filming the owner of the business (you) talking about your passion for your business, your company policy and/or your favorite customers, etc.  One minute is all you need, and it can be a mock interview style if that makes you comfortable.  Potential customers feel they know you before even walking in. You’ll go from a Superpages search to their go-to business in a flash.

While the budget need not be big, I do recommend that some time be taken to formulate the message and the overall look of the video.  For that, a coach is a great investment.

Why you have what you need right now to be a great communicator

The genuine relief and emotion on the faces of the rescued Chilean miners and their families was priceless. I was moved to tears as they thanked the men that had brought them to the surface after 69 days underground. 

The power of a moment like that is unforgettable, and the visceral reaction that it can evoke is a reminder of the powerful connection that we humans share. It is this connection that is the conduit for excellent communicators. Authenticity will always draw us in more than honed skills or practiced rhetoric.

For example, just the other night, my friend shared the incredible experience of hearing Mother Theresa speak at a Presidential Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. years ago. Picture at this meeting the leaders from churches and representatives of organizations from around the world. Of course, our President and First Lady (at this time it was President Clinton) are there seated at the dais as Mother Theresa speaks:

She captures this room of hundreds of people–not with her gestures or oratory skills but her simplicity of purpose and genuine emotion. Her love for the children and passion for her work magnetize this audience some of who have been listening to political speeches nearly on a daily basis for decades.

Soft-spoken and humbly dressed, Mother Theresa is considered one of the most captivating keynote speakers in the history of those Presidential Prayer Breakfasts.

I do not mean to dilute the value of lessons learned; skills are extremely important. I teach them on a daily basis, but the number one ingredient to communicating on a memorable emotional level is authenticity.

Release your cares of what others think of you, your outfit, your hair, your business experience and share, with transparency, your passion. Not only will you connect more, but you will also have a sense of freedom that you will never want to give up once you experience it!

It may seem that this is easier said than done. It may require the help of a coach in order to remove any preconceptions and fears that inhibit your transformation to a truly authentic communicator, but it is well worth it!

The process of releasing your inner authentic self are life-changing. You will find that you
• Approach conversation in a different way, and
• You will attract those that share your vision; they may be liaisons, clients or customers.
• You will be sharing your vision and information in a way that feels good to you, and to others.

Showmanship has its place, but a most humble servant of the Lord captured the President’s crowd in Washington, D.C. all those years ago with the sharing of her heart and a clear determination to change the world, one person at a time. May she inspire you today.

Pack up those limiting beliefs and move into your comfort zone

What a great feeling it is to toss that last moving box into the driveway, walk back into your new place, and realize that you have created “Home.”   This is where you come after a long day, where your routines are established, where your kids frolic and where your dogs sleep curled up under your feet.   After a long business trip, this is the place that you can re-establish your Zen, your sense of self.

After my last move, just a few weeks ago, it became clear to me that it doesn’t matter how grand the size, or fancy the landscaping; it’s the energy that fills the home that really creates a sense of comfort.

For me, it took a while to feel that sense of comfort, though.

Having those moving boxes anywhere in sight became like a pebble in my shoe. I could go on about my routine, but those boxes had me in a constant state of slight discomfort. I saw them as a sign that I still had my “stuff” to deal with.  Tossing my last empty box into the driveway, I gave a celebratory, “Woo hoo!”   The path through my personal space was finally cleared, and I could start to move forward with life. I was truly now “home.”  The energy I needed to access was flowing so much better!

  I remember when I first tried to “be myself” on camera; it was painful.  You see, I had buried my authentic self under a heavy load of mental “stuff.”  If I were to label my ”stuff” the way you label moving boxes, they would have read, Preconceived Notions, Low Self-Esteem, Negative Attitude, Lack of Faith, Ego and so many more limiting beliefs. (Any of those sound familiar to you?)

I was working hard on all the technical parts of my presentation–how to stand, project my voice, and so on–but trying to apply that knowledge on top of my “stuff” was just like trying to balance a ladder on top of a toy chest.  I would climb up just a bit, but before long, there I’d be tumbling down, and I’d have gained a few bruises to show for the experience.

The tough work was not perfecting hand gestures or eye contact.  In fact, that came so much more naturally once I unpacked my “stuff”! I learned that delving into “why” you have that particular “stuff’ in the first place is necessary.  Then, you box it up and send it off to the proverbial dumpster.  If it sounds like a bit of work, you are right, but it’s worth it.  As each of these mental blocks is taken away, your authentic self starts to breathe in the new environment.  You will appreciate your gifts and personal power as you might not have seen them before. Your comfort level while on camera or speaking will increase.  You’ll start to feel more “at home.”  Before long, you’ll find that you will start to accessorize with things like jokes, comments, fun stories and those unexpected pleasures that you can find when you are living in the moment.  You will truly have a sense of your authentic self!  You’ll be at home.

Sound good? Take step one in self-discovery today by finding a coach, therapist or good friend to help you discard your “stuff.”  The world is waiting for what you have to offer.

Four mistakes you should be sure to avoid

“We will never have him back again!  I’m exhausted!”

These are words you never want to have said about you after a radio or TV interview.  I am the one who said them.

The target of my frustration is unquestionably an expert in his field; he is a researcher who had accomplished amazing things.  He even has a bit of controversial attitude toward his subject matter which got me excited about the radio interview I was about to do with him; I was looking forward to speaking to this man who apparently had so much passion that he was standing up against some scientists to accomplish his goals. I expected good stuff.

It did not go as planned.   This brilliant man did not shine as I had hoped. Here are a few reasons why:

1.  His passion I had eagerly anticipated never surfaced in our conversation. He was a fact-driven person, as you might expect being a scientist, but a little humanness might have warmed him up a bit!  No matter how I tried, his walls were so very tough, that even the slightest attempt at diverting the conversation to something non-statistical (“Just what is it about — your subject—- that means so much to you personally?”) was met with a seemingly predetermined factoid which fell short of answering the posed question.

2.  His answers were painfully short with a frustrating tone of finality.  My attempts to encourage him expand upon his answers drained my energy within a few minutes.

3.  He was uninterruptible (Yes, I think I made up that word).  When he would begin to go in a direction that I thought would be interesting to pursue, he was not flexible and the possible line of questions would go ignored unless I raised my voice higher than his forcing me to be way more aggressive than I had anticipated or wanted to be!

4.  He was defensive.  When I asked for his feedback on some criticism of his research, he attacked me instead of utilizing the opportunity to prove his points and strengthen his stance on the subject. 

As the show host, quite honestly, at this point in the conversation, I could have saved him, but I already knew I wouldn’t be bringing him back and I let the interview end.

This is a clear example of why even the highly experienced experts should prepare for media exposure.  A bit of training could have opened him up and given him the freedom of expression that would make a conversation flow.  After all, an interview is a conversation, and every host knows the value of an easy and informative exchange of words! It feels good, and the audience stays tuned in! A well-spoken, prepared guest with clear message points and a positive outlook (no matter what the subject) can make a host’s job so much easier; it could turn one guest appearance into several.  Even a small opportunity can lead to big exposure, so prepare and be ready out of the gate!

Do you find it easier to talk to people than relate to a camera? Many people are accustomed to seeing that immediate feedback or even a simple nod of understanding from a live audience. An expressionless dark lens, however, is outside the comfort zone for many!

So how can you develop a new zone of comfort and deliver a warm and charisma-filled message directly to a cold, dark lens?

It requires a mind set change. It’s easier than you might think!

You can accomplish this in three steps:

Step One: Think about someone that you have helped with your product, or service. Is there a person whose life is changed for the better because of you? Get specific and choose just one individual that made you feel fantastic because the results were so good.

Step Two: Now get really detailed. Remember the exact moment of their breakthrough or their highest moment of happiness. What was it like? Were they grateful? What did they say? Can you see the expression on their face? How did you feel? Try to even remember the environment: what was the color, and temperature of the room? What time of day? Try to recreate that moment in your mind. Got it?

Step Three: That person, or someone just like them, is waiting to have that fantastic moment right now; you cannot see them, but they are there and you can reach them through that tool called a camera. When you look at the lens now, focus on the person you envisioned, not the piece of equipment.

You may need to think of it this way, if there was someone that you knew you could help, but there was a closed door between you, wouldn’t you still try to talk through the door? Of course! Think of speaking through the lens, not into it!

A camera allows you to spread your message to so many more than you could ever reach in person. A small change of your perception can allow you to affect lives around the world. You’ll see the difference yourself after these three steps! Get Out there and make an impact!

Do you feel called to change the world?

I ‘m looking for a quote… I do this almost on a daily basis for inspiration.  In this process, I’ll often find someone that I would never had discovered if I hadn’t appreciated his words.  With humility, I must admit that I do not know a man named Peter Drucker.  I am drawn to his quote: “The best way to predict the future is to create it. “

It starts me thinking; My most fascinating clients have indeed been people who wanted to create the future. They see change that can happen in the world and are stepping forth to make that change happen.  I respect their passion, tenacity and their faith in themselves and what is right.

As I look up the name of the man that penned the quote above, it occurs to me that one day, we all will be condensed to a few short sentences: the biography of our lives.  Peter was the “greatest management thinker of the last century” in many opinions, and he authored 25 books. He said just shortly before his death in 2005 at age 95, “I don’t know. What I would say is I helped a few good people be effective in doing the right things.”  He was humble as well.

What do you want your biography to say?  Will you leave a legacy?  Will you change the world?  If there is a dream that you have consistently, by all means have the belief that it can be so, and go for it.  I am a firm believer, of course, in starting with a powerful message and learning powerful delivery; that’s my part of your story of success!  And no matter what comes your way, get out there and do good.  It may seem a bit Pollyanna, but I have seen laws changed and funds raised, and children and animals saved by people I know.  People of average birth and by nothing but pure dedication, perseverance and absolute faith have made lasting changes in the world.

What I teach is not easy. The ability to be vulnerable and authentic takes bravery to put into action, but that is where the true effective communication sometimes lies.  C.S. Lewis said, “It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad. “

While I hesitate to say that we will “go bad,” I do think it very sad if we have a calling we do not pursue, for there are the people, the places and the things that you could have affected for good have you simply followed that calling. Hatch yourself!  Call upon the support team that you may need to get it done, but if the call is yours, answer it.  Make your biography a memorable one.

How you can use the power of empathy

The intense attraction we have toward reality TV is glaringly obvious.

Nothing new here, right?  But what is the IT that attracts fans to these shows in the first place?  What can we learn here, and how can we apply that to the presenting of our story and products and businesses?  

photo credit: Carey Hope

Many think the draw of Reality TV is the belief that anyone can become a Reality TV star – no matter who you are. Sometimes a completely normal-looking individual delights viewing audiences and becomes a superstar (Susan Boyle, anyone?).

Now we are getting to the heart of it… the emotional heart; watching a story like Susan Boyle’s unfold before the world allows us to live out our dreams.  It opens the vulnerable part of us that we often times hide from everyone.  That part still grasps the dreams that we avoid pursuing because of old beliefs that formed when we were children or our great talent that we mourn because we allowed the pressures of our perceived reality to push us far away from it. 

Here is where we may see the missing link when we tell our story: Whatever your passion is, we will understand it more if we see that vulnerability.

True reality is Susan Boyle, wearing her frumpy dress and frizzy hair, must have heard a few snickers from the audience as she first took the stage, but she stood in possibly the most vulnerable position in her life and brought us to tears, creating such an intense emotional response she became an overnight sensation.

You may not always bring your audience to tears, but you do want to wow your audience, your target market, and your clients!  Reach for that part of them that identifies with your vulnerable side.  Share your pain … what happened to you to encourage you to follow your passion?  What hardship did you overcome?

The story of Beth:

I was helping a successful business woman prepare for her promotional video, so I asked her why she was so driven to do what she does. She answered that she wanted to show people how to build financial security for their families.  Sound good, but let’s go deeper:

She explained that she had seen her loving, successful father make a mistake… all his financial eggs in one basket so to speak, and an unexpected legal crisis left the family with nothing. The stress of losing the family home and the pressure of having to rebuild their lives cost his family the ultimate price; he had a heart attack and lost his life at the young age of 52. She shares this painful story because she was too young to help her father, but she can help so many others now.

You may have a powerful personal story like that. Use it. 

Empathy is the strongest bond that we humans have.  It is not perfection to which we are truly drawn but the brokenness in each of us that we understand at the deepest spiritual level.   That is why, without vulnerability in your story, you have no real connector factor.

 If it is tough for you to share your story, seek some help in preparing it.  Don’t let your gift to the world go unopened … find a coach, a mentor, and a support team to help you establish the best way to tell your experience.

Five ways you can benefit from video in your business

We can’t deny it, video is crucial for your business!  We are a visually driven society. We want information shown to us, and it had better be easy to find.

Proof of our visual preference is the demise of 105 American newspapers in 2009.*  Alas, printed newspapers require us to expend energy to get our desired news (walking to the driveway to retrieve it, turning those big paper pages.).

For better, or for worse, the majority of Americans now get their daily news from TV (Cable TV now offers over 800 channels) or the internet (I admit, I actually learned of a new frog species from a Facebook posting).

Even on social networks, videos rule: more people are likely to check out and forward a posting that shows a video than one that has a link to an article. (It’s the forwarding that makes the video so effective).

As of May 2010, YouTube , the most well known of the video sharing sites, exceeds 2 billion views a day!

The unmistakable point is this: Visual stimulation is what we want, and as it relates to your business, the power of video is essential to your bottom line.

Five ways video can be beneficial in your business:

1. Branding: A video on your website homepage enforces a visual branding of your company within seconds and creates trust and recognition of your company’s culture.  This video can feature you and/ or your product, but it is highly effective in increasing your conversion rate on your site, sometimes up to 300%!  No matter what your business, there is a way to showcase it visually!
2. Promotion: Video blogs, (example of a successful video blogger: www.tv.WineLibrary.com) internet commercials, pitch videos to prospective clients or even entice investors!
3. Employee Instruction: Clone yourself virtually!  Instructional videos for new employees can deliver the training while you are actively building your business saving you time while you are making money.
4. Customer instruction:  Create a video to demonstrate proper use of your product or assembly.  This tool alone can drive a consumer to purchase your product over a competitor! Your product will appear more user-friendly.
5. Product: Put your expertise on video and market it as an informational product. Add a revenue stream!

Video need not be a huge expense, but it is important to keep the integrity and quality of your company brand consistent.  Sometimes it is worth the extra investment to create something of lasting value, and sometimes it is more appropriate to keep it simple and fun. Most importantly, if you have not started to use video at all, start by thinking about the list above and asking around for referrals and pricing for various production possibilities.  There is a wide variety of pricing out there, so keep going until you find the right fit for you and your company.

Your market is waiting for you, bring them information that is visual and entertaining, and you’ll watch the benefits to your bottom line!

*Audit Bureau of Circulations. 2009

Keep the energy flowing between you and your audience

There’s the old saying: “It is better to give than to receive,” but really, that’s only the half of it, right?

“Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process,” said Jim Rohn.

Deepak Chopra, in The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, refers to the Law of Giving:  “The Universe operates through dynamic exchange… giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of the universe.”

While these philosophies are usually associated with wealth and prosperity, they can be applied to your next presentation or media opportunity with great success as well!

A wealth-consciousness coach assists the flow of energy as it is associated with money. A relationship coach does the same with love, but as a performance coach, I focus on the flow of energy between the speaker (or “performer”) and the audience.  When the flow is unobstructed, the rewards are great; you have a message that can change peoples’ lives, and, in turn, change the world! It is imperative that you optimize every opportunity, right?

Effective communication relies on this free flowing pathway. At the most effective level, this pathway is like a clean, life-giving, sparkling stream. If you have had a presentation experience that resembled more of a twisted garden hose, then maybe we should take a look at a few easy ways to re-establish that surge!

The biggest inhibitor of flow anywhere in our lives is fear, of course.  That is a topic that I feel is best managed in one-on-one training. (There are even ways that fear can work for you, and not against you!)  Today, however, I am going to focus on two physical obstructions to flowing communication…the beaver dams in the stream, so to speak.

The first obstacle is the most obvious: it is the stage podium.  Some presenters look at it as a safe have. Well, I don’t think the podium was designed to deflect obstacles being thrown from the audience, and unless your topic is so controversial to make that a legitimate possibility, I say, stay clear of it!  It hides you and obstructs your energy from the audience.  Keeping your notes on the podium and returning to it occasionally throughout a long presentation is totally fine, but open yourself up physically and the audience will open up to you much easier.

Second is a physical blockage that is less obvious. It’s one of the basic elements of communication and emphasized in most speech classes but one of the most misunderstood and underdeveloped skills that I come across. This is eye contact.

Eye contact is not just a scan from one side of the room to the other.  Nor is it “3 seconds this direction, switch, three seconds there…”  Eye contact to a group should be much like any conversation; think of a party where you walk up to a discussion already in progress: the moment the person speaking makes eye contact, you feel acknowledged and respected.  You have been included.  When speaking to a group, there are certain moments that are the most powerful times to connect and create this same feeling:  usually this is the end of a sentence or a thought. Try it yourself in front of a video camera; read something and look into the lens as you say the last words of each sentence.  It takes some practice but learning to bring the eyes to the audience at the right time can make even “cold” speeches, like introductions of the next speaker, so much easier!

Creating an easy flow of energy when you are sharing your message is a skill that can create a wonderful experience for you and your audience. Ease of flow in communication directly helps the flow of love, money and even health.