Here’s to the Short, Sweet Speech: Toasts!

“I’m sorry I wrote such a long letter. I did not have the time to write a short one.”

-Abraham Lincoln

In the past year, I have worked with four fathers of the bride and/or groom to cull down the millions of ideas running through their head. They need a 2-minute toast and have more than 2 hours of material.

We started by laying out the basic structure of a toast:

·        Welcome

·        Vignette about daughter/son

·        Vignette about early days with new spouse

·        Vignette about couple

·        Good luck to the couple

Then, I lower the boom: You have to say it all in about 400 words.

[crickets…]

[PROTEST]

“Yes, we can – together!”

You would be amazed what you can say in 2-3 minutes (around 400-500 words), when you focus.

If you’ve been called upon to write a toast, what was the hardest part?

CEO Insight: The 5 Cs of Vince Poscente

Last week, I asked where the inspirational speakers were…going through my notes, I found the 5 Cs of Success by Vince Poscente…he was one amazing speaker…he wanted to be an Olympic athlete, so he randomly chose speed skiing where their motto is “Safety Last” and he broke international records in the trials.

*Spoiler alert: He came in last in the actual games, but he was a part of them!*

“Our life is full of defining moments, pivotal choices,” according to Poscente.

The author of the easy read “The Ant & The Elephant,” Poscente, jumped on chairs, yelled, encouraged audience participation and gave the following advice at a talk earlier this year (April 16, 2011 – another archive goodie)…it may not be as exciting in writing as it was in person…but it bears repeating:

C#1 – Clarity of Vision: Pay attention to your subconscious (elephant) not just conscious (ant) mind. “Don’t just see it, but feel your vision and what it means…If a thought gives you a physical reaction – pay attention.”

C#2 – Commitment: Have the courage to decide. “Doubt is loudest at 99-percent commitment, and it goes away at 100 percent.”

C#3 – Consistency: Focus on your goal – use reminders around the house to refocus you and create a consistent strategy to reach your goal. What change do you want to affect?

“The second you own the solution, you innovate.”

Most people look to their competitors and do what they are not doing…they fill a void…not a bad path, but not a bold one either. Poscente says, “You should do what the competition is not willing to do…That way, you can even tell the competition what you are doing and they won’t do it, because it is what they are not willing to do.”

C#4 – Confidence: Results plummet through the gap between “fear” and “confidence,” so don’t go there…be confident…reinforce to your subconscious that your goal is real and true.

C#5 – Control: This is basically creating a routine. You can reinforce your confidence with a controlled routine of consistent steps toward the clear goal to which you are committed. (See, I got all the Cs in there!)

Poscente wraps up by saying that you will have skeptics as you move toward your goals…just make sure your subconscious isn’t one of them…work to marry your ant and your elephant…the rest of the world will follow.

“When skeptics see results, they will become your biggest supporters.”

Where are the Inspirational Leaders?

Last night, someone asked me who I thought was the best speaker alive today.

Yikes…gulp…

During my long, uncomfortable pause, he said any political candidates? Any CEOs?

Not only could I not think of a politician or CEO, all I could think about were the ones who used to be great, but we just don’t hear from them anymore…even President Obama, who talks everywhere these days, seems to have lost his luster…I think Candidate Obama inspired us to work together to make change and create a better world…President Obama seems to spend an inordinate amount of time on the defensive, practically whining about the details and the things that didn’t happen…where’s the vision for what could and should happen?

The Republican candidates make me cringe with Perry and his preacherman tenor, and Romney arguing with the hecklers in the crowd…Michelle Bachman stands out as someone who can hold her own…she’s measured and direct, but I still wouldn’t say she’s “inspirational.” Someone suggested that Hilary Clinton could fill the void…while she’s grown into an awesome speaker on international issues where she can deliver a pointed, direct message to a small audience…though, again, I’m not inspired…impressed, but not inspired…and I don’t think she can translate it back to the bigger stage where she must talk to all people about all things…we have no Ronald Reagan or John F. Kennedy that I can see.

Even the business guys – Jack Welch, Warren Buffet, Peter Drucker, Bill Gates – seem to be missing from the picture (except for Warren’s recent oped stating he thinks he needs to be taxed more, to which I replied, if you ‘d like to read it)…Steve Jobs announces way cool technology, but I wouldn’t say his speech is inspirational…his technology inspires his techie tribe (me included) to try new things, but he doesn’t talk big or inspire with global leadership.

Authors Malcolm Gladwell, Seth Godin and others have inspirational messages in their writings…I’ve also had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Gladwell speak…entertaining and interesting, but still – no inspiration…

Our religious leaders, well there’s Joel Olsteen…he can be inspirational, but he’s not exactly in the national dialogue…where’s our Martin Luther King or even the Rev Jesse Jackson or  Oral Roberts…Billy Graham advised Presidents and corporate titans, but now we don’t see any big religious leaders with ecumenical teachings.

So where is it?

Heck…what is it?

I think what I’m looking for is someone to paint a rosier picture…a picture of what could be and what will be if we wait long enough or work hard enough…I’ve had my fill of scare tactics and low expectations.

Anyone out there know of a great inspirational speaker?

Maybe we can get him on YouTube

Rabbits vs. Elephants: Balancing Your Business Diet

As someone who was exclusively an elephant hunter, I am proud to announce that I’ve learned to hunt rabbits…in fact, I’ve even landed a few – so today, I eat!

read more

Repeat that please…again…

I DEVOUR business books…good, bad and ugly…I review them here (click on “book analysis” button to the right).  However, I haven’t had too many comments on the blog, so I was psyched to find a business book club (2nd Thursday lunch @ A Real Bookstore in Fairview, TX).

Big ideas can be hard to implement…hard to figure out how it applies to you and your everyday life…we may have the desire to implement, but not the time or energy to figure out what to do with this new found intelligence.

read more

Busy ≠ Cash In Pocket

Busy does NOT mean you have any actual cash in your pocket.  I recently joined a webinar on sales where they talked about one woman who spent 70% of her time on proposals/job bids alone!

She’s busy, but she ain’t gittin’ paid…

read more