I've had the pleasure of seeing how others have avoided becoming a victim of the speaking scam due to my blog post outlining a years old speaking scam that nearly got me back in January 2012. But if you knew the scammers reason why they're participating in a scam, would you be less angry at them? That's the question I asked myself when one of the commenters, an American-based trainer and author, added to the comments area an email exchange he had with one of the scammers. The … [Read more...]
The Teller
How to be the hero in your personal or business brand story.
National Fraud Prevention Month: What I Learned from the Jarrow Speaking Scam
March 2, 2012 by 2 Comments
It's National Fraud Prevention Month as declared by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Government of Canada. After almost becoming a victim of a speaking scam, I'd like to share my thoughts on how you can spot a scam so you're not a victim. 1. Separate yourself from the situation In the heat of the moment, it's easy to fall for the charm of the scammer. They seem helpful, empathetic and professional. Get off the phone or leave your computer quickly. Take a walk, take a … [Read more...]
The #1 Reason Why Distractions Pop Up in Your Business
February 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
A few weeks ago, I was almost the victim of a scam. I blogged about it here. That blog post has prevented others from becoming victims and helped others release the shame of being one. I've learned alot from that experience and I explain it all in the video below. Please view the 7-minute below to find out why I attracted this speaking scam and how this distraction almost derailed me. How do you overcome distractions in your business? Please share your thoughts below. … [Read more...]
Infographic: Storytelling vs. Corporate Speak
January 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment
I love infographics. If I could share all my stories as an infographic, I would. And here's a really cool infographic that shows the difference between storytelling and corporate speak. As you move forward in incorporating more of your stories into your brand, try to use what's on the left of the infographic below instead of what's on the right. … [Read more...]
O Holy Nightmare
December 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment
I love Christmas. Absolutely love it. So, why not enjoy it with all the pomp, circumstance and humour that comes along with this joyous holiday season? With that said, I share with you one of my all time favourite Christmas caroles - O Holy Night. Or in this case, O Holy Nightmare. Play the video below to see what I mean. (if you're reading this post through email, click here for the video) … [Read more...]
What I Learned From Canada’s Got Talent Auditions, Part 1
December 12, 2011 by 2 Comments
Last weekend, I attended the Canada's Got Talent auditions held in Toronto. I normally wouldn't even bother, but I had a hook up on tickets and the person who had them was quite persuasive that I attend. It was a 4-hour event and overall, I'm glad I went. It helped me to drum up some blog posts about my experience. Of course, none of my blog posts contain any spoilers, so I'll instead focus on the business application of the auditions. What I saw was more than just auditions. Each … [Read more...]
People Don’t Buy What You Do, They Buy Why You Do It
December 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment
I've been on this Simon Sinek bandwagon over the past 3-weeks ever since my friend, Lynn Pearce suggested I read his book Start With Why. I was sharing with her all the things I find wrong with internet marketing and Lynn strongly suggested I get Simon's book. I stumbled upon his TEDTalk in which Simon makes some powerful points about what motivates people to buy. I grabbed the talk from my friend Tina Forsyth's blog and sharing it below (thanks Tina). My only gripe (and this is what I … [Read more...]
6 Sources You Can Pull From to Avoid Inventing Stories
November 21, 2011 by 2 Comments
James Frey duped the world. In 2005, Oprah Winfrey selected his book, A Million Little Pieces, as part of her book club. And everyone knows that when Oprah chooses a book, it becomes a bestseller. Imagine everyone's surprise when just a few months later, James sat on Oprah's couch admitting to the world that most of the stories in his book had been fabricated. Stories are powerful. And using them to connect with prospects helps you stand out. However, making them up and passing them … [Read more...]
How Not to Tell a Story Like Rick Perry
November 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Republican party presidential hopeful, Rick Perry, recently gave a speech in front of a conservative group in New Hampshire. The speech was 25-minutes long, but I found one that's a mash up of what Huffington Post calls an "unusual speech performance." I don't want to spoil it for you, so just click on the video below to get an idea on how to NOT tell a story like Rick Perry. What lessons can you learn from Rick Perry's speech so you avoid this in your own presentations? Photo … [Read more...]
