Some thoughts on being yourself in business

Hi!

I was writing an e-class for the Secrets Of Selling From Stage Mentoring Program yesterday and I just thought this section was pertinent to us all, whether we’re speakers or not, so I thought I’d post an except on the blog for you to peruse!

“For me I endeavor to be transparent in everything I do. Now it does bite me on the bum sometimes (in negotiations from time to time etc!) but as a speaker it serves me well.

Interestingly, I could not NOT be authentic these days!

Now- the fascinating thing for me about this is that my clients perceive my authenticity as INTEGRITY. In fact I have made sales before where people have given me the direct feedback that they had no idea what it was they were buying- they just wanted the opportunity to “work with someone in business that has that much integrity!” Truly- their words, not mine!

Now I don’t say this to blow my own trumpet- but to let you in on what’s going on inside in the hope that you can learn from it. So there a few key elements to this integrity/authenticity thing.

1. Firstly, like most powerful lessons in business, I really got how important authenticity was for me when I found that through a series little compromises, and little white lies I had got myself to a position where I wasn’t comfortable with me. It wasn’t that I wasn’t being me, because who the heck else was I being? It was just that the version of me that I was being, I didn’t like. I looked around me and saw a lot of other people reflecting the same back to me, and I thought “I don’t like this”. So I changed it!

2. Next- I find it incredible that we live in a world where integrity in business is a surprise. But for those of us who are AUTHENTIC it is a boon- because we are remembered and we stand out from the crowd.

3. I would far rather work with people who I find transparent and authentic, than people who hide behind masks and who I don’t “get” – so I strive to be that for other people. I used to think that we were a rare breed and that indeed I mustn’t be a “real business” person, because being truthful mattered to me. But it turns out there are some other weirdos like me who don’t like pretending to be something they’re not.

4. A further distinction that might be useful: I am not focusing on being “in integrity” all the time. I’m a nutcase when I do!  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the Landmark Education, but I became a headcase trying to be on time to everything and be my word to everyone and clean up everything and I just about integrity-ed myself to death. I don’t want to enter an argument here about what is right or wrong- this is about my “inner world” that creates the results I get in my business and life. If I focus on integrity: I am a basket case. If I focus on acceptance of myself, and sharing that with others- that is “authenticity”, the grand irony is that people all tell me how much integrity I have!

Do you find that odd or is it just me?!

So from stage, in business, in life I strive to be more and more me. That way you know what you’re going to get and so do I!

5. I have worked with people in the field of personal developemtn before who get all strung up and tell me “I don’t even know who the real me is any more” or “what if I don’t like the real me?” or “there’s lots of versions of the real me”. To those people I say this:

*** “I don’t even know who the real me is any more” : I don’t know who the real me is either- but I see it reflected back in the faces of those around me and in my audiences.

*** “What if I don’t like the real me?”: I don’t like the real me sometimes- she is grumpy, greedy, grotty and grotesque. And boy does she throw a good tantrum. But sometimes she is also great, graceful, gracious and grand. Go figure. We change with every breath – accepting that is where to begin.

***“There’s lots of versions of the real me”: You’re right! They are all you! For further details, see previous!

So- where does that leave us? Confused perhaps? It’s always a challenge to put words to the indescribable.”

What do you think about being yourself in business?

Cheers,
Jo

How to Get Started In Speaking

Hi troops!

I just finished a tele-training on How anyone, regardless of industry or inexperience can get started in Speaking and Make Big Money…Thought you might enjoy listening if you weren’t on the call.

I tell ya- I shared ooooooodles of tips and strategies.  I’m diligently building up my competition!  That’s the way.  Check this out - it goes for about 90 minutes I think, so you can download it and listen to it on your ipod or whatever.

http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=2653149

As you have probably noticed Helena Denley is doing a divine job of making my blog look and act appropriately!  I’m so sorry I haven’t been on here much of late.  Had been having a few teething problems with the old template - but thankfully Helena has fixed it now and I can edit and upload with ease once more.

Check her out on www.helenadenley.com

Love yas all!!

J xx

Secrets of Selling From Stage is Launched!!

Well I warned you I was up to something. The last three days Greg and I have sequestered ourselves away on the Gold Coast putting the finishing touches on our new site.

And now its ready to go! Hooray!

We have just gone live with something we believe will shake up the entire public speaking industry. That’s because it’s going to put public speaking tools and strategies into the hands of regular business owners CHEAPER, FASTER and MORE EFFECTIVELY than ever before.

And this is your opportunity to have a sneak preview.

You see, we have been putting together an exciting step-by-step, hold your hand mentoring program that reveals everything I learnt in the last three years in the seminar game. As you probably know, in my first 12 months speaking and selling from stage, I made over $1.25 million in sales. In fact with over 3000 hours on stage, selling for my supper, I thought I might have an idea or two to share with you about how you can blow the lid on your own business by creating and delivering some killer presentations!

Anyway, here’s the exciting bit. We’re launching the site right now, and of course we’re keen to get some sales straight away! So we’re throwing in some bonuses which we hope will make the whole thing a “no-brainer” for you if you’re intending to sell your business to a group.

In addition to the great stuff you get standard as part of the program (you’ll see the list on www.SecretsOfSellingFromStage.com/signup.html), you’ll also get these things:

- Half price membership for the first 100 people. The standard price is $99 a month, but if you’re one of the first 100 people to join you get it for just $49 a month for as long as you stay a member.

- What’s more we’re running a 3-day intensive speaking workshop in May. This is not a sell-fest – I guarantee that you will walk out with a planned presentation ready to go! Tickets are $2,000 per person, but IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE FIRST FIVE PEOPLE to join the mentoring program you get one ticket to the workshop included in your membership.

- The workshop comes with 2 hours of my personal time to critique your presentation and giving you one-to-one feedback. This alone is valued at $3,500. So if you’re one of the first 5 people to join the program, you also get this great bonus.

I’m sending this offer out to my close friends and past clients first (that’s why you’re getting this!), so you get a head-start. Later today I’ll send this same offer to the rest of my list, as well as a bunch of other lists we’ve teed up. If you’re keen to lock in the charter membership price of $49 a month, please don’t wait and “think about it”.

Here’s the link to check out the site:
www.SecretsOfSellingFromStage.com

And here’s the link to join the program if you’d rather do that and read the details later!
www.SecretsOfSellingFromStage.com/signup.html

Let me know what you think.

I hope you get as much out of it as we have putting it all together!

Have fun!

Cheers,
Jo