If you look up energy, vision and vitality, you’ll find LA’s Tim Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG global sports, music and film entertainment.

One look at LA’s downtown skyline and you know “The Times They Are a-Changin.’” Staples Center, home to the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Kings, led the way. With the addition of LA Live, the new Ritz Carlton and J.W. Marriott hotels, downtown LA has a brand new vibe.

What’s impressive about Mr. Lieweke’s leadership and the behemoth AEG, they’ve accomplished what naysayers said, impossible, it can’t be done.  No wonder their vision is a reality given AEG’s success record and bankroll. Plus Mr. Leiweke’s leadership, drive, passion and determination. What you get is a winning combination.

When he delivers a speech, he’s into it. Direct, motivational and irreverent enough to show his likable personality.

Gold Star Actions: Attention CEOs, leaders and politicians. Influence is about emotion. Show some, connect with your audience, let them get an insight to who you are and don’t make it too hard for them to like you. You’ll be amazed how it can turn your visions into successful realities.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I can’t think of one star in business, film, television, sports or politics who doesn’t experience anxiety before a performance, a new audience or delivering a speech. The challenge is knowing how to use it to your advantage.

If you’re like the majority of people I coach or have interviewed, you might get nervous or anxious, too. For most novices, “opening jitters” are a distraction, but a “pro” doesn’t want to be without ‘em! For me, it is an adrenaline rush just before stepping in front of a TV camera or for a live audience. Think of it as “show time.” The extra excitement can add the right edge to your presentation. It helps bring up the energy and your performance. And make no mistake, even executives need to get into performance mode if they want to connect with their audience.

Gold Star Actions: What can you do to overcome “the jitters?” Don’t fight your anxiety, instead, use it to your advantage to help you get excited about what your audience is going to receive from you. Prepare what you want to say. This is one of the biggest fears; people are afraid they will misspeak or make a fool of themselves. If you are well prepared, you can cover any mistake and keep moving…your audience won’t pick up on it.  Stop telling yourself how nervous you are, so are most people. Tell yourself you have a message to deliver and you are excited to be the one delivering it.

Start strong with your message. Keep in mind, audiences, clients or even your staff members, form impressions in those first few seconds. Clients, in almost every presentation workshop announce, “I’m okay after a few minutes.” Too late, the audience has left the building!

Many people who are driven to distraction with the “deer-in-the headlight” fright in front of an audience, are generally focusing on themselves. Worrying about how they’re coming across.  Turn it around and focus on the audience, it takes the pressure off you.  Finally, practice, breathe and savor your moment!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Gold Star Action: Dream big and work hard to make your dreams come true is not a new concept.  Magic Johnson tells you not just what you need to do, but how to do it.  What is it you really want? When people come to Startegic to re-invent themselves, we find it is a hard question for many people to answer.  How determined you are to get what you want is usually a key predictor of success or failure.  Every successful person I know works with an executive coach,  mentors or advisers.  Once your why is in place, continue to develop what you know and find the right people to help you learn what you need to grow. Part of Magic’s success can be attributed to is his winning personality.  It helps to be likable and grateful.

Magic Johnson and Judy Jernudd

Earvin “Magic” Johnson could write a book about what it takes to achieve extraordinary entrepreneurial success. In fact, the former LA Lakers superstar has done exactly that in his recent release, “32 Ways to Be a Champion in Business.” One of the “Top 50 Greatest NBA players,” wasn’t content to rest on his basketball fame and fortune laurels.  No, he wanted to become a businessman.  Correction, a successful businessman.

Impression: The first thing you notice about Mr. Johnson, beside his imposing athletic stature, is how present he is in front of the audience of a thousand at the Book Expo Convention in Los Angeles. Even before he is presenting the lessons of his business success,  he is sending a message: “I’m glad to be here.” You know two things about him within seconds. This giant of a man, quick to smile, is a “people person” and you want to like him.

Speaking Tip: Whether you are in professional services, an entrepreneur, or CEO of a Fortune 500 company, every presentation and speech counts.  None are throwaways. When you are trying to motivate your team, influence decision makers, deliver a sales presentation or simply introducing yourself, your presence is essential.

Lesson: Conveying an “I’m glad to be here” attitude sets the tone for you in a couple of ways.  Your audience becomes more comfortable with you and you start to relax.   One of the main reasons people look as though they would rather be facing a “root canal” is because they are not prepared.  Once you know what you want to say and how you want to it, you can focus on your message and relate it to the audience.

Recommended Read: Mr. Johnson quickly moved past his basketball fame and onto his entrepreneurial success story.  This post is a quick overview of some of the highlights of his speech, but do yourself a favor and read 32 Ways to be a Champion if you’re serious about becoming a successful entrepreneur or growing your business.

The Story: First, he knew how to score on the court, but knew nothing about business. Many people have great ideas, but lack the skills to develop them.  He sought out some of the brightest business people he knew to mentor him. He discovered upfront he would need a solid business plan and financial support to make his dreams a reality.  You might think his marquee name would magically open the bank’s vaults.  They took his meetings and his autograph, but kept their money.  He quickly learned about persistence in the world of business,  financing, franchises and partnering.

The second challenge he faced was the uncharted markets where he wanted to do business.  His dream was to serve the under-served urban communities.

Success: Today, as CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises, his relationships, franchises and partners include Starbucks, Best Buy, Burger King, 24-Hour Fitness, AMC Theatres and T.C.I. Fridays serving ethically diverse urban communities.

Little Known Fact: MJE is in partnership, not a franchise, with Starbucks.  After Mr. Johnson approached Howard Schultz about a potential partnership, he invited him to visit his Magic Johnson Theater.  Mr. Schultz was impressed and the rest, as they say, is coffee brewing history.

Know your Customer: A quick story about the Starbucks in Magic Johnson’s communities. He told Mr. Schultz, “these people aren’t going to like the muzak played in most Starbucks.  And about those scones…” Yes, his Starbucks serves sweet potato pie.

Lesson: Are you giving your customers what you want them to have or want they want? If you don’t know the answer, ask them. A few years ago, we did just that.  We asked each of our clients what they wanted more of and how we could best help them and their teams succeed.

Prior to those conversations, we thought we were in the communication business; sales presentations, media training and executive presence.  The feedback: “Yes, you show us how to present ourselves, make sales and help our leaders develop executive presence but you really are helping us learn the qualities of successful people.” Wow! The feedback changed the direction of our company — while communication is its core,  our clients told us that we are in the business of developing sales stars, leadership stars, and star performers at work.  Ask your clients if you have any doubts how you can best serve them. You will be stunned by what you will learn about your abilities and your business!

Biggest Suprise: Faith at work? Magic says that he has much to be thankful for in his life and he acknowledges it at work. Before company meetings or meals he invites people to pray privately. As he says, “Faith seems to be working at MJE.”

Gold Star Action Recap: Dream big and work hard to make your dreams come true is not a new concept.  Magic Johnson tells you not just what you need to do, but how to do it.  What is it you really want? When people come to Startegic to re-invent themselves, we find it is a hard question for many people to answer.  How determined you are to get what you want is usually a key predictor of success or failure.  Every successful person I know works with an executive coach,  mentors or advisers.  Once your why is in place, continue to develop what you know and find the right people to help you learn what you need to grow. Part of Magic’s success can be attributed to is his winning personality.  It helps to be likable and grateful.

Your thoughts?

Up next- Anne Mulcahy, CEO of Xerox

Stay tuned!

Judyth

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

What will happen after the initial newness of John McCain’s VP choice wears off? Will Americans embrace what she stands for and her politics? How will the aggressive Governor fare with less enthusiastic folks than the crowd at the RNC? Will the reality hit that she could be one heartbeat away from the President of the United States? Answers to questions such as these will play out during the next few weeks. One thing is clear, she along with Fred Thompson, added life to the convention. Someone quick witted person stated before her speech, “The RNC was starting to look like an AARP convention!”

The Governor’s critics claim that she didn’t deliver any substance in her speech. Supporters talk about her style. Is anyone else surprised that she is getting as much press, if not more, about her looks as her politics or her speech? She claims her schoolmarm appearance is intentional to downplay her attractiveness. People want to buy rimless glasses like hers. Others want her to ditch ‘em altogether. The point is people pay attention to these things and they like to talk about them.

What worked for Mrs. Palin was her newness and the energy she brought to her speech. She seemed comfortable reading a Teleprompter. Critics are quick to point out her defiant attitude and the snarl. It will be interesting to see if the GOP find it an advantage to tone her down in certain situations such as media interviews. The slight snarl is something she might not be aware of, but a good coach can help her with some of the mannerisms that will distract from her messages as she gets into serious Q&A with the media and voters. She is visible on the campaign trail along with Senator McCain, but almost a week after her appearance on the national scene she isn’t saying much except excerpts from her script at the RNC.

The VP candidate’s voice could be one of problems. I remember an article years ago about voice analyzers who study voice quality. The article focused on politicians going all the way back to another woman VP candidate, Geraldine Ferraro. According to the research both Mrs. Ferraro’s and Presidential hopeful Walter Mondale’s voice would be more difficult to listen to over a period of time. Although subliminal, Mrs. Palin might be faced with the same challenge.

What are voice qualities that wear well to voters and your audiences? Think Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton: warm, comfortable and easy listening . Our voices play a subtle, but key role in our success.

JUDY’S ACTION TIP: When we coach executives or speakers, we encourage them to develop their own speaking style. Lest anyone think all the talk about style is incidental. We want to see someone with a little magic. At the same, we want to hear some substance. There are speakers who think because they provide good content lack of style doesn’t make a difference. Same principle applies to all style and no substance. It isn’t a choice of either or. You need both to win your audience.

Stay tuned,

Judy Jernudd

What are your thoughts?

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Heart and humor sandwiched on both sides of a little ham sums up Fred Thompson’s speech. No doubt, Fred Thompson has the talking gene. His thunderous delivery combined with a professional speaker’s style, Thompson’s speaking ability was a highlight of the night.

Both Republicans and Democrats had to be moved by Senator McCain’s and all POW’s painful experiences. Taking us though a step-by-step account of Mr. McCain’s ordeal could have been a laborious narrative had Mr. Thompson delivered it like a reader or rushed through it. Instead, he talked to us as he walked us through one of worst tragedies of war. Anyone who heard his explanation of Mr. McCain’s bravery had to feel sadness for all who suffer under the name of freedom.

You might agree or disagree with the message, but there are plenty of pontificating pundits to ponder the content of all of the speeches at the RNC. Our focus is on the speaking style, the power of the speaker, or lack thereof, and how to deliver an impacting speech. Most of all, who connects with the audience and who can rally the troops?

Some people think if Mr. Thompson had delivered his presidential campaign speeches with the same verve, he might be accepting the Republican nomination for Prez. The same could be said for Rudy Giuliani. You might have issues with Mr. Giuliani’s content, but no one can deny he was enjoying himself.

JUDY’S ACTION TIP: Most of us won’t be speaking at either convention, but wherever you speak look at the audience. If you look like you are enjoying it, your audience will be more receptive to you and your message.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Myth # 1 Everybody needs to know about your book, product or service.
It’s a good thing to be enthusiastic about your work, but guess what? Everybody thinks their stuff is the best invention since champagne. A minor problem appears: the assignment editors, reporters and producers have heard it all before. You and the rest of the world are vying for five minutes of fame in the same crowded field. It will help if you take an objective stance of what you offer and who needs it. You want to define the “news” value in your story. Ask yourself questions such as, “How will my book make a difference in people’s lives? What solutions are my services providing?” News is called “news” because the media looks for something different with value.

Myth # 2 The one-size-fits-all media strategy. What worked to promote one speaker colleague will also work for you.
One story angle will not get you mass media coverage no matter how great your product happens to be. In theory, let’s say you’ve written a potential bestseller or your solution will solve a specific problem. Your product might be hotter than Google, but your strategy needs to answer questions such as, “Who is your target market? What segment of the population will get the most value from your story? Which media outlets are more suited to your subject?” You want to create different angles and story ideas for specific media markets. For example, if you’ve written a diet book, you would likely get coverage in health and lifestyle sections, but it becomes a business story by positioning the cost companies pay for workers who are absent from work due to weight-related illness. Creating strategies is common sense when you think about it, but you would be surprised how many people believe what they’re selling is in world demand. Be objective and put yourself in the reporter’s position. Think of yourself as the viewer, listener or reader. That’s how the media thinks.

Myth # 3 You never say “no” to a media interview.
Yes, you should say no in certain situations. If the subject is not related to your field or area of expertise, pass on it. You can’t be an expert on all things for all stories, no matter how tempting. Once you’ve decided the interview isn’t right for you, take it one step further. Offer to help the reporter/producer or assignment editor find an appropriate source. You will build credibility. Plus, there is a good chance the reporter will likely remember you when a story comes up that is right for you. And by helping the reporter, you start to establish a relationship with this media contact. Some people try to become the expert in the news du jour and wonder why they never develop business from all of their media appearances. The reason is because nobody understands what it is that they do. The same principles apply to our business. We can’t be authentic speakers if we say we’re experts on all topics.

Myth # 4 You don’t need to hire a PR agency. You can get media coverage yourself.
Maybe, but more than likely you can’t do it as well—unless you want to make getting publicity your new full-time job. I’ve been on both sides of the fence, or in my case, the camera. In entertainment PR, which is where I started before making the transition to television, the phone would ring off the hook for requests to interview the celebrities we represented. More often than not, we said “no” due to the time restraints of the celebrities. But for the rest of us, getting coverage takes a lot of work, creativity and, here’s where most people fall down, FOLLOW-UP. You can find books, how-to-guides and Internet support on how to do your own PR. Some people will manage to pull it off with great success, but for most of us, the time it takes from our speaking business is a higher price tag than retaining a PR agency. Keep in mind: a publicist serves two VIP clients: you and the media. It takes a long time to learn who the media players are and to build relationships with them.

Myth # 5 You’ve retained a PR firm. Now all you have to do is sit back, relax and wait for the phone to ring.
Wrong! Your media game plan is a partnership with your publicist. You need to keep feeding your PR professionals information and news to help them strategize. You must be honest with them. Don’t promise what you can’t deliver. It is also critical that you be there when they need you. Nothing frustrates a publicist more than working hard to arrange an interview for a client and then finding that the client isn’t available. Or clients change their minds because they decide they aren’t prepared for prime time after all.

Myth # 6 Media exposure happens just like that! It’s like magic!
Ahh, don’t we wish? Yes, once in a while it happens overnight even when you aren’t pursuing it. Thanks to my PR friends, I’m interviewed in the media without seeking coverage. They will get a call from a media contact needing someone to interview right away. If it’s in my subject area, and I can accommodate the deadline, I do it. But in most cases, it takes time. Set realistic expectations with your PR agency, or for yourself, if you’re your own publicist. And it’s important to remember that media coverage isn’t a one-time only event that will make you an instant hit. To successfully build your brand or your business, it takes ongoing media strategy and coverage.

Myth # 7 Publicity is like a commercial, only it’s free.
Not quite. People who blatantly promote their products and services by referring to them in every other sentence may find themselves without any coverage at all. Your story might not get printed. On a live radio or TV show some guests will keep picking up their new book while telling the audience to read chapter 12 or 15 for the tips. Guests who practice this kind of self-promotion can find their segments cut short when the host or reporter cuts to a paid commercial! People who over-plug the product don’t get invited back.

Myth # 8 The media is obligated to cover your story.
We know you don’t think this way, but some people believe this myth. If you want a guarantee you’ll see yourself in the news or on a TV talk show, you’d better buy an ad. Publicity is free, but it doesn’t come with any promises. Even when you’re told a TV reporter will cover your event, if a breaking news story happens, there goes your coverage. TV stations have a limited resource of reporters and camera crews. Breaking news takes priority.

Myth # 9 You don’t need to prepare or practice for an interview. You can just wing it.
If every media coach had a dollar for each time we heard that line, we would be among the rich and famous ourselves. Speakers are blessed with a gift of gab. We’re not intimidated to be in front of audiences and cameras, but media interviews can be a curse for a speaker. More than any other people we coach, we find that speakers have the tendency to answer a question with a monologue. Practice your answers for the questions you anticipate being asked, and keep your answers short. Get your key points up front and elaborate more if there is time, but please, no speeches.

Myth # 10 Reporters will only ask the questions you provide.
People new to media interviews will always ask, “Can I send a list of questions that I want the reporter to ask?” Yes, you can. Will the reporter ask those questions? No, or rarely. A public affairs show might follow your line of questions, but the majority of reporters and interviewers formulate their own questions. A savvy interviewee will find a way to work the information they want people to know into his or her answers. Keep in mind this telling quote from Henry Kissinger to reporters, “Do you have any questions for my answers?” Now that we’ve helped you dispel some of the PR and media myths, keep this thought in mind: If you’ve just invented the cure for Spam, forget everything you’ve just read. You won’t need a publicist. Your phone will ring non-stop. Every media outlet and reporter will be calling you. Within a snap of your fingers you are an overnight hit—this week anyway. In the meantime, use these tips to help you with your approach to media coverage.

See you in the news!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.