Category: Being Brave

It’s not that i refuse to do these… #thinkdifferently

think differently
#thinkdifferently

 

It’s not that i refuse to do these or that i don’t see the value; however, i don’t do any of them.

Blogging is supposed to lead to traffic and traffic is supposed to create a funnel from which your business will flow. Makes sense, so almost everyone does these standard recipe-for-success tactics:

1. Have an email subscription sign up for a newsletter or blog
2. Entice sign-ups with a CTA (call to action) using a free asset give-away.
3. Use videos
4. Do not share your prices publicly
5. Have a slick website with lots of bells and whistles
6. Freely share your best content
7. Automate your social media sharing

So how did that play out in the first year of Disney retirement? If the only metric we use is revenue (because it’s typical), it was the best year of my life.

i only preach what i practice. And i preach to people who don’t want to be the best in their category, they want to become the category.

Sure it’s risky. But so is following the herd.

PS. i blog a lot (13k posts since 2009), but i don’t do it to drive business. On my speaker site, it’s almost impossible to find my blog. Why? Because it’s a personal blog.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

You know the saying, “Impossible is nothing”?

Map My Run screen shot
Routinely running 8-10 miles three times a week was impossible until i (got older) retired.

 

Most of us are buried (daily) with things to do so we race through our stress-filled days.

i remember many years decades of wondering if it was possible to break free and design a life that was different, and better, than the rat race i was living.

Turns out, it’s not impossible.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

So what? (reprise)

Game changing companies
Photo from LinkedIn. Credit to IBM, @ibmge

 

This photo is great, all the way up to the point when my conscience demands, “So what?”

So what am i going to do with this information, feel good?

No really, this is a ridiculously serious question and my answer matters.

A lot.

Feeling good does nothing for transforming my business or my life.

In every case, prevailing and traditional thought lowers my bar about what’s possible.

Follow the tried and true, right?

Don’t mess with the recipe for success.

The gurus and experts hand us the tried and true recipes.

Right?

You’re joking, right?

This is where the inspiring photo made me pause and take stock.

i, jeff noel, a keynote speaker, may not be an Uber or Facebook, but in the Professional Speaking world, i’m on a journey in the opposite direction of the tired and true professional speaker best practices.

So what have i done with, you know, “feeling good” about disruption?

For starters:

1. My website is an acoustic version. Boarding on amateurish. Why? Because i’m not trying to impress you with graphic design.

2. No one (that i’ve ever seen) lists their speaking fees. On the first click after landing on my site, boom, there they are. My fees are high enough to scare most people away. Perfect.

3. No video clips of me speaking. Gasp….oh my goodness, are you nuts?

4. No email subscription list. Double gasp. Why? Most people can’t keep up. Decision makers aren’t subscribing to email lists; they don’t have the bandwidth.

5. i don’t share my content online. Rather, visitors discover clear, concise, and compelling questions, paradox, and common sense. The karma is that i solve for what most consider unsolvable. But i do it in person, for a fee. It’s more than fair. In fact, it’s game changing.

Here’s the bottomline: If you are going to preach that you offer something different and impactful, start with your online personality. Predictable and acceptable? Unpredictable and intriguing?

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

Speak like you mean it, and be willing to walk away

Speakers Bureau Contract sample
There was a clause in the contract that over-rode this . Signed last night, Jan. 12, 2016.

 

Began 25 minutes behind schedule and ran over my time by one minute, a net loss of 24 minutes. Never complained. Saw it coming and adapted on the fly. This is what a professional speaker does.

Did the client or the audience have any idea?

Certainly not the audience.

Just another day of doing work that matters.

Coincidently, received an email from a different client with great news. The Speakers Bureau’s client agreed to remove their video taping request.

i was willing to walk away from a big contract, rather than compromise my values.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

Aim too high or aim too low

Walt Disney World Monorail
Yesterday, running (from home) to Magic Kingdom entrance.

 

Aim too high or aim too low, there are always going to be critics.

Each aim comes with an outcome.

Each outcome comes with an opportunity.

Recalibration.

The one critical factor that often gets forgotten is the target we set out to achieve in the first place.

Never lose sight of what motivated you in the first place.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.