Category: Professionally Speaking

Freaky short story about what I told a colleague the day of the pain

Lee Cockerell and jeff noel 2010
First sentence in Lee Cockerell’s best-selling Creating Magic is the last one in this post

 

Freaky short story about what I told a colleague the day of the pain:

Me (10am): Hey, having a weird, constant pain for about two hours now. If I keel over and the paramedics ask questions, you can share that with them.

When he asked if he should see about a replacement speaker I said no.

Tough guy right? I can handle this. Did I really think it was potentially paramedic worthy? Not really. Just prudence kicking in.

Insight: It’s not the magic that makes it work, it’s the way we work that makes it magic.

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The most unexpected, amazing answer from a half-serious question

Art is never giving the same speech twice.
Art is never giving the same speech twice.

 

After yesterday’s keynote, mingling, and teardown, headed out the Resort porte cochere to the car. The most unexpected, amazing answer from a half-serious question.

Three women from the audience were engaged in their own deep conversation. But I made cordial small talk and then continued walking to the car.

Over my shoulder I hear, “Can I ask you a question?”

Sure, I said, turning around, but not walking closer.

They asked a few more questions, shared a story, and I was making a transition to leave and I said, “Aren’t you supposed to be in a breakout session”?

“Yes, but your presentation sparked a conversation and before we knew it our breakout session was half over, so we’re skipping it.”

Be the spark.

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Watching an engaging, dynamic, commanding speaker is awesome

Cramped seating on airplane
And my legs are far from being long – still cramped

 

Watching an engaging, dynamic, commanding speaker is awesome.

An executive shared she recently attended one of the best Universities in the world for an executive conference.

The art of exciting, inspiring, and motivating a tough (seasoned, with very high expectations) audience is indeed rare, hence valuable.

Like rare art, worth every penny you pay for it – assuming you can find the authentic piece.

She had not.

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