The Relevant Speaker Blog

John Maxwell said “ Leaders become great not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others” Have you ever seen concrete poured? Do you know what a mucker is? One summer morning when I was 16 years old, my dad came into my room and woke me up at the dark and quiet hour of 5am. I was to be his mucked for the day. I really didn’t want to be up that early, but in order to have money to hang out with friends, I had to earn it. Thus the need to sacrifice the

What Is the best advice you have ever received? Was it a coach telling you, “When you quit, you fail.” Or maybe it was a friend who said, “It’s ok to say no.”Or perhaps it was your Mom who told you to wear clean underwear. In any case, advice from the right person at the right time can often change our perspective. That is what happened to me the first time I met Dr. Stephen Covey. The advice he gave me at first seemed specific but I have found it to be more general and has shaped my mindset. When Stephen Covey found out I was

I am a huge proponent of telling a good story.As the author of The Power of Storytelling and a speech coach – this is one area that personally resonates with me. It is also a key strategy to influence the Sharks or any prospect or audience when you are presenting. So – the fifth presentation tip from Shark Tank is – Tell a Good Story. In the first post we learned to personalize your presentation. In post two we discovered that people buy you. In post three we recognized the importance of knowing your numbers. And the fourth post presented the idea that Samples Sell. Today’s

As you present a product, concept or idea – keep in mind that Samples Sell. This is the fourth presentation tip from Shark Tank. In the first post we learned to personalize your presentation. In post two we discovered that people buy you. And in post three we recognized the importance of knowing your numbers. As entrepreneurs enter the Shark Tank, they present a multitude of ideas. Their products range from food to clothing to movies. And one of the ways that the entrepreneurs seem to win over the sharks is by putting the product in their hands. When you are presenting and

This is post number three in the series – Presentation Tips from Shark Tank. In post one – we discussed Personalizing Your Message. In post two – we discovered that People Buy You. Today’s post will remind us all that we need to Know Our Numbers. As hopeful entrepreneurs present to the sharks they present a valuation on their business. They say, “I’m asking for $100,000 for 10% equity in my business.” – which would be a $1,000,000 valuation. It is only logical that the sharks would want to know why the business is worth $1,000,000. So they ask about the sales

In my first post on Presentation Tips from Shark Tank, we discussed how to personalize your message. The second tip from Shark Tank is that People Buy You. There is a familiar adage in sales and marketing that says, “You are not the message, you are the messenger.”I couldn’t disagree more. Have you ever been to a used car lot and been hounded by a slimy, annoying used car salesman? You can’t tell me that the salesman doesn’t affect the sale.This principle is true across the board.-The students buy the teacher first.-The audience buys the presenter first.-The shark buys the entrepreneur