Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 01/04/2021
When I first began speaking professionally, it was to help market my consulting services. I often spoke for free. Then I “raised” my fee to $750. I remember watching the “big name” speakers who were in the Speakers Hall of Fame® and how they meticulously arranged a room’s seating, were insistent about lighting, and demanded certain types of music. They used all kinds of visuals, projections, and props. They were prima donnas.
It was all too “show biz” for me, and I found myself often speaking in basement classrooms, venues with paper-thin walls (and a Chicago Baptist choir competing with me next door, very successfully), lousy amplification, and ridiculous introductions (one idiot stole one of my own stories in his comments, not realizing he stole it from me).
What I learned is that there’s no such thing as a “motivational speaker.” Motivation is intrinsic. If it comes from hearing someone manipulate emotions or demand you trod hot coals, it evanesces within hours. People are motivated by agency, latitude of action, the application of their talents, and recognition of their work and initiative. No one learns to ski or ride a bike by listening to a self-proclaimed “motivational speaker.”
Years have gone by and now I’m in the Hall of Fame (reminding me of the famed Groucho Marx comment about not wanting to be in a club that would have him as a member) and my fee is 40 times my first stated fee. But I feel the exact same way. It’s not about sound and lights nor smoke and mirrors. It’s about providing people with tools and ideas they can put to use immediately, in an entertaining and interesting manner.
After that, it’s up to them.
Why should I listen to someone arrogantly demanding the perfect environment in order to speak or perform tell me that I must be flexible and “authentic”?
And by the way, why does a professional tennis player or golfer need absolute silence while a football quarterback or baseball pitcher is expected to be excellent amidst the roar of the crowd?—Alan Weiss
Business Renaissance:I believe that the signs are very clear for an economic rebirth late first quarter or early second quarter. While many of us have learned to cope well with adversity, we need different techniques to exploit the opportunities that are arriving. I’m hosting a livestream event on January 15 at 9 am eastern (which will be recorded) to share with you my insights and specific tactics. I’ll be talking about how to leverage the inadequacies of past strategies, how to permanently engage in remote advisory work, how to acquire business without being present, and how to create new, innovative offerings at any time at all, among other approaches, and will take questions throughout. This will be on my site (alanweiss.com) in a couple of days, but if you want to grab your place now, go here: https://alanweiss.com/st
2021 Book Sprint: Early February starts my sixth Book Sprint wherein participants create an entire, professional book proposal over 60 days for submission to agents and/or publishers. Our track record is about 80% for book contracts signed! Limited participation, I give you assignments weekly and we meet by Zoom weekly and share our work. Nothing else like this is offered anywhere. I can take six more people. Take assertive action to get that book (or next book) underway and in front of publishers.
MacKay CEO Forums: My long-time client and colleague, Nancy MacKay, is seeking additional chairs for her vast network which provides virtual meetings for business owners and executives. The chairs, while continuing to run their own businesses, also facilitate these meetings periodically, and gain exposure to potential clients by also addressing the groups and becoming known within the network. Here’s a video conversation with me and Nancy with more information: https://vimeo.com/451547172/b19e467e3e. You can reach Nancy for further discussions here: [email protected]. Just mention that I sent you to receive a quick response.
Million Dollar Consulting® College Goes Virtual: Join me for the second-ever virtual college over three mornings January 26-28, 2021 (afternoons in Europe). We’ll have group exercises, role plays, case studies, and great interaction. To launch this new approach, I’ve reduced the fee by 50%. I hosted a dozen people from five countries in the October virtual College. Use this January opportunity to help launch you into the emerging economy with new energy and new techniques in 2021: https://alanweiss.com/
If not now, when?
High Impact Writing: Whether an article or a book, an email or a blog post, write rapidly with maximum influence and effectiveness. Master power language, metaphors, examples, and colorful language. This is the second such offering. All this in one virtual session of three hours: https://alanweiss.com/g
Prestige Mastermind Groups: Limited to five people, facilitated by me, nine sessions of 90 minutes over 90 days. Designed to enable you to take advantage and capitalize on best practices and the approaching business boom: https://alanweiss.com/gr
