Magic Moments

A magic moment can create a special and unique bond between you and the other person. In a podcast, if a magic moment is big enough, it will generate buzz and spike interest in what you’re doing. And if it happens in a video interview, the right magic moment can go viral and raise your profile as well as your platform. That’s why I believe magic moments are the ultimate when it comes to providing a “good listen.” And the best thing about them is that there is so little downside to going for them and so much upside if you end up creating one.

With that in mind, let’s dig into magic moments—what they’re all about and how we can create the conditions for making them happen.

William Goldman, Paul Newman, and Bad Coffee

You may not know the name William Goldman, but he was one of Hollywood’s most famous screenwriters, winning two Oscars, one for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and one for All the President’s Men. He also wrote a bunch of other classics, such as The Princess Bride, Marathon Man, and Misery. All these movies are filled with magic moments, but it took some time before Goldman truly understood their power. To be exact, it took until his second produced screenplay, which was for the Paul Newman detective flick, Harper.

And it almost didn’t happen.

While Harper was being filmed, Goldman got a desperate last-minute call from the producer, who had just realized he needed a scene to run under the opening credits. (This was back when there were opening credits in movies.) So Goldman quickly typed up (this was also back when there were typewriters) a scene of Newman getting up in the morning and getting ready for the day. It didn’t seem like anything special to him, but it would serve its purpose of giving the audience something to look at while the credits went by.

Then the movie was released. Great reviews, great box office. Yet, Goldman was confused by one thing: everyone kept talking about how much they loved the opening scene. They said it was hilarious, brilliant, and unforgettable. They said it was a magic moment.

What did Goldman do that was so amazing? He had Newman make coffee with instant coffee powder and hot water from the bathroom sink. That’s it. But that simple action revealed so much about Newman’s character: he was cheap, lazy, and cynical. He didn’t care about quality or taste. He just wanted to get his caffeine fix and get on with his day.

Goldman realized that he had stumbled upon a powerful technique: using small details to create big impressions. He had shown, rather than told, who Newman was. He made the audience laugh and relate to him. Not only that, but he had created a magic moment.

You can watch the opening of Harper below.

How to Create Your Own Magic Moments

You may not be a Hollywood screenwriter, but you can still use the same principle of creating magic moments in your own communication. Whether you are writing an essay, giving a speech, or recording a podcast, you can use small details to create big impressions on your audience.

Here are 4 tips (not 3) on how to do that:

• Be passionate: Showing that you are invested in what you are saying or doing is the first step in producing magical moments. Your community will be more engaged if they can sense your enthusiasm for the subject.
• Be specific: The second step is to support your arguments with concrete examples, anecdotes, or facts. Your message becomes more compelling, believable, and remembered when it is specific.
• Being authentic and truthful with your audience is the third step. Avoid attempting to pass for someone you are not or saying things you don't believe. Being sincere fosters rapport and trust with your audience.
• Being authentic and allowing your personality to shine through is the fourth phase. Be confident in expressing your humor, feelings, and opinions.

By following these steps, you can create magic moments that will captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression on them. You can make them laugh, cry, think, or act. You can make them remember you and what you said or did.?Magic moments are not easy to create, but they are worth trying for.?

This week, on #LinkedInPresents The Forbes Books Podcast, I stumbled into a magic moment with my guest, Byrd Leavell , the co-head of publishing at United Talent Agency .

While talking about the London Book Fair, one of Europe's most prestigious book-publishing trade events, Byrd revealed that one of the biggest stars on the planet is thinking about writing an autobiography. Find out who it is while learning more about Byrd's career as a literary agent and his work at UTA, a leading talent agency that represents some of the most prominent names in the entertainment and media industries.

You can subscribe to the Forbes Books Podcast on Apple , Spotify , and Google .

Connect with me on?Twitter ,?Instagram , and (of course)?LinkedIn .

My book,?Good Listen: Creating Memorable Moments in Business and in Life , is available now at all your favorite bookstores.