Shelley got her story straight...

Last month Brand Strategist,?Shelley Rostlund?spoke on stage to 200 of her peers. It was the end of the journey we went on together and the culmination of months of hard and often emotional work.

When I got the call from Shelley at the end of last year she had a brief, a theme and a deadline, bags of experience, a passion for her work and an inspiring story but she new she needed help.

She'd presented to large audiences before but hadn't enjoyed the experience, coming off stage?feeling uncomfortable, not being able to remember the experience and convinced she'd wasted everyones time.?

So why put herself through it again?!

Shelley, like me is part of the the?You Are The Media?community. She?knew and?liked its founder,?Mark Masters?and so when he asked her to speak at his Creator Day event in Poole, Dorset,?she?trusted he'd seen something in her that would be of value to the attendees.?

Plus, Shelley knew she?had a valuable message to share, one that was important for the mix of entrepreneurs, business owners and students in the audience to hear.

Not only was it an amazing opportunity that she wanted to remember but?she wanted her?message to land with impact So, I got the call...

We talked through her previous experiences and anxieties and?how her message needed clarity.

We discussed the?outcomes she wanted for herself?from giving the talk as well as the intended outcomes for Mark and the audience.?

I suggested my?Get Your Story Straight?coaching programme.?

The programme uncovers the stories that go to the heart of your audience and?helps shape the content so that the message is clear, the talk is engaging and you are performance ready.?

Shelley and I met in person and online several times over the course of a couple of months. We discussed which of her inspiring stories should be included to really get her message across and?created a flow to the talk that we knew would cover all the important points. The aim was to take the audience on a journey, leaving them feeling something and remembering the core message.?

Below is a clip from?last weeks?Speaking About Speaking?episode where Shelley, during our post talk debrief, sums up why you can't delegate telling your story and sharing your message to anyone else.

As Shelley says, "Tell your story, in your voice and in a way that's comfortable for you."?

??????This is what Shelley has said about me on social media...?

"I think more people need to know what a genius she really is. Thank you Jackie, for everything, and for quite frankly just being you.

You are definitely a genius - gentle, talented...but tenacious!"

Read more here on the importance of getting your story straight for you and your personal brand.

?? Cheeky offer ALERT...

Unlike Shelley you may not need the full GYSS Programme. You may only need one or two parts of it.

In my cheeky little offer below I've divided the programme into bite size chunks, i.e., the four core components that make up the whole...

As my fabulous business coach and mentor,?Christophe Stourton?calls them UNITS OF JACKIE!

I hope there's something for you to mix and match according to your needs, starting with my give away unit!

The TASTER.

Does this sound familiar?

I feel physically ill when I think about speaking in front of people. I get so nervous it stops me interacting at events, even online. I need to learn the basic skills to get me past this. I’m losing business because of it!

Using the?Speak Like a?Speaker Club?'Lucky Dip'?questions you'll talk for a minute. I'll give you?feedback and answer any of your speaking issues or anxiety?questions.?

Plus, I'll give you advice on which unit or combination of units will suit you best.?

A 30-minutes, online and?FREE

?UNIT 1.?Tell me a story.?

Is this you?

I’m desperate to define and articulate my BRAND story. I’ve been asked to speak at an industry event and I’m not sure how my ‘story’ relates to the theme.

We'll brainstorm your story -?why you do what you do - and work to uncover the experiences that are relevant to your audience and strengthen your brand. The process will?clarify your message?so you can communicate your personal brand confidently.??

Or perhaps this is you...

UNIT 2. The Flow

I have the stories that define my brand but how do I transition from one to the next. I want to create maximum impact on the audience. How do I begin so that I draw them in immediately and how do I end so that they will remember me?

You have the stories, the points you need to impress and the outcomes you want for the audience but how do you bring it all together? We'll?create the flow of your presentation?for maximum impact. This is all about the audience journey - beginning, middle and end.?

Is this familiar?

UNIT 3. Performance Ready.

My presentation is sound, but I feel self-conscious and uncomfortable in front of an audience. I get so nervous; I won’t remember anything. What if I fidget and lose my breath?

You have the presentation sorted now how about YOU? How do you sound? How do you look? We'll work?on your breathing, vocal variety and presence. I'll share tips and techniques on how to control the nerves and how to prepare your talk so you won't forget it!

So what does a UNIT include?

• Initial 20 minute call to discuss and personalise your sessions so we hit the ground running.
• 2 x 90 minute 1:2:1 sessions, online or in person (geography and expenses permitting).
• Actions and accountability.
• Access to me (via email, in office hours) and my resources in between meetings.

And cost...

1 Unit = ￡480

2 Units = ￡900

All 3 Units = ￡1320

+ BONUS - Perfect your elevator pitch. Networking special. Usually ￡225 (included free when you buy all 3 units).

I feel so awkward walking into a room full of strangers. I don’t know what to say. I forget what I do and who I am. I mutter and stumble over my words when I’m asked what I do. I can’t intro me and my business succinctly and with clarity if I’m given a time limit.

60 minutes to discuss your business and why you do what you do. We'll get you comfortable with small talk and confident with your intro.

Because...

More comfortable = more confident = more sales!

DM if you want to buy or need more info.?

Alternatively you can ?book a call with me here.

Speak Like a Speaker Club

We met in the Malt House room in Southbourne this week and had a fabulous time.?

There was quite a crowd. It's always lovely to have new people come along. Welcome to Gemma, Alix and Ben. ??

We warmed up, answered some random questions, and had a lucky dip 1-minute hot seat. Even the newbies got up and spoke! Brave and impressive.

Then for practice and feedback the fabulously enigmatic, Westrow Cooper ‘performed’ his talk about ‘Reading Proust’.

It was interesting and engaging and I can’t wait to see how it develops!

I even aired something I was toying with too and got some incredibly helpful feedback and support. Watch this space to find out more about that!

If you’d like to exercise your speaking muscles in a safe and supportive environment join us for the next SLAS Club on Wednesday 5th June, 6.30 for 7 pm. Details here.

And so to the podcast...

Above is a clip of me talking during the 'Don't Worry About Worrying' episode?about how by using 'Superposing' and 'status' techniques you can increase you confidence.

Catch up with all the Speaking About Speaking replays on the Power To Speak YouTube channel. Including my debrief with Shelley and like recent guests, former Gymshark CFO,Philip Daw, LinkedIn trainer, Sarah Clay, TikTok Lady and a?TikTok-preneur,?Michelle Haslam and most recently Sizzling Hot Offer expert, Janine Coombes.

It's wedding season...

Traditionally the time when perfectly calm and collected fathers, Best Men and Women go to pieces. ?? They've got to give THAT speech

Should they be funny? Solemn? Tug at the heartstrings?

Read Jon's story here and DM me if you know someone that might need help this wedding season!

Thank you so much for reading. ????

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In the words of the fabulous Shelley Rostlund...