Why Fortune Cookie Wisdom frustrates me and what to do about it

Fortune Cookie Wisdom dilutes the impact you want to make when you present to an audience. Here's what to do it about it.

When I was a kid we loved fortune cookies

When I was a kid growing up in Southern California, my parents would take us out to try all sorts of cuisine.

Perhaps a foreshadowing of my future life in Asia, I always enjoyed going out for Asian food.? And at the end of the meal, in many Chinese restaurants, we’d get tea and fortune cookies.

And we all loved the fortune cookies.? Less to eat I’d say, and more because of the fun in cracking the cookie open and reading what the future held.

If I got a particularly good fortune, I might fold it up and stick it in my wallet.

Like a little good luck charm.

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But the fortune inside a Fortune Cookie isn’t all that useful

The fortunes that come inside the cookies are packed with buzzwords.

Fate, riches, longevity, health, love, career.? Maybe a word or two on lucky numbers or colours.

But what those fortunes aren’t is useful.

I mean how much practical advice can a fortune cookie hold?

Not much.

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Fortune Cookie Wisdom

Years ago I was moderating a panel session at a big CX Event in Asia.? Hundreds of people were out in the audience. Eager to learn, to be entertained or, ideally, both.

One of the Panellists in our session grabbed his mic took a deep breath and began to spout every single buzzword going at the time.

His share went on and on and it's still a blur in my mind.

But if I had to mimic it sounded like this:

“We need to connect to our purpose and remember that CX = EX.? Only then can our vision accelerate and digitalization will reinvent our core culture. Unleashed, ROI will rise up and create tangible benefits for all Stakeholders with less friction and more delight.”

I wasn’t sure if he was running for office. Or if his big bosses were seated out somewhere in the audience and it was important to make his company look good.

But I?was?sure that no one in the audience was learning anything from what was being said.

The share was so generic and so 5,000 feet in the air that it lacked any practicality or useful lessons.

And right there, while I was sitting on that stage, a new term came to me.

Fortune Cookie Wisdom!??

Information. Not insight.

Your talk is supposed to be about your audience

I'm convinced that the folks who take the time and effort to attend conferences, webinars and events crave practicality.? And I’m convinced that they crave honesty & vulnerability too.

If they could have easily googled what you told them then they're probably not getting what they hoped for or needed.

My favourite Presenters, on any topic, share their experience on what worked and?what didn’t work.

What they got right?and what they got wrong.

What they did and?what they would do differently if given the chance.

Presenters like these don’t just demonstrate depth. They serve our human need to hear stories and learn from them.

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There's still lots of Fortune Cookie Wisdom out there

As a Trainer, Speaker and Emcee, I spend a lot of time at events.? And there’s still a lot of Fortune Cookie Wisdom out there.

Lots of buzzwords, statistics that anyone can google (1 in 5 people will neve come back!) and case studies about places like Amazon, Southwest Airlines and the Ritz Carlton though the Presenter hasn't personally worked with or for any of those brands.

Information. Not insight.

Insight drawn from personal stories, lessons learned, mistakes made, successes achieved, what to do (or what not to do) and why.

All the things I think an audience member deserves.

It doesn't matter if you're speaking for the the local Lions Club or you're on a massive stage in a big city beamed to thousands.

When you're invited to present to an audience you've been asked to take a position of authority.

And with that authority I think we have a responsibility to do better than Fortune Cookie Wisdom.

We can always bring it down to Earth

I love the line, 'be distinct or go home'. I bet you want to make an impact.

I know I do.

So bring that topic from 5,000 feet in the air down to earth, make it personal, make it practical and help people benefit from what you what you’ve been through.

No one has your narrative but you.

I am sure they will appreciate it.

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Thank you for reading!

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Daniel Ord

[email protected]

www.omnitouchinternational.com

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Conference ,?Contact Center ,?Customer Experience ,?Customer Service ,?Keynote Speaker ,?Keynote Speech

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