Robert Swan: Boy’s Own Hero

Robert Swan is a modern hero cut in the cloth of Shakleton, Scott and the larger-than-life characters of the Victorian Era. His story is impressive. He’s the first person to walk to both the South and North poles. Given the effects of climate change on polar ice he’s quite likely also the last person as well - the melting of the ice means it’s now not possible to undertake the journey’s he completed twenty years ago - today you’d have to swim part of the way. The land of ice he traveled in his youth is now, literally, melting under his feet as global warming takes hold.

Since traveling to the Poles, and observing the effects of climate change and man-made pollution first-hand, Swan has dedicated his life to the preservation of Antarctica by the promotion of recycling, renewable energy and sustainability to combat the effects of climate change.

This is detailed on his website www.2041.com.

Why 2041?

2041 is the year of the review of the Environmental Protocol of the Antarctic Treaty. Swan’s aim is to work towards the protection of this treaty, so there is never a need to exploit the last great continent on Earth for minerals and fossil fuel.

Following his success in removing 1,500 tons of rubbish from Antarctica and with the foresight and support of the Russian Antarctic Division, Robert Swan stood at the Bellingshausen Russian base on King George Island looking down on the beach that had been cleaned. From that moment he believed that an education station in Antarctica, where the world could see the beauty of this incredible continent, would inspire and educate people around the world about climate change and play a crucial role in promoting renewable energy, preservation and conservation for future generations.

He’s established an educational facility in Antarctica. The E-Base is a sustainable green building operated in an environmental and resource efficient manner.

Public speaking for the greater good

Swann is now traveling the world meeting with students in colleges and universities presenting the opportunity to join his campaign to help rescue these pristine wildernesses from the effects of climate change. He’s a compelling and fiery public speaker.

I caught up with him after a presentation to a small group of leadership coaches from Hewlett-Packard in Palo Alto. He told me about the importance “telling it like it is”; about the urgency of his work; and how college kids are receiving his message.

To hear the interview, click on the podcast icon below.

 

 Robert Swan - Polar Explorer [5:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

One of the rules National Speakers Association (NSA) members must abide by is an agreement not to discuss fees or fee ranges - as with many professional associations this prevents members forming a price fixing cartel. So it is sometimes difficult for people to realize how lucrative the professional speaking business actually is.

Not so with speakers who have not joined NSA.

This Sunday’s San Francisco Chronicle features an article describing the career, and fees charged, by Alison Levine. She is a San Francisco-based motivational speaker who overcame a childhood heart condition that prevented her climbing flight of stairs to a become a world-class mountaineer. She uses business principles she picked up in a career at Goldman Sachs and put them into the context of mountain climbing. Combined this with personal stories (such as how a woman takes a pee on Everest) makes her a compelling keynote speaker. Audiences love her.

Levine reveals that she charges $15,000 for a keynote speech and the speaker bureau that handles her bookings takes around 20%. But with a grueling schedule that has her delivering 100 speeches in a year, she is on track to make $1 million in fees.

One can only speculate what Alison’s earnings could be were she to come in from the cold and join our local NSA Chapter. Here, she’d learn how to parlay her keynotes into a range of products that, for many speakers, represent 50% or more of their income. We’d also be able to connect her with top speakers in the industry who could share their combined experience of decades on the road delivering speeches. A diet of cashews and gummy bears will get you in the end, Alison!

Carlos Cruz is a life and business coach, corporate, community and personal motivational speaker, and trainer. Carlos, a former member of the US Navy, founded A Path to Success, and he is an experienced small business owner and consultant.

Carlos believes there are three essential leadership qualities to look for when choosing a speaker, coach, and trainer: life experience, professional training, and an ongoing commitment to rigorous self-examination and self-development. With his continued, sincere committment to developing and integrating these leadership qualities for himself, Carlos has built a firm foundation, and he is seriously dedicated to earning and maintaining your trust.

He is a member of the National Speakers Association 2008 Pro-Track class for emerging speakers. I caught up with Carlos at a recent meeting and asked him about his business and what he is getting out of Pro-Track. To hear what he told me, click on the podcast icon below.

 

 Interview: Carlos Cruz [5:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Kudos to John Kinde for a couple of full reports on the National Speakers Association (NSA) Presentation and Performance Lab which took place over the weekend in Las Vegas.

His report on day one of the conference shares a tip from keynote speaker Giovanni Livera useful for both speakers and speech writers:

…a storyboarding technique using colored Post-It Notes to visually see the flow of audience-impact-moments in your speech (color-coding each type of speech segment; stories from the heart, audience participation, music, etc. Pick categories most relevant to the texture of your speech.)

His second report covers the last two days of the event. Among the dozens of ‘keepers’ John records are many of equal value to speakers and writers:

• Make your spoken word imaginative and more precise.
• When you write a speech: Write it. Speak it. Write it. Speak it.
• Your job as a storyteller is to be an observer.
• Stories are not complicated. They are simple…but difficult to create.
• Transcribe your talk and then edit to eliminate the unnecessary words.

Thanks to John, this was one time when what happened in Las Vegas did not stay in Las Vegas.

Back in September 2006 I had the pleasure of attending a seminar on presentation skills given by Granville Toogood. As I wrote at the time:

What made the event worthwhile for me was seeing (Toogood) in action — coaching volunteers from the audience. He showed how difficult it is for any speaker to actually implement systematic change, to step out of their comfort zone.

The one problem is that these seminars were mostly taught on the East Coast. However, this issue is now resolved. Today’s Financial Times has a full page ad for a free April 24th web seminar where Toogood will offer tips and tricks on learning to speak like a seasoned pro in every important business opportunity.

During this unrehearsed one hour session, Mr. Toogood will coach an executive through an actual presentation and demonstrate many of the same advanced communications techniques he has taught to over two thirds of the Fortune 500 CEOs.

Sounds like a deal.

Last week’s news that Bill & Hillary Clinton’s tax returns show they have earned $109 million over the last eight-years since leaving the White House highlighted the runaway success President Clinton has a professional speaker. His podium fees account for nearly half their family income. The former president’s vigorous lecture schedule, where his speeches command upwards of $250,000, brought in almost $52 million.

Bill would be welcome both as a member of both the National Speakers Association and the International Federation For Professional Speakers.

On September 26th, 2006 he earned $450,000 for one London speech. He’s earned $5.2 million in Canada alone.

These numbers support the claim that Bill Clinton is one of the most successful, compelling public speakers alive today. Of course, he has a unique biography and perspective on the world - anyone who has spent eight years as President will bring that to an event. But I very much doubt that audiences will be paying to see the current inhabitant of the Oval Office when he saddles up and rides off into the sunset.

Bill commands these fees because he delivers value for money. He’s a consummate professional on the podium whose skills as a public speaker, charisma, and ability to entertain audiences around the world keep him in demand. I’m sure he turns down many more offers to speak - at any price - than he accepts. Heck, for all I know, there are interns working at the Clinton Global Initiative Office calling up heads of state to decline invitations every day of the week.

The Business Section of the Sunday New York Times deveotes a quarter-page to sharing eight tips on public speaking. Columnist Phyllis Korkki’s Career Couch answers questions such as “You have been asked to give a speech, and even though you’re an expert on the topic, you feel terrified. Why?”

The advice shared is all spot-on: rehearse beforehand; use an outline rather than a script; slow down your delivery and use vocal variety; minimize PowerPoint; harness nervous energy and turn it into enthusiasm.

The last piece of advice is attributed to “a set of tips prepared by the National Speakers Association”. Since Ms. Korrki does not say which document she found these tips in, I can only encourage readers to check out the various educational programs the NSA has on offer.

Meanwhile, I can attribute the amusing cartoon of a speaker looking like a deer in the headlights to the Times article.

Carlos Gutierrez is an inspirational bilingual speaker.

Carlos is a survivor. He’s survived several car accidents and paralysis. Carlos’s story is captivating; not only for his achievements, but for his circumstances and his challenging positive attitude. His inspiration comes from the heart.

Carlos is an entrepreneur. In the last five years, he has built three different businesses, and has inspired thousands of people with his presentations and his sales career in Finance and Real Estate. Carlos is writing a book in Spanish to help and inspire people in his native language. Eventually, he plans to write the book in English.

Carlos speaks on his passions: Education, Real Estate Investment, Love, Compassion, Suicide Prevention, Parenting, Marriage, Wealth, Happiness and Life Purpose, Human and Civil Rights.

I asked Carlos to explain more about his speaking topics and what value he’s finding in the National Speakers Association Pro-Track program. To hear what he told me, click on the podcast icon below.

 

 Interview: Carlos Guiterrez [4:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Thanks to KC in the Toastmaster’s group I belong to for a link to Changing Minds.

This website has over 2500 suggestions on how we can change the ways others think, believe, feel and do. Since the point of all pubic speaking is to change the audience’s mind (otherwise, why bother?) there’s a boat-load of useful tips and tricks for speakers and speechwriters in here. Everything from the persuasive power of Storytelling in a presentation to confidence tricks to watch out for (heaven forbid you’d actually consider using them!)

While some of the material, though fascinating, is tangential to public speaking, most is right on the money. Here’s an example of the importance of the power of three in a speech:

Use three related words or phrases to grab attention, encapsulate, summarize.

This can be three single words, three phrases or three complete sentences.

The three items can be any three items that fit together to make an impact, including:

• The same item each time, hammering home the point.
• Three key themes that together cover a wide area.
• Three items that act in sequence to get to a desired goal.
• Two problems and a solution that resolves the problem.
• Two actions or objectives and a solution that will result from achieving these.
• The three items can be connected in by a rising or reducing pitch for each one. Going up increases emotion, going down closed on finality and certainty.

Example:

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. (Mark Anthony)

Our objectives are clear: Saddam Hussein’s forces will leave Kuwait. The legitimate government of Kuwait will be restored to its rightful place, and Kuwait will once again be free. (George Bush, Snr, 1990)

There is no cause for pride in what has happened in Selma. There is no cause for self-satisfaction in the long denial of equal rights of millions of Americans. But there is cause for hope and for faith in our Democracy in what is happening here tonight. (L.B.Johnson — ‘we shall overcome’ speech, 1965)

This website deserves to be bookmarked for future reference.

Rhetoric, the technique of persuasion through the use of the spoken word, has been in the news as the contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton heats up.

It’s refreshing for speechwriters and public speakers to see this. Under the current administration there’s little need to ponder issues of rhetoric, any more than bald men need concern themselves with the hairbrush and comb. But now we have two equally passionate and articulate contenders debating, the nuances of public speaking are getting an airing.

There are points being scored on both sides.

Is Hillary hoist by her own petard?

Consider the first lady and her claim that:

“Speeches don’t put food on the table,” she said. “Speeches don’t fill up your tank or fill your prescription . . . That’s the difference between me and my Democratic opponent. My opponent gives speeches, I offer solutions.”

Yes, but both candidates give speeches. That’s their day jobs. These are not pictures of Hillary filling a prescription or pumping gas. Other people engage in these activities.

In offering this observation she is attempting to lay claim to a level of technocratic competence which she thinks Obama lacks. However, the weakness in the argument is how she proposed it…in a speech.

This is a picture of Hillary delivering a speech. She is a fine public speaker. Her husband is a masterful one. It’s best for those who have mastered a craft not to denigrate it.

Does Obama Xerox his speeches?

When Hillary accuses Barack of Xerox’ing change, she is alleging plagiarism in the content of speeches. Obama recently acknowledged that sections of a speech he gave should have been credited to his friend Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts. He also claimed that Senator Clinton had borrowed some phrases he used.

This is just silly.

The English language is a rich source from which to construct original speeches. What probably happens is that the communications professionals, legions of advisor’s and, indeed, speechwriters, encourage the candidate’s to use a limited choice of “hot button” phrases. There’s a whole industry which uses focus groups to test certain phrases over others. Republican strategist Frank Luntz’s book Words that Work advises politicians as well as corporations about the persuasive use of language. Nothing wrong with using words to persuade (the definition of rhetoric) but the effect of this approach when combined with the repetition of the TV ad and the sound-bite is to limit the range of discourse.

Neither candidate should risk repeating speech content used by another. In a pre-Google era it might have escaped notice. Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying “Originality is the art of concealing your sources”. Such concealment just ain’t possible today.

The Code of Professional Ethics of the National Speakers Association states:

Article 4:
The NSA member shall avoid using – either orally or in writing – materials, titles or thematic creations originated by others unless approved in writing by the originator.

It may be time for these candidates to join our Association?