Too many times we take great pains to make sure our social mask is perfectly in place.
Perhaps we find ourselves not just thinking about our words . . . we get caught up in over thinking them!
And in our quest to be perfect and polished, we cast aside our true self.
Kind of big price to pay . . . No?
One of my mentors used to tell me to pretend that all my presentations weren’t presentations . . .
She told me to pretend it was simply a conversation over a cup of coffee at the kitchen table.
No searching for the perfect word
Or getting caught up in a bunch of pretense
Just me being comfortable with being Paul Castain and most importantly . . .
Speaking from the heart!
All I can tell you is that things, from that point on, clicked for me.
I felt like I expedited the connection process and . . .
As silly as this might sound . . . it brought a sense of comfort and peace which reflected in my demeanor.
People started to refer to me as being “real”.
I use the same approach when speaking at sales conventions or having a one on one with someone and. . .
I try my damndest to write that way too.
From the heart and as if you and I are having a chat at my kitchen table.
Today you are cordially invited to invite someone to chat with you at your “kitchen table” with a whole lot of heart and a side order of “real”
Peace!
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Hi Paul, I love this. It takes so much pressure off needing to find the right way and reminds me that my way is just fine, even when it looks a bit messy! I particularly like the idea of of sitting at the kitchen table over coffee. It takes the starchiness out of formal presentations and makes it seem so much more human. Connecting human being to human being.
When preparing for important meetings, I always set an intention of how I want to be. My first ever sales conversation (only 6 months ago), I had no clue how to approach it so to stop myself over analysing it, I set the intention to “Let love guide”. Whenever I got stuck, I leaned back into that and the conversation just flowed.
Thanks for the timely reminder!
Jude
I really like your suggestion of thinking through how we want to be and continuing to let that be our guide.
I’m thinking your advice transcends beyond our sales conversations into our personal brand?
Thanks Jude . . . I really appreciate your thoughts!
Hi there!I can absolutely attest to the fact that you come off as being “real”… in your writing AND in your live interactions. It’s actually one of the things I like best about you! :)Thanks for putting the tip into words – I just gave my first presentation on Tuesday night. I was really nervous but was told it didn’t show at all – which surprised me… Now I think the next one will be easier since I have a mental approach to take! So thanks – as always – for the great counsel! You ROCK!Virtually Yours,
Anne-Marie
Well thank you Anne-Marie . . . I really appreciate that!
Congratulations on your first presentation Anne-Marie and yes the next one will be easier for sure!
Hello Paul, I tend to go with what make my heart sing and proceed from there. Thank you for creating the opportunity to share this with you and your community.
Well said Dr Rae . . . thank you so much for stopping by!
Thank you Paul, always a pleasure being here ; )
Hello Paul, I tend to go with what make my heart sing and proceed from there. Thank you for creating the opportunity to share this with you and your community.
Well said Dr Rae . . . thank you so much for stopping by!
Just like the song from Sammy Davis Jr…….I’ve gotta be me! Love me, or not (and thankfully most do) I am my unique selling proposition. Having people do business with you because they like you is great. Having them totally over joyed because you exceeded their expectations is AWESOME!
I love how you worded that Francine . . . thank you!
You always sound as if you are having a chat….I teach presentation skills often and tell my students and clients that being natural is the safest style for any presentation. If you are yourself, know your material well, and have prepared effectively and diligently you will more than likely do a good job. If you are having fun, your audience will have fun too! So keep on enjoying what you do….you do it well!
Regards,
Sandy
I appreciate the kind words Sandy!
And yes, natural and real are always the best choices in my humble opinion.
Given the many business hats that I’ve worn over the years, the one where the mask was never put aside by people I engaged was when I sat down with some of the most famous people in jazz/entertainment. I tried to get them to relax and come from the heart but always there was an Interview-mask through which they were speaking. I never found a way to “take that mask off” or even to find a way to where they would feel safe enough to remove it. I guess the closest I got to having the Interview-mask removed was with Steven Allan.
I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during that interview 🙂
I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during that interview 🙂
Paul, you never cease to amaze me at how you communicate. I’ve never read anything that didn’t cause me to think that we’re having a chat over a coffee (or a Corona). Thank you for modeling the principles in this, and every, post.
Thanks John and its always a pleasure having you “at my table”
Much appreciation my friend!
Paul, you never cease to amaze me at how you communicate. I’ve never read anything that didn’t cause me to think that we’re having a chat over a coffee (or a Corona). Thank you for modeling the principles in this, and every, post.
Thanks John and its always a pleasure having you “at my table”
Much appreciation my friend!
Paul, it feels great to have you speak these words. While there is a place for more formality based on the audience, insincerity and ‘fakeism’ are so utterly transparent that the message can easily be distorted by the medium. And everyone is tired of ‘salesspeak’.
Thanks for this contribution.
David (really)
You get a big “AMEN” for that David.
Thanks for stopping by!
Paul, it feels great to have you speak these words. While there is a place for more formality based on the audience, insincerity and ‘fakeism’ are so utterly transparent that the message can easily be distorted by the medium. And everyone is tired of ‘salesspeak’.
Thanks for this contribution.
David (really)