Creating “OWN THE STAGE”
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A BLOG? What the heck is a blog?
My professional speaker colleagues are all telling me, “You’ve gotta have a blog, you’ve gotta have a blog!” I still don’t really understand exactly what it is. So, in classic “me” style, I’m just falling forward, and I’ll make it great later on as I go!
Do you wait until things are perfect? Not me… I know that to make something great, you’ve got to “crave feedback,” as I teach in speaking. You can’t get feedback, if there’s nothing to give feedback on!
The other reason I’m finally starting a blog, is that I just hired Dan Lok, a mentor in copy-writing, to help me with my online business. He told me that I must start a blog. Well, if nothing else, I’m coachable. Are you coachable? With just one coaching call, I realized the power of being accountable to a mentor. So, I just launched a mentoring program of my own, too!
What will my blog be about? (I love how Canadians say “about.”) I have no idea. Sounds like: Aboooot. Love it. Cracks me up. (I just came back from a weekend in Toronto doing our Personal Presentation Coaching Champ Camp with Craig Valentine.)
I’m thinking about giving my personal insights into my own growth path (to inspire others to do the same) and lessons from the road. I’m also considering behind-the-scenes details of my STAGE TIME from the road. What would you like to hear? (I guess you can post your comments – I can’t wait to see how this works!)
STAGE TIME on the road:
As I just mentioned, I was in Toronto with Craig Valentine, the 1999 World Champ, this weekend. People have been asking us to recommend learning resources on the use of “staging” when speaking. “Well,” Craig and I thought, “Why don’t we MAKE one?” Duh! (By the way, great tip for other speakers, questions you get asked are usually products you should be creating!)
Craig and I asked ourselves, “If we’re going to create an educational tool and bring in a camera crew, we need to make sure we have a good audience. Where should we do it?”
It didn’t take us long to decide that we’d shoot our new DVD Learning System “OWN THE STAGE” in Toronto. Thanks to Joan and Peter for helping to fill the room for us on Friday night (150+ people!) It was standing-room only!
It was a perfect theatre to shoot in. The Friday night event was a challenge because of the heat — the AC unit couldn’t battle the heat of the lights! Craig and I were sweating up a storm, but the people there were wonderful. They stuck it out for almost 3 hours of videotaping! They had the added bonus of learning our insights into speaking, AND losing five pounds. too!
We also videotaped our coaching of eight great speakers during our Coaching Champ Camp on Saturday and Sunday. They came to us very good, and literally transformed to GREAT in just 48 hours. It was so cool to watch them grow overnight. They were very coachable. We have a total of 30 hours of video footage from the weekend. I can’t wait to watch it, though editing will be a daunting task!
Thanks also to Ross Mackay, who suggested I stay an extra day in Toronto and speak at CAPs! They had me do a workshop called, “To Product or Not to Product… There is No Question.” People took tons of notes and I had a blast!
Well, my blogs won’t usually be this long. I’m stuck on a plane from Las Vegas and my fingers just keep going!
Stage time, Stage time, Stage time!
Darren LaCroix
2001 World Champion of Public Speaking
BLOG-O-LICIOUS! Love it, Darren!
Welcome to the world of blogging!
Hey Darren,
Oh, great now I have ANOTHER blog I have to read!
Seriously… this IS gonna be a great blog. I’m already hooked.
I don’t track many blogs, but I’m adding this one! Looking forward to hearing more, Darren!
It’s about time!!!
Hi Darren!!
This is the quote I used on my first BLOG post called “Just Get Started”!
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started”. Mark Twain
Good Luck – I look forward to reading your BLOG Posts!
Sherri Raftery
http://www.district31.org
Welcome to the blogosphere, Darren! Keep the content coming!
Hi Darren,
Your glogg is great and will get better. Iam looking forward to reading more.
Hi Darren,
Welcome to the world of Blogging!
Your OUCH speech inspired me to find an 11 at the recent District 73 Table Topics competition. I don’t think anyone has spoken with their backs to the audience and won before!
You can see a video of it here (only 3 min – after all it is a Table topic!)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4ZOPZvzG6o
Cheers
Darren Fleming
This is the FIRST time I’ve ever written in on a blog. Figures it takes LaCroix to get me to do it! How do I get my photo on here? Maybe the better question is how do I get Hopkins’ picture OFF? Just kidding Rich. This is cool Darren.
I look forward to checking in on your BLOG and watching you progress. I hope that you can sense my “energy” now as you did at conference. I am following my dreams and falling forward just as you are! Thanks for your inspiration through your DVD’, books, website and now BLOG.
Hi Darren,
You are so impressive!! Your openess to share and live the life you are teaching shows forth your sincerety and honesty.
I am constantly amazed at how you continually pour yourself into the lives of your subjects.
You are part of a great team and I
am excitedly awaiting the Boot Camp in Phoenix.
Ida
Hi Darren! I like reading your newsletter and when you told us that you have started a blog, WOW! WOW!! WOW!!! That’s meant I can read your articles more often. What a great news to me. Especially to those who have undying passion to public speaking.. I just started my blog recently too, it’s about my journey to possess excellent communication skills => http://iamkia.com Please drop me a comment if you happen to visit my website. Thanks! I have bookmarked your blog. Guess what, I listen to your OUCH speech almost every morning before I go to work. I tell myself everydy, it’s the first step that matters, don’t afraid of taking the first step.
Hey Darren, Enjoyed reading your message. This is my entry in to the land of blog as well. So, hopefully my message will find its way to you. I think the first attempt failed. So, now that have signed up with google, am trying it again smile!!
Hi Darren,
Ok, so I am a little slow checking out your blog. After all, it’s now September. Welcome to the blogging world.
David