Talking Points

Garth Beyer

In the moment of indecision, of wondering what people want to hear, in trying to please the boss in the room, we forget the talking points we are most moved by.

What happens in most presentations is they get filled with the expected.

Informative, sure, but expected.

The presenter goes through the motions and about three-quarters into the keynote, they’ve finally slid in a slide about what they are most passionate about. And you know what? That’s the most moving part of the presentation.

Not because of any build up to it, but because the energy of the presenter finally gets noticed.

People like Sasha Dichter and Simon Sinek aren’t phenomenal speakers because they practiced how to speak publicly. What makes them special is they’ve practiced how to speak publicly about points that completely move them, energize them, fill them with an incredible need to share. (That’s why Sasha paces and Simon uses so many hand motions and vocal influxes.)

Instead of putting the expected talking points in your next presentation, send them out earlier in an email and dedicate your presentation to what moves you most.

 

Stay Positive & Focus On Resonating, Not Feeding An Audience The Basics

Trust Your Struggle

Garth Beyer

Trust Your Struggle Graffiti

I’ve talked about The Struggle before. It’s that time between seeing something you want to make in your head and that moment you realize while attempting to create it, that you aren’t skilled enough.

I’ve had too many of these moments to count, and what got me through them was following a piece of advice that a building told me (graffiti). “Trust your struggle.”

You have to trust that despite your inability, your struggle, and your frustration, that you will gain something monumental out of it. The majority of Struggles I’ve gone through, I have learned the lesson immediately after it’s completion (sometimes poor completion, but lesson learned, regardless).

Other times, it has taken awhile. When I was struggling through NaNoWriMo (writing a novel in one month), trying to force myself to write until it was manifested, I teared up because I was struggling so much. The struggle was real, it was frustrating, but I refused to let my mind, my fear, my inability to meet the perfection I saw for myself stop me from writing. It ended up being a fairly good first book.

If we ever want to create something that we picture in our minds, we have to trust The Struggle.

 

Stay Positive & Trust It, Again And Again

Photo credit
In The Box Podcast

Episode 15: Coincidences, Reaction Time, Life Of A Social Platform And More – Podcast

Garth Beyer

On this episode of In The Box Podcast, we talked about the significance of coincidences, if we should fear artificial intelligence, and the three options you have when you notice you’re afraid.

You’ll also hear us touch on the life cycle of social platforms (how they all turn into a platform for purchasing), the advantages people who aren’t born into a creative family have, and a confusing bit about fate, destiny and LeBron James.

Worth listening. Worth subscribing.

Episode 15: Coincidences, Reaction Time, Life Of A Social Platform And More

Reaction time – How long does it take you to do something you’re afraid of?

Life of a social platform – Will every social platform turn into a platform for purchasing?

Coincidence – Do you place any significance on coincidences?

Computers – Should we be concerned with artificial intelligence?

Fate – Do you believe in fate and or destiny?

Born into creativity – Is there something people who aren’t born into artistic families have that those who are don’t?

 

Stay Positive & Address Fear Then Dance With It

 

You Can Always Come Back And Do More

Garth Beyer

When it comes to quality versus quantity, you can always come back and do more.

If your form sucks while working out, you’ll either be exhausted or injured before you think of upping the quantity of reps.

If your writing has to go through four rounds of edits before it’s good enough to put out there, your editor will be done with you before you get through half the chapters in your book.

If your deck presentation is putting your audience to sleep in the first few slides, what are the chances of them caring what you have to say by the time you get to slide 35?

It’s reassuring to me that nothing is stopping me from coming back and presenting a few more lifts, a few more words, a few more slides. In fact, people want you to when they see you’ve put quality first.

 

Stay Positive & Quality Not Over Quantity, Just Before It

They Show Up When You Do

Garth Beyer

Here are 9 thoughts I had earlier today when I tried writing the start of a new book.

1) I’m thirsty. I’ll get something to drink before I write.

2) I should probably shower and shave now so I don’t have to later. That way I can totally focus on writing.

3) I’m sorta sore. I think I’ll stretch.

4) This couch is comfortable. Maybe I’ll just lay back and think about what I’ll write for a minute or two.

5) I should eat something so hunger doesn’t interrupt my flow once I get going.

6) I’ve gotta go to the bathroom.

7) I wonder if anything interesting is on Facebook or if I got any snaps or I missed that my phone beeped with a message.

8) I’m thirsty again and I didn’t fill my cup with enough water.

9) I wonder what I’ll do after I’m done writing.

The little voices in your head, your fears, your excuses, whatever you want to label them – they show up when you do. Always. It helps to notice them and let them pass, but from my years of noticing them, it doesn’t make it any easier. However, letting them go and pushing forward with my art has always made it more worth it.

Don’t listen to the little voices in your head.

 

Stay Positive & Keep Doing Your Art

Using Others’ Brain Space

Garth Beyer

One of the largest perks to being in a relationship is you can rely on the other to remember certain things and vice versa.

He knows directions to the obscure mexican restaurant on the other side of town. She needs to use her GPS.

She knows all the groceries to get. He needs a list.

The same shared mental space applies to your friends, your followers, your tribe. The more connections you make, the more you can rely on others to fill one of your knowledge gaps, the more you can rely on others to be the expert.

No need to learn how to buy a house, your real estate friend has all the information for you. No need to learn about the stars or space, your astronomer space-head follower has your back. No need to think of a clever email CTA, your tribe can tell you what they want.

The sad part is we often rely so heavily on using others’ brain space that we forget to be the expert for others, the brain they pick.

 

Stay Positive & Curiously Passionate