Do You Know the Powerful Secret of Success?

June 4, 2017 ~ Tom Marcoux ~ Leave a comment

5-28-17)FINAL2_amazingyouVersion6 — Inside Tom Marcoux ‘s book “Amazing You” — you can find Secrets of “Pitch with Extreme Confidence” – Tom’s workshop

“What is something that is crucial for me to successfully pitch and gain funding?” my client, Allen, asked.

“For both your pitch and for every other interaction you have with investors, you’ll use the Powerful Secret of Success,” I said.

“What is it?”

“Listening.”

“What? I’m the one doing the speaking. I’ve got 20 minutes to pitch. What are you talking about?”

I looked calmly in Allen’s eyes. I assured him, “You can listen to the investors even if they do not say anything.”

“How?”

“Listening means opening your awareness,” I said.

For many of us, it’s hard enough just to close our mouths, let alone to slow down and open our awareness.

Realize that people don’t pay attention if you’re not demonstrating your focus and concern for what they value. People need to know you, like you and trust you. We trust people who listen to us and respond warmly and actively.

First, in over 16 years as a professional speaker, I’ve learned that it’s crucial to shift one’s attention from “How am I doing?” to “How are YOU doing?”

Second, here are three methods for you to Listen Well. I recommend the B.A.T process – as in “up at bat.”

B – begin and connect
A – ask a question
T – try dialogue

1. Begin and connect

Before you deliver your pitch, connect with people. Greet them at the door. Mingle. Stand near the refreshments. How can you start listening? Begin with “Gentle Questions.” Some examples include:

Have you been to a number of these events?
How are things going for you?
Are you looking forward to something in particular during this process?

2. Ask a question

Sometimes, during a presentation, I’ll ask a question like: “Who here has become frustrated with _____________ sometime in your life? You don’t have to raise your hand. You could nod …”

As I mentioned, listening is opening your awareness. My question gives me the opportunity to watch faces and body language. Then, I can gauge what’s going on for the investors in the room.

3. Try dialogue

One of my clients had 20 minutes to pitch. I suggested, “Consider giving the pitch for 10 minutes and engage in some form of dialogue for the other 10 minutes. You want to, metaphorically, invite the person to lean in—to engage with you. See if you can include the person’s name.”

“How do I do that?”

Here’s a method I use. I say, “Oh. I see that’s important to you. I’m Tom and you are? … Susan? Susan, what’s most important to you about investing in project like what I’m offering here?”

A while ago, during my breakfast with a prominent venture capitalist, he told me, “Dialogue is important. But everybody just wants to pitch. They just want to talk.”

In summary, develop your skills so that you listen and open your awareness. Take your cues from the investors you see before you.

Warmly,
Tom

Tom Marcoux
Spoken Word Strategist
Pitch Coach

CEO/Speaker/Executive Coach

This material is on my mind because I have now opened a special opportunity. When you CLICK HERE, you can go to my questionnaire-webpage and apply for a free consultation with me (limited number available) titled: “Increase Your Pitch Power for Funding – Strategy Session.”

Here are Your BENEFITS of such a free consultation.

Gain Clarity and Peace of Mind about Pitching so You Gain the Funding you really want
Discover the essential building blocks for having the Pitch that FUNDS your business or project
Determine the #1 thing stopping you from having the Successful PITCH you want
Identify the most powerful actions that will move you toward giving your Pitch with Total Confidence
Complete the consultation with the excitement of knowing EXACTLY what to do next to create the Pitch for Funding that Gets You Great Results

I invite you to apply.

Let’s see if we might get the chance to work together … as a free opportunity to you.

Soar with Confidence: An Executive Coach Reveals Secrets, Lies and Countermeasures So You Excel Like Top CEOs and Leaders – Pitch, Lead, Succeed

Get the Advantages to take your business to a higher level. Learn Leadership Advantages, Pitch Advantages, and Success Advantages. To Soar with Confidence, you learn and use principles for top level communication to board members, team members and the media.
“Marcoux demonstrates how to “Prepare a Compelling Story that Moves Emotions.” He mentions techniques that he teaches clients for developing compelling Ted Talks.” – Dantalion Jones

Darkest Secrets of Making a PITCH for Film and Television: How You Can Get a Studio Executive, Producer, Name Actor or Private Investor to Say “Yes” to Your Project

Learn the vital skills of pitching your ideas and enrolling others into your vision. Get that “Big Yes” to funding your project. “This insightful book shows you how to zing a curveball right past the parts of the Hollywood exec’s brain that want to say no before you even make your pitch. You will learn what works when pitching, and more importantly, why, so you can get to YES much more often. Buy this book now. Consider it Spring Training before the big game.” – Danek Kaus

Darkest Secrets of Persuasion and Seduction Masters: How to Protect Yourself and Turn the Power to Good

This invaluable guide, used by people in 15 countries and now in its second edition, will help you become immune to dark persuasion. Learn to use countermeasures to defend yourself against unethical persuasion and seduction tactics. Break any trance in which a salesperson is trying to get you to buy something not to your benefit. “Learn how to defend yourself against manipulation. Best book you’ll ever read to protect yourself, feel strong and move forward in your life. Highly recommended!” – Dr. JoAnn Dahlkoetter

Secrets of Awesome Dinner Guests: What Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Jr., Helen Keller, and John Lasseter Can Teach You About Success … (The Power of Your Personal Brand)

Imagine dining with Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Jr., Helen Keller, and John Lasseter. These seven people share one thing: They’re great communicators. So this book will help you become a great communicator. “Marcoux especially stresses the importance of personal branding, of coming across as trustworthy and dependable.” – Einar Masson

Darkest Secrets of Charisma: Overcome the Lies about Personal Magnetism, Get People to Feel Your Charisma and Influence Others with Your Words

Learn how you can tap into your natural gifts and tendencies to radiate Three Types of Charisma. Discover how to influence people with your words. “Marcoux explodes this myth: Charismatic people always feel comfortable before and during an important event, such as public speaking, networking or some other social event. This book shows how you can feel discomfort but still come across as confident and charismatic.The secrets include ways to radiate all three forms of charisma Marcoux describes as Warm Trust Charisma, Natural Charm Charisma and Magnetic Charisma.” – Danek Kaus

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What the Rich Don’t Say about Getting Rich: Work Smarter, Live Better

You want wealth, abundance and enjoyment–yes? Wouldn’t it be great to learn the real strategies that the Rich use to create Sustainable Wealth? This book takes you behind-the-scenes to what really works. You’ll see a lot of myth-busting, and you’ll learn the strategies that get real results. “Tom Marcoux gives you an inside look on the psychology of what it takes to be successfully wealthy in life. It’s more than just taking advantage of opportunity, but also about taking care of yourself. This book discusses a number of strategies that we often overlook when it comes to leading a successful life that leads to wealth generation.” – Barry Adamson II

May 18 – “Get It Done! Get Stronger, Get Credit for It – Power Time Management” Event

May 7, 2017May 7, 2017 ~ Tom Marcoux ~ Leave a comment

When you are the most productive, you radiate confidence. Investors pick that up. Confidence is contagious. Confidence builds Trust.

“Get It Done! Get Stronger, Get Credit for It – Power Time Management” is hosted by the San Carlos Chamber of Commerce (San Carlos, CA.) – on May 18, 2017. Here are details:

You Will Learn to:
* Free Yourself from Feeling Overwhelmed – and Control Your Email Inbox
* Clear Your Time for What’s Most Important to You
* Do High Priority Tasks; Get the Credit You Deserve – and More Clients!
* Add One Hour of High Productivity Time Every Day
* Increase Your Confidence as You Lead Your Own Day
* Conquer Procrastination and Distractions
* Say NO and still Protect Relationships

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Register here: https://www.meetup.com/sancarloschamber/events/239522905/

See you there!
Warmly,
Tom

Tom Marcoux
Spoken Word Strategist

CEO/Speaker/Executive Coach
author of 42 books – Look inside these books when you CLICK HERE

PitchPowerFest.com
GetTheBigYes.com
YourBodySoulandProsperity.com (visitors from 94 countries)

Use “Extreme Confidence” to Quiet Down Fear … Pitch and Gain Funding

April 7, 2017 ~ Tom Marcoux ~ Leave a comment

PitchConfidenceWorkshopAD “I think I have the text of my pitch fully memorized,” my new client, Alana, said.

“And?” I asked, seeing something in her facial expression.

“I’m still nervous!” she said.

“It’s understandable,” I began. Then, in an extended conversation, I introduced her to my term “Extreme Confidence.”

Extreme Confidence includes two things:

You KNOW that you know how to adapt to anything comes up during your pitch
You effectively control the “space” between you and the audience members.

When I refer to the “space” between you and audience members, I’m talking about whether you’re connected or separate from the individuals in your audience.

When you develop the skills of Extreme Confidence, you quiet down fear and nervousness.

Develop The Skill to Get More Time to Think

An investor asks a really tough question while you’re pitching to a group. You can say, “I need to pause for a moment. I want my response to be valuable to you.” You just gave yourself some time to think. Even while you say the above sample comment, your brain is thinking at 700 words a minute. You might even come with the answer just as you finish with “…valuable to you.”

Give Yourself “Room to Experiment”

Recently, I was asked about how to include a case study when one is talking to a prospective client.

I replied, “I’ll brainstorm here. You might try this: ‘I helped Joe upgrade his website, and he went from 10 new e-list subscribers per month to 1,237 new e-list subscribers per month. The rate of new clients he gained went from 1 per month to 4 per month—with a long-term value of each client as $6,000. So that was a net gain of …”

When I said, “I’ll brainstorm here,” I gave myself the room to experiment. After I said the above details, I might have come up with a better idea. Then, I could have continued with: “As I was sharing the details I just gave you, I had an another idea. This might even be better …”

The Golden Key: Rehearsing With Experimenting

There is a Paradox of a Good Pitch: Use a script for Selected Phrases and have space for improvising.

You need both.

How do you come up with the Effective Selected Phrases? You do rehearsing with experimenting.

I’ll give you an example. Recently, I went to a conference that included a number of life coaches, healers and others. I experimented with ways to start a conversation. Some ways worked better than others. Then I started saying, “How do you help people?” My tone was warm, and my approach was friendly curiosity. That worked well.

I also experimented with ways to respond to the question: “What do you do?”

After a number versions, and while I watched the faces of my conversation partners, I landed on this:

“I help people fulfill big dreams. Primarily, I help business owners and executives speak so powerfully that they get a lot of YES’s.”

As I said the above, I gestured with my hands as if a bunch of YES’s, like gifts, came toward my heart.

In terms of developing your pitch, practice in front of a number of “test audiences.”

* * *

In summary, realize that rehearsing with experimenting is an important of developing your best pitch to gain funding. Consider working with a coach so you pick the best details and Effective Selected Phrases.

Vital News: Attend Tom Marcoux’s workshop “Pitch with Extreme Confidence: The Pitch Hacking Method” on April 20, 2017. You will learn to:

· Experience Real Confidence
· Seize the Investors’ Attention
· Answer Tough Questions with Poise
· Let Go of Fear and Nervousness
· Use Confident Body Language
· Handle Tough Moments (even if your mind goes blank)

Click here to register – early bird fee of $10.00 https://www.meetup.com/Igniter/events/237843482/

The Secret to Drop Nervousness and Pitch Powerfully

March 2, 2017March 2, 2017 ~ Tom Marcoux ~ Leave a comment

pitchwithconfidenceonesheet2 On stage, I shook so badly that my right leg fluttered like a hummingbird’s wings. I was stuck. Where? I was stuck in “How am I doing?! How am I doing?!”

When I coach a client to give a great pitch to gain funding, I help the person shift out of such a dis-empowered state. I’ve been a professional speaker over 16 years, and I know what it takes to shift to the power to perform well.

“We’ll have you shift out of ‘how am I doing?’ into ‘how are YOU doing?’” I say to my client.

This means that you prepare so well that you’re connected to the investors.
So, leave self-consciousness behind.

Think of it: What does the investor want? To avoid making a mistake. What’s the big mistake?—picking someone you can’t trust to do what it takes to succeed.
Making a business work requires the flexibility to pivot fast and the power to stay strong and to persist.

Investors test us when we’re giving a pitch before them.
Can you take a tough question and keep your poise?
Have you rehearsed more than just the text?

While I work with a client, I say, “Your mind just went blank! Use a Recovery Method.”

Recently, I saw Auli’i Cravalho perform “How Far I’ll Go” (song from Disney’s MOANA, animated feature film)—during the Oscars. Several performers behind her, swung huge flags. I thought, “Careful, don’t hit—” THUD—one performer hit Auli’i in the head with a flag.
Did Auli’i miss a beat?
No. She kept singing, beautifully. She’s a well-trained, thoroughly prepared professional. What a performer!

That’s what I want for you. Be that exceptional pitch-deliverer. It’s not just practicing the text of your speech. You need to make a real connection.
Auli’i maintained her connection with her audience and with her song.

What does your investor want? Remember, the idea is to connect with “How are YOU doing?”
The investor wants to know:

It’s safe to trust you.
You are flexible.
You care about your product, the people you’ll serve, and the investors who will take the journey with you.
You are confident in yourself.

My phrase is: “Confidence is Contagious; Compassion Is the Path.”

The idea is that when you shift from the self-consciousness of “How am I doing?” to “How are YOU doing?” — you’re going to a place of compassion. This ties in with my description of the Sequence: “Confidence is contagious. Investors pick it up. You build trust. Trust gets funding.”

Make that connection. Learn how to recover if your mind goes blank. (See this previous blog post for more tips when you CLICK HERE.)

Shift your thinking from “How am I doing?” to “how are YOU doing?”
Have that conversation with your audience of investors.
Look people in the eye.
Remember, it looks a like a group, but you’re really there with the opportunity to connect with individuals.

Someone asks you a tough question, and you’ll reply: “I’m glad you brought that up. Your name is? George? George, it looks like that’s important to you. Related to that, I want to emphasize …”

As you can see, we’re talking about connecting. When you pay attention to individual investors, you shift out of self-consciousness. You create a conversation.
They can feel your trustworthiness.
Often, as I work with clients, I help them express a personal brand of T.H.O.R.: trustworthy, helpful, organized and respectful.

The Powerful Move is to establish yourself as a peer.
Investors do not fund the work of supplicants.
You and your project are “the prize.”
Learn to connect and get your funding.

Warmly,
Tom

Tom Marcoux, CEO, Pitch Coach – Executive Coach – Spoken Word Strategist

P.S. April 20, 2017, I’m presenting the workshop “Pitch with Extreme Confidence: The Pitch Hacking Method” via Stanford Entrepreneurs and Silicon Valley Founders. (early bird discount when you click here: https://www.meetup.com/Igniter/events/237843482/

This material is on my mind because I have now opened a special opportunity. When you CLICK HERE, you can go to my questionnaire-webpage and apply for a free consultation with me (limited number available) titled: “Increase Your Pitch Power for Funding – Strategy Session.”

Here are Your BENEFITS of such a free consultation.

Gain Clarity and Peace of Mind about Pitching so You Gain the Funding you really want
Discover the essential building blocks for having the Pitch that FUNDS your business or project
Determine the #1 thing stopping you from having the Successful PITCH you want
Identify the most powerful actions that will move you toward giving your Pitch with Total Confidence
Complete the consultation with the excitement of knowing EXACTLY what to do next to create the Pitch for Funding that Gets You Great Results

I invite you to apply.

Let’s see if we might get the chance to work together … as a free opportunity to you.

Tom Marcoux
Executive Coach * Pitch Coach
Spoken Word Strategist

CEO (leading teams in United Kingdom, India and USA)

Speaker-author of 42 books (with free chapters on Amazon.com )

Author of Soar With Confidence: An Executive Coach Reveals Secrets, Lies and Countermeasures So You Excel Like Top CEOs and Leaders – Pitch, Lead, Succeed (See more when you CLICK HERE )

1.8 min. video (on YouTube): Tom Marcoux pulls back the curtain about how his directing a feature film that went to Cannes Film market helps with “Building Your Brand”: