I’ve just finished up a call with Mark and Kelly for people who are interested in joining the John Maxwell Team. It’s 10pm here in the UK and Sooze and I are now sitting at the kitchen table eating peanuts and thinking about what story to write today!

Yesterday’s story was all about being the person you need to be to get what you want. Being is such an important part of getting isn’t it?

On the call with Mark and Kelly, I talked about my friend Les Brown in response to one of the questions they asked me. Les is such a big personality and such a great speaker. I was thinking back of when I was filming with him in 2014.

I remember sitting around and chatting for 10 minutes and then starting the filming. The moment the camera came on, Les transitioned from regular guy to LES BROWN! 

 

If you’ve ever seen Les speak, you know the Les Brown I mean. His eyes sparkled with life, his face radiated warmth and happiness, his laugh was infectious .. it was the same Les, but this was Les at his best!

If you want to sell something, you put it in the shop window don’t you? No sense in having your best stuff out the back and putting any old rubbish on display for everyone to see!

Les is a nice guy all the time, but when the camera comes on or when you hand him a microphone, he REALLY comes to life. He’s learnt how to do that.

We have an advert here in the UK for an energy drink – the punch line is ‘You, but on a good day!’

When Les speaks you see his best self. It’s still Les being Les .. but it’s Les at his very best.  He doesn't hold anything back.

If you want to influence people when you speak, don’t forget to be likeable! I know you’re nice really .. but make sure you don’t keep it a secret from your audience! It's easy to get caught up in the information or the content, but YOU are your best advert.

It’s not duplicitous to practice presenting your best self when you speak.

It’s still you .. but on a good day. Don’t be afraid to put your best stuff in the shop window.