Would you like to see more videos like this that discuss lessons learned while being on the road in each city I speak in? Let me know in the comments below!
I recently had an interview with Craig Valentine, 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking, whom I will be speaking on stage with at Lefford Fate’s Event next month. Craig told me, “If you want to make a difference and make money in this business, you have to learn how to be niche and famous. You do that by going after a small piece of the pie!”
I think some of us struggle with this, as sometimes we feel like we need to take on the entire pie at once! So, let’s start small and dream BIG!
Identify your pie and what slice of it you want to bite into, first.
Examples of popular pies could include:
1) Leadership
2) Public Speaking
3) Personal Development
Example of slices of that pie:
1) Leading teams, emerging leaders, or dealing with honesty
2) Storytelling, humor, or delivery
3) Mindset, time management, or confidence building
If thin slices become a pie, what are five ways you can go after that slice of pie and be niche and famous?
Listen to the questions people ask you: What questions do you get asked often? People are coming to you for this advice. Can these questions help you identify the piece of the pie in which you already might have an interest?
Let your products sell your other products: Too many people forget about letting their readers or audience know about the other resources they have. A blog can promote a book. A speech can promote a coaching session. A book can promote a CD set.
Know exactly to whom you are marketing: If you try to market to everyone, you will reach no one! Begin by picking one demographic. Can you identify the type of person who buys your product? Who buys Nike gear? Who shops at DSW? What group of people buys Rolexes? All great companies know their target market! Will others buy their products at times? Sure, but the bulk of their business is based off the ones they target!
Build your list: Without your email list you can’t become niche and famous. Start today by offering a way to have people sign up to receive your newsletter. Give them a free download that adds value to their life to make it more enticing for them to subscribe. Communicate with them on a regular basis.
Change your mindset from artist to marketer: Everyone is an artist. Few are marketers. The more you get your artwork out there, the more artwork you will sell. What are you doing to market your services and products so you can be identified as the amazing artist you already are? Just think of those talented friends of yours who have so much potential but who aren’t marketing their products and services correctly. They aren’t going anywhere. Don’t be that person! Be a marketer!
Go out there and take ownership of that thin slice of pie! Put a bunch of little slices together and over time what will you get? As always…
Dream BIG,
Ryan
It has almost been a month since we completed 31 Days of Kindness, and I have to say the benefits have still been hitting me.
In the past week I have seen more people doing kind things for others than I have ever seen, before. I’ll share three examples of what I have personally encountered:
Man with the mango pancake: Chelsea and I are standing in line to get a street car pancake. I say aloud, “I cannot decide if I want the Mango Madness or the Nutella banana one!” The guy in front of me turns around as he receives his Mango Madness, cuts off a bite of his and says, “Here, try it. It is too much food for me, anyway.” It was delicious, but too rich in taste; he helped me pick the Nutella option!
Girl with the sunglasses: We are sitting on the beach in Thailand, and vendors are walking by trying to sell us everything from fresh almonds to sun tanning oil. One vendor– who is selling sunglasses–unknowingly drops a pair in front of a group of kids and keeps walking. Instead of keeping the glasses, one of the girls picks it up and runs after the peddler to return the glasses. They share a smile and continue on their respective ways.
Runner with the blind man walking: A blind man is walking. You can tell he is lost as he is running into a wall. A runner sees the man from a distance and runs over to him. She asks the man, “Hi sir, where you going? I can help you get there if you want!”
I have witnessed several more acts of kindness this week. Whether you are looking for the kind–or the mean– you will find it!
Shift your mind into finding the kind and you will see how great people really are.
Pay attention this week to how many acts of kindness you see. Be surprised by how much good is happening all around you.
In return- you, too, will want to be more kind. That is how we change the world in which we live. As always…
Dream BIG,
Ryan
Question: When was the last time you found someone doing something kind for others?
Today I am giving away a new copy of Speaker Leader Champion in any format the winner wants (audio, e-book or a hard signed copy).
Two ways to enter. Do both of these things, get double your chances to win:
1) Subscribe, via email, to the blog in the right hand corner of this page
2) Share this article on any social media account and tag me in it so I know you shared it (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn).
Again, do them both, be counted twice! Like all my giveaways, I will put everyones name on a list, use the random number generator and pick a winner this Saturday afternoon! I hope you are enjoying your Friday and getting ready for and fun-filled summer weekend!
I write articles every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9am PST. If you’re new I hope you’ll stick around and if you have been here for a while, you are awesome, let me write you a letter! As always….
Dream BIG,
Ryan
UPDATE: Winner of today’s giveaway is subscriber (dachrismom). I will reach out to you via email as well! Thanks to everyone for sharing and stay tuned for another giveaway soon!
I am excited to announce that on April 16th with the help of McGraw-Hill, 800 CEO Read, Alpha Kappa Psi, local Toastmasters, Fort Collins community members and students at Colorado State University, together we will break the record for the largest book signing in history!
The current record according to the Guinness Book of World Records is: The most books signed by one author in a single session is 4,649 by Sammy Lee (Hong Kong), who signed his book “Autopilot Leadership Model” in Shenyang, Liaoning, China, on 19 January 2013.
There will be more to come and in the next eight weeks. I will blog about our journey, planning and what it takes to break the record. Make sure to subscribe to the blog posts (right-hand corner of this post) because I will send out information on giveaways, ways to help and how you can be part of this World Record!
We will sign 5,000 copies of my (and Jeremey Donovan’s) new book – Speaker, Leader, Champion: Succeed at Work Through the Power of Public Speaking on April 16th. Email me at ryan@averytoday.com if you have ideas of how you can help, people you know who can promote the event or if you want to volunteer the day of the signing!
I am beyond excited to be breaking this world record with you and can’t wait for us to make history at CSU!
As always….
Dream BIG,
Ryan Avery
My book this week is called “Selling The Invisible” by Harry Beckwith.
Packed with small chapters, powerful reminders and an insightful look into the way we can market the invisible, it is becoming one of my new favorite marketing books. I would highly recommend you
I am halfway through it when I read the “The Shark Rule.”
“If a shark does not move, it cannot breath. And it Dies” What Beckwith says in this chapter, and the one before it, is if you keep planning and stay still while never putting your ideas into action, they will never live. You have to keep trying, you have to keep pushing yourself, and you must keep your ideas moving!
It’s like Guy Kawasaki’s “Ready. Fire. Aim.” model. Quit looking for your product/website/invention to be perfect before you get it out there. Move! Keep moving or your idea will die!
When I launched this website last week, I had four people proof read every page and people are still emailing me to let me know there are a few typos here and there. We will add to this website every week with new blog posts, products and videos… but if you wait for things to be perfect and don’t get going or keep moving on your idea, message or invention- it will never live.
Do what Bill Gates did when he put his software out there for free and got feedback on how he could make it better. Do what J.K. Rowling did and keep looking for a publisher and you might get one after your twelfth rejection. Do what Abraham Lincoln did and become President after you lose close to a dozen elections.
Do what sharks do and keep moving because the idea you have needs to become a reality and we deserve to see it!
Happy Monday and as always…
Dream BIG,
Ryan Avery
Each Friday I will give you five quotes to get ready for the weekend.
Each week I will focus on one word.
Because this is the first week of many, I thought it would be appropriate for the first word of Friday Quote Day to be … “Start!!”
“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.” – Buddha
“Arriving at one goal is the starting point to another.” – John Dewey
“You just have to keep on doing what you do. It’s the lesson I get from my husband; he just says, Keep going. Start by starting.” – Meryl Streep
“Starting out to make money is the greatest mistake in life. Do what you feel you have a flair for doing, and if you are good enough at it, the money will come.” – Greer Garson
“It’s impossible to map out a route to your destination if you don’t know where you’re starting from.” – Suze Orman
What is your favorite quote above? Do you have a quote you can add about starting? Share your comments below and share this article if you feel inspired! As always…
Dream BIG,
Ryan
