Presented at http://www.careerconnectors.org/ Presenter Roy Bell, Business Catalyst, StrategyHub http://strategyhb.com Cultivate Your Message Twitter.com/strategyhb

1. Presented by
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2. Contact Into
About.me: www.about.me/roybell
twitter: @strategyhb
hashtag: #cultivateYM
linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/roybell/
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3. Cultivate
Devotion of time and attention
to the improvement of (something).
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4. Every story has a message.
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5. Every story has a message.
person
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6. Meet Debbie!
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7. Meet Debbie!
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8. Problem
Many of us are unable to
communicate powerful messages
that inspire listeners to take action.
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9. Cultivate Your Message
You are forced to define your goal(s).
You gain confidence when relating to your audience.
You are able to more successfully negotiate.
You make your value accessible to others.
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10. Intentions
1. Clear
2. Concise
3. Without confusion
4. Inspires action
Sounds simple but difficult for many.
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11. Importance
• Career initiation
• Career advancement
• Career transition
• Support a cause
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12. Clarify Goals
✓Your Goals
✓Your desired audience and their goals
✓Your message’s focus
✓Your message’s special value
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13. Class Exercise
Identify and list the following.
1.Your Goals _______________________
2.Your desired Audience and their goals_______________
3.Your message’s focus ________________________
4.You message’ special value ______________________
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14. Craft Your Message
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15. "People may forget what you did, People may forget what
you said, but they will never forget how you made them
feel."
~Maya Angelou
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16. Emotions
• We are emotional beings.
• Emotions should be integrated into all forms of
communication to convey significance and importance.
• Emotions allow us to touch on the “WHY”.
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17. 5 Fields of Fundamental Human Values
- Elicit joy
- Enable connection
- Inspire exploration
- Invoke pride
- Impact society
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18. Characteristics of a Message
NORMAL
expressed in parts
depends on a whole flow of thoughts to be understood
may have an undefined audience
may not invite a response
may not seek an end result
may not be about people
may be static
may have no drama, power, or wit
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19. Example of normal messages
I'm looking for a job
I'm excellent
I work well with other
I’m great at multitasking
I need a job
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20. Memorable Messages
MEMORABLE NORMAL
complete message expressed in parts
can stand on its own and be understood depends on a whole flow of thoughts to be
understood
aims at a specific audience may have an undefined audience
invites dialogue may not invite a response
often proactive, seeks to achieve a goal may not seek an end result
concerns people may not be about people
involves action & movement may be static
has a sense of drama, power, or wit may have no drama, power, or wit
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21. 3 Keys To Crafting YMIM
People...Action...Drama
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22. “If a man hasn't discovered something he will die for, he
isn't fit to live.”
~Martin Luther King Jr
“ We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”
~Gandhi
“Every child deserves a fair chance at creating a life worth
living, so we must deliver a quality education.”
~ Mrs. Gilbert (Huntsville, AL)
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23. PEOPLE!
Who are you serving, helping, Inspiring or supporting?
Accounting = business owners
Medical = patients
Teacher = students
Information Technology = businesses
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24. ACTION!
What is happening, could or will happen, or happened in the past
in the lives of the people you’re servicing?
Accounting = help clients report financial perspective
Medical = put patients on path to healthy living.
Teacher = challenge students Intellectually, build leaders
IT = ensure access to data/resources
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25. DRAMA!
What is the emotional Why for the action?
Accounting = to make realtime decisions rapidly.
Medical professional = so they don't become another death
statistic.
Teacher = because they deserve a fair chance to a
successful life.
IT professional = because business profitability depends on
it.
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26. Class Exercise
Craft your most important message to advance your
agenda.
1. People_______________________________
2. Action _______________________________
3. Drama _______________________________
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27. Big Picture
 Spotlight others and their interests
 Forget about yourself, for a second
 Think more about the big picture
Remember:
PEOPLE | ACTION | DRAMA
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28. Delivery Style
a. Authentic
b. Concrete and visual
c. Abstract yet poetic and soaring
d. Easy to understand
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29. Do Often
• Listen
• Be inquisitive
• Seek more information
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30. Components of crafting YMIM
1. Defines the essence of your whole message
2. Inspires dialogue
3. It is about people and for people
4. Includes action or new way of thinking
5. Capture your inherent drama, power or wit
6. Is directed toward achieving your goals
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31. Components of crafting YMIM
7. Take into consideration your desired
audience members' goals
8. Enhance your agenda, because it helps you
and your audience focus on key points
9. Highlights your special, inspiring value(s)
10. Uses concrete examples that people can
visualize.
11. Has style that's authentic to you
12. Is easy to understand and remember
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32. Use Case Scenarios
What bring you here?
(Meet someone at a networking event)
Why do you want to work at ACME Corp?
(Being interviewed you for an position)
What’s keeping you busy these days?
(Reconnect with an old coworker or friend)
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33. The Five-Minute Meeting
Imagine you have the opportunity to meet with an influential
person who can help you achieve your goals for five
minutes.
Structure:
1. Start with your most Important message.
2. Expand your message with two to three supporting points.
3. Add one compelling anecdote or statistic to bring your message to
life.
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34. Closing
We are each, first and foremost, problem solvers.
We convey our value to other by using power messages.
Our end goal is to influence and inspire action in our
listeners.
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35. Contact Into
About.me: www.about.me/roybell
twitter: @strategyhb
hashtag: #cultivateYM
linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/roybell/
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