Wed, 18 May 2016
“Society has told us being a predator is a bad thing. But a predator is noble, trustworthy, can be lethal, and is impossible to ignore.” - Bo Eason(click to tweet)
Have you ever been to a stand-up comedy show? Watched one on TV? If you have, you’ll know that one of the trademarks of the genre is the performer sharing embarrassing real-life stories with the audience. It’s what makes us laugh! We might not all have the same embarrassing experience as the comedian, but everyone can relate to the feeling of being embarrassed. It’s universal.
Today on the James Swanwick Show I’m talking with Bo Eason, former NFL player and current performer, speaker, and storyteller. He’s sharing his experiences and expertise in telling his unique story to engage with an audience. As Bo knows, when you tell your story, the more personal and specific it becomes, the more universal its appeal. It seems counterintuitive, but the details of your story will remind the audience of their own life and then they’ll connect more with yours. So don’t be shy!
In performing and telling stories, it’s important to get your audience’s attention right away. You want them to be captivated from the first sentence on. Bo’s advice to draw them in immediately is to put the audience in the middle of the story. Let them know where your story is going, and they’ll be more interested in learning how you got there.
You might be thinking, I don’t know what my story is. Bo has tips for that too! Every story starts at the bottom of a mountain, with someone with a dream trying to achieve it. So think about what your mountain is, what moment or decision in your life has defined its course, and then listen to what Bo has to say about sculpting your story.
Bo’s got great advice for finding your story, connecting with your audience, and learning how to perform in a way that’s impossible to ignore! You won’t give the same speech after listening to this podcast.
Notes on the Show:
“The people who are closest to their own nature, and have a relationship with it, warts and all, are going to be the people who will lead.” - Bo Eason(click to tweet)
Resource:Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/143 |