Stop Hiding Who You Really Are: Be Authentic W/ Corey Poirier

Summary

In this insightful podcast, host Chris interviews motivational speaker and author Corey Poirier, delving into the importance of authenticity in personal branding. Poirier shares his journey from a small-town Canadian to a TED Talk veteran, emphasizing the value of being unfiltered and true to oneself. He discusses strategies for engaging audiences, the pitfalls of emulating others, and the power of storytelling with a hero and a villain. The conversation also touches on the challenges of maintaining authenticity in a world that often prioritizes image over substance.

Takeaways

• 🎯 **Authenticity Over Imitation**: The speaker emphasizes the importance of being authentic rather than trying to emulate famous personalities like Tony Robbins or Lisa Nichols, advocating for individuals to be the best version of themselves.
• 📚 **Personal Growth and Learning**: The guest shares his origin story, highlighting the significance of personal development and learning from experiences, even starting late in life with books like 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' and 'Think and Grow Rich'.
• 🛠️ **Sales and Stand-up Comedy**: The journey of the guest includes an unexpected start in sales and stand-up comedy, showing that diverse experiences can contribute to personal growth and professional success.
• 🎙️ **Engaging the Audience**: Tips for public speaking are shared, such as avoiding an over-reliance on PowerPoint, telling stories with a clear hero and villain, and the importance of not exceeding three main takeaways for the audience to remember.
• 👀 **Eye Contact and Connection**: The power of eye contact in speaking is discussed, as it helps create a genuine connection with the audience and makes the speaker appear more relatable and engaging.
• 🤝 **Interacting with the Audience**: The script mentions the effectiveness of crowd work and interacting with audience members, which can make the speaking experience more dynamic and memorable.
• 🔄 **Keeping Content Fresh**: It is suggested that speakers should change their approach every seven minutes to maintain audience engagement, reflecting the shortened attention spans influenced by modern media consumption habits.
• 💡 **Teaching Something New**: The importance of surprising the audience with new information or debunking common myths is highlighted as a way to increase engagement and leave a lasting impression.
• 🚫 **Avoiding Misrepresentation**: The conversation stresses the need for honesty in representation, whether in social media or public speaking, and the pitfalls of portraying a false image of success.
• 🌟 **Success and Authenticity**: Successful individuals, like those the guest has interviewed, are often authentic because they do not feel the need to prove themselves, suggesting that authenticity can be a path to success.
• 🧘 **Finding Peace in Stillness**: The discussion touches on the struggle to find peace in stillness and the importance of enjoying the journey, not just the destination, as a key to personal fulfillment and success.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the conversation between Chris and Corey?

The main theme of the conversation is about authenticity, personal branding, and the art of engaging speaking. They discuss the importance of being genuine, the challenges of staying true to oneself in the world of public speaking and personal branding, and strategies for connecting with an audience.

What is Corey's background before he became a speaker and author?

Corey grew up in a small town in Canada, raised by a single mother, and barely graduated high school. He didn't read a book until the age of 27 and started his career in sales, selling photocopiers. His first sales training was a Zig Ziglar VHS tape, and he had to learn everything from scratch, without any mentors.

What are some of the tips Corey provides for engaging with an audience during a presentation?

Corey suggests several tips, including using visuals instead of words in presentations, having a clear hero and villain in one's story, adhering to the rule of three for takeaways, and creating an emotional connection with the audience. He also emphasizes the importance of being dynamic and changing things up every seven minutes to maintain audience engagement.

How does Corey define authenticity?

Corey defines authenticity as being unfiltered and speaking one's truth, regardless of the circumstances. It means being congruent with what one is teaching or selling and not pretending to be someone or have accomplishments that one does not.

What is the significance of the 'rule of three' in public speaking according to Corey?

The 'rule of three' in public speaking signifies that a speaker should never have more than three takeaways for their audience. This is because people are conditioned to learn in threes, as seen in the structure of plays and movies, and it helps to keep the message clear and memorable.

What is the role of storytelling in effective speaking, as discussed by Corey?

Storytelling plays a crucial role in effective speaking as it helps to engage the audience emotionally. Corey mentions that every story should have a hero and a villain, which could be personified or symbolic, to create a narrative that the audience can connect with and remember.

How does Corey feel about the use of PowerPoint in presentations?

Corey suggests getting away from using PowerPoint as a crutch filled with bullet points and words. Instead, he recommends using visuals that can tell the story, which allows the speaker to be the focus and not rely on the slides for memorization.

What is the importance of showing one's struggles and imperfections when building a personal brand, as per the conversation?

Showing one's struggles and imperfections is important in building a personal brand because it creates authenticity and relatability. It allows the audience to connect with the person on a deeper level, understanding that they, too, can overcome challenges and achieve success.

What advice does Corey give for someone who wants to become a successful speaker?

Corey advises against trying to become the next version of someone else, like Tony Robbins, and instead encourages individuals to become the best version of themselves. He also recommends learning from the trenches, understanding the audience, and being genuine in the connection with the audience.

How does Corey describe his journey from not reading books until the age of 27 to becoming a successful speaker and author?

Corey describes his journey as starting from a challenging background with no natural talent for sales or public speaking. He had to learn everything from scratch, often facing the risk of losing his job. His turning point was when he was 'tricked' into performing stand-up comedy and later found his path in helping others refine their message and speaking skills.

What is the concept of 'crushing on the stage' as discussed by Corey?

'Crushing on the stage' refers to delivering a powerful and engaging presentation that captivates the audience. Corey helps people achieve this by teaching them how to connect with their audience, structure their talks effectively, and use storytelling to make an impact.