FEATURE

35. How Saying ‘No’ Can Create New Opportunities in Your Business

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

Do you know that feeling when you take on too much at once and feel like you’re spinning a million plates that could fall and break any second?

Deirdre Van Nest knows this feeling all too well.

The way to get out of this chaos is knowing when to say NO. With this in mind, we have made the hard decision of temporarily pausing the Crazy Good Talks podcast.

In this episode, Deirdre explains why the Crazy Good Talks podcast is going on a short break.

Deirdre discusses: 

  • Her new journey to create a legacy business
  • How saying NO can create new opportunities for your business
  • What the CGT team is working on during this break  
  • When you can expect the Crazy Good Talks podcast to return
  • And more

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

If you’d like tools and strategies to effortlessly make emotional connections with and have an emotional impact on your ideal clients so you can: 

  • Quickly build trust 
  • Help clients make decisions faster
  • And Attract and win more business

We’d LOVE to help!  Please click here to schedule a free 30 minute Strategy Session with a member of our team.



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What it means to be a Thought Leader With John LoDuca Part 2. (Ep 34)

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

Humans have been using storytelling to communicate, pass on knowledge and connect for thousands of years.

But, did you know that when you share your wisdom and stories, and package them in the right way,  your stories actually become assets in your business?

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest has a conversation with John LoDuca, founder of Playbook Builder, to discuss the importance of storytelling, packaging your wisdom, and how thought leadership connects AND impacts us all.

Deirdre and John discuss: 

  • The three core elements of thought leadership
  • How stories play a role in thought leadership and why it’s so important to use stories to convey your wisdom
  • How Playbook Builder leverages your time and makes it easy to share your wisdom (the most valuable asset your company has)with your clients and team members 
  • And more

Connect With John LoDuca:

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

If you’d like tools and strategies to effortlessly make emotional connections with and have an emotional impact on your ideal clients so you can: 

  • Quickly build trust 
  • Help clients make decisions faster
  • And Attract and win more business

We’d LOVE to help!  Please click here to schedule a free 30 minute Strategy Session with a member of our team.

About Our Guest:

Jon is founder and president of The Wisdom Link (founded in 2002), an intellectual capital development firm where he’s provided strategic and tactical guidance, resources, and end-to-end solutions to over 400 leading businesses in 20 industries. He is also founder and managing partner of PlaybookBuilder (founded in 2012), a knowledge management software and consulting services company. As a trusted advisor to several hundred of the top 1⁄2% income earning entrepreneurs from across the US, UK and CAN, Jon is called upon to provide leadership, market strategy and the tactical resources to harvest, package and monetize the unique processes and best practices of leading companies. Jon has been featured as a technology and business leader in Forbes, The Wall St. Journal, Advisor Today and dozens of trade publications. Jon is the author of The Thought Leader, founder of The Wisdom Network – a private think-tank, a contributing writer for Capterra, and a sought-after speaker with engagements at MDRT, TED, AALU, TechAssure, Lincoln Financial, Marshberry, NAIFA, and several regional organizations nationwide.


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What It Means To Be a Thought Leader With John LoDuca Part 1. (Ep 33)

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

A ‘Thought Leader’ has the ability to transform people, industries, and sometimes even the world.

In order to be considered a thought leader you must voice (or pen) original ideas AND you must differentiate yourself through a unique process. 

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest speaks with John LoDuca, founder of Playbook Builder, about how to capitalize on your wisdom and be viewed as a thought leader.

Deirdre and John discuss: 

  • What exactly IS ‘Thought Leadership’?
  • How to package your wisdom to stand out from the herd.
  • Why creating a unique process is a key element in differentiating yourself.
  • Top tips for identifying your own unique process.
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With John LoDuca:

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

If you’d like tools and strategies to effortlessly make emotional connections with and have an emotional impact on your ideal clients so you can: 

  • Quickly build trust 
  • Help clients make decisions faster
  • And Attract and win more business

We’d LOVE to help!  Please click here to schedule a free 30 minute Strategy Session with a member of our team.

About Our Guest:

Jon is founder and president of The Wisdom Link (founded in 2002), an intellectual capital development firm where he’s provided strategic and tactical guidance, resources, and end-to-end solutions to over 400 leading businesses in 20 industries. He is also founder and managing partner of PlaybookBuilder (founded in 2012), a knowledge management software and consulting services company. As a trusted advisor to several hundred of the top 1⁄2% income earning entrepreneurs from across the US, UK and CAN, Jon is called upon to provide leadership, market strategy and the tactical resources to harvest, package and monetize the unique processes and best practices of leading companies. Jon has been featured as a technology and business leader in Forbes, The Wall St. Journal, Advisor Today and dozens of trade publications. Jon is the author of The Thought Leader, founder of The Wisdom Network – a private think-tank, a contributing writer for Capterra, and a sought-after speaker with engagements at MDRT, TED, AALU, TechAssure, Lincoln Financial, Marshberry, NAIFA, and several regional organizations nationwide.

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Top Secrets to Effectively Leading a Remote Team with Andrea Schlapia (Ep 32)

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

Remote work has opened up a whole new world of opportunities.

But, there is still some resistance and fear from business owners who are not comfortable moving to this new way of working. The truth is if you’re not willing to provide at least some remote options, you will not be competitive when it comes to attracting and hiring top talent!

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest sits down with Andrea Schlapia, founder of Ironstone Consulting to discuss her top tips to embracing, creating and leading a successful remote team.

Andrea and Deirdre discuss: 

  • Shifting your mindset from hours to output
  • Making communication your TOP priority and choosing the right platform for you and your team
  • Setting a routine so you can stay focused and creating boundaries between work and personal life
  • What is EOS and why it’s such a powerful business process for virtual offices
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Andrea Schlapia:

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

If you’d like tools and strategies to effortlessly make emotional connections with and have an emotional impact on your ideal clients so you can: 

  • Quickly build trust 
  • Help clients make decisions faster
  • And Attract and win more business

We’d LOVE to help!  Please click here to schedule a free 30 minute Strategy Session with a member of our team.

About Our Guest:

Business owner. Educator. Speaker. Coach. Ironstone Founder/CEO Andrea Lopez-Schlapia holds designations as a Registered Corporate Coach (RCC™), a Human Capital Strategist (HCS), a Strategic HR Business Partner (sHRBP), and Certified Administrator of PXT SelectTM and Myers-Briggs assessments.

Andrea began her career in banking, then rose through the ranks of global investment firms like Dreyfus, Deutsche Bank and Prudential. In 2008, she launched Ironstone, which specializes in helping financial advisors maximize their strategic planning, business development and operations.

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FEATURE

How to Get People Excited to Hear You Speak-Even Before You Take the Stage (Ep 31)

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, , , , , , ,

Most people think their presentation starts when they take the stage, but it actually starts at your introduction.

A Crazy Good introduction paves the way for you and is just as important as the presentation itself. Why? Your introduction needs to be compelling so your audience is primed and excited to hear what you have to say vs. looking at their phones or thinking about what’s on TiKTok!

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest breaks down her 4 step formula for writing Crazy Good introductions.

Deirdre discusses: 

  • What NOT to do when writing your introduction (unless you want to bore people)
  • The difference between a ‘Bio’ and an “Intro”
  • How to use ‘You’ statements to connect to your audience
  • Why you must build benefits and ‘pain points’ into your introduction
  • Why you need to tailor your credentials to every audience (don’t kill them with a laundry list)
  • And more

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

If you’d like tools and strategies to effortlessly make emotional connections with and have an emotional impact on your ideal clients so you can: 

  • Quickly build trust 
  • Help clients make decisions faster
  • And Attract and win more business

We’d LOVE to help!  Please click here to schedule a free 30 minute Strategy Session with a member of our team.

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Top 10 Tips for Crazy Good Videos With Laura Garfield (Ep. 30)

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, , , , , , ,

Just saying the word…Video. Strikes fear in hearts of even the most courageous advisors and entrepreneurs. 

In addition to hearing your inner critic tell you how bad you look and sound, if you’re not a video expert, filming, editing, and producing a video can be really intimidating! Plus, it’s easy to make mistakes. 

That’s why Deirdre asked Laura Garfield, the co-founder of Idea Decanter ,a video production company focused on helping advisors and entrepreneurs grow their business with video, to share her top 10 tips for making sure your videos are Crazy Good.

Deirdre’s favorite tip is #3. It’s something most people never think about, but if you miss it, your message may not be heard.

Laura discusses: 

  • The top ten tips for creating Crazy Good videos
  • Why bringing your authentic self to your videos, is critical for video success
  • “The strategy for talking directly to your audience – make each viewer feel seen and forming a quick connection with them
  • Why you MUST add captions to your videos 
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Laura Garfield:

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

If you’d like tools and strategies to effortlessly make emotional connections with and have an emotional impact on your ideal clients so you can: 

  • Quickly build trust 
  • Help clients make decisions faster
  • And Attract and win more business

We’d LOVE to help!  Please click here to schedule a free 30 minute Strategy Session with a member of our team.

About Our Guest:

Laura Garfield spent her teenage years idolizing Jane Pauley and Katie Couric. A thirst for learning and a love of writing had her hooked on broadcast journalism – where you didn’t have to know everything except how to ask the right questions. After graduation, Laura landed her first news gig at a tiny TV station in Hastings, Nebraska. Over the span of more than a decade, she worked her way up through stations in Omaha and New Orleans to a position at CBS News in New York and then CNN in Atlanta. 

Along the way she has written a book, worked as a foreign correspondent, and has lately been drawn to the emerging possibilities of digital storytelling. Instead of a company relying on a big ad spend, with the Internet, you can be a broadcaster of your own brand. Laura believes that all you need to pull it off is a talented content marketing team (like Idea Decanter!) to help you craft your message.

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FEATURE

Why “Killing your Darlings” Is Absolutely Critical in Storytelling (Ep 29)

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, , , , , , , ,

Would you believe that the subject matter of a great story is almost irrelevant?

What makes a story great and what can RUIN it… is all in the editing! Finding the right details in a story to capture the audience’s attention and relate to the presentation’s topic is much more important than having an action-packed story.

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest reveals the importance of editing and why a great story is not what you leave in but what you take out.

Deirdre discusses: 

  • The number one editing skill you need to develop when writing your speeches and stories
  • Two types of stories every business owner needs to be telling
  • How the Asset Creation Team at Crazy Good Talks helps clients create engaging and strategic business stories
  • Two simple ways to find the details that are distracting and not useful in a story
  • The first steps to take when you start developing your story
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

 

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How One Presentation Started a Digital Empire With Michael Kitces Part 2 (Ep 28)

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, , , , , , , , ,

Do you want to know the secret behind the success of Michael Kitces, one of the most sought-after speakers and thought leaders in his industry?

Through consistency, practice, and following specific communication strategies, Michael has become the legend he is today.

In this episode, Michael talks to Deirdre and reveals the strategies he uses to improve as a speaker, the most powerful medium to establish yourself as a thought leader (it’s not what you think!), and why if his whole business blew up, his email list is all he would need to get started again (the same is true for you).

Deirdre Van Nest and Michael Kitces discuss: 

  • Michael’s process for improving as a speaker
  • The importance of business storytelling in presentations
  • How to engage your clients and find relevant stories with a strong takeaway
  • His ‘must-do’s for creating a successful digital empire
  • The most powerful medium to establish yourself as a thought leader
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Michael Kitces:

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About Our Guest:

Michael Kitces is the Chief Financial Planning Nerd at Kitces.com, dedicated to advancing knowledge in financial planning and helping to make financial advisors better and more successful.

In addition, he is the Head of Planning Strategy at Buckingham Wealth Partners, the co-founder of the XY Planning Network, AdvicePay, New Planner Recruiting, fpPathfinder, and FA BeanCounters, the former Practitioner Editor of the Journal of Financial Planning, the host of the Financial Advisor Success podcast, and the publisher of the popular financial planning industry blog Nerd’s Eye View. 

In 2010, Michael was recognized with one of the FPA’s “Heart of Financial Planning” awards for his dedication and work in advancing the profession.

 

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How One Presentation Started a Digital Empire With Michael Kitces Part 1 (Ep 27)

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, , , , , , ,

Imagine if one presentation could change your life forever.

That’s exactly what happened to Michael Kitces, one of the most sought after speakers and thought leaders in the financial services industry.

But if you’re an entrepreneur, don’t tune out. This episode is for you too because even though Michael’s an advisor, at his core, he’s an entrepreneur and someone every business owner can learn from.

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest talks to Michael about: 

  • His journey from serving clients 1:1 to becoming a paid speaker and one of the most respected thought leaders in his industry 
  • The success of his business today (sneak peek:his podcast has 6 MILLION downloads!)
  • How his digital empire started with a single presentation – yours can too!
  • The best place to get booked if you have little experience as speaker
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Michael Kitces:

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

About Our Guest:

Michael Kitces is the Chief Financial Planning Nerd at Kitces.com, dedicated to advancing knowledge in financial planning and helping to make financial advisors better and more successful.

In addition, he is the Head of Planning Strategy at Buckingham Wealth Partners, the co-founder of the XY Planning Network, AdvicePay, New Planner Recruiting, fpPathfinder, and FA BeanCounters, the former Practitioner Editor of the Journal of Financial Planning, the host of the Financial Advisor Success podcast, and the publisher of the popular financial planning industry blog Nerd’s Eye View. 

In 2010, Michael was recognized with one of the FPA’s “Heart of Financial Planning” awards for his dedication and work in advancing the profession.

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FEATURE

REPLAY – How to Grab Attention from the First Words Out of Your Mouth

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, , , , , , , , , ,

One of the biggest challenges a presenter has is grabbing the attention of your audience from the first words out of your mouth. 

In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre will teach you how to inspire your audience and hook them at the beginning of every presentation both virtually and in person.

In this episode you will learn:

  • Why you should skip the “unpleasant pleasantries” in your opening
  • Techniques to open your next presentation with a bang
  • Deirdre’s three go-to-ways to open a presentation
  • The difference between opening a presentation virtually and in person
  • And more!

Tune in to learn more about how you can captivate your audience from the first words out of your mouth.

Resources:  Crazy Good Talks® | Deirdre Van Nest

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FEATURE

26. What Would You Do if You Could No Longer Speak With Tim Schut

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, , , , , , , ,

What would you do if you could no longer speak? It’s unimaginable isn’t it?

That’s the reality our guest Tim Schut is facing. 

In June of 2021, Tim was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech. This means he is progressively losing his ability to speak. 

He now uses optimism and courage to inspire others, reminding them just how sacred life is.

In this poignant episode, Deirdre Van Nest talks to Tim about: 

  • His journey after diagnosis and how he remains optimistic
  • How voice banking will preserve his (and your) voice for his children and future grandchildren.
  • The importance of living in the moment. 
  • The benefits of staying positive and finding something to look forward to every day
  • His conscious shift to stop thinking about the long-term future and focus on today 
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Tim Schut:

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About Our Guest:

Tim Schut has spent his career in the financial service and real estate industries. But most importantly, he is the father of three amazing girls, and he and his wife are high school sweethearts.

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25. How to be RADICALLY Relevant With Bill Cates

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, , , , , , , , , ,

FACT: Your clients are INUNDATED with messages and attention spans are short.

That’s why when you express yourself, you MUST take the time needed to create messages that are relevant and interesting. Messages that stand out, can make or break your client and audience engagement. 

In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre talks to Bill Cates, speaker, referral coach, and member of the Speaker Hall of Fame, about his latest book, “Radical Relevance”. They discuss ways to help financial professionals and entrepreneurs remain relevant in all their messaging so that their target audience can’t help but respond. 

Deirdre and Bill discuss: 

  • Target markets and how to find the right ones for your business
  • Reasons to develop a signature system for you company
  • The importance of confidence and knowing the next steps for your clients
  • The “committed not attached” mindset, what that means, and how it applies to you
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Bill Cates:

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

About Our Guest:

Bill Cates is a Referral Coach, Speaker, Author, and Dad. He is widely regarded to be the “original” Referral Coach … for good reason! Over the past 25 years, Bill has taught more than 250,000 professionals and business owners how to transform their businesses, to go from incremental growth to exponential growth, by systematically multiplying their best clients.

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FEATURE

24. How To Get More Eyes on Your Videos With Kalli Fedusenko

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, , , , , , , , ,

You’ve recorded your ‘Why Story’. Now, how do you get people to see it? 

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest speaks with Kalli Fedusenko, owner of Kalli Collective LLC. Kalli shares her top tips for promoting and getting more views for your “Why Story” video – or any video for that matter.

You’ll learn: 

  • How to use the “Three P’s- Polish, Promote, Publish to get more eyes on your ‘Why Story’ video
  • Why relying on organic views alone is a HUGE mistake
  • How and why to use paid advertising 
  • Little known tips and tricks to leverage your videos on social media 
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Kalli Fedusenko:

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About Our Guest:

Kalli Fedusenko, is the strategic head and fearless leader of Kalli Collective. She has more than 10 years of experience in the financial planning industry and was the designated Digital Marketing Coach for the FPA (before the FPA coaches corner was discontinued). She specializes in brand strategy, web content strategy, video content planning, and more. With the series 7 & 63, and the powerful combination of creativity and strategy, Kalli is the perfect guide to give your brand a voice.

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FEATURE

23. Stop Juggling All The Balls With Erin Botsford CFP®

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, , , , , , , ,

It’s time to stop juggling all those balls. Having your own business or practice doesn’t have to be so stressful. You CAN create a self managing company. 

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest speaks with Barron’s top 100 advisor Erin Botsford, CPF®, founder and chief executive officer at The Advisor Authority. Hear about Erin’s extraordinary business success story, how her company supports orphans in Africa and her strategies for creating a business that runs itself. 

Erin discusses: 

  • Why your business shouldn’t be your life, it should be the benefactor of your life
  • Why you NEVER want to be the smartest person in the room
  • How to increase your credibility and make yourself more approachable.
  • How she was able to take 6 months off and still have a rocking business 
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Erin Botsford:

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About Our Guest:

Erin Botsford, CPF® is driven to help financial advisors serve more clients, make more money, and have more freedom in their business with the RIGHT training and tools. Her passion is seeing other financial advisors grow their businesses and succeed. This is why she has created an accessible and easy-to-follow course, so you can condense decades into days with the right tools and systems to give you true freedom in your business. 

 

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FEATURE

22. 13 Mistakes That Stop You From Becoming a Crazy Good Speaker (And How To Fix Them!)

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

Are you struggling to hold your audience’s attention and own the room every time you speak? If so, you might be making the most common delivery mistakes without realizing it. 

Let’s turn that around!

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest unpacks 13 mistakes that derail speakers of all experience levels from giving a Crazy Good Talk®! Not only that, but she shares how to make improvements right away — these are the major tips Deirdre has learned from helping thousands of professionals bring in business faster and impact more lives through public speaking.

Deirdre discusses:

  • How to give your audience advice without ever sounding preachy
  • The basics of how to move with purpose while on stage-don’t be a ‘pacer’ or ‘swayer’.
  • What it looks like to aim for connection over perfection as a speaker
  • Why it’s a mistake to address your audience as a group (and what to do instead)
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

 

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21. From Free to Fee: Proven Tips for Becoming a Paid Speaker

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

You’d love to get paid for your professional speaking. But you’re not sure how to go from free-based to fee-based. Sound familiar?

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest tells all! Having gone from speaking for free to now earning a living from delivering her Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre has proven tips to help you initiate and increase your fees over time. 

Deirdre discusses: 

  • How structure and practice will propel you to become a Crazy Good presenter and speaker
  • Why she urges aspiring fee-based speakers to get on stage as much as possible 
  • How having a speaking coach will help you make a massive impact on the lives of others
  • Why networking is the key to continually getting booked to speak
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

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20. How Harnessing the Power of Emotions Will Create Value in Your Presentations With Sam Palazzolo

Public Speaking, Self-improvement, , , , , , ,

There are two emotions you can use to motivate and inspire your audience every time you speak.

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest talks with Sam Palazzolo, the managing director at Tip of the Spear Ventures and author of “The Influential Leader”. Sam shares his advice on harnessing the power of two emotions to build yourself as an authority figure to influence and persuade your audience through your messaging.

Sam discusses:

  • How to establish value creation through the power of questions
  • Two types of emotions to motivate and inspire your audience
  • The Kiss of Death emotion you must avoid and why

And more!

Resources: 

Connect With Sam Palazzolo:

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About Our Guest:

Sam Palazzolo brings a wealth of expertise to his client base, composed of Fortune 100, Mid-Cap, and Startup companies. A hands-on C-suite leader, he brings a unique blend of expertise to the daily challenges of leadership/business under pressure. In this New Economy, leaders and their organizations desire a different perspective faster with results, and he establishes the launch-pad for exponential growth!

Sam is Managing Director at Tip of the Spear Ventures, a Private Equity/Venture Capital and Business Advisory Services firm he established in 2012. In addition to his work at Tip, he founded The Javelin Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing Executive Education through Leadership Development and Executive Coaching programs. He also acts as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) where he annually instructs an Executive Education course based on his fifth book (“Leading at the Tip of the Spear: The Leader” published 2018).

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19. How To Be More Vulnerable When You Express Yourself – Without Scaring People Away

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, , , , , , ,

As a speaker, you’ve probably heard this advice: “Be vulnerable. It will help your audience connect with you.” 

But when does being vulnerable cross into TMI? After all, you want to engage your audience and Own the Room –– not clear it!

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest shares two ways to show vulnerability that builds trust, likeability, and connection with your audience. You will learn how to serve your audience with every story you tell (and avoid sharing too much information!).

Deirdre discusses: 

  • The benefits of showing vulnerability in a professional business setting
  • Top reasons to share your life experiences with your audience
  • What gratuitous vulnerability is (and reasons to avoid it)
  • How to demonstrate vulnerability, connection, and humanity through storytelling
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

 

 

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FEATURE

18. Got “Virtual Fatigue”? A 4-Part Formula for Keeping Your Audience AND Yourself Energized During Virtual Presentations: Part 2

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, , , , , , ,

During a virtual presentation, one of the most difficult tasks can be keeping the energy moving and your audience engaged throughout the entire presentation. 

It’s time to relieve yourself of “virtual fatigue”; keep your audience AND yourself energized during your next presentation!

In part two of this mini-series, Deirdre Van Nest reveals the rest of her CETA formula. This formula is THE key to engaging your audience for your entire presentation. Using the CETA formula, will enable you to deliver an EXPERIENCE to your audience, make an emotional connection with listeners through the screen, and help your content come alive.

Deirdre discusses: 

  • The importance of offering your listener an experience with you, NOT just dumping information—and how you can do this
  • How to weave “anchors” throughout your content to engage your audience in their hearts, minds, bodies, and souls
  • How to strategically use certain questions to make your presentation highly interactive
  • Why you need to make sure your presentation has at least one tangible item the audience can apply to their own life 
  • And more!

Resources: 

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

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FEATURE

17. Got “Virtual Fatigue”? A 4-Part Formula for Keeping Your Audience AND Yourself Energized During Virtual Presentations: Part 1

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

Energy and the internet can be a tough combo for any speaker. 

That’s why keeping the energy moving during your virtual presentations is THE key to engaging your audience.

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest reveals her go-to formula for getting and KEEPING an audience’s attention during virtual presentations. Use this formula so that YOU AND YOUR audience leave “the room” feeling energized. 

Deirdre discusses: 

  • How to make your webcam feel like an actual person and why that’s critical to your success
  • Why you MUST keep the “energy moving” at least every 7 to 10 minutes
  • How to make your audience members feel like you’re talking directly to them vs. to a big group
  • Proven hacks to instantly make your virtual presentations more engaging
  • And more

Resources: 

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16. 7 Steps To Creating a Clear Brand Message That Turns Prospects Into Clients With Casey Fuerst

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

Are you struggling to create a clear brand message? One a 10-year old can understand? 

No matter how long you’ve been in business, messaging is tough! Especially if you’re not a professional marketer. 

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest gets solutions from Casey Fuerst, the owner of Tic Tac Toe Marketing and a StoryBrand Certified Guide. Casey shares seven easy steps for clarifying your message so that more prospects engage with you. This will transform how you talk about who you are, what you do, and the unique value you bring to your clients.

Casey discusses: 

  • What StoryBrand is (and why Deirdre is a big fan!
  • Why you want to be Yoda, not Luke Skywalker!
  • Seven steps to clarifying your message and helping prospects understand the benefits of working with you
  • How StoryBrand and Crazy Good Talks® strategic stories work together to grab and keep your prospects’ attention
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Casey Fuerst:

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About Our Guest:

For 20+ years, Casey Fuerst has worked with small businesses and nonprofits to give them messaging, strategic marketing plans, and collateral materials to support their work. Casey is a certified StoryBrand Guide and uses this framework to increase impact and grow businesses.

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15. Writing a Book Using the Crazy Good Talks® Blueprint With Ross Marino

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

Do you have a book inside you that’s aching to get out?

Of course you do! Well, you’re in luck because the Crazy Good Talks® Blueprint will give you the guidance and structure to write it.

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest is joined by Ross Marino CFP®, the founder and chief executive officer at Advisor2X. You will learn how Ross Marino CFP® used the Crazy Good Talks Blueprint to write his book. You will also discover how you can use the Crazy Good Talks® Blueprint to make an impact with your words and ideas.

Ross discusses: 

  • How he and co-author Susan Bradley encourage their readers to feel, think, and act differently
  • Tips and tricks he learned from the Crazy Good Talks® Blueprint to help write his book
  • Top three strategies he used to write his book from the Crazy Good Talks® Blueprint
  • How opening up with a bang changed his on-stage experience
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Ross Marino:

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

About Our Guest:

Ross Marino’s fascination with business and investments started in the 9th grade, when he received a copy of Money Magazine as a birthday gift. That fascination led to his career as a financial planner. He founded Transitus Wealth Partners, which has helped individuals, families, and business owners make decisions through life transitions for over 30 years.

In 2010, Ross founded Advisor2X™ to help other advisors grow their individual and family financial planning and employer plan practices. Advisor2X™ has hosted over 1,000 events in 40 cities for over 30,000 advisors.

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14. How to Master the Power of the Pause in Your Presentations

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

When you’re presenting, do you feel pressured to fill every space with words?

A lot of professionals feel this way. They believe that if they pause, they’re giving the audience “nothing.”

In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre Van Nest explains why the opposite is true. You will discover why taking a  pause is the most powerful way to connect deeply with your audience. Plus, she shares four types of pauses for every speaker to master, when to use them, and how. 

Deirdre discusses: 

  • Four key times to pause during a presentation or speech
  • Why pausing will help you build an intellectual and emotional connection with your audience
  • An easy technique for emphasizing a significant point to your audience
  • The answer to the question: “How long should I pause for?”
  • And more

Resources: 

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13. So What Does It Actually Take To Be a Crazy Good Speaker?

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

What’s the difference between a good speaker and a Crazy Good Speaker? 

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest shares four trade secrets that Crazy Good Speakers use to stand out and own the room every time they speak. Whether you’re a new speaker, seasoned speaker, or somewhere in between, these are tips you can use right away to make your next presentation Crazy Good!

Deirdre discusses: 

  • How to avoid a speaker’s worst nightmare: Looking into the crowd and seeing a visibly bored audience ––  people daydreaming, sleeping, or playing on their phones
  • The KEY question Crazy Good Speakers always ask BEFORE planning a presentation
  • Why every Crazy Good Speaker follows a process 
  • The  total game-changer – -what Crazy Good Speakers do to own the room every time they speak 
  • And more

Resources: 

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12. To Script or Not to Script? How To Know Which Approach Will Keep Your Audience’s Attention

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

“To script or not to script?” Do you ever ask yourself this question as you prepare for a Crazy Good Talk®?

In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest helps you decide which approach to take for your next speaking engagement –– and why (hint: It’s all about keeping your audience’s attention!). She also dispels the myth that scripting leads to sounding unnatural, and she shares her go-to method for memorizing long presentations. 

Deirdre discusses: 

  • Why scripting is the key to being 100% you in front of your audience
  • Top reasons to memorize your presentation
  • Guidelines on when to go scripted vs. unscripted
  • Why your favorite actors sound completely natural (even though they’re reciting lines)
  • And more

Resources: 

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11. 5 Strategies To Get More People To Attend Your Events With Brad Swineheart

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Have you ever had tons of people register for your event, but then, only a few people actually show up? 

It’s frustrating. Especially when you’ve prepared a Crazy Good Talk®. 

Help is here! Whether you’re an advisor, thought leader, or executive, this episode is for you. Deirdre Van Nest talks with Brad Swineheart, senior vice president of business development at WhiteGlove. As an expert in marketing, Brad shares five strategic ways that will increase your event attendance to ultimately get you more appointments.

Brad discusses: 

  • What to ask yourself before you spend a dollar on your marketing event
  • Why timing is everything when it comes to your events, meetings, and marketing campaigns for prospects
  • Why creating a barrier to entry for every registration actually increases attendance
  • Surefire ways to turn registrants into attendees with a follow-up sequence
  • And more

Resources: 

Crazy Good Talks: 7. The Blind Spot of Building Trust With Joey Davenport

Connect With Brad Swineheart:

Connect With Crazy Good Talks®:

About Our Guest:

Brad Swineheart: Brad Swineheart is the vice president of business development at White Glove, he is dedicated to providing advisors with successful marketing methods that generate prospects and clients. He additionally works to uncover the best industry strategies by discovering how advisors in the trenches today are growing their practices.

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Episode 10 – The Secret Weapon for Decreasing Your Speaking Jitters — with Jesse Tordsen

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Did you know that breathing is a secret weapon for decreasing anxiety and increasing your effectiveness as a presenter?

In fact, when used daily, this secret weapon will give you more peace of mind and help you be more successful in all areas of your life.

In this episode of the Crazy Good Talks® Podcast, Deirdre Van Nest sits down with Jesse Tordsen, owner of Steady Path Healing. As an expert in breathwork, he shares how to use your breath during speaking events and daily life activities. Stay tuned until the end, where Jesse will give you two guided exercises to help you center your energy before you present.

You will learn:

  • How to decrease stress and anxiety when presenting
  • Why tuning into your breath can help you “calm your mind”
  • Two types of breathing exercises to center your energy before you present
  • And more!

Tune in to this episode, to become more aware of the science behind using your breath!]

Resources: Crazy Good Talks® | Deirdre Van Nest | Steady Path Healing Book a Massage | Steady Path Healing | Steady Path Healing Instagram | Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor | Jesse Tordsen | Jesse Tordsen Breathing Exercise Demo

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Episode 9 – Never, ever end your presentation with a Q & A session. Never!

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Contrary to popular belief, one of the ways even the best presentations can be derailed is by closing with a Q and A session. If you are presenting like this, it is absolutely time to make a change!

In this episode of the Crazy Good Talks® Podcast, Deirdre Van Nest shares why it’s a mistake to close your presentation with a Q and A session, and how to keep the audience interested until the very end of your  presentation.

You will learn:

  • How you should be ending your presentations so that you and your audience never experience the ‘FOOSH factor’ 
  • The 3 KEY places to hold your Q and A session
  • The mindset needed to take control of your stage and own the room when you’re holding a Q and A session
  • THE strategy that will redirect questions you don’t want to answer 
  • And more!

Tune in to learn why you need to be the last voice ringing in your audience’s ears!

Resources: Crazy Good Talks® | Deirdre Van Nest

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Episode 8 – Speak To Be Remembered — with Craig Valentine, MBA

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

What if you could become one of the best professional keynote speakers in the entire world? What would that journey look like, and how would you want to be remembered?

In this episode of the Crazy Good Talks® Podcast, Deirdre Van Nest sits down with Craig Valentine, MBA, an award-winning professional speaker, and speech coach. Join Deirdre and Craig as they divulge their key tips to mastering your skills and how they became World-Class “Crazy Good” Speakers.

You will learn:

  • How Craig turned adversity into an advantage and propelled his career in public speaking with the mantra of “if you can face it, you can change it.”
  • Why you have to lose the mindset of “Who am I to think that I could possibly help somebody else?”
  • Why you should always be open to incorporate new tools, strategies, and techniques into your presentations
  • Why Craig starts every coaching process off by asking “Did you come here for validation or did you come here for education?”
  • Craig’s three down and dirty speaking tips to become a Crazy Good speaker
  • And more!

Don’t miss this episode! It will help you become a great educator and speaker, and create strong emotional connections with your audience so that you will be remembered.

Resources: Crazy Good Talks® | Deirdre Van Nest | Craig Valentine’s 52 Speaking Tips | Craig Valentine LI | Book: World Class Speaking by Craig Valentine | Craig Valentine Bio

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Episode 7 – The Blind Spot of Building Trust — with Guest Joey Davenport

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

Your ability to build trust and emotional connection may not be as easy to quantify, but research shows, to the consumer, these qualities are MORE important than competency.

In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre sits down with Joey Davenport, International speaker and president of Hoopis Performance Network. Joey and Deirdre share the top four traits consumers look for in a professional, and pinpoint the blind spot of trust, outlining ways experts can become more approachable.

In this episode you will learn:

  • Why competency is the LAST quality the consumer considers when looking for a financial professional
  • How to stand out in a sea of sameness on LinkedIn (sneak peek: Humanize your profile!)
  • How to create favorable introductions to build a strong connection
  • Why if you’re not willing to show appropriate vulnerability with prospects and clients, you may lose them to a professional who will
  • The top 4 qualities consumers consider when choosing a financial advisor 
  • And more!

Tune in to learn more on how financial professionals can create an emotional connection with clients and pinpoint the blind spot of trust.

Resources: Crazy Good Talks® | Deirdre Van Nest | Joey Davenport on LI | Joey Davenport Bio | Trustworthysellinginfo.com | The Soft Skills Gap Article | Hot LZ | Rodger Johnson on LI

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Episode 6 – Is Storytelling in Your Sales & Relationship Building Toolkit? Part 2

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

Creating a real connection with your audience through a “Why Story” is like adding lighter fluid to your presentations, conversations and marketing tactics.

In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre delves into more detail on Why Stories. You will learn why this type of storytelling is so powerful and how to communicate your story to connect on a deeper level with your audience.

In this episode you will learn:

  • How adding Deirdre’s Why Story to her speeches skyrocketed her career
  • The key is to choosing your Why Story so it resonates 
  • Guidelines to help incorporate your Why Story into a presentation
  • The four main ingredients to creating your story
  • And more!

Tune in to learn more about how you can create an emotional connection with your audience and become a Crazy Good Storyteller!

Resources: Crazy Good Talks® | Deirdre Van Nest | Episode #5

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Episode 5 – Is Storytelling in Your Sales & Relationship Building Toolkit?

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

Did you know that human brains are ideally set up to understand and learn from a story?

In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre will go over three types of stories every business professional MUST have in their tool kit. You’ll learn that stories are an extension of your sales and relationship building team, how they can help you connect on a deeper level with your audience, and how to determine the story type that best fits your purpose.

In this episode you will learn:

  • What three types of stories are essential in business
  • How to determine which story type you need in your presentation
  • How to avoid the biggest storytelling mistakes most professionals make
  • And more!

Tune in to learn more about how to weave stories into your next presentation. Virtually & In Person!

Resources:  Crazy Good Talks® | Deirdre Van Nest

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Episode 4 – How to Grab Attention from the First Words Out of Your Mouth

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

One of the biggest challenges a presenter has is grabbing the attention of your audience from the first words out of your mouth. 

In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre will teach you how to inspire your audience and hook them at the beginning of every presentation both virtually and in person.

In this episode you will learn:

  • Why you should skip the “unpleasant pleasantries” in your opening
  • Techniques to open your next presentation with a bang
  • Deirdre’s three go-to-ways to open a presentation
  • The difference between opening a presentation virtually and in person
  • And more!

Tune in to learn more about how you can captivate your audience from the first words out of your mouth.

Resources:  Crazy Good Talks® | Deirdre Van Nest 

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Episode 3 – How To Prepare Before You Step Out on Stage

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

Are you treating your presentations like any other meeting? You may not realize the work you need to put in before you step on stage.

In this episode of Crazy Good Talks® Deirdre Van Nest, discusses how to discipline yourself and put the audience’s needs before your own. Deirdre explains ways you can empower yourself and control your energy, to give a powerful presentation with actionable steps and strategies you can use both virtually & In person

In this episode you will learn:

  • How to manage your mindset and energy before you speak
  • What an energy protection plan is and how to create your own
  • How to get into the mindset of focusing on what you can control as a speaker
  • And more!

Tune in to learn more about how to prepare to deliver an empowering presentation!

Resources: Crazy Good Talks® | Deirdre Van Nest | Crazy Good Talks® TV | I didn’t come this far to come this far 

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Episode 2 – Why I Left The Stage for 24 years with Deirdre Van Nest

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, you will get to know Deirdre Van Nest. Why is this important? Deirdre believes if you are going to follow her advice you need to feel confident she knows her stuff! Deirdre is passionate about helping and mentoring people to success, she has powered through her own challenges and shares a few of those in this episode

In this episode you will learn:

  • What life events led Deirdre to leaving the stage for 24 years
  • How she created a successful speaking business after being away for so long 
  • What Deirdre feels are some of the most important elements in her life
  • How she helps her private clients get past their fears and move forward
  • And more!

Tune in to get an inside look at how Deirdre became an expert in speaking Virtually & In Person!

Resources: Crazy Good Talks® | Deirdre Van Nest | Fearless Living | World Class Speaking

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Episode 1 – Why You Must Be a Crazy Good Speaker with Deirdre Van Nest

Business Careers, Education, Public Speaking, Self-improvement, , , , , , , , ,

Welcome to Crazy Good Talks® podcast!

In this debut episode of Crazy Good Talks®, top-rated international keynoter and trainer, Deirdre Van Nest discusses her approach to improving your speaking skills, so you can stand out and own the room every time you speak. Deirdre, highlights a couple of success stories and how she helped others become Crazy Good Speakers

In this episode you will learn:

  • What it means to be a Crazy Good Speaker and why it’s so important 
  • How structure, content and delivery all come together
  • What it means to have a great curb appeal
  • What the Crazy Good Talks® Blueprint is and how you can benefit from it
  • And more!

Tune in to learn more about how Crazy Good Talks® can help you become a Crazy Good Speaker!

Resources: Crazy Good Talks® | Deirdre Van Nest | Crazy Good Talks®Blueprint

 

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