Online for Authors Episode 9-28-24

Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking: 10 Simple Rules with Author Frank Winters

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Frank Winters, author of the book 10 Little Rules for Sharing Your Story. A father of two fantastic men, public speaker, geographer, and explorer, Frank Winters was intrigued and motivated by a random fact: one of the things he loves the most – public speaking – is the thing most feared by many. ​

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I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Frank Winters, author of the book 10 Little Rules for Sharing Your Story. In our conversation, Frank shared some profound insights about why storytelling is so innately human, and how we can tap into that to connect more meaningfully with others, whether one-on-one or in front of a crowd of thousands.

Some key takeaways:

• Think beyond the elevator pitch. Be able to adjust your message to fit any length of time, from 7 seconds to 20 minutes.
• Play the pause. Create space between an input and your reaction to allow people to think and make the story their own.
• Invite others in. Ask questions, solicit dissenting views, and give your audience agency to engage and shape the story.

My favorite part was Frank's perspective that by writing this book, he wasn't providing answers, but rather the right questions along with a framework for readers to develop their own rules. A third of the book's pages are intentionally left blank for you to do just that!
If you want to be a more engaging communicator, connect more deeply over coffee, or provide a legacy of powerful stories to your kids, I highly recommend picking up Frank's book. It's a quick, actionable read that will get you thinking about speaking and storytelling in a whole new light.
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Want to work with Frank directly to uplevel your communication game? Find him on LinkedIn or check out his upcoming public speaking workshops.

Comment and let me know - what's your #1 rule for sharing your story? I'd love to hear it!

PS: ❤️ My Favorite Quotes from the Interview

"Humans have been on this Earth for 300,000 years and it's only been 7,000 years since the invention of the wheel. 98% of our DNA is based on pre-wheel times. We are pre-disposed to connect around stories."

"If you've gone over in an agenda, you're being a reckless steward of the gift of time. The elevator pitch is time you're already captive."

"The pause gives people a chance to think, to make your story their own. Only then can we expect anything to change as a result."

Purchase 10 Little Rules for Sharing Your Story:
Hardcover: https://amzn.to/3MuFIwa

​*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.