Show Notes
How well does your audience really know you? Do you ‘let them in,’ or do you remain on your professional speaker pedestal on a stage they can never reach?
Vinh Giang is one of the most successful speakers in the world today and works incredibly hard on his craft. But what I admire the most about his work on stage is how he humanizes himself immediately. Believe it or not, ‘being human’ on stage is more challenging than you might think and sometimes it’s about not only sharing your own stories on stage but helping the audience to find their own stories too.
Vinh Giang began his stage career as a very successful magician. Five years ago, he turned to keynote speaking and it wasn’t long before he catapulted to the top of the industry. In this episode of Standing Ovation, you’ll hear one of Vinh’s signature stories about how he became a magician and his family’s reaction to that decision. Discover the origin of the story, how it’s evolved, and get ready to seize Vinh’s top tips for connecting to the audience.
Find out about:
- Hear Vinh Giang’s story about how he became a magician
- How to use stories to humanize yourself
- Why you should follow a career path that gives you true fulfilment
- How Vinh sprinkles laugh lines throughout his signature story
- Vinh shares the best ingredients for putting together a story that captures the audience
- The biggest difference between doing a magic show and a keynote
- Tips for using the instrument of your voice more effectively on stage
Quotes from the episode:
“You would not be where you are and you would not have achieved the things you’ve achieved in your life, if it wasn’t for the sacrifices your family have made, and those before them.”
“Until people know who you are, they don’t give you their undivided attention…and the best way to get across who you are is via a story.”
Connect with Vinh Giang
2 Key Questions
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given about the speaking business?
“You must craft a one-hour experience and it has to be so good that event organizers can’t ignore you. If your keynote career isn’t working out, if you’re not getting bookings, if you’re not getting people knocking at your door or sending inquiries, don’t blame the website, don’t blame anything else. Just go straight back to where you have control. Craft a one-hour experience that’s so good, that people can’t ignore you. Because if you put it on you, you always have the ability and control to make it better.”
Who is your dream guest for Standing Ovation?
“I’d love to hear from Simon Sinek. He was one of the people that inspired me. I’d love to hear you dive into stories with him.”
