Show Notes
What can we learn from five-year-olds?
Probably some great opinions on the best flavor Pop Tart, but would you expect to end up with a life-changing lesson and the source of your signature story?
That’s what happened when Neen James, my guest on this episode of Standing Ovation, was trying to have a cup of coffee in her friend’s house.
It seems some of the best stories come from the most innocuous situations, but Neen’s story is far from ordinary. Neen has had an illustrious career in the boardroom and on the stage and her personal story spans several industries and borders.
Now an attention and productivity coach, Neen knows all the tricks when it comes to capturing and keeping attention… Probably because she wrote the book on it!
All the way from humdrum Sydney, Australia to the bright lights of Doylestown, PA, it’s my absolute pleasure to welcome Neen to Standing Ovation.
Find out about:
- How a five-year-old taught Neen what it means to really pay attention
- Why relatability is at the heart of every good story
- Whether you should change the details throughout a story’s life cycle
- Why the first two minutes on stage matter most
- Why mentors are so important, and coaches are worth paying for
- How to get started in speaking and business
- Why speaking is all about playing the long game
Quotes from the episode:
“Audience interaction – when done well – means they stay with you for the story, because they’ve already bought into it.”
“We have all these wonderful talents and things that we do intuitively, and audiences love when you reverse engineer that – when you unpack it for them in a way they can then apply in their business and lives. That’s how it makes a difference for them.”
“Make sure that every time you tell a story, it feels like the first time you’re telling it.”
Connect with Neen James
2 Key Questions
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given about the speaking business?
“The more you speak, the more you speak. It’s all about the reps.”
Who is your dream guest for Standing Ovation?
“Brené Brown! I have such a crush on her it’s just stupid! She is a smart, incredible woman who is so authentic. It doesn’t matter what talk I hear or book I read, every time she shows up as herself. She changes the conversation for audiences and the way we think about things in society. I would tune into that in a heartbeat.”
