Nick Morgan’s Latest Blog Post
- FEATURE ARTICLES
Eight Speakers Look Ahead to 2010
By Kate Mytty
Like many industries, the speaking and publishing businesses have just breathed a sigh of relief that 2009 is over, and are looking forward to a better 2010. All the experts are saying that the recovery will be slow; that’s the conventional wisdom. But for a deeper, more thoughtful look ahead, we went out to some of our favorite speaker-authors and asked them what they’re thinking about right now as they ponder the year to come. And they came back in great form, with unusual insights and perspectives. Here’s a sneak peek what they’ll be telling audiences around the world this year.
1. Adam Hartung — Old Approaches No Longer Work for Growth
America just ended its worst economic decade ever. For the first time in history more than 50 percent of Americans ended a decade saying the country moved backward. Yet, 40 percent of the world’s population (China, Brazil, India and Indonesia) saw their economies boom and employment skyrocket. Times have changed, and old approaches to management no longer work. As markets shift, and rapid, consistent change remains the norm, it takes a new way of doing business to prosper. Business leaders must start applying new approaches to planning and implementation which create faster organizational responses that are aligned with market needs. Organizations can grow, and succeed if they apply The Phoenix Principle.
Adam helps companies innovate to achieve real growth. His book, Create Marketplace Disruption, blog and Forbes column can be found at www.sparkpartners.com.
2. David Rendall — Organizations Should Be Freak Factories
According to a CNN Money report, job satisfaction in the United States just hit a 22-year low. More than half of American employees are frustrated by their work. In this environment, managers and workers need a new approach to performance improvement. To re-engage our employees, we need to stop trying to fix their flaws. This approach didn’t work in the past and it won’t work in these troubled times. Instead, we need to create freak factories, organizations that help people to amplify their unique qualities and contribute the best of themselves each day. We need to stop forcing people to fit in and start helping them freak out.
Dave speaks around the world on how to get the most out of yourself and your employees. He runs the Freak Factory blog at www.drendall.com.
3. Josh Linkner — Every Business Needs a Creative Process
As we emerge from the global recession and financial meltdown, competitive advantage has become ever more fleeting with the pressures of commoditization, increased speed, and low barriers. The only sustainable advantage for business success are creativity, innovation, and original thought. Yet, with detailed processes for just about everything, most companies lack effective systems for developing creativity. Businesses need a creative process.
Josh infused creativity in the sweepstakes industry by starting ePrize. He’s on a mission to make the world a more creative planet and blogs about it at www.CreativityGeneration.com.
4. David Meerman Scott — On Earning Attention
- You can buy attention. (Advertising)
- You can beg for attention from the media. (PR)
- You can bug people one at a time to get attention. (Sales)
Or you can earn attention by creating something interesting and valuable and then publishing it online for free: a YouTube video, a blog, a research report, photos, a Twitter stream, an ebook, a Facebook page.
David Meerman Scott is an innovative marketing strategist and the author of a must-read bestseller, The New Rules of Marketing & PR. He blogs at www.webinknow.com.
5. Susan Ershler — Going to the Summit in 2010
After climbing on Everest for 63 days we had just one more day to make it to the top. My husband Phil and I were very near the summit, it was 2:30 in the morning, pitch black and we were getting hammered by a full-on storm. We descended just short of the summit. The dream was over.
After spending years of focus, training, and working it was a bitter disappointment. But we regrouped, refocused and trained even harder for another year and reached the top of the world. The key is to persevere. After a tough 2009, this is the year to go for the summit.
Beyond being an influential leader at Fortune 500 companies, Susan climbed the Seven Summits of the world with her husband. They are the only couple to have done so. Her story is at www.susanershler.com.
6. Lisa Merlo-Booth — Changing Me, Changes We
2010 is the year of transforming relationships by transforming yourself. This year I’m dedicated to helping women build strong relationships with three key messages:
- 1. It is a privilege to be in your inner circle and only those who treat you well get to enter that circle AND remain in that circle.
- 2. Settling for poor treatment, an unhappy relationship or the bare minimum does not serve you or those around you.
- 3. Women need to step in with a quiet, centered, powerful strength to create the change they are looking for—not an over-the-top aggression. When women learn nuance and follow through, their lives and relationships will change.
Lisa is relationship coach helping smart women build smart relationships. She has a knack for telling it like it is. Her blog is at www.relationalcoaching.com.
7. Barrie Bergman — Ethics Must Be at the Base
After 2009’s difficulties, the economy is still on most people’s minds. Individuals, companies, and government need to be cognizant of an ethical foundation going forward. As we restructure the economy, we need to focus on regulating in an ethical, intelligent way.
When Barrie led Record Bar and Bare Escentuals to unprecedented growth, ethical business practices were the key to growth. His story can be found at www.barriebergman.com.
8. Dr. Nick Morgan — Only Authentic Leaders Will Succeed
Today, people crave authenticity. For years, we as employees, customers and individuals have been pitched and sold to; we’re tired of shows and theatrics when it comes to business. No matter how good your intentions, if your audience doesn’t trust you, you will fail. Audiences can see through insincerity. We want leaders who speak with passion and authenticity, even if we disagree with their ideas. With authenticity, comes our trust. That’s what we crave.
Nick applies the latest brain science to communication and uses it to coach people to give audience-moving speeches. He published Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma last year.
