I forget where I learned it, probably from Dan Kennedy or someone in his orbit, but it has stuck with me. If you want to build something start with the sales letter. It doesn't matter if it is a product, a course, a book, or a workshop, write the sales letter first and make it as impactful and enticing as you can. This then becomes the blueprint for what you will build. -Especially if people respond well to the sales letter. I started this community with the goal of eventually building it up into something more, but initially it was to help the 14 speakers I was coaching for TEDxUoWaikato. Now that the TEDx event is done, I can get back to building this community. And I have written my sales letter. The community hasn't yet got all these things, but as I say it is the blueprint, so if the response is right I will build them. I am keen to see what your reaction to it is, so have a read and leave a comment: ----------------------------------------- WARNING: Do You Make This "Empty Room" Mistake When You Try to Change Minds? Your message is everything. It’s your legacy. It’s the seed of the change you want to see in this world. You’ve spent nights staring at the ceiling, your talk or pitch playing on a loop in your mind. You know it could be powerful. You know it could move people. So you practice. In the shower. In the car. You deliver your brilliant talk to the most critical audience imaginable: yourself. And it falls flat. It feels… hollow. Why? Because you’re practising in an empty room. There’s no feedback. No friction. No unexpected question from the back row that makes you see your own idea in a new light. No diverse perspective that sharpens your blunt argument into a razor-sharp point. You are trying to become a compelling communicator in a vacuum. And it’s killing your impact. Stop it. What If You Had a "Private Sounding Board" of Unlikely Allies and Cheerleaders? Imagine this: You’re workshopping your TEDx talk about sustainable aquaculture. In the room (the virtual room, that is) you have:

Let everyone know who you are and where you are. And tell us of the most memorable live presentation you saw or gave. 😃

I mentioned this to @Kirstine Moffat in our kickoff workshop, and she told me she found it inspiring, so I thought I would share it here. In the comments, share a favourite TED talk of yours.