Thom's Top Ten Tips For Finding The Right Speaker For Your Event

I was asked this week by a meeting planner for my advice on how to find additional speakers for an event that will "wow" her audience. The below is from my email response.  What do you think?  What did I leave out?

Thom Singer's Ten Tips For Finding The Right Speaker For Your Event

1.  Just because someone is smart or has done something cool does not mean they belong on stage.


2.  If you hire speakers, always be seeking ideas for those who can present.  Keep a file so you have a list on hand when it comes time to make your selection.


3.  Know your budget and be upfront with the speaker.  Fee negotiation does not need to be adversarial.


4.  If you financially compensate some speakers and ask others to speak for free, be open about your policy.


5.  When asking a speaker to discount their regular fee, know what you will you offer in return.  "Exposure" from the speech alone may or may not actually have value.


6.  Invite your speakers to be a partner in the success of your event, not simply to speak and leave.  Discover if the speaker plans to participate with your attendees at breaks, meals, happy hours, etc...  How will they engage with your audience via social media before, during and after?


7.  Ask how many presentations a speaker has given in last two years.  Experience matters.


8.  Be willing to integrate topics that are not the "same old / same old".


9.  How do you want your speaker to be dressed?  In today's uber-casual environment you should communicate what the speaker should wear.  Have the conversation upfront to avoid being surprised if they are over-dressed or under-dressed.


10.  Have an extended conversation with the speaker to understand their personality and make sure there is a connection.  If you do not "click" on the phone, follow your gut instinct.


Have A Great Day.


thom singer

Thom Singer is known as "The Conference Catalyst". He works with meeting planners and conference organizers to set the tone for a meeting. His presentations educate, inspire and motivate attendees to engage deeper in the event and make meaningful connections.  http://www.conferencecatalyst.com 

www.ConferenceCatalyst.com

Cool Things My Friends Do - Brian Massey's New Book "Your Customer Creation Equation"

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their work and personal lives.    

It seems I know a lot of people who are releasing books lately. My friend Brain Massey is about to launch Your Customer Creation Equation.  Brian is an exert in how to take your company beyond the noise of social media, and make it convert to real business.

Conversion is the science of turning Web traffic into leads and sales. It is the art of engaging a visitor and helping them solve their problems. There is no better medium to do this than the Web. When you get conversion right, all of your marketing programs become less expensive. Brian is the consultant to call for making the Web a profitable place for your business.

His book will be released soon.  Sign up on his website to get more info so you do not miss this important book!

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Do You Believe He Can Fly? Royce White and Reasonable Accommodations Under the Americans with Disabilities Act for NBA Players with Phobias

I have posted on SSRN an early draft of my forthcoming article in the Pepperdine Law Review: Do You Believe He Can Fly? Royce White and Reasonable Accommodations Under the Americans with Disabilities Act for NBA Players with Phobias.

The article is about Royce White, who is expected to be selected in the first round of tonight's NBA draft (rumors are the Celtics will pick him, though other teams are interested), and what impact his severe fear of flying will have on his NBA career. The article also considers the legal mechanisms that may be available to White under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Here's an excerpt:

If fear of flying constitutes a disability for White under the ADA, he could argue that the NBA or his team should accept any reasonable request for accommodation. They may disagree about what constitutes "reasonable". Allowing White to take a train from Boston to New York City, or even a ship to Europe, would probably be reasonable so long as White does not miss meetings, practices or games. Then again, White as a rookie traveling alone, might not gain valuable insight from conversations with coaches and teammates or develop camaraderie with them.

Seemingly less reasonable would be allowing White to miss a road trip. Unless he is injured, suspended or assigned to the D-League (the NBA's minor league), White will be contractually obligated to play 82 regular season games, along with four to six pre-season games, up to 28 postseason games, and possibly a handful of summer league games. No player signs a standard contract to play in "some games." Consider the impact of such an arrangement on White's coach: if White's only an occasional player, his coach might struggle to set his rotation. On the other hand, professional leagues have carved out exceptions for players to miss road games. This has been true of NBA players recovering from injury. Gilbert Arenas, returning from a knee injury in 2009, was allowed a flexible schedule whereby he would play in all home games but only some road games. Other circumstances have led to similar arrangements. Last year the Central Hockey League allowed Rapid City Rush forward Brett Nylander, a second lieutenant in the Air Force, to only play home games because his military service limited travel.

Hope you have a chance to read this early draft and email me thoughts.

Age of Entry and NBA Success

Jun Woo Kim and I recently published a (non-legal) statistical article in the Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports that looks at age and NBA success. A link to the article can be found here. The abstract is below:

The NBA’s age eligibility rule is controversial. To examine the on-court efficacy of the NBA’s age eligibility rule, we test the effect of age of entry on NBA career performance. Our data set comprises the 332players selected in the first round of the NBA draft from 1989 and 2000. Using censored normal regression models, we found that players drafted at a relatively younger age have more successful NBA careers across three different metrics. To explore a beneficial effect of one year in college, group selection bias tests were conducted by comparing differences in career success between quasi-“one-and-done” players and players who entered the NBA straight out of high school. The results were consistent with our main analyses – players who moved into the NBA directly from high school generally perform better than players with a single year of college experience. We find no systematic evidence in support of the on-court efficacy of the NBA’s age eligibility rule.

Will The NBA's One-and-Done Rule Face Legal Challenge?

Myron Medcalf of ESPN.com has an extensive article on the NBA's minimum age requirement, which requires that U.S. players be 19-years-old plus one year removed from high school. He interviews several people for it, including such notable persons as Mike Krzyzewski, Mark Emmert, Rick Pitino, and Spencer Haywood, and far less notable persons, including me.

Here are my thoughts in the article:

Michael McCann, director of the Sports Law Institute at Vermont Law School, helped Maurice Clarett in his unsuccessful bid to enter the 2004 NFL draft after his freshman season at Ohio State.

He's an opponent of the current age requirement for NBA draft picks and conducted a study 10 years ago that revealed four-year players and high school athletes faced similar struggles as they transitioned to the NBA.

"A lot of players, relatively high draft picks who played four years of college, have struggled," McCann said. "I think that's because the college game is so much different."

If the NBA moves toward a two-year rule for players coming out of high school, more players might consider challenging the NBA's minimum age requirement on legal grounds. Although Haywood challenged the NBA alone, today's climate and the union protection attached to the rule might require a class-action lawsuit to gain any traction in the courts, McCann said.

"In terms of the NBA, if it were two years, maybe we would see more players come forward, feeling like it's worth challenging the age limit," he said. "The fact that it's only one year, a lot of players probably calculate that it's not enough to file a lawsuit against the league."

To read the rest, click here.

MLB's Paternity Leave List

MLB's new CBA has an interesting provision: a three-day paternity leave list. It allows a team to replace a player on its active roster for up to three days after having a child. MSNBC's Jacoba Urist has an excellent piece on the social and legal significance of this new policy.

Here's an excerpt:

By placing paternity leave squarely in the news (especially on sports sites that don’t usually cover pregnancy and parenting), and allowing players to take a bit of time from their grueling schedule to be with their new babies, Major League Baseball might be helping to pave the way for all the normal guys out there to ask for a week or two when their wives give birth.

To read the rest, click here.

Choosing your own decisionmaking process

At Sunday's Olympic Trials in the women's 100m, there was a tie for third place (the final spot on the team). And now the question is how to break the tie, with the options being a coin flip or a run-off between the two women, Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh. But it gets more complicated, because the choice is delegated to the runners: If they agree on a process, they use that. If they disagree on their preferences, they use a run-off. And if no one expresses a preference, they use a coin flip.

This raises a couple of interesting issues:

1) As discussed here, Olympic officials have avoided making a decision (and having to provide reasons for the decision) by delegating the choice to the participants, something judges typically are unable to do.

2) Is there any doubt that world-class athletes will choose the run-off? And, if so, why? Is it fear of randomness? Is there something unique about professional athletes?

3) Note the game theory element to this. If they state a preference and disagree, it's a run-off; if one or both decline to state a preference, it's a coin flip.

"Nice Speech" Could Be "Polite Speak" - Did You Really Do A Good Job?

Executives that stink at public speaking often do not know they stink..... Because nobody ever tells them.  In fact, they are encouraged to keep coming up short when they take the stage.

What do you say to a speaker after a great presentation?

"Nice speech!".

What do you say to a speaker after an average speech that was on the edge of blah?

"Nice speech".

We live in a mostly polite society, so the feedback a speaker hears from an audience can be deceiving.  "Polite Speak" could just be idol chit-chat, but too many professionals are taking this to heart and self-deciding they are above average speakers.   Many business executives who have to give a speech at a luncheon or conference have never given much thought to their speaking ability.  Many have had no training since their 8th grade book reports, but since they are an industry expert they feel confident (or cocky) enough to "wing it".

The people who come to events deserve better than unprepared off-the-cuff remarks.  But most business speakers are sure they are doing a great job because they are hearing what they think is positive feedback.

Several years ago a mentor of mine, Jim Pancero, asked the question "What do you want people to say to you after a presentation?".  Most speakers answer that they want the meeting planner and the audience to say "good job".  But this is what everyone says, even when the speaker was dull.

The response you want to hear, according to Jim, was "What else can you do for me?"  Nice speech does NOT translate to "I want to hire you or refer you to others".  I have learned to not put too much stock in the onsite praise, but to review the new business that spins off from a presentation (even months or years later).  Since my speaking opportunities almost always come from word-of-mouth... this is the most important data point for my business!

I can be critical of those I watch speak at conferences.  Having seen thousands of presentation I have a good eye for how an audience is reacting to a speaker.  Too many speakers are business professionals who are there to sell their services to an audience and are not present to serve the audience.  Some are so cocky they have no idea how many times they mentioned their own MBA degree during their remarks.  Others are happy to meet the low expectations and are not concerned with raising the bar to a higher level as long as they do not forget their place in the middle of the talk.

Next time you present to a business audience be suspect of the "Nice Speech" feedback.  Instead, look deeper for ways to enhance your public speaking skills.  Learn from every talk.  Challenge yourself and your audience to have greater expectations from your interaction as a speaker and an audience.  

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Great Business Idea - Austin Co-Working and Child Care Together In One Business

Don't you love it when you see an entrepreneur come up with a GREAT idea?

Today at a networking luncheon I met Amy Braden, owner of Plug & Play.  Amy has started a brand new co-location / co-working space that also has an accredited daycare center (with drop in hourly rates).  Too often parents of young children who work from home have limited choices - but  this is an opportunity that is simply a no-brainer.

Amy has taken the "Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Approach" to business by combining two separate things into one new concept.  By doing this she has created a wonderful new business serving the Austin business community.

Plug & Play is located at Hwy 183 and Anderson Mill.  For solo-preneurs or parents with flexible at home schedules, this is what you have been waiting for after too many conference calls where the baby cries the whole time.  Plus, since the daycare is accredited you drop the kiddos off for a few hours if you have an important meeting pop up at the last minute.

While my kids are too old to need daycare, and I live in far South Austin..... I have no need for this offering, but when I met Amy I knew she had created something amazing.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

New Sports Law Scholarship

Recently published scholarship includes:

Douglas E. Abrams, Player safety in youth sports: sportsmanship and respect as an injury-prevention strategy, 22 SETON HALL JOURNAL OF SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT LAW 1 (2012)

Roger I. Abrams, Early baseball and the urban political machine, 5 ALBANY GOVERNMENT LAW REVIEW 1 (2012)

Gene W. Allen, Negotiating, drafting, and implementing naming rights agreements, 86 NORTH DAKOTA LAW REVIEW 789 (2010)

Thomas A. Baker III et al., Football v. Football: A Comparison of Agent Regulation in France’s Ligue 1 and the National Football League, 2 PACE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT LAW FORUM 1 (2012)

Emily Battersby & Wolfgang G. Robinson, Paradise lost: media in injustice and injustice in media, 22 SETON HALL JOURNAL OF SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT LAW 29 (2012)

Raymond Belliotti, Billy Martin and jurisprudence: revisiting the Pine Tar Case, 5 ALBANY GOVERNMENT LAW REVIEW. 210 (2012)

Christian H. & Howard W. Brill, Take me out to the hearing: Major League Baseball players before Congress, 5 ALBANY GOVERNMENT LAW REVIEW 90 (2012)

Winston J. Busby, Comment, Playing for love: why the NCAA rules must require a knowledge-intent element to affect the eligibility of student-athletes, 42 CUMBERLAND LAW REVIEW 135 (2011-2012)

Michele Colucci, & Arnout Geeraert, The “social dialogue” in European professional football, 33 COMPARATIVE LABOR LAW & POLICY JOURNAL 203 (2012)

Marc Edelman, Upon further review: will the NFL’s trademark licensing practices survive full antitrust scrutiny? The remand of American Needle, 16 STANFORD JOURNAL OF LAW, BUSINESS & FINANCE 183 (2011)

Ed Edmonds, Arthur Soden’s legacy: the origins and early history of baseball’s reserve system, 5 ALBANY GOVERNMENT LAW REVIEW 38 (2012)

Gabe Feldman, Brady v. NFL and Anthony v. NBA: The shifting dynamics in labor-management relations in professional sports, 86 TULANE LAW REVIEW 831 (2012)

Michael J. Fabrega, Comment, The California Supreme Court’s insertion of a no-duty rule into the field of sports torts: a futile exercise achieving inequitable results, 33 WHITTIER LAW REVIEW 181 (2011)

David Fagundes, Talk derby to me: intellectual property norms governing roller derby pseudonyms, 90 TEXAS LAW REVIEW 1093 (2012)

Henry D. Fetter, From flood to free agency: the Messersmith-McNally arbitration reconsidered, 5 ALBANY GOVERNMENT LAW REVIEW 156 (2012)

Joseph Z. Fleming, “Just like umpires”: why Chief Justice Roberts correctly relied on baseball to describe the Supreme Court of the United States, 5 ALBANY GOVERNMENT LAW REVIEW 286 (2012)

Matthew J. Frankel, Secret sabermetrics: trade secret protection in the baseball analytics field, 5 ALBANY GOVERNMENT LAW REVIEW 240 (2012)

Daniel Gandert & Fabian Ronisky, American professional sports is a doper’s paradise: it’s time we make a change, 86 NORTH DAKOTA LAW REVIEW 813 (2010)

Elisia J.P. Gatman, Academic exploitation: the adverse impact of college athletics on the educational success of minority student-athletes, 10 SEATTLE JOURNAL FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE 509 (2011)

Neil Gibson, Note, NCAA scholarship restrictions as anticompetitive measures: the one-year rule and scholarship caps as avenues for antitrust scrutiny, 3 WILLIAM & MARY BUSINESS LAW REVIEW 203 (2012)

James R. Hoy, Constitutional law—separation of powers: the North Dakota Supreme Court balances the constitutional authority of the State Board of Higher Education, the State Legislature, and the judiciary, 86 NORTH DAKOTA LAW REVIEW 905 (2010)

J. Gordon Hylton, Before Redskins were the Redskins: the use of Native American team names in the formative era of American sports, 1857-1933, 86 NORTH DAKOTA LAW REVIEW 879 (2010)

Christopher Immormino, Note, I’m gonna knock you out: why physical force is a legitimate form of dispute resolution, 27 OHIO STATE JOURNAL ON DISPUTE RESOLUTION 207 (2012)

Suzanne Janusz, Comment, The NFL’s strict enforcement of its personal conduct policy for crimes against women: a useful tool for combating violence or an attempt to punish morality?, 22 SETON HALL JOURNAL OF SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT LAW. 93 (2012)

Eric E. Johnson, The NFL, intellectual property, and the conquest of sports media, 86 NORTH DAKOTA LAW REVIEW 759 (2010)

Allison A. Kotula, Note, A win-win scenario: using the gold standard to improve the World Cup’s Green Goal Initiative, 36 WILLIAM & MARY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY REVIEW 565 (2012)

Michael H. LeRoy, The narcotic effect of antitrust law in professional sports: how the Sherman Act subverts collective bargaining, 86 TULANE LAW REVIEW 859 (2012)

Martin L. Levy, High school baseball, the NCAA, and Major League Baseball: “a reality show”, 5 ALBANY GOVERNMENT LAW REVIEW 332 (2012)

Morgan Marcus, Comment, A delayed penalty: the implications of the Ilya Kovalchuk arbitration decision on the National Hockey League, 45 JOHN MARSHALL LAW REVIEW 145 (2011)

John R. Maney, Train wreck (of the I-AA), 14 VANDERBILT JOURNAL OF ENTERTAINMENT AND TECHNOLOGY LAW 279 (2012)

Patrick J. McAndrews, Keeping score: how universities can comply with Title IX without eliminating men’s collegiate athletic programs, 2012 BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY EDUCATION & LAW JOURNAL 111.

Christopher McNair, Note, Edward C. v. City of Albuquerque: the New Mexico Supreme Court balks on the baseball rule, 41 NEW MEXICO LAW REVIEW 539 (2011)

Charles S. Michels, Note, Major League Baseball and the National Collegiate Athletic Association: private lotteries and enforceable contracts, 14 VANDERBILT JOURNAL OF ENTERTAINMENT AND TECHNOLOGY LAW 395 (2012)

Matthew J. Mitten, From Dallas Cap to American Needle and beyond: antitrust law’s limited capacity to stitch consumer harm from professional sports club trademark monopolies, 86 TULANE LAW REVIEW 901 (2012)

Jeffrey Mongiello, Student article, Title II and high school athletics age limits: individualized assessments for student-athletes with disabilities after Martin, 89 UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY LAW REVIEW 35 (2011)

Jason Navia, Comment, Sitting on the bench: the failure of youth football helmet regulation and the necessity of government intervention, 64 ADMINISTRATIVE LAW REVIEW 265 (2012)

Timothy G. Nelson, Comment, Flag on the play: the ineffectiveness of athlete-agent laws and regulations—and how North Carolina can take advantage of a scandal to be a model for reform, 90 NORTH CAROLINA LAW REVIEW 800 (2012)

Jerry R. Parkinson, Scoundrels: an inside look at the NCAA infractions and enforcement processes, 12 WYOMING LAW REVIEW 215 (2012)

Brett H. Pavony & Jaia Thomas, For the Love of the Name: Professional Athletes Seek Trademark Protection, 2 PACE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT LAW FORUM 153 (2012)

Mary Margaret Penrose, Tattoos, tickets, and other tawdry behavior: how universities use federal law to hide their scandals, 33 CARDOZO LAW REVIEW 1555 (2012)

Jason J. Ranjo, Note, Game over?: the potential demise of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, 42 RUTGERS LAW JOURNAL 213 (2010)

Michael Rosen, Constitutional implications of Title IX compliance in colleges and universities, 18 CARDOZO JOURNAL OF LAW & GENDER 503 (2012)

Stephen F. Ross, Radical reform of intercollegiate athletics: antitrust and public policy implications, 86 TULANE LAW REVIEW 933 (2012)

Arline F. Schubert, A taxpayer’s and a politician’s dilemma: use of eminent domain to acquire private property for sport facilities, 86 NORTH DAKOTA LAW REVIEW 845 (2010)

Grant H. Shaft, Implementing the settlement of State of North Dakota v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, 86 NORTH DAKOTA LAW REVIEW 747 (2010)

David L. Snyder, The Cobra’s contract: revisiting Dave Parker’s 1979 contract with the Pittsburg Pirates, 5 ALBANY GOVERNMENT LAW REVIEW, 188 (2012)

Wayne Stenehjem, & Matthew Sagsveen, Let’s go sue: the Attorney General’s historical perspective on State of North Dakota v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, 86 NORTH DAKOTA LAW REVIEW 711 (2010)

John Thorn, 2011 Edward C. Sobota Memorial Lecture. It’s a wise child that knows its father: a search for baseball’s origin, 5 ALBANY GOVERNMENT LAW REVIEW 27 (2012)

Anthony Torrente, The dark side of professional baseball: the fall of Barry Bonds, 5 ALBANY GOVERNMENT LAW REVIEW 352 (2012)

Davis Walsh, Note, All a Twitter: social networking, college athletes, and the First Amendment, 20 WILLIAM & MARY BILL OF RIGHTS JOURNAL 619 (2011)

Brant Webb, Unsportsmanlike conduct: curbing the trend of domestic violence in the National Football League and Major League Baseball, 20 AMERICAN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF GENDER, SOCIAL POLICY & LAW 741 (2012)

Jack F. Williams et al., Public financing of green cathedrals, 5 ALBANY GOVERNMENT LAW REVIEW 123 (2012)

Ray Yasser, The case for reviving the four-year deal, 86 TULANE LAW REVIEW 987 (2012)

The sports world marked today's 40th anniversary of Title IX by showing a lot of women's sports on TV, including Olympic trials in a number of sports (such as diving and track) and a marathon of WNBA games.

I also caught a new Nike ad, titled Voices. It features close-up shots of basketball players Diana Taurasi and Lisa Leslie, boxer Marlen Esperaza, and marathoner Joan Benoit Samuelson (who I still remember winning the first Olympic women's marathon in Los Angeles in 1984, wearing a white painter's cap) talking about the obstacles and challenges they faced growing up and starting to play sports (notably, each at different ages and stages of Title IX's 40-year history). Those head shots are interspersed with shots of young girls in uniform lip-synching their comments. This ad can be seen as the successor to Nike's famous 1995 If You Let Me Play (regarded by many as one of the all-time best ads). Both can be seen after the jump.

In watching them, note the new rhetoric and narrative. The earlier ad is trying to convince the viewer to let women and girls play by citing all the instrumental benefits that come with participation in sports (better grades, self-confidence, health, etc.). The new ad says that women and girls do and should play simply because they want to. Oh, and because they're really freaking good. This strikes me as progress.

Voices:

If You Let Me Play:

"Why Don't I Help?"

It was a year ago when she came up to me after a presentation.  Her whole body was trembling.  I don't know her name (let's call her Sally), but our conversation has had an impact on me. Sally's natural showing of emotion about her experiences made her forever memorable.

In my speech I had talked about finding small ways to help others, and used an example of people providing advice, free airplane miles, and providing child care when my family faced a medical crisis.  My call to action was to find ways to serve others, as your efforts can make a big difference.

Herself a cancer survivor, Sally had several stories of how those in her community had assisted during the hours of need.  She began to cry.  Knowing how much those little acts of kindness meant to her family during her chemotherapy, she asked me "why don't I help others?".   She realized while listening to my talk that in the ten years of remission she could not recall herself "Paying it Forward" when others faced tough times.  Surely there were times she could have served others, and she did not know why had not done it.

There was a young mother in her neighborhood who was having health issues.  Sally realized that offering to carpool or bringing dinner on Sunday nights would make a huge difference to this family, but she had never taken action.  

I hugged her and told her is was not too late to do something, even something small could have a big impact.

But her question still rings in my mind, "Why Don't I Help?".  I have begun to share this story and asking others why they believe people do not offer assistance to those in need.  It is not always as large as things around fighting illness.  Sometimes it is driving past the broken down car on the side of the road or helping the elderly man lift his bag into the overhead compartment on a plane. 

Meeting with a friend (or the friend of a friend) who is out of work and giving advice is worth more to the job seeker than you can imagine.   But how many people ignore these kinds of emails requesting a meeting?

Referring business to someone who is launching a new company is easy, but do we do it?  For a new entrepreneur the first few clients are life changing, and we can all be referral sources for many types of businesses.

Often we want to help... we plan to take action... but then we get distracted.  The best intentions do not make things happen.  Few people have "Follow Through DNA".  

I am convinced it is more than being busy.  Some of the busiest people I know are also the most generous with their time.  Too often we do not even notice that others are in need.  Have we become so self-focused that we are simply blind to those around us?

The ever thought-provoking Seth Godin's blog post today brings up a similar theme:

Where does trust come from? (from Seth's Blog - June 23, 2012)

Hint: it never comes from the good times and from the easy projects.

We trust people because they showed up when it wasn't convenient, because they told the truth when it was easier to lie and because they kept a promise when they could have gotten away with breaking it.

Every tough time and every pressured project is another opportunity to earn the trust of someone you care about.

I disagree that trust (translate into all aspects of building relationships) does not ever come from the good times and easy projects.  He is right that the bigger efforts have more punch... but so few show up for the easy stuff... that even the simplest efforts do make a difference.

Many of us desire to be givers, but we show up and start assessing who can help us rather than the other way around.  I am trying to notice ways in my life where I can help others. The interesting part is the smallest things that take little efforts are often enough to lift someone else higher.  Something as small as a "Re-Tweet" on Twitter can make another person's whole day. 

What do you think?

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

2012 National Speakers Association "Learning Lounge"

Are you attending the 2012 National Speakers Association Conference in Indianapolis (July 14 - 17, 2012)?

Regardless of this being your first convention or twentieth annual meeting, this year you need to check out something new.... The Learning Lounge.

This alternative learning area is designed to be a "Conference Within A Conference".  It will be open during the concurrent breakout sessions and Meet the Pros (closed during keynotes and meals).  The room has a variety of activities happening all at once, and a coffee shop style area where you can sit and relax or have a small conclave to share ideas with a new friend.

There will be a small stage that has something different happening each day (15 minutes TED Style talks, a PowerPoint Master Class, "Speakers Corner", or short skits and talks from the Youth Conference Attendees).  There will also be two discussion areas... "Ask the Experts" and "NSA Tech Lab Discussions").

Plan ahead to participate in the Learning Lounge.  Space is limited, and you do not want to be turned away!!!!

*** NEW - Eliz Green has jumped in to fill a slot on the small stage on Monday (for a speaker who could not come).  She will be talking about the Deadly Sins of Speaker Websites!!! 


*** NEW - Jim Rhode will be hosting and "Ask the Experts" table on Monday!!!

*** THIS JUST IN - Artist and Speaker Richard Hight will be custom painting a work of art live in learning lounge.  Wait until you see the one of a kind special painting... and be sure to come see him work his artistic magic on the canvas.  If you love the painting you can participate in the silent auction with money going to the NSA Foundation.

Schedule:

Sunday 11:00 - 12:15 


Small Stage:


Ed Tate
Erik Lehmann
Sam Horn
Kelly Swanson


Meet the Expert:


Avish Parashaw


Tech Lab Discussion:


Judson Lapley


Sunday 3:15 - 5:30


Small Stage:


Jim Feldman's PowerPoint Master Class 
(Intermediate 3:15 - 4:15 / Advance 4:15 - 5:15)


Meet the Experts:


Hayley Foster 3:15 - 4:15
Stacy Tetschner 4:30 - 5:30


Tech Lab Discussion:


Gina Carr 3:15 - 4:15


Monday 2:00 - 3:15


Small Stage:


Eliz Green
Patti DeNucci
Jim Cathcart
Jessica Pettitt


Meet the Expert:

Jim Rhode

Tech Lab Discussion:

Mary Kelly

Monday 3:45 - 5:00

Small Stage:

"Speaker's Corner" hosted by Jolene Jang

Meet the Expert:

Lou Heckler

Tech Lab Discussion:

Roger Courville

Tuesday 11:00 - 12:15


Small Stage:

Youth Program Takes The Stage

Meet the Expert:

Omekongo Dibinga


Tech Lab Discussion:

Doug DeVitre

Tuesday 3:15 - 4:30

Small Stage:

Steve Iwersen
Linda Swindling
(and two more talks TBD)

Meet the Expert:

Steve Shapiro

Tech Lab Discussion:

Peter Temple

*********************

This new option at the convention has shaped up to be an incredible line up of speakers who are here to share their expertise.  Do not miss out on The Learning Lounge.... as it will be a great place to learn, connect and contemplate.

Special thanks to Hayley Foster, Gina Carr, and Jolene Jang.

****The inspiration for "The Learning Lounge" came from the 2012 PCMA Convening Leaders Conference in San Diego.  Jeff Hurt and Dave Lutz of Velvet Chainsaw organized a large scale Learning Lounge program.  I had the good fortune of being part of their event.  NSA has adapted the concept.

Learning Lounge Twitter Hashtag:  #NSA12LL

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Jerry Sandusky: Guilty

Here's my column for SI.com on the guilty verdict and what it means going forward.

"If I were a Locksmith... I would be a member of the National Locksmith Association"

I was talking with a client last week about ways to build their business, brand, and community visibility.  I asked them about their participation in the local chamber of commerce and their industry association.  They quickly balked at both, saying they had "paid dues for one year to both organizations, but got nothing".

Well DUH.  Chambers of Commerce of Trade Associations are NOT leads clubs.  If you think paying dues and being listed in the member directory will have any benefit you have been mislead.

Now before I go on to rant here.... I need to give full disclosure:


I used to work at the Austin Chamber of Commerce and have been a member (on and off) for several years.  My wife also works for a member driven business organization.  Plus I am an active member of the National Speakers Association (I will be speaking to the NSA Youth Conference this summer at the annual conference, and running the event's "Learning Lounge").  I have seen lots of benefits, directly and indirectly, from my participation in these types of groups.  But I am a joiner, and if I was a locksmith I would be a supporter of the National Locksmith Association.

Joining an Industry or Trade Association does not mean you will get instant clients.  These groups are not designed to funnel leads to their members, but they do provide many opportunities that can be morphed into business if the member is actively involved and prepared to listen, learn and make meaningful contacts through networking.

These groups are about the people.  Since all opportunities come from people, without connecting to other members you are running away from opportunities.  I had one professional speaker tell me she never joined NSA because associating with other speakers ("the competition") is not the best use of her time.  She told me she puts her time only where potential clients are present so she can "get" business.

Sounds one sided...  show up where you can take... not where you can give to an industry's future success.  If everyone just goes where they can take from others, then eventually nobody goes anywhere!  Just saying.

My  business has grown because of what I have learned from NSA (and other speakers) and from referrals and introductions shared.  Additionally there are many association executives who are starting to ask their vendors (speakers, meeting professionals, transportation providers, etc...) if they are members of their own industry or trade associations,.... as it makes no sense for membership driven groups to hire vendors who do not support their own industries.  They believe it is hypocritical to sing the praises of participation in member driven organizations while not supporting the cause of other groups.


Now there is always the politics that pop up when you bring people together.  In all groups there are those who feel shunned if they are passed over for accolades and attention.  But I suggest never joining a group expecting them to honor you and you will never be disappointed.  Instead join to learn, network and serve others.  You cannot keep score in your participation (I helped twice, others only helped me once, etc...) as the time frame is impossible to determine.  If you get pissed and storm out you might had done so just before your efforts delivered ROI.  


If you have not looked at your choices of groups that serve your industry in some time... take a fresh look.  Join your industry or trade association and attend the national and local events.  But do more than attend... serve the group in some way.  Your investment comes back (as long as you are not keeping score!).


Have A Great Day


thom singer

Supreme Court Punts on Broadcast Indecency

Yesterday, the high court issued its long-awaited opinion in FCC v. Fox Broadcasting, 567 U.S. ____ (2012). In its unanimous opinion, the panel gave broadcasters a temporary victory by invalidating the present indecency standards as constitutionally vague based on lack of adequate notice, but failed to consider whether there is a rationale for instituting them in the first place. I have written about the effect that the latest interpretation of the rules, which were expanded to prohibit "fleeting expletives," can cause undue harm to over the air broadcasts of sports events where single instances of the f-word or other such language may be picked up and broadcast.

The litigation saga of the case covers two Supreme Court rulings and several appeals court rulings. In Fox I, 556 U.S. 502 (2009), the court only addressed administration law claims, concluding that the new rules -- which significantly changed enforcement of the standards from the "7 dirty words" and contextual applications of profane speech over the years to a one-word wonder, was not arbitrary and capricious, but reserved the First Amendment questions for another day. On remand, Second Circuit concluded that the standards were unconstitutional, 613 F. 3d 317 (2010) and this appeal ensured.

The court, in what could be called Fox II, focused on the more narrow question of the constitutionality of the promulgation of the regulations, but not the free speech implications of the fleeting expletive standard. Ideally, the question of the due process of the manner in which the policy was enacted could have been addressed in the earlier opinion because it is so dovetailed with the administrative law issues. But it was not, since the Second Circuit did not address those questions at that time when it ruled on the administrative law issues in 2007.

This time around, Justice Kennedy, writing for the court, focused on the void for vagueness and lack of notice issues. At the time of the violations in question -- which did not involve a sports broadcast, but rather a show of nudity on an episode of ABC's "NYPD Blue" and the use of one-time f-words by Cher and Nicole Ritchie on two separate Billboard Music Awards show broadcast by Fox -- no notice of the change of policy was made. While the restrictions on "obscene and indecent" broadcasts are based on statute -- 18 USC 1464 -- the interpretation of the scope of that statute has been the province of the FCC for six decades. The commission essentially backpedaled its way into the new rules, since in 2001 it was FCC policy that the single use of a profanity was not enough to show indecency, while in 2004, after these incidents, the commission changed course in a 2004 order.

The court stopped there, however, noting that the First Amendment questions need not be addressed at this time -- much to the consternation of Justice Ginsburg, who argued in concurrence that they should have been determined. That means that the Pacifica ruling upholding the FCC's right to regulate indecency stands and the commission has the power to issue new indecency rules and it is likely that yet another round of challenges will occur. Sports broadcasters should not get rid of their time-delay machinery just yet.

Cool Things My Friends Do - #Braindownload Program By Michele Price

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their work and personal lives.   

My friend Michele Price is a radio host, speaker and entrepreneur.  She is undertaking an interesting project to pre-sell her #Braindownload program and using online fundraising platform Indiegogo.

She wants to start a revolution of deep-thinking among entrepreneurs. She is seeking to raise $7,500 in a pre-sale of her #Braindownload Program to help spread her life-altering work internationally. She has turning to regular folks to raise support for this entrepreneurial movement. In exchange, she is offering a digital #Braindownload audio book.

More information at  http://www.indiegogo.com/braindownload

Indiegogo is fixing the funding process by removing the middleman and empowering people from all over the world to accomplish extraordinary things through their platform. In 2008 they unleashed Indiegogo in the independent film industry and it was a smash hit. In 2009, they expanded to include all industries and now they are the leading international crowdfunding platform, having raised millions of dollars for thousands of campaigns worldwide. 

I love the idea of Indiegogo... and have been interested in utilizing this platform for a project.  I have not found a project yet that I want to launch, but Michele Price has jumped in.  She has already raised $610 in just a few days, with a goal of $7500.

Good luck to Michele.  We will be checking back to see how this fundraising project succeeded and where her program goes in the future.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Saying "Hell Yeah!" or "Just Say No" - Knowing The Value

Here is why I enjoy social media and how it can lead you to something really interesting:  

A person posted an article about "A Lesson in Saying No" by CC Chapman to the National Speakers Association LinkedIn page.  I clicked through and read the post on Mr. Chapman's blog.  He referenced something called the "Hell Yeah! test"... which caught my eye.  This linked to an article, "It's Either Hell Yeah! or No" by Derek Sivers that was written in August 2009.

Both articles (linked above) are worth reading.  If you are someone who seeks ways to better handle you time commitments... then a set policies of when and how to say "yes" or "no" are valuable.

CC Chapman starts his post by talking about a meeting professional who stated they do not compensate speakers because they can get others for free.  He declined the offer to speak.  But this article goes way beyond speakers....  As many people are often asked to give up their time (and regular fee) for no compensation to a for-profit business.

I once asked a meeting organizer if she had requested the conference center at the hotel for the rooms, food and AV equipment for free. Her response was one of shock.... she would NEVER ask for that. She was confused as to who would ever consider that request (she missed my point).

My first question when someone from a not-for-profit group wants to waive my speaking fee (and this is for local stuff, as I cannot usually be away from my home without receiving my fee, as my wife and kids have a value too!!) is "Have you paid any other speakers in the last 24 months". If they have, then I will decline the offer to present.... as if they value others and not me it just hurts my soul.

I have talked before about being open to opportunity.  You cannot be so locked down and worried about protecting your time that you say no to everything that crosses your path.  We must allow for serendipity or we miss out on many things.  I am usually open to meeting with people for coffee who approach me as I love meeting people and discovering their stories.  But as part of my business I also offer career coaching for a fee... so I must look at the line between when someone is seeking a win / win conversation and when they are seeking free consulting.

I had a friend agree to help me out with a small project that became a big project.  While he did not bill me for his extra time, I did understand the value of his time that was provided to me at no cost.  I am working hard to even out our exchange by providing my services to assist his business.  It is okay to ask someone to waive fees, but only if you recognize that there is a true value.  Too often speakers are asked to present for free with the thought that the "exposure" to an audience has value.  The reality is that sometimes "exposure" is worthless.  Before offering something in exchange for a waived fee.... be sure you have audited what you are offering or the person may not get that "Hell Yeah!" feeling.

Sometimes your heart screams "Hell Yeah!" - and that is exciting!  This is now very clear and I know what that means.  I am inspired after reading Mr. Chapman's and Mr. Siver's articles.

As I think about the times when my gut was not in line with the "Hell Yeah!" theory I usually recall mundane results.  How about you?

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

I Need 218 Votes To Stay Alive In The Social Madness Contest

From my participation in the ABJ's Social Madness Contest I have learned some interesting stuff about how social media connections are moved to action, or not moved to action, by Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Blog posts.

I was one of the top 8 local small companies in the kick-off round.  But the scores got wiped clean when we moved to the bracket rounds.  The number of follower sign-ups on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn carry forward.

As I go into the last days of the first bracket round I am behind by 218 votes and sign ups.


I need your help to stay in the game.  Please vote.  Then follow my business on Facebook and LinkedIn.  Finally... TELL OTHERS.  I have no chance of moving forward unless I have some evangelists.

Please and Thank You!!!

Vote at http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/exclusives/socialmadness

thom

Jerry Sandusky: Closing Arguments and Jury Deliberations

I have a new column for SI.com on the Jerry Sandusky trial coming to a close and what to expect.

Commercial Speech in Sports Advertising

One of the most important revenue streams in the sports industry is from advertising. The concept is simple -- an advertisement is created and placed, generally in exchange for a fee. But commercial speech rules and restrictions can influence what goes into an advertisement, whether an advertisement can be placed at all, and what the potential liability is for the advertiser.

Two recent cases demonstrate the impact of commercial speech in sports.

The first involves Michael Jordan and the Jewel-Osco grocery store chain, which was asked to place an advertisement in a special issue of Sports Illustrated honoring Jordan. The ad contained a Jewel-Osco logo and congratulated Jordan from a "fellow Chicagoan." Jordan sued, claiming that the ad explored his name and likeness for commercial gain without his permission. The court, however, found that the ad was in fact not an ad because it did not promote Jewel products or services. The "ad" therefore was not commercial speech and thus entitled to the full protections of the First Amendment. Jewel was thus not liable to Jordan, but it took a litigation to confirm its rights.

The second case involves the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, passed in 2009. The statute bars tobacco manufacturers from promoting their brands through sponsorship of athletic, social and cultural events in the brand name of a tobacco product. On March 2012, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the sports sponsorship ban, finding that the statute directly advanced the Government's interest in reducing tobacco use by youth.

Advertising is simple, but, as these cases demonstrate, advertisers need to consider the possible impact of commercial speech principles while planning some advertising campaigns.