Rich Mulholland, a master speaker and founder of Missing Link, shares his insights on captivating audiences. He discusses the importance of storytelling and entertainment in public speaking, highlighting that being informative isn't enough. Rich explains how to borrow credibility to kickstart a speaking career and why 'stages book stages.' He also emphasizes discovering your unique twist and the role of context in audience perception. This conversation offers a roadmap for anyone looking to elevate their presence and be unforgettable on stage.
16:40
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Entertain Before Inform
You must prioritize entertaining your audience before informing them.
People who entertain first get booked far more than those who focus on information alone.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Setting Audience Context Anecdote
Rich connected with a diverse global audience by setting the context on his own terms.
He used personal stories and humor to pull the audience into his category, making him memorable and relatable.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Borrowing Credibility from Books
Rich launched his speaking career by presenting concepts from popular business books.
This borrowed credibility boosted his booking opportunities and helped clients get a familiar message in an entertaining way.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
How to Get More Clients, Bigger Fees, and a Better Life
Michael Port
Michael Port's "The Referable Speaker" provides a comprehensive guide to building a successful speaking career through referrals. The book emphasizes the importance of providing exceptional value to clients and building strong relationships. Port outlines strategies for creating a referral-based business model, focusing on delivering high-quality presentations and exceeding client expectations. He encourages speakers to focus on building their personal brand and becoming known as experts in their field. The book offers practical advice and actionable steps for speakers to grow their business and achieve long-term success.
Survival Is Not Enough
Seth Godin
In 'Survival Is Not Enough', Seth Godin argues that companies should focus on evolution rather than constant change. He introduces the concept of 'zooming' – embracing change without pain – which allows organizations to evolve effortlessly and attract people who drive further evolution. The book provides practical advice on making chaos an asset rather than a threat, applicable to companies in any industry and market conditions.
Wealth Beyond Money
Wealth Beyond Money
Justin King
Good to Great
Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't
Jim Collins
In 'Good to Great,' Jim Collins and his research team investigate why some companies achieve long-term greatness while others do not. The book identifies key concepts such as Level 5 Leadership, the Hedgehog Concept, a Culture of Discipline, and the Flywheel Effect. These principles are derived from a comprehensive study comparing companies that made the leap to greatness with those that did not. The research highlights that greatness is not primarily a function of circumstance but rather a result of conscious choice and discipline. The book provides practical insights and case studies to help businesses and leaders understand and apply these principles to achieve sustained greatness.
Purple Cow
Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable
Seth Godin
In 'Purple Cow,' Seth Godin argues that traditional marketing strategies no longer work in today's saturated market. He advocates for the creation of 'Purple Cows' – products or services that are so remarkable they naturally generate buzz and attract attention. Godin uses the metaphor of a purple cow to illustrate how being ordinary is no longer sufficient; businesses must be bold, innovative, and willing to take risks to stand out. The book is filled with examples from successful companies like Apple, Starbucks, and JetBlue, and it challenges readers to rethink their marketing strategies to focus on creating truly remarkable offerings.
Do you only want the applause?
Or do you want to be the speaker they remember and rehire?
If you want to improve your public speaking and presentation skills, this is the episode you don’t want to miss.
We’re joined by our very first guest, Rich Mulholland—a master of commanding stages and captivating audiences around the world.
Rich breaks down what it really takes to build a speaking career, from storytelling and entertainment to audience connection and credibility.
He shares the behind-the-scenes of his mentorship program, Story to Stage, and why most speakers fail to stand out. Spoiler: being informative isn’t enough. You need to entertain first. And you need to be referable.
This episode will teach you how.
Here’s what we cover:
How to borrow credibility to launch your speaking career
Why “stages book stages” and how to use that to your advantage
How to discover your unique twist and use it to be unforgettable
The role of context in shaping audience perception
If you’re ready to elevate your presence and turn stages into career momentum, this conversation will give you the roadmap.
🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
King Moves | AI, Entrepreneur Success Lessons, Business Growth Tips, Personal Development & Insights for Ambitious Leaders 
