Inside Influence

Now I have a bit of an obsession with fear. Or - at least I didn’t realise I had - until looking over some of the amazing guests we’ve had and have lined up for the podcast this year. And realising that fear - or at least mastering fear - seems to be a constant and underlying theme.So that raises the question of why - what has fear got to do with influence - and why can’t I seem to leave it alone. I’ll tell you why - other than because it’s a daily dance of my own in one way shape or form. As it is for anyone that’s ever tried to do or say anything in the public domain - or any domain for that matter. I think it’s because - over the years of working alongside influencers - I have met and worked with one too many brilliant people, one too many brilliant ideas, companies, brands and products. One too many people with something important to say or contribute. Who have all been left on the sidelines as a result of this statement: ‘I will do this… when I feel more...’ Sound familiar? Essentially - I will show up, stand up, be seen - and offer the full force of what I have to offer. When I feel less fearful.So - in that sense - fear - or the ability to move towards it, harness it, rewrite it’s stories and relinquish it’s control over when and how we show up. Is the ultimate key to influence. Without it - the rest - negotiation tools, presentation skills, content algorithms, leadership habits - all mean nothing at all. So - there’s my why.Now back to this episode. As a metaphor for negotiating with fear - surfing a 50 foot wave has to be on top of the list. As one of Australia’s best big wave surfers, my next guest Mark Matthews understands better than most the the intersections of fear, focus and staying in place when backing out seems like the only sane option. In fact - one of my favorite moments in our conversation is where he talks about ‘Holding the line’. I don’t know if many of you will remember that infamous scene from Braveheart before the great battle - possibly showing my age here - where Mel Gibson shouts ‘HOLD!’ over and over again as the charging army gets rapidly closer. Mark talks about how he literally uses this technique, this phrase - over and over again when at the crest of a wave - to keep himself in position until that exact right second. Basically - to prevent himself from reacting to adrenalin by backing out or moving too fast.Unbelievably - as you’ll hear - Mark was frightened of the ocean as a child and spent his childhood visits with family to the ocean sitting on the beach. YET - he went on to carve out a niche as one of the top big wave surfers in the world. Having surfed many of the world's heaviest and biggest waves including Cape Fear, NSW, Teahupoo (hope I got that one right), Tahiti, Maui and - well - if you know anything about big waves - you’ll be able to recite the rest. He has won three Oakley Big Wave Awards and is considered one of the best big waves surfers in the world.Then - while in surfing in Australia in 2016 - Mark fell feet first onto a shallow reef - waking up later in a helicopter in a full body brace. He had tore his artery, nerve, multiple ligaments and fractured his shin. After an artery transfer he was assured by Dr’s that he would keep his leg - but with that kind of nerve damage - he would never be able to surf again. What followed was a new journey into fear. The fear of starting again. Only this time against the odds - and while the whole world was watching.In this epic conversation Mark and I dive into: The role of risk analysis in dealing with fearHow to ‘hold the line’ when you’re so committed you can’t back downWhy pushing any boundary starts with being unreasonableHow to ignore the feelings that make you want to run - and swap fear for focusThe power of embracing the pain - to stop the brain shutting you down. How to consciously choose your next adrenaline kick to take you to the next levelAND why you should always train for wipe out scenarios - in order to push past where other people would choke. I loved my conversation with Mark. He’s unassuming, humble - and yet driven to take on challenges that will blow your mind. Just quickly Google his name and look at the images that come up - that will be enough for you to get a sense of what I’m talking about. So - if you know you have a 50 foot opportunity or challenge coming your way - or maybe feel like you’re surfing one right now - then this is for you. Sit back, buckle up - and enjoy my conversation with phenomenal big wave surfer Mark Matthews. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can we learn about the art of influence from taming a creature as wild as the horse? How do we decode a silent language that speaks with feelings and desire rather than cognitive thoughts or words? How do we begin to understand the silent network of communication that exists within our subconscious mind, and how is it possible to gain insights into some of the most profound parts of human condition by spending an hour horse whispering? Today, I am honoured to explore all of these questions and more with a world renowned life coach, horse whisperer and the founder of the Equus Coaching Movement, Koelle Simpson. Koelle's incredible journey into horse whispering came as a result of experiencing trauma as a child that ultimately led to her destiny. In order to heal, a young Koelle would spend hours with the horses in a neighbouring paddock, and in that process began to connect with these beautiful animals in a deeply transformational way. It was during this time, she began to develop a level self awareness, as the horses through their behaviour acted as mirror always reflecting Koelle's internal state. The language of her emotions. With clarity of purpose, from that point forward Koelle went to to study with the some of the worlds greatest equine teachers Including Monty Roberts, and best selling author, life coach and o magazine columnist Dr Martha Beck. Today, Koelle is the founder of the Koelle Institute for Equus Coaching. The Institute has evolved into a remarkable community of highly skilled coaches dedicated to creating transformational leadership experiences through encounters with horses. Koelle is a woman of global influence, with her work being featured in O Magazine, BBC Business Report, The National Journal, The OWN Network and she is a Tedx speaker. She works with individuals and organisations all of the world decoding the silent language of authority through the lens of her journey as a horse whisperer. In today's podcast we covered the following:We learn more about the art of horse whispering. Why active and honest connection is at the heart of trust? The role of emotions as a silent tool in communication - The horses language? Self Awareness and why we disconnect. How we can create emotional intention. What causes stress and anxiety in how we connectWhy vulnerability is the strongest component in leadershipWhat we can learn from the matriarch mare? How do we lead a fearful herd? Why Trust is an action in the present moment. What makes us suppress expression? Why our deepest truth is always held in the body. So as always grab yourself a cup of tea, and get ready to hear the extraordinary story of a young woman with a gift for translating the silent language of the horse. After all a horse does not hear words, or have the same thoughts we have. This animal has an innate ability to deeply feel and experience the world via emotion. In observing the horse we are given a window into our soul, showing us with no filters… exactly what we are showing the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you could identify one superpower that would set your business on fire what would it be?You would imagine growth strategy would go hand in hand with running a successful business, but the reality is that many business leaders fail to see the opportunities right in front of them. That is why Growth IQ is the magic elixir enabling business leaders to harness the growth opportunities that are ripe for the picking.Today's guest, Tiffani Bova is the global customer growth and innovation evangelist at Salesforce and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of ‘Growth IQ: Get Smarter About the Choices that Will Make or Break Your Business’.Having spent her career decoding the art of Growth IQ, she is a top influencer in customer experience, digital and the future of work. She is a master of sales transformation and business model innovation, a highly sought after speaker and business influencer. She is also the host of ‘What's Next! with Tiffani Bova’ which has featured guests from Arianna Huffington to Dan Pink, and continues to rank as one of the top 100 business and marketing podcasts on iTunes, and won top Sales and Marketing Podcast by Top Sales Magazine in 2017.Tiffani is Magazine’s 37 Sales Experts You Need to Follow on Twitter, a LinkedIn Top Sales Influencer, a Brand Quarterly Magazine Top 50 Marketing Thought Leader, and one of the most Powerful and Influential Women in California according to the National Diversity Council. She has appeared on MSNBC and Yahoo Finance and is a regular contributor to Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Marketing Matters on Wharton Business Radio - SiriusXM and Huffington Post in addition to a variety of industry-leading podcasts.In today's podcast we cover off;Why great storytelling and great data are a formula for sales successWhy the best leaders are also the best storytellersWhy business growth is never a quick fixHow to maximise your sales with the people and resources you already haveThe role of purpose in the pursuit for growthWhy the experience wins the saleWe decode the higher expectations of tomorrow's customerAsking for a symphony of feedbackThe art of collaborative sellingKey insights into influence from one of the worlds bestWhen it comes to the intersection of epic business influence, sales and digital growth Tiffani is a global leader whose journey is only just beginning, and that is why I couldn't more excited about having her on board as an Inside Influence guest. Grab yourself a coffee, sit back and get ready to grow with the one and only author of Growth IQ, the incredible Tiffani Bova. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many of the guests I’m drawn to on Inside Influence – come about because I believe they provide a different lens on the subject of influence. FBI Negotiators talking about high stakes conversations – orchestra conductors sharing their lessons in leadership – big wave surfers on how to master fear.Today’s interview takes that different lens – twists it, turns it into an optical illusion – and then reflects back at you the very assumption that made you perceive it as a lens in the first place. Sound un-necessarily complicated? Maybe – and yet it’s vital to understanding the most fundamental tool of influence. How you perceive and respond to the world around you.Every piece of information you receive – about people, situations, tools (from this podcast or other sources you follow) – is ultimately only ever shaped by the meaning you give it. How do we choose what meaning to give things? By cross referencing that particular piece of information – piece of stimuli - against a series of assumptions – all of which were formed by our past experiences.So again – why is this important to influence? As a bottom line – your assumptions dictate how you respond in any situation. Every decision you make, about how to proceed, who to trust, whether to leap into the next opportunity, how to navigate that next high intensity conversation, whether to stand up and be heard on stage or in the boardroom – are all 100% dictated by these assumptions that were created somewhere in your past.So our history determines what we look at - and what we look at creates our history. Cycle after cycle of thinking you’re running the show – only to realise that – in fact – an out of date show (usually with a very inexperienced script writer) is running you.Unless, in the worlds of my next guest – Beau Lotto - you can learn how to deviate. Beau is a professor of neuroscience at the University of London, and a Visiting Scholar at New York University. His work and research over the past 25 years has focused on the biology and psychology of perception. In layman's terms - he studies the science of how we see the world. And how that knowledge can be used to unlock our ability to create, innovate, influence – and ultimately affect change.In 2001 he founded the lab of Misfits, a neuro-design studio that was resident for two years at London's Science Museum. He is also the author of the bestselling book ‘Deviate – The Science of Seeing Things Differently’In today's assumption busting conversation we cover off:Why your aim should always be to know less than you did yesterday (especially about the people and situations you think you know the most about)Why we are usually blind to our assumptions – especially those we inherit – and how to identify and decode our programmed responsesHow to stop focusing on answers and start becoming obsessive about asking better questionsWhy how you perceive yourself LITERALLY determines what you see in the world – this one blew my mind – I’ll let Beau explain – but in essence how powerful you feel yourself to be changes your physiology and the patterns you are able to identify.How to use play – or if you dislike that word - experiments – to first overcome our hatred and then start to thrive in uncertainty.And finally why – as leaders, parents and influencers - having an awareness of our biases and assumptions – and then being able to deviate - gives us choice.So... grab yourself your caffeinated beverage of choice… or for this one maybe a glass of wine… and get ready to jump into a world where your perceptions of what’s true – are a mile away from what’s actually possible. Welcome to the world of Beau Lotto. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is it to truly listen consciously? To listen for context, listen for culture, listen for values or even more significantly listen for meaning. In schools we are taught the most basic and complex skills of maths, reading, science and history - but what we are never taught - is one of the most important life skills available to us. To consciously explore and interpret the world as it arrives through our ears.Technology and digitisation has in some ways amplified our communication, yet at the same time - according to our next guest - the use of the human voice has become marginalised.Today we send texts and emails, snapchats, and emojis... all fantastic tools (if not a little bewildering on the emoji front)… but before these tools… before language itself there was only the human voice.As most of us know – or have at the very least felt. There is a huge difference between hearing words - and deeply listening to another human being. We’ve talked about it before on this podcast in a multitude of ways. From FBI Negotiators to monks. Yet our next guest is someone I have been hoping we could bring to you since the beginning of this series.Julian Treasure is a true master of influential communication - whose vision is to transform the world by inspiring people to listen consciously and speak powerfully.I believe his insights and message contains one of the most powerful tools of influence available. The ability to fully and intentionally understand - and be understood by - another human being.Julian is a sound and communication expert. He is the founder of The Sound Agency - a company dedicated to asking and answering the question “How does your brand sound?”He is also the author of the books ‘How To Be Heard’ and ‘Sound Business’. His TED talks have also been watched more than 40 million times - I’ll say that again - 40 million times – that's 4-0 - a testament to just how much thirst there is for this topic and its impact.His latest talk, How to speak so that people want to listen, is now in the top 10 TED talks of all time. In addition Julian is regularly featured in the world’s media, including TIME Magazine, The Times, The Economist and the BBC.In today's podcast we unlock the following keys to listen into influence,The difference between hearing - and consciously listening (If you can ingrain this one distinction in your life - I promise you this will be time well spent)How the voice alone - regardless of the words - always tells a meaningful story.Why the vast majority of people don’t listen - and how to overcome the habitHow our addiction to outrage inhibits our ability to listen.Why the most powerful leaders are ALWAYS the most powerful listenersThe power of silence as a sound.And why listening to someone as if it was ‘for the first time’ – can help love last over a lifetimeIn a nutshell Julian is an extraordinary human being with a unique vision… To enable a world that listens consciously and can express itself powerfully.To be honest, as a leader, a partner, parent and friend - I can’t imagine a goal - or an intention for those you love and do business with - more powerful than that one.So - sit back - breathe into every word and every silence. As an exercise try to take this time as an opportunity - not only to absorb the message - but also to practice listening as one of the highest disciplines of influence. It’s not easy. But it’s worth it.Enjoy my conversation with the incredible - Julian Treasure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when we fuse technology with storytelling? When we hack the brain in order to overcome fear, and ultimately influence how we experience the the world around us - through understanding the world within us? Our next guest refers to herself as a storyteller from the future. Karen Palmer is an Award Winning Multi-Disciplinary Immersive Filmmaker. Merging Film, Gaming, Technology and Neuroscience to create Emotionally Responsive Experiences.Karen's most notorious project - and the one that caught our attention - was created in 2016 when she created a film called Riot. Riot is an extraordinary fusion of tech and storytelling. It takes viewers through an immersive, 3D experience of an actual riot - the only difference being - through the use of AI, facial recognition and 3D technology - everything that happens is dictated by the emotions of the viewer. So each viewer has a unique experience of the RIOT - how the characters behave, whether the action slows down or speeds up. Based purely on how they emotionally respond to the story itself. In other words - how the film watches them.So why is that important - other than I believe being the method of storytelling we will all consider to be normal ten years from now. It’s important because it gives viewers a real time experience of how their own emotions and responses (often subconscious in the form of facial expressions and body language) significantly impact how they experience the world.Have you ever wondered how your internal stories - your internal narrative - about events, people, situations - impacts how the story of your life literally unfolds? If not, you should. It’s one of the most life (and influence) altering lines of exploration. And if you have - Karen’s work will blow your mind.In addition to RIOT - Karen is also a pioneer of ‘neurogaming’ (basically where immersive tech meets gaming). In which your mind once again becomes a remote control in an incredible experience that includes film, wearable technology and neuroscience. Think Fortnite on crack. Her works Syncself and Syncself 2 are live-action video games – the difference being that you interact with them by wearing an EEG headset on your brain, measuring your level of focus - and then adapting the game to reflect your state of mind back to you.And - as if this lady isn’t fascinating enough - she also merges her passion for cutting edge neuro-storytelling with her other passion - parkour. You’ve probably seen footage of parkor before - insanely agile people clambering up and leaping over urban walls, buildings and obstacles - all in one long continuous movement of gymnastics meets martial arts. What I didn’t know before this conversation - was the philosophy of mindfulness that sits behind it.Just like RIOT, Syncself and neuro-gaming - Karen uses this parkor as an immediate feedback loop - a way of a way to train her mind to stay in a state of total focus. Because let’s face it - there’s no immediate feedback loop more compelling than falling face first onto concrete.So - some of the topics we dove into in this conversation include: Why neuro-storytelling is the future - and how we can use it to build new neurological pathways in our brainHow seeing ourselves - our biases and triggers - reflected on the screen - will help us to take better control of our own livesWhy courage is simply a software download - and how to run an ‘erase and install’ on your own mindThe doors that this type of future storytelling opens for humanity. In particular how we teach empathy and accelerated leadership.Why we will soon be taking the leap from bio-hacking (think Fitbits - and the various other wearable technology now available) to brain-hackingAnd finally... why you never have to be the unwilling participant in someone else’s storyA conversation with Karen is a little like Parkour in itself. Leaping in and out of exhilarating topics, arcs and ideas - yet always with the same intention. Seeking to understand how the future of storytelling can (and will) not only revolutionise how we entertain and communicate important ideas. But also fundamentally change the role we consider ourselves to have - as continual writers of our own experience. So... grab yourself a coffee - or whatever your adrenaline kick of choice. And get ready to be mind blown. Many of you that have either listened before - or met me in any capacity - will know that I consider storytelling to be one of the most powerful tools of influence. This one takes it to a whole new level.Enjoy my conversation with the fascinating Karen Palmer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all feel fear. Many of us (even those you least expect) live with it as a daily companion. What we do with it is the difference between freezing – the bunny in the headlights – without the ability to move or adapt. Or proactively seeking fear as one of nature’s best tools to sharpen our ability to influence.So how do you feel it and still stay present – stay able to master your inner landscape - despite the adrenaline running a thousand miles an hour?In todays Interview we dive into the world of mastering fear with the extraordinary - Brandon Webb.Brandon is a former US Navy SEAL sniper, New York Times bestselling author, Experimental aircraft pilot, and Entrepreneur. After leaving home at age sixteen – he joined the US Navy to become a Navy SEAL. His first permanent assignment was as a helicopter Aircrew Search & Rescue (SAR) swimmer - and Aviation Warfare Systems Operator. As a SEAL Brandon completed four deployments to the Middle East.He also received numerous distinguished service awards - including the Presidential Unit Citation (awarded to him by President George W. Bush), and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal with “V” device for valour in combat.After ending his Navy career early after over a decade of service – he went on to embark on an entrepreneurial journey that – first time out of the gate – literally resulted in him losing everything. Undeterred - He went on to found Hurricane Media - a fast growing military focused digital content network - which is today valued at over $100 Million dollars.Yet… and yet… what peaked my interest in Brandon at first wasn’t his incredible journey – but in reading a preview chapter I had been sent on his latest book ‘Mastering Fear – A Navy SEALS Guide’. In which he talks first about trying to teach his best friend Kamal to swim.Helping a close friend through a crippling fear that had been with them for a lifetime – which he did successfully in one week - set about a process where he decided to break down everything he had learned about mastering fear. Both as a SEAL’s – and in his own entrepreneurial journey – at the crux of it was this quote from the book:‘it’s not about becoming physically stronger, or tougher, or more aggressive. It is about learning how to identify and change the conversation in your head. Every battle, triumph, the defeat you have ever had - first took place in your mind.’In today's podcast we cover off…●     The importance of ‘keeping the sharks out of your head’●     This difference between mastering fear vs overcoming fear – PIVOTAL ‘if you see fear as the enemy, then you’ve already lost’●     A simple model to switch the mental switch on fear – Known as the ‘SEALS secret weapon’.●     How do use the ‘charge’ from fear to sharpen ourselves – most successful people I know literally move towards that charge when they feel it●     The practice of drown proofing – and why it’s essential to replacing fear with a sense of clarity – knowing that you’ve already mentally faced the worseAnd why – in the words of Mike Tyson – “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”.If you’ve ever heard the quote “What would you do right now if you were not afraid?” – it’s one of my favorites - after listening to this interview I dare you to not change it (as I did) to “What would I do right now if I focused this fear?” So... grab yourself that coffee – Red Bull – or whatever your caffeine of choice – nothing like facing fear with a healthy shot of adrenaline. And get ready to journey inside one of the most ‘misunderstood’ and underutilized parts of the human condition.Enjoy my conversation with the incredible Brandon Webb. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We live in a digital world – not news to many of us that woke up next to our mobile phone this morning. But in this world three quarters of adults now have a device that we spend on average 8.5 hours a day attached to (9-10 hours for teenagers – another podcast). With this digitisation we have now entered a world where our attention is the primary currency. Some of the largest organisations in the world are now focused purely on buying, earning and trading (i.e. selling) our attention as their only product. Algorithms are being constantly written and rewritten to pull us further and further into a silo of information – that then leads onto the next – and the next. Which raises one very interesting question. What actually works when it comes to winning the war for our attention? Massive companies are asking this question now – 5 billion hours. They have discovered some amazing things about story telling, about product placement… But the answer. The real answer – as always with human beings - involves getting really primal. If you look at what drives our most basic operating system. It’s fear and survival. Possible dangers and threats will always get our attention before good news, opportunities – or reasons to celebrate. Unfortunately – as the majority of media and advertisers have always known – when it comes using fear, drama or outrage as a tool – we are hard wired to stand to attention. My next guests would call the use of fear as a tool to influence your attention – a mind virus. So – how do you inoculate yourself? How do we pull back some of our most precious resource – so we can use it instead to create – not from fear – but from a place of optimism, hope and resilience? Because let’s face it – regardless of how you feel about some of the world’s largest question marks right now – AI, digitization, immigration, changes in the workforce, the impact of social media on children – reactions that come from fear are rarely ever the solution. In this episode we dive into the Radical Act of Optimism - as we spend time with the incredible Dr Angus Hervey and Tane Hunter the co founders of Future Crunch. Future Crunch are a a global movement of scientists, artists, technologists and entrepreneurs - who believe science and technology are creating a world that is more peaceful, transparent and abundant. With gold plated facts at the heart of the narrative they present an optimistic and narrative on the the story of the human race in the 21st century. The mission is to foster intelligent, optimistic thinking about the future – In order to assist us in reframing how we allow fear and negativity to influence us, and even more significantly influence the world in which we live. In this fascinating conversation we discuss… ●     Our consumption of information the same way we would a diet – where balance and conscious choice is the key to health●     Why the evidence and facts must always be sacred if you want to drive epic influence●     The implications of world driven by bad news, and the mind virus of fear●     Why storytelling is the most powerful tool to evolve humanity●     The Influence of optimistic thinking and overcoming the neuroscience of negativity●     And why some media – reality TV I’m talking to you - should come with a smokers warning So get ready for a dose of optimism based upon cold hard facts. To challenge your thinking on change and disruption - and reframe the opportunity of new technologies such as data, automation and robotics in order to create a better world. Some of the examples these guys use about how this is already happening will blow your mind. Significantly this is an opportunity to become more conscious in the news we share - and the news we choose to consume. Stepping back just far enough from drama, fear and outrage – to recognize it as simply that – a tool that is used to capture your attention. So – enough pre-amble – please sit back and enjoy my conversation with my new double dose of brains crush. Dr Angus Hervey and Tane Hunter – otherwise known as Future Crunch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year. My name is Julie Masters and welcome to the first episode of Inside Influence for 2019! Normally I would be delving into the minds of some of the world’s most fascinating influencers, authors, thought leaders or movement makers in an interview style decoding their journey of Influence - however today we have something special to welcome the new year not only in style, but with a tool kit that will empower you to show up, stand out and make the most of your influence in the coming year. In 2018 we had a year of extraordinary guests. While we would have loved to feature snippets from every interview we understand your attention span at Christmas maybe a little like a goldfish (we know ours is). Instead we have called on our family and friends (a big thank you - you know who you are), to shortlist the best of the best. This is what we call influence. In this podcast you will experience a mash up of tools, insights, audacious ideas and radical acts of influence with the intention as always to get to the bottom of what it really takes to own your voice - and then amplify it to drive an industry, a conversation, a movement or a nation. In todays interview we dissect what I believe to be the three core areas of influence. These three areas are how we influence ourselves, how we influence others and finally how we create the kind of influence that changes the world. Our guests today in no particular order include:DANIEL FLYNN LISA MESSENGER STEPHEN SCHEELER NANCY DUARTE MARK SCHULMAN LINDA CRUSE JAMER KERR JUDY ATKINSON COLIN JAMES  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For some of us we don’t have a funny bone in our bodies, while for others being funny comes naturally without very little thought or effort. For Tim Gard using humour is not only natural but is also a skill he has chosen to master as a tool yielding epic influence. Tim has had first hand experience of what it is to earn a living in stressful environments - having worked in State and Federal Government in Human Services and (as you’ll hear more about) also spending time as a fraud investigator. He was in fact known as the ‘Funny Fed’ – as he continually – and consciously developed humour as a way to diffuse situations, create connection and immediately disarm even the most challenging of conversations. Tim is now one of the most successful speakers on the planet when it comes to using humor as a tool in business and in life. He is the creator of Comic Vision – a method and philosophy of using humor to influence – first yourself – and then other people. He is also the author of ‘Just Plane Funny’ and co-author of ‘Motivational Leaders’ and ‘Humor Me’. I have known (and travelled with) Tim for more than a decade - I have witnessed him get of airplanes with fake chicken feet hanging out of his luggage – because ‘no one is going to accidently take home a bag with chicken feet hanging out of it’. Hand out his own policy manuals at hotels - when faced with the immortal line ‘I’m sorry Sir but that’s against our policy’. And – and I’m not joking here – literally sit on a flight drawing in a coloring book made up entirely of pictures of himself… just to dissuade anyone from sitting next to him. Side note – that strategy is always and without exception – successful. So – other than just being one of my favorite people on the planet – and incidentally also the MC at my wedding (who could forget a room of 60 people playing nose flutes between speeches) – why did I ask Tim to be on the podcast? What has humor really got to do with influence? In being around Tim I have learned so much about using the skills of a humorist to break states and behaviors – in people and situations – that have obviously been stagnant for years. I’ve learned how humor can immediately and effectively de-escalate situations, or disarm opponents in a way where no other communication or negotiation skill comes close.Humor has this way of cutting through the noise – of breaking down walls – of building bridges - and of holding attention – that I have come to believe makes it one of the most underestimated tools of influence available. That’s not even counting what Tim and these tools have given me – the ability to use humor to walk through life lightly, to stay in a resilient and resourceful state - and maintain perspective in heavy situations. As he says – ‘do it first for yourself – and then for other people’. In this conversation we break down: ●     How and Why Hillary Clinton was able to 'diminish the question - but not the person' by using humor in her response to Donald Trump when it came to her business experience.●     The role of ‘planned spontaneity’ and why it’s easier than it sounds●     How to actively use humor to solve problems (aka the Chicken Feet)●     Why it’s essential to stay present to the stories around us every day●     Why when using storytelling as a tool – the goal should always be to ‘live and relive’ rather than ‘tell and retell’●     How to 'dismount' gracefully when an attempt at humor failsSo... sit back and prepare to tune in your own style of Comic Vision. Because – like everything – it looks different for us all. Please enjoy my conversation with the irrepressible and irreplaceable – Tim Gard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.