Think Purple Cow!

:: Caution - This is not for the faint-hearted::



In the marketing literature, we learnt about the infamous 4Ps: Product, Price, Place and Promotion. They are important variables to a successful marketing campaign. However not long ago, Seth Godin introduced the 5th P: Purple Cow. An equally, if not more important 'P' to transform businesses by becoming remarkable. Although this book was written for business people and entrepreneurs, I would strongly recommend all of you to get a copy of it too! The principles he shared in his book can be directly applied to public speaking too. How cool is that!



If you are looking for some fresh and exciting ideas of becoming a remarkable speaker, you gotta read on!



"Cows, after you have seen one or two or ten, are boring. A Purple Cow, though... now that would be something. Purple Cow describes something phenomenal, something counterintuitive and exciting and flat out unbelievable." (extracted from Purple Cow)



In my opinion, most of our speeches are brown cows. Safe, predictable and downright boring. You can already guess the ending when you are 1 to 2 minutes into the speech! The message is usually the same. Even if you religiously adhered to all the tips that experts had shared with you, you will become a polished speaker, just like everyone else. There is nothing unique.



That's why I am a strong advocate of finding your personal style when it comes to speaking. And one way is to share anecdotes. They personalise your speech and make it unqiue. No two people have the same story to tell. Even if they happen to be in the same situation, each has their own perspective.



Most speeches fall into four categories: entertaining speeches, informative speeches, persuasive speeches and inspirational speeches. I will like to introduce the fifth type of speech: a "purple cow" speech.



A speech that is so remarkably different that everyone cannot help but talk about it. Ever experience a speech that is so powerful and unique that you find yourself raving about it to everyone that crosses your path?



Gosh, you should have come yesterday! The speaker was absolutely fantastic...



I have never seen or heard such a phenomenal speaker. Here's the link to his speech, you gotta watch it.



He is good.. but he will never be as good as that guy who spoke last year in our annual event...



I found her website on the Internet and guess what, she will be speaking again next month at New Jersey. We must go!!!



You will not believe what happen yesterday. There was this speaker who did...



Get what I mean? Wish that speaker is you??? (grins)



Here's the key. Giving a speech is ALWAYS about your audience. This is old news. But I want you to go one step further. Amaze them so much that they see it as their responsibility to tell at least ten people about your speech! You have to create a speech that is worth other people's time and effort to talk about. Sometimes it may not be the speech or the message. It could be you!



But how?



By being a PURPLE COW of course!!!



Step out of your comfort zone and try something new, crazy, out of the box. Some thing that is unconventional yet fresh. Take the risk and do something different in your speech. It may flop. But hey it may also work wonders! You never know until you try.



Here's a thirty day trial for all purple cow-wannabes! In the next thirty days...



Come out with ten ways to modify your speech and overwhelm your audience with its remarkability





Each time you think of something safe to do for your speech, reverse it!





Find things that are "just not done" in the speaking industry and go do it (for the fun of it!)





Ask "Why not?" Almost everything you don't do has no good reasson for it. It is usually the result of fear and assumption. So why not?





Treat your next speech like a game! Have loads of fun with it!

So remember, the next time you prepare or give a speech, think Purple Cow... or indigo cow, gold cow, purplish with a tint of blue cow... you get what I mean!







Want more Public Speaking tips? Get it here