Human bicycle

Your most Deadly (secret) Weapon!

What is the most powerful way to persuade  someone?

A. By handing out breathe mints
B. A Bazooka
C. A Gift Card to his or her favorite restaurant
D. Your tongue, especially when you use it to tell others a story

The answer is that whether you are a parent reading to your children at night, a lawyer, or a teacher --your greatest tool is being a great storyteller.

Maxwell & Dickman, in their book, "The Elements of Persuasion" share 5 ways that will help you tell a great story! 

Here's how to do it like the pros!

Passion: Start by asking “what do I really care most about?” If you find your passion, then your audience will catch it the same way they catch the flu. Your passion needs to authentic. If the audience thinks your acting solely out of self interest-you’re toast, just pack up your stuff and go back home...

Hero: You are the hero. The hero’s job is to make the audience see what you see. Pull the audience into your world. Make them see your message from the inside out. Help them see it through your eyes and as if they were standing in your shoes. Stop being so abstact, a personal touch moves people...

Obstacle: Clearly define the problem. How does your new idea help them overcome it? You and your new idea are the hero, mounted on a ragin bull ready to head into battle! You have a sword in your hand and you’re about to crush the enemy. Before you charge, make sure that you and your audience share the same dragon. Ask yourself “what is the dragon that keeps me up at night?” does it keep my audience up as well? If you can slay that dragon --you’re on your way to success.

Awareness: Does your idea bring something new to solving the audience’s problem? What insights are embedded in your message? What lessons can the audience take away and use again? Does your audience nod in agreement as you discuss your solutions or do they remain stone silent and look at you like its National Bad Hair Day?

Transformation: How will your idea change the audience for the better?
How will they be different by using your idea? What is transformational about your message?  Think of ways that will not only fill people's minds but also move their feet!
Successful stories make an audience feel as well as think.

  

The more you can turn your message into a story

the more likely your message will succeed!  

*You can check out Maxwell & Dickman's website for more cool ideas like the one's above!

The Unexpected Note

Below is a note sent to me from one of the many friends & followers that I have had the privilege to meet as I journal about leadership, theology and life. 
It came as a pleasant surprise that helped show that if you put yourself out there and try to make a difference, then you truly will..
_____________

Mr. Kladitis, 

-Thank you.


We have never met, but I have wanted to contact you since I began following your blog in January. Today, it occurred to me that this is a good week to contact you, since it is National Teacher Appreciation Week.   


I know from your blog and from the little blurb at the top of your facebook page that you are a Pastor of Youth and Young Adults by trade. To me, you are a teacher. Your words have taught me many things.


You have taught me how to reconnect with my faith. While we do not share the same religion, I read your words and filter them through my religion and I feel more connected and spiritual.


You have taught me to listen. Everyone has a story. You showed me how listening can be exactly what someone needs at any given time.
And you have taught me about the power of prayer. In my own life, I never really prayed much. At least not outside of the organized services I attend. But your words taught me how healing it can be to pray.


So, in honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to thank you for being a teacher. For giving so selflessly and generously of yourself so that others may learn. Thank you for touching my life.


Thank you for being a teacher.
______________

I want to thank the author of this note and all 303 followers of W.O.A.D.
Together, we are changing the world for better and helping a charity that is so dear to my heart.

If you would like to help the charity "now i lay me down to sleep" all you have to do is click "follow" on the top right part of this blog.

For every follower, I will make a donation in baby Anthony's name.

-Please consider helping-

Stay Blessed,

Anthony J. Kladitis

     

Funny Friday's: The Topic, "Mr. Closed Eye Worship Guy"

We all know this guy. 
He is the person with the Bible on his cell phone & wears a 1998 Christian T-Shirt around town.

A Rare Commodity: Leadership

Have you ever noticed that when something is hard to come by it becomes valuable?

Take Honus Wagner. 
Although he has one of the greatest baseball names, he was by no stretch of the imagination the best baseball player ever.  Yet, someone paid over 1,000,000 dollars for one of his cards.  (Yes, a cool million.)

Why would someone do this?
The answer lies in the fact that the Honus Wagner card is the rarest of all cards.

When something is hard to get, difficult to find, or out of your reach...the value always goes up. (Think Crazy Elmo)

Like the Honus Wagner card,

Leadership is also rare.

Seth Godin says in his intriguing book Tribes, "Few people are willing to go through the discomfort required to lead." The reason is because a leader stands tall, looks to the future and is willing to take a risk to get to a place of uncertainty. 

 

A good example can be found in American history. 
The Pioneer's were a group of people that blazed a trail when nobody believed it could be done or would take the risk.  They left most everything behind for a dream of a better future. 

A leader is similar, in that they follow their dreams in spite of the obstacles that lay in their way.  You and I live in a world of uncertainty and leadership is required for times like this. 

-Like the Pioneer, will you step out into the unknown?

-Will you set you sights to the distant horizon for a better future?

If you do.  You will no doubt wrap your arms around risk but at the same time embrace living life to the fullest.

All men die,

But not all men really live 

-William Wallace