2020 Keynote Speaker Reel
Speaking Topics: Perception, Communication, Leadership
Audiences: Employees, Entrepreneurs, Executives and Business Owners & Operators.
This video shows clips from my signature keynote, "Think Like A Magician™." On stage, I share secrets of perception and communication. These clips from my keynote speech best represent the content that I share with business audiences at conferences and events around the world.
"I'm going to show you how the secrets I use as a magician can help you avoid miscommunication and misperception both at home and at work."
"Perception is all about how we use it. And you're using it whether you realize it or not. Every time you interact with someone in your personal or professional life, you are creating their world using your words, actions and gestures."
"The way you see yourself may not be the way people see you."
In this section of my keynote speech, I talk about the differences between Methods, Results and Effect. And I ask the audience to consider whether they want to be perceived as a juggler or a magician at work?
The difference is that jugglers spend decades practicing to show off their skills, while magicians spend decades in order to HIDE their skills.
Most people at their jobs want to be acknowledged for the hard work they are doing (be the juggler) and it's great when their co-workers or their bosses acknowledge their methods. But if you're interacting with a customer, they don't care how hard you're working or that you're the best at your methods. Customers only care about the EFFECTS. Customers (clients, patients, guests, etc...) only care about how your methods affect them. And they want those effects to look effortless and they want you to be the magician who delivers them.
By becoming aware of how you are perceived differently by different audiences, you begin to think about the ultimate impact you are making.
This can help you re-evaluate the strength of your methods, and re-consider the results you should be tracking. My purpose in teaching this is summed up simply in the next phrase:
"The reason I give away this beautiful secret is because now you can not only know the power of the effect but you have the power to create it in your life, as well.”
In my keynote speaking programs, I do perform some magic, and it is not typically this trick you see in the video at 1:18. Usually, the magic that I do plays big without the need for a camera to capture a close-up shot. However, when the conference provides video and IMAG (image magnification) then I like to add a close-up trick.
At this particular conference I was speaking to 300 hospital executives and I wanted to show them the trick I show when I perform for children at the local children's hospital. I use the classic trick -- broken and restored thread -- as a metaphor for renewal. In presenting it to the doctors I emphasize the point that when presented for the kids, the "method" disappears and all that is left is the "effect" of renewal and restoration, which is communicated to the kids.
That's the real power of understanding effect. It's thinking of the symbolism and emotion behind what you're communicating and going beyond words and actions to become aware of the perceptions you're creating for other people.
"The purpose of all of these methods is not just the results, but the purpose is to create something powerful, something imagined, not just the method, not just the result, but the effect."
I start my keynote speech by telling the audience that: "For me, magic is not about deception, it is about perception." And while magicians are known for deceiving and manipulating, my goal is to make people aware of how their perceptions are being manipulated every day of their lives, and how we do the same to each other.
My purpose isn't to teach them how to manipulate perceptions, but to become more aware of when they are being manipulated. So I close this video with what is often the closing line of my keynote speech, reminding the audiences of my purpose for being there with them that day:
"My job today wasn't to turn you into magicians. My goal was to teach you how to Think Like A Magician™. To show you that the same tools that magicians use to manipulate the mind are the same ones that anyone can use. It's not just for politicians and marketers to manipulate our perceptions, these are tools every one of us can use and any one of us can master."
And that's what I firmly believe. That perceptions don't have to be left to chance. That every perception is a choice. And that awareness is the first step to being in control of these choices.
My goal is to help people connect and communicate more successfully at work and at home. I have the privilege to share my ideas with organizations and business audiences at hundreds of meetings each year, impacting hundreds of thousands of employees, entrepreneurs, business owners and executives.
I hope you enjoyed this little sneak peak of the content that I deliver in my signature keynote, "Think Like A Magician.™"
