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Archive for the ‘Speaking’ Category

Raise $10K+ for your fave charity without selling a single raffle ticket

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

Almost everyone has favorite charity.

It can be a service group such as Rotary or Kiwanis. It can be a national organization such as the American Cancer Society or even a local church.

So far, I’ve raised over $150,000 for Rotary clubs, Chambers of Commerce, and other charities by speaking at seminar fundraisers.

The concept is remarkably simple and you don’t have to sell a single raffle ticket (yawn).

In a nutshell, I will waive my speaking fee in lieu of a small stipend/travel expenses of about $500.

You must agree to put a minimum of 200 people in the room and allow me to soft-sell information products related to the program topic.

When those people pay about $30 a piece for my half-day program on leadership, your efforts will gross $6,000. Tack on a half-dozen corporate sponsors and the total dollars raised looks closer to $10,000!

The proven formula

I created a how-to manual that explains the nuts and bolts of this arrangement and how this success formula can work for you.

There is a 100-day promotion schedule, during which time, you and your team will receive encouragement, solutions to various marketing conundrums, and top-notch marketing tips, including Internet marketing strategies for using social media, etc.

This is a limited offer, since I only do about six of these pro-bono events per year.

What you should do next

If you’re interested in this unique fundraising opportunity, here’s what you should do next:

1) Read the short, how-to article on how to host a seminar fundraiser.

2) Meet with your team to explain the offer and determine their level of interest

3) Contact me to say “hi” and to inquire about specific event dates

4) Make plans to have you and your fundraising team members attend my free call on Mondays at 4 PM ET. Just have them call into my teleconference bridge line at 218-339-3600 using access code 686134*

Remember that when you sell raffle tickets, only a few people get to “win.” When you hold a seminar fundraiser, everyone wins. I hope we get the opportunity to work together!

-Michael Angelo Caruso, Royal Oak, Michigan

Tags: american cancer society, chambers of commerce, kiwanis, michael Angelo Caruso, raffle tickets, Rotary, seminar fundraiser
Posted in Career development, Creativity, Entreprenuers, Growing Your Business, Internet marketing, Problem Solving, Rotary, Sales and Marketing, Social Media, Speaking, Success | No Comments »

Meet the person who can make your year in 2012!

Sunday, December 4th, 2011

A single individual can make next year the best twelve months of your life. That statement has a big emotional impact, but let’s look at this logically.

That “someone” is either a person you already know or someone you’ve yet to meet, right?

If it’s someone you know, one might argue that this person would have helped you already, so let’s assume that the magic is going to be courtesy of a new introduction.

If it’s someone you have yet to meet, you will either meet him/her on your own or someone will introduce you. It’s hard for most people to make this kind of connection because we are creatures of habit and tend to see the same people week in and week out.

So it will be a lot easier if someone makes the introduction for you, right?

If someone is going to introduce you to a person who upgrades your life, you can increase your opportunities by hanging around with people that author Malcolm Gladwell refers to as “connectors.” People like … me.

Special guests to speak at my MasterMind dinner

You’re invited to attend a special holiday dinner for my MasterMind group on Tuesday evening, December 13 in Troy, Michigan.

All of these meetings are worthwhile (we meet the second Tuesday of the month), but on December 13, I’ve invited several of my big shot friends to come talk about how they have become master networkers. Join us at Tre Monti restaurant this month and you’ll get to have dinner with some bona fide celebrities! I’ll introduce you to:

Rick Pinkowski–Meet Michigan’s event impresario. Rick throws some of the biggest and most successful parties in the D and is seriously plugged into the social scene. “Pink” is a serious networking genius both online and “in real life.” He’ll be sharing his fabulous strategies for networking on Facebook.

Melinda Ann Prince–This media maven is everywhere. Melinda brings a unique and natural energy to everything she does, including her extensive work in the broadcast communication industry. Two seconds in Melinda’s presence is all it takes to realize that this lady can teach you about networking!

Peter Nielsen–Our own local fitness guru is known around the world as a talented author and speaker, too! Peter’s triumph from personal tragedy is the stuff of legends and an inspiration to everyone who hears it. I’ll introduce you to Mr. Peter Nielsen and you will never forget him. Bring your camera for this unique photo opportunity!

And my other MasterMinders–like-minded people who are improving their stations in life through personal and professional development.

And here’s a huge discount for you, too!

Purchase twelve such dinners in advance at a HUGE discount and receive a credit for dinners you can’t attend. Save $181 using this program. This offer ends soon so register now by clicking here.

You might want to bring your spouse, significant other or business partner to this dinner. After all, if your life drastically improves in 2012, the person closest to you will also receive an upgrade. A rising tide raises all ships and all that …

One night can improve all of 2012

It’s true! Meeting the right person can change your life–especially if that person introduces you to more people who can improve your situation.

Stop in for dinner with us on Tuesday, December 13 and we’ll do our best to help you become a master at networking.

P.S. Register online for this single dinner asap for only $40. It’s $50 at the door.

Tags: 2012, connectors, facebook tips, fitness guru, malcolm gladwell, mastermind, melinda ann prince, michael Angelo Caruso, networking experts, Peter Nielsen, radio personality, rick pinkowski, the best speaker in Michigan, tre monti, Troy Michigan
Posted in Career development, Communication, Creativity, Entreprenuers, Funny, Growing Your Business, Internet marketing, Leadership, Marketing, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Self improvement, Selling, Social Media, Speaking, Success | No Comments »

The “Power of Three” helps you remember things

Sunday, November 20th, 2011

Anyone who gives presentations has had the sinking feeling that comes from forgetting what you want to say. Tweet

It’s the worst possible scenario because you become flustered, embarrassed, and usually fall apart on the spot.

Worse, your credibility is ruined with the audience, who suddenly feels that you don’t know your stuff.

Rick Perry suffered this problem during a recent debate at Michigan’s Oakland University. The Governor of Texas confidently stated that, if elected President, he would do away with three areas of government. He rattled off the first two and then … nothing.

Some politicos say this gaffe could cost him the election!

I’ve given over 2,000 presentations and keynote speeches and have developed a near foolproof way to never forget what to say. I call it, “The Power of Three” and it works like this.

How to never forget what you’re trying to say

When preparing your speech, presentation or debate, ask yourself, “What three things do I want my audience to know?”

Then, hold out your index finger and assign the first item to that finger. Psychologists refer to this technique as “association.” Assign the second and third item to the middle and ring finger of the same hand. Then run down a quick version of the three points, counting down the three items using your fingers.

Repeat the process all the way up to your presentation. You can practice the power of three in the car, during television commercials, and even in the shower.

Use my power of three technique and you’re not likely to forget what to say when speaking to an audience.

It’s a shame Rick Perry didn’t consult with me when he visited Michigan, eh?

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Get more great tips by ordering Michael’s Present Like a Pro DVD. It’s a 45-minute video that both shows and tells how you can be much more effective when speaking to groups. www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com or 248-224-9667 for more info.

Tags: association, michael Angelo Caruso, michaelangelocaruso.com, michigan, oakland university, power of three, Present Like a Pro, public speaking, rick perry, Speaking, speaking without notes, texas
Posted in Career development, Communication, Creativity, Growing Your Business, Keynote, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Sales and Marketing, Self improvement, Selling, Speaking, Success | No Comments »

Women’s lib, my butt

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

Actress, Erin Cummings, second from left, and friends

Sure, women have come a long way, baby, but the glass ceiling hasn’t even been scratched, let alone broken.

Women hold more MBAs than men, but are employed in fewer executive positions for far less money.

The Troy Rotary Club of Michigan–I’m going to be President next year– is honoring Troy business women and women everywhere with its second annual Troy Business Woman of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, October 5.

Detroit-area folks are welcome to attend and nominate. Here are details.

Troy Rotary Business Woman of the Year Awards!

The Rotary Club of Troy will honor a number of women business leaders at a special luncheon on Wednesday, October 5th, 2011.

We’d love for you to participate in the “Troy Rotary’s Business Women of the Year” event as a nominee and/or an attendee.

We’ll interview the awardees to learn their business secrets and also hear from our guest speaker, Denise Roberts from Sales Partners.

Nominees must work in Troy, Michigan. Applicants or those who nominate the applicant should submit three-paragraphs explaining their accomplishments in noteworthy community involvement and business during the last 12 months.

Send your information to Linda K. Weaver at lkweaver@wowway.com.

Troy Rotary will take make a determination based on these accomplishments.

The luncheon will take place at the award-winning Bank of America building at 2600 Big Beaver Rd. (16 Mile Rd.) just east of Somerset North. We enjoy fabulous food and the view of the outdoor fountain is magnificent most of the year. Plus, there’s almost always an interesting guest speaker.

Please pay for lunch at the door– $15 cash or check per person. (Your second lunch with Troy Rotary is no charge!)

Directions to Troy Rotary

Head west on Big Beaver so you can turn right onto Lakeview Drive between Somerset North and Bank of America. Make an IMMEDIATE right into the first driveway. This will take you into the guest parking lot. Leave a few extra minutes to clear bank security at the front door.

This map may help: http://tinyurl.com/TroyRotaryInvitation

Please be there a few minutes before noon on October 5 so you can network with Rotarians and guests. Call Michael Caruso at (248) 224-9667 for more information

Bring your camera and lots of business cards and we’ll see you soon! You will enjoy our fun members and they will enjoy you!

Nominating is easy!

Troy Rotary is honoring a number of Troy Business Woman at a special luncheon on Wednesday, October 5th. You may nominate someone you know, ask someone to nominate you or nominate yourself.

Nominees must work in Troy and must be present to win. Please provide the following information and submit to Linda K.Weaver at lkweaver@wowway.com by September 27. Questions? Call Michael Angelo Caruso at (248) 224-9667.

Info on nominee

You may copy/paste and e-mail info to Linda, above.

Requested info

Name of nominee _______________________________

Phone number _________________________________

E-mail address _________________________________

1. Please tell us about your background as a business woman:

2. Briefly list your business achievements during the past 12 months:

3. Rotary is a community service organization. Please tell us about any volunteer work you’ve done during the last year. This includes “after hours” activities such as charity work, community projects, etc.

_______________
Thank you!

We hope to see you at the October 5th luncheon at the award-winning Bank of America building at 2600 Big Beaver Rd. (16 Mile Rd.) just east of Somerset North. We enjoy fabulous food and the view of the magnificent outdoor fountain. Lunch is $15 cash or check per person and your second lunch with Troy Rotary is free!

What if women ruled the world?

Of course, neither gender needs to “rule the world.” We’re all together in this. Still, it’s nice to honor area business ladies for a job well done!

Tags: award, Business Woman of the Year, Linda K. Weaver, michael Angelo Caruso, michigan, October 5, Rotary, troy, Troy Rotary, women
Posted in Career development, Communication, Creativity, Entertainment, Growing Your Business, Leadership, Marketing, Personal Development, Rotary, Self improvement, Speaking, Success | No Comments »

5 cool ideas for remembering names

Friday, September 16th, 2011

I once earned a speaking engagement by impressing Roxanne Gibbs, editor of The Nation, then a prominent Barbados newspaper. I first met Roxanne and five of her friends in a banquet buffet line. Later, she recounted that I remembered all of their names after the meal.

5 Cool Ideas for remembering names

1. Use a system you can rely on.
People who use a memory device called mnemonics remember Pat’s name because she is wearing purple, but may struggle to recall Pat’s name when she wears brown. Try to remember a person for who they are, rather than what they wear.

2. Use “cluster imprinting” to learn names.
The goal of cluster imprinting is to imprint your brain with the person’s name eight to ten times within three minutes of meeting them. Listen to the person say his or her name. Then you might say “Catherine, it’s nice to meet you.” You’ve now heard her name twice.

3. Repetition is a form of practice.
After being introduced, you might say “Catherine, is that Catherine with a ‘C’ or Katherine with a ‘K’?” The person could answer “‘Catherine’ with a ‘C’.” Now you’ve heard the name five times and visualized it at least once. If someone approaches you and Catherine, offer to introduce the new person. “Catherine, do you know Tom? Tom, this is Catherine.” Now, you’ve been imprinted with Catherine’s name seven times.

4. Practice remembering the name right up until you say “goodbye.”
When it’s time to excuse yourself, you might say “It’s been nice meeting you, Catherine,” which makes the eighth time your brain has been imprinted with her name. You are not likely to forget “Catherine.”

5. Use interval training to achieve total recall.
Try to recall the name at several intervals during the next 24 hours, stretching the time span for each attempt. Another form of interval training is to review rosters and registration lists before and after the meeting.

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5 Cool Ideas book Michael Angelo Caruso blog The above article is an excerpt from Michael Angelo Caruso’s book, 5 Cool Ideas available from Edison House.

Posted in Career development, Communication, Creativity, Customer Service, Growing Your Business, Leadership, Marketing, Sales and Marketing, Self improvement, Selling, Speaking, Success | No Comments »

Free marketing advice every Monday

Monday, July 11th, 2011

A while back, I did something most business people never do.

I started giving away my products and services. And it’s the best thing I ever did for my consulting business.

Every Monday at 4:00 ET, I jump on a conference call to dispense advice on everything from Internet marketing to event planning. The call-in codes are below.

People call in from all over North America.

Many callers have booked me to speak at various conferences and fundraisers. I help them save time, increase attendance, promote their events, and get the most from their marketing efforts.

My seminar fundraiser program has so far raised over $150, 000 for Rotary, Chambers of Commerce, and other non-for profit organizations.

Some callers have yet to do business with me. They are prospects who often convert after being on the call.

You should consider giving away your products and services. If you cannot afford to give away any of your current products, think about developing a product that you can make available.

“Set the hook” by sample selling

Fisherman know that you have to “set the hook” when the fish nibbles at the bait. Setting the hook is that small jerky motion that pulls the hook through the fish gill. The hook is a reversed-barbed piece of metal that makes it difficult for the fish to escape once he takes the bait.

That’s what free information and free products do. I call it “sample selling” because its like giving folks a free sample of what you do so they become interested in spending money with you.

It’s an easy marketing strategy to implement and everyone wins.

Free call and great marketing advice

You can hear how I do this and get yourself some terrific marketing advice by being on the call this Monday, from 4 to 4:30 PM ET. And did I tell you that the call is free?

Use call-in number: 218-339-3600, access code: 686134#

What does your company give away to promote business?

Tags: best speaker in michigan, free, free call, Internet marketing, Marketing, michael Angelo Caruso, Rotary, sample selling, setting the hook
Posted in Career development, Communication, Creativity, Customer Service, Entertainment, Entreprenuers, Funny, Growing Your Business, Internet marketing, Marketing, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Rotary, Sales and Marketing, Self improvement, Selling, Social Media, Speaking, Success, Training | No Comments »

Valuable sales lesson from Lt. Columbo

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

Peter Falk, who played one of television’s greatest characters, passed away last week, but not before giving salespeople one of the greatest closing techniques of all time. Tweet

Falk played Lt. Columbo, a bumbling police detective so unusual, he didn’t need a first name. Columbo was a true original, a slow-moving, hunched over man wearing a rumpled raincoat and carrying a stogie.

Columbo never seemed to know which way was up—until he solved the crime, usually by tricking the perpetrator into talking too much.

The TV detective used what we now refer to as “Doorknob Close.” His patented “close” was to turn around as he headed out the door and say something disarming like, “Just one more thing.” [Watch the 5:02 mark in the above video.]

The Doorknob Close, also known as the “Reverse Close,” works best when the detective/seller has given up and is literally saying “goodbye” to the perpetrator/prospect.

No seller ever plans to use the Doorknob Close, but it can be very useful because it contains the element of surprise. Here’s how it works.

Let’s say a sales presentation does not go well and the prospect has not been forthcoming regarding his reasons for not buying. Perhaps the prospect has ended the presentation by saying something such as, “I need more time to think about it.”

The salesperson thanks the prospect for his time and slowly walks to the door. The seller places her hand on the doorknob and then suddenly turns around and says, “Now that the presentation is over, may I just ask . . . why didn’t buy from me today?”

Peter Falk

The timing of this question makes it much more effective than if it’s asked earlier in the presentation because the prospect, thinking the presentation is over, begins to relax.

The Doorknob Close is powerful because it catches the prospect in an unguarded moment. The question, when posed from the doorway, almost always results in new information, which the seller can then use as an opportunity to reopen the discussion.

Caveat: Do not reward an honest answer by re-entering the room, taking your coat off and asking for another cup of coffee. The Doorknob close is an extra opportunity to close, but don’t try to force the prospect into immediately reversing his decision.

The Doorknob Close in Action

As with all the closes, there are many variations. One of my clients, a national retailer of automobile tires, uses what they refer to as a “second effort” to convert the sale as the prospect is walking out the door.

A person who is leaving the store without making a purchase may not return, so the employee tries to re-engage the prospect before he leaves the premises. This technique can be used on the telephone, too.

Thanks, Lt. Columbo!

The Doorknob Close has rescued countless sales through the years. Never give up on asking one more question and keeping dialog open. Sometimes that “one more thing” is the sale. RIP, Peter Falk and Lt. Columbo.

Every seller should know about 22 ways to close

Want to close more sales and make more money? Learn more sales closes from 22 Sales Closes That Work, a one-hour audio program and 30-page e-book that will help you improve your sales numbers almost overnight.

As with all of Michael Angelo Caruso’s offerings, this product comes with an unconditional money-back guarantee.

Tags: closing, just one more thing, lt. columbo, michael Angelo Caruso, peter falk, sales trainer, sales training
Posted in Career development, Communication, Creativity, Customer Service, Entreprenuers, Growing Your Business, Marketing, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Sales and Marketing, Self improvement, Selling, Speaking, Success, Training | No Comments »

5 cool ideas for better presentations

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

It’s been a both a pleasure and an honor to be a professional speaker for over 15 years. I’ve learned a few good techniques along the way and here are 5 Cool Ideas to help you be a better presenter.

1. A good pre-game show will help you get your game on. When creating your presentation, write it backwards, starting with the call-to-action.

2. Use my “Power of Three” to speak without notes. Many people are nervous when speaking in front of an audience. Nerves only make it harder to seem relaxed and stay on message. The secret is to focus on only three points.

3. Do six things in the first five minutes of every presentation. I cover all six tips in on the DVD, but here are two:

a) Teach the audience something they don’t know and they’ll pay attention to the rest of your talk and

b) Get the audience to do something right away, such as write something down, raise their hand, etc. This precedent will come in handy when you issue a call-to-action at the end of your presentation.

4. What you say with your body is more important than what you say with your mouth. Body language doesn’t lie. Saying you’re confident is wasted breath, if your body language says the opposite. Learn to present with congruity.

5. Always ask the audience to take action. If you are very specific and give a reasonable time frame, attendees are more likely to follow through.

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Tags: 5 Cool ideas, dvd on speaking, michael Angelo Caruso, michigan, power of three, Present Like a Pro, presentations, speaker, Speaking
Posted in Career development, Communication, Creativity, Customer Service, Entreprenuers, Growing Your Business, Keynote, Leadership, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Sales and Marketing, Self improvement, Speaking | 3 Comments »

Catch me on Chicago radio

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

I’m being interviewed on The Laura Dion-Jones Show on WRMN-1410AM, today between 4 and 5 PM. You can listen live on the Web at http://bit.ly/bIcYec.

The call-in line is 847-931-1410.

Radio interviews are always interesting. As a long-time professional speaker and entertainer, it’s an adjustment to not have the benefit of audience reaction.

Hope you get to listen for at least a few minutes!

Tags: 1410, chicago, laura dion jones, michael Angelo Caruso, radio, WRMN
Posted in Communication, Entertainment, Leadership, Speaking | No Comments »

3 tricks for repurposing content

Sunday, April 10th, 2011

I generate a ton of content!

You may know that I produce a bi-monthly newsletter, post three blogs a week, and maintain multiple accounts on Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter.

I also conduct monthly teleseminars, post tons of video on my YouTube and Vimeo channels and have created over 75 information products.

People often ask me how I get it all done. Sometimes I wonder, too!

My favorite magic trick

One of my “tricks” involves repurposing content. It’s a useful technique for anyone who works as a leader or supervisor, salesperson, customer service rep or whatever.

When you repurpose your great content, your information becomes accessible to more people in more convenient ways. When your relevant content shows up in multiple places, YOU become more familiar, and people start thinking of you as an industry expert. Pretty cool!

Do you ever give presentations? Here are three easy ways to make your talk available in different modalities:

1) Record your live presentation with a digital recorder like those sold at Radio Shack. Then, import the sound file to a free audio editing program such as “Audacity” and burn audio CDs to giveaway or sell.

2) Record a three-minute highlight of your speech with a Flip video camera and post the clip on YouTube. Be sure to display your Web site on the “bottom third” of the screen to drive traffic to your Web site.

3) Publish an e-book version of your speech. Use voice recognition software to create a transcript or keystroke the speech into a Word doc (if you use a PC) and convert the document into a .pdf.

Oh, and congratulations! When you do #3, you’ll officially be a published author!

Churn out your own info products

For dozens of more tips on this subject and to generate a passive revenue stream for yourself, listen to my 60-minute audio CD, How to Create Info Products. It comes with a 30-page e-book, too!

Thanks for your interest in self-improvement. Now go repurpose some of your great content!

-Michael Angelo Caruso, Royal Oak, Michigan

Tags: facebook, flip video, info products, Information products, Internet marketing, michael Angelo Caruso, michigan, radio shack, repurpose content, royal oak, twitter, vimeo, youtube
Posted in Blogging, Career development, Communication, Creativity, Entreprenuers, Growing Your Business, Information products, Internet marketing, Keynote, Leadership, Marketing, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Sales and Marketing, Self improvement, Selling, Seminar, Social Media, Speaking, Success, Training, Weblogs | No Comments »