When I started this blog 13 months ago, I declared:
The focus of this blog will be limited to the following:
- Meetings & Events
- Conference Hosting
- Change Management
Yesterday I posted an update on the focus of the original SpeakingGump blog, so today I will to update this blog. I’ve created a Venn diagram/mindmap to visually represent how I help organizations in my trio of services.
Speaker
The simplest and easiest way to understand what I do is as a speaker. Specifically I’m a keynote speaker. That means my presentations are most appropriate for the main stage. My message of Gumption is big picture and motivational as opposed to technical and in-depth. I’m more fun and inspirational than pure information. My message focuses on individual performance and specifically the need for personal responsibility. I encourage change, common sense, and self-initiative. I provide more content than an entertainment speaker while being more entertaining than a content speaker.
Host
Unlike most speakers, my secret sauce is interacting directly with conference attendees over the entire duration of a convention, meeting, or event. The presentation-from-the-main-stage is one-part of what I do. Being Host from the start of the conference to it’s finale is what I love to do and how I make the most impact. Being host creates a better overall experience for attendees, provides a theme and continuity for event planners, and allows engagement for attendees in a way that is rarely available with other speakers. Besides greeting, emceeing, and actively participating, I can provide man-on-the-street interviews, video casts, and live skits with the executives or leaders of the event. It?s fun while providing a meaningful, memorable experiences for all attendees.
Messenger
Frequently an organization needs to make a major change. The major change could be a strategic shift in direction or a major initiative to change the culture. Whatever the change, it’s important, significant, and urgent. Messenger is the way that I work with with organizations over a period of weeks or months to help communicate their major change. I become a messenger for that change representing the CEO or owner or board. I am an advocate for the change. I use my character to break down resistance and gain acceptance. It’s a combination of your message plus Gumption.
Here is a chart representing my three offerings by time.
| Service | Description | Length of Time |
| Speaker | one time event | 45 to 90 minutes |
| Host | multi-day event | 2-4 days |
| Messenger | multiple events | weeks to months |
While each of these options is a combination of Gumption plus your specific message, Speaker is more Gumption in focus while messenger is more about Your Message.
I’ve described Speaker, Host, and Messenger to clarify to focus of the GumptionExperience website. It?s what I do. It’s how I serve my clients. It’s the value I bring to organizations.
So what is the focus of the GumptionExpeience blog? Does it’s focus need to change?
The short answer is no. Meetings & events, conference hosting, and change management principles will still be the primary focus.
One area that has been under-served and is an opportunity for improving communication using video. Specifically, after-the-event followup video.
Both Speaker and Host are one time events, followup video can be added to better support what occurs after these events. Messenger is a combination of face-to-face with video messaging followup.
Now … enough with the big pictures … back to work.