An important story here
about any professional advice
you’re getting…and who is giving it.
This is top of mind for me right now
as I recently brought a few people
on board for a focused window
to help with certain projects.
And I’m so glad I did.
Below is the story…
Years ago, an executive at a multinational corporation
(we’ll call him “Mike”)
heard about my work in Rock The Room®
helping clients knock their presentations out of the park.
He reached out to explore the possibility
of hiring me to help him
prepare for a high-stakes keynote
in an arena-sized event.
We had a great meeting via video,
attended also by his Chief of Staff,
and after, they asked me to send in a proposal.
I did.
A few days later, Mike messaged me
saying that he’d played golf
over the weekend with a buddy of his
who’s a local weatherman…
and that buddy offered to coach Mike
for a fee lower than what I’d outlined in my proposal.
Mike decided to move forward
with his weatherman friend.
When the big day came, Mike strolled
out on stage in front of 17,000 people
…and, as I later learned, it did not go well.
The “information” Mike received from his friend
was likely very good,
but not for what Mike needed.
Learning how to craft a message
to inspire others to take action,
and then know also how to deliver it
is wholly different from standing
in front of an electronic weather map
speaking to the camera to report
an objective set of facts.
In situations like this,
I often think of a fantastic line
that my pal Joe Polish likes to state,
quoting a brilliant line he first heard
from the famous copywriter, Gary Halbert:
“The most expensive information
in the world
is bad information.”
So if and when
you’re thinking about hiring someone,
whether for a small project or large,
remember Gary Halbert’s line.
“The most expensive information
in the world
is bad information.”
While a certain candidate might be an expert,
the more important factor to consider is,
“Do they have the expertise
that you actually need?”
Risk Forward & Hire On,
P.S. A nice end to the story about Mike. The following year, he reached out and inquired again about my availability…but this time, did not dispute my fee. Over the coming months, we worked together virtually; I flew out to the company’s headquarters for a series of days, and later was on site at the arena for final rehearsals. And —-> I’m pleased to report —> Mike crushed it.
