The Right Kind of Difficult (ft. Jon Acuff)

The Right Kind of Difficult (ft. Jon Acuff)On learning, growing, adapting, creating, and sharingOPENING QUOTE:“Be your version of funny. Don't be somebody else's version. So what happens is speakers read a book about public speaking and they go, "I got to tell a joke." And they tell a joke that isn't their joke. And it just feels like you're wearing your dad's coat at the eighth grade dance. It doesn't fit you. It doesn't create the moment you want.” -Jon AcuffGUEST BIO:Jon Acuff is the New York Times bestselling author of eight books and one of the most successful thought leaders on the circuit, which is why Ink Magazine named him one of the top 100 leadership speakers in the world. He's also a gifted comedian, recently fulfilling a dream by opening up for Dolly Parton at Ryman Auditorium. For over 20 years, he's helped some of the biggest brands tell their story, including the Home Depot, Bose, and Staples. His fresh perspective on life has given him the opportunity to write for Reader's Digest, Fast Company, The Harvard Business Review and Time Magazine.Links:WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeLinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[4:22] - The Right Kind of DifficultFinding your zone is about finding the right challengeHow do you know you’ve found your calling? When it’s the “right kind of difficult,” the kind of challenge that has you excited to confront it, to take it on, to master it. Jon calls walking off stage the hardest part of his job, because he could stay there for hours — not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard in a way that thrills him.[6:17] - Content that Soars (and Sticks the Landing)Perfectly packaging ideas for your audienceJon is the first to acknowledge that almost no speaker or thought leader is delivering truly brand-new, never-heard-before ideas. But what separates bad from good and good from great is the way those ideas are interpreted, packaged, and presented in an unforgettable way.One example of this is Jon’s concept of “soundtracks,” or the messages that live inside our heads on a daily basis. By taking the idea of internal monologue and presenting it in an instantly memorable way, Jon has created a keynote message (and book) that resonates with audiences everywhere.[15:41] - Be Funny by Being YouIll-fitting humor is like an ill-fitting suitJon emphasizes the importance of humor, while also emphasizing the risks of using humor that doesn’t match your personal style. He likens it to “wearing your dad's coat at the eighth grade dance.” He goes on: “It doesn't fit you. It doesn't create the moment you want. If you're slapstick at a dinner party, be slapstick on stage. If you're dry at a dinner party, be dry on stage. Be your version of funny. Don't be somebody else's version of funny, because it won't work. You won't enjoy it."[26:30] - Rewriting Your SoundtrackHow changing what you tell yourself can change your lifeUse Jon’s three-part question to see whether you have a broken soundtrack or repetitive thought. First: Is it true? Second: is it helpful? Third: Is it kind?If the answer to any of those questions is “no,” you’re suffering from a broken soundtrack that’s going to keep you from achieving both happiness and greatness.As a speaker, the first person you have to inspire is yourself.[34:39] - To Monetization and Beyond