Trusted Authority to your market, you’re about to learn exactly what my secret weapon has been for many years. List most entrepreneurs who start out, I had NO idea what really caused people to become engaged with my message. What led them to trust me, and to believe what I said. A few years ago, I stumbled on what has truly been the single greatest element of my message. And the great part is that not only does it grow your business like CRAZY, but it actually means you can be TRUE and HONEST about who you are! And here it is .. .. that secret weapon is “authentic vulnerability”. You hear the idea of “being authentic” thrown around a LOT — but how do you actually DO it? What does it mean? To help you grow your business, I created a powerful training video that shows WHY it is that Authentic Vulnerability is SO important, and also provide a specific 4 step template on how YOU can achieve it quickly. Plus, I use myself as a great case study so you can see EXACTLY how do to this yourself. You can watch the video below and then PLEASE post a comment and let me know what you think! This is one of the most powerful sessions from my exclusive training program The Authority Formula, and I hope that it serves you well in creating more powerful connections with your audience.
Be sure to post a comment below and let me know you liked this or didn’t like this — whatever it is, let me know you’re alive! 🙂
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54 Responses
These are great points, Greg. Genuine vulnerability, at least assuming it to be on topic, is an effective means to make oneself human . . . as ‘just another normal’ person in the perception of those with whom one desires to establish rapport. As always, thanks for sharing.
Absolutely. We all make mistakes and we are all human. That’s really the underlying message – and allows you to connect with our audience on that level.
You’re very welcome, thanks for the kind words.
Hey Greg,
Thanks so much for sharing this information! I read your book “The RRSP Secret” not too long ago and after I read the section about the financial industry, I realized how clueless I was in regards to how I was investing my money and how I literally had no idea of what was being done with it by the fund managers. Whenever I tried to read the investment prospectus it was like reading Mandarin or Greek. After I read it, I decided to take charge of my financial future (I’m only 21 as of this writing) and I decided to learn the skills I needed to learn in order to understand how money worked.
Before I came across your information I was literally as on the path of financial ruin and now since coming across your information I am proud to say that I have amassed a net worth of over $100,000. Thank you so much for everything you do and I hope to meet you one day in person (I live just outside of Edmonton in Sherwood Park so about three hours north of you).
Have a great day,
Michael
Wow – what an awesome comment to read! Man, that’s incredible and congrats. I appreciate your kind words, but even more for you sharing your
story and success! Thanks Michael and keep up the awesome momentum.
Thank you – everytime I listen to you I learn something new and feel validated. What you share is TRUTH and it is refreshing to hear this in todays world. BLess You!
You’re welcome!
Hi Greg, thanks for the video. What you are saying makes a lot of sense, and probably explains everyone from Oprah to any number of penitent politicians. I also learned that you have a background in internet video production and that you cashed out at the top of the .com bubble, and that’s interesting perspective too. Thanks for sharing! BTW, I am really enjoying Rapid Product Blueprint – it’s a great “how-to” course.
Oprah is a great example. She’s as vulnerable as they come and her success isn’t a coincidence! Thanks and glad you’re enjoying Rapid Product Blueprint.
Hi Stuart – absolutely, Oprah is a great example. She really plays into being real and doesn’t try to be perfect or above everyone. And glad you’re enjoying the program – the best appreciation of course is having you go and actually create a program so I’m looking forward to seeing you do that! 🙂
Wow! THAT’s your vulnerability? Vulnerable would have been admitting not being able to pay that gas bill. The story would’ve been surviving a cold winter without heat or your girlfriend dumping you because of your stupidity. A little embarassment…. hmmm (my life is so sweet, I just have no time or interest to pay my bills, silly me)
That’s quite a story, Greg. And thanks, I sure did learn something new.
On the vulnerability scale of 1-10….. I’d rate it a one.
How ’bout a real vulnerability story?
Gloria, apparently you missed the whole point. It is not about having the worst story – it’s not a competition. It’s about sharing something that matters to you that you are normally afraid to share. It’s about what you think is vulnerable for you. I find your comment really odd and not clear where you’re coming from but sorry you failed to get the message I was trying to share.
Gloria, you entirely missed the point and the message of my post. It’s not a competition – I wasn’t trying to “beat” you at have a sad story. It’s about what’s vulnerable to the person communicating, not about you. So apparently you’re vulnerable if you’re stupid? Vulnerable means being embarrassed? Sorry you failed to grasp the message I was trying to communicate. You see vulnerable as a negative, and that was what I was trying to say – it doesn’t have to be. Good communicators know that it’s a source of power, not a place of weakness. You clearly don’t get that.
Hmmm
Dear Greg, I thought your video was sensational and very moving. Your points were unique, honest and clearly articulated, and you were engaging and earned my trust. I am personally going through a metamorphosis in my career right now but I will keep your “secret weapon” in my arms cache for when I’m ready to integrate it into my own story (to confirm, this is merely figurative speech)!
I have to say, however, that I’m a bit disappointed by your response to Gloria. While I think she could have gotten across her point across in a less critical/negative way, your response does not seem in line with your Trusted Authority brand and respected persona. Here is how I would have responded to a naysayer/non-believer/doubter/rudey-patooty:
Gloria, thank you for taking the time to watch my video. I am concerned that you may have misinterpreted my overarching message. What I meant to convey was that in order to establish Authentic Vulnerability in your field, you must find a personal vulnerability that is real, relevant, recent and shows results. While our personal stories may not resonate with everyone, it is important to stay true to these 4 criteria in order to ultimately establish yourself as a Trusted Authority. If I can be of any further assistance please email me at [email protected].
Hi Monica – your message demonstrates how to communicate with someone properly, and raise an issue without turning the person off. To be honest, some people don’t resonate with my direct style, and I’m totally fine with that. I don’t pull punches, and that message she posted didn’t add any value to anyone – it was just a poorly thought reaction that brings unneeded negativity to my site. I appreciate people that are thoughtful – like you – and I don’t have time for those who don’t “get it” and think this is their personal pissing post for when they have a bad day, or they’re just a mean spirited person.
The important point is this – I don’t care if someone believes me or likes what I say. I don’t sugar coat what I say to try and appeal to more people. That means I risk turning some people off or (gasp) offending some people. I’m okay with that, because it just helps me be clear about who my ideal audience is.
The BIGGEST problem that most marketers and entrepreneurs have is they try to appeal – and please everyone. That’s how you go broke. Not only do I teach not to do that, it’s what I practice every day.
Thanks again for modelling how to disagree, without having to be negative or rude about it!
Thanks Greg. It’s great material and I appreciate your sharing it. It does take courage to be authentic, but we all become the better for it and it has real impact regarding our influence with others.
Couldn’t have said it better myself! Thanks.
great content Greg as long as your talking im listening!
Hi Greg, I enjoyed your latest thought-provoking video (as usual).
I started my own business a little later than you. It was at school in London when I was aged 10. I bought pea-shooters for threepence and sold them for sixpence. They usually ended up being confiscated, which resulted in as much repeat business as I could handle. Sadly for me, I didn’t develop this early sign of entrepreneurial talent.
Your ‘disconnected gas’ episode reminds me of my first year at high school. Although I fancied myself as a distance runner, I was last in the Junior ‘Long Distance’ race (3 miles along the River Thames towpath from Barnes to Putney).
To prove myself and put this humiliating experience behind me, I trained harder for the following year’s race, came in first, about 200 yards ahead of the second runner; and 4 years later was elected captain of school athletics.
My question is: How do I relate any of this to my present business? Or do you think I should use a different negative-turned-positive experience?
What did you learn as a result of that experience? What were the powerful emotions that you felt – that people who are in your target market might be feeling? It’s not as much about the story itself as it is the emotions and feelings that it creates and stirs. That’s what people “get” and connect with.
Thanks for the kick-start Greg. I’ll fall into bed tonight asking myself your questions, (and hopefully jump out of bed in the morning, with all the best answers.)
Thanks for this Greg, yes I could not agree more, it is essential to be authentic but with vunerability pronounced. In all my many years in business, projecting authenticity is absolutely vital, and explaining the vuerable moments you have in life in the very very long road to sustained success, if done so honestly, will build a circle of trust and reliability.
You are so right! Its the fear of rejection and a society that tells us we must always be right that leads us down the path to phoniness. Thank Greg, I can see clearly now and from today will stop wasting energy on try to look like the driven snow. One thing I have learnt, people are real and prefer real people. Thanks.
Well said!
Great stuff Greg. Thanks for sharing some ‘disection’ between the ‘attration marketing’ thing that is such the rage, and the ‘being real’ with care that can help people present themselves, and be effective. Thanks, Joel
Greg, I couldnt agree more, I have run some courses and telling my story is part of the content and it is amazing how being vulnerable engages the participants. I remember one course last year where I was telling a story about performing a song in front of 150 people, first time ever sung in public and how terrified I was, the course I was teaching was about taking action to do what you would love to do, and I explained how even though I was exposed and felt very naked up on stage I came away feeling so proud and happy and so connected with the people in the audience. Then someone wanted to know the song and then someone else asked me to sing it, which caught me off guard, it was one thing to tell the story but to actually relive it again and perform it took me straight back into that vulnerability big time. People felt my fear and vulnerability and witnessed me taking action in spite of this and it was the most powerful and effective day I have had with participants in my courses. To be vulnerable is to be powerful. Thanks for putting this message out.
I do agree that authenticity involves vulnerability. Sometimes (like expressing anger) it may not involve being directly vulnerable.
Revealing current problems/failures may be appropriate if it is emotional issues that you are dealing with (eg. how to be vulnerable in your relationships).
I agree Evan – it’s really about purposely NOT hiding those things that allow you to demonstrate your humanity and humility, without adversely impacting your credibility or authority.
Hello Greg, this is really incredible! I am writing my first book and the title is: “Soar with Vulnerability – Insights from Freedom”. It is being edited right now and should go to press in Sept. 2011 or so. I would love to feature you as an endorser. If you are open to it, I will send you a sample copy of my chapter on Vulnerability for you to read. I realize you are very busy but this information is SO IMPORTANT. I hope you remember me. Suzanne [email protected]
Hi Suzanne, you can contact my office!
Thanks Greg, I will do so! You will be surprise the see the harmony of our saying! 🙂 Thank you.
thank you
The secret to success is.
To knows how to connect with people on a personal level.
Allow your customers to connect with you on a deep emotional
level. So you can get what you want by being just who you are.
Really
Thanks for another great video! I can’t tell you how TERRIFIED I was to tell people my story. I’m normally a very private person, and putting myself out there has been extremely uncomfortable. Even though I’ve written a memoir which is completely authentic it’s, admittedly, not completely vulnerable. I’ll have to take a deep breath and work on that.
You might of thought about that recentcy thing before you told us you were late on your credit card payment. …..actually that just lets me know you are human. lol lol …because I was beginning to think you were way to perfect….lol
The point of the story was that things happen – it was a simple error made in our bookkeeping department, but it was something that impacted me. And yes, the key is letting people know that we’re human, not perfect, and willing to be transparent.
Yeah that is what i meant:) I appreciated that story of your visa better than the one in the video. Just my opinion.(and you know what opinions are like) The Visa story was an AHA moment for me. We all put our trousers on one leg at a time. It was a very vulnerable thing you did there:)
Cheers
Its a great take on authentic in a social age. The true detail begins 1/2 way through. Keep up the great insight but may I suggest shortening to 2-3 minutes.
You can suggest it but I won’t do it. 🙂 The problem is, it’s impossible to give the full context and important strategy behind this without explaining it and modelling it. I don’t focus on creating 3 min videos because most of them are trite, and don’t offer any real takeaway value. Let’s put it this way – I keep my videos as concise and short as I can, but I never sacrifice important content just in the hope that more people watch because they’re short.
This is fascinating, Greg! I hadn’t realised the impact of my little “anecdotes” in classroom situations–I just thought that I had an easy time building a rapport with my students. Thank you for isolating and describing the mechanism so that it can be applied in other circumstances.
You’re welcome – I hope it serves you well!
Thank you , you are right on!
Thank you for your help, getting this information it help us, how to use this tools to build trust.
I am impressed by this new prospective look to our emotions.This is new attention to vulnerability for me.And I am thinking now what other zones of my mind I must look with new eyes?
I definitely agree with this. You look for people with these traits and don’t always realize it. Really
Good article and video.
Scott
Thanks for this very timely message for me! It was truly awesome and I know how much it is going to help my business.
Greg Habstritt, Very good video/ Great ideas/
Questions I have are connecting to people audioly, visually, kinestically, for example/
The story makes an emotional connection/ bypasses all that ?? I have a lot to learn.
Moses, that’s a great question. There are a lot of different levels on which you can work to connect. Appealing to someone’s sense – ie: whether they learn or engage best through sight, sound, touch/feel, etc. is another concept that you can think about, but I would say that’s a more advanced level at which you try to connect. Stories are the most powerful form of communication because it’s how we’ve passed down important information and learning for centuries. So while you could work to integrate some of the sense-based styles so that you’re appealing to the various styles that way, I think the critical element is the story that connects on an emotional level – that’s where you start.
Greg Habstritt, Very good video/ Great ideas/
Questions I have are connecting to people audioly, visually, kinestically, for example/
The story makes an emotional connection/ bypasses all that ?? I have a lot to learn.
amazing! you know it’s true…when you get huge money, maintain a lifestyle you are comfortable with. Money is your slave, not the other way around.
“authentic vulnerability”….I love this. I have taken your Authority Formula Program and felt this was one of the most important sessions of the program!!
Greg, I really appreciate you showing us the way! I really needed to hear this. Thank you!