(Video filmed and created by Ivan Sampson -- sampsonartistry@shaw.ca)
First and foremost, I want to thank everyone for helping me make this event a success.
We had almost 100 people in attendance, and we spent the entire day sharing and learning together about branding ourselves in the community and effective communication within our professional and personal lives.
Below are some of the critical takeaways.
1. How Did I Make Them Feel?: Every decision we make is based on emotion and then justified by logic. These emotions stem from past experiences. So often, we focus on communicating the right information to clients, but information is useless when it is not linked to their emotional language. Always ask yourself this question after every interaction: How did I make that person feel?
2. It’s about people: We need to care about people, not just as potential clients, but as actual people. I’ve learned this lesson firsthand from the wonderful people of Kelowna. When I moved here last year, countless people helped me without expecting anything in return. It has had such a powerful impact on me that I hope to be able to offer the same to the people I come across.
“People do not care what you know, until they know how much you care.”
3. What is Your Brand?: Before you can reach customers, you have to define yourself. You need to decide what you want your business to be known for and what you want customers to feel when they think of you and your business. Good business people will ask themselves the following questions:
What do I want to be known for?
How do I want people to describe me and my business?
Without having clear answers to these questions, all people can do is talk about what you sell.
4. Punch To The Gut: When defining your business, it’s important not to be safe. Get out of your comfort zone and be bold. The average person is bombarded by 40,000 pieces of advertising every day. If you want to stand out, create a brand that is simply unforgettable. I think Derrick said it best: good branding should be like a “punch to the gut.”
5. Be Authenticity: This event was so refreshing for me because the people there were genuine. People are tired of a world filled with facades. People will always gravitate toward people and businesses that are authentic. Therefore, always be yourself. When you are open and raw, connections come naturally and last longer.
Overall, I just want to thank everyone who attended; it was great to spend time with so many like-minded people! Thank you for being genuine and open, making this event a learning experience and more importantly a lot of fun.
I also want to take the time to mention the speakers, Derrick, Josh, and Margeaux. They were all excellent, and it was wonderful of them to spend the day with us, helping facilitate growth and learning.
Also, extra thanks to those who provided the awesome door prizes! And I can’t forget Montgomery and Miles for buying everyone drinks at the end of the event.
Last, but definitely not least, thank you to Total Office for my new chair! The gesture of thanks is above and beyond the call of duty, but I can promise you that it will get a lot of good use for years to come.
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If you were at the event, I would love to hear what you took away for yourself that day. Share share share share. Taking one minute to share can change a life.
Fred Sarkari
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I recently attended Fred Sarkari’s seminar and again enjoyed the event. This is the SECOND event that I have attended and would like to refer anyone that is interested in understanding how people communicate and are interested in communicating with your clients better.
He explains the importance in branding yourself to make YOUR MARK in your field so that clients will keep coming back to you. It must work because I went back!!!!
If I may say he also has some impeccable taste in clothing.
Becky, I am so glad you enjoyed the session again. Thanks for the complement on the choice of clothing.
Fred,
I really enjoyed your branding piece and Derrick Shirley, wow, what speaker. Attending this event helped me take a step back, analyze what practices I do now so I can make proper changes to be successful.
Another great event!
Loren Hawkins
Manager, Mortgage Development
Valley First Credit Union
Loren, looks like we should be bringing Derrick back. Another event with both Derrick and I on stage at the same time – going through our crazy dialogues.
I am so glad that I was able to attend last weeks event. Since then I have been making an effort to understand other people’s personality types and trying to communicate more on their level. It was also helpful for me to learn more about myself and how I come across to others. I enjoyed listening to Derrick and I have once again picked up my journal and have began writing. I liked Derrick’s motto – Read, Write and Workout! I look forward to reading his book.
Fred when you spoke from the heart about your feelings around the challenges children face today it was inspiring. Thank you!!
The table top discussion about how others see us was an ‘aha moment’ for a couple of people at our table and I enjoyed being part of that process.
In presenting the door prize tickets for Actor’s Studio I got emotional telling the story of my amazing niece walking in her deceased Dad’s footsteps. What was so wonderful was that everyone in the room made me feel so comfortable being vulnerable and sharing. Later I realized I had some unfinished grieving for my Aunt (dear friend) who had died of Cancer the previous week. I’m a cancer survivor and I want to encourage everyone to take every opportunity to “love and beloved”.
And finally Derrick is a human being I’d like to sit down with and have a coffee some day. His use of humor to share his journey and inspiration was fantastic!
Jo
General Manager,
L4U Library Software
Jo, thanks for attending – again!
Thank you for sharing the way you did on stage – it made us all think about what our priorities in life are.
Fred -
Again another great presentation! I have used some of what I have learned already.
For anyone that deals with people and wants to know how to do it better, well worth the time and money.
Thanks again Fred
Richard and I often discuss many of the topics Fred discussed in his sessions when working on our branding. However, several missing pieces were shown to me during Fred’s discussions, and several of the topics helped me better understand what Richard has been trying to instil in me. These additional pieces will certainly allow us to better brand ourselves and take our client service to another level. We expect this will further help us set ourselves out from every other business, real estate and estate planning lawyers in town. Thanks to Fred and all the presentors for a great day of enjoyable education.
Insightful, direct and funfilled presentation. Fred Sarkari and supporting speakers were masters in their line of expertise. Thank you very much for instilling focus and drive back into my life – A definate recommendation!
I am grateful to have been able to attend Fred’s seminar. It opened my eyes to the different personality types and how everything we do when communicating with people is processed and interpreted differently. It was interesting to see how different personality types communicate and how this can affect the relationships that develop between them. I really enjoyed listening to Derrick and learning a little of his journey. He was open, real and motivating. It was an inspiring day.
Fred – thank you for facilitating another wonderful presentation! You certainly have a knack for holding the attention of your audience – I think we all came away with several valuable tools that can all put to use, both in business and in our personal lives.
I particularly appreciate your sense of humour and it was apparent that the entire room did too – everyone appeared to be relaxed, responsive and connected. You truly know how to inspire – Well Done!
Thanks too for introducing us to Derrick Shirley (refreshing) and Josh and Margeaux (delightful) – their participation rounded out a great day.
Looking forward to your next presentation…
Lynda Norman
Lynda Norman Communications
Hey Fred;
thanx for the great day, I particularly liked the fact that you broke us up into 4 areas of the room (our personality groups) and had us work out how to interact with the other parts of the room (personality groups). Big impact on how to deal with our fellow work mates and business partners, as well as our customers. Also helped in understanding why some of our clients respond the way they do.
And all of it was in a fun environment.
Thank You So Much Fred, what a fabulous day ! and what a team you brought with you. You are insightful, funny and engaging. Your message is direct and purposeful, and most of all applicable. Imagine if everyone understood personality colors, how much easier our lives would be from customer service, sales and management! Brilliant!
Derrick is REAL, honest and I am so glad he was able to share his message from the heart! I am looking forward to getting his book.
Chantal Diaz
Fred,
I’m loving your stuff. Currently reading, “How the top 5% think.” As I embark on starting up my private practice, your thoughts on marketing and branding are intuitive – and that’s why I know they’ll work. Keep it up!
Richard
Richard, I think its time that you Derrick and myself are on stage at the same time.
People would take away so much from our dialogues.
I am so grateful and appreciate all of the people that touch my life. Thank you Fred for giving me a fresh reminder of just who I am. In life we seem to get “pigeon holed” as a certain type of person and at times tend to believe it ourselves. This was my second event of Fred’s and this time around I came to realize just how strong my “RED” is alongside my “YELLOW”… Each morning I read my note to self “how did I just make someone feel by the way I communicated with them?” This is a powerful statement which I have implemented into my daily routine. Thanks Again………. Dawn
Hi Fred
Thanks for including me on the feedback. The video was great. It made me feel that I’d really missed out by not going. You seem to have had great fun as well as creating a great learning opportunity.
Moya
Hi Fred,
I am on the path of self discovery an enlightenment. I appreciate all of the wisdom that you have brought to my life in the form of your book ” How the Top 5% Think”, this seminar and our many conversations. It has inspired me to re-connect with my true self at a deeper level, as well as truly being present in the now with the people in my life (customers, friends and family).
I am very thankful for you and what you are bringing to my life.
Phil
Fred, once again I am impressed by you. I have seen you speak many times now but each and every time I learn something new. This time I was particularly happy to learn about the branding aspect of business and while I was filming, and people were asking questions, it really became clear to me how well you know and understand your subject matter. To answer tough questions effortlessly, on the fly, in such a deep and thoughtful manner is truly impressive. You are not just a guy who lectures on what he knows, you deeply know and understand what you are lecturing. That is a huge difference,that is a rare and valuable thing.
Thank you very much for all of your genuine and sincere guidance and knowledge. If people listen and apply your wisdom, they will succeed.
Thanks Fred for the excellent content. I personally enjoyed your part on personal branding the best as it clarified a lot of ideas I had picked up previously but didn’t put it all together! Also thanks to Derrick for putting it all out there and really communicating his great message. Made a lot of notes! Thanks again,
Jeffrey
Jeffery, glad you enjoyed the branding part of the session.
Yes, Derrick absolutely rocks! He was awesome.
Bravo! You did it again, I am so proud of you. I wish I was there.
Anyhow you made me happy.
wow!!! Fred is so inspiring i love every seminar and insites he gave me…. I recommend his seminars to everyone. Get his books they are awesome!!
Rene “Frenchy”Grenon
independent mixed martial arts and fitness
independentmma.com
Hey Fred and all! Great Blog and thanks for all the support and compliments on my work from you and others – much appreciated!
I like how Alejandro put it, if people apply what they have learned, they will succeed.
Take care,
Derrick
Derrick, you were amazing. I can’t wait to be on the same stage with you again.
Here is a link to Derricks presentation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIJ7QBRwkVM
Ah… you’re too kind Fred! Looking forward to our next adventure for sure!
Derrick