VIRAL BUSINESS
Inspiring Customer Loyalty
With each new launch the hysteria around the ‘Johnny Cupcakes’ brand continues to conquer the globe. The reaction goes from 10 block queues as anxious fans await for the shop to open to Cupcake tattoos, yes, permanent ones.
In this awe-inducing presentation Johnny will educate you on how you too can create a wave of loyalty and obsession around your products, your business and within your teams through the power of social media & experiential branding.
Key takeaways include:
- Capitalizing on Cut Through – how to stand out in a saturated market
- Your Personal Brand – how everything about your first impression counts
- Experiential Drivers – creating employee, team and consumer experiences that people shout about
- Effective Innovation – taking existing genius and growing it!
Mindset for Growth
The key to any successful business lies in having people that are open to discovering new ideas and that’s what John Sweeney specializes in – implementing tools and practices that create tangible shifts in behavior resulting in a workplace that is not only open to change, but that loves it!
Leaders and teams are often operating from a place of fear when faced with the unknown; whether that’s a fear of change or of failure – in this insightful presentation delegates will learn how to reframe challenges and grow from every ‘bump’ in the road. Tangible takeaways from this keynote include:
- Yes And – simple conversational tools to steer interactions to a powerful place
- On the fly – how each of us can ‘re-frame’ a confronting situation and react perfectly every time
- Listen up – how to actively listen to concerns, questions and moods to identify key behavior drivers
John also specializes in:
- Sales conversations
- Agility in business
- Driving growth through customer care
- Innovation in practice
- Team alignment
Sales Training and Operational Effectiveness, ING
INCREDIBLE!! I heard from a number of attendees that he was the best presenter they have ever witnessed. He’s incredibly engaging and was perfect for an audience of sales reps.
Director of Training and Development, Facebook
You were the best...nailed it. Perfection. Thank YOU!!!
Dir. of Leadership Development, Ingersoll Rand
John Sweeney is incredible! His interactive session with our top leaders was the fuel we needed for positive change. I would hire him again in a second.
The Ultimate Event Playlist
There are many many elements that make up a brilliant event - great catering, the perfect Ode speaker, but once you've got all that in the bag the only thing left is the music!
Ode To Two Million Lives So Far!
When you drop a pebble in a pond the effect ripples out to the rest of the water, in the events industry the experiences we create are that pebble. It can be easy to forget, between meetings and briefs, that we are in the business of inspiring people - but we are, and it's a huge priviledge to be able to share the effect of these events with you.
Sneak Peak - 'Caught In The Crossfire'
Unarmed Sitting Ducks
Knowing what's coming, I put on my sky-blue UN armored vest and helmet. My team-mates laugh and joke about how cute I look in my little blue armored suit. But after the first 1000-pound aerial bomb hits a nearby town seconds later, smashing buildings apart, the mockers scramble for their own flak jackets and helmets.
What's In It For Them?
The difference between a great salesperson and a terrible one is simple - one thinks selfishly and one doesn't.
Now you may think that a bad salesperson is probably the one doing the selfish thinking but you'd be wrong - because the key to making a sales is understanding what's in it for the client.
Love The Sales Struggle!
In the good old days we’d have extreme periods of change, followed by long periods of calm. A new competitor would arrive on your turf, or a new piece of technology would alter things and everyone would batten down the hatches and pray they’d make it out in one piece.
Sales Resilience
Sales? I don't like having to 'make the sale'. I loathe it. The very thought makes me uncomfortable. There’s only one thing worse for me… having to ask for payment. Even when it’s a legitimate request! I'd rather track militia leaders in the Solomon Islands or board smuggler ships in the Arabian Gulf, than ask for payment.
Ode To Amazing Events
Where does the time go? Anyone who has ever planned an event knows that it's often the tasks that were only supposed to take five minutes that end up taking eons and draining the budget dry!
Argue And Win
Arguments are never good, right? They should be avoided at all costs, right? Absolutely not!
The art of arguing in a constructive way defines a healthy relationship, be that romantic or professional. The key to creating an argument that leads to positive outcomes is surprisingly simple, you need to think about what the other person is trying to say and what they are hoping to achieve. Or, in other words, you need to think 'selfish'.
Woman Power!
When your office is a war zone, leadership and teamwork skills can save your life. Here, peacekeeper, survivor and all-around war heroine Matina Jewell speaks with Latte Magazine about learning to fight back through the toughest environment on earth.
CEO - Center for Financial Services Innovation
Thanks so much for taking time to engage with the CFSI Board of Directors yesterday. Your remarks were just the spark we needed to ignite a great conversation about our own future. I especially appreciated how you customized your remarks. Having watched many of your talks online, I know the common elements. But so few speakers and thinkers of your caliber take the time to personalize their "stump speech" to the audience in a meaningful way. You did just that, and it really made a difference.
Multi Million Dollar Businesses With Humble Beginnings
If you’re looking for a frosted delicacy don’t come a knocking to Johnny’s Cupcakes. The bakery themed retail shop features t-shirts, shorts, sweaters, and undergarments for sale using a cupcake motif and a cupcake/skull design as the company’s logo. The founder of the retail shop is none other than Johnny Earle, a young musician who started selling his original designs on t- shirts out of the trunk of his car. The band player showcased his designs when on tour, granting him great exposure, before quitting to pursue the retail business full time.
How to Stage a Grander Opening
Don't just open for business. Throw a party your customers will remember.
Pick An Optimal Time
Weekends and evenings are best, because people don't have to rush from work. Don't open your doors at the same hour as everyone else. On weekends, wait until early afternoon. That gives you greater opportunity to pass out fliers and stir excitement on the street. Also, fewer hours adds a kind of limited-edition urgency to the experience.
Read the rest on Inc.com
CEO L'OREAL Paris USA
At our annual company inspiration day, Johnny inspired me to have more fun with my company!
The Works – Sydney, Australia
Johnny is a supreme storyteller. Engaging, funny and real, the advice he imparts is relevant and practical to everyone from students to top CEO's. I've never seen an audience so charged with passion!
Vice President and Director The Quincy Chamber of Commerce
Johnny held the attention of every person in the room! Many members in the audience were long-time business owners who commented that even though they have been in business for years, they learned quite a bit from his presentation!
Creative Director Momentum Worldwide
With tales of entrepreneurial derring-do, Johnny Cupcakes speaks with passion, insight and hard-earned experience. This is business building from the horse’s mouth
Managing Director Wieden+Kennedy
Johnny was an excellent speaker — informative, funny and inspiring. His personal story and experience were interesting, and the broader relevance of following one's passion to achieve success!
Tailored presentations
Uniquely suited to the needs of each client
Some of the key takeaways Johnny will include are:
- How to gain impact from the smallest changes
- How to stand out and stay relevant in a world full of distractions and competition
- Simple tools for effective delegation
- The ONE calculated risk everyone should try
- How to gain word of mouth advertising
- The value of creating unique experiences
- The importance of the first impression: How your business card, resume, or website could make or break an opportunity
- The power of packaging
- Creating and growing a community of loyal customers
Ako Aotearoa, New Zealand’s National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence
Exceptional speaker and opera star, Geoff Knight held the 70 attendees spellbound with his inspirational and thought provoking keynote;
Gallagher Group
Geoff Knight was excellent in every way –performance, presentation, topic and voice – all absolutely wonderful and we would have him back at any time.
Conventions and Incentives New Zealand
Not only did we have the opportunity to hear your very human and inspiring story, we were privileged to hear your wonderful singing voice …. You completely met my hopes and expectation as our closing speaker. As you know, there were even a few tears. Thank you so much.
DMP Marketing & Events
Looking is one thing, finding is the other. Geoff’s story is remarkable AND then he starts to sing! After each encore you just know this guy has blown open your event big time.
Key messages
We all possess the capacity to change our patterns of behaviour.
- Achieving excellence is a way of life, it requires self-awareness and a commitment.
- Surround yourself by people who expect more of you than you do of yourself.
- Being your best self is way more fun and it won’t get you arrested.
- You can either be a reaction waiting to happen, or choose who shows up.
- Being authentic takes courage, make sure you are heard and contribute
Former VP of Content Development, California Building Industry Association
There are speakers who are charismatic and inspiring. There are speakers with rich, compelling content grounded in solid research. Andrew Winston is one of the rare speakers who provides equal measures of both. He captured and held the attention of a roomful of CEOs at our executive-level summit -- not an easy feat to do.
The Engagement Myth
Who out there struggles with staff turnover?
Everyone? Thought so. The promise of a gold watch if you stick around is no longer enough for todays workforce – they need to be ‘engaged’ at all levels in order to develop true company loyalty.
And you as a business want this, you need this! An ‘engaged’ employee will be more productive, less likely to leave and provide higher value in all contexts. Fact. Endless research backs it up. Google it.
But how? The answer isn’t what you think.
In this attention grabbing keynote Colin James will:
- Bust through the myths and get to the crux of what really drives staff loyalty.
- The 4 archetypes – how employees ‘play’ and how you can use this in your teams today!
- How to manage this new breed of worker brilliantly
Disaster Proof!
This past winter was a rough one for big swaths of the United States, with both unusual cold snaps and disruptive snowstorms. General Mills’ CEO recently blamed the winter for less-than-expected earnings but it wasn’t just one company; the whole economy was slowed by the extremes and volatility we faced.
The disruption to operations and supply chains is real and costly, and all signs point to increasing threats as weather gets more volatile, driven in large part by climate change. The science is getting clearer that we’ll see more extreme hurricanes, droughts, floods, and even snowstorms .
Event Manager - Fairfax Media
Colin James was simply outstanding and right-on-message for us. His humour, insight and personable approach made both his keynotes resonate with everyone in the room.
Are You Sabotaging Your Success?
You work hard, you prioritise your success in business - so why on earth are you not where you want to be yet? So many of the people I speak with believe they are doing everything right, but they don't realise that there are a few, seemingly small things, that they are doing that the real power players do not do. So ask yourself this, are you sabotaging your success?
A Guide To Keeping Your Cool
There is not enough time in the day - fact!
As an event planner you are responsible for executing briefs, expanding your business, being on the ground, creating show stopping ideas...oh and actually doing all the admin that comes along with it.
How To Ask For The Business
My mentor used to say to me, “Closing the business is the difference between being a good salesperson and a good conversationalist!” When you are working in the events industry you are faced with a huge amount of competition.
With the business climate as it is today, it is more important than ever that people are learning to develop their skills in closing business. So many event managers are afraid to ASK for the business. Many believe they will be seen as pushy and feel uncomfortable in asking the question. Many of us shy away from ever acknowledging the sales side of the job to begin with. This group believes that by simply “servicing” their clients, new business will take care of itself.
What Makes You Different?
One of the principle problems organizations and their teams face is a lack of clarity about the business they’re really in. Now, understandably, this can be a challenging concept for most organizations – surely we all understand the business we’re in?
However, I want to suggest that the true nature of our business, the game we’re really playing is not the products we sell or the services we provide.
The Colour Scheme Must Be Green
The world is facing some large challenges that are changing business profoundly. My work focuses on how companies can navigate tectonic shifts such as extreme weather (and climate change), rising resource prices that increase the cost of doing business, and radical transparency that opens up how companies operate to public scrutiny.
Are You Happy?
There is a lot of talk around what our individual 'end goals' are, more and more we are being asked to quantify our happiness levels in order to make sure we are on track towards our idea of the perfect life.
Building The Downloadable Bank
In this revealing and educational interview with Wired Magazine, globally respected banking innovator Brett King talks banking trends and how he came to create the worlds first downloadable bank.
Think You Aren't In Sales?
It’s okay…we all are. It’s about influence!
In a word association exercise, the term “sales” would receive responses such as “Sleazy” & “Untrustworthy”. We hear the term “salesperson” and think of car yards & door to door nuisance callers. And yet, selling remains one of our oldest and most common vocations. There are elements of sales in our work and everyday life. If you’re in the dating game, then essentially you are selling yourself. If you’re mingling with friends at a pub, then you are selling yourself.
Who Are You Really?
My business partner Kieran Flanagan and I have recently finished writing a book about human behaviour - how we can lift our own performance, increase engagement and drive influence in our organisations, our teams and our communities.
National Seminar Manager, NewsCorp Australia
Thank you for such an engaging and thought-provoking presentation; you really bring together your media personality, comedic background and extensive knowledge to the stage in what was one of the best key-notes I have seen.
Know When To Walk Away
The art of recognising a time waster and knowing when to walk away
I talk to thousands of people every year about the art of influence, and reading the client. In sales, we win some and we lose some and the same applies to any industry where you are dealing with people, especially HR. Hopefully we win more than we lose. But how much time is spent wasted on trying to influence a decision that is never going to go your way? How many times can you think of when you’ve spent countless hours trying to follow up after an important meeting with a team member, expecting changes and practises to be put into place only for it to seem as if your thoughts went in one ear and out the other.
How To Survive The HR Rollercoaster
A day in the life of a HR professional is often like a roller coaster ride, it can be stressful, hugely demanding and at the same time incredibly rewarding. One thing you can guarantee is that no one day is the same. One minute they can be dealing with a stressful dismissal and then suddenly they have to think strategically and make a decision that will deeply affect the business. In response to this pressure some HR professionals thrive, while others don’t get anywhere near their potential.
How To Profit From Going Green
We live in a fundamentally changed world. It's time for your approach to strategy to change, too.
In this short video I'm going to very clearly outline how businesses need to drive change in order to gain huge profits from this new, greener frontier.
How To Beat Your Screen Addiction
If they aren't in our hands, or in our pockets, they are under our pillows or infront of our faces.
Screen time - we dedicate more of our life to looking at laptops and phones than we do exercising or hanging out with loved ones and it's becoming a very worrying trend. We now have 12 month olds knowing their way around iPads before they learn to count, and when the sun is out valuable play time is being missed.
Ode to Ode...
Thank you Arnold for only bringing the best of the best speakers to our events. We appreciate it! We appreciate you always thinking "outside the box" and never having us go with a speaker that so many others have – we are always unique and stand out with our keynotes – kudos!
Executive Director | Diversity Alliance for Science
In ODE I've found a team that are naturals at choosing the attitude, being present, making the client's day and above all, that love to play. Most importantly, for a person that travels consistently, I am always made to feel a valued part of the family.
Stephen Lundin - FISH! Philosophy
Working with ODE to build my US business was an awesome experience. In less than two years, we generated over one million US dollars of booking inquiries, accelerated my market penetration by at least 5 years and established relationships that many speakers spend their whole career trying to get.
Peter Sheahan
The team manage to balance their allegiance and commitment to those they represent, with an honest approach to who would work for our clients events and who wouldn't. A refreshing attitude that means if they do recommend someone, we listen!
DMP Marketing
Just wanted to say thanks for two great presentations last week, Lisa and Mike were both fantastic. They both totally hit the mark with the audience and helped take the event to another level. Thanks – ODE definitely have the best speakers!