This week’s blog post is an open question to you, my reader, with an ask that you’ll think through this very simple question:
What Problem Do I Solve?
For 10 years we have tried to find the answer to this question for my work specifically.
We have leaned into The Promise – yet, that’s more of a philosophy.
We have taught Signature Moves – yet, that is a process.
We have been told the reason I am chosen for many events by planners looking to bring me in are among the following:
- “We need someone who is engaging and entertaining to speak in between the content heavy speakers.”
- “You are going to bring a self-help message of inspiration and humor.”
- “We just need something entertaining.”
Those who call themselves “fans” of mine have said kind things like:
- “You make me laugh.”
- “My family thinks you’re the best.”
- “You help me keep better promises to myself and my work.”
These are all wonderful compliments.
But, we still haven’t gotten to the PROBLEM of what having Jason Hewlett speak at your event actually helps the client & event planner solve.
My speaker peers have the problems they solve such as:
- Exactly What To Say (for sales and communication)
- The Retention Expert (for employee satisfaction)
- The Generation Solution (how to work with different generations)
I have countless helpful and willing speaker friends, and we have done masterminds around this topic for my speaking business for over a decade, to no resolve.
We usually end up just tightening up some of my branding, messaging, and stories.
I am looking specifically for anyone willing to send me, privately or in the comments below, what PROBLEM you feel I solve.
And if I don’t solve one, are there a few? Is there a smattering of things I help clients resolve?
I have my own assumptions, but can’t settle on it in any way.
We aren’t looking for a suggestion as to my changing a topic, theme (such as The Promise), or what I’m doing in that department. We know the answer to which problem I solve will resolve itself in what messaging I need to present moving forward.
What is ironic about this challenge?
It is funny that I can teach about The Promise, and Signature Moves, and Identify, Clarify, Magnify – yet I’m having a whale of a time doing the same for my own business.
I can walk into nearly any other speaker’s struggle or business dilemma and solve this problem for them fairly quickly…but for myself? It’s like a master craftsman who can’t build the shelves in his own house.
I appreciate your thoughts as I pull the curtain back in this post. This is what things like AI can’t figure out, either.
I need human brains on it, who know me, read my words, care about my success.
If I don’t hear from anyone, I understand, since this may take some serious thinking on anyone’s part on my behalf.
There is no financial compensation for helping me, outside of better writing and serving you on this blog, as well as I will definitely write a blog post and share the names of any who assist, as a small thank you for even considering.
I’d love for you to go check out my newly refreshed web site and perhaps notice some of the changes we’ve made, leaning way more into what we deliver for the audience, and less of a BIO about me. Hoping this clears up what we’re aiming to do.
But even with massive changes, coaching and work, we are still unable to solve the answer: What Problem Do I Solve?
Thank you for your help and consideration.
4 Responses
I have dealt with the same question and challenge for so long. Lois Creamer helped me we came up with this. I work with organizations and individuals to turn boring, stuck, stale, stagnation into innovation, performance and profit. The challenges, while stagnation is a problem, my solve, it’s not a problem people identify as such. So I have to educate my audience.
We have such similar programs that some of that will overlap for you… The problem of a boring conference, problem of a boring meeting, the problem of a a checked-out mindset. So you have that. However, that’s the problem that your delivery, solves, not your content, per se. Perhaps the problem of distrust, misalignment… You help people align their actions with their values. I’m sure you have riffed on all of this, but it’s a problem to not know your value and what makes you different and how to magnify that. I remember Lois one time asking me this question and I said, “I solved the problem of innovation.” She said innovation is not a problem. That was very helpful for me. Maybe someday we can jump on a call and explore this together
Mike! Dude. Yes, I have been working on this with Lois as well, and we are chopping away at it. It has been very insightful to get the responses, both private and public, from those who are willing. It has made a massive difference. It means the world you’d write this out and thank you for your continued encouragement. I would love to do a call about it sometime.
Jason Hewett helped me realize that there isn’t just one box I fit into. He pushed me beyond the limits I had placed on myself and gave me permission to be different. He also helped me stop being so hard on myself when certain things don’t come easily to me.
Jason carries the spirit of a higher power within him, and he reflects that spirit in the way he lives and treats others every day. He is the kind of person who makes it easy to form a lifelong friendship. Even though we live in different areas, whenever we talk, it feels as though no time has passed.
Awe Lori, you have warmed my heart with this kind response. Thank you for the good person you are.