Mike Holmes knows his stuff.

Mike Holmes makes things right, as I’ve mentioned before. Mike arrives on the scene of a home remodeling or contracting disaster and just fixes things. He’ll occasionally get upset about the previous contractor’s negligence or incompetence, but he very quickly gets past that, tears down the old, and starts over, doing things the way they should have been done in the first place.

Part of what makes Mike so great is his knowledge of building codes and construction techniques. Mike can make it right because Mike knows where to turn for the answers. He reads the instructions. He knows his policies and ordinances. He literally wrote the book on how to do a proper home inspection (in Canada, at least). And when he’s in over his head, he calls in an expert for guidance.

When you go looking for information, it’s crucial to be able to find a reliable source. The internet makes it possible for anyone with fingers and an internet connection to publish anything they want. Boom. Out there for the world to see. Forever. But just being out there doesn’t make it accurate in the slightest.

For example, I spend large amounts of time looking around online for other people who are interested in helping people learn to communicate, and I’m shocked by the quantity of BAD advice out there. Some self-proclaimed experts (with significant amounts of fans/followers) recommend techniques and spout advice that is just plain wrong. My sympathies are with anyone and everyone who listens to them. If you’re reading this, you’re obviously interested in learning to get better at presenting, and for that I’m incredibly excited. I strive to give the best and most accurate information I possibly can here, but if you accept it without question, you deserve what you get whether it’s right or wrong.

My point for presenters in general is this: You need to be authoritative. You must be an expert on your topic. You need the kind of expertise that only comes from study and practice.

You can be a polished orator, an entertaining and engaging storyteller, and a PowerPoint wiz who builds killer slides at will, but if you don’t know what you’re talking about, you’re lying to people. You’ve got to know your stuff. You’ve got to be the best at it. And if you’re not the best, you’ve got to read, and practice and learn from whoever is.

Know your stuff. And be confident that you know your stuff by doing your homework.

Mike’s lesson in a word: Authority.

This week I’m doing a series of posts I’m calling “Build Slides Like…” Each day I’m sharing a new idea about presenting taken from an inspiring creative type (non-presenters). Others I’ve shared include Duff Goldman, and Dave Ramsey. Subscribe to this blog via RSS or email or come back each day to find out who else I’ll be featuring.

[image credit: MikeHolmesInspections.com]

Mike Holmes is my hero.

I admire Mike for a pile of reasons. I admire the empire of television, books, services, and merchandise he’s built. I admire him for his seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of construction and contracting best practices. I admire him for his commitments to quality, integrity, and trust in all of his building projects. But most of all, I admire him for his desire to use his skill and talent to help people.

Mike’s slogan is “make it right.” Actually, this is closer to what Guy Kawasaki refers to as a mantra. It’s short, but it summarizes all that Mike Holmes is and does. It’s so synonymous with Mike it’s even the URL for his website.

What’s your mantra? When people ask you what you do, how do you respond? Can you give them a message as succinct as Mike’s? What would it take to make your message that simple? Having a mantra can be a powerful tool to help you tell your story.

Here’s a couple things to think about to help you find your personal version of “Make It Right.”

Short

“Make it right” is effective because it’s simple. It’s Mike Holmes boiled down to three words. Everything extra has been eliminated. It might seem like it was probably easy for Mike to come up with this phrase, but I bet it actually took a good amount of thinking. Brevity is only achieved through great effort. If you’re coming up with a mantra, don’t do it in an afternoon. Be prepared to spend the time necessary to make it brief. Brevity will also make it easier to remember.

Actionable

“Make it right” serves as a guide for Mike’s decisions. It tells why he does what he does. It tells what his books, television shows, magazine, and foundation are about. It also answers any question you could think to ask Mike. If Mike created a video podcast, guess what it would probably be about?

Your mantra should do the same. It shouldn’t just be a phrase. It should lead to action. It should guide you. It should tell you or anyone on your team what to do in any given situation. At any moment, remembering this phrase should shine a light on the correct course of action.

True

It may be obvious to say this, but if you don’t (or can’t) live by your mantra then what good is it? If it doesn’t accurately reflect your approach to what you do then either make the changes necessary to get in alignment with it, or change it. Your mantra, unlike a mission statement, isn’t meant to be framed, hung on the wall, and forgotten. It should be active, in the forefront of everyone’s mind, used on a daily basis. It should be impossible to tell your story without it.

[image: holmesmagazine.com]