Cameron Fink’s Post

Something about this video causes me actual physical pain. And most of you probably won't notice or care. And rightly so. Some of the details I fuss over are just not that important. At least, that's what I have to keep telling myself *eye twitch*. It's more important to keep publishing and keep making progress. I reckon there's probably an aspect of something you're working on right now that is similar. Getting detail right really REALLY matters to you. AND most people just aren't invested or capable enough to appreciate the difference. Could you choose to get over your perfectionism, get it out the door, and start on the next thing? It might be a better use of your time.

I used to strain to be original. Now I just try to be myself. It’s better. Being original is hard. Being yourself is comparatively easy. People buy people. Your market probably isn’t looking for someone dazzling and original. They’re probably looking for someone they like. On a newsfeed, video shifts the focus from originality to personality. So be yourself, show your face, and use your voice. Help people work out if you’re a match. Video’s a great way to do that. Maybe get good at it? Here’s Col’s post I ripped off: https://lnkd.in/gvUazwi2

If you’d like to hear Col’s ocker go-kart bogan accent circa 2009, head to 4:05. George Bernard Shaw said “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place”. Regardless of what your job is, effective communication is critical. Being an influential, compelling communicator amplifies the value of almost every other skill you've got. Col and I discuss this idea at length, and by the end of this five-minute Fink Tank episode rather ironically reach the conclusion that until you can communicate your idea in 30 seconds, you should practise more. I’ve always remembered Colin Ellis modelling great multi-channel communication in 2018. Special nod also to Chad Littlefield for being a great communicator and generous elevator of others. -- Follow + 🔔 Find The Fink Tank on the usual podcast platforms

If you want to be a great communicator, consider this motto: “If everything is practice, nothing is wasted.” In this week’s Fink Tank Col and I delve into Jehan Casinader's rule for growth from his excellent recent post. Jehan says the only way to grow is to say yes to opportunities and try new things. He’s definitely right, but we also don’t want to fail spectacularly! We want to: ⚖ Push our boundaries AND respect our audience 🍾 Bring unrefined fizz AND remain professional 💪 Take opportunities AND protect our ego We risk momentum if we bomb too many times. But waiting until you feel "ready" is a recipe for stagnation. So don't wait too long, and don't say no too often. Do the thing. As Stephen Wright said beautifully "Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it!" And if it goes wrong, as Jehan says, it was practice. Go you good things! Jehan's post: https://lnkd.in/g6nwDQSU -- Follow + 🔔 Find The Fink Tank on the usual podcast platforms

If I recorded this video sitting in a room on my own, telling the camera I was just in a room full of 50 amazing women.... was I though?? Video captures reality, energy, relationships, environment and humour that's hard to convey any other way. It's a great way to show who you are and what you do. I'd prefer not to have screwed up filming the start, but here we are! Low friction, fun to make, easy to share. Thanks for having me Janine Garner! Nice to connect with you all! Clare Robinson, Lisa George (Duclos), Louise Gibson, Louise McDonough, Esther Colman (CAHRI), Kerryn Powell, Karen Tisdell, Katherine Toates and more!

Lisa was on air for only four minutes. Fortunately, she spent decades preparing. "It takes twenty years to make an overnight success" said Eddie Cantor. Some people are great at things that seem simple. Some people seem to get "lucky" with opportunity. They've probably spent much longer getting good than you realise. Do the work.

Lisa O'Neill says your energy introduces you before you do. My brother Col Fink says people buy your energy before they buy your services. Last night, The Fink Tank went to Lisa's ENERGY book launch in Melbourne and sat with an enraptured crowd as Lisa held court for 90 minutes. As funny as Taylor Tomlinson, as charismatic as Angelina Jolie, as flamboyant as Elton John and as approachable as Graham Norton, Lisa epitomises the efficacy of the ideas in her new book Energy. She really does shift the energy of a room when she enters it. She really does shift your energy when you're in her presence. And you really do want to buy whatever she's selling whenever she offers it! If you're anywhere near Sydney, Brisbane, Wairapa or Palmerston North, get to one of her remaining shows, you absolutely will not regret it! And, if you're running a business and wondering how to get more sales, think carefully about the energy transaction... no-one buys your services without buying your energy first. -- Follow + 🔔 Find The Fink Tank on the usual podcast platforms

Col hates the name of my Be Less Shit on Camera course. 💩👎 I’m still rather attached to it. When offering services, I think it’s important to set realistic expectations. Getting on camera is hard, and you’re unlikely to emerge from ANY four week course as a fully pupated magnificent butterfly. My course does what it says on the box. You’ll come out being less shit than when you came in. That’s a useful goal and a helpful standard to reach. So what’s Col’s beef? To be fair, he didnt always hate it. He thinks I’ve outgrown it, and should be aiming (and naming) for higher profile work. He’s got a point. He’s hugely supportive of my work and is a trusted coach to many people in this exact space. His opinion carries some weight. But he’s also my brother, and I can tell him to sod off. I still love of running Be Less Shit on Camera. In some circumstances I avoid saying the full title (and Lynne Welch’s old boss wouldn’t allow her on a course with Shit in the name!) But the name is memorable and has a playful connotation. I like to have and facilitate a fun learning environment. And I ESPECIALLY love seeing people like Belinda grow in confidence and capability and get their beautiful faces on cool videos which they ACTUALLY POST!! Go you good things. PS. I love you Col.

How far would you walk to save a few bucks? 💰🚶♀️ If you're like a lot of people at the Queen Victoria Market, not very far! Something similar happens on websites. Humans are pretty lazy (or time-poor, or prudent). We want convenience. If it's a slog to find the page with the thing you want, and a chore to go through the purchase process, it's easy to just... give up. You fill in your credit card details, accidentally miss the terms and conditions checkbox, and the error means you have to fill in ALL the details all over again? ARGH! Or auto-complete won't fill in your buyer details? Less egregious but still annoying. Clicking through four pages of spam? Newsletter signs ups? Pop-up offers? REGISTER MY PROFILE?? No. Just let me BUY THE THING I'VE ALREADY DECIDED I WANT! Or (and I really feel for solo operators doing their best to run a small commerce website) it just.... doesn't work at all. Pretty annoying! And often a missed sale. For something I wanted, for a price I was happy with. How many sales might your business be missing because of a clunky process? Are you easy to buy? It might be a good idea to audit your customer journey. And have a trusted friend audit it too.