CNLP 277: Sam Collier on How to Find Your Voice, Build a Platform, Stay True to Yourself and Handle Feedback and Criticism
Five years ago, Sam Collier had almost no platform. Today, he’s a well-known podcaster, speaker, host and influencer who speaks on some of today’s largest stages.
Sam talks about how he got started, how as an African-American he processed feedback and coaching from many white and minority leaders to learn to speak to a whole new audience, growing his platform to what it is today.
Welcome to Episode 277 of the podcast. Listen and access the show notes below or search for the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.
Guest Links
Sam Collier | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
A Greater Story-Podcast | A Greater Story-Book
Episode Links
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A Greater Story with Sam Collier – Episode 40 | Brad Lomenick
A Greater Story with Sam Collier – Episode 61 | Ryan Leslie
3 Insights from Sam
1. How can you keep your style, while learning from other people, styles, and cultures?
When communicating, there is a difference between grammar and style. Everyone has a natural voice or style that they receive from where they grew up. Sam grew up in a culturally black area and came up in a predominantly black church. When he transitioned into North Point, a predominantly white church, he had to learn what needed to change about his communication style, and what needed to stay for him to still be authentically him.
Many leaders struggle with this. There are little nuances in phrases that can make a huge difference. With those little differences, Sam had to differentiate between grammar and syntax. He wanted to figure out how to say things like a black man, but say it in a way that everyone could understand.
2. Don’t sacrifice authenticity for influence
When speaking from a platform, there is a temptation to sacrifice who you are for who the world wants you to be. Don’t do that. If you tell people exactly what they want to hear, you will probably get great ratings, but you are selling your soul out from under you.
You will add more value to the world when you are being who God created you to be. If a stage asks you to come and be someone that you were not made to be, it is better to say no to that stage, because not every stage is your stage. As someone with influence, you have to walk the line of being aggressive while still being you.
3. When building a platform, it has to be a win-win for everyone
Obviously, you want to be able to create as many opportunities for your platform and podcast to grow as possible, but if you are going to invite someone to be on your podcast it has to be a win-win for both them and you. People are not going to share their platform and time with you just because they like you. You have to be adding value for them too.
When Sam started his podcast, he knew he needed to have something to offer his potential guests. So before he got started, he got a radio deal on 40 stations. That way, when he asked people to come on the show, he had even more to offer them.
Quotes from Episode 277
Don't sacrifice your authenticity for influence. @SamCollier Share on X
Every stage is not your stage. @SamCollier Share on X
As soon as you get tired of rehearsing, do it one more time. @SamCollier Share on X
My biggest challenge was becoming relevant in a new culture while holding on to my own. @SamCollier Share on X
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Next Episode: Ian Morgan Cron & Carey Nieuwhof
Ian Morgan Cron interviews Carey for this episode of his top rated Typology podcast, but in the middle of the interview, Carey turned the tables got Ian to apply his Enneagram insights to Carey’s latest book, Didn’t See It Coming. What results is Ian doing a fascinating analysis on which Enneagram types might be more prone to cynicism, burnout, pride, moral compromise and more.
Subscribe for free now and you won’t miss Episode 278.
