Change Everything by Shifting from a Talk to a Quest with Gordon Stein.

Welcome to Public Speaking with Peter George. Do you want to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then stay tuned as we discuss public speaking tips, techniques, and tactics that help you increase your impact, influence, and income.

As a speaker, two things you always want to do are engage your audiences and set yourself apart from other speakers. Wouldn’t it be great if you could accomplish both at the same time? That’s exactly what my guest Gordon Stein helps you do. Gordon is an international keynote speaker, personal finance expert, and author of Cashflow Cookbook: $2 Million of Financial Freedom in 60 Easy Recipes. He combines trademark wit and storytelling to speak with employee and association groups, financial advisors, and the media about a breakthrough path to financial wellness — no risk, no budgeting required. Here’s my conversation with Gordon Stein.

The Feedback Loop That Changed Everything

Gordon: One of the things that made the biggest difference early in my speaking was setting up a feedback loop. I’d give a trusted colleague a sheet of paper and say, “Give me three things you love, three things to fix.” And after every talk, I go back and watch the video. Was there a pause I missed? Did I plant on the stage before delivery? Any crutch words? Always being hungry to improve is key — and I don’t think enough speakers do it.

The Pre-Survey: Know Your Audience Before You Walk In

Gordon: Before every talk, I do a pre-survey to understand exactly what the audience is looking for. Most speakers step on stage with a set of assumptions — and those assumptions are usually wrong. I once was asked to speak to 120 hairstylists about financial wellness. I assumed I’d be talking about debt and credit cards. The survey told me their average income was $120,000 a year, and they overwhelmingly wanted to learn about investing. Without that survey, I would have missed the mark entirely. I always play a little game with myself — I guess where the audience is, then run the survey. Inevitably, they’re somewhere different.

Shifting from a Talk to a Quest

Gordon: My speaking isn’t just about delivering content — it’s part of a quest. The American Psychological Association tells us money is our number one stress. I want to change that. So many of us can’t advance up Maslow’s hierarchy because of financial pressure. When I reframe my purpose from “doing a speaking engagement” to “moving people up that pyramid,” everything changes. I’m more passionate. I’m not thinking about me. I’m all about them. When you deliver that way, they feel it — and they line up to talk to you afterward.

Using Your Body to Engage

Gordon: Speakers don’t use their bodies nearly enough. At one conference, I opened by asking the audience to categorize how they felt about their finances — “joyful,” “moderately concerned,” “lightly terrified,” or “head in the sand.” As I went through each category, I moved my body from arms outstretched above my head all the way down into a ball on the floor. Everyone was laughing — and completely engaged. There’s no way I didn’t have their attention.

Spatial Anchoring and Intentional Movement

Gordon: You can anchor time and concepts to specific spots on the stage. If you have three key points, allocate three spots on stage to represent them — and return to those spots consistently. Speed up a recording of yourself and watch it at four or five times normal pace. What you’ll see in most speakers is random, meaningless movement back and forth. But if every position means something — if you stop, plant, deliver, then move with intention — your body starts to carry your message. Your gestures convey a setback, your stance conveys confidence. The audience participates in your emotions, not just your content.

The Fanny Pack Story

Gordon: I used to tell this story to my sales team whenever I wanted them to understand what it really means to give everything you have. I was going for a run but needed to stop at the bank first, so I had a fanny pack on to carry my papers. I headed out on the boardwalk for my usual run, picked up my pace, and suddenly heard someone right behind me — stride for stride. I refused to let them pass. I pushed harder and harder for three miles. At the end of the boardwalk, I turned around, gasping — and there was nobody there. It was the fanny pack, jiggling on my back. I had run the performance of a lifetime chasing something that wasn’t even real. The message: when you think you’re giving it everything, you’re probably only at 40%.

Peter: Gordon, how can listeners find you?

Gordon: Visit cashflowcookbook.com. You can reach out there, and if you’re interested in the financial wellness content, you can also find Cashflow Cookbook on Amazon — available in both Canadian and U.S. editions, in paperback and Kindle.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Public Speaking with Peter George. Are you ready to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and let’s make it happen. I’ll see you next time.