Episode 184: You live a long time. You never stop learning with True Black
The beauty of having a repeat client over many years is that you build a strong, trusting relationship. The not-so-beautiful part is the pressure we put on ourselves to create new content, experiences, and activities to keep our workshops fresh!
Truett Black has worked as a trainer, speaker, and executive coach since 2005 and in this episode, he shares how he reinvigorates his approach, and where he gets new inspiration for new activities.
As you can tell from this conversation, Truett LOVES this work. He grew up in the United States and has lived in greater China since 2001. He is based in Taipei and frequently consults, coaches, and facilitates workshops in Shanghai,Hong Kong, Singapore, and other cities in Asia.
Having this background, I had to ask him how he gets wonderful conversations when he delivers sessions across Asia. True shares some excellent, practical strategies if you find work over there - stuff that I wish I heard a few years ago for sure.
He also shares his self-talk before starting a workshop, and how he got started in running his own facilitation business (even when some people advised him otherwise!)
About today’s guest: Truett Black
True Black has worked as a trainer, speaker, and executive coach since 2005.
True grew up in the United States and has lived in greater China since 2001. He is based in Taipei and frequently consults, coaches, and facilitates workshops in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other cities in Asia. He also trains and mentors internal trainers and freelance trainers.
True’s career in executive management began in the United States, where he held positions with the Washington Post Group as Area Director; Enertron USA as Global Director of Marketing and Sales; and Revolution Tea as President.
True’s primary expertise is in leadership and team development, influence and communication, organizational development, and executive coaching. He is certified in Hogan Assessments, Tracom Social Styles and several specialized training methodologies.
True is bilingual in Mandarin and English. He holds a degree in Chinese Language and Literature from Brigham Young University and a Master of International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He is the father of five children.
In this episode you will learn:
Tell everyone what you want to do, when you figure out what you want to do
Focus not on yourself, but focus on the people in the room
How to make Asian audience unable to shut up in a workshop
Feeling okay about yourself
Here are some questions I asked True during the interview
Can you discuss some of those opportunities where there’s a hundred doors, you said it’s a bit of a windy path before you find your way there?
Can you share with our listeners what you’ve learned in your experience running workshops in Asia?
When you have a long term client, and you know you have to bring something new into the workshop, how do you prepare for that? How do you bring novelty and flavour?
Have you been leaning on your marketing and sales background in terms of going to business?
Resources Mentioned:
True Development: Go here to sign up for our free monthly resource rich newsletter, True Insights.
True Development on Youtube: Go here for short videos that support your workshops or coaching engagements.
True’s Personal Site for Trainers: Go here for a tip sheet on how to differentiate yourself as a facilitator.
True’s Linkedin Profile: He welcomes new connections.
True’s E-mail: true@true-development.com. Feel free to reach out to Truett!
About your host: Leanne Hughes
Leanne Hughes is an international facilitator, speaker and coach who loves creating unpredictable workshop experiences, that predictably work.
She combines her experience in Marketing, with her education in Human Resources and Psychology, to help leaders create engaging everyday experiences - that are so contagious they scale across teams, functions and regions.
Leanne has facilitated leadership, onboarding and team-development workshops across Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore and believes in a strengths-centred approach to learning and development. She has over 14 years’ of experience across a range of industries including mining, government and tourism sectors.
She’s the host of the First Time Facilitator podcast and was a finalist in the 2018 Australian Learning Impact awards for Learning Professional of the Year.