Michael Barris

Michael Barris Consulting

-Help financial services professionals develop communication and presentation skills to build trust on a regular basis and attract high-net-worth clients. Work with professionals in advisory, insurance, banking, real estate.

-Guide clients, either in 1:1 sessions or group presentations and workshops, to develop ability to use speaking skills to connect, resonate and build trust when presenting in front of an individual or group, be it in-person or online.

-Emphasize the importance of cultivating an audience-first mindset and filtering every word spoken and physical action taken through the question: "How is my message going to impact the person receiving it? Is this going to move them forward and closer to me?"

-Teach clients how to tell stories to warm up listener and inspire them to share back narratives of their own.

-Draw on years of experience as a Dow Jones Newswires & Wall Street Journal editor-writer and Rutgers University adjunct professor of public speaking.

Financial Services Communication & Presentation Coach

-Unpacked strategies for memorable public speaking for readers at every level of speaking proficiency in "How to Become a Super Speaker: The 7 Principles for Speaking with Confidence and Connecting with Audiences," a concise, easy-to-digest volume that became an immediate bestseller.  The book helps people find their voice, simplify complex ideas, and build trust, paving the way for conversations that get influence and conversions.

"Makes the idea of public speaking fun and not intimidating." - New Jersey real estate sales associate.   
Amazon book details: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1674459793 


-Wrote narrative, conducted interviews with government staff, experts for "The Social Media President: Barack Obama and the Politics of Digital Engagement," a 215-page analysis and critique of the use of social media in the campaigns and administration of US President Barack Obama, published by Palgrave Macmillan. Co-written with James E. Katz, the Feld Professor of Emerging Media at the College of Communication, Boston University, and Anshul Jain, the book is a "fascinating and instructive" look at the strengths and weaknesses of social media for public involvement in governmental decision-making, according to reviewer Fred I. Greenstein, Professor of Politics Emeritus at Princeton University.

Publisher's website link: http://us.macmillan.com/thesocialmediapresident/JamesEKatz


Sample: 
https://mike2012blogdotcom3.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/the-social-media-president-ch-4-5-framing-the-peoples-white-house-white-house-online-town-hall1.pdf

Bestselling Author: "How to Become a Super Speaker";  Co-Author: "The Social Media President"

South China Morning Post SCMP

-Shape, sharpen and improve storytelling and reporting by native and non-native English writers as member of SCMP’s North American news team, rewriting heavily as needed. Format copy and add SEO headlines, photos, graphics, videos, links before publishing. Edit video scripts.
-Rank articles on scmp.com for global audience, selecting high quality material for Apple News channel. Send out news alerts. Communicate extensively with managers and reporters to fix errors and ensure copy meets house style, taste and formatting standards.

US Copy and Production Editor - Homepage Team

-Spurred administration of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to form Council of Innovation in response to recommendation of report I drafted for New Jersey Policy Research Organization (NJPRO) on potential for industry-academia collaboration to enhance NJ economy. NJPRO is think-tank of New Jersey Business and Industry Association. 

-Used interviews, case studies and data analysis to determine that social media is unlikely to be a source of meaningful input in White House decision-making in "The Social Media President: Barack Obama and the Politics of Digital Engagement" (Palgrave Macmillan). Co-written with Boston University mobile tech scholar James E. Katz.

-Raised profile in Western media of a leading Chinese business school, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, by crafting op-ed pieces, scripts, media interview responses, scholarly articles on behalf of Dean, senior faculty and conference panel speakers. Promoted school programs, Ivy League partnerships, alumni presentations in video interviews, articles, online marketing, press releases. 

-Enhanced New York Post's "Media City" feature through weaving reporter submissions into engaging narrative and injecting original content. Edited print-edition business pages, including headlines, copy and proofreading/correcting galleys. 

-Covered breaking news and features in both print/video for Mobile Marketer/Mobile Commerce Daily. Moderated Mobile FirstLook conference panel with New York Times, Yahoo's Tumblr on making money with mobile content.

Freelance Editor and Writer

China Daily USA

-Beat the competition on stories for leading State-owned English-language Chinese daily newspaper about China's moves into US auto market, including launching California electric-bus factory. Provided video voice-overs, stand-up reports. Held forum with Twitter users. 

-Tracked and interpreted political, social, financial and legal issues affecting US-China relationship in in-depth features. Covered United Nations, Council on Foreign Relations. Traveled within US to report on conferences, interview newsmakers. 

-Edited copy from across nine US China Daily bureaus. Critiqued home edition for managers.

Business Reporter/Editor

Rutgers University

-Introduction to Public Speaking. Blended personal public speaking experience with in-classroom teaching and online learning and communication systems to guide students on managing speaking anxiety, connecting with audiences. Taught many non-native English speakers. 

-Expository Writing 101. Applied insights from work as professional journalist to enlighten students on synthesizing diverse texts, presenting thesis statement.

Adjunct Professor, Departments of Communication, English

Dow Jones Newswires

-Helped manage 30-person staff on Dow Jones Business News' public website. As Assistant News Editor, distilled, edited extensive range of subject matter. Controlled online front page, including prioritizing items and crafting headlines. Assigned, monitored and updated breaking news stories.

-Turned major press releases and filings into market-moving articles within 20 minutes as Rewrite Desk Copy Editor for Dow Jones Newswires, Wall Street Journal and WSJ.com. Beat rivals with early stories on Kirk Kerkorian proposal to buy DaimlerChrysler, causing automaker's stock to surge. Was among first outlets to publish stories on Bernie Madoff investment scandal, Pfizer layoffs. 

-Influenced direction of US newspapers' business coverage by selecting, rewriting DJ stories for distribution via value-added Associated Press wire. Served as lead Copy Editor on Newspaper Desk. Worked together with AP counterpart to keep stream of DJ stories flowing to world's largest and oldest news service. Assigned stories, had final-reader responsibilities for style, grammar, headlines.

Assistant News Editor, Copy Editor

Knight Ridder Financial News

-Edited and wrote headlines for articles on corporations, equities, commodities and currency for global financial newswire. Assigned coverage of breaking news.

Corporate Copy Editor

News Tribune and Courier News

-News Tribune: Laid out front page of daily newspaper. Directed breaking front-page news coverage. Collaborated with editors, reporters, photographers and technical staff on layouts for front page, local section, state pages. 

-Courier News: Final gatekeeper, managed daily copy-desk news flow. Edited, laid out local, state pages. Worked with reporters, editors to adjust copy to ensure clarity.

Assistant News Editor, News Tribune/Slot Editor, Courier News

Speaking Coach and Bestselling Author | Public Speaking, Communication, Career Growth

I wrote one of the first Dow Jones Newswires/Wall Street Journal online stories about the arrest of Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernie Madoff, perpetrator of a US$50 billion global investment scam.

My job was to get this story out as fast as possible. But I couldn't stop my mind from going to the scores of fraud victims. My thoughts also were on another casualty: the financial industry and, specifically, investor trust.

Flash forward to today. Madoff is dead after 13 years in prison, but his crime has left an indelible mark on me.

After years of experience in speaking, coaching, presenting and writing, I now help financial services professionals to develop their communication and presentation skills; not just to help them handle a Madoff-style crisis but to build trust on a regular basis and attract that higher-level clientele. 

When we work together, you will learn to develop strong speaking skills, whether you're presenting in front of an individual or an in-person or online group, to ensure that you're connecting, resonating and building trust. 

It's necessary to filter every expressed action and word through the question: “How is my message going to impact the person receiving it? Is this going to move them forward and closer to me?"

So I devote a lot of special attention to storytelling techniques that work, whether it's for an audience of one or one to many, to connect you emotionally with the people or individuals you want to reach.

Many of the ideas that I developed while I was a Rutgers University adjunct professor of public speaking are expressed throughout my book, “How to Become a Super Speaker."

If you know that you could attract more deals, close more business and attract high-net-worth clients with stronger speaking skills, I’d be happy to have a conversation about how my method can get you there.
 
💥 If you'd like to get a taste of what I teach, I welcome you to access my free speaking course. You can get it here: michaelbarris.com/mini-course

Here's what some people have said after my presentations:

"Michael provided top-notch direction and coaching around delivery and more. He is an excellent teacher, a true professional and a great communicator." 
—Heather Adams, VP Creation & Development

“Michael was recommended to host a training session at our Learning and Development Festival, and he was fabulous! Some attendees enjoyed Michael’s session so much that we invited him back for a second time.”
—Lindsey Leigh Hobson, Founder, The Learning and Development Collective

Speaking Coach: Helping You Fast-Track Your Career Growth, Navigate Workplace

-I show up-and-coming professionals how to use the techniques of public speaking and communication to navigate the workplace and take their careers to the next level. I give them the tools to deal with organizational challenges at a time of stretched resources in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, helping them to gain experience and wins ahead of their next upward move. When they work with me, they develop their ability to talk up products and services, tell relatable stories, inspire teams to increase productivity, handle media Q&As, impress investors, close deals, command conference stages and handle other high-level speaking tasks. I help them smash down their roadblocks through a mix of mindset strategies, speaking skills development, stagecraft education and close coaching that is influenced by the audience-based methodologies and frameworks of professional performers. I do both 1-on-1 and group coaching and give talks and lead workshops based on my bestselling public speaking training book, "How to Become a Super Speaker: The 7 Principles for Speaking with Confidence and Connecting with Audiences." I also give clients access to my online course, "Unleashing the Power of Your Voice," consisting of 20+ lessons featuring me speaking and demonstrating on video the mindset strategies, basic speaking techniques and stagecraft elements that undergird my coaching and speaking programs.

Money Rules

Finally, I am able to talk openly to people about real options on how to create long-term wealth by eliminating their debt, all without the need to destroy a forest in paperwork.
I show clients a simple and easy to understand system on how to achieve debt elimination and realistic wealth creation results before we even start implementing.
It is entirely feasible to be able to save hundreds of $1000's in wasted interest and years of lost time.
All of this is run through the Money Rules program which shows clients how to manage their money in a much better way, enabling them to pay out their debts far more quickly and then create their wealth using the very same money they would have wasted in repayments.
This same software is now being promoted to financial planners, mortgage brokers, accountants and money coaches.
Whether already in a full-time financial practice or looking to work with a client base, Money Rules is the perfect basis for contacting clients, renewing relationships and getting them financially organized for life. 
Find out more about Money Rules and how it can work for you. www.MoneyRules.com.au/ria-forms
Email     ask @ MoneyRules.com.au
Visit        www.MoneyRules.com.au

Financial Futurist - Showing Clients - How To Manage Money, Eliminate Debt And Create Wealth

Outsource OK

OutsourceOK was started after many failed opportunities presented to other organisations already working in the Philippines.
Regretfully, it is one of the worst processes I have ever had to go through in the establishment of a business. If the local government regulations and requirements weren't already hard enough, the electricity, water and telephone providers just compounded the whole process.
On top of that, local tradesmen, (and I use the term very loosely) often exhorted sums of money in order to do a job or bribe providers in order to have things expedited.
Despite all the trials and tribulations of bureaucracy and officialdom, poor English skills and work ethics  of the locals, I was finally able to establish a well run office to cater to my own needs. My friends knew how fussy I was, and then wanted to use my team, and so the office officially went commercial in July 2012. 
OutsourceOK boasts a resident in-house American marketing director who speaks English with clarity and understanding, and has more than 15 years of internet marketing experience to her credit.
When outsourcing to a world of outsiders is complicated, knowing there is some-one who not just speaks English but can talk in terms of the project requirements is a great turn of events.

Sadly, not everything works out as one would like or expect, and this venture has ceased to function since September 2015.

Insurance Advisory Centre

Financial planning from October 1987 until 2006 when I sold my practice. At the time I started I was with National Mutual which later became AXA Australia. 
I left the industry due to the fun having gone out of it through companies protecting themselves and politicians constantly changing rules, which affected the ordinary person and families.
The people who needed the help most could no longer afford to get the advice they needed, so I decided to change tack, and find another way to help them.

Corporate Superannuation - Business Insurance - Personal Retirement Planning, Family protection programs.

Insurance Agent - Financial Advisor

NATIONAL MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY(THE)

𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭.

It’s learning to do more with what you already have — and being shown how.

You don’t need a bigger paycheck.
You need a smarter system.

For 35+ years, I’ve helped 4,000+ professionals, business owners, and employees build secure financial futures. What I saw? Most are lost with their money — because they have no real system.

The reality:
💡 Success costs something—but struggling with money shouldn’t be one of them.
💡 Wealth isn’t about how much you make, but how much you keep.
💡 Willing to do what others won’t? You can live a life others never will. But start now.

What I do:
I created Money Rules — a smarter way to take control of your finances without earning more.

With Money Rules, you can:
✅ Eliminate debt faster (no refinancing or sacrifices)
✅ Create future wealth from your current income
✅ Stop guessing where your money goes—and start telling it where to go

No guesswork. No struggling. Just a proven step-by-step system for financial clarity.

Who I help:
✅ Professionals & business owners who want more from their hard work
✅ Women (35-60) seeking financial security & independence
✅ High achievers who want control—not a budget

No jargon. No lifestyle sacrifices. Just results.

This isn’t a budget. It’s a breakthrough.

Whether you’re a professional, a couple, or a successful woman ready to get serious about your future, Money Rules shows you what to do, when to do it, and how to get results you never thought possible.

Ready for your first step?
Keep hoping things improve—or take control today.

📩 DM me ‘RIA’ for your free Results In Advance financial analysis

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The Battle

Michael Barris

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