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Top Investigative Reporter Shows You How To Get People To Open Up. – With John Sawatsky

Posted on Jun 9, 2009 - 10:00 AM PST

I bet you can see how this program will help you if you’re doing interviews on your site the way I do on Mixergy. But can you also imagine how it would help in business?

I’ve found that if I ask the right questions at a private lunch, what I learn in an hour is more valuable than all the business classes I took at NYU.

So I invited investigative reporter John Sawatsky on Mixergy to teach us how to ask questions that give people room to open up.

The FULL program


View Comments to “Top Investigative Reporter Shows You How To Get People To Open Up. – With John Sawatsky”

  1. RedBoy Says:

    I was really interested in the theme, however I found it very difficult to hear John Sawatsy. I'd be interested in reading more notes on the points noted in the “Full Program” section.

  2. Mark Says:

    I agree with RedBoy. It's too hard to hear John. I could only persevere for 10 minutes. Good choice of topic though Andrew. Keep it up.

  3. dennisgorelik Says:

    1) I agree with RedBoy — it's very hard to hear John Sawatsky.
    To see more detailed transcript would be nice.
    And for future interviews it would be nice to have better sound quality.

    2) Regarding “top interviewers” mistakes — these are not mistakes, because these “interviews” are more presentation to public than interview for the sake of research.

  4. IdeasForDownload Says:

    Great subject matter, Andrew. Interviewing is a skill that most people don't realize is difficult and takes a great deal of practice. A great interviewer makes it look easy and you don't even notice how great they are. But when they are bad, everyone notices.

    Like most things, doing it well means making it look effortless to anyone unfamiliar with the art.

  5. AndrewWarner Says:

    You're right. I jut bought a new mic to fix my audio, but I'm not sure what
    to do when the interviewee's audio is off. I think you're right that the
    solution is probably to make the notes even more detailed.

  6. AndrewWarner Says:

    Thank Tim.

    You always do an incredible job with your interviews.

    By the way, you're my inspiration for doing interviews. You got me excited
    about this idea years ago when you started doing it. I wish I hadn't waited
    so long to start.

  7. AndrewWarner Says:

    I agree with him too. Thanks for telling me.

  8. Max Nucci Says:

    I have listened to half the interview so far, but I agree with everyone above.

    You could FedEx them a voice recorder as an audio backup in case you get bad audio from their side. It may also work with a very good cell phone.

    Seemingly small details like these (audio) can really put a dent on your mission. What you are doing here is fuel for people like me who are already hooked to mixergy, but imagine if this were the first interview someone is listening to on mixergy… not a great first impression.
    ———————————–

    Slightly off topic: Have you seen Frost/Nixon the movie? I think you'll enjoy it since a good deal of the movie is about preparing and penetrating a tough interviewee.

  9. Michelle Vandepas Says:

    I've been guilty of all of the above…:( Great interview. now to remember what not to do, and what to do while I'm doing the interviewing. Thanks Andrew.

  10. Michelle Vandepas Says:

    I've been guilty of all of the above…:( Great interview. now to remember what not to do, and what to do while I'm doing the interviewing. Thanks Andrew.

  11. Damian Smith Says:

    [...] to all: learn Sawatsky’s seven deadly sins. Become their enemy. Avoid them. [...]

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Imagine having a mix of experienced businesspeople mentoring you. That's my mission with Mixergy.com. I'm Andrew Warner. In my 20s, with no outside funding, I co-founded a business that reached $30+ mil in annual sales. This is the site I wish I had. Read More....

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