The Platform Debate: Author/Speaker Michael Hyatt versus the NSA – Resolved!

Please note that since I wrote this post, the issue has been resolved. Woo Hoo!

I’m thrilled to report that the National Speakers Association has abandoned the name Platform, which leaves the wonderful Michael Hyatt able to continue his fabulous work to build their platforms. See Shep’s video annoucement.

In the wake of the National Speakers Association announcement at its annual convention a few days ago that it was renaming the organization “Platform,” some of us, who are passionate fans of Michael Hyatt — the New York Times bestselling author of Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World — have become quite vocal about this poorly researched, dubious decision.

For my part, as I shared earlier (and maybe ranted a little) on this Sugar Shock Blog, when I witnessed this brand roll-out, I became both appalled and saddened.

Although I greatly respect the National Speakers Association and its many remarkable members, I cannot fathom how a talented brand-name-search committee — which allegedly spent “two years” on this — could have been so in the dark about the amazing Michael Hyatt, who has branded “Platform” in a big way. Or, worse, if they knew about Michael and still proceeded with this move, it’s simply galling.

Not only has Michael penned his fabulous book Platform — which is, incidentally, a must read for all speakers — but he has created a wonderful Platform University and fabulous Platform Conference.

Although I had initially planned to dedicate much of this holiday weekend to making major inroads on my next book, I felt it important to take time out to stress via comments in the private National Speakers Association Facebook group and in two blogs posts here that Michael Hyatt is the undisputed brand holder of “Platform.”

Please join me to support bestselling author and speaker Michael Hyatt:

1. Urge the National Speakers Association leadership to ditch the name change by writing to CEO Stacy Tetschner, who invites your comments about it.
2. Recommend that the NSA apologize to Michael Hyatt.
3. Do better Google searches and more substantive research before picking another brand name that may already be taken.
4. And don’t stomp on the toes of someone, who is, after all, one of your own! Indeed, Michael Hyatt is not only a New York Times bestselling author with a huge platform, but he’s a sought-after, world-renowned speaker, who has done so much to help speakers, authors, bloggers, etc. get their messages out to a wider audience.

Also, please post comments on blogs by Daniel Decker, Stu McLaren, Kathleen Ann Thompson, Mike Kim, and Andy Traub, and thank them for coming to Michael’s support.

I also encourage you to read these thoughtful posts about this matter from Ryan Avery Stu McLaren, and Skip Prichard.

FYI, you can see the explanation here as to why the well-branded National Speakers Association was ditching its name and now calling itself “Platform.”

Now, let the fabulous Michael Hyatt teach you about building your own platform.

Again, please join me in urging the NSA leadership to reconsider this name change, because Michael Hyatt is already the preeminent holder of the brand, Platform. Please share your comments now.

Please see Shep Hyken’s video announcerment about the abandonment of the NSA name change.