What's Your "Why" Story?
If you are speaking about what you do for more than five minutes, an important story to include tells WHY you are doing what you are doing, or selling what you are selling. What is it that lights your fire? Where does your juice come from? What’s at the HEART of your business? People want…
Read MoreYour Speech Coach Says, "Play to Your Strengths"
Loved watching every moment of the NBA Finals—tweeting with millions of others as I watched! I looked for a connection between those fast-paced, close-scoring games, and coaching you to present yourself and your business with confidence. I found 3 points of intersection. 1. Know your opponent (in sports), or audience of potential clients (in business). …
Read MoreYour Speech Coach Says, “We. Don’t. Quit.”
Ever notice you barrel through, or stumble through, the meat of an assignment, but then, when it comes to putting on the finishing touches – BAM! Life gets in the way. To achieve most things in life, even small ones, but especially big ones, you have to have commitment and discipline. Commitment is the will…
Read MoreWhy You Should Never "Wing It"
Remember, one of Mimi’s Laws of Great Speaking: “Never make an audience nervous.” It’s not just that the audience is reminded of 8th grade speech class, it’s that they are way more sophisticated now. With the advent of TED Talks, people are used to well-structured excellence from the speaker on stage. They expect you to…
Read MoreThe Two Things Audiences Will Not Forgive
As you may know, the number one fear of people is public speaking. Death is number five. But the truth is, audiences really want you to succeed. There are very few things they can’t forgive. I know of only two: don’t be phony, and don’t make them nervous. “Be authentic,” the experts say. Indeed, authenticity seems to…
Read MoreManaging Your Butterflies – Part 2
2015 Resolution: “I will put myself out there more to grow my business.” Is this your resolution? As a professional, you have many opportunities to speak in front of groups of people. This could be THE year you do it! You may have put it off because. . . it’s scary! Research shows public speaking…
Read MoreSpeaking with Confidence: Managing Your Butterflies
2015 Resolution: “I will put myself out there more to grow my business.” Is this your resolution? As a professional, you have many opportunities to speak in front of groups of people. This could be THE year you do it! You may have put it off because. . . it’s scary! Research shows public speaking…
Read MoreBless Your Holiday Stress: Part Two
We are in the middle of it: the season of giving AND receiving. You know how you’ll be “receiving” some family and friend obligations you never receive except during this time of the year? Once you CHOOSE to receive, you now get to choose your attitude and behavior. Last month, I shared two tips on…
Read MoreBless Your Holiday Stress, Part One
Here it comes again –the season of giving AND receiving. You know how you’ll be “receiving” some family and friend obligations you never receive except during the two months ahead? Once you CHOOSE to receive, you now get to choose your attitude and behavior. In my book, Bless Your Stress: It Means You’re Still Alive! I define “bless”: to…
Read MoreHow Patient Are You? Gaining Perspective in Brazil
Just returned from a week in Brazil! I keynoted for over 400 Procurement Officers in Sao Paulo (spoke the beginning and ending in Portuguese, and was simultaneously translated into the headsets they wore), and then some vaycay in Rio. Some of you know two of my biggest passions are flowers and jewels. Looking at their…
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