Public Speaking
It’s Not About You
A speech is not your article you read aloud. Your article or book has your name on the cover. It’s all about you and the reader knows it. They spent money to buy it with your name on the cover. The reader expects it to be all about you. They can stop reading it whenever…
Read MoreYou Think Too Much
I just returned from a 2-week trip to Australia. My very first stop was the iconic Sydney Opera House. What stays with me, besides the beauty, was the human drama that occurred over the fourteen years of its construction. It’s described in the Official Souvenir Guide as “a conflict of architect versus engineer”–creative vs. technical,…
Read MoreMomentum 2024: Time to Reinvigorate
Are we back in business? Sort of. Hybrid? Some in person; some in the zoomiverse. It feels like halftime to me. And nobody gives up at halftime. They seek momentum. The dictionary definition of “momentum” is a driving force or impetus. The concept is that a moving body that keeps moving tends to maintain velocity…
Read MoreGoals? It’s All About the Game
I think of life as a contact sport. I even wrote a book about it. Commitment to our goals is a given. It’s how we play the game that counts. Three football lessons are my New Year’s resolutions. 1. Shake off the bad plays. When a quarterback throws an interception, or a receiver fumbles a…
Read MoreStay Happy!
Happy Chanukah! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! And one more thing: Don’t make yourself crazy. Attend only events that are absolutely necessary, and parties that will bring you joy! Let’s start the new year right. Please schedule a 30-minute complimentary clarity call to punch up your personal pitch.
Read MoreCuriosity: Your Superpower
Most people comment on my “energy” or “youthful energy.” When I was 16, after starring in a musical at Peoria Corn Stock summer stock, the newspaper reviewer commented on my tremendous energy. I received similar feedback all the way through my 30-year keynote speaking career. What is it? I believe energy is produced by curiosity.…
Read MorePhotos: Capturing Your Legacy
How long do you keep photos? Are they on your phone? In organized albums? In boxes somewhere? My sister recently cleaned out a storage unit, and gave me a huge bin—3 feet by 4 feet—labeled “Mimi.” It’s full of albums and hundreds of loose photos of my career, and the people close to me at…
Read MoreBe a Proud Procrastinator
Are you experiencing dog days of summer? I am. The sultry weather definition in the Farmer’s Almanac is only the first one. The second definition is “a period of inactivity or sluggishness; a period of stagnation.” What if we choose to go with that? What if we put off the need for frantic activity until…
Read MoreAuthenticity: Connecting Between Words
Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. So, AI is not you. We still need to connect to demonstrate we are the real thing. In the quest for authenticity, we get some questionable results. “Reality” television. Cringe-worthy tweets of inner thoughts and feelings. Photos of our dinner! Do…
Read MoreThe Magic of Mentoring
In the name of advancing HI (Human Intelligence), mentoring is more important now than ever. In this crazy time, we need someone who “gets” us, and can point the way forward. A mentor, by definition, is an experienced and trusted advisor. A mentor gives us encouragement, support, and guidance to help us navigate our careers,…
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