“How you show up as a human being on the stage of your life will have a direct impact on the quality of your work, your career, and your bottom line.” These are words I speak on stage often…. Over the last few weeks, for various client events in Philadelphia (pics above) Deer Valley and …
Disruption. Shifting trends. Change. These are frequent topic areas for many of my clients, and the concept I’m sharing here from show business —with credit to Reese Witherspoon— provides a valuable point of reference for business. This 90-sec. video clip from a recent keynote offers a few insights. Sometimes it’s easier to recognize a …
This week brought me to three different cities for keynotes & executive-level coaching. It occurred to me during this trip just how much of my time (and in fact all of our time) is what I call “in-between time” and it got me thinking about how we move through it. Here’s a little video …
Over the last few weeks I’ve implemented this simple communication approach, which is incredibly effective and which I thought I’d share here. When someone asks you a question that seems a bit odd or off, or one where the answer may be difficult for you to provide for whatever reason, consider simply responding with, “What’s …
“Uniform platform of excellence.” This was literally the phrase an executive uttered as he was working on his presentation. Me: “What does that mean?” Him: “Everyone from the new hire to our CEO will go through this training.” Me: “Say that.” I call this The Bar Test. Ask yourself, “What would I say in a …
The Bar Test: How not to sound phony or insecure Read More »
“There’s no great art in confusing the reader.” —Isaac Bashevis Singer. This is one of my all-time favorite quotes. It’s one I learned during my years at Stanford University when I was studying writing and literature. And it’s a quote I still reference today when working with leaders, entrepreneurs and teams who are crafting their …
“Should I start with this story?” “Should I open with that statement?” Twice this last week, new Rock The Room® clients eager for input have asked me these types of questions. The truth is, if I’m just meeting with them, it’s too early to say. The full landscape of their content, upcoming communication opportunity, and …
A Trap in Seeking Input on Your Communications Strategy Read More »
Creativity doesn’t happen in a line. The creative process is —by its very nature— one that happens out of order. Clarity comes when we remain open to surprising combinations and new ways of seeing. If you want to truly break new ground and Rock The Room®, set up the circumstances for success and give yourself …
More is not necessarily better. This is true in so many areas… and critical when it comes to planning an agenda. Why would a CEO factor in free time to be on this lake during his all-important company retreat …and how might we each learn from that? Here’s a little video with some ideas …
Each August, I come to a place in the mountains where my great grandfather lived for a few weeks every year, followed by my grandfather, then my mother… and now me. The sense of history in the woods here is palpable. I feel my ancestors’ presence in the tall trees that stand beside this house. …
