Grateful for you who read my weekly missives, which for me have become a labor of love. Whether we met after a keynote, through my coaching, at a virtual event, or in some other “scene”, I’m so grateful you’re here. Risk Forward & Rock On,
“You’ve wasted two words.” My Stanford University poetry professor, W.S. Di Piero, glanced up at me. The poem I’d submitted included a line about how, into the musician’s hat, I tossed a “small, hard coin.” Di Piero explained: “A coin is small and it is hard, so you’ve wasted two words.” He was 100% right. …
I’ve been working 1:1 with a variety of clients lately helping them craft high-stakes communications. For each, it’s essential that they express their perspective vs. deliver a presentation designed by someone else. As I say to them, “You are the CEO for a reason.” There’s a unique view that one has at (and from) the …
A personal post here to acknowledge how –in this changing and uncertain world– time with close friends, family and colleagues makes all the difference. On either side of recent client projects & events, I was fortunate enough to have the time to bracket in meals, mountain hikes, and ocean walks with people I adore–– those …
The community you curate: close friends, family & colleagues Read More »
“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 …
