I am frequently asked how I work with executives who are exceptional at what they do and have never had the time, opportunity, or need to improve their presentation skills. Until. A new position. Higher visibility. And a mandatory 45-minute presentation to senior leadership and the board of directors. Now the stakes are high. The […]
Read More...Why Coming to America at 20 With $500 Seemed Like a Good Idea
January 18 is my personal anniversary. It is the day I arrived in the United States. When people ask, “Why did you come to America at age 20 with no job, no contacts, and $500?” my honest answer is, “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” And it did. At that point in […]
Read More...Your First Step is to Think
It is never too early to begin thinking about a speech. Before they meet me, many of my corporate clients believe “preparation” starts the week before the presentation. Some believe it starts the night before. Too many believe it starts when they open PowerPoint. That is not preparation. That is assembly. A powerful presentation begins […]
Read More...Design Your Best Year Ever: How High Performers Turn Intention into Income
Every December, I hear the exact phrase from talented professionals and speakers: “Next year is going to be my best year ever.” Naturally, I am one of them! However, I am smart enough to know that hope is not a strategy. High performers do not drift into exceptional years. They design them. If we want […]
Read More...Do You Know How Long Before True Performers Earn their Success?
One December evening, with some of my closest friends, Joe Veneto, Marilyn Sherman, and Ford Saeks, I watched Frankie Moreno at his Christmas show at Myron’s Cabaret Jazz. As seasoned professional speakers, we were not simply entertained. We were reminded of something essential. True performers earn their success over decades, not moments. Frankie’s career began […]
Read More...You May Be Shocked at What the Sales Manager Admitted
A few years ago, during a presentation-skills training session, the sales leaders sat in the room and heard what I was teaching. After the first lunch break, the national sales manager walked to the front of the room, looked at his sixty top associates, and said, “At lunch, the executive sales team and I decided […]
Read More...No Overnight Success—A Reminder for Us All
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking for the Florida Speakers Association. What a treat to discover their meeting was held at the fabulous Fort Lauderdale Improv! The venue itself inspired me to share one of my favorite stories and offer a suggestion every speaker can use. For those unfamiliar, Budd Friedman was the founder […]
Read More...Want to Know Why Your Weak Words Are Taking Away Your Power?
My speech coaching clients frequently hear me say, “Are you going to do it, or kind of do it? Remember, you do not ‘kind of’ or ‘sort of’ do anything.” Even seasoned executives who should know better use these weak words and phrases. Often, they’re trying to sound modest or approachable. Unfortunately, what actually happens […]
Read More...The Secret of How To Get Remembered, Rebooked and Recommended
If you’ve ever watched a presenter who seems to be speaking directly to you—as if they somehow knew your challenges and goals—you’ve experienced the magic of customization. That isn’t luck; it’s strategy. In Deliver Unforgettable Presentations, my co-authors Darren LaCroix, Mark Brown, and I emphasize that when you customize your presentation, it is one of […]
Read More...The Phrase That Pays: How to Be Remembered and Repeated
Every day, we are bombarded with more information than we can remember. Whatever your role—executive, manager, salesperson, or team leader—you want your message to be remembered and repeated. When your words travel beyond the room, you are speaking not only to your audience but to the audience of your audience. That’s how ideas grow, reputations […]
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