From Boring to Brilliant In the realm of professional presentations, capturing your audience’s attention from the first few seconds is our goal. According to my speaking philosophy, the initial moments of your presentation are crucial to arouse interest and set the tone for what’s to come. It’s about making your audience sit up and think, […]
Read More...Discover How to Clean Out the Closets of Your Life
What Is in Your Closet? Earlier in my speaking career when I was often hired to speak at Spouse Programs at conventions, my speech was called, “Clean Out the Closets of Your Life.” The premise was, we can relate to cleaning out the garage and attic. How about the people, habits, and thoughts that could […]
Read More...The “No” Chronicles: Tales from The Front Lines
Recently, I had the pleasure of joining Derek Arden’s Monday Night Live chat show for his fourth-anniversary show. Derek asked us all to give five ideas in five minutes. Alongside my esteemed colleagues Tim Durkin, Tracy Hooper, and Will Kintish, we embarked on a mission to distil our wisdom into five-minute nuggets. However, in a […]
Read More...Fripp’s Speaking Habit and a Garth Brooks Experience
Last December, my show partner and fellow Hall of Fame speaker Marilyn Sherman and I had the pleasure of attending a Garth Brooks concert at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace—arguably the finest venue on the Las Vegas Strip. The experience was not just a musical delight; it was a profound lesson in audience engagement, mirroring […]
Read More...Celebrating a Life-Changing Journey: January 18th, A Day of Reflection
Each year, on January 18th, I find myself pondering with a blend of celebration and introspection. This date marks a pivotal moment in my life, a day that set the course for an extraordinary journey. The First Glimpse of a New World Decades ago, as a young 20-year-old, I vividly recall peering through the porthole […]
Read More...Punch Up Your Presentations with Your Life Experiences
As a presentation skills expert, I’m often asked, “Where do I find good stories and examples for my presentations?” The answer lies in our everyday experiences. Here are a couple from my own journey, focusing on the important role of customer service. Consider this: every interaction your organization has with customers either strengthens or weakens […]
Read More...Shift Your Perspective: Embrace 2024 with Fresh Eyes
As we stride into 2024, it’s crucial to recognize the impact of recency bias – the tendency to overemphasize recent experiences or the latest information when forecasting future events. This bias can skew our expectations, leading us to believe that the near past is a mirror of what’s to come. However, there’s an alternative viewpoint […]
Read More...Want to Make More Sales? Please Lose These Words
Watch your use of “Basically” and “Simply” Many of my clients offer complex solutions to solve their customers’ problems, streamline their businesses, and protect their valuable assets. They engage me to help their technology experts simplify the complexity of their offerings so that their buyers will understand why it is a good investment. I tell […]
Read More...Develop Your Storytelling Abilities: Life Lessons from Movie Stars and Hollywood
When we reminisce about Hollywood, it’s often the stories that movies tell that captivate us the most. Screenwriting teacher Robert McKee eloquently states, “Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact.” Storytelling: The Cornerstone of Effective Leadership Many of us […]
Read More...You Don’t Like It: Learn from It. Transform Criticism into Success
Criticism, or as you may prefer to call it, “constructive feedback,” is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to refine their presentation skills. While the sting of criticism can be unsettling, embracing it as a tool for growth is a hallmark of a seasoned professional. The Audience as Critics In my extensive career as a […]
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