Growing up, my very glamorous mother Edith gave me excellent advice: “Of course, the inner you is important. However, you have to dress up and look good to attract others. They will then discover how nice and smart you are and how valuable you can be to them.” This advice has never steered me wrong. […]
Read More...Behind the Scenes with a Presidential Speechwriter: Insights from Terry Szuplat
Recently, at the Professional Speechwriters World Conference, I had the pleasure of attending a half-day seminar delivered by Terry Szuplat, author of Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience. As a speechwriter for President Obama, Terry brought a wealth of experience and an insider’s perspective that was both fascinating and inspiring. […]
Read More...How to Calm Your Nerves Before Every Presentation
Are you ready to learn how to calm your nerves before your next big presentation? Want to know a secret? Even the most seasoned speakers feel slightly nervous before a high-stakes presentation. It’s completely normal—just a human reaction, not a professional flaw. So, how do you transform that nervous energy into a presentation that captivates […]
Read More...Never Make the Mistake and Overlook the Power of Moments to Reflect
Alan Alda says, “The space between the lines makes a great performance.” Yes, you guessed it. That means you must never underestimate the power of the pause. This is true in acting, speaking, and music. My brother Robert Fripp, the legendary guitarist and one of Rolling Stone magazine’s “100 Greatest Guitarists,” explains, “The music is […]
Read More...Remember the Last Time You Fell in Love?
Remember how exciting it was when you first fell in love? Your heart somersaulted every time you met the one you loved. The two of you sat up talking all night and never ran out of something to say. You always seemed to have so much energy. The thrill of falling in love is wonderful. […]
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...USA Today Used a Frippicism™
On Monday, January 22, several pals texted, “USA Today has used another of your quotes in their ‘Don’t Quote Me’ segment.” It was “If you don’t act as if your name is on the door, it never will be.” Consider this: every interaction your organization has with customers either strengthens or weakens your relationship. Especially […]
Read More...Memories of the Amazing Zig Ziglar
After my LinkedIn posts about my Frippicisms™, Rich Ermlick wrote “You have more Zingers than Zig Ziglar.” This brought back two wonderful memories I have not thought about in years. In the early stages of my speaking career, I attended one of Zig’s Richer Life courses in Dallas. At that time, my reputation as a […]
Read More...Everyday Heroes Walk Among Us
My brother Robert Fripp played on David Bowie’s Heroes. One of the lines is “We can be heroes, just for one day.” However, there are those in our midst who are heroes every day, for decades. If you were to ask my brother, “How do we become a hero?” Robert would tell you, “By performing […]
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 […]
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