Where will you be on Saturday, the 26th of April 2014? If you would like to improve your presentation skills and are anywhere near Chicago – and certainly if you are a District 30 Toastmaster – you will be joining me for the District 30 Toastmasters Spring Conference in Skokie, Illinois. District 30 has planned an […]
Read More...Public Speaking – Why Rehearse?
If you want to deliver a successful presentation, you will spend a lot more time preparing for your presentation than you will speaking. Even highly experienced speakers must devote time to preparation, including rehearsal. My friend and colleague, Rob Biesenbach names inadequate rehearsal as one of the “11 Deadly Presentation Sins.” In his recent book […]
Read More...Advice on Improving Sales
Life is a series of sales situations, and the answer is always “no” if you don’t ask. Even Wayne Gretzky, the legendary hockey player agrees – “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” There are, however, two additional parts of the equation. The first is this: The real sale comes after the sale, […]
Read More...Preparation Is Crucial in Crisis Communication
In the event of a crisis, your organization might be overwhelmed by the media or by the disaster itself; it could become nearly impossible to provide thoughtful responses and accurate information without a crisis communication plan already in place. In light of the recent and tragic loss of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, I share this […]
Read More...Opportunity Does Not Knock Once
Opportunity does not knock once, it knocks all the time. The trick is, we don’t always recognize the sound. The key to becoming more successful is to find opportunity in everyday life – not just wait for that life-altering, retire-in-the-Caribbean bolt from the blue. Here’s how to start: Each day this month, you’re going to […]
Read More...Leadership – It’s Not about Who Has The Best Ideas
My friend and colleague, Laura Stack’s newest book, Execution IS the Strategy was released today. Laura has been working with leaders in the areas of strategy execution, employee productivity, and team performance for 22 yeas; she is a true expert in her field. In Execution IS the Strategy, Laura explains that a leader’s biggest challenge […]
Read More...How to Close Your Presentation – Expert Presentation Advice
The first and last thirty seconds of your speech have the most impact on your audience. Last words linger. Unfortunately, there are some common mistakes you can make in closing your presentation that will actually undermine your message. Learn how to craft the closing of your presentation so that it reinforces your message. In this […]
Read More...Story Strategy to Improve Your Sales Presentations – Part 2
In the first part of this series of story strategies for sales presentations, we walked through the first formula for a good story well told: Situation, Solution, Success. This second formula will help you learn how to create a story your potential buyers can relate to. Whenever you are telling a story to a prospect, […]
Read More...Are Business Cards Dead? Make What You Do Obvious
“Hello” can lead to a conversation. A conversation can lead to a relationship. A relationship can lead to profitable business. My friend and colleague, Susan RoAne is an expert in turning small talk into big business. Her book, How to Work a Room, is a bestseller. In a recent television interview, Susan explained that success […]
Read More...Story Strategy to Improve Your Sales Presentations – Part 1
Even the most hardened prospect can’t resist a good story – when it is well told. The reason you must tell stories is because your prospects will not remember everything you say; they will, however, remember what they see in their minds and feel in their hearts while they listen to you share a story […]
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