You’re about to present at a conference, and you’re waiting your turn. Your mind is racing with the personal challenges in your life. You try to focus on helping the audience, but it is hard to remain present and keep your mind from drifting back to personal challenges. What do you do? Have you ever…
In 2001, while practicing my speech “Ouch!” in front of an Advanced Toastmasters Club, I was shocked and perplexed by a comment from two of the advanced members. At this point I had given my speech several times and had received an enormous variety of feedback. I thought I had heard it all. This comment,…
Mark Brown and I were in the middle of recording a new podcast episode; and, out of nowhere, these words of brilliance flowed from his lips, “Create an atmosphere of intimacy.” It stopped me in my tracks; and I let out an audible, “Hmmm.” So, what did he mean? Great question. When you and I…
FYI, This is a classic article of mine written in 2008. A NEW OUCH! = A NEW STORY I’m was trying to smile. Just not so easy when you had food poisoning. If you sent me an e-mail that week, may have been a while before you get a response. I ate dinner at 5:30…
Have you ever felt like you were hit squarely in the face by a lesson from an unexpected mentor? When they’re absolutely right…it usually hurts more, doesn’t it? But after the pain we are never the same. A while back in Bel Air, CA, I was attending a casino night fundraiser for a friend-of-a-friend’s theater…
Have you judged anyone lately? Um, like maybe this week? Me? Guilty. I am guessing I’m not alone. Where does this come from? I’m no psychologist, just my personal thoughts. For me, it may have been an insecurity belief created when I was young due to my being the youngest of 3 with super smart…
Who is funnier? Would you think it’s funnier if someone was naturally funny or someone who had courage and desire to be funny? OK, so you did not wake up pondering that question, but I used to think about that back in the 1990s. Back then, I had my own little skit comedy cable access…
Have you ever heard the statement about public speaking, “You must pause for effect?” What do they mean by that? Just to be dramatic? So? The more I studied the World Champions who came before me, the clearer I understood what speaking was all about. Speaking, when done properly, is a two-way conversation. The conversation…
When you help others, do you ever take a moment to sit back and realize how much you learned along the way? Often some of us will work harder helping someone else than helping ourselves. Do you think that is true for you? As you may know, I’m passionate about helping to make it easier…
Do you realize that every presentation is different, even though you are the same person? Even if your words are exactly the same and you have the same intention, it’s still slightly different each time. Do you know why? Do you see them? I mean, like Avatar’s message, “I see you?” During my 14 hour…