"When it's foggy in the pulpit... it's cloudy in the pew."--Robert Cavett, founder of the National Speakers Association People like to know what they are going to get--before they get it. When you stand before an audience and ask for [...]
It was a pleasant surprise when I gave five talks at Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC), and the company's CEO Randy Arnett attended all five talks! Most times top executives give a "state of the company" talk and then hit [...]
People want to be satisfied. That's why "satisfaction guaranteed" is a catchy and enticing selling phrase. Whether it's tires, ice cream, or a new and revolutionary hair replacement system--if the product satisfies, more often than not it will be a successful seller. [...]
There are few things in life more painful, more disturbing, than being forced to listen to someone who is trying to be funny. As one obscure comedian put it, "You can pretend to be serious, but you can't pretend to [...]
It's amazing what fans will do to show devotion to their teams. Let's take football fans for example. They'll dress up in goofy costumes, paint their faces and bodies, and then stand brazenly half-naked in freezing weather. They'll even buy [...]
Two weeks ago I was the luncheon keynote speaker at the California Water Association’s (CWA) annual meeting. When I find out I’m going to give a lunch or dinner talk there are two things I get ready for: 1) a last minute [...]
Stories are fun to tell. Even if it’s a serious story, it still feels good to share it with an audience. Telling a story is also a powerful way to prove a point or move people emotionally. Facts fade quickly [...]
Here is a small playground around the corner from my house. When I first moved into this neighborhood 20 years ago, the playground was regularly used. Most summer days (and nice weather afternoons during school months) there were at least [...]
Texting while driving has continued to grow as a menace on our highways. I’m sure, like me that you regularly see someone texting when you're at a red light or you pass one other. A book I just finished, A Deadly Wandering—A [...]
This past May I had the privilege of speaking at a convention in Dubai. It was an unusual experience and I had a wonderful time. This gig tested some of my social skills, particularly my ability to adapt to an [...]