Talking to strangers isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s a matter of survival.
It has never been more important to talk to strangers than it is today. Polarized politics, political correctness and digital distractions are pushing us apart and making strangers out of all of us. The result is an epidemic of anxiety, isolation and loneliness across...
The #1 Success Factor
Reading time: 100 seconds.Professor Thomas Harrell at the Stanford Business School spent 20 years examining Stanford MBAs looking for the success factor. He concluded the only identifiable predictor of success is something he called "social extroversion" - the ability...
A simple risk/reward calculator.
A Simple Risk/Reward CalculatorREADING TIME: 30 SecondsWe are pre-conditioned to avoid risks even though we deal with them on a daily basis. As a result, we turn away from opportunities to create the jobs we dream of, build the lives we long for, and make the moves...
I Tap Dance to Work
When Bill Gates, the richest man in the US asked Warren Buffett, the second richest man in the US “How do you define success?” he replied, “I tap dance to work.” That’s StorySpeak. Warren Buffett used the happy tone of old Hollywood song and dance movies where the...
The Rewards of Introducing People
READING TIME: 100 Seconds Introductions are an important part of business. Learn to handle them graciously, and you display the hallmark of a polished business professional. Introducing Others If you introduce your boss to a friendly media contact, or a client to...
What’s Wrong with Mr. Perfect?
An editor at Esquire magazine asked me why a certain reader’s profile wasn’t getting the desired results. On the surface this 39-year-old, good-looking guy with a great life/job/future seemed like Mr. Perfect. I gathered eight women aged 23 to 35 (his desired range)...
Nobody wants to be lonely. Daisy’s story.
READING TIME: 60 SECONDS I’ll never forget the first words Daisy spoke when she introduced herself at one of my workshops several years ago: “I’m so used to jerks I can’t even recognize the nice guys anymore.” Ever since childhood, Daisy explained, she had been...
Find your tiger.
We all have a voice. Sometimes it’s hard to find it but we live in a time we can no longer keep quiet. You can find you voice in Part 2 of The Irresistible Power of StorySpeak.
Do one thing well.
Success really is that simple. Find your unique gift and do it repeatedly. When you’re really good at that one thing, people will want to pay you for it, or to teach them how to do it. You can find your unique gift in part 2 of The Irresistible Power of StorySpeak.
What is StorySpeak?
When Warren Buffett, the second richest man in the US and holder of the unofficial title “America’s Greatest Storyteller” was asked, “Do you enjoy your work?” He replied, “I tap-dance to work.” That’s StorySpeak. He credits his ability to create short stories and...
The irresistible benefits of StorySpeak
READING TIME: 4 MINUTES StorySpeak invigorates ideas, stimulates cooperation, sways attitudes and opinions and arouses growth. In Education… Ask any high school student who his or her favorite teacher is and then ask why. Chances are the answer will be, “Because she...
Everything You need to Know About Telling Stories in Conversation
Excerpted from The Irresistible Power of StorySpeak READING TIME: 90 Seconds 1. Hook them from the start If you're going to tell a conversational story about the time the airline destroyed your luggage, first tease your listeners with something like "Let me tell you...
boothmanship – the art of selling at trade shows
Conventional "sales training" has very little effect on the people manning your trade show booth or exhibit because at a trade show the clients come to you and not the other way around. And most of the time they want to talk to experts and not sales people. So it can...
The Irresistible Power of StorySpeak: the skill every business – and individual – needs to master
From a world renowned expert on face-to-face communication, with over 3 million books in print in more than 30 languages, comes The Irresistible Power of StorySpeak, the trust-inducing ability to strategically change attitudes and behaviors, and forge emotional...
Party your Way to the Top
READING TIME 90 SECONDS On March 16th, 2008 Jussi Karppinen closed his office door in downtown Helsinki, sat down at his desk and Googled “borrow money.” On the other side of the door his staff of twenty-five realtors plodded about their business convinced any day...
Nobody wants to be lonely.
READING TIME 70 SECONDS Why is having someone special so important to us human beings? Not just for companionship, for safety, or for convenience, but because we have a need to express ourselves emotionally and intellectually, we all need someone we can trust to talk...
5 Ways to Manage Constant Complainers
Reading time: 90 Seconds 1. Interrupt 2. Investigate 3. Validate 4. Motivate 5. Delegate It can be really frustrating having to deal with people who are always complaining. Of course, you have the usual four options for dealing with difficult people:...
The Unflinching Magic of Staying Focused
READING TIME: 90 SECONDS Abigail is in front of her management team, catching some softball questions from her managers. She’s finding out a lot more from them about how they’re going to handle the next year’s challenges than they’re finding out from her because of...
Wise words from Bishop Desmond Tutu
Smile. Never let them know you're angry.
Find Your Matched Opposite and Find True, Lasting Love
READING TIME: 90 SECONDS “We are each of us angels with only one wing; and we can only fly by embracing one another.” —Luciano de Crescenzo As comfortable and tempting as it might feel to be attracted to someone who is just like you (after all, like attracts like), or...
100 great ways to stay single forever
Use a coupon on your first date Flirt with Bed Head Turn-up for your first date 6 months pregnant Brush your teeth once a week Throw yourself at people Turn down all social invitations Talk about your previous sexual conquests Be...
If You’re Going to Make Assumptions – Assume the Best
READING TIME: 120 SECONDS - As I write this Boost, I assume I like you, the reader. I assume I need you; I assume you need me. And what’s more, I assume I’m right. This is what gives me the confidence to keep on writing. Assumptions at their best are great for...
Leadership from Beneath
READING TIME: 90 SECONDS - On the surface Abigail is an everyday woman. Beneath the surface she is an assertive leader. An assertive leader’s language may be artfully vague and her body language gentle, but never doubt that she is always focused on what she...
Do Companies Give a Damn About Clients?
READING TIME: 110 SECONDS - Giving a Damn is The New Benchmark When you give a damn, you give energy – good quality energy. When you don't you zap energy. My butcher, hardware store and car dealership are all 20 minutes farther away than their competition, but they...
Your Message Goes Where Your Voice Goes…
READING TIME: 20 SECONDS. ... and your voice goes where your eyes send it. Eye contact engenders trust. Smiling makes you appear happy and confident. Say “great” to yourself three times to get in the mood.
3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Read a “How to” Book on a Kindle
Kindles and eReaders are fabulous for reading linear books. In fiction, stories and biographies you start at the beginning and read through to the end. Perfect for eReaders. I take my Kindle with me everywhere for this. But ask anyone who has read and...
Connect Like You Give a Damn
READING TIME: 90 SECONDS. I care passionately about human potential - and it shows. I give a damn about my books, my readers and my corporate speaking clients – and it shows. 80 percent of all my speaking engagements are word of mouth and repeat business, 9 of them in...
7 Ways to Become a Temporary Extrovert
READING TIME: 50 SECONDS We live in a world where millions of introverts are forced to masquerade as extroverts just to make a living: and it doesn't always come easy. Here are seven simple tips for becoming a temporary extrovert. greet people frequently, notice the...
Five Steps to a Successful Transition from Employee to Solopreneur
READING TIME: 80 SECONDS When people, purpose, projects and passion come together, fear and doubt go out the window, potential and confidence go through the roof, and profits pile up at the door. So, Ask yourself what am I prepared to risk to shake things up? Get...
Fully-Connected Leadership
Great Organizations require Fully-Connected Leadership It doesn’t matter whether you're running an IT empire, managing a hotel chain, or giving the State of the Union speech, great leaders connect on three levels at the same time: trust, logic and emotion. Great...