Business Communications
Know When to Hold ‘Em
These last two years seemed all about the choices we constantly were making, even when it didn’t feel like choosing. And now we have to deal with those. The famous song about choosing I’ve been hearing in my head was written by a 23-year old unknown composer. Made famous by Kenny Rogers. The Gambler. It’s…
Read MoreSecond Half Bonus Points
Challenging times. We’ve endured. We’re halfway there. We’ve GOT to be in the second half, right? Joyful bingeing of many hours of Olympic figure skating makes me think we’ll make it, I swear. Sports are always a great metaphor for life lessons. My favorite life lesson in figure skating is the second half scoring: extra…
Read MoreEvery Birthday Leads to This One
When the Sun makes its way into the constellation of Aquarius next week, my birthday season begins. It’s when I take stock of my life—where I stand. And I look at who I have become in the year since my last birthday. Here’s my recent “a-ha”: The more birthdays I have, the more I am…
Read MoreChristmas Day on Avenue Q
Growing up Jewish, I don’t miss the Christmas-morning-presents-under-the–tree-memory. I don’t miss it because I never had it. On Christmas day, my family and I would go to a big, popular movie in the afternoon and eat Chinese food after that. Tradition. As an adult, I celebrated special Christmases with friends under their Christmas trees, with…
Read MoreGrateful for Doctors, Like My Dad
Here’s Dad, getting his Masters of Public Health at UCLA after decades of private practice as a Medical Doctor. He gave me this photo, and on the back, he wrote, “Nov. ’87. To my darling first-born. I love you, Dood” (my pet name for him.) It was the late ‘80s, so he worked on the…
Read MoreGeneral Powell and Me
All week, my heart and mind have been full of fond memories of General Colin Powell. In the late 90’s, I shared the keynote stage with the man the historians call, “the most important person who was never President.” He had been the National Security Advisor in the late 80s, and then the Chairman of…
Read MoreYou Have a Book In You
Really intimidating to think about, isn’t it? I know. Sounds huge. Even when I was training managers in business writing, I noticed a syndrome: “Blank Page Paralysis.” Now I guess it’s blank screen paralysis. Nevertheless. I’ve written four books, three of them since 2006. And I never had the paralyzing thought I was writing a…
Read MoreTime to Punch Up Your Pitch
When your eyes sparkle with your words, your listener sparkles. You still have time in the waning moments of summer to punch up your pitch to sell your products, services or yourself. As you know, over the last few weeks my new video course has been online and ready for you to download. The title…
Read MoreVideo Course for You
Hot off the e-press! I created my NEW video course “Speak Like A Pro: How To Have Your Listeners Smiling And Nodding” and it’s available to you. The course reflects my many years of experience as professional speaker, speaker coach and consultant. Click here to get your copy of “Speak Like a Pro” course. Whether…
Read MoreAre You in Verbal Shape?
Things are opening up. We are leaving the house! Are you ready? Are you in shape? Heavenly to be inside a restaurant. . .tinkly music on the sound system, the murmuring of a waiter and bartender nearby (but not TOO nearby). No big wind sounds, or traffic. I broke open my earring box, tried on…
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