Cargo Trust
This image presented itself to me at the end of a windswept blustery bike ride. The ocean was surprisingly calm under threatening skies. Shafts of beautiful sunlight slid through a …
The Secret to Wealth
“Get awed on a regular basis, so that getting awed is habitual and becomes a state of being.” Nick Cave Going through life with a sense of awe is a …
Confidence – Change Your Life And Possibly The World
What would you do if you had more confidence? Imagine being able to improve your life, career… and maybe even the world. How, you ask? You don’t need superheroes or …
How to disagree
We have to stop attacking each other. It’s fine to disagree with someone—challenge their actions, ideas and words—but ridicule and ad hominem attacks waste energy. They simply degrade the conversation, …
Casual Negativity or Mindful Positivity
A young friend introduced me to this simple group game last Saturday. We passed slips of paper around in a circle; one was marked with an L, and the rest …
Speakers Toolkit (emergency version)
Maybe you have to speak in a meeting, lead a workshop, or present to a crowd; whatever the reason, here are 7 lifesaving tips. There’s a longer version of this, …
Self-Control: The secret to successful speaking & listening
Technology allows us to communicate faster, more frequently, and to a wider audience. But who’s listening? The more we communicate, the harder it is to listen well—to focus on one …
Personal Anecdotes: 6 Pro Tips
I was the wittiest teacher in town until that day. Mid-joke, I suddenly realized that my students laugh because I control their grades. Damn. I shut my mouth and got serious about …
Teenagers: 15 Tips for Peaceful Communication
Sometimes it seems that all teens do is communicate—text, social media, facetime. But when adults try to talk to teens, both sides often end up frustrated, annoyed or bewildered. How …
Personal, Active & Brief
We pay more attention when someone speaks directly to us. Salespeople know that, so do good writers, speakers, teachers and leaders. Write Like You Speak, and Speak Directly to Your …
Layout Basics: Making your document attractive & usable
Effective layout and formatting make documents easier to scan, read and use. Effective document layout improves your reader’s first impression of the document, expectations, ability to quickly and easily find what they …
Kids and Swearing: How to get the little ones to stop talking sh*t
Ahh the power of words: to inspire, teach and offend. Nothing beats the precision of a well-placed profanity, but swearing is like hot sauce—a little goes a long way. I hate …
Subject Lines: Explicit is good
Clear, precise language in email subject lines increase the chance that people will read and respond to your message. Specific subject lines help readers understand: What you want If they can …
Be Precise: 3 tips for powerful speaking & writing
Precise language is efficient and effective. Here are 3 ways to be more precise: 1. Avoid Adjectives and try not to use words like very and really. Use strong, clear words …
Empathy Self Test
Empathy is a cornerstone of relationships. When we speak and listen with empathy others feel heard and respected, relationships improve, and we positively influence others. Self-test: Do you speak and …
Conversation Skills: Are you sharing or monopolizing?
Sitting in a coffee shop listening to two women talk over each other, I am reminded of that apt analogy of two TVs, both turned on and facing each other. …
How to present information
I once had a prof who was a total geek; she loved her subject so much that she overwhelmed us with information. While her enthusiasm added interest, it was exhausting. Worse, …
Complaining: Committed vs Uncommitted
Committed complaining: have you heard of it? The idea is that we complain in two ways: committed or uncommitted to fixing the problem. Sometimes we’re just grousing: I’m cold, my …
Shame Waves: Surfing to Success
You just gave the best performance ever. You were calm, confident and engaging. The audience loved you! But then you sit down. Flooded with adrenaline, your brain works quickly, evaluating …
How to answer unexpected questions (sounding smart and confident)
Have you ever wondered how to give strong, confident answers to unexpected questions? Speaking without preparation is called impromptu speaking. We do it in conversations, meetings and interviews. If you …