Pocket Sized Pep Talks

I learned a great deal working for Xerox. They certainly taught me how to sell, but two of the greatest programs I was involved in had little to do with selling. In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk I'll tell you about two amazing programs that taught me the answer to a question that has puzzled many; can ethics be taught? Spoiler Alert: It sure can... but not from a book!

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: What drove Gabe to this particular topic and book. A look at how being authentic can be such a powerful way to appeal to an audience.  How knowing a topic inside and out allows for a more flexible approach to effective communication.  The need for presenters to be able to put themselves in the place of their audience and overcome their own blind spots. ...

During the winter, while most of the Eastern United States was struggling to cope with some nasty weather, one small establishment provided a wonderful lesson in both running a business and being part of a community. In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll tell you all about it, and a key lesson to be learned from it!

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: How Grant went from the brink; hopeless, battling addiction, and homeless, and not only worked to save his own life, he transformed what he learned to the world of business. The difference from being at the top of a buyer’s mind to being Top of Heart®. How this approach plays out in real life. How this worldview can future-proof a business. How so? What...

It happens so often. You’ll see a gifted speaker working hard in a presentation. Slowly but surely, he or she will capture the room and inspire the audience. Then, when it’s time to leave, with the audience breathless, the speaker will fumble the final few words. In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you’ll not only hear what I mean, I’ll show you exactly how to fix this.

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: What led Greg to write Trust the Plan and how is it different from other business / management books. The definition of Demand Management. How leaders can foster trust.  How organizational leaders build and maintain trust that will extend from the leadership team down through the chain of command. How businesses commonly confuse “plans” and “goals." Why...

Traveling through Africa I met a lot of wonderful people, but one street vendor stood out above the crowd. He stood out simply because of his name. In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk I’ll not only tell you his name, I’ll tell you the lesson behind it!

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: What drove him to write this book, and the unique nature of the book. How trust is the most under-leveraged impact-maker in the business world today, and why Zain feels this is such a blind spot for many. The fact that we're not in the manufacturing, services, transportation, business; we're in the people business. A basic framework for building trust g...

While I was preparing for a training workshop in Boston, I had an interesting exchange with a client. This client wanted to make sure that everything was planned correctly, and they worried that they were bothering me with the details. Bothering me? In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk I'll remind you how obsessing on details is far from bothersome!

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: About his book, Better Decision, Faster More about his process to drive purposeful action called the, "Head + Heart = Hands Equation."   How you can apply the Head-Heart-Hands Equation to help you as a leader. How his process can help you become more confident in your decision-making. Some common themes elite performers and great leaders have in common....

Talking with a man in Erie, Pa. about having his house painted made me angry. He told me the painter pushed back when asked to finish the job correctly because he felt he had not been paid enough to do the job. In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you’ll hear my reaction - and it's not pretty!

I don’t work on a whole lot of Request for Proposals, but as I worked through a recent proposal, my words kept drifting back to the same thing; implementation. In this Pocket Sized Pep talk, you’ll understand why I tend to get a bit carried away with this word!

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: How Scott single-handedly changed the term “value added” in the financial industry by creating presentations and programs that provided a dramatic shift to how all supporting companies added value to their relationships. Some of the strengths Scott brings with on stage. Tips on how to get out of the box and be truly creative when you speak. Examples of...

Another Father’s Day has come and gone, and I find myself thinking of my father who is no longer with us. In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll tell you a bit about him. Maybe it will allow you to reflect on your father or someone you love.

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: How women have been taught to show up in the workplace, and things we need to unlearn here.   Boundaries, and lessons learned from the, "Me Too" movement.   With 49% of new businesses started by woman, and some of the balance issues that need to be navigated.  The challenge many women have struggling to let go and trust men. The challenges found when wo...

I was raised hearing these words: “Good is not good enough.” In this Pocket Sized Pep Talks, we'll carve into that old saying, because I understand the sentiment, and I agree with intent, but sometimes, I think there are exceptions!

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: How, in a time of crisis, innovation is more important than ever.  How  innovation can get in the way of not what’s right for our customers, but their perception of what’s right. Alan's dislike for the terms, “return to normal” and “new normal." The definition of, and the idea behind “sentient strategy.”  Alan's belief that “strategic planning” is an ox...

The ABC’s of negotiation states, “Those who go second have the upper hand.” But what happens when you go first, your costs are high, and a counter offer never comes? In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, it’s time to call out the prospects on this one, and stand up for the vendors because if we don't, both parties lose!

We all make mistakes in business, and in life. The question is… how do we manage our mistakes? In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, we'll look at a simple way to be sorry in business without over-thinking it... and making matters worse!

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: The fascinating reason why this book "found" Linda and why she wrote the book, Dancing with Disruption?   A quick look at what the book is about. What is meant by looking at things through a lens of disruption.   More about Linda's research, the data she collected, and some of the key lessons she learned from those who navigated a crossroad in their liv...

We all want to be liked. They say that it is one of our most basic needs. In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk we'll look at the fact that although we crave it, it gets a bit tricky when we beg for it!

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: What Fred calls going from, “ F *CK Average, Be Legendary .”  Multiple tips on not just why being legendary is worth pursuing, but how. How you can turn your ideas into a business. What  it takes to be a successful business owner.  Come up with an idea that's good enough, and your reward is competition.  Fred talks about to battle competition. How impor...

One of the hottest reality shows on television can teach you a lot about how to influence the actions of others. In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I'll tell you three things you can learn about watching people present and sell on Shark Tank that you can use when it's your turn to deliver!

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talks, you'll learn: Larry explains why the standard quicker assessment models, DISC, Myers Briggs, don’t seem to be models he can endorse. The fact that a lot of entrepreneurs and sales people's income depends on their ability to bring in new business, and that tends to be accomplished in part by relating to prospects and colleagues. Larry tells us how! Working with other...

A lunch with my cousin Steve last week, and he told me one heck of a story. It had a tremendous message about who you know and who you can trust. In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I'll not only tell you the story, I'll share the lesson learned from this story so you won’t get duped the next time someone says, “Trust me!”