Pocket Sized Pep Talks

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: Being busy is NOT the same as being productive, and how we can fool ourselves into losing sight of that message. How you can claim two hours a day using key strategies from her Taskology® system.  How you can save time on the emails you are managing. How executives can better prioritize their tasks to ensure they focus on the most impactful activities....

There are lessons all around us, and it turns out, when it comes to decision making, one such lesson can come from a squirrel. That’s right - a squirrel! In this quick, eight minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk I’ll tell you what that lesson is, and how to avoid the consequences often suffered by that poor squirrel!

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: How speaking effectively is not just for presenters.  It applies to numerous other aspects of life that can improve when we can speak effectively. How Norm got started and created his company, SpeakFluence.  A handful of ideas you can use to effectively improve your speaking. The pros, and yes, cons of storytelling for salespeople. Various components of...

One of the many reasons why I enjoy the NCAA basketball tournament is no matter how high a team is ranked, any team is susceptible to loosing their momentum, and collapsing. The list of high ranking teams that have been shown the exit early is too long to list. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll provide you with a quick mantra to put things in perspective so you keep momentum f...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: What inspired Alex and his coauthor Jon Gordon to emphasize integrity in the book?  We throw the word integrity around but Alex provides a rather unique definition of the word and the act. Most organizations believe they are acting with integrity.  Alex explains how he helps organizations examine this at a deeper level and truly implement a culture of i...

During this past week, a client said the following phrase to me: “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” It’s become a popular phrase, and certainly an interesting sentiment. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I'll remind you that unfortunately, in business, I don’t believe one word of it and I’ll be happy to tell you why!

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: How a coder became a subject matter expert on conversation.  Yes... you read that correctly!  Why the tools out there like Agile development, Lean software, or DevOps, have their pros, and their cons.   The Four R’s that will help you to match your behavior to your beliefs.   Decoding tech talk for non-technical executives.  Key mentors in Douglas's lif...

Over forty years ago, I decided to enter a talent show at the University of Maryland. With shaky legs and my juggling balls in hand, I juggled my way to a win! Little did I know that my approach to putting that show together was one of the key reasons why I won that talent show. In this quick, four-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk I'll tell you the idea I stumbled on, and one of the most important pre...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: What it’s like writing a book with another writer and the writing process they followed. How this book found them and why they chose to write it. Not only what makes this book different, but the role their editor, and authentic voice editor played in the writing process.  Why leaders are the key to inclusion, and What's In It For Them to embrace this me...

While helping a client prepare for an important interview, I noticed a small communication glitch that we tend to take for granted. This particular glitch made his responses seem a bit cold. In this quick, seven-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk,I'll tell you what adjustments we made, how those answers began to sound full of warmth, and how, in doing so, sound a lot more natural!

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk you'll learn: Why so many seem to ignore or forget the human capital they work with. What role human capital plays in increasing the success rate of an organization.  The importance of human capital data in entrepreneurship. If they leave with one or two things. Some key takeaways to remember about the power of data and human capital in creating successful entrepreneu...

Think about the last time you went into a crowded restaurant; they probably took your cell phone number and texted you when your table was ready. Although we’ve been carrying cell phones for decades now, this genius idea is relatively new. In this quick, six-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I'll tell you why that ridiculous delay highlights one of the most fundamental principles of customer service!...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: Working definitions for the words “resilience” and “brilliance” which are used a lot in this podcast! Why more than 87% of working Americans think that both resilience  and  brilliance are incredibly valuable to their success at work, and why  81% think they would have a better work culture if their company invested more in helping people thrive.   How...

When it comes to making people believe what we say, we not only focus on the words we use, but we even tend to obsess on those words. In this quick, four-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk I'll remind you that the reality is that the words only play a small part of what others hear and believe. You need to learn the tune!

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: The difference between inward-focused social media as opposed to outward-focused social media. We all want to be authentic.  Corey talks about how. Some classic mistakes businesses make on social media?   Corey's take on TikTok. Jump on the bandwagon or avoid at all costs?  How to get more out of LinkedIn without coming off as sales-y. Should we go to L...

In real estate, they say the three most important factors are location, location, location. In public speaking, the three most important factors may very well be preparation, preparation, preparation. However, that doesn’t mean we have to burden ourselves with setting unrealistic goals of knowing everything. In this quick, six-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I'll remind that even if you could know e...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: According to a recent  Ernst & Young report , 32% of CEOs fear their industries are changing so fast they can't keep up, 27% anticipate battling brand-new competitors, and 40% of small biz owners are admitting 2024 could make or break them. Rusty provides some quick solutions! Rusty's teams achieved a record-breaking 22 consecutive state sports champion...

We tend to pride ourselves on our ability to think out of the box, but in reality, we may be doing just the opposite. After all, so much information is available at our fingertips; it would appear that solutions to complex problems can’t be far away. In this quick, seven-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I'll remind you that sometimes, a potential solution is so obvious that it hides in broad daylight...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: What makes so many others afraid of dealing with conflict. Why words like, calm down, take it easy, or relax do NOT work, and what does! A process move to keep arguments from escalating. How to go about dealing with an unpleasant, argumentative, opinionated person that holds opinions that are completely opposite of your personal views?  Emotional arguin...

When you watch a professional presenter perform under pressure, it appears effortless. What you don’t see is what goes on before that performance, and the way the speaker uses those final few minutes before he or she begins to speak. In this quick, seven-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll tell you about my personal ritual for preparing for pressure, and how this might help you the next time you ha...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: What made Victoria target AI and made her an early adopter. Why her latest book, "Move to Great! 12 Strategies for Exponential Business Growth leveraging AI," works for companies of all sizes.   Victoria's, "secret sauce" to acquiring new customer.   How she remains one of the few business experts that doesn't just promises tangible results, but provide...

Don't confuse the noble act of trying our best with the noble act of pushing ourself to perfection. In this quick, six-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll tell why perfection, and the pursuit of it, can do more harm than good.

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: When Nikki first had dreams of going to Olympic games. Her biggest hurdle on her path to the top of the podium... and it was a doozy!  How her dedication to her craft has that carried over to the way she runs her business as a motivational speaker. The battle Nikki fought, much like ours, as to whether she should just give up. How Nikki deals with her o...

Recently, I met a professional speaker who told me this: “I’ve been doing this for so long, I don’t really have to do my best to succeed.” In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll confess, although that statement bothered me at a deep level, I remained silent. I regret that I didn’t speak up. But I’m going to now!

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: How Sam was drawn to professional speaking. Her most important lesson-learned as a professional speaker. Replacing INFObesity with INTRIGUING stories.  The key to making our stories come alive. Tips on what to do if we're TALKING ON EGGSHELLS.  What to say – when we don't know what to say. How to end a presentation or pitch, and Spoiler Alert: It's not,...