Pocket Sized Pep Talks

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you’ll learn: Why comfort can sometimes be the enemy of continued success. How pushing beyond familiar routines or instincts leads to growth. The lessons from business, sports, and personal experience that show why a little discomfort is a good thing. Feeling butterflies or facing challenges isn’t a problem; it’s a sign that you’re growing, improving, and staying ahe...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you’ll learn: What the final rounds of a championship fight reveal about true endurance and mindset. How the concept of “championship rounds” applies to your own toughest challenges. A powerful perspective from boxing legend Marvin Hagler that will help you dig deep when you want to quit. Champions are made in the late rounds, when it’s no longer about talent or trai...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you’ll learn: Why polite prospects can be some of the toughest to sell to. How to recognize when “That sounds great!” really means “I’m not interested.” The specific questions that help you uncover real commitment, and save yourself wasted time. Don’t mistake niceness for progress. The right questions can turn politeness into clarity, and help you move on from prospe...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you’ll learn: Why the most powerful sales call you make might come after you’ve lost the sale. How one simple, respectful phone call can turn rejection into a future opportunity. The three hidden benefits that come from calling—not writing—to thank a client who chose someone else. Making that call takes courage, but the insight and respect you earn will far outweigh...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: The turning point that made it clear the life they were living was no longer sustainable. What was happening internally during their darkest moment, and how that shaped what came next. What it felt like to be told to wait eight months for help, and why that moment became a catalyst. The unconventional first step they took instead of waiting—and what mot...

Releasing a book is always a big day, but when "Why People Don’t Believe You" hit the shelves, it felt personal. Too many of us struggle not with what we say, but with being believed when we say it. That struggle chips away at confidence until we find ourselves hiding behind our words instead of truly connecting with them. And once we retreat into doubt, it only gets harder to break free. In this...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: Why employees often leave managers—not companies—and how that plays out in today’s workplace. How organizations can train managers to build trust and retain employees more effectively. Whether AI and automation will relieve or intensify the labor shortage. What most leaders underestimate about a shrinking workforce and the long-term impact of demographi...

As we push through another year, most of us are juggling goals, deadlines, and plenty of to-dos. But what if the most meaningful addition to your plate this year doesn’t cost a cent, and ends up being the most rewarding thing you do? In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll share a lesson from my father, a lifelong Lion, about the kind of giving that goes beyond money. You’ll hear wh...

Some people still don’t understand the true value of a well-trained salesperson, but when one of the largest banks in the country doesn’t get it, that’s really disappointing. . A slick ad, a bold new café concept, and then a tagline that undercuts the very profession designed to protect customers from costly mistakes does not sit well with me!. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’l...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you’ll learn: A simple but important definition of “agency” and why it matters for individuals and teams. What it looks like to create “a leader in every seat” — and how that changes the way a team operates day to day. Why agency is especially important right now, and whether it’s harder to cultivate in today’s world. How “agency” differs from the more familiar idea...

The humble pawn may be the least valued piece on the chessboard, but it holds the potential to become the most powerful. That’s why I call it the perfect underdog; overlooked, underestimated, and yet capable of surprising everyone with what it can achieve. With the right mix of skill and luck, the pawn transforms from weakest to strongest, and there’s a lesson in that for all of us. In this quick,...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: An explanation for, "strategic imperfection," and how it differs from simply lowering our standards. A concept called the “¾ baked” philosophy, what that means, and how it can be applied in a fast-paced sales environment. How strategic imperfection actually increases agility and confidence in moments where quick pivots are needed. Why Jason encourages p...

Perfection sounds noble, but it often becomes the single biggest roadblock to achieving our goals. Whether it’s an author rewriting chapters for years or a jobseeker endlessly reworking a résumé, the pursuit of perfection often leads to unfinished work and lost opportunities. Done, as it turns out, really is better than perfect. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll explain why st...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: Martha has worked with Ken Blanchard for more than 20 years and discusses the moment when she knew Ken’s story had to be told in full. The One Minute Manager was everywhere when it came out in the early 1980s. Martha discusses why that book became such a phenomenal success. You'll hear a story from the book that moved Martha personally.  (Rob was moved...

A cup of green tea may not seem like much, but it’s a reminder that small, consistent choices add up to big results. Just as we stack healthy habits to improve our well-being, we can stack professional habits to increase our odds of success. The power isn’t in one move alone; it’s in the collection of “percentage plays” we choose over time. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll sh...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: How this topic and book found this author. What exactly is a High Emotional Bank Account. The importance of self image and how self-image is more important than external validation. What emotional currency is and what role emotional currency plays in how we respond to failure and adversity. How someone can rebuild their emotional bank account after trau...

We’ve all had it happen: you write something that feels perfectly harmless, but the other person takes it the wrong way. A few misplaced words, or more accurately, a missing tune can completely change how your message lands. That difference between what we mean and what’s heard can make or break our communication. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll share a personal story that h...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: How an engineer does a 180 and becomes a motivational speaker and coach! When Lasada realized “common sense” alone wasn’t enough, and that he needed to create an actual framework. One of Lasada's principles is about putting principles before profits and he'll discuss why. What this looks like for someone trying to balance ambition with integrity today....

Self-deprecating humor can be charming in a conversation or a date, but on stage, in front of an audience? It might be doing more harm than good. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I'll explore why joking about your own skills or value at the start of a presentation doesn’t win over an audience, it undermines their confidence in you. You'll hear why this common tactic backfires, and...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: The definition of “Organizational ReWilding®.”  How someone in sales can rewild his or her own approach to become more aligned with how businesses actually evolve. How Matt went from data analytics and later applied the Stages of Growth methodology to dramatically increase his company’s value. The biggest mindset shift Matt went through to move from ana...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk you'll learn: - Why self-belief sets the foundation for being believed by others - How your imperfections can actually build trust, not diminish it - What “tuning” your message with pitch, pace, and pause can do - How to step into the mindset and body language of believability

You'll learn: Why consistency matters more than clever policy What not to say when dealing with a disappointed customer How small failures can lead to big losses in customer trust

Did you hear that? A shiny new Business Model is making the rounds complete with a clever acronym and bold promises of transformation. But before you chase it down, you might want to pump the brakes. In this quick, six-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll unpack the predictable rise and fall of business models, and why most don’t fail because of bad design; they fail because of weak implementation....

We’re often told to “find the right words” if we want to make an impact. But what if the words aren’t the problem? In this quick, six-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I'll share with you the surprising origin of my book Why People Don’t Believe You. It's a journey that started not in a boardroom, but in a church basement with a group of job seekers. Along the way, he explores a lesson many communicat...

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn: What inspired Pat to write Obstacles to Opportunity and why now. We all learn lessons on our journeys, and some we learn the hard way.  Pat shares leadership lessons you learned the hard way. Pat's 3Cs Process and how it leads to more decisive action. A byproduct of growth is often chaos.  Pat discusses the first thing a leader should do to prepare, or...