A friend recently asked, “Who’s the most intriguing person you’ve met?” Here’s who POP’d out and the story of how we met. See if you can guess who it is!
Browsing CategoryCommunication
Are You Repeatable & Retweetable? – The Better Newsletter #88
Garry Marshall, director of the movie Pretty Woman, told our audience, “Hollywood directors can predict when their movies will make money based on one thing: Do people walk out of the theater repeating something they heard… word for word?”
Pass the Eyebrow Test – The Better Newsletter #82
The first year of the Maui Writers Conference, a woman walked out of her pitch meeting with tears in her eyes. I walked over and asked her, “Are you okay?” “’No, I’m not okay…”
Stop Bringing Your Boss Home – The Better Newsletter #54
Years ago, I presented a Tongue Fu! seminar about conflict resolution and put up a slide with my adaptation of Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote which said, ‘No one can make us mad without our consent.’ A woman raised her hand and said, “I agree because I’ve lived through it.
Banish Boring Breakouts – The Better Newsletter #75
Instead of leading meetings and virtual events that fall flat, I suggested building in connection opportunities with breakout sessions, so your participants feel seen, heard and valued as part of the community.
But here’s the thing—breakouts can be game-changers or total time-wasters.
You’re Now Free to Forget – The Better Newsletter #74
As Emcee of the Maui Writers Conference, I walked the beach every morning. One morning, I saw Pulitzer-Prize winning author Frank McCourt (Angela’s Ashes) writing away on two high-school composition notebooks… I was intrigued and asked, “Frank, quick question, what are you doing?”
Show Don’t Tell – The Better Newsletter #73
Years ago, I judged a pitch competition called The Dolphin Tank. I reviewed the business plans the night before, including one for a hook you put in your car to put your purse on…
Are You Listening? – The Better Newsletter #68
Years ago, my son Andrew started a non-profit called Dreams for Kids in D.C. He landed a 15-minute meeting with Dr. Roberta McLeod, the Director of Howard University, where he was going to ask to use their Campus Center—for free—to host the Dreams for Kids annual holiday party. A few minutes in, Andrew realized…
Connect The Dots Forward – The Better Newsletter #67
A few months ago, I did a book-signing at the Conscious Capitalism Summit. I asked a man near me what he wanted to set in motion by the end of the year. He said, “I want to do more speaking.”
Have ‘Em At Hello – The Better Newsletter #64
Years ago, I was the Pitch Coach for Springboard Enterprises (which has helped entrepreneurs generate $37 billion in funding/valuation.)
One of their members, Kathleen Callendar of Pharma Jet, told me, “I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news.”