After my Tick Talk® keynote, a professor told me he rewrote a lecture he’d given for 24 years—because there was nothing people could do at the end. That’s communication that changes behavior.
Browsing CategoryCommunication
Stop Yelling at Barking Dogs – The Better Newsletter #113
Years ago, I signed our Jack Russell Terrier up for obedience training. At our first session, he was so excited he wouldn’t stop barking.
So, I yelled “STOP BARKING!” Our instructor smiled and said, “Yelling at your barking dog just makes him think, Great, now we’re both barking. Try modeling the behavior you want instead.”
Circumstances change. Our desire to connect, doesn’t – The Better Newsletter #110
Why do some messages stay relevant for decades while others fade away? During a recent Tongue Fu! workshop, a participant asked why the book Tongue Fu! still resonates as powerfully today as when it was first published. The answer is simple: when you speak to the human condition—our desire for connection, growth, meaning, and being seen—your message becomes both timely and timeless. Circumstances change, but what we long for doesn’t. When your writing reflects the universal truths we all live, struggle with, and aspire to, your words become a force for good today… and for years to come.
POP! A Phrase That Pays – The Better Newsletter #104
When people walk out of your meeting (or watch your video, read your blog, website, marketing material) can they repeat anything they heard… word-for-word? If not, use my 5-tips to POP a Phrase That Pays!
Craft Stories That Stick – The Better Newsletter #103
Pete pulled me aside and said, “I wish I could tell stories like you, but nothing interesting happens to me.”
I told him, “Everyone has interesting things happen to them that can be turned into stories.” He smiled and said, “Like what?”
If You Don’t Ask, The Answer is Always No – The Better Newsletter #95
When I was younger, I was excited to accept a job working with Sandy Bremer, Founder of Open University
I agreed to a salary that was less than half of what I had been making working in the tennis industry under Rod Laver.
Turn Generic Into Genius – The Better Newsletter #94
Have you heard the phrase “There’s nothing new under the sun?” Of course, there are new things! If we want to turn INFObesity into INTRIGUE, it’s up to us to turn GENERIC into GENIUS. Here’s my favorite example of someone who did it.
Attention is a Two-Way Street – The Better Newsletter #90
I’ll always be thankful for having the privilege of experiencing David’s poetic word artistry in person.
The Most Intriguing Person I’ve Ever Met – The Better Newsletter #89
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!
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?”