Barack Obama made the most of his fifteen-minute spotlight. What you do during your fifteen minutes—or fifteen seconds—determines whether your impact is one-time or ongoing. A Purposeful, Original, Pithy message can turn your moment in the spotlight into a lifelong opportunity to impact others.
Browsing CategoryCommunication
Confused People Don’t Say Yes – The Better Newsletter #139
What do you want people to DO at the end of your talk? When you’re intentionally clear on your purpose, every word and image earns its keep—and your presentation flows from slide one to done.
Stop Shoulding on Yourself – The Better Newsletter #138
I had the privilege of managing the programs for tennis champion Rod Laver on Hilton Head Island, SC, right out of college. After one of our national tennis camps, Rocket asked if I’d like to hit for a bit. Would I?!
A Creative Crossroads – The Better Newsletter #137
Want to stand out in an AI-generated content world? Use real-life examples, dialogue, and YOU questions to turn your story into their story.
From Skeptic to Sold in 60-Seconds – The Better Newsletter #136
Want to get a “YES”? Ask in a way that’s intriguing and relevant to turn resistance into receptivity and move people from skeptic to sold.
Put a ThunderShirt on Your Communication – The Better Newsletter #133
Here’s how one brilliant manager learned to put a ThunderShirt on his communication and turn long-winded monologues into productive, purposeful dialogue.
What’s Your Signature Story? – The Better Newsletter #127
Stop letting traitorous doubts keep your work sitting in your head. Learn why you have a responsibility to share your unique contribution with the world today.
Tick Talk – The Better Newsletter #118
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.
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.