Vilfredo Pareto (1848-1923) was an Italian economist who noticed that 80 percent of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the people, and that 20% of the peapods in his garden produced 80% of the peas. He invented… Read More »80/20 Rule for Public Speaking
People are more likely to like your ideas if they like you–as a business person, a leader, and a communicator. I think the best way to get them to like you is to be open and honest about who you… Read More »The Habit that Ensures You Will Sell More
I just got off the phone with a client who is working on being more assertive and fluid when he speaks. He complains, and I agree with him, that he starts speaking without knowing where his sentences are heading. Soon… Read More »An Exercise That Can Make You a Spell-Binding Orator
Top performers practice what they’re bad at, even though it’s frustrating, and they do it to the point of mental and physical exhaustion. They go until they break down old habits and develop new ones. I believe in this approach–that… Read More »Success strategy: tie the outcome to the process
Last Friday in New Jersey I got up at 3am to take part via WebEx in a training program in London. The program was about storytelling. I was invited to discuss the architecture of stories, and encourage participants to tell… Read More »Last Friday in New Jersey: a story about stories
One of the most common mistakes we make is that we forget what we’re trying to do. Most people can identify with that moment when you find yourself peering into your guest room closet or turning on the light by the… Read More »Don’t forget or confuse your purpose