What’s Your Favorite TED Talk?
I stumbled on my first TED talk a few years back and was so taken with it that I became hooked forever. Three women were onstage in front of the big red TED logo. One woman, Phyllis Rodriguez in clothing you’d find a women wearing in any US city is holding the hand...
The Opposing Force
Is the work you do in the world somehow tied to your own story? Was there a time when you experienced a really dark time in your life or business and things were looking pretty bleak, but somehow you got through it? This is the basis for your “origin” story. We all...
Great questions to get people to tell you their stories
Even better than learning how to be a compelling storyteller, I encourage you to also hone the skill of being a great story-listener. People are starved to be heard, so when you get them talking about special things or events in their life this will create a stronger...
30 Ideas for Finding Speaking Gigs
One of my all-time favorite strategies for honing your speaking skills and getting in front of prospects is to offer to speak for free. Here’s a list I’ve compiled of places you could possibly offer a free presentation to. Start local. Walk around your own community...
Start with a Story, End with a Story
I like guarantees, don’t you? Something that will work in almost every situation. Well, that’s how I think about when to use stories in a speech. In December, 2017, I produced a unique TEDx event, partnering with the folks at TEDxWilmington (producing a TEDx event...
All Interesting Stories Are “Me, too” Stories
I’ve recently come to follow best-selling author Anne Lamott. She’s wise, funny, grounded, generous and irreverent. It’s been a lot of fun to check her out and she speaks right into my heart. Anne is known for books such as Bird by Bird (which is about writing),...
What’s your “Why” Story?
Among the variety of stories you can use to communicate with your customers and audiences, your “Why I do what I do” story is the one you simply must develop. When you communicate the “why” behind your business this establishes a powerful heart connection to others....
Are You “Story-Mining” to Unearth Passion?
A few years back I had a gig in a beautiful part of the country: the Columbia River Gorge, which divides Oregon and Washington, just east of Portland. Soaring mountains, towering waterfalls, a temperate rain forest and perfect weather – not to mention Voodoo Donuts,...