And there it was! Listening translated into Action! A recent customized keynote I delivered revealed a unique understanding of what it really means to listen. The prep for this feisty group of healthcare education workers included discussions with their leaders. Key to the customized content was the group’s Values, shared by their general manager. Values. A Read More
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Vote of Confidence. Your Presence?
Action Workshop participants have confirmed it time and again: A person who has Presence demonstrates Confidence. So, that’s easy. Someone tells you to “be more confident” and there you go! Solved. The “Outside In” Actor (authentic communicator who stretches to take on new roles) stands stronger and puts on a slightly smiling, gleam-in-the eye face. Read More
Being Bowie
A real gut check this morning as I learned that David Bowie died. He is such an inspiration in creativity and adaptiveness—a chameleon of music, acting and fashion. You never knew what he would come up with next, from early 70’s “Ziggy Stardust” to his simple and touching “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” duet with, Read More
Hierarchy of Action: Mapping Your Role at Work
The grocery store clerk had better things to do than serve me. Her coworkers were gathered around the next checkout stand over. And while she scanned my items and made sure I paid, she carried on a conversation with them about next week’s schedule, who had what hours, with exclamations of “wow” and “really”. I Read More
The 10/80/10 Rule: Choosing Your Audience Battles
I’m at a mischievous stage. Having done many hundred if not a thousand live presentations, I kinda wanna mess with my Audience. Especially if they’re not paying attention. Practically speaking, I use my “10/80/10 rule” with Audiences: 10% will love everything I do 10% aren’t even in the room 80% are open to learning something Read More
Royal Focus
Great Actors can attribute much of their success to two things: Energy and Focus. With the first championship in 30 years on the line, there were distractions everywhere. If all the energy of hype, fan and media interaction wasn’t enough, there was a spectator many found perhaps more compelling than the World Series itself—the Fur Read More
The Message Behind the Mask: Fully Engaging Your Role?
Working a retail mall job can be boring. Mine, however, required assembling furniture accents and artwork and placing them on the sales floor. Fortunately I stayed pretty busy with the latest items and helping customers get them to their car. One very interesting night was Halloween, when the mall sponsored a safe, weather-resistant option for Read More
Outside In or Inside Out? Your Approach to Performance
“WILL YOU JUST GET A POSITIVE ATTITUDE? WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM?!” The sudden attack on my Audience at a recent customer service keynote surprised them. And me. It flew out of my mouth, startling the near-200 stunned participants who looked like kids facing a parental chiding. Fortunately it was in jest. Well, sort of. With a Read More
An Untimely Gesture: How Smart is Your Smartwatch?
The eyes have it. So does the wrist. The latest smartwatches are wonderfully innovative. When they first came out, I wore one for a few weeks as part of my responsibilities demonstrating new wireless technology. Really enjoying it, I could just glance at my wrist and see, among other things: Text from my son! Email Read More
Lacking Talent? Apply Technique!
A three hour, forty-five minute play can tax anyone’s patience. Including the cast. Eugene O’Neill’s “Long Days Journey Into Night” is an American classic. But it’s long. Doing the playwright justice you’ve got to give it three acts, two intermissions and over three hours to perform. O’Neill’s autobiography, in his fictional family the Tyrones, includes Read More
