Shogun: A Lesson In Patience
As a kid I used to make model airplanes and they never turned out right. I never had the patience to let the glue dry adequately before moving on to the next step. Invariably it would fall apart. Since then I’ve been in a lot of situations when I’ve jumped the gun. I’ve spoken without […]
Managing The Cynic In Your Head
In my presentations I often speak of the “voice inside your head,” referring to the running commentary in your mind that often criticizes you and makes you feel bad about yourself. You may recognize it for saying such things as “You’re too fat” or “That person would never go out with you” or “You sounded […]
Make An Impression And Never Be Forgotten
I believe the best way to make a good impression on people is to change the energy in the room. If you apply for a job, give a candidacy speech or just want to impress a group of people, do something to distinguish yourself. Most try to fit in. Leaders stand out. Do things that […]
Increasing Your Personal Power
As a speaker, I think of myself less as a teacher than I do a student. Every time I speak I’m just giving a book report. But I’m always reading, watching and asking questions. It really makes a difference for me not only as a speaker, but as an ambitious person. I’ve learned that leadership […]
Six Steps to Keep Yourself Motivated
Most of us suffer from “Good Intention Syndrome,” a condition where we have a great goal but always seem to have a reason to delay pursuing it. There really is NO reason not to get working on your goals. The trick is to muster discipline to put you in motion. Here are some ideas to […]
Getting What You Want: A Lesson From Kinko’s
Recently at Kinko’s they were having problems with their machine and were taking a long time to complete my job. Wanting to be productive, I asked a clerk if I could use their phone to make a local call. She said no. I felt a little put off. Eager to make my call, I decided […]
Are Your Friends Energizers Or Dead Batteries?
I played tennis in high school and was told early on to compete against people who played better than I. (Trust me, it wasn’t hard to find an opponent.) The reason for this is that when you’re around a good player, it brings out the best play in you. I’ve since learned this is also […]
Face The Demons — They Might Be Angels
As many of you know, I talk a lot about overcoming fear and taking risks. While I teach this stuff all the time, sometimes I need my own reminders. I recently got one. I was once cast as a co-host for the pilot episode of a reality television show for 20th Century Fox. My role […]
Change: What Will You Do When Your Cheese Is Moved
There’s an awesome book out called WHO MOVED MY CHEESE? by Spencer Johnson. It’s about lab mice who live in a maze. Everyday they take the same path to get to the cheese. One day the cheese is moved. One mouse is prepared to deal with this change of events. Another continues along the same […]
Beating the Competition
When I first showed up to register for the Los Angeles Marathon, I freaked out at seeing the thousands of “athletes.” It was totally intimidating. Part of me felt like there’d be no way I could compete with them. To my delight, I passed up 2/3 of them. However, I sometimes wonder if I could […]
