Though I am not an Olympian by any stretch of the imagination, I admire those who work hard at achieving a goal no matter what the obstacles. People who try but fail, falter and return, win or lose, are heroes in my mind. When I see athletes performing with bandaged wrists or ankles or hear […]
I LOVE The Voice! The combination of human “back story,” amazing talent and coaching feedback is very much what Speaking that Connects is all about. Yes, this show speaks to me because of its focus on raising the bar, believing in one’s dreams and nurturing personal success. The human back stories connect with my heart. […]
Yes, this might sound like a pick-up line, but telling a story is also a great way to engage an audience for your next business presentation. People think and talk in stories all the time, but rarely realize it. For example, Why are you 5 hours late? (Were you at the bar again? Cheating on […]
For the last several years, my corporate clients have asked me to integrate storytelling into the presentation excellence programs I customize for them or to enhance individual presentation objectives. One marketing department requested a storytelling workshop to align their team’s messaging on how their roles and services added value to their internal customers. For another […]
When I was in the third grade, I participated in a competition where the student who demonstrated the best handwriting would have the honor of writing our class letter to the Governor. This was a really big deal for me as an eight year old. I wanted to win! I knew I had really good […]
As a sole proprietor for more than 30 years, I’m intimately familiar with running a business; but taking on a civic leadership role was a new endeavor and a big stretch for me. I’ve been a member of the Plainsboro Business Partnership (PBP) since its inception in 2009. This mini-Chamber, linked to the Princeton Regional […]
A few years ago, I piloted a public speaking and storytelling event with a culturally diverse audience. I screened and coached my strongest speakers to share a personal anecdote about navigating adversity, including their “lessons learned.” Each speaker spoke for 5-10 minutes, was energetic and engaging and spoke with clear diction and at a comfortable, […]
In a country as diverse as the United States, it’s inevitable that we will come in contact with people with deep-seated beliefs that directly contradict our own. Sometimes, we may have so much trouble communicating that we avoid interaction. Here’s an example from a person who needed advice on how to keep a boss from […]
Sounds, other than the human voice, can facilitate or hinder communication. They’re often used to create a mood that evokes a specific emotion. Have you ever watched a movie or television show, and noticed how the background music changes, depending on the emotion of the scene? Sometimes there’s even music designated for specific characters. Remember Bruce, the shark, […]
In a previous entry, we looked at how our culture typically shames and criticizes people. It is for this reason that some of us resort to putting on acts to get people to like us. Aside from feeling like we have to be the perfect human specimen, we are also often ashamed to admit our […]
