Short Stories with a Point is a collection of autobiographical parables that entertain and inspire. It includes lessons learned from personal and business experience, with practical advice woven throughout. This popular blog evolved into the book Getting to the Point, and all proceeds continue to be donated to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Click here to buy the book!
“You’re no good. And you’ll never amount to anything!” This is the most insidiously hurtful story a child can hear from a parent or authority figure. It can become faulty wiring that short-circuits your ability to overcome setbacks throughout your entire life. Ironically, the accusation is often a projection of that authority figure’s own frustrations…
DetailsAre you waiting for someone else to encourage or “hand you” courage? I believe we all have an immense amount of courage placed inside us from birth, but it becomes unavailable when it is locked in a cage called fear. Sometimes the key that opens that cage is a crisis. We’ve heard many stories…
DetailsI believe you want your life to matter, in the work you do and with the people you influence. I certainly want my life to matter. How do you go about building a lasting legacy? What can you do that will make your future eulogizers look back and say “Well done!” I attended a memorial…
DetailsOn Monday I taught a workshop on public speaking for video, and as usual I ask the audience to segment themselves into three categories. I use a color code similar to the homeland security threat levels. Green is for those who are agreeable to speak when asked; yellow for those “hesitant but willing to do…
DetailsI’d rather be grilled slowly over a medium flame than grilled by Congress. It’s like being in court with multiple prosecutors hurling trap questions at you designed to humiliate and embarrass and serve their own agendas to get re-elected. And you have no judge or defense attorney yelling “I object.” If you ever get the…
DetailsYou know that moment when the wheels start to come off your meeting. People begin looking at their phones and start having side conversations. The murmur interrupts and distracts from the “main” conversation. And before you know it, people are excusing themselves to move on to more important things. You ask yourself, “What happened? How…
DetailsI was just asked this question in a group coaching session. If you have a business purpose for your Facebook Live video, there are three things you can do besides looking down and awkwardly reading a few names out loud as people join in: 1) Start your content. That’s right… actually start on time, especially…
DetailsIt was not what I expected. The transition to the New Year is usually all about me and how I’m going to achieve fitness goals, fulfill my mission as a speaker and make more money. Instead, I was presented with an opportunity to help an Army veteran and his family after suddenly losing their home…
DetailsI still get this question, “Hey, you’re not at Cisco anymore? What do you do now?” I left in 2016 after a successful 10-year run and began pursuing my life mission as a speaker and coach. I had enough of people saying I had missed my calling, so I finally picked up the call. Those…
DetailsSome people fear death. Some fear public speaking. For groundbreaking comic book artist Kelley Jones, his greatest fear is boredom. He spoke at a lunchtime session I attended on Halloween, an appropriate day given the creepy characters he has brought to life in such a radical new way. The Sandman, Swamp Thing and even Batman…
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