BLArticle®
The personal touch of a blog; the informative touch of an article.
The Time Has Come For A Blarticle® Pivot
Almost seventeen years ago, I started writing something I refused to call a blog. The truth is, I’ve never liked blogs. Too many of the ones I read were long on story and short on value; no clear message, and no answer to the most important question I’ve built my...
Planting a Seed for Commitment
Many years ago, I remember watching an old Woody Allen move called “Annie Hall.” It wasn’t my favorite movie, but there was one particular scene I really connected with. Woody Allen was on a first date with Diane Keaton, and he was nervous about the first kiss that...
That’s EnterTrainment
Now, more than ever, it’s important to not just speak, but speak well, and that often means incorporating an element of entertainment. After all, when our communications are not face-to-face, it’s a whole lot more difficult to hold the attention of those we are...
The Secret Ingredient Behind Most Great Communicators
Like making a good sauce, there are so many ingredients that go into making a great presenter. I happen to believe there is one particular ingredient that stands out from all the rest. Ironically, it’s a somewhat overlooked component because many believe this...
The Can’t Miss Holiday
I’m a New Year’s Eve man. No doubt about it, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. What can you say about New Years Day that isn’t positive? Christmas is a wonderful holiday, but not everyone celebrates Christmas. The same could be said for Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, Hanukah,...
Five Percent Moves
I purchased a new thermos the other day. I was looking for something else, and I found it quite by accident. It turned up on one of those pages on Amazon that says this: “If you liked that other thing you purchased, you might like this.” At first, I dismissed the...
How Much of Your Story Does an Audience Really Need to Hear?
You’d think introducing yourself to an audience would be a relatively easy task. The reality is this: Those first couple of minutes of “your story” can make or break the rest of the presentation. When you think about it, it’s a bit ironic; one of the most challenging...
A Path To Wisdom
When I was a kid, I remember begging my parents to buy me a journal. I really wanted that journal; I had dreams of capturing all sorts of private thoughts, and I wanted to be able to to lock it! I was relentless, deploying every trick in the book to convince my...
Changing One Word Changes Everything
Starting a new podcast is not for the faint of heart. There are so many things I have to do before I even get to talk to my first guest. I have to come up with a name that reflects my unique niche. I have to create show art that adheres to strict requirements. I have...
The Power of Failure
The other day, I delivered a program that just wasn’t my best. It wasn’t due to a lack of preparation or a lack of effort, but I was faced with obstacles with every move I made. I won’t bore you with the details, but my favorite obstacle was leaving a breakout room,...
From Pep Talks to Whispering…
Throughout my life, like many other entrepreneurs, I’ve repeatedly made the mistake of choosing clever over clear, falling into a trap I call “The Something for Everyone Syndrome.” One of my latest journeys into this unwinnable war was with my podcast, Pocket Sized...
Making Your Mind Smile
In 1991, Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, and plenty more came together and put out a movie called Hook. It was a sequel to the movie, Peter Pan, and the critics didn’t seem to like it much, only giving it a lowly 29% on Rotten...
The “Something for Everyone” Syndrome
Beware, because it’s coming for you… It’s a flawed marketing concept that is lurking around the corner, and waiting to deceive you. It promises success, yet in reality, almost always impedes it. Once it teaches its lesson, it waits patiently until you fall for the...
When Feedback Is Anything But…
There’s no doubt about it; one of the best ways to get better at something is to simply ask for feedback. How do we get better without feedback from others? Feedback provides invaluable information we can’t see for ourselves. Feedback helps us evolve. Feedback...
Trial Closes: Misunderstood, Misused… and Essential
You don’t have to look very far to find examples of PR problems: A bad customer experience going viral on social media; an employee or other brand representative seen to be behaving inappropriately; a major disruption in the operation of your organization that...
Want To Fix The Sales World?
…If you're a typical customer, look in the mirror Full disclosure: I have a rather biased view of salespeople, but hear me out. Yes, there are problems within the selling profession, and I fully realize there are some bad salespeople in this world. There are also...
Talk Is Cheap… Until You Prove It Works
When you speak professionally, you want to make sure your audience is fully on board. Speakers like me will obsess on making sure the audience knows what’s in it for them, where they’re going, how they’re getting there, and what’s expected along the way. Speakers...
Don’t Forget The Big Picture
In any type of presentation, there is an overall goal involving what is being taught. For the sake of this Blarticle®, let’s refer to this as “the big picture.” In one sentence, this is a clear explanation of what it is you’ll be talking about and what you really want...
Tim Russert, the Truth, and the Setting Sun
I used to be a news junkie. It started when I was a kid watching Walter Cronkite deliver the evening news, which always ended with this iconic phrase: “And that’s the way it is.” I never questioned the news; I just learned from it. I continued my news junkie ways as...
Finding Success Without Your “A” Game
Athletes will often talk about performing at a high level, but on certain occasions, they will comment that performing at that high level was effortless. When golfers are putting, they will say things like, “the cup looked as big as a bucket,” or they sum up an...
“Rob is an expert not only in the art of influence,
but also in human nature.”
~Ken Blanchard,
coauthor of The One Minute Manager® and Trust Works!
SIGN UP FOR THE BLArticle®
Never miss a new BLArticle®. And as a thank-you, I’ll send you my free eBook filled with powerful lessons in persuasion, performance, and personal growth.
SIGN UP FOR POCKET-SIZED PEP TALKS
Hear every new episode as it drops. As a thank-you, you’ll get my free eBook packed with lessons in persuasion, performance, and personal growth.