BLArticle®
The personal touch of a blog; the informative touch of an article.
The Secret of Speaking Success
I’m on the road this week, outside the city of Philadelphia, conducting an Executive Presentation Skills program. It’s a program I really like teaching because it allows me to go back to my roots. After all, the first book I ever wrote was not a sales book, but a...
Sometimes You Need To Begin With The End
I love a good story as much as the next guy. As a matter of fact, you could say I make a living by telling stories. When I’m on my game and telling a good story, you never know how it might end. That helps me hold my audience’s attention. When...
Learning How To Say, “Thank You”
The other day, I spoke with a friend who had good news. In a battered economy, a battered job market, and for this person, a battered personal profession, he had good news. After some hard work a break had come his way, and my immediate reaction was to...
The Art of Happiness Principle 5: Close Relationships
Disclaimer: No one has cornered the market on happiness, and the approaches I discuss are simply one man’s humble opinions. Happiness is a journey. You don’t have to be there, but instead, make it destination, and a goal within your journey… This is a...
The Art of Happiness Principal 4: Meaningful Activities
Disclaimer: No one has cornered the market on happiness, and the approaches I discuss are simply one man’s humble opinions. Happiness is a journey. You don’t have to be there, but instead, make it destination, and a goal within your journey… It makes...
The Art of Happiness Principal 3: Acting Happy
Disclaimer: No one has cornered the market on happiness, and the approaches I discuss are simply one man’s humble opinions. Happiness is a journey. You don’t have to be there, but instead, make it destination, and a goal within your journey… How many...
The Art of Happiness Principle 2: Optimism
Disclaimer: No one has cornered the market on happiness, and the approaches I discuss are simply one man’s humble opinions. Happiness is a journey. You don’t have to be there, but instead, make it a destination, and a goal within your journey… If there is...
The Art of Happiness Principal 1 – Control
Disclaimer: No one has cornered the market on happiness, and the approaches I discuss are simply one man’s humble opinions. Happiness is a journey. You don’t have to be there, but instead, make it destination, and a goal within your journey… Think back to...
The Art of Happiness – Part 1 An Introduction
The other day, I was having a discussion (that turned into a debate) about what seems to be a very simple issue. I am referring to the issue of happiness. The sticking point in our debate was not the fact that some people are happier than others. It went deeper...
Now Subbing For Bill Clinton… Rob Jolles?
There are times in our lives when our number is called, and we have a job to do. Sometimes it’s not a pretty job, and sometimes it’s not a fun job. Sometimes we even know that our very best may not be good enough. In the end, we are really left with...
A Misread That Plagues Us All
You know what really gets to me? I’ll tell you. People that walk by and don’t make eye contact… and you know what that means. It means they don’t have time for you. In fact, it seems like they actually go out of their way to avoid eye contact… and you know what...
A Wakeup Call
Going through my emails a week ago, I heard from my good friend, Pat. He was pretty shaken up, and when I asked him why, he told me this story: A Fired Up Pat Nolan “I just had a guy crying on my shoulder. He lost his job over 2 years ago. His home and...
And The Band Played On
It’s certainly no secret that I perform for a living. Sometimes I perform keynotes, and sometimes longer seminars and workshops. Sometimes I perform as a coach, and sometimes as a consultant. Sometimes I even perform just talking on the phone. By the way, so do...
Teddy Baseball – A Good Man
I’m not one who shares in the joy of seeing the highlights of other people’s trips. I didn’t like watching the slides from my relative’s trips when I was little, didn’t like Super 8 movies when I was a teenager, didn’t like the VHS vacation tapes as a younger adult,...
A Good Plan Gone Awry
For a while, I’ve been working on a new book. The title, and the concept of the book are still under wraps, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn a thing or two from it. Over the weekend, this book provided its first lesson to me. When a manuscript has been...
A Trip Outside The Box
I was conducting a program in Denver last week, and the concept of “thinking outside the box” came up. It’s an overused phrase. It is astounding how many people think they’re operating “outside the box” when, in fact, they are stuck in their prison of familiarity. ...
Closing The Loop
It’s amazing how many people pass through our lives in a lifetime. To quote a saying from the Grapes of Wrath, “some of the things folks do is nice, and some ain’t nice, but that’s as far as any man got a right to say.” But I do want to say a little more because...
Is It Mean, Or Is It Merciful?
There’s no sugarcoating it: The most challenging part of the job of a salesperson, a parent, or of anyone who wants to persuade, is to ask the more difficult questions. These are the questions that are sometimes referred to as “pain” questions. If you spend two...
A Packaging Lesson From A… Tea Bag?!
One of the most common questions I am asked is, “How do you come up with all these BLArticle™ topics?” My answer is this: “I am what you might call a methodically observant person.” That means that I look for lessons in almost everything I do. I look for a lesson...
Is it Bragging or Business?
Have you ever made the mistake of asking someone, “How’s business?” and after a rather over-the-top response, mumbled to yourself, “Sorry I asked?” It’s so easy to quietly fault the somewhat obnoxious, partially arrogant, and maybe a tad egotistical response. Well,...
“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!
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