Punishing Everybody Growing up, were you ever punished for something that someone else did? The chances are pretty good that you were; and if so, you may still feel a little twinge of resentment when you think about how unfair it was to get blamed for something you didn’t do. There are at least two Read More
public speaking tips
To Leave a Legacy, Speak Up!
Your ideas are part of your legacy—but only if you put them out into the world! Joni Mitchell once sang, “Nothing lasts for long,” and she’s right—but we humans want the best parts of ourselves to last for as long as possible. (And yes, the advent of a “big birthday” is what has me thinking Read More
Use Chill Thoughts to Crowd Out Negative Ones
I just wrapped up work with a client who’s about to give a big presentation. And my final, most important advice was to focus on chill thoughts until he gets onstage. What’s a Chill Thought? A chill thought helps you calm down, avoid anxiety, and—best of all—crowd out the ugly, self-demeaning thoughts that so often Read More
Do You Struggle with Imposter Syndrome? Join the Club!
Imposter Syndrome is the feeling that you’re not really as smart or capable as other people believe. That you’re constantly fooling them. And that, any second now, you’re going to be found out. Unmasked. Exposed as…an imposter. People who suffer from Imposter Syndrome—and lots of very smart and talented people do—think that their success is Read More
Public Speaking Tip 96: Use the “Rule of 3” To Speak Off the Cuff (and for Everything Else, Too!)
We’d all like to sound (and feel!) cool, calm, collected, and prepared when we’re called on to speak off-the-cuff or to answer an unexpected question. The Public Speaking Rule of 3 is a great technique for accomplishing that goal… and here are three examples of how: 1. Media Interviews: Use the Rule of 3 to Transition to Read More