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When you look into a trashcan, you have a choice. You can see trash, or you can see treasure. It all depends on how big your thinking is. On that fateful day in college when everyone else threw their nametags away, I looked into the trash and saw the latter. And it changed everything. Forever. LET ME ASK YA THIS… What do you see when you see things? LET…

Years ago somebody asked me if I was wearing a nametag to build social capital. Social what? So I did some research. As defined by Robert Putnam’s groundbreaking book, social capital is our reserve of personal bonds and fellowship. Like a bank account, every interaction that builds trust and reciprocity strengthens our sense of community and instills a feeling of belonging. What’s interesting is how many different areas of…

Love isn’t something you feel – it’s something you decide. THE QUESTION IS: Has your organization made that decision yet? If you haven’t, people will find out. If you haven’t, people will find someone else. From my column on American Express Open Forum, we’re going to explore a few more ideas about how to out heart the competition:1. Contact trumps content. Loveless companies are notorious for only delivering select…

It’s hard to be inconsistent and win. Especially now. Customers know more, see more, remember more and repeat more – than ever before. Everything matters. Everybody’s watching. Everything’s a performance. Privacy is so last century. And when you lack consistency, when your onstage performance doesn’t align with your backstage reality, people see through you like bottle of water. Which doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. You are human,…

At a recent White House tribute concert, Smokey Robinson shared the following insight: “There are no new words. There are no new chords. And there are no new ideas. In my music, I just try to say, ‘I love you,’ as differently as I can.” How does your brand say I love you? And are you asking your customers to sing that song with you? THAT’S THE HUMAN REALITY:…

Panhandlers usually respond positively to my nametag. Which makes total sense: It’s an easy opening. It’s a chance to engage. And it’s an instant connection that might increase the chance of a donation. But for the most part, I choose not to give them money. And I have my reasons. For example, I once met a homeless guy outside of Voodoo Doughnuts. He asked if I could spare some…

A few years ago I gave a speech to a group of individuals with disabilities. I was terrified. I thought the message would go completely over the heads. And I assumed that their intelligence level would keep them from understanding me. I was wrong. They loved it. Best audience I’ve ever had.Afterward, a young man from the front row ran up to me with a huge smile on his…

People don’t want to learn. People don’t want to work. People don’t want to change. They want to feel. They want to laugh. They want to be entertained. They want to be reminded how alive they are. They want to watch your expression of a truthful metaphor for life. They want to see you think and feel the things they can’t express for themselves. And they want to sit…

It doesn’t take a lot of effort to wear a nametag every day. But it does take discipline. Not much. But enough to accumulate. Enough to carry over to bigger pursuits like writing, meditation and exercise. That’s how discipline works: When you commit yourself in small, non-threatening venues where the effort requirements are lower, you make it easier for yourself to win at something bigger. It’s kind of a…

You’ve chosen an uncertain path. You’ve adopted an inconvenient lifestyle. You’ve embarked upon an unconventional journey. You’ve felt the voice inside you growing more urgent. You’ve committed yourself enough so you can’t turn back. IN SHORT: You’ve decided to play for keeps. This is the critical crossroads – the emotional turning point – in the life of every young artist. I’ve been there myself, and here’s a list of…