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101 Things I Learned in October of 2008
What a month. Today is Halloween, and I’m pooped. Just finished a series of hospitality training programs in Dodge City, Kansas. I’m off to Portland now to see some old friends, so, for the first time in my life, I can LITERALLY say, “I’m gettin’ the heck outta Dodge” and actually mean it! Sweet. Anyway, I’m taking today off. So, here’s a spook-tacular list called 101 Things I Learned…
How to “freeze” your experiences
You can learn business lessons from yoga class. You can glean relationship guidance from cartoons. You can soak in self-improvement advice from nature. Sound like a stretch? You’re right. It is. But that’s the cornerstone of creative thinking. Turning your everyday routines into peak experiences. This process involves three steps: 1. You freeze the experience, extracting its essence. 2. You reflect it back, applying it to your own life….
If you write it, they will come
My favorite Jack Johnson lyric is, “Love is the answer to most of the questions in my heart.” I have a similar philosophy for business. “Writing is the answer.” Or, as Kevin Costner would say, “If you write it, they will come.” After all, writing is the basis of all wealth. And because I vehemently believe (and practice) this philosophy, my default answer for just about everything is “writing.”…
NametagTV: Memorable Presence
Video not working? Click here for Adobe Flash 9. Watch the original video on NametagTV! LET ME ASK YA THIS… How are you creating a memorable presence in YOUR community? LET ME SUGGEST THIS… For a list called, “19 Ways to be the ONE Person Everybody Remembers at the Conference,” send an email to me, and I’ll send you the list for free! * * * * Scott Ginsberg…
The 20 Commandments of Making a Name for Yourself
1. ABSORB thy lessons. Because we learn not from our experiences but from intelligent reflection upon those experiences. Start by making lists called, “101 Lessons I Learned from…” 2. ARTICULATE thy –est. Fastest. Slowest. Smartest. Dumbest. Tallest. Shortest. Ugliest. Cutest. Gayest. Straightest. Identify your superlative and broadcast it from the rooftops. People can’t help but be attracted to your –est. 3. ATTACK thy page. Stop procrastinating. Stop making excuses….
How to market your business using ZERO time and money
Two questions I get asked a lot: 1. How much MONEY do you spend on marketing? Well, on one hand, you could say “zero,” if your customers are doing your marketing for you. On the other hand, you could say “mucho dinero,” if everything you do is a form of marketing. 2. How much TIME do you spend on marketing each day? Well, on one hand, you could say…
There’s 500 people here – AND THEY’RE ALL WEARING NAMETAGS!
The other day I was in a room surrounded by 500 people, all wearing nametags. This was both weird and awesome at the same time. It was weird because I’m not used to OTHER people wearing nametags. Almost like that scene in Being John Malkovitch when he goes inside his own head, only to be surrounded by dozens of his clones speaking the words, “MalkovitchMalkovitchMalkovitch!” It was awesome because,…
What do people get when they get you?
The old you? The real you? The new you? The becoming you? The you that nobody expected? The you that nobody saw coming? The you that they wanted you to be? The you that they read about online? The you that you were told you were? The you that they were told you were? The you that they hoped you would be? The you that you used to be…
Telling stories isn’t enough
Yes, stories are powerful. Yes, stories are what people remember most. Yes, stories are better than statistics or quotes. Yes, stories are what people connect with most. Yes, stories are the best way to communicate a message. But. You can’t just tell the story. That’s not enough. You’ve got to “stick the landing,” as Story Theater founder Doug Stevenson says. So, when your story is over, don’t just move…
Grow Bigger Ears: Heart Listening
As a writer, it’s almost impossible for me to read a book, have a conversation or experience ANYTHING without writing something down. What can I say? A writer writes. Always. Ironically, while the ability to capture and catalog ideas and experiences has become my greatest asset as a writer, it’s also become my greatest weakness as a listener. Especially in conversation. For example, when someone makes a profound comment,…