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1. BE afraid only of standing still. 2. BE regularly silly. 3. BE three moves ahead of everyone. 4. BE unexpected. 5. BE your own definition of success. 6. BE the first one. 7. BE the only one. 8. BE unforgettable. 9. BE remarkable. 10. BE ashes, not dust. 11. BE a sleeper. 12. BE so damn sure of yourself. 13. BE ready for anything. 14. BE the same…

Curt’s latest topic at Collective Genius is overcoming fear of failure. I posted with several answers to his key questions. Enjoy! What advice would you give to someone who is stuck because a fear of failing / being wrong / looking stupid is keeping them from taking action? If you think something is going to make you look stupid – at least temporarily with no long term repercussions for…

Toastmasters, meet Uncommon Goods. They believe that creativity and the expression of individuality represent two great human treasures. They recognize that people want ways to express their individuality and creativity when shopping for themselves and others. Which is why they sell cool stuff like this… Table Topics boxes are clear acrylic “ice cubes” that hold a stack of 138 conversation starters that will get your guests thinking and eager…

Except for the enormous amounts of cigarette smoke that engulfed the city like a cloud (echh) Charlotte was awesome! As you look at this picture, you’re probably wondering: who are all those people sitting with THE Ryan Cameron? That’s Jessica McDougall, Jeffrey Gitomer and yours truly. We had a blast all weekend. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard! Especially during our brief Miss Pac-Man Tourney,…

I’m in Charlotte this weekend hanging out with my buddy Jeffrey Gitomer, along with the WAY cool staff at BuyGitomer and TrainOne. We’re just hanging out, brainstorming, sharing book ideas and having a blast. These guys are the best in the biz. It’s truly an honor to watch how the REAL pros do it, and do it right. I’ve only been here one day and already I’m learning a…

A is for ATTITUDE B is for BREAK PATTERNS C is for CONSISTENCY D is for DISCIPLINE E is for EVOLUTION Sometimes I still can’t believe it. How wearing a little nametag for one day evolved into all of this. Well, ok. I do believe it. I guess if I didn’t believe, none of this would have happened. But still, some days I just look at my nametag in…

One of the privileges of working with ASAE was contributing to their national publication, Associations Now. Before my speech in May, the editor and I got together to talk about how organizations and associations could foster approachability among members and guests. The piece came out great, even if they did use a picture from when I was 22! (Click on the image to view a larger size.) Also, sorry…

First of all, I didn’t know it was a black tie wedding. I guess those things happen when you don’t read the invitation carefully. Or at all. Woops. Secondly, I arrived 2 hours late. (Thanks a lot, alarm clock that never went off at the Best Western Garden Inn in Santa Rosa, CA.) Anyway, when I arrived I noticed that all the men were wearing tuxes. Damn it. Hope…

One of the first principles I teach in my books and speeches is that approachability is a two-way street. The word comes from the Latin verb apropriare, or “to come nearer to.” This means that in addition to being proactive in approaching customers, prospects and friends; you also must position yourself, your company, your ideas, your value and your services in a way that magnetizes them to YOU. A…

OK, maybe “steal” is a harsh word. But over the years I’ve accumulated quite a collection of commercials, advertisements and promotions from businesses, organizations and people who have used “HELLO, my name is…” (or some sort of nametag) as part of their branding. Like this commercial for Paxil (left) from a few years back. I remember the first time I saw it. I was watching TV with my folks….