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How to Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty
In October of 2003 I joined my local Chamber of Commerce. At my first meeting I met the former Fire Chief of St. Louis. His friendliness welcomed me into the group and he introduced me to several new people – a true sign of networking effectiveness. No less than six months later, I found myself in a “research rut.” I was scheduled to give a speech to the Indianapolis…
Personal Space Violation at 35,000 Feet
My flight was returning to St. Louis from a National Speakers Association convention in Phoenix. I was trying hard to concentrate on some writing, when, out of nowhere, the flight attendant walked up to me, slapped my chest/nametag, laughed and walked away! And because I was deeply immersed in my creative thoughts – I jumped so high I nearly hit my head on the television screen! But I didn’t…
It’s A Jeep Thing…You Wouldn’t Understand
Have you ever seen these stickers on Jeeps? If so, you probably respond the same way I do: I don’t get it. Exactly. Non-Jeep owners have no idea what these stickers mean. But, recently I got the inside track on this unwritten Jeep rule thanks to my cousin Justin, Jeep Driver Extraordinaire. For years, online stores, shops, catalogues and dealers have encouraged Jeep owners to show their pride and…
Brothers Gotta Hug!
(This amazing image drawn by Jo) I’ll never forget my lunch with Carol and Susan. We went out to a restaurant in downtown St. Louis after attending a seminar on volunteerism. Afterwards, I decided to walk them to the nearby movie theater even though I was unable to stick around for the film. As we approached, I noticed the manager was ripping tickets at the entrance. That was my…
How to use nametags to break down cultural barriers
This story was contributed by my brother Steve. I never thought I could pass for being Portuguese, but this weekend proved me wrong. Some friends and I walked into a bar called Zella’s in downtown Chicago only to be unexpectedly greeted by two people at a registration table. “Are you here for zee Euro Party?” she asked in a beautiful French accent. “Uhh…yes. Yes we are.” I said. “Very…
The Smiler’s Discount
One November my friend Liz went to the grocery store to pick up a turkey for Thanksgiving. As she approached the checkout, she noticed the cashier’s nametag, smiled and said, “Hi Jenny – Happy Thanksgiving!” Jenny smiled back at Liz and swiped her turkey. When she gave her the total, Liz couldn’t help but notice an unusually low price. “I thought the price was more than that…is this turkey…
Man Wears Kangol Hat, Attracts Las Vegas Drug Dealers
If there’s one thing Vegas is never short of, it’s people trying to sell you drugs. Now, I’ve been to Vegas a few times before, but this time it was different. And I think it’s because I was wearing my Kangol hat. Seriously. I didn’t think it would make any difference either, but during last week’s trip to Sin City, two things happened: 1) I wore my brand new…
Wearing Your Heart On Your Sleeve…LITERALLY!
Valentine’s Day is my birthday, so naturally I have a soft spot in my heart for it. I was out to lunch today when I noticed a man sitting in a booth by the door wearing pink paper hearts on his sleeve and shirt. They were taped on with some sort of writing on them. As I examined them closer, I noticed one that read, “Love is patient.” Immediately…
How to Hire Scott Ginsberg…
1. Book Scott speak at your next event. 2. Rent Scott’s Brain for a one-on-one business coaching session. 3. Rent Scott’s Brain for a consulting project. 4. Partner with NametagTV to create customized learning modules for your organization. 5. Contact Scott about joint-venture or spokesperson opportunities for your company. 6. Spend a day with Scott at Nametag Headquarters! 7. Commission Scott to write articles customized for your publication/website needs….
Santa Knows EVERYBODY’S Name
I gave a speech to civic club in Portland recently. One of the audience members shared this story about nametags. “One year I played Santa Claus in the mall. A large group of kids came into the booth, and I noticed they were all wearing nametags. One particular child, Vincent, looked pretty shy, so I said, ‘Come on Vincent, and have a seat on Santa’s lap!” He smiled, ran…