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It can be effective to indirectly tell your customers something through a story. Feb 21, 2025

A perfect example of that was when 3M decided to place money inside the advertising casing at a bus stop in Vancouver.

The case was covered at the edges with a 3M product, Scotchshield.

“If you break it, you can keep it!”

Hundreds of people attempted to break the glass, and none were...

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๐Ÿšจ The Danger of Delegating Discomfort ๐Ÿšจ Feb 20, 2025

Here’s something I see all too often: leaders delegating the tasks that make them uncomfortable. Social media? “I’ll let the team handle all of that.” Storytelling? “Not my thing; I’ll let someone else do it.”

But here’s the hard truth: Delegating...

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โ€œWalt Disney is an idiot!โ€ Feb 19, 2025

At least, that’s what hundreds of people told him early on.

Bank after bank rejected the Mickey Mouse concept. Investors laughed him out of rooms. Critics said it would never work.

But today? Walt Disney is hailed as a genius.

This year marks Walt Disney Studios' 102nd...

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Last week, I was reminded again how quickly life can change. Feb 18, 2025

You could get a cancer diagnosis and live with the ripple effects for years to come. 

You could close a massive deal in business and make your year. 

You could make a stupid decision and embarrass your family. 

You can land your dream job and get asked to start ASAP.

You could get in a...

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Speaking of Presidents' Day, I'm obsessed with going to Presidential museums... Feb 17, 2025

...and I’ll be going to every single one before I die. So far, I've been to...

-George Washington 
-Thomas Jefferson
-James Buchanan
-Abraham Lincoln 
-Rutherford B. Hayes
-Grover Cleveland
-Woodrow Wilson
-Warren G. Harding
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Richard Nixon
-Jimmy...

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โ€œIs your S.T.U.F.F helping you or hurting youโ€ฆ Feb 15, 2025

S - Stories

T - Thoughts

U - Urges

F - Frustrations

F - Feelings

…your S.T.U.F.F is what fuels your behaviors in the world.”

-Joy Rains

Wanna hear more? Check out the Stories With Traction podcast.  

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Several years ago, I hit rock bottom. Feb 14, 2025

I took a financial risk, and it didn’t pay off. 

Instead, it put my family in a difficult position.

The night it all came crashing down, I sat on my couch with tears streaming down my face, fully aware of the uphill battle ahead.

My wife sat down next to me and said something...

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๐ŸŽค Public Speaking: The Skill That Changes Everything Feb 13, 2025

I love public speaking.

I don't mind public speaking.

I don't like public speaking.

I would rather die than do public speaking.

Some people actually check that box! 

Public speaking is scary. Most of us don't feel comfortable standing in front of people and taking responsibility for their...

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A couple of years ago, I made a goal of going to every presidential museum. Feb 12, 2025

So far, I've been to:
 

-George Washington 

-Thomas Jefferson

-James Buchanan

-Abraham Lincoln 

-Rutherford B. Hayes

-Grover Cleveland

-Woodrow Wilson

-Warren G. Harding

-Franklin D. Roosevelt

-Lyndon B. Johnson

-Richard Nixon

-Jimmy Carter

-Ronald Reagan

-George H. W. Bush

-George...

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Embrace the Embarrassment ๐Ÿ‘‡ Feb 11, 2025

What makes a story stick? What makes it truly connect? There’s a difference between storytelling that’s good and storytelling that’s unforgettable. And here’s the truth: the path to mastery isn’t glamorous; it’s uncomfortable.

How to Get Better,...

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Where my youngest son was the 1st time the Eagles won the Super Bowl vs. now. Feb 10, 2025

Where my youngest son was the 1st time the Eagles won the Super Bowl vs. now. 

At that time, I had just launched my speaking business and was really struggling. 

I told myself that I had to prove to my kids that some dreams are worth fighting for. 

Today, I get so many paid speaking...

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Want to nail a TEDx talk? Here's what you need to know... Feb 09, 2025

Have you ever watched a TEDx talk and thought, "I could do that!" only to realize you have no idea where to start? Don't worry, you're not alone. 

Today, since it’s his Birthday, I'm sharing insider tips from the one and only  Bobby Umar, CEO of Discover Your Personal Brand...

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Just hours from kickoff, reality set in. ๐Ÿ‘‡ ๐ŸŽธ Feb 08, 2025

Super Bowl XLI wasn't going to be played in the rain. It was going to be played in a monsoon. 

...and while pro football players deal with the elements all season, rock stars do not. They have provisions in their contracts to avoid such calamities. 

Electricity and water don't mix...

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๐Ÿ† What winning teams (and businesses) have in common... Feb 07, 2025

Three years ago, I spoke in L.A. and stopped by SoFi Stadium during the Super Bowl festivities. As I watched the energy behind the game, it got me thinking…

What separates winning organizations from the rest?

How do some businesses crush their sales goals and build...

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When I entered politics, I obsessively studied... Feb 06, 2025

...Ronald Reagan, also known as the Great Communicator. 

President Reagan possessed a fascinating capability...the ability to command the attention of his audience. 

Whether you loved or hated him, there is no denying that his public speaking skills were off the charts. 

I spent...

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๐ŸŽต Creativity, Storytelling, andโ€ฆ Lizzo? ๐ŸŽต Feb 05, 2025

Here’s the thing about creativity: if you’re not willing to look a little silly, it will be a tough road. And the same is true for storytelling.

Whether you’re a C-suite executive or just starting out, tapping into your creative side is essential if you want to become a...

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Sweaty palms, stuttering, and a total train wreck. Jan 31, 2025

Let me take you back to a time when I was the furthest thing from a confident public speaker. 

I’d just landed a new job, one I thought would involve very little human interaction. Perfect, right? After all, I’d failed my public speaking course in college. My first...

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A couple of years ago, I made a goal to go to every presidential museum. Jan 30, 2025

So far, I've been...

-George Washington 
-Thomas Jefferson
-James Buchanan
-Abraham Lincoln 
-Rutherford B. Hayes
-Woodrow Wilson
-Warren G. Harding
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Richard Nixon
-Jimmy Carter
-Ronald Reagan
-George H. W. Bush
-George W. Bush

Each one fascinates me because...

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Uncover Your Core Jan 28, 2025

The Role of Values in Shaping Our Lives

Understanding and embracing our core values is not only beneficial but essential in our quest for personal and professional growth. This detailed exploration aims to guide you through discovering these values, enhancing your storytelling capabilities,...

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A few years ago, I had the... Jan 27, 2025

...honor and privilege of speaking to Jewish business leaders in Chicago. 

They asked me to come in to process their family stories with them. 

I crisscrossed the area, speaking to 60 leaders in the Windy City. 

I heard some of the most incredible struggle/victory stories from these...

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50 years ago today! Jan 24, 2025

Did you know the first McDonald's Drive-Thru was born out of necessity to accommodate soldiers at Fort Huachuca Army Base in Sierra Vista, Arizona?

Picture this: soldiers in their fatigues, stuck in their vehicles, craving a Big Mac but unable to enter the restaurant due to regulations. 

The...

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Before my son, Elliot, turned 6-years-old, I had him listen to all of MLKโ€™s speeches. Jan 20, 2025

I told him, “๐—ถ๐—ณ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚ ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ, ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚ ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐˜„๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—น๐—ฑ.”

But this doesn’t just go for my son; this goes for all of us. 


I’ve spent an exorbitant amount of time researching how MLK was able to connect with his audience the way he did. 

That’s...

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Two teams. One mission: to beat the other. Jan 19, 2025

Today, football fans will see a great playoff game, the Eagles vs. the Rams.

When it comes to great stories, we need a foe.

People love struggle/victory stories. 

In business, we want it to be easy, but that doesn't give us a good story. 

Just like in sports, where your rivals actually...

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Have you ever noticed how great musicians dominate a stage and hold the audience in the palm of their hand? Jan 17, 2025

Artists like…

Beyoncé Knowles
Freddie Mercury
Taylor Swift

Have/had intentional, choreographed movements on stage. Walk this way, hold the mic like this, and look out at the audience in this way.

It's planned. All timed. And mastered.

Do you put intense preparation into presentations...

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