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...
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...
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...
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...
...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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
...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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
...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...
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...
I told him, “๐ถ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ, ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ.”
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...
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...
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...