Many years ago I worked for a short while in the commercial real estate industry as an assistant to a successful broker. He would send letters and leave voicemails using what he called the “blood in the water” technique. Like…
5 Ugly PowerPoint Slides to Avoid at All Costs
Before the presenter had barely uttered a word, your mind had already checked out. You were no longer present in that meeting room – you were prancing playfully across a white sand beach, the fruity flavors of your boozy cocktail…
Preposterous Pitches: The Best of Magic Hat
Many of you know about Magic Hat. The lucky ones among you have had a chance to play it. But for the uninitiated, Magic Hat is my signature improvised, and comedic, pitch game that makes an appearance at almost all…
What Does the Perfect PowerPoint Presentation Look Like?
A friend and former colleague of mine recently emailed me and asked, “What does the perfect PowerPoint presentation look like?” Great question, but also a tough one because the answer changes for every audience. It’s impossible to show a visual…
The Language of Startups
For decades, legions of white-collar workers have been both cringing and cackling at the ludicrousness of corporate buzzwords. Bandwidth, bleeding edge, synergize, leverage, mindshare – they all make me want to pop my ear drums with a sharp number 2…
Software Won’t Make You a Great Presenter
Ever since the birth of mankind, humans have searched for shortcuts. We’re obsessed with getting the result in the least amount of time. We love the idea of putting forth as little effort as possible to get the job done….
A Holiday Ode to Awful Presentations
I love the feel-good spirit of Christmas, but I also realize it’s an important time of year for commerce. In fact, Santa’s Workshop is a business. A huge amount of goods must be manufactured and shipped out the door within…
5 Thoughts That Crush Success
One of my readers, Deborah Smith, recently sent me this great article by Miles Jennings of Recruiter.com (thanks Deborah!). Many of the author’s comments are relevant to what I teach about achieving success with business communication, so I wanted to…