Category: Other Blogs

Holiday Networking

“I hate going to holiday parties,” my friend Jane complained.

“What don’t you like?” I asked.

“I’m not great at mingling, and I don’t like making small talk.”

“Anything else?”

I get tired of telling people my life history and what I do for a living,” Jane replied.

“I think I know the problem, Jane. You look at these parties as an obligation rather than a golden opportunity.”

Read the rest of this article

Getting In The Zone

Last week I had the pleasure of working with the CNN Bookings team on the concept of Personal Branding.

We began with the process of first looking at everyone’s strengths and unique differentiators.  One of the most effective ways to do this is look back at what you consider to be your ‘blue chip’ or ‘zone moment,’ a moment of extreme personal pride.

I used Tsunami Sunday as an example. I was the guest booker on call,

Read the rest of this article

Clubbing With The Boys

Clubbing With The Boys – Networking Tips for Women Networking with Men

Marion M. who is a senior partner at a major business consultancy, was brought up on the dictum that she had to be twice as smart and work twice as hard as her male colleagues. She always worked long hours, and passed on many an invitation to join the guys at the local bar while she stayed on at the office to run the numbers on a pending deal.

Read the rest of this article

Lighting the F.I.R.E for Successful Communication

F- Feeling good about yourself

Honore De Balzac said: “There is no greater impediment to getting on well with other people, than being ill at ease with yourself.” We live in a world of enormous stress and challenge and all too often, we forget the power of exuding positive energy as a way of attracting business. And sometimes it is easier to act your way to feeling better than to feel your way to acting better.

Read the rest of this article

First Impressions

Have you ever watched 2 young children meet each other for the first time? They are usually introduced, look each other warily up and down for a few seconds and then one says something like “Do you want to go and play on the trampoline?” Sometimes prompted or not it is off they go. Give them exactly 3 minutes and they are chatting and playing away, and within the hour they have become firm friends.

Read the rest of this article

The Verbal and Non-Verbal Elements of Speaking for Success

I am writing this while sitting at the O’Hare Chicago airport.

I have just completed a double session with a group of extraordinary, motivated AD Sales professionals.

The focus of the day was Maximizing Presentation Impact and Networking for Success or as I like to say Building Relationships for Career Success.

We started the day focusing on the qualities that make great speakers.
If you really analyze it,

Read the rest of this article