I was speaking at a conference in Orlando, Florida, and while there, I set up a meeting with a young millennial with whom I am consulting on a new startup idea. He flew down to Orlando so we could use the time around when I would be speaking to collaborate on his startup. After I […]
Category Archives: Life
How to Use the Special Silver Pen
Last fall, I was facilitating strategic planning for an Atlanta-area nonprofit, and, as usual, there were hotel-provided pens and scratch paper at each seat. I didn’t pay much attention to them, though, as I was busy with my own preparation. About halfway through the first session, however, I needed to write a note, and I […]
Capture the Idea or Kiss it Goodbye
Your right brain is an amazing factory of creativity and insight. All it needs is a chance and it can produce truly breakthrough innovation seeds. However, the left brain is a bully, full of facts and logic, which hardly lets the right brain in on the game. That’s why you frequently get great ideas when […]
The Symbiosis Between Physical and Virtual Stores
I am just a sucker for a good marketing program. Recently, I have evaluated several products based on their extensive marketing and the claims they made within—to my great disappointment (Tommy John and MyPillow, just to name two). As someone who is “fashion challenged,” I am constantly trying to find clothes that at once make […]
Want to get out of a ticket … follow Traci’s advice!
As a professional speaker and strategic planning facilitator, I have a lot of balls to juggle on a week-by-week basis. So, I use a third-party source for administrative support. Sheila Moland of Pressing Engagements is that source, and she helps me in more ways that I can count. As a part of her services, she […]
Be Value Added: Going the Extra Mile to Serve a Client
As a professional speaker, I get to work with meeting planners. As someone who has created and executed many conferences myself, I have a great deal of respect for these unsung heroes from companies and associations. So, I try to go out of my way to assist them in any way possible. I am always […]
Using a Storm to Improve Success
When the family needs beach time and an infusion of saltwater living, we head to Alligator Point in Northwest Florida. It’s just over a two hour drive away and has miles of beach access on the Gulf of Mexico. On one particular trip, we rented a house that was just 20 paces from the water. […]
I Got Caught with a Coke
I was on my way out of the store with a 16-oz Coca-Cola in my hand on a Saturday morning when I spotted my cardiologist walking into the store. We made eye contact, and both exchanged a brief greeting, the nondescript kind that involves no personal information when two people know they know each other, […]
Paying it Backward
I was chatting with a good friend and pro speaker, Chris Petersen, and she shared a cool story. Seems she was in line at a Chic-fil-A to grab a quick bite on the road, and once she got up to the window, the server told her that her meal had been paid for by the […]
Transformation of the Sink, Soap and Dryer
As a frequent traveler, I have seen my share of bathrooms. It always amazes me to see how many different combinations of automated elements that get incorporated into the bathroom experience; automated flushing, automated water, automated soap dispensing and a vast array of dryers. I am all for hand drying instead of paper towels, but […]