Nothing screams “amateur” like a poorly crafted book cover. The standards for book design aspired to by trade publishers are not all that high, but self-publishers routinely fall short of them. If you want your book to be taken seriously, … More ☛
Diction refers to the choice of words and style of expression that a writer or speaker uses. The diction in your speeches or literary works affects the tone and how your message is received by your audience. For instance, formal, … More ☛
We all get so disappointed when our favorite movie gets embroiled in some tasteless scandal. We love them so much on stage and then, in real life, they turn out to be so horrible! How will your audiences feel about … More ☛
Always, always, always give your pest performance! It doesn’t matter of there are only three people in the whole auditorium. You never know who’s in the audience. One of them might be a decision-maker who will hire you when they … More ☛
True story: Gayle’s connecting flight from Atlanta was canceled and she had to be on the stage at a conference the next morning in New York City — 850 miles away. Not only was her five-figure speaking fee on the … More ☛
Sometimes you can get a lot of mileage on stage when you leave half the conversation to the audience’s imagination. [ring] Hello … Oh, hi honey. I can’t really talk right now. I’m in the middle of giving a pres…” … More ☛
Back in my college days, I scraped together the money to hear the legendary jazz pianist Hank Jones play at an expensive local restaurant. Jones had played with jazz greats like Lester Young, Milt Jackson, Cannonball Adderley, and Wes Montgomery. … More ☛
Hobbyist or professional? True professionals dedicate their lives to being the best in the world at whatever they do—not some day, but today—every day. Not try, do. I have played guitar almost every day for almost forty years. I play … More ☛
Is sexual harassment a problem, or a symptom of a larger, deeper issue? The answer depends on the stories we use to define and discuss it. Challenge: Write a story about sexual harassment. Use fictional avatar characters. (If you call … More ☛
“This should be a great presentation,” said Jess as we walked into the Chamber of Commerce breakfast and grabbed a table near the platform. The speaker made a gazillion dollars taking startups public. He’s the CEO of…” “Why does everyone … More ☛
