The Power In Remembering Names
Southwest Airlines took out a full-page newspaper ad to honor the late company founder, Herb Kelleher, who passed away in January. The first line of text read as follows: Dear Herb, thanks for always remembering our names. Kelleher was credited for turning...
5 Ways To Keep Your Audience’s Attention
Cognitive scientists have a reasonably good idea of when audiences will stop listening to a presentation. It occurs at the 10-minute mark. According to molecular biologist, John Medina, people seem to get bored after approximately ten minutes—and it occurs...
Warren Buffett Captures His Readers Through Story
Warren Buffett has two people in mind when he drafts his annual letters—his sisters, Doris and Bertie. They’re smart, he says, but they are not active in business and they don't read the business pages every day.How does Buffett communicate a big idea to...
Bill Gates Used Adorable Squishy Toys To Illustrate The World’s Most Complex Problem, Climate Change
Over the past decade, I've met with senior leaders at big energy companies and solar, wind, and renewable energy firms, and with government leaders weaning their countries away from fossil fuels. I've always been left with one thought: Solving the climate...
If Want To Be An Innovator And Leader Like Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, Make This A Daily Habit
Long before he joined Microsoft and decades before he became its CEO, Satya Nadella was passionate about two things--cricket and books. Nadella shares a habit with Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates. Both leaders are voracious readers who apply what they...
Guy Kawasaki Reflects On The Lessons He Learned From His Famous Boss, Steve Jobs
Guy Kawasaki has so many memories of Steve Jobs, a memory card in my video camera ran out of room to store them all. Fortunately, I had a second one because I had a lot of ground to cover with the bestselling author of 15 books and former Apple Macintosh...
Best Selling Author Tim Ferriss Took These Simple and Unusual Steps To Overcome His Fear of Public Speaking. You Should Try It.
Investor and bestselling author, Tim Ferriss, traces his breakthrough success to a presentation at South by Southwest (SXSW) in 2007. The presentation was the tipping point for his book, The 4-Hour Workweek. It went on to become one of the most successful...
IBM’s Advanced AI Machine Debated An International Debate Champion- Here’s What Happened
Aristotle broke ground by claiming that the art of persuasion—rhetoric—can be learned. Although Aristotle was right, he may never have envisioned a day when a machine could also be taught to argue. It took 2,300 years for it happen, but it happened. On...
Comparing the Polar Vortex to Antarctica or Everest Explains Why Analogies are Powerful Teaching Tools
Just how frigid is the polar vortex dropping a blast of cold air on the Midwest this week? Depending on who you listen to you, it's colder than Alaska, the North Pole, or even base camp on Mt. Everest. Jimmy Fallon opened his Tonight Show monologue on...
How Practice and Letting Go Will Help You Succeed in Clutch Situations
New Orleans Saints fans were instructed to make some noise whenever the visiting Los Angeles Rams had possession in the NFC championship game. They did and it worked--until Greg "The Leg" Zuerlein took the field. How Zuerlein maintains his focus and keeps...
200 Years Of Human Progress In An Infographic
The story of progress is complicated and that’s why Bill Gates is always looking for a better way to communicate it. Recently, Gates shared an infographic that tells the story simply, clearly and visually. Gates is part of a group of thinkers, authors,...
Ads Featuring Robots Reflect Our Anxiety, But Can Also Teach Us How To Thrive In A New World
Robots had a starring role in at least five brand ads played during the Super Bowl. The commercials mark a creative trend that “reflects the mood and anxieties of a society confronted with new, life-altering technology and artificial intelligence,”...
This Simple Mind Hack Backed Up By Science Will Help You Keep Your New Year’s Resolution
Today marks a major milestone in the yearly calendar: most people have broken their New Year's resolutions and won't be attacking them again--at least for another twelve months. Gone are the goals to lose weight, get more exercise, or learn a new skill. If...
Katelyn Ohashi’s Viral Video Teaches That When You Change The Way You feel Inside Your Audience Benefits
After writing nine leadership books and interviewing hundreds of entrepreneurs, I'm convinced that you cannot inspire others unless you're inspired yourself. And inspiration comes from the one emotion that's the most contagious of all--joy. By now you've...
Yes, Artificial Intelligence Can Replace Jobs But Here’s How You Can Still Thrive
"AI is going to the change the world more than anything in the history of mankind," Kai-Fu Lee told Scott Pelly in Sunday's edition of 60 Minutes. Lee, a pioneer in artificial intelligence, predicted that artificial intelligence will automate and...
A “Super Blood Wolf Moon”? Now You’ve Got My Attention!
A remarkable event is happening at my house this weekend. My two daughters are excited about astronomy. If you think their sudden interest has been sparked by the lunar eclipse on Sunday night, you’d be partly right. “It’s a super blood wolf moon,” one of...
Your Imagination Fuels The Creative Process And Is The Human Edge In The Digital Age
A machine doesn't have imagination. Computers don't have a heart; humans do. If you understand this one simple fact, you can learn to unleash your creativity to spark your best ideas in a world increasingly dominated by robots, automation, and artificial...
The Investing Revolution That Started With John Bogle’s Power Of Words
“I love the English language,” Vanguard founder John Bogle once said. “Words have power." Yes, words do have power and Bogle’s powerful words launched an investing revolution that changed the lives of millions of individual investors. Bogle, the pioneer...
Two Stories Of How Great Things Can Happen When You Dream Bigger Than Other People
Clemson coach, Dabo Swinney, doesn't just have a goal--he has a dream. And not just any dream. "If you're going to dream, you might as well 'be extravagant' about it," he once said. Swinney's Clemson Tigers put on an extravagant win against Alabama to win...
Some Of The Most Successful Pitches In Business History Fit On A Napkin. Here’s Why Your Pitch Should Too.
After 20 years of studying persuasion, I'm convinced the best pitch should fit on the back of a napkin. After all, some of world's most successful brands started out that way. A simple vision is the spark that attracts interest. Southwest Airlines...
An AI Machine Machine The Human Art Of Persuasion? IBM Thinks So.
IBM Research has built an AI system that can analyze 300 million articles, papers or records on a given topic and construct a persuasive speech about it. It would take a human—reading twenty-four hours a day—about 2,000 years to get through the same...
Southwest Airlines Founder Herb Kelleher Built A Successful Culture Based On Employees First
The official announcement from Southwest Airlines on the passing of its founder, Herb Kelleher, describes him as a pioneer, maverick and innovator. Yes, he was all three. I’d add one more quality that turned Kelleher’s company into an iconic brand:...
This ‘Soft Skill’ Can Give You A Competitive Edge In 2019
The hard data show that "soft skills" are in high demand. In a new LinkedIn analysis, "persuasion" was one of the top skills "most worth learning" in 2019. "Strengthening a soft skill is one of the best investments you can make in your career, as they...
Three Persuasive Communication Techniques Tim Cook Uses To Answer Tough Questions
When Tim Cook took over Apple in 2011, many critics predicted Apple’s demise. One headline famously read: Why Apple is Doomed. The critics turned out to be wrong, and Cook navigated Apple to a one trillion dollar value. Cook was underestimated because he...
Nick Saban’s Secrets To Recruiting The Best To Play For Alabama’s Crimson Tide
“Every minute of every day you’re selling something. You’re either selling positive, or you’re selling negative,” Nick Saban once said. His pitch is to sell Alabama’s football program to the nation’s top recruits. Saban's strategy is a master class in...
Transformative Find Ways Of Bridging The Divide To Bring People Together
I recently visited with former Cisco CEO, John Chambers, at his Silicon Valley home. In his office he had four massive books filled with letters from U.S. presidents, prime ministers and business leaders thanking him for his advice and friendship. The...
Presentation Skills Are Fundamental To Success So Kids Should Be Taught Early
One of my daughters knows me cold. Since I'm always on the lookout for great presentations, she created one to convince me to buy an iPhone. I was reluctant at first. By the end of the presentation, I was sold and she got her gift last Christmas. She's...
Your Goals for 2019 Are Achievable With The Help Of This Tool.
Companies from Google to Intel will start 2019 with audacious and measurable goals called OKRs, detailed in investor John Doerr’s bestseller, Measure What Matters. The goal-setting strategy is a tool Doerr first learned while working for legendary Silicon...
How The Empathy Effect Will Help You Shine As A Leader
Empathy is the ability to understand how another person feels. According to new Harvard research in The Empathy Effect, it's a trait that can be taught and developed. Build empathy and you'll be a more effective entrepreneur and leader. Author Helen Riess...
How Body Language Plays A Role In Inspiring Your Team
He projected “an aura strong enough to penetrate the farthest corner of any room he entered.” He was Continental Army commander George Washington. The time was the winter of 1777-1778 as described in the new book, Valley Forge by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin....
The Day Warren Buffett Bought His First Stock Offers A Valuable Lesson In Growing Wealth
Trade tensions, political divisions, and global economic slowdowns are fraying nerves these days. Even if you're calm about it, business news reports are determined to make you anxious. In just one recent article on a day the stock market declined, I read...
These Two Bestselling Leadership Books Focus On How The Power Of Words Can Inspire People To Action
Winston Churchill delivered five million words in his public speeches. In the New York Times bestseller, Churchill: Walking with Destiny, author Andrew Roberts says Churchill’s rhetorical skills were the key to winning people’s hearts. Although Churchill...
Richard Branson Celebrates His First Space Flight By Celebrating His Greatest Asset – His Team
When Richard Branson's company, Virgin Galactic, launched a vehicle known as the SpaceShipTwo this week that touched the edge of space, it marked a milestone for the future of the commercial space industry. It was the first time that a crewed spaceship,...
3 Progress Books That Gave Bill Gates Hope Take An Optimistic Look At Our World Today
In the time it takes you to read this article, about three hundred people will have risen out of extreme poverty, and it's been happening for the past 25 years. You won't hear about it on the news or see it celebrated across social media. And yet,...
Improve Your Public Speaking Skills In 2019 With Tips From These Four Bestselling Books
I've read 75 books this year. Not all of them were good. Some were dry, boring or derivative. One business presentation book cites my books seven times. I'm flattered, but it didn't teach me anything new. Sometimes, however, I'll read a new book that's...
How Legendary CEO John Chambers Turned His ‘Disability’ Into His Greatest Strength
During a recent conversation with legendary Cisco CEO, John Chambers, he leaned closer to me and said, “My hands sweat to this day when I talk about it.” It is growing up with dyslexia. Chambers can speak confidently to an audience of 10,000 people with...
Legendary CEO John Chambers Talks About The One Skill Leaders Need Now
Communication skills are “dramatically more important” today than they were twenty years ago. That’s according former Cisco CEO, John Chambers, whose track record is nothing short of astonishing. In his twenty years as CEO, Chambers grew the networking...
This Easy Trick Helps Make Big Data Easier To Explain To Your Audience
Seven minutes is all it took for a cyber attack to cripple thousands of companies in 2017. That’s according to a new Symantec marketing campaign which references the NotPetya malware attack that struck thousands of companies. The ads suggest, of course,...
Feedback: A Habit That Most Successful CEOs Share
When I was working as a full-time business news anchor and reporter, I began to notice a trend. The CEOs who had strong public speaking skills and who were better television guests made a habit of soliciting feedback after their performance — from...
The Top 3 U.S. Airports Are Champions Of Customer Service
According to a new Wall Street Journal survey of 4,800 travelers, the three best large U.S. airports are Denver, Orlando, and Phoenix, in that order. The airports were ranked on 15 metrics such as convenience, flight cancellations, on-time arrivals, etc....
The Simple Step Climate Change Scientists Took To Help People Understand Complex Information
Most people have a hard time digesting highly technical information because they simply don’t speak the language of the scientists delivering the content. And that’s why the scientists behind the 1,600-page National Climate Assessment took a simple step to...
Agree Social Media Posts Can Damage Your Career And Your Reputation. Here’s How You Can Keep Your Cool.
"I couldn't help myself. I was just venting." This excuse has led to countless examples of business professionals who have seen their reputations damaged or careers destroyed after venting their anger with an ill-timed social media post. According to one...
The First Principle Of Selling: People Buy From People They Like
Ryan Serhant's first day in sales began on Monday, September 15, 2008. He remembers it because it's the day Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, marking the beginning of the subprime mortgage crash and the great recession. Serhant made $9,000 in his first...
By Touching Hearts The American Cancer Society Boosts Donations
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has invested $5 billion in research, but you won’t see that statistic in its new print and TV ads. Thanks in large part to the ACS, the nation has seen a 26% reduction in cancer rates since the early 1990s. Once again, you...
The 1 Thing Common To Steve Jobs and Elon Musk That Can Help You Succeed In Business
Last week, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, explained why he works 120-hour weeks in an interview with tech journalist Kara Swisher. Swisher asked, "Why do you push yourself that hard?" Musk responded: "Well, the other option would have been, Tesla dies." Tesla cannot...
Bill Gates Shows Off His Mastery Of Effective Communication With Potty Talk
In 2009, I wrote the first book about the presentation skills of Steve Jobs. Jobs was one of the most exciting business presenters of our time. But if I had to choose the most-improved communicator today, it would be Bill Gates. In many ways, he's also the...
A Transformative Healthcare Leader Takes The Helm To Lead Google’s Health Team
Dr. David Feinberg is rarely satisfied and that’s a good thing when you’re trying to reinvent the healthcare system. Feinberg, one of America’s top 100 healthcare leaders, will lead Google's health strategy beginning in January. Feinberg is currently the...
How Presentation Slides Can Teach You How To Tell Memorable Stories Quickly
If you want your audience to remember and share specific numbers, statistics and data points in your presentation, you're probably designing your slides all wrong. Overwhelming your audience with multiple charts, graphs, and words on one slide is the...
11 Words Won Over Google Investors Allowing Them To Change The World
Legendary Silicon Valley venture capital investor John Doerr still remembers the pitch he heard from two Stanford students in 1999. Larry Page and Sergey Brin delivered the most concise, compelling mission statement he had ever heard. Google, they said,...
The Most Emotional Pitch In Shark Tank’s History Offers A Lesson For Entrepreneurs
Real estate mogul and Shark Tank investor, Barbara Corcoran, calls it the most emotional pitch she's seen in the show's 10 seasons. The young entrepreneurs showed "inspiring strength," she said. Corcoran was referring to three siblings who pitched the Cup...
The CDC Launches An Ambition Effort To Save One Million Lives
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched an ambitious effort to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes by 2022. In its initiative—Million Hearts 2022—the CDC says heart disease and stroke are “largely preventable.” In other...
What The Astronomical Odds of Winning The Mega Millions Lottery Can Teach You About Creating Better Presentations
What are the odds of winning Tuesday's record-setting $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot? Intuitively, you know it's a massive number. For the record, the odds of choosing all six numbers correctly in Tuesday's lottery are one in 302,575,350. Does that...
This Signature Story Took Medtronic From A Tiny Garage To A Brand Worth $120B
This week, the entire home page of Medtronic’s website has been turned into a memorial for its founder, Earl Bakken, who passed away last Sunday at the age of 94. Bakken’s story is a classic American tale of success and innovation. Starting out...
Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry Uses This Simple Mental Strategy To Challenge His Personal Best
Despite achieving record-setting statistics in the NBA, Stephen Curry says he hasn't peaked yet. That should scare opponents and inspire you. As the 2018-2019 NBA season gets underway, the league's best shooter has issued a challenge--not to his...
Carmine’s book, Talk Like TED, featured in a Forbes article about entrepreneurship. READ ARTICLE
Why You Should Build Your Narrative Before Your Product
Before Scott Belsky had a product, he had a brand. Belsky is founder of Behance, an online portfolio company for creatives that he later sold to Adobe for an estimated $150 million. Today, Belsky is Adobe’s chief product officer and a venture capital...
If You Make Your Audience Multitask, Your Message Won’t Get Through. Instead, Do this.
Google unveiled three new products today: the Pixel 3 phone, the Pixel Slate tablet, and Google Home Hub, a version of its smart speaker with a built-in screen. The presentation was heavy on content, features, and speakers. When there's a lot of content to...
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson Can Explain Science To Anyone By Using This 1 Communication Trick
The astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has not one, but two books on the New York Times bestseller list. Most people don't rush to the bookstore to buy the newest book with the word "astrophysics" in the title, but they'll read Tyson's books. Then again,...
Steve Jobs’ 6-Step Rehearsal Process According To A Long-Time Apple Designer
For fifteen years, Ken Kocienda was on the ground floor at Apple as a principal software engineer on the original iPhone, iPad, and the first Safari web browser. Working side-by-side with Steve Jobs gave Kocienda a rare insider's view into the most...
A Lesson All Leaders Can Learn From JFK’s Inspiration Moon Landing Speech
In a trailer for the highly-anticipated film, First Man, starring Ryan Gosling as astronaut Neil Armstrong, scenes from the movie are shown with no dialogue. Instead, we hear John F. Kennedy’s words from his Moon Shot Speeches delivered to Congress in 1961...