zingzoneBeing accessible is good. Accessible to friends and family. To patrons and proteges. To clients and customers.To team members and other stakeholders. When we’re accessible, others feel free to share their issues and concerns. Their wants and needs. Their
During this week’s SXSW Conference, I dropped in on a discussion about creating customer experiences (this particular session focused on the Virgin Hyperloop passenger experience). A word that kept popping up was “welcoming”—and for good reason. Customers and clients
Benjamin Franklin was much more than the fellow who flew kites during thunderstorms to prove lightning was electricity. In addition to being a great statesman, Franklin was a creative guy. He invented the lightning rod, bifocal glasses and clean-burning
There are two types of people in the world. Those who see life as a privilege and those who see life as a problem. “The first type is enthusiastic, energetic, resistant to shock, responsive to change,” wrote Arthur Gordon,
When John Williams first played his ominous two-note “shark theme” score on a piano, Jaws director Steven Spielberg laughed because he thought the composer was joking with him. But Williams didn’t give up on the idea. He kept encouraging
Pure, painful panic often occurs right before a presentation, when a presenter realizes all eyes and ears are about to be focused on them. Fire alarms go off in the brain. Stress hormones cause sweaty palms and racing heartbeats.
Deepak Chopra recently spent two weeks on a “monk’s journey” in Thailand. The author shaved his head and walked barefoot through neighboring villages begging for alms. After a few days, a monk asked Chopra how he was doing. “Walking
Creativity can’t stand a struggle. So give your brain a break. In writings and talks, I frequently emphasize the value of taking breaks. In fact, pausing (which I label “Exhale,”) is dead center in my five-step creative process: Explore
“Emotion Lotion” is what composer Quincy Jones calls music he creates to add moods and feelings to films. I’m not suggesting you add soundtracks to presentations. But I do recommend adding Emotion Lotion in the form of stories and
“The most important conversations I have are the ones I have with myself.” George Raveling, the legendary basketball coach, made the above statement while discussing the impact self-talk can have on attitudes and actions. I often cite