They were four of eight powerful keynote speakers that rocked The Massachusetts Conference for Women last week. If you are wondering what 8,000 women (and a sprinkling of men, including speaker Deepak Chopra) might look like in a huge convention center, here it is...

While doing an internet search for an upcoming workshop, I ran across an article by Allison Frankel of Thompson Reuters who reported on a recent courtroom trial that resulted in a $212M verdict for the plaintiff – based largely on hand gestures. You can read about it...

When I finish my workshops with high school students, I have noticed that I try to cram a life's worth of advice into my closing reminders. I want to offer guidance, ("Be yourself") insight, ("Love yourself first") parental concern, ("Be safe"), but I noticed their...

Happily, Mark Twain is alive and well. Though dead for more than 100 years, his voice continues to jump off the page.  Some quote will make me laugh out loud and I swear, 99% of the time…it’s a Twainism! Maybe it was my first field trip in 5th grade to his home in...

It happens all too often.  You’re sailing along in your presentation, conveying important ideas, convincing your audience to share your perspective, possibly even closing the deal when, out of nowhere, you say something that stops the momentum like a 12-foot truck...

Speakers fascinate me. I like to witness their emotional, physical, mental, and creative preparations. I watch them processing feedback, crafting words and shaping stories. I watch their energy before they go on stage and as they come off. I like to see how they...

I learned a new business term this year: reputational harm. It’s not new to lawyers or public relations consultants, but to the rest of us, it showed up in newsletters, advertisements and other marketing products from experts who promise to “train all your employees...

Tuesday 10/16: Glued to the debate and the post-debate TV talking heads. Channel surfing between CNN, Rachel Maddow and Hannity to get different political perspectives. I marvel at what I hear and think, “Did we all just watch the same debate?” Wednesday Morning...

Much has been said about Joe Biden’s constant smiling and other gestures he made in the Vice Presidential Debate on Thursday evening. It’s very possible that in my house, which is located five miles from Joe’s (and that’s what people call him here in Wilmington – Joe)...

I was going to write a post about the role that hand gestures can play in getting your key message across to your audience. I was so excited to find this link about Obama and Romney’s most-often used hand gestures and how voters can draw conclusions about political...

My 13-year-old son is a big fan of cooking shows, especially Barefoot Contessa, Giada and Top Chef. As he develops his palate and a sense of curiosity about food and cooking, I am actively supporting his interest and practice. We recently shared a cooking day. My son...

One of my MBA students approached me the other day and asked, “When’s the best time to tell a joke in a speech?” I love questions like these – the kind that are easy to answer and that really matter to an aspiring speaker. The first part of the answer is that you can...

Why is it that people who are deeply suffering can be so inspirational? I love hearing from Ms. Roberts and I appreciate the truth of her message. "You have to change the way you think in order to change the way you feel." I would add to her message the following -...

Ever since I heard Edward Tufte say that ESPN sports graphics were the go-to resource for anyone trying to display numbers in a meaningful way, I have had my eye out for any worthy examples. I knew he was right from personal experience. My best friend’s son learned to...

I have watched a crazy amount of television in the last three months. Between Wimbledon, the Olympics, the US Open and political conventions, I am bleary-eyed and maxed out. And what a competitive landscape! The medals and champions, the intensity, the speculation,...

Where to start?  What to say?  How about “Wow!”  Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, you have to give Bill Clinton props for his oratory skills.  And last night, he brought the house down.  In a speech just short of one hour – which felt like 20 minutes – the...