Are you settling for Grocery Store Tomatoes?
I was in a hotel bar, sitting with my friend Johanne, in Park City, Utah. Spoiler alert – Happy hour is not so much of a vibe in Utah. Nevertheless, I was hoping for a glass of wine. So I asked the bartender about options. The sweet young man smiled back at me and...
It’s better when we hold hands
I was in Mexico, getting my joy on. I was visiting my cousin. She’s not your ordinary cousin. She’s more like the sister I never had. We share stuff -- aspiring stuff, personal stuff, funny stuff. We also share a similar energy and drive. We like strong. We like real....
Rise and Whine….
Diggin' Deep after a Nap's Night Sleep Why do we take such pride in getting our butts out of bed at five am and doing the GSD strut before the sun comes up? Yet no one is piping into a megaphone that they stayed up until two am doing whatever it is that people do...
What I Learned from a Crack in my Plan
Last spring, I was asked to give a keynote at an annual event. I planned to do what I do: Interview the stakeholders and customize my Talk to the Brain™ stories and strategies to apply to their particular vision. But, when I talked to the president, my plan cracked...
I love French Fries!
Seriously, I’m the french fry connoisseur. I’m the sommelier of the deep-fried Idaho Golds. I am fully devoted to the pursuit of the perfect french fry. It must be hot, crispy on the outside, lightly salted (none of that weird truffle crap), and it must have a dense...
Could you be deflating your audience?
That’s a picture of me. I’m the one bawling, and that’s my mom comforting me at her brother’s wedding. I was the flower girl. I could not have been more excited about my big day (Ok it was about the bride and groom too, but hey, I was four). I took the role of the...
Death by Boredom and the Guacamole Hangover
It’s 2:58 in the afternoon. You are in serious need of caffeine because your lunch of a guac-laden burrito bowl from Chipotle is releasing its sleep potion into your system. (Why do they give you so much guacamole anyway?) But there’s no time to grab a coffee. You...
Are you dirty?
I'm Not Dirty, Are You? Do you remember the bully in your second-grade class? I do. His name was Ray. He chased me around shop class. Yes “shop class.” And I also remember that I got paddled for running in class. Yes “paddled.” I ran from Ray because he was chasing...
Is Storytelling just a Trend?
Depends. What makes a story powerful? I hear passionate people say, “I want to tell my story.” I hear videographers and marketers say, “We help you tell your story.” I hear speakers say, “Be vulnerable and tell your story.” These assertions are missing the mark; but I...
One Simple Tip from Talk to the Brain
“I love to read long, elaborate, complex emails,” said no one ever. What our brains want is simple, relevant, unique bits of information. Our amygdala rejects complexity. Our prefrontal cortex has a limited capacity. Our hippocampus dismisses the mundane. Already...