Prep for SuccessHi Reader, A few weekends ago, I had a truly awful and thoroughly frustrating experience with Verizon Fios through their live chat customer support. I spent over an hour typing messages back and forth with their rep only to wind up back where I started our conversation. I'll be honest, I'd love to blame the rep, but I really can't. This is a failure of the organization that employs him. He only has the resources and tools they make available to him, and clearly, these were inadequate for the…Keep Reading
Everything That's Not an ElephantThe other week I spent the afternoon binge-watching the HBO Now show "Julia" with my mom. It was actually the second time watching for me and mom's first. In one of the episodes, Julia's editor Judith Jones meets with her most prestigious client, a young John Updike, fresh off the success of his National Book Award-winning debut novel "Rabbit Run." Judith is giving Updike some sage insight into how he might improve his follow-up effort, "Rabbit Redux." Updike looks at her with amazement on…Keep Reading
Like a Fish to WaterI recently saw my nephew, who'll be 10 soon, and offered to teach him how to dive this summer. Between my freshman and sophomore years of college, I was a day camp counselor for a troop of 8-year-old kids, many of whom I taught to swim or dive during our time together. I love swimming and really enjoy helping kids overcome their fears and learn what I believe are necessary life skills in the water. But, honestly, that moment when they get it, and they get that they are actually doing it—it's…Keep Reading
Slide into those DMsLast week, I shared some Break-through Techniques for pricing and market research. This week, I was reminded of a technique I've been using for the past few years that has also been a game-changer for me. If you guessed sliding into people's DMs on Zoom, LinkedIn, and other meeting and professional platforms, you are correct. Just this week, doing that very thing landed me a podcast invitation, a guest expert for my upcoming class, and a great networking meeting with someone who serves the…Keep Reading
Break-through TechniquesThis past Friday, I had a meeting with a successful business coach who is something of a model and mentor to me. I'll call her June. June wanted to meet with me to discuss a new high-ticket offer she's developing to get my feedback on everything from her preliminary messaging to her program components to pricing. I'll be honest, this program is expensive! It's a deep-pocket investment, but I really like how June is planning to mitigate risk and overcome the natural inclination of many to shut…Keep Reading
Holy Hack, BatmanHas anyone ever asked you, "So, what's your superpower?" Ugh. Someone asked me that last week, and I realized how much I really hate that question. Firstly, it implies that there's only one thing we each excel at, which, no, I don't buy that. Even comic book superheroes have multiple powers. Superman is bulletproof, has x-ray and heat vision, and can fly. Secondly, as a way to get to know someone, it's pretty lame and lazy. I can't remember any time when someone has told me their superpower,…Keep Reading
Hi Reader, A few weekends ago, I had a truly awful and thoroughly frustrating experience with Verizon Fios through their live chat customer support. I spent over an hour typing messages back and forth with their rep only to wind up back where I started our conversation. I'll be honest, I'd love to blame the rep, but I really can't. This is a failure of the organization that employs him. He only has the resources and tools they make available to him, and clearly, these were inadequate for the…Keep Reading
The other week I spent the afternoon binge-watching the HBO Now show "Julia" with my mom. It was actually the second time watching for me and mom's first. In one of the episodes, Julia's editor Judith Jones meets with her most prestigious client, a young John Updike, fresh off the success of his National Book Award-winning debut novel "Rabbit Run." Judith is giving Updike some sage insight into how he might improve his follow-up effort, "Rabbit Redux." Updike looks at her with amazement on…Keep Reading
I recently saw my nephew, who'll be 10 soon, and offered to teach him how to dive this summer. Between my freshman and sophomore years of college, I was a day camp counselor for a troop of 8-year-old kids, many of whom I taught to swim or dive during our time together. I love swimming and really enjoy helping kids overcome their fears and learn what I believe are necessary life skills in the water. But, honestly, that moment when they get it, and they get that they are actually doing it—it's…Keep Reading
Last week, I shared some Break-through Techniques for pricing and market research. This week, I was reminded of a technique I've been using for the past few years that has also been a game-changer for me. If you guessed sliding into people's DMs on Zoom, LinkedIn, and other meeting and professional platforms, you are correct. Just this week, doing that very thing landed me a podcast invitation, a guest expert for my upcoming class, and a great networking meeting with someone who serves the…Keep Reading
This past Friday, I had a meeting with a successful business coach who is something of a model and mentor to me. I'll call her June. June wanted to meet with me to discuss a new high-ticket offer she's developing to get my feedback on everything from her preliminary messaging to her program components to pricing. I'll be honest, this program is expensive! It's a deep-pocket investment, but I really like how June is planning to mitigate risk and overcome the natural inclination of many to shut…Keep Reading
Has anyone ever asked you, "So, what's your superpower?" Ugh. Someone asked me that last week, and I realized how much I really hate that question. Firstly, it implies that there's only one thing we each excel at, which, no, I don't buy that. Even comic book superheroes have multiple powers. Superman is bulletproof, has x-ray and heat vision, and can fly. Secondly, as a way to get to know someone, it's pretty lame and lazy. I can't remember any time when someone has told me their superpower,…Keep Reading