10 Tips To Write Well From David Oglivy.

David Oglivy was an accomplished advertising executive who has often been called "The Father of Advertising.In 1962, Time called him "the most sought-after wizard in today's advertising industry." He was known for a career of expanding the bounds of both creativity and morality. In 1982, David Ogilvy sent these tips within an internal memo to all agency employees, titled “How to Write”:

The better you write, the higher you go in Ogilvy & Mather. People who think well, write well. Woolly minded people write woolly memos, woolly letters and woolly speeches. Good writing is not a natural gift. You have to learn to write well. Here are 10 hints:

1. Read the Roman-Raphaelson book on writing. Read it three times.
2. Write the way you talk. Naturally.
3. Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs.
4. Never use jargon words like reconceptualize, demassification, attitudinally, judgmentally. They are hallmarks of a pretentious ass.
5. Never write more than two pages on any subject.
6. Check your quotations.
7. Never send a letter or a memo on the day you write it. Read it aloud the next morning—and then edit it.
8. If it is something important, get a colleague to improve it.
9. Before you send your letter or your memo, make sure it is crystal clear what you want the recipient to do.
10. If you want ACTION, don’t write. Go and tell the guy what you want.

David

Okay - some of the items he refers to are a bit outdated — memo/letter, 'the guy' — but there are some true gems here. Take them to heart and abide by them.

Deliver Life-Changing Presentations Every Time.

Some people love to give presentations. Some people hate it. Most people fall somewhere in between these two points on the presentation spectrum.

What do want to most from your presentation? A decision? Enthusiasm for a idea? A sale? A way to present bad numbers so they look good?

It could be a myriad of things — but all great presentations have a few critical areas where they excel — Purpose, Resonance, Enthusiasm, Experience, Narrative. Let's look at each one and how it impacts your presentation:

Purpose

I can't tell you how many presentations I've been to where two minute into the presenter speaking, I'm already lost. They've given me no semblance of what they will be covering and some basic waypoints to gauge where we are in the presentation.

How to fix: One of your first slides should cover a brief summary of what you will be speaking about and what you expect from the presentation. Something as simple as: "Today, I will be covering why we should begin to move all of our executives onto iPads. I'm going to cover the current state, impact, and desired state of our mobile systems." It's that easy.

Resonance

You are not reading out test scores — you're trying to sway your audience to feel for your position. So empathy and communication play large parts in how you give and relate your presentation to your audience. One definition of resonance is 'a quality of evoking a response'. Your job is to feel for your audience — understand how they are absorbing the information you're presenting.

How to fix: Keep scanning the audience — watch body language — see if they are engaged or distracted or puzzled. You'll know. If they are checking out — get them involved — ask questions of the audience. Ask for their opinion and get them to raise their hands. Also, move around — engage all parts of your audience — get down to their level.

Enthusiasm

Here's a little secret: All presentations are 90% Broadway. They're performances. Why? The more your audience is emotionally engaged in your presentation, the more likely they are to like it, take away key information, and tell others about it. If you just stand there and recite slides, they're going to check out, miss key information, and tell everyone you stunk.

How to fix: You are an evangelist of information. Live and breathe your info — get them excited about it too! Smile, raise and lower the tonality of your voice, and move your hands to make points. If you aren't excited about what you're speaking about, who will be?

Experience

You have to know your stuff. Many speakers get up and immediately venture down unchartered territory. When one errant question arises, they sudden fall silent or stumble with an answer. You have to know your topic cold.

How to fix: Keep your presentation on point — less is more. Stick to your topic and hammer all points of it — be prepared — anticipate most of the questions that will be asked. If you don't know something — say it: "Wow, that's a good question. I don't know, but I can find out. Let's talk after the presentation." It's that easy.

Narrative

Just spilling out facts will not help you with the other four areas. You have to relate stories - people LOVE stories.

How to fix: Tell stories. I usually incorporate at least 1-2 stories during a presentation. Make sure they stay on topic, are interesting or funny, and can be told in less than two minutes. Pick a situation in your career, someone who made a positive impact on you, or an item you found in your research.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. If you’d like more information about how I deliver powerful presentations - Let’s talk. I’ve worked with thousands of executives and find this is a perfect way to start a coaching relationship — call or email me to schedule a complimentary session.

Your 360 Degree Assessment Stinks.

There . . . I've said it. When I googled '360 degree assessment', I received over 2,500,000 results (in 0.23 seconds - I love Google!). Even if 50%-75% are not really what we're talking about today, we're still in the ballpark of 625,000 results. So there's a LOT of 360 degree assessments out there.

So we're on the same page, a 360 degree assessment is: a tool to gather feedback from all around an employee. "360" refers to the 360 degrees in a circle, with an individual figuratively in the center of the circle. Feedback is provided by subordinates, peers, and supervisors. It also includes a self-assessment and, in some cases, feedback from external sources such as customers and suppliers or other interested stakeholders.

It's a powerful tool and used frequently when coaches are initiating coaching with executives. It gives us a better picture of what's going on in the battlefield.

The funny thing is . . . most assessments are terrible. Why?

• They've been around for a long time. Anything with a long half-life in business tends to get bigger, more complex.
• They've been institutionalized. When they become standardized, the wrong people start to make them boring and over-reaching.
• They've become a business. There are companies who do this for organizations. It's their job to make it 'important' (and big).

I've seen 160-200 question assessments. How would you like to fill out one of these for your colleagues? What would happen around question 50? I know we all would begin to get punchy and start to quickly check off answers near the middle of the range (not to severely impact the reviewee).

This is what I do — I schedule a 10 minute call with each interviewee and ask three questions (let's say about Susan, their co-worker:

• What are Susan's strengths?
• What are Susan's weaknesses?
• Anything else you'd like to add?

I use 'strengths and weaknesses' rather than what do they do wrong or right. I find it allows the reviewee to open up about the person and talk about them as a member of their team. First you get emotions, then I probe for more factual items. I'll say, "Give me an example."

The best part?  I get straightforward answers and use no more than 10 minutes of their time. Just as we start . . . it's over.

I then take all the information and summarize it into two buckets ('Qualities that are well developed' and 'Qualities that need attention') and try to mix it together so the client doesn't immediately recognize who said it. It's better they focus on what is being said and not who.

Every time, when I show the documents to the person who has hired me, the results are always spot on. 

Try it! You might like it.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. If you'd like more information about how I deliver a 360 degree assessment - Let’s talk. I’ve worked with thousands of executives and find this is a perfect way to start a coaching relationship — call or email me to schedule a complimentary session.

The Happy Secret To Better Work.

Shawn Achor - this man can present:

Six Things Successful People Do Differently.

Everyone is looking for that one magic pill to take and instantly become successful. Here are some realities:

• It's hard. You're going to have to work at it.
• It's fleeting. Never, never, never give up. Stick with it.
• It's capricious. You have to be in the right place at the right time with the right people.

How does one get successful? You need to work at it — every day.

I've found six inter-related behaviors of highly successful clients I've tracked in my 11 years coaching:

1. They Self-Motivate

Get out there and make things happen. Most people expect their boss, their job, or their colleagues to somehow get them motivated (directly or indirectly) so they can perform their duties.

Successful people have an internal engine that revs them up in the morning and keeps them energized all day long. Or they leverage external motivators on a regular basis to keep them at a peak performing state.

Check Out: Five Ways To Make Your Commute Bearable

2. They Push Until It Hurts

Most (if not all) of us procrastinate in one form or another. We put things off, we extend deadlines, we miss delivery dates.

Successful people get things done, on time. They push themselves, their staff, and everyone around them to ensure agreed upon dates are met. Sometime it hurts, sometimes they work late, but in the end, the pushing delivers results.

Check Out: How To Eliminate Procrastination

3. They Partner & Connect

We tend to work with the same people and cocoon within our company. It's safe, it's easy, and it doesn't over-extend our comfort zone into meeting new people. Hey, it's worked so far, so what do you have to lose? A lot.

Successful people regularly extend themselves inside their company and outside into the marketplace. They reach out to connected individuals and influential executives to build solid relationships.

Check Out: Why Networking Is Dead - Part One & Why Networking Is Dead - Part Two

4. They Track

You go on your merry way each day getting your work done, taking on new projects and tasks, and never really step back and look at the big picture.

Successful people are not only working in their job, but they are also working on it — they step back and assess their progress regularly. They track themselves against their peers and clearly know what needs to be done to accelerate and excel.

Check Out: What Have You Done So Far?

5. They Relax

Business is cyclical — so is your career. It has it ups and downs — unfortunately, many people get too stressed out when things go wrong or not as planned. They then take it out on themselves and everyone around them.

Successful people take adversity in stride — they understand the peaks and valleys of the marketplace and office. Instead of devolving down into a funk, they use this opportunity to step back, reflect, and start anew.

Check Out: How To Be More Effective On The Job

6. They Are Positive & Confident

There are so many people in corporate and those who own their own businesses who wander through the day with a negative weight on their shoulders. In addition, they ensure everyone knows about it.

Successful people usually have a glass half-full point of view. They are the energizers, the brainstormers, and the people who hit the ground running every morning of every day. In addition, they project confidence (or at least try to) — they believe in their ability to make things happen, enact change and inspire people. Here's a secret —  they also have a lack of confidence — so they fake it (we all do).

Check Out: How To Be A Confident Executive & Be Like Jack LaLanne

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. Successful isn't hard — it just takes planning. You and I can work on it together so you instantly get what I’m talking about - Let’s talk. I’ve worked with thousands of people who wanted to take assertive steps in this area — call or email me to schedule a complimentary session.

How To Inspire People.

"They don't buy WHAT you do. They buy WHY you do it." From close friend and colleague Craig Flaherty at Redniss & Mead, here's a spot from the Ted Conference in Puget Sound, WA on how to inspire people:

The Secret For Presentation Success Every Time.

I've sat through them all. The status report - the droning - the hot meeting room - the dark, comfy chair presentations. Slide after slide after slide.  Shoot me now.

I've given thousands of keynotes, workshops, seminars and sales presentations. I know what works and what doesn't. I know what keeps my audience lively and what puts them to sleep.

In the end, there's ONE clearcut rule almost every presenter forgets when they deliver their presentation.

The shorter the better.

That's it. But it's a lot harder to do in real life. So here's how I do it:

Step 1. Map out your presentation. What do you want to talk about, what do you want to convey, what decisions/next steps do you want to leave with?

Step 2. Kill as many bullets as you can. Kill them all if you have to. Bullets communicate to your audience you're lazy. You end up giving them lists, not convey a cogent message. Stick to one thought or piece of information per slide.

Step 3. When you finish the initial run through of slides, try to edit them by 50%. I know it's hard. But if you attack your slides with the vigor of an attendee to your presentation, you'll appreciate brevity.

Let me give you an example — I just presented a 7-minute sales presentation to my 45-member sales team the other day. Not one hour, 30 minutes, or 15 minutes . . . 7 minutes. And they gave me 10 minutes to present! I encapsulated EXACTLY what I wanted to say, what areas I wanted to focus on in 2012, and what I wanted them to do for me.

And it worked perfectly. So next time you have to give a presentation — The shorter the better.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. Big presentation coming up? You and I can work on it together so you instantly get what I'm talking about - Let’s talk. I’ve worked with thousands of people who wanted to take assertive steps in this area — call or email me to schedule a complimentary session.

How To Never Make A Mistake At Work.

It could be a momentary lapse of interpersonal communication.It could be a critical number transposed in a key document. It could be a missed appointment due to a misunderstanding.

We all make mistakes. Some are small (and maybe no one notices) and some are huge (we call those fiascos!). But in the end, we all make mistakes.

Often. That's right . . . OFTEN. We go left instead of right. We mention something we shouldn't mention. We say something to a client that is taken the wrong way. You, I, and everyone else in the world makes mistakes.

Why? Because of three reasons:

1. We are careless for a second. We let our guard down, we forget what we are doing, who we are talking to. We get caught off-guard and someone or something picks it up.
2. We are not fully prepared or informed. This happens often in business. We think we know what we need to know and make a decision. Or, more frequently, management hasn't given us all the requisite information, we make a decision, and it's wrong based upon info that we were not privy to.
3. We take educated and calculated risks. This is the BIG KAHUNA. We might not be playing it safe - we are out there on the burning edge of development or decision-making, we have to choose one way or the other - and we get singed.

I understand those who fail with #1. We're human. We can't be on guard all the time - you would need some heavy duty medication to do that.

And I also understand those who fail with #2. It isn't your fault - you were missing key information.

But I commend all who fail with #3. You need to take risks - that's the ONLY way you will take huge leaps in your career and business. It's the only way upper management will recognize you as a mover and shaker. You are no longer a cog in the machine, you are a LINCHPIN.

Oh yes . . . the title of this piece is how to never make a mistake at work. Here's the secret:

The first time you slip up, the first time you make a mistake . . . it's not really a mistake. It's a LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

You did it. And you'll never do it again. You've learned and now move on.

If you do it again - then it's a real mistake. And if you do THAT often, you better start looking for another job.

So make sure you NEVER make a mistake.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. You might need a coach - Let’s talk. I’ve worked with thousands of people who wanted to take assertive steps in this area — call or email me to schedule a complimentary session.

YOU Are The Real Problem At Work.

I was having a chat with my good friend Margo Meeker and we hit upon a reality that clearly crosses both our vocations (Therapist/Life Coach & Executive/Business Coach).

Most business problems in one way or another come from personal problems.

Let me begin by saying that this doesn't mean if your company's stock drops it is directly related to your fights with your spouse . . . . then again . . . . .

But there are many corollaries with many business issues/problems/obstacles and certain limitations that are personal. Here are some examples:

• The majority of business issues usually begin with bad communication. Why? If there is an issue or blow-up, it's usually bad or anemic communication channels that impact people's feelings and self-esteem. Monitor your feelings.
• Micro-managing bosses are extremely overbearing. Why? They focus more on your responsibilities and performance than their own deliverables. Why? They have trust issues that usually stem from past relationships. Build better 'trust' bridges with your boss.
• Peers that undercut you during a critical presentation or meeting shunts you into damage control. Why? They see everyone as a threat and instead of dealing with it internally, they lash out. Talk to them and find out what's really bothering them.
• Executives that lie, steal, and cheat. Why? They never built a strong moral code in their life and have consistently seen that their abberant behavior succeeds (in the short run) and pays handsome dividends in money and power (until they get caught). If you work for them, leave. If they work for you, fire them. If you work with them, rat them out (just kidding there folks).

Think of a situation or person that is causing you angst . . . odds are that they have one or more personal issues directing their behavior. The best way to ameliorate the issue? Try to figure out the personal problem impacting the business problem and nicely deliver solutions to (or at least try to understand) the real cause of the situation. You will be surprised how fast they disappear.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. You might need a coach - Let’s talk. I’ve worked with thousands of people who wanted to take assertive steps in this area — call or email me to schedule a complimentary session.

Is Your Career Going Up? Or Down?

This week was chock full of incredible conversations with clients, colleagues, partners and prospects! All had wonderful ideas and goals. Kudos! One of the topics that I discussed with many of them was my theory that our world is changing.

It's not a new idea - everyone knows that the world is changing. It changes everyday. You have two choices:

RIDE THE ROLLERCOASTER OR DRIVE YOUR LIFE!

What will you choose? Let's look at each one:

RIDE THE ROLLERCOASTER

• It's easy. Someone else does all the work. You get to put your feet up and enjoy the ride.
• Someone else makes all the decisions for you. Some might not be beneficial to you.
• When you start to feel insecure about the direction you're taking, there is nothing you can do. Someone else is in control.
• When things start to go south and you definitely do not like the position you're in, tough beans.
• When the world around you starts to radically change - you can't do much - you're still on the ride.
• When you see all of your friends and colleagues move to better situations - you realize you don't know how to stop the ride.
• When processes, systems, whole ecosystems fail and fall around you - THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO.

This is happening right now in Publishing. Newspapers. Bookstores. Music Stores. Video Stores. Finance. IT. Travel. And many, many other fields . . .

Rollercoasters never really go anywhere. They go up and down, left and right, but at the end of the ride, you are right back where you started. Do you want your job to be like that? Your career? Your life? I don't think so. Let's look at an alternative:

DRIVE YOUR LIFE

• It's scary. There is no map. You chart your course.
• It has its peaks and valleys. You are energized when things are good and enervated when things are bad. But you can change the game.
• If you see other systems, people, processes change, you can assess what's happening and make modifications to your journey.
• You make all of your decisions. You probably get input to help you weigh each alternative, but in the end, it's up to you.
• You want to go left? Go left. You want to go right? Go right. You are in control at all times.
• You decide who you want to work with, who you don't want to work with, where you want to go, what you want to do - no one else. That may be energizing or scary.
• You are your own safety net. You catch yourself when you fall (or fail). But you pick yourself up and start again. It's a learning experience. Not a failure.

So . . . who do you want to be today? Start making THE DECISION. Your job, career, and life depend on it.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. Getting tired of that rollercoaster? Let’s talk. I’ve worked with thousands of people who wanted to take assertive steps in their career — call or email me to schedule a complimentary session.

How To Be A Confident Executive.

The definition of CONFIDENCE is — Belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities, self-confidence, self-reliance, assurance, certitude. Does this sound right to you?

Or do you understand confidence in your life to its secondary definition — Presumption or impudence?

When I talk with clients, I find there are varying degrees of confidence - total confidence, situational confidence, interpersonal interaction confidence, or no confidence whatsoever. My job as a coach is to help build and fashion my client's confidence level to suit their needs and to help them excel at whatever they do.

Let me give you an example: When we discuss the state of their career, I try to cut-to-the-chase and ask one question: Is your career Growing or Shrinking? I tend to be quite severe when asking questions like this (I don't believe in a flat career - only growing or shrinking). What do I get? Immediate and honest answers that allow us to look at the symptoms and diagnose immediate actions.

Those Actions are patterned around a very famous 'organizing' principle that comes directly from a colleague of mine - Matt Baier. When it comes to Organizing (your office, house, life), you have three choices: Act, File, or Toss. Pick up a piece of paper . . . Act on it, File it, or Toss it. It's that simple.

Now back to confidence. A confident executive is a person who clearly lives in the Act, File, Toss arena. In every interaction or decision, they either Act on it, File it away for later assessment/action, or Toss it away and stop focusing on it. They don't worry about it. They don't obsess on what the other person might think. They Act, File or Toss. They 'de-emotionalize' it.

An Example: A peer of yours 'challenges' you with a pointed (and irrelevant) question during your presentation to your team. Let's disregard that that is a shitty thing to do (it happens all the time) - but you have to respond. Let's look at how this confidence model works:

1. Act - Answer the question as efficiently as possible. Short, sweet and to the point. Move on quickly.
2. File - Delve into the question - qualify it, have them expand on it - and let them know that you will take it offline after the meeting due to length of the answer.
3. Toss - Acknowledge it and immediately move it to a "parking lot" sheet on the wall to discuss later if their is time (and you will never get to it).

Other confident attendees will immediately understand what you are doing and they will pat you on the back for handling the colleague. You are not being a jerk - you are eliminating all emotion and focusing on a number of present issues: the meeting has to end on time, you have a lot of info to present, the question asked is not relavant, and you have to take charge of the situation.

The next time you are put in a position that will test your confidence, take out all the emotion and make a decision - Act, File, Toss.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. Want to build up your confidence a bit? Let’s talk. I’ve worked with thousands of people who wanted to take assertive steps in their career — call or email me to schedule a complimentary session.

Why Lunches Are Good For Your Career.

Today's Thursday!Rush to work — get in — check your email — check your voicemail — and run off to your status meetings.

WORK. WORK. WORK. WORK. WORK.

Next thing you know, it's 6 PM and you're wondering where the day went.

I want you to make a change today. Take just one of the 10-12 hours spent at work and GO TO LUNCH.

Not at your desk. Not in your cafeteria. Not with anyone you currently work with.

Have lunch with someone new. Someone that energizes you. Someone that will get you to think out of the box. Someone that might get you to consider making a bold career move.

WHY? Because it's good for your CAREER. Meeting new and interesting people: Gets your mental energy moving. Grows your professional network. Allows you to search for future talent (so you don't have to work with those pesky people in HR). Allows potential management to look at you as possible future talent (that's always good to have under your belt).

And frankly, your work won't suffer one iota.

You need to do this more often. Why not the present?

Call that one person right now and make that lunch date. Do it. You'll thank me.

MLK's "The Fierce Urgency Of Now."

"We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism."- Martin Luther King, Jr.

I still get chills listening to MLK's speech. It's powerful. 

This line always gets me . . . the fierce urgency of now. What does it mean? What does it mean to you?

You might say, "There's no time like the present." or "Strike while the iron's hot.". But they're too weak in my opinion.

What would happen if you lived your life in the fierce urgency of now? No procrastination. No dabbling. No prevarication. Make it happen.Make it happen NOW.

It's time for you to make a decision in your life or your career or your relationships. What do you want to change? What do you want to make better?

Take hold and embrace The Fierce Urgency of NOW and apply it to your life. You might surprise yourself.

Hate Your Job? Start Your Own Business.

I know — it's scary. But here are the facts: 1. There's never been a better time to start a business. Corporate life is uncertain and with technology and the market's ever-increasing needs, you have to get out there. I know it's not the best economy — but many successful businesses were started in a downturn.

2. Start slowly. Do it on the side. Build up clients and then make your break. Small steps lead to big gains.

3. Pick your area and then meet people in that field. How is it? Up? Down? Do they like it? What don't they like? Be an information vacuum — learn about the industry, business, and all the small machinations.

4. Many businesses today don't need a lot of capital to start. Years ago, you needed a storefront, loans, etc. Today, all you might need is a website, a business card, and a lot of chutzpah!

5. Just do it. A lot of people out there HATE their job and wish they were more in control of their life and career. HERE'S YOUR CHANCE. Every year, corporate positions are drying up, bosses are becoming bi-polar, and you are at the whim of the balance sheet. Make a move before they do.

Many of my clients have made the move successfully from a corporate position to running their own business. And guess what? They LOVE it.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. Are you interested in starting a business? Let’s talk. I've worked with people from all over the world who wanted to take aggressive steps in their career — call me to schedule a complimentary session.

Make 2012 The Best Year EVER.

This is my daily 'mantra'. It's comprised of many quotes taken from famous people and around the web (it's not original, but it's powerful). Wake up in the morning and say this to yourself:

Today I will do what others won't, so tomorrow I will accomplish what others can't.

Successful people get ahead during the time that other people waste.

I don't waste time, for time is what life is comprised of.

To live is the rarest thing in the world, and I'm gonna live fully until I die.

At Noon, say this to yourself when things get hard and you get discouraged:

Don't quit.

Put up with adversity now to set the stage of my future life as a champion.

I have to increase my will, my fortitude, my enthusiasm, and my energy to move forward.

Welcome the fight, for the struggle itself will not only teach me new things, it will push me to do better.

Right before you go to bed, say this to yourself to fuel your body and mind for the day ahead:

I moved my life, my career and my relationships forward today.

I did this, and this, and this, and this . . .

I am one step closer to my goals (even though we sometimes have to do the '2 steps forward, 1 step back' dance).

I have a roof over my head, I am not hungry, I am healthy. And I have myself and the wonderful people around me to thank for this.

Feel free to use my 'mantra' or come up with your own for 2012. Trust me — you will MOVE MOUNTAINS.

Get Ahead & Have Fun At The Same Time.

I coached a client this morning and got them focused and targeted. I thought I'd share it with you: I call it ENERGETIC ENTHUSIASM.

Let's say you have a strict deadline to deliver — 30 days to complete your task. So you have to get off your butt and get it done.

FACT: Dig deep into your well and pull out the energy to get things done quickly. But you also have to couple it with a deep sense of true enthusiasm to ensure you don't run out of steam halfway through.

The bad news: It's hard to start.

It's like a lawn mower in the back of your shed — you need to use it, but you haven't pulled the cord for years. It might take 5-10 minutes of pulling, sweating, and swearing — but when it's complete — it's running and you are off cutting grass.

The good news: It's easy to maintain. Once you start the enthusiasm engine, the energy just flows from all of your pores. Ideas flow, people are caught up in the maelstrom, and you just keep going, going, going.

The only caveat: Stay away from energy vampires. They are (in no real order):

• Gossipy colleagues and friends
• The piles of paper, to-do's, and mess in your office (you need this guy)
• Family members who complain
• The news, media or any resource that thrives on bad news
• Surfing - set a specific time to surf and then get off the web

Energy vampires will sap your energy in no time flat. Keep the enthusiasm cycle moving & keep your energy up. Here are some energy service stations:

• Exercise - do anything, go for a walk, workout, anything - get a personal trainer.
• Music - get your favorite jazzy tunes and listen - iTunes
• Motivational speakers - Zig Ziglar, Anthony Robbins, Gary Vaynerchuk
• Dance/Sing - move your body and your voice, do Zumba!
• Meet energizing people - say hello to everyone and wish them a great day, go here.
• Spiritual - Go to church/temple/mosque/meetinghouse - commune with God
• Meditate - If you don't know how - check John Mercede out
• Brainstorm with your team or boss - go offsite and think outside of the box

Don't just get a little energy — couple it with enthusiasm. Don't just get a little enthusiasm — bind it with energy.

You won't know what hit you, your career and your life.

What do you do to develop your Energetic Enthusiasm?

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It's Not As Bad As You Think.

"Why bother? Everything worthwhile has already been discovered."  I don't think you understand just how wrong you are.

In astronomy, scientists are discovering planets that more and more resemble Earth. In our lifetimes, perhaps, one will be discovered that has evidence of oxygen (which strongly suggests life). Moreover, humanity is still working on ways to explore the inner solar system, and the person who rejuvenates space exploration will die rich and famous.

In biology, genetic engineering is pushing at the limits of what was thought possible. The most difficult diseases might be curable with some applications of genetic engineering: malaria, hemophilia, HIV/AIDS, etc. Moving to biochemistry, there might be ways to solve the energy crisis or slow global warming that are on the verge of being discovered.

In chemistry, there are plenty of molecules we know next to nothing about. One of them might be the secret to curing a painful disease.

In computer science, remarkable progress has been made in past years, but the dominance of the Internet will lead to exciting new paradigms and ideas.

In the environmental sciences, there is the problem of global warming (and also pollution, ozone depletion, peak oil, etc.; all of these problems are related). Do we have solutions yet? We sure as hell need to do something. And yet these are not impossible problems.

Moving to geology: we can't predict earthquakes and volcanoes yet. By monitoring seismic activity, it might be possible. Want to save lots of lives and be famous?

In mathematics there are many unsolved problems, and some of them are quite important to cryptography (i.e. the entire Internet relies on recent discoveries in math). Even seemingly simple questions, such as whether there are an infinite number of twin primes, are still unsolved.

In paleontology we are constantly discovering new fossils that reshape our views of the history of life. With new techniques it can be even easier to visualize the past... and perhaps even clone it.

In physics there are still many, many unanswered questions as to the fate of the universe and the nature of matter. Figure out the Theory of Everything and you'll be more famous than Einstein.

Then there is the question about how to fix the United States of America. It is unquestionably broken - but how should it become effective once again? And doubly so for Europe or Africa or India or China.

In art, there is no distinctive contemporary style and no incredibly famous living artist. You could fix that.

Music suffers from fragmentation, with seemingly more styles than there are artists. In classical, jazz, and rock alike, there is no unifying theme or composer, and lots of discord. Music will enter another great era, but who will be there to lead it?

In writing, there is lots to do. Unhappy that the entire young adult section of the bookstore is paranormal romance? Write something amazing and fix it. Want to be the first American in a long time to win a Nobel in literature? Your future is out there. Not to mention the importance of the Internet on literature, which is not completely known.

Now linguistics. It is predicted that thousands of languages are going to die in your lifetime. Can you save or record one, thus preserving an ancient and unique culture?

In political science, how can the Internet be used to promote - or suppress - democracy? Would true, informed democracy be possible if every citizen had a wireless connection?

Now if you like exploring... there are still plenty of summits not yet reached, and the vast majority of the ocean has not been mapped. The deepest point of the ocean might not even be known to man yet. You could fix that. And there are still many, many unexplored caves, too, just in case that isn't enough.

In archaeology, there are still plenty of new discoveries coming in. Do some fieldwork in the right place and you'll chance across a new Amazonian city. Theories of the past are being rapidly changed.

There is so much opportunity out there in the world. Sometimes, I think it could not be more exciting than to live today.

Here's Steve Jobs to back me up (46 seconds):

Information gleaned from tick_tock_clock at Reddit.

It's Time We Value People Over Profits.

I'm talking about fairness.I'm talking about focusing on the real engine of our economy, the people. Let me explain:

Most corporations are (consciously or unconsciously) structured this way:

1. TOP -- Investors -- Money -- Products/Customers -- People -- BOTTOM In other words, attract growing investors, they give us money, we then can make good products, get customers, and then pay our people.

I envision another way to run an organization:

2. TOP -- People -- Products/Customers -- Money -- Investors -- BOTTOM Focus on nurturing, growing and motivating your people, who then make great products, attracting an increasing customer base -- which then delivers growing revenue, and ultimately attracts investors.

If you work at a company who focuses totally on targets and pleasing Wall Street rather than delivering great products at a good price, you work for #1. If your executive team is preoccupied with share price, news on the street, and terms like EBITDA, you work for #1. (By the way, the 'targets' they invent every year? It's a GUESS. A shell game. And guess who loses?)

If they are constantly cutting people, salaries, benefits, and other things which drive the engine of a #2 organization, you work for a #1 company.

Your management team is probably compensated with HUGE bonuses if they hit or exceed your Wall Street targets. Salary is one thing, the bonuses are the GRAVY. That's why they LOVE the #1 strategy.

It's easier (for them) to run a company where they can (temporarily) affect the targets, profits, and direction of an organization - and hence - get the payday. It's much harder to marshall the troops, invent and deliver great products, entice the customers, and deliver the money — that's MUCH harder to do. So they pick #1. Again and again.

Startups and smaller companies always have to go with #2. They start with great people, invent great products, attract loyal customers and deliver growing revenue. It's only when organizations get too big, too disjointed and too fat & lazy when those #1 company leaders swoop down and take over.

How do you stop this? It's easy.

Figure out who are those companies who truly value their people over profits.

• Start buying their products.
• Start investing in their stock.
• Start telling other people about them.

It's companies like Zappos (pictured), SAS, Wegmans, Whole Foods, and Costco. And there are MANY others.

Take a hard look at your organization. Stop whining about how shitty work is if you work for a #1 company.

Face it, you will always be at the BOTTOM. Go find a #2 company today.

Catch Rich on the GardenFork Podcast!

Eric Rochow is a very peculiar man. Peculiar in a way that he's just like me. He loves a lot of really cool things. Eric has one of the most listened to and watched podcasts on iTunes, called GardenFork TV. I ran into it one day while browsing the main list of famous podcasts. GardenFork is an eclectic mix of cooking, DIY gardening, and whatever cool stuff Eric thinks might be fun to share with people.

And his personality is perfect for the podcast medium. He's a great interviewer, knowledgable about a million different things, and a genuinely nice person. I listen to ALL of his podcasts on my commute to my office each day and on the weekends, my family and I watch his video podcasts.

I reached out to him a few weeks ago with a short letter* inviting him to breakfast since his weekly commute (to his weekend home in CT) takes him smack dab past my town of Oxford, CT. Next thing I know, Eric invites me on the air to coach him!

So without further ado — here's my full interview with Eric. Enjoy!

*Did you catch that readers? A simple email invitation opens doors. Yes it happens in real life.

10 Gifts For YOU.

As my holiday gift to you, here are my most read & requested posts from 2011:(it's funny - most of them have steps, tips, or ways)

Set Your 2012 Goals In Two Steps It's December 2011. Many people are scrambling to get their end of the year targets complete. How do you guarantee a great 2012?

5 Tips On How To Treat New Employees Whew! After a phlanx of interviewees and resumes, late nights, early mornings and lost lunches, you've just hired that new team member. Now make sure your new hire is happy, engaged, enthusiastic, and motivated.

Four Powerful Questions To Ask Yourself This Season Most people use New Year's Eve (and Day) to plan forward for what might be in store for 2012. And that's a good thing. During the holidays, I try to look back at what happened over the past 12 months and ask myself a few simple questions.

Top 10 Powerful Pieces Of Advice To Be Successful As a coach, I run into many great pieces of advice from books, clients, workshops, seminars, and instructors. Here is a powerful cross-section of great advice I've used in business and life.

Top 5 Regrets of the Dying I've just finished one of the most powerful books I've read this year. It's by a wonderful woman named Bronnie Ware,and it focuses in on the actual voiced regrets of people she encountered when they were dying. Powerful stuff!

The One Secret To Look More Confident There are hundreds of books out there. Thousands of speakers. And they all talk about confidence. But it's really easy. Here's the secret.

5 Mistakes You Make With Business Cards They bring me business and success everyday. That's why they are ALWAYS in my left pocket. But most people either don't have them (shame on you) or if they do - have terrible designs. Here are some mistakes people make with business cards.

Top 5 Regrets of Struggling Businesses This post is for all business owners - In my 10+ years of coaching around the world, I've seen it happen to many successful businesses. Most people get it, but there are a few who take their eye off the prize and let their house of cards tumble to the ground.

3 Ideas To Bring A Bit More Sanity To Your Life I was sitting in church this Sunday and we had a simple prayer. One part really stood out for me.

How One Powerful Poem Can Change Your Life I love Rudyard Kipling's "If". It's a magnificent poem - it doesn't get too maudlin, but it does have its highs (it's been voted Britain's favorite poem).

Get set for an unbelievable new year. It's almost 2012! - Rich