An “elevator pitch” is so called because you’re supposed to be able to summarize your pitch so quickly that you can effectively get it across in an elevator ride. The idea here is if you’re ever lucky enough to trap Richard Branson in an elevator for three minutes, you can pitch him on your killer idea and get him to … Read More
How to Create a Great Elevator Pitch
How to Listen and Build Deeper Connections with People
Listening is the currency of rapport, and the window into trust, connection and mutual engagement. The quality of our conversations, our relationships, and our reputations all hinge on how well we can do this one simple activity.
in Networking
The Secret to Starting Meetings off in Your Favor
Let’s say you have an in-person meeting coming up with someone you don’t know too well yet. It might be a planning session, a sales call, an informational interview, a negotiation, or just a friendly lunch. Whatever the context, you want the other person to understand who you are and why you’re meeting — and ultimately take you seriously from … Read More
in Art of Business, Productivity
How to Talk about Yourself Without Sounding like an Asshole
The most powerful stories are the ones we tell other people about ourselves. These stories can be opportunities for emotional connection, venues for healthy self-promotion, or beginnings of new relationships. They can also be vehicles to impart wisdom, moments to entertain at a dinner party, or ways to ace a job interview. As we teach on day one of our … Read More
in Art of Business, Networking
Kevin Kermes | Bridge the Direct Experience Gap (Episode 418)
It’s never too late to shed a lousy job description. Learn to bridge the direct experience gap and stop enduring work you hate. “It’s painful to learn new stuff, [but] I learned how to surf and snowboard at 40!” -Kevin Kermes The Cheat Sheet: Why it’s critical to translate your skills (and the #1 way people fail when trying). How … Read More
in Business, Connecting, Deal Making & Negotiations, Networking, Podcast
Cole Hatter | Survive and Thrive (Episode 416)
Tragedy is not a choice; learning how to thrive in its aftermath is. “When you get thrown out of a car going 80, you usually leave a little bit of skin on the pavement.” -Cole Hatter The Cheat Sheet: How can you ensure that tragedy creates rather than conquers? You don’t have to give up the dream life to help others … Read More
in Entrepreneurship, Finding Your Purpose, Podcast, Podcasts
Marsha Shandur: Saying Yes to Networking
“Networking is a long-term relationship, not a one-night stand.” -Marsha Shandur Networking. The word alone probably conjures up some unpleasant associations. Probably a smarmy guy forcing his presence on you, insinuating himself into your conversation, thrusting a business card into your hand as he suggests, with a false smile, that you “do lunch.” Yuck. Networking shouldn’t be anything like that, … Read More
in Networking
5 Nontraditional Secrets of Killer Networking
We’ve been talking a lot here on the blog about networking in business and life (a word, as you guys know, that I’m not crazy about — but more on that in a moment). Marsha Shandur, a recent guest on the podcast, taught us how to reframe the dreaded networking event and break out of small-talk hell, while Yoni Dina … Read More
in Networking
Want to Build Your Network? First, Build Yourself
Networking. Putting aside the fact that the word makes me cringe — there’s just something smarmy and disingenuous about “working” to build genuine rapport — we all know that building a network is absolutely essential to being successful. I get it. I’ve definitely found that the “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” principle holds true in most … Read More
in Entrepreneurship, Networking
How to Leave a Job on Good Terms
Everyone has pondered the question of how to leave a job, but the more important question is how to leave a job on good terms. As a man, your relationship with your career might be even more passionate and intense than anything you’ve ever had with a woman. If it’s not, it’s probably the most important thing in your life … Read More
in Empowerment, Networking, Self Mastery