What is the Power of Pitching?

We pitch new ideas to our colleagues We pitch innovative solutions to our customers We pitch expansion and growth to investors And we pitch responsibility to our teenagers… Pitching is how we start the process of opening other people’s minds to new and different ideas. And it's an important first...

Hiding in your Comfort Zone?

Are you Hiding in your Comfort Zone this Summer?   It’s summertime. That means it’s time for us to do some unusual things; things that we don’t normally do. But lately I have realised how much of my life I’ve spent hiding. Hiding in the familiar places, routines, tasks and...

A Pitch is Not What you Think

Most entrepreneurs think that pitching is something you do in an elevator or to win a competition. While these are indeed 2 types of pitches, there is a lot more to this. Pitching is how you first get people interested in your product, service or new idea. Think of Pitching as a...

The Only Way an Entrepreneur can Fail

As an entrepreneur, there is really only one way to fail. But before I tell you how, let me define what I think an entrepreneur is. My definition: an entrepreneur is someone who has identified a problem (a big problem) and like a pit-bull who bites and locks its jaw,...

The Voice of Compassion

My best friend’s wife died recently. Suddenly. Nothing can explain a tragedy like this. But in the midst of bottomless grief and sorrow, I learned something important about voice. No words sufficed. Nothing I or anyone could say really mattered. Not in a situation like this. My words didn't even...

The Best (free) Gift You Can Ever Give

For me, Christmas is about giving; giving gifts to express appreciation and gratitude to the people in our lives we care about the most. While millions are racing around, shopping for that last-minute perfect present, don’t forget the best gift of all. This holiday season, give your loved ones something...

To Pitch an Idea, first you must Connect

One of the biggest reasons why so many pitches fail is that we fail to CONNECT with our listeners. Connection is where it all starts. Connect, and it’s easier to get people to buy-into your ideas. Fail to connect, and it’s an uphill battle all the way. So here are...

How the Voice of Emma González Saved me

I saw the news and I felt numb. Yet another cruel shooting in my home country of America... in sunny Florida even. Yet another senseless slaughter of innocent children. And what followed was just as disgusting. Instant denial and deflection from spineless right-wing politicians. I'd lost hope. Maybe there is...

Your Voice is an Emotional Stethoscope

Words on a page can convey meaning. But words that are spoken can move hearts. Your voice belongs to both your body and your mind and it is shaped by your internal experiences. It is influenced by your emotions and feelings. Your voice was formed based on your own childhood experiences...

As soon as you speak, you will instantly be judged

With first impressions, your voice is more important than you may realise. It takes less than 1 second for people to judge your personality. Yes, less than 1 second. That’s the time it takes to say the word “Hello”. There was a famous line in the movie Jerry Maguire. Renée...