Seeing the Big Picture
“To see the big picture, sometimes you must rise above the puzzle!” – Anonymous In our experience, some clients acquire a training seminar and go home happy. But others, a few, go “All In!” and acquire, install, operate, manage and evolve an entire complex winning system. Puzzle Piece or Big Picture? Seminar or System? […]
Cafes, Wolves, and Training
“Lord Ronald said nothing; he flung himself from the room, flung himself upon his horse and galloped madly off in all directions!” Gertrude the Governess, Nonsense Novels 1911, Stephen Leacock, Canadian Economist & Humorist (1869 — 1944) Does Training or Development owe anything to or benefit from a group environment?Not if you define “personal growth” […]
The Big Venue
“You’ve got to know the territory!” The Music Man, Meredith Willson (1902–1984) In a Big Venue, the sheer volume of space becomes a challenge. Stepping up on the riser, out of the dark, into the spotlight, then looking back out into the darkness, you get a humbling sense of your own physical dimensions. […]
Results
Most people speaking in corporate roles are: “Presenting to get through it.” “Presenting to get it over with!” “Presenting to Not Fail!” “Presenting to Check a Box in a Matrix! Few people are “Presenting for Results!®” —J.R. St. John (1952 – 2018), Chairman and Founder, The Fusion Group Define “Results!” Everyone who “stands to speak” […]
“Practice Creates the Master”
“Practice Creates the Master.” — Don Miguel Ruiz At first, you can’t do it at all. Then you summon up your courage. Take a run at it. Make a mess of it. Later, with a new subject, in a new moment, you sally forth! And, though not winning any awards, you emerge with an outcome, […]
Presenting for Results!®
Most People speaking in corporate roles are “Presenting to get through it.” “Presenting to get it over with!” “Presenting to Not Fail!” “Presenting to Check a Box in a Matrix!” Few people are Presenting for Results!® — J. R. St. John (1952 – 2018), Chairman and Founder, The Fusion Group Define “Results!” Everyone who […]
Winners and Losers
“Once I passed the tricky sections, I think I let off the gas pedal a little bit. I just didn’t continue with that aggression all the way to the finish,” the two-time World Cup overall champion said. “That’s where I lost the race. I wasn’t pushing myself as hard as I could have,” she explained, […]
Going Stupid!
“How many times will you repeat your morning routine? Your drive to Work? Your walk into a conference room? Your meetings, reports, e-mails… Is it any wonder that sometimes you “Go a Little Stupid” … and simply float away?” —J. R. StJohn It can’t have escaped your attention that sometimes “People go Stupid.” They seem […]
Getting Great Results!
Two quotes to think about from Jennifer StJohn, Founder of The Fusion Group…
The Stammer
“Whatever you are, try to be a good one!” — William Makepeace Thackeray (1811 – 1863), English Poet & Novelist Bob Newhart (comedy and television legend) once had a challenge from a television network official about the extended length of his comedy show. “Bob, the show is running about two minutes long. If you […]
3 Days! Or A Lifetime?
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man. True Nobility is being superior to your former self.” — Ernest Hemingway “These three days changed my life!” — Participant’s evaluation of Fusion’s “Presenting for Results!®” session Where’s it going? This training? Does it imply anything more than the ability to get through a business […]
Limits on Creativity
“If I had more time, I’d have written you a shorter letter.” – Winston Churchill British Prime Minister, Author (1874 – 1965) “Talk doesn’t cook rice.” – Proverb Here’s a thought: Without limits, creativity is merely uncontrolled daydreaming – imagine a car without brakes… Life – we’re in it together, which imposes all kinds […]
Genius & Taking Pains
“Genius is the infinite capacity for taking pains.” — Thomas Carlyle, Essayist, satirist, historian 1795-1881 “I’ve been working on my career now for five years and I’m pretty much convinced that success is basically a matter of getting up earlier and staying later at the job…” — Anonymous young businessman in Seat 11-B – Flight […]
The Uses of Not
“Thirty spokes share the wheel’s hub. It is the center hole that makes it useful. Shape clay into a pot. Where the pot’s not, is where it’s useful. Cut doors and windows for a room; the space inside makes “room” for you. Therefore, the profit in what is, lies in the use of what is […]
Incremental Improvement
“You can always be a little bit better.” — Drew Brees Former Quarterback, New Orleans Saints Everyone’s nervous about public speaking, at first. It’s not your stock-in-trade. So, it’s not unusual that you find it odd to stand up to speak. There’s that moment when you are introduced — making you feel a little […]
Getting a Win!
“So whatcha gonna do?” —Jim Brown addressing Richard Pryor You’ve got this presentation coming up… How exactly do you propose to turn this assignment into a Win, for yourself, your boss, your colleagues in the department, your company, your client, your community and your kids? Your “Constituents.” Whatcha gonna do? Let’s establish what a “Win” […]
Lost in Confusion
“Never invest in an idea that can’t be explained with a crayon.” —Peter Lynch Legendary American Investment Professional (1944 — ) “Be Sincere. Be Brief! Be seated!” —John Hancock American Founding Father (1737—1793) Why such awful, numerous, incomprehensible presentations? There may be a misconception operating out there: “That things can actually be totally and completely […]
Plan Wrap-up, Bridge to Managing Your Sales Practice and Building Relationships
The Sales & Counselor SellingSM Series “You’ve got to keep stretching your skills and abilities to meet tomorrow’s requirements!” —Jennifer R. StJohn In the Sales & Counselor Selling series we’ve covered the basics of the Probe, Present, Plan® process. Your Counselor SellingSM journey started with Probing — getting to the core of what your prospect […]
Then What?
The Sales & Counselor SellingSM Series “A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting!” — Henry David Thoreau American Philosopher, Author of Walden “Then what happens?” It’s enough to drive […]
Presenting Wrap-up, Bridge to Planning
The Sales & Counselor SellingSM Series “It’s all about the audience. What they know — or don’t. What they need. What they think they want. What they are willing to hear. That’s where it starts and ends. You are only in the room as a means to an end — for them!” – Jennifer R. […]
Red or Black?
The Sales & Counselor SellingSM Series A British Officer manned an individual post in Africa. A fellow officer came to join him from London. They meet for dinner, the guest in his road khakis and the officer in dinner jacket and starched white shirt.
Think & Do!
The Sales & Counselor SellingSM Series “I can see that there’s a lot going on here, General, but does it make any sense?” – Dr. Stephen Falken “War Games” What happened? Is this the ultimate outcome of the 60’s rebellion? Following the rules — well that’s a little old fashioned… More like discarding them entirely! Much […]
Small Thing? Big Thing!
The Sales & Counselor SellingSM Series “Sometimes a small thing can become a big thing…” — Jennifer R. StJohn Deep in the throes of a series of finals presentations, we — on the receiving side — had a complex matrix of decision items to consider and we were tuned up pretty seriously, looking for the […]
Too Much Starch?
The Sales & Counselor SellingSM Series “To be free, you must have power. And to gain power, you must have structure.” — James Brown (1933 – 2006) The Godfather of Soul and The Hardest Workin’ Man in Show Business
Self – Important
The Sales & Counselor SellingSM Series “The ‘I’ does not see itself. Among the Great Teachings, there is a surprising consensus that ‘self,’ is that which looks… the witness. So, not the ‘Self-Image,’ not the false construct of Ego, not the Voice in the Head Keeping Score, but that quiet, insistent presence. It doesn’t speak, […]
One Discipline
The Sales & Counselor SellingSM Series “Once you start thinking this way, it’s really hard to switch it off.” — Fusion Participant What if there was a discipline, simple really, that would direct our communication practice? It has three parts; 1. Establish an Objective 2. Analyze the Audience 3. Organize your Remarks Call it a […]
Engaged Receptivity
The Sales & Counselor SellingSM Series “So, I’m sitting in this little room in the old 493 Union Hall, and I’m just playing away, and there’s this old guy standing there. He’s listening to me, probably as long as he could take it, and he said, ‘Hey kid, do you know what’s the most important […]
The Whole of It!
The Sales & Counselor SellingSM Series “So, when you are listening to somebody, completely, attentively, then you are listening not only to the words, but also to the feeling of what is being conveyed, to the whole of it, not part of it.” —Jiddu Krishnamurti As Counselor Salespeople, we often fall victim to “holding our […]
Shedding Light on Laughter
“Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh, and the greatness which does not bow before children.” — Khalil Gibran “There are two kinds of light — the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures.” — James Thurber Laughter is the greatest indicator of upset resolved, occlusion […]
“The Best Way Out is Always Through”
– Robert Frost American Poet (1874 -1963) We could resolve the deficit – if we had a bitcoin for every time someone has said, “I just want to get to the meat, the good stuff – the sweet spot – the payoff! I want to get busy and write this presentation!” So, with unbridled enthusiasm, they […]
“It’s Not About You; It’s About Them!”
– Jennifer R. StJohn, Speaker, Consultant, Businesswoman Founder of The Fusion Group (1952 – 2018) So much discourse these days is about what people think; and what they think we should be thinking. Seemingly everyone with access to a microphone wastes no time in getting right to it. Telling us how things ought to be – […]
About “Improvisation”
Start here with this idea: We often make the mistake of thinking that “improvisation” is just that – totally spontaneous! Look beneath the surface and you find that the speaker, singer, musician or performer doing the improvisation has had long practice with the subject matter, the style, the instrument or the theatrical discipline. They didn’t really […]
Pitch a Conversation
“I went to a presentation once and a conversation broke out!” — With apologies to Professional Hockey Something goes haywire in the mind when you’re invited to “Pitch…” The normal intelligence which drives your business behavior short circuits and you fall back to the basic question: “What am I going to say?” There, on a […]
Why Are You Here…
Seems like we’ve all been to that meeting where much was discussed and very little got accomplished. We may be able to offer some encouragement. Most of us get in trouble in meetings and presentations because we are all trained to view communication as a “one-way” thing (where we say what’s on our mind); or […]
Audience Analysis
“Would you send your car payment to the florist?” Jennifer StJohn speaks about audience analysis.
Right Going Forward!
“A cat who sits on a hot stove top, will never sit on a hot stove top again. And that is well. But she will never sit on a cold one either.” — Mark Twain American Author, Humorist and Philosopher. Yeah, you really messed that up! It was understandable of course. You were young, and aggressive and […]
All Talk
“More than words is all you have to do to make it real. Then you wouldn’t have to say that you love me. ‘Cause I’d already know.” More Than Words — Extreme Despite the omnipresence of cute little screens and the preeminence of video, the go-to method of corporate presentation is still all talk, all […]
The Tie Break
“Well we all have a face that we hide away forever. And we take them out and show ourselves when everyone has gone. Some are satin some are steel. Some are silk and some are leather. They’re the faces of the stranger but we love to try them on.” “The Stranger” – Billy Joel American […]
It’s a Conversation
“I’m having a conversation with my audience, and we’ll both be dead by the time we’re done.” – Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen “The Boss” American Songwriter, Performer, Rock & Roll Star (September 23, 1949 – ) Speeches are a bit more declarative. Plays more dominated by the script. Presentations more work and outcome focused. But […]
Incremental Improvement
“You can always be a little bit better.” — Drew Brees Former Quarterback, New Orleans Saints Everyone’s nervous about public speaking, at first… It’s not your stock-in-trade. So, it’s not unusual that you find it odd to stand up to speak. There’s that moment when you are introduced — making you feel a little bit […]
Archie, Harold & Sam
Archie Bunker was the lead character from the 70’s sitcom, All in the Family. In lengthy discussions with his wife, Edith, he frequently resorted to the epithet, “Get to the Point, Edith!” Wouldn’t it be heaven to have a red flashing light “Get to the Point!” with a switch by every seat in the conference […]
It’s Just Draperies
“When you look good, you feel good Johnny! And you look marvelous!” — Billy Crystal as “Fernando” “When you look good, you feel good. Confidence with what you’re wearing is very important. If you feel good, you will always perform your best without worrying about anything.” — Maria Sharapova
Rite of Passage
“When the light finds you kid, Glow!” —Director’s charge to a young actress Can a Career turn on a single moment in the spotlight? A single presentation? Is it that simple? Well, yes. And five year’s preparation…
Seeing the Big Picture
“To see the big picture, sometimes you must rise above the puzzle!” – Anonymous In our experience, some clients acquire a training seminar and go home happy. But others, a few, go “All In!” and acquire, install, operate, manage and evolve an entire complex winning system.
This Call is Being Recorded
“Let thy speech be better than silence or be silent!” —Dionysius of Halicarnassus Greek historian, rhetorician BC 60 — BC 7 (Flourished during the reign of Caesar Augustus) If you knew that the entirety of your phone conversations were to be recorded, wouldn’t you conduct yourself differently?
We Call it Signature!
“It’s easy! Get the ball through the zone. Avoid the bat! But some guys make it beautiful!” — Rollie Fingers, Baseball Hall of Fame So, this guy throws his leg way up high in the sky. As it comes back down, he transfers the momentum and muscle tension to his core, then the waist turns, then […]
Fragments, Triggers & Practice
(and Presentations) “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot… and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”
Ancora Imparo
“And still I am learning!” – Michelangelo “Learning on the job is essential to judging!” – John Paul Stevens, Associate Justice United States Supreme Court (1920- 2019) “The New” is upon us!
Speech or Presentation
“If you ain’t got no axe, you can’t cut no wood! Gentlemen, you got to use the right tool for the job!” —John Henry Eaton (1790 – 1856) American Politician, Diplomat Today let’s focus on the two different mindsets that you might employ to solve two different communication assignments: the Speech and the Presentation. “What’s […]
An “Art” to Beginning
In the beginning, there was a bad joke. And no one remembers what came after… There’s an awkward, dark moment before a presentation begins – whether in person or virtual… Disaster lurks there. The audience is wondering how to spend the next forty minutes… Not everyone in that vast audience or Zoom call is silent […]
Shovel & Pink Tights
The circus came to town. Dad and I made the trip to see the parade down 4th Avenue. Later that night we saw the Main Event under the Big Top! The Elephants were my favorites — a long line of them. There, sitting atop the leader, at the head of the column, was a girl […]
The Blues, Pattern Recognition and Fusion’s “Ready, Set, Go!®”
“You can get anything you want, at Alice’s Restaurant. You can get anything you want, at Alice’s Restaurant. Walk right in, it’s around the back. Just a half mile from the railroad tracks. You can get anything you want, at Alice’s Restaurant.” – Arlo Guthrie American Songwriter and Singer (1947 – )
Enough Already!
The Sales & Counselor Selling Series “When You’re Done, Stop!” The Presentation isn’t the Point! One can be forgiven for thinking so, given the amount of treasure invested in literature, training, field sales forces, broadcasting, telephone sales forces, marketing teams, creating and distributing presentations. But, still, the presentation is simply a means to an end — […]
Red or Black?
The Sales & Counselor Selling Series A British Officer manned an individual post in Africa. A fellow officer came to join him from London. They meet for dinner, the guest in his road khakis and the officer in dinner jacket and starched white shirt.
Small Thing? Big Thing!
The Sales & Counselor Selling Series “Sometimes a small thing can become a big thing…” – J. R. St.John Deep in the throes of a series of finals presentations, we — on the receiving side — had a complex matrix of decision items to consider and we were tuned up pretty seriously, looking for the […]
Too much starch?
The Sales & Counselor Selling Series “To be free, you must have power. And to gain power, you must have structure.” — James Brown (1933 – 2006) The Godfather of Soul and The Hardest Workin’ Man in Show Business
Self-Important
The Sales & Counselor Selling Series “The ‘I’ does not see itself. Among the Great Teachings, there is a surprising consensus that ‘self,’ is that which looks… the witness. So, not the ‘Self-Image,’ not the false construct of Ego, not the Voice in the Head keeping Score, but that quiet, insistent presence. It doesn’t speak, […]
One Discipline
The Sales & Counselor Selling Series “Once you start thinking this way, it’s really hard to switch it off.” — Fusion Participant What if there was a discipline, simple really, that would direct our communication practice? It has three parts; 1. Establish an Objective 2. Analyze the Audience 3. Organize your Remarks Call it a […]
Probing Wrap-Up, Bridge to Presenting
The Sales & Counselor Selling Series “The challenge isn’t knowing what to say, or sell, but to “withstand the silence” that comes when you ask a thoughtful question.” – Jennifer R. StJohn Speaker, Consultant, Executive Counselor Founder of The Fusion Group (1952 – 2018) During the past months we discussed the Probing process… which starts […]
Shut Up and Sell
The Sales & Counselor Selling Series “You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.” —Naguib Mahfouz Egyptian Author & Nobel Laureate 1911-2006 It’s a battle, or maybe just a disagreement among friends. But there are those who just have to get […]
Interchange
The Sales & Counselor Selling Series “We know how important it is to listen!” — Ad campaign for Sperry Corporation “Everybody is talking at me. I don’t hear a word they’re saying…” — Theme song to “Midnight Cowboy” Lyrics by Harry Nilsson American Singer-Songwriter (1941 – 1994) Ignites – an information service to the financial industry […]
Structured Listening
The Sales & Counselor Selling Series “Listen! Or your tongue will make you deaf.” — Cherokee Proverb It’s a random world! It seems there’s a flood of randomness in the universe just now, with things, feeds, channels, e-mails, tweets, Instagrams, messages, texts, documents and calls coming at you from all sides on all subjects. And […]
How Do You Know It’s Good?
The “Back to Basics” Series “You like it. Your friends like it. Their peer group likes it. The public likes it. Many people buy it. It’s all very subjective. But you want lots of approval and lots of sales.” – Sir Michael Philip “Mick” Jagger English musician, singer-songwriter (1943 – ) Your organization? Your sales […]
How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?
The “Back to Basics” Series He’s cool! He’s hip! He’s with it! He’s a young man with a trumpet case in one hand while the other snaps out the beat as he sashays down the street. Sporting a beret and shades, he’s the embodiment of jazz. Whoa, he stops – comes face to face with […]
A Stronger Message
The “Back to Basics” Series “A crazy person Says one thing, Does another and Believes something else. (Especially in Politics… but that’s another matter…) Sanity (and ethics) are usually described as the alignment of Thought, Word and Deed.” — Jennifer R. StJohn Should text and graphics align with, support, and underscore each other? What about delivery? Should it […]
Getting a Win!
The “Back to Basics” Series “So whatcha gonna do?” Jim Brown addressing Richard Pryor You’ve got this presentation coming up… How exactly do you propose to turn this assignment into a Win, for yourself, your boss, your colleagues in the department, your company, your client, your community and your kids? Your “Constituents.” Whatcha gonna do? […]
Freeing the Angel
The “Back to Basics” Series “I saw an Angel in the Marble, and I carved until I set him Free.” – Michelangelo Buonarotti Florentine Architect, Painter, Sculptor (1475-1564) Speech. Writing. Sculpture. Art. The intention to create an outcome… a result, through or within another person… through the medium of words or marble. (Sometimes words on/in […]
Speech or Presentation
A Tale of Two Minds The “Back to Basics” Series “If you ain’t got no ax, you can’t cut no wood! Gentlemen, you got to use the right tool for the job!” – John Henry Eaton (1790 – 1856) American Politician, Diplomat Today let’s focus on the two different mindsets that you might employ to […]
What’s Your Point?
The “Back to Basics” Series There’s been a lot of “empty gesturing” going on in politics and public life of late. In so many cases, some big ego makes an outrageous statement, or takes a moment on the stage to make a grandiose gesture — which is never followed up with an actual result. This […]
Get Up and Wail!
The “Back to Basics” Series “You’ve got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice! And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail!” —Charles “Charlie” Parker, Jr. August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955 Also known as “Yardbird” and “Bird” American Jazz Saxophonist, Composer Miles […]
Practice Creates the Master
The “Back to Basics” Series “Practice Creates the Master.” — Don Miguel Ruiz At first, you can’t do it at all. Then you summon up your courage. Take a run at it. Make a mess of it. Later, with a new subject, in a new moment, you sally forth! And, though not winning any awards, […]
Spirit (Purpose) Wrap-Up and Bridge to Mastering the Back to Basics Series
“One piece of the puzzle does not make the whole picture; nor does communicating only on one channel. You need all the pieces for someone to get the full picture.” — Lucy Lanzar In this Back to Basics Series, our focus has been on Body, Mind and Spirit as the underlying principles of communication — with […]
Let Your Aim…
The “Back to Basics” Series All world cultures recognize that we have a responsibility to do more than look out for ourselves. The ability to genuinely engage and perhaps influence another human being is truly a gift – which carries grave responsibility – that of service. Reaching for a lofty or even noble purpose demands […]
Presence
The “Back to Basics” Series “You don’t have to Do anything. Just Be with me.” Deanna Troi Star Trek, Next Generation The Schrodinger Equation suggests that the mere observation of a particle physics experiment is sufficient to influence the outcome. What does Schrodinger have to say for us in the business of communication? Ever been […]
Of Course, it’s Acting
The “Back to Basics” Series General Patton: “If we’re not victorious, let no one come back alive!!” Lt. Col. Codman: “You know something General? Sometimes they can’t tell when you’re acting and when you’re not.”
Incomplete
The “Back to Basics” Series “One piece of the puzzle does not make the whole picture; nor does communicating only on one channel. It’s incomplete. You need all the pieces for someone to get the full picture.” — Lucy Lanzar
Walking Your Talk
The “Back to Basics” Series “The neck bone connected to the back bone, The back bone connected to the thigh bone, The thigh bone connected to the knee bone, The knee bone connected to the leg bone, The leg bone connected to the foot bone Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk a-roun’!” Excerpted from “Dem […]
ONE thing!
The “Back to Basics” Series “Body, Mind and Spirit are ONE thing! When you attempt to remove any part, the gestalt is shattered.” — Chungliang Huang There’s something wrong with that speaker over there… She’s well dressed, and articulate… But she looks twisted somehow… There’s nothing actually wrong with her body. The speaking is clear […]
Signature & Visual Aids Wrap-Up,
Bridge to Spirit (Purpose)
The “Back to Basics” Series “A human being is a composite of Body, Mind and Spirit. So is a presentation.” — Jennifer StJohn In this Back to Basics series, our focus is on Body, Mind and Spirit as the underlying principles of communication — with practical applications. During the past several months, we’ve covered the Mind […]
Low & Common? Lofty & Rare!
The “Back to Basics” Series For want of a Nail, a Shoe was lost. For want of a Shoe, a Horse was lost. For want of a Horse, a Rider was lost. For want of a Rider, a Battle was lost. For want of a Battle, a Kingdom was lost. And all for want of […]
If it Needs to be Read, it’s a “Reading Assignment”
The “Back to Basics” Series “The word is about, there’s something evolving, whatever may come, the world keeps revolving. They say the next big thing is here, that the revolution’s near, but to me it seems quite clear that it’s all just a little bit of history repeating.” “History Repeating” Performed by Dame Shirley Veronica […]
Thirty Hours to Art
The “Back to Basics” Series “He who works with his Hands is a Laborer. He who works with his Hands and his Head is a Craftsman. He who works with Hands, Head and Heart is an Artist!” — St. Francis of Assisi In our experience, a lot of business communication is a little restricted. There […]
Magic Carpet Ride
The “Back to Basics” Series “Art is a doorway out of our comfortable mental neighborhood and into someplace totally different… It disrupts our cherished modes of perception, our considerations about color, shape, content and spatial relationships. It takes us where we’ve never been, and to places we cannot actually, physically go. Oh, and it knocks […]
Getting Seen and Getting Remembered
(Surface/Substance) The “Back to Basics” Series “Owning Your Moment in the Light is what Signature is all about.” — Jennifer StJohn There’s so little to see in the public media. So much duplication, repetition. So much descent to the depths of bad taste and “Pop Culture.” Endless dreck — dressed up in different colors. Then, just when […]
The Big Venue
The “Back to Basics” Series “You’ve got to know the territory!” The Music Man Meredith Willson (1902–1984) In a Big Venue, the sheer volume of space becomes a challenge. Stepping up on the riser, out of the dark, into the spotlight, then looking back out into the darkness, you get a humbling sense of your […]
Never in New Clothes
The “Back to Basics” Series “Never compete in new clothes!” —Joan Brown, American Speech Arts Teacher and Distinguished Toastmaster Next time you watch a professional football game, take a close look at the ball. Chances are, it won’t look shiny and new. In fact, it will look old and worn. But don’t let that fool […]
Hitting Your Marks!
The “Back to Basics” Series “Always leave the other guy a place to stand…” —J. E. Morrow American Philosopher and Social Commentator So, where do I stand?” It’s a question asked by every speaker. The answer is twofold: 1. Wherever you choose! (You being The Star and all…) 2. Wherever the light and the technology […]
Hands, Pockets & the Limits of Rules
The “Back to Basics” Series “Hell, there are no rules here, we are trying to accomplish something.” —Thomas Alva Edison American inventor (1847 – 1931) “It is a good idea to obey all the rules when you’re young just so you’ll have the strength to break them when you’re old.” — Mark Twain U.S. humorist, […]
It’s Not Your Job to be Brilliant
We are pleased to share an interview with The Fusion Group’s Vice President, Danielle Bolla, published by finews.asia. In the interview, Danielle discusses being aware of your own communication habits: Are you speaking more than you’re listening? Are you guiding clients to implement your solutions with organized, actionable recommendations? Are they able to re-tell your […]
Facing the Fear
The “Back to Basics” Series Public Speaking! Perennial Winner of the “Top Ten Fears” Poll. Short of leaving the country, or filling a prescription, is there a way to Vanquish this Fear?
“Trading Up” on Received Wisdom
The “Back to Basics” Series “To avoid looking directly at someone, focus on the bridge of their nose. They’ll never know you’re not looking right at them! And, in a full room, never look right at anyone! You’ll just get confused and lose your train of thought. Instead, look at the clock on the back […]
We Call it Signature!
The “Back to Basics” Series “It’s easy! Get the ball through the zone. Avoid the bat! But some guys make it beautiful!” — Rollie Fingers So, this guy throws his leg way up high in the sky. As it comes back down, he transfers the momentum and muscle tension to his core, then the waist […]
Composition Wrap-Up, Bridge to Signature
The “Back to Basics” Series “Going back to the basics strengthens your foundation.” —Anonymous “A human being is a composite of Body, Mind and Spirit. So is a presentation.” — Jennifer StJohn
Imposing Limits
The “Back to Basics” Series “I don’t need time. What I need is a deadline.” Duke Ellington American jazz pianist, Composer Conductor (1899 — 1974) “When will you make an end?” Pope Julius “When it’s finished!” Michaelangelo Excerpted from The Agony and The Ecstasy Ever noticed that writing, drawing, building a presentation, you know, “work” […]
The Circle Game
The “Back to Basics” Series “We’re captive on the carousel of time We can’t return, we can only look Behind from where we came And go ’round and ’round and ’round In the Circle Game.” — “The Circle Game” Joni Mitchell Canadian Singer and Songwriter Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award — 2002 (1943 — ) Think […]
An “Art” to Beginning
The “Back to Basics” Series There’s an awkward, dark moment before a presentation begins… Disaster lurks there. The audience is wondering how to spend the next forty minutes… Not everyone in that vast audience is silent yet… They’re still scattered, still buzzing, shifting, looking around, sizing up the location, their seat, their colleagues, the program. […]
The Number Three
The “Back to Basics” Series “Today’s column is brought to you by the number Three!” — Spoken by Big Bird on “Sesame Street” Children’s Television Workshop It’s odd. And yet, it’s evenly balanced — on three legs. It’s symmetrical, and strangely comforting. It’s ubiquitous and omnipresent. It’s — Three. We’ve been accused of being dogmatic […]
Last Things First!℠
The “Back to Basics” Series “Children, we’re taking the play on the road next week. This week, we pack the set and the costumes. Each of you has your own “tub” to pack. Make sure your character name is on the tub; and pack your entire costume and prop set! Listen very carefully now! The […]
Do Your Homework!
The “Back to Basics” Series “Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I read your book!” * – General George S. Patton, U.S. Army Spoken by George C. Scott, playing the general, in the movie “Patton” In this classic war movie from 1970, General Patton triumphs over his nemesis in part by reading Rommel’s book on tactics, The […]
Then What?
The “Back to Basics” Series “A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting!” — Henry David Thoreau American Philosopher, Author of Walden “Then what happens?” It’s enough to drive a […]
One Discipline
The “Back to Basics” Series “Once you start thinking this way, it’s really hard to switch it off.” — Fusion Participant What if there was a discipline, simple really, that would direct our communication practice? It has three parts; 1. Establish an Objective 2. Analyze the Audience 3. Organize your Remarks Call it a “Preparation […]
The “Back to Basics” Series
“Going back to the basics strengthens your foundation.” —Anonymous “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” —Mahatma Gandhi Over the next several weeks, we will publish the “Back to Basics” series focusing on Body, Mind & Spirit as the underlying principles – with practical application – in […]
Speech or Presentation…
A tale of two minds “We all have the same tools, but some people seem to use them better.” — J. E. Morrow Let’s focus on the two different mindsets that you might employ to solve two different communication assignments: the Speech and the Presentation. “What’s the big deal?” you say, “Speech, Presentation — […]
Pitch a Conversation
“I went to a presentation once and a conversation broke out!” — With apologies to Professional Hockey Something goes haywire in the mind when you’re invited to “Pitch…” The normal intelligence which drives your business behavior short circuits and you fall back to the basic question: “What am I going to say?” There, on a […]
One, Two, Three
“One, Two Three. You got the rhythm show it! You and Me. We can get on, I know it. It’s easy! Like takin’ candy, from a baby…” Len Barry — Leonard Borisoff American Pop Singer & Songwriter 1942 — Much heat has been generated over “Ready, Set, Go!®” In our thirty years, everyone […]
Fun Works!
“If it ain’t fun, it ain’t worth doing!” —J. R. St.John Somewhere in childhood, the campaign to sap every shred of fun out of life begins in earnest: Hallways are not for running or sliding! Hair dryers are for hair! Not for paper towel boat races! Banisters are for safety, not sliding! This is a […]
Then What?
“A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting!” — Henry David Thoreau American Philosopher, Author of Walden “Then what happens?” It’s enough to drive a parent to distraction. As kids, […]
Dress for Dismissal
“The most perfect technique is that which is not noticed.” —Pablo Casals Cellist, Composer, Conductor So maybe you’re a watch nut. (As are many of us…) There’s a world of conversations to be had on the subject of fine timepieces. Knock yourself out! Have fun! Be an insider! Just don’t for a second think that […]
Forgiving Faster
“I concluded a particularly humbling foreign assignment and came home to lick my wounds. The Boss, after a solicitous interval said, ‘Are you going to be laughing about this in 20 years?’ I responded, ‘Well, yes…’ He smiled and said, ‘Why not laugh now?’” —J R StJohn There’s a lot of time wasted in self-flagellation […]
Getting a Win!
“So whatcha gonna do?” Jim Brown addressing Richard Pryor You’ve got this presentation coming up… How exactly do you propose to turn this assignment into a Win, for yourself, your boss, your colleagues in the department, your company, your client, your community and your kids? Your “Constituents.” Whatcha gonna do? Let’s establish what a “Win” […]
Add Nothing
Thirty Spokes share the wheel’s hub. It is the center hole that makes it useful. Put up timber for a room, Where the room isn’t, There’s room for you! Shape clay into a pot. Where the pot’s not is where it’s useful. Therefore, the profit in what is Comes from the use of what is […]
An “Art” to Beginning
In the beginning, there was a bad joke. And no one remembers what came after… There’s an awkward, dark moment before a presentation begins… Disaster lurks there. The audience is wondering how to spend the next forty minutes… Not everyone in that vast audience is silent yet… They’re still scattered, still buzzing, shifting, looking around, […]
Thirty Hours to Art
Thirty Hours to Art “He who works with his Hands is a Laborer. He who works with his Hands and his Head is a Craftsman. He who works with Hands, Head and Heart is an Artist!” — St. Francis of Assisi In our experience, a lot of business communication is a […]
3 Days! Or a Lifetime?
Meditations on Potential Outcomes of “Presenting for Results!®” “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man. True Nobility is being superior to your former self.” — Ernest Hemingway Where’s it going? This training? Does it imply anything more than the ability to get through a business presentation without embarrassment or maybe, sell […]
A Stronger Message
“A crazy person Says one thing, Does another and Believes something else. (Especially in Politics… but that’s another matter…) Sanity (and ethics) are usually described as the alignment of Thought, Word and Deed.” – J. R. StJohn Should text and graphics align with, support, and underscore each other? What about delivery? Should it really be […]
A More Inclusive Model
“I was raised to be charming, not sincere…” – The Handsome Prince, Into the Woods It’s not surprising with the decline in ethical behavior around the world of late, that we find ourselves opting for shorter presentations, and longer periods of materials review. We spend less time listening, looking or engaging with a speaker, and […]
The Unseen Power of Transitions
“And We’re back!” -Johnny Carson American Television Personality and Entertainer Host of “The Tonight Show” for thirty years (1925 – 2005) And we’re back, from a relished break; borrowing Johnny Carson’s standard “back from commercial” phrase. Today’s Subject: Transitions: The Bridges and Road Signs of the Presentation It’s True! You can’t get there from heeah… […]
A Great Excuse! (for a Conversation)
“I went to a Presentation the other day and a Conversation broke out…” (with apologies to Professional Hockey.) Think of a presentation as an “excuse to start a conversation.” As a presenter, you can give people a good excuse — or something else. A Bad Excuse: Transfer …takes the form of a presenter lost […]
The Unseen Power of Transitions
“And We’re back!” -Johnny Carson American Television Personality and Entertainer Host of “The Tonight Show” for thirty years (1925 – 2005) And we’re back, from a relished break; borrowing Johnny Carson’s standard “back from commercial” phrase. Today’s Subject: Transitions: The Bridges and Road Signs of the Presentation It’s True! You can’t get there from heeah… […]
Last Things First!
“Children, we’re taking the play on the road next week. This week, we pack the set and the costumes. Each of you has your own “tub” to pack. Make sure your character name is on the tub, and pack your entire costume and prop set! Listen very carefully now! The first thing you’ll put on […]
The Number Three
“Today’s column is brought to you by the number Three!” -Spoken by Big Bird on “Sesame Street” Children’s Television Workshop It’s odd. And yet, it’s evenly balanced — on three legs. It’s symmetrical, and strangely comforting. It’s ubiquitous and omnipresent. It’s — Three. We’ve been accused of being dogmatic about requiring presentations, meetings and […]
Speech or Presentation
Speech or Presentation…A Tale of Two Minds Part Two of Five of the “What is Fusion?” series (for people who already know about Fusion…) “If you ain’t got no axe, you can’t cut no wood! Gentlemen, you got to use the right tool for the job!” -John Henry Eaton (1790 – 1856) American Politician, Diplomat […]
Learning is also letting go!
While the Editorial Team enjoys a brief summer hiatus, we’re republishing past articles by popular demand… Letting go of Knowledge A Zen master on the road to Edo encountered a man bent nearly double by the size of the bundle of sticks he carried on his back.”Brother,” he said, “perhaps it’s time for you to […]
Seeing the Big Picture
“To see the big picture, sometimes you must rise above the puzzle!” – Anonymous In our experience, some clients acquire a training seminar and go home happy. But others, a few, go “All In!” and acquire, install, operate, manage and evolve an entire complex winning system. Puzzle Piece or Big Picture? Seminar or System? […]
Finding Cornerstones
Editor’s Note: We’re evolving and laying new Cornerstones. Several changes will take effect next week; a new email distributor, expanded recipient list, new format and new masthead. Look for us at the same time next week. If you don’t find us in your inbox, go to http://www.thefusiongroup.com/blogs/ to update your subscription settings. While we’re behind […]
Think & Do!
“I can see that there’s a lot going on here, General, but does it make any sense?” – Dr. Stephen Falken “War Games” What happened? Is this the ultimate outcome of the 60’s rebellion? Following the rules — well that’s a little old fashioned… More like discarding them entirely! Much of what passes for “Pop […]
An Excess of Taste
“Less is More!” -Ludwig Mies van der Rohe German Architect, Artist, Bauhaus Designer (1886 – 1969) “Ability should not become Compulsion!” -Robert Howard Thomas American Philosopher, Author (1932 – ) Before the meeting begins, let’s take stock of your hot presentation: It’s painstakingly organized, sub-structured into 14 chapters. It has 213 tastefully designed PowerPoint […]
Shane, Stagehands & the Power of Black
“He came into our valley that spring, a solitary figure, loping silently down the rutted dirt highway, seemingly at one with the stallion who carried him effortlessly closer to our homestead. As he neared the porch where I sat, savoring the afternoon, his slim figure took on shape and dimension. He paused for a moment […]
Master Class
“The Only difference between a groove and a grave, is the depth.” -Lena Horne American Singer (1917 – 2010) You’re good! You’re in the groove and you know it! You may also sense that your groove is growing deeper. Have you been wondering if it’s time to get out of your comfort zone? This […]
Speech or Presentation
Speech or Presentation….A tale of two minds This is the second in the five part “What is Fusion?” series (for people who already know about Fusion…) Today let’s focus on the two wildly different mindsets that you might employ to solve two different communication assignments: the Speech and the Presentation. “What’s the big deal?” you […]
The Tie Break
“Well we all have a face that we hide away forever. And we take them out and show ourselves when everyone has gone. Some are satin some are steel. Some are silk and some are leather. They’re the faces of the stranger but we love to try them on.” “The Stranger” – Billy Joel […]
The best way out is always through
“The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost American Poet (1874 -1963) We could resolve the deficit – if we had a dollar (and they say there’s no inflation…) for every time someone has said, “I just want to get to the meat, the good stuff – the sweet spot – the payoff! […]
