People want to feel that they can trust you, and the quickest way you can build that trust is through storytelling.

In addition, people are yearning for a real connection.

Understanding this is an opportunity for you and a chance to empower people through your personal and business #stories.

👉 Talk ...

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SUMMARY: In this episode, Mike Kramer and Matt Zaun talk about how business leaders can implement simple strategies that will lead to significant growth.

MIKE KRAMER BIO: Mike is the founder of ManageHub, which provides mid-market and smaller organizations leadership and coaching services....

I learned how to drive in my parent’s minivan while in high school. Let me tell you, I was not excited to be driving that Dodge Caravan every day during my senior year. 

You should have heard all the names I was called.

My Dad said, “take the kids' bullying and turn it into an opportunity.”

I took out...

☕️  The corporate culture at Starbucks was formed from an inspirational story that Howard Schultz continually shared early on in his career.

He would often tell team members of his significant financial struggles growing up and how challenging it was for him.

These stories empowered the company to d...

I remember my Dad telling me that when I was growing up because I was reading a lot of newspapers and magazines.

His point was to read more material (like novels and non-fiction), where the author put more time and energy into writing.

Social media is even lower-level writing than newspapers.

You may g...

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SUMMARY: In this episode, Chanel Cook and Matt Zaun talk about how business leaders can give back through nonprofit work.

CHANEL COOK BIO: Chanel is the Public Affairs Officer at the Erie VA Medical Center.  In addition, she is an Adjunct Instructor at Mercyhurst University, where she spec...

One of my mentors shared something with me that fundamentally changed my life. Took a while for me to truly grasp the magnitude of these words, but here they are...

“𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.”

👆 Read that again.

No wonder you're so stressed.

In business, we often place unrealistic exp...

Years ago, I had a boss that was a genius.

I asked him one day why his writing didn't reflect his IQ.     👇

“John, why do you use simple words in your emails and newsletters?  Don't you want to impress people with your knowledge?”

“Matt, some people use complex words to sound smart, I write on a 4th-gr...

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PODCAST SUMMARY: In this episode, Erik Wolf and Matt Zaun talk about the disconnect between C-suite, sales, and marketing and what can be done to change that.

ERIK WOLF BIO: Erik is the founder and CEO of estound, which is an award-winning fractional marketing department for mid-size co...

I’ve given 379 talks. This is something I wish I would have known years ago...
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...how to warm up a room.

Your talk begins long before you open your mouth.

Talking to a room of 50 people or less? If you have time, shake every hand in the room before you begin your presentation.

Speaking at a c...

Don’t focus on company core values, at least the words of those values; focus on your company core stories that exemplify your core values!

Prove to me the values you say you have.  Storytelling paints the picture. 

Share more stories!

Are you on track to hit your goals for 2023? If so, congrats, keep up the outstanding work!  If not, why?  Have you kept the same habits?

In one of my favorite books, The Power of Habit, the author, Charles Duhigg, says, “Habits exist so we can get the rewards we want.”

According to Duhigg, habits ha...

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PODCAST EPISODE MENTIONED: Stories of Leadership.

SUMMARY: In this episode, Terence Farrell and Matt Zaun talk about how you can get involved politically.

TERENCE FARRELL BIO: Terence served as a Chester County Commissioner for 12 years, and before that, he was the Recorder of Deeds for...

🐘 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?

That’s what Bob Parsons did in 2011.

He killed it, caught it on video, and then tweeted about it. 

He got tons of hate mail for it, and this is what he said, “When the only argument critics have is to ridicule me, that’s when I get ...

Instead of trying to manipulate people, I challenge you to inspire those around you instead!

Here are some thoughts to help you motivate others to buy into your ideas:
 
1. Honesty is the best policy. You do NOT need to make-up situations and lie to #communicate persuasively. By being authentic and re...

We often hear that it’s wise to be a “good listener,” which is sound advice, but why do we talk so much about the importance of listening?

Why don’t we talk about the importance of being a “great watcher?”

Communication is 80% body language.

If we learn how to watch an individual’s body language corr...

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SUMMARY: In this episode, Linda Goldstein and Matt Zaun talk about Linda’s time as Mayor of Clayton, MO, and what she learned about getting things done through collaboration.

LINDA GOLDSTEIN BIO: Linda is the Founder and CEO of Linda Goldstein Consulting; she is the former Mayor of Clayton...

One of my Grandmothers used to tell me, ”when I tell you to jump, you ask how high! When I tell you to do something, you do it, period!” She forced me to listen to her out of FEAR!

My other Grandmother, on the other hand, would tell me why she wanted me to do certain things.

She showed me how much sh...