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I've heard some people say... Jan 06, 2025

”I treat the janitor like I treat the CEO,” and that's noble, but sometimes, these same people will completely destroy themselves with criticism. 

So, though they value the lives of others, they don't consider their own life.
 
You treat everyone else with dignity and respect - why do you treat yours...

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"There was no light at the end of the tunnel..." Jan 03, 2025

“There was no light at the end of the tunnel. We were losing clients. We were losing people. The stress? I can actually still taste the stress. If you want to get emotional, there on that one, I can literally taste the iron and the blood as I’m biting the inside of my cheeks because it was palpable....

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”𝗪𝗵𝘆, 𝘄𝗵𝘆, 𝘄𝗵𝘆...” Jan 02, 2025

She taught me the secret to losing weight! 

You can do this too! 👇

Three years ago, I hired  Aly Di as my fitness coach. Not only did she ask me why I wanted to lose weight, but she also asked me to go five levels deep. 

𝟏. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?

I’ll have more energy.

𝟐. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐧...

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It's been a wild ride so far this year. Dec 31, 2024

I've worked my guts out for my clients. More miles flown and driven than I’d care to admit. 👇 

I've decided to take a couple of weeks off the road to spend time with my family. My travel schedule will pick back up very soon. 

In the meantime, check out some cool spots I’ve spoken in…

-Boise, Idaho
-To...

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A couple of years ago, I set a goal... Dec 28, 2024

...to visit every Presidential museum in the United States. Each visit is a journey through history, uncovering fascinating stories of triumphs and tribulations. 

So far, I've been to:

-George Washington
-Thomas Jefferson
-James Buchanan
-Abraham Lincoln
-Rutherford B. Hayes
-Woodrow Wilson
-Warren G. Har...

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From Surviving to Thriving! | Stories With Traction Podcast Dec 27, 2024

 

SHOW NOTES:

SUMMARY: In this episode, Chris Schalleur and Matt Zaun discuss a powerful struggle/victory story and what companies can do to protect themselves regarding cyber security.

CHRIS SCHALLEUR: Chris is the CEO of Christo IT Services.

CHRISTO IT SERVICES: Founded in 1999 to provide th...

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As the year is coming to a close, I’m celebrating 3 incredible years of podcasting with Stories With Traction! 🎙️ Dec 27, 2024

I'm grateful for all my amazing guests who’ve been a part of this journey.

THANK YOU!

Here are some of the standout episodes this year...

🔹 The Climb with  Eric Curtis 
🔹 Write a Book?! with  Amy Lynch 
🔹 Flip the Script with  Lyndsay Dowd
🔹 Make Sales Magical with  Craig Andrews
🔹 How to be a TEDx Speak...

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"There's 15 people in this house, and you're the only one who has to make trouble!" Dec 26, 2024

Yes, I did go to the iconic Home Alone house! I had a speaking engagement nearby, so how could I pass up the chance to visit Kevin McCallister's legendary abode? 

Let's talk numbers because this film didn't just capture our hearts; it conquered the box office, too. Home Alone grossed a whopping $28...

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Blown away by this... Dec 23, 2024

Recently, I was coaching an executive on how to tell his story for an upcoming conference that he was going to be speaking at.

I was impressed with this individual’s passion for helping the less fortunate. 

I wondered if he was raised in poverty and felt a sense of duty to give back, but that was not ...

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Real Stories, Real Impact: Lessons from a Vomit-Drenched Suit Dec 22, 2024

It's good to have a plan until your kid throws up all over you. I was dressed in my best suit, ready for an important meeting, and then... disaster struck in the most unexpected and, frankly, gross way. This isn't a hypothetical scenario; it's how one of the most pivotal days of my career began.

...
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Ready for your LinkedIn 2024 highlights card? Dec 22, 2024

HOW IT WORKS…

After sharing your profile URL and email, it will research your impact, audience, and unique voice from this year. You’ll receive an email with a shareable card.

Here are some of my other highlights…from Alaska to Florida and everywhere in between; I showed leaders (through my workshop...

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“Simple” does NOT mean “easy.” Dec 22, 2024

I’ve been in business for 17 years — and honestly, it feels surreal to say that out loud. 

Looking back on my journey, I’ve noticed a pattern where I've had my best months. 

It wasn’t luck. It wasn’t a "magic strategy." It came down to one thing: Simple Habits.

But let me be clear: “Simple” does NOT me...

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121 years ago, Wilbur and Orville Wright flew... Dec 22, 2024

...the first successful powered airplane in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. 

The Wright brothers spent four years researching and developing to pull off this historic moment. 

For years, Wilbur and Orville were labeled “cranks” and “fools” for even trying to create an airplane. 

Well, I'm very thankful t...

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Last strategic storytelling workshops of 2024! Dec 16, 2024

…and you probably guessed it, I’m flying back to… 
.
.
.
TEXAS! 🤠


In fact, my travel calendar this year started and will now end with Texas. 

This time, I’ll be going to San Antonio. 

My goal for the audience: massive change. 

If they utilize the concepts shared, they will:

-boost their sales
-enhance their...

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5 Storytelling tips I know now that I wish I would have known 5 years ago... Dec 16, 2024

1️⃣ Building a Story System: Treat storytelling like a financial investment. Just as you build a bank account for stability, create a "Storybank" to accumulate and refine your stories for future use. It's all about strategic storytelling!

2️⃣ Repetition and Practice: Practice makes perfect, right? ...

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Information Crisis | Stories With Traction Podcast Dec 13, 2024

 

SUMMARY: In this episode, Julia Soplop and Matt Zaun discuss Julia’s book, Information Crisis.

JULIA SOPLOP: Julia is an award-winning author of four books: Information Crisis: How a Better Understanding of Science Can Help Us Face the Greatest Problems of Our Time, Equus Rising: How the Horse S...

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How to Know if Your Story Is Working Dec 12, 2024

So, you’re ready to dive into the world of storytelling—awesome! You’ve crafted some great stories that reflect your brand, but here’s the big question: how do you know if your stories are working? Are they resonating with your audience? Are they helping you achieve your goals?

That’s where socia...

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😼 𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙨? Dec 11, 2024

I don't, but I've found that C.A.T. is a powerful acronym for posting content on LinkedIn. Here's the concept...

C - Connect
A - Appreciate
T - Trust

Whenever you post something on LinkedIn, ask yourself...

Will my network connect with this?

Will they appreciate this?

Will it help me build trust wi...

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A mouse was placed at the top of a jar filled with grain. 👇 Dec 10, 2024

Overjoyed by the abundance of food, it no longer needed to search for sustenance. It could happily live its life, munching away.

But after a few days of grain-filled bliss, the mouse reached the bottom of the jar. Suddenly, reality hit hard: it was trapped. 

No more grains. No way out. 

Now, the mous...

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I had a boss several years ago tell our department... Dec 10, 2024

“If you're early, you're on time; if you're on time, you're late, and if you're late, you're an abomination.”

Then he had children. 🤣

His perspective changed real quick.

The archaic 9-5 clock-in, clock-out idea is not good business.

When I led a team, I told my staff, “I don't care what time you start w...

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I’m a huge failure. Dec 10, 2024

It took me 200+ talks before I felt comfortable speaking.

It took me 100+ articles before I felt comfortable writing.

It took me 50+ podcast episodes before I felt comfortable podcasting.

Want to feel more comfortable? 

Find excellent people like  John H. Wilson, PhD,  Vicky Russell, and  Amy Lynch, w...

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The gamification of embarrassment… Dec 06, 2024

…has been my secret weapon for 10 years. 

Alright, hear me out...

This might sound a little weird, but I made a game out of embarrassing myself. Yep, you read that right—on purpose.

Here’s the thing: If you want to be a phenomenal communicator, you know it takes practice. 

But what if you could speed up...

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December 5th, 1901, Walt Disney was born on the second floor of this house. Dec 05, 2024

Walt was the 4th child of Elias and Flora Disney. 

Elias was the carpenter, and Flora was the architect of their home. 

It cost Walt Disney’s parents $800 to build. 

Talk about humble beginnings?! 

You never know where the next great titan of industry will come from.

Happy Birthday Walt Disney! Thanks ...

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Several years ago, I went to a bachelor party at the Borgata in Atlantic City. Dec 04, 2024

Everyone in our group sat down at the Blackjack table.

One of my friends, who was playing Blackjack for the first time, won a ton of money.

While getting up from the table, the gentleman next to me said, “that's the worst thing that could happen to a rookie gambler.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Now ...

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