Here, I'll go first... 

I grew up close to Route 1. Since I was a kid, I told myself that one day, I'd drive all the way to the end of that road. 

For me, it was symbolic...starting and then finishing a journey. 

Well, I got my chance. I was asked to speak at a retreat in the Florida Keys. 

I flew int...

From January - July in 2019, I set up a mock workshop in my house. 

My only audience members were my son and his stuffed bear. 

I'd give my workshop to the two of them for hours every day. 

Thinking to myself, one day, it won't just be to my boy and his bear but to audiences all over the world. 

For 7...

...which is comprised of hundreds of companies, regularly gathers his executives and asks them to share stories. 👇 

Branson said, “telling a story is one of the best ways we have of coming up with new ideas.” 

He has found this practice so powerful that, in the past, he has often invited staff to hi...

...be a “good listener,” which is solid 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 to watch an individual’s body language correctly, we will pick up on what’...

That’s what Bob Parsons did in 2011.

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

He received a lot of hate mail for it, and he said, “When the only argument critics have is to ridicule me, that’s when I get a customer.” 

Today, Bob Parsons has over 20,000,000 GoDaddy customers.

So, t...

Here's what I promise YOU...

👉 YOU will offend people; it's inevitable
👉 Not everyone will relate to what YOU share
👉 YOU will question if you should continue to share your ideas

Here is my encouragement to YOU, do NOT stop posting content just because some people don't like what YOU post.

In the last ...

Here's the brutal truth that I learned...

➡️ None of these posts led to new business
➡️ These posts sucked up way too much of my time
➡️ Some of these posts did not contribute to my mission

Today, I have zero desire to go viral. 

Playing the “likes and engagement” game is a slippery slope. 

Instead of t...

SUMMARY: In this episode, Tressa McLaughlin and Matt Zaun discuss why Tressa is so excited to help her team and clients.

TRESSA MCLAUGHLIN BIO: Tressa is the Co-Owner, President, and CEO of SOLV.

For more info, check out Tressa HERE.

MATT ZAUN BIO: Matt is an award-winning speaker and storyteller who ...

...wonder if posting on LinkedIn every day is overdoing it! 

Do you want to get above the noise or not?! 

If so, focus on consistently sharing your stories, offering value, and building trust with your connections through content. 

Post regularly!

If Amazon spends more money on advertising than most c...

Summer is here, and wow, my calendar from August to December looks like a jigsaw puzzle of flights, workshops, and (hopefully) some sleep. 🛫🧩💤

To keep my sanity, I've decided to step off the travel treadmill for 2 months and actually spend time with my family! (First time since the COVID era ...

...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 real with people, you’re putting yourself in a positio...

On June 29, 2007 (17 years ago), Apple launched the first iPhone.

This caused a generational addiction. 

Millennials 
Gen-Xers
Baby boomers

...all addicted to a device in the palm of their hands. 

The invention ripped people’s attention spans from the frame.

Because of this, people need to tell stories (...

First, I couldn't be more proud of my son! 

This school year, he won the award for Incredible Storyteller.

➡️ My story | 12 years ago, after a disastrous talk, I remember running out to my car, slamming the door, grabbing the steering wheel, and yelling, "THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN!" 

From there, I...

...not only work hard but to play hard too! 

Sometimes we get so caught up in the go, go, go that we forget to slow down and actually enjoy life.

Last week was awesome! I conducted 3 strategic storytelling workshops in the Denver area for some incredible business leaders. (By the way, if you hav...

For the first 4 years of my oldest son’s life, I neglected him. 

I was so focused on my career that I'm sad to say I don't remember much of those early years.

Then it all changed. 

One of my business mentors pointed out that I spent more time focusing on my business plans than I did planning for my c...

SUMMARY: In this episode, Brenda Reynolds and Matt Zaun talk about the 5 Frogs transformational journey and how it can be used to reflect on transitions we’re going through in life.

BRENDA REYNOLDS BIO: Brenda Reynolds is a trusted organization and leadership consultant, executive coach, best-selling...

”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 she cared about me, learning life lessons....

So far, I've been to:

-George Washington 
-Thomas Jefferson
-James Buchanan
-Abraham Lincoln 
-Rutherford B. Hayes
-Warren G. Harding
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Richard Nixon
-Jimmy Carter
-Ronald Reagan
-George H. W. Bush
-George W. Bush 

Each one fascinates me because they're all steep...

All the tossing and turning.
All the stress.
All the fear.

Why? Well…

-He was defeated for Illinois state legislator in 1832.
-He started a business only to see it go under. 
-He lost his run for Congress in 1843 and again in 1848.
-He lost his bid to become a U.S. Senator in 1855.
-He ran for Vice Presid...

We see these corporate giants dominating market share and think, "How can a small business compete?" 🤔 Well, spoiler alert: sometimes we’re just plain 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠!

Here’s the kicker – the way we tell stories has evolved, and boy, do we have a megaphone now! 📢 

Thanks to social media, our messages can reach ...

Ever wonder why creativity feels like trying to catch a firefly with a hula hoop?
 
Well, let's dive into an interview I had with author  Barbara Zerfoss, where she shines a light on how to spark creativity…

1) The Power of Creative Visualization

 Barbara asks business leaders to play a little game...

Ever tried to crack a joke in a meeting and got silence so loud you could hear a pin drop? 

Yeah, me too. 

Pro tip: telling jokes can be incredibly risky in a business setting. 

You don't want to be the office comedian who only hears crickets in response to your punchline.

Instead of risking it all with...

In our quest for comfort and stability, we often overlook the inherent value of adversity.

It's a natural human tendency to shy away from challenges, much like my six-year-old son, who is petrified of "bad guys" in movies. However, adversity is not just an obstacle to be avoided; it's a powerful ...