Pocket Sized Pep Talks

Releasing a book is always a big day, but when "Why People Don’t Believe You" hit the shelves, it felt personal. Too many of us struggle not with what we say, but with being believed when we say it. That struggle chips away at confidence until we find ourselves hiding behind our words instead of truly connecting with them. And once we retreat into doubt, it only gets harder to break free. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll explain why words alone won’t save us, and why the tune behind the words is where the real magic lives. You’ll hear how learning to master your pitch, pace, pauses, and presence can help anyone bring their words to life so people truly will believe them.

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn:Why employees often leave managers—not companies—and how that plays out in today’s workplace.How organizations can train managers to build trust and retain employees more effectively.Whether AI and automation will relieve or intensify the labor shortage.What most leaders underestimate about a shrinking workforce and the long-term impact of demographic shifts.Why perks and pay raises don’t fix turnover without trust between employees and supervisors.The warning signs that managers think they have trust—but don’t.The single most important message Dick would share with a CEO about reducing turnover.A real-world example of a company that cut turnover by changing the way leaders lead.Why there’s still reason for optimism, even with a declining labor pool.To learn more about this guest:Dick Finnegan LinkedIn

As we push through another year, most of us are juggling goals, deadlines, and plenty of to-dos. But what if the most meaningful addition to your plate this year doesn’t cost a cent, and ends up being the most rewarding thing you do? In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll share a lesson from my father, a lifelong Lion, about the kind of giving that goes beyond money. You’ll hear why time, presence, and even the smallest acts of kindness can become the ultimate gift, both for others and for yourself.

Some people still don’t understand the true value of a well-trained salesperson, but when one of the largest banks in the country doesn’t get it, that’s really disappointing. . A slick ad, a bold new café concept, and then a tagline that undercuts the very profession designed to protect customers from costly mistakes does not sit well with me!. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll unpack why Capital One’s “Ready to help you; not sell you” message is more harmful than helpful. You’ll hear why dismissing sales isn’t just a branding misstep; it’s a dangerous misunderstanding of what trusted professionals actually do.

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you’ll learn:A simple but important definition of “agency” and why it matters for individuals and teams.What it looks like to create “a leader in every seat” — and how that changes the way a team operates day to day.Why agency is especially important right now, and whether it’s harder to cultivate in today’s world.How “agency” differs from the more familiar idea of “empowerment.”What organizations truly gain when individuals and teams embrace agency.A look at the 10-step roadmap to unleash agency, including which steps are the toughest to implement — and a quick win to get momentum fast.Real-world examples of how unleashing agency has made a difference in organizations.The very first step to changing organizations, and practical advice for both leaders and team members who want to make an impact.To learn more about this guest:WebsiteKJCG.com 

The humble pawn may be the least valued piece on the chessboard, but it holds the potential to become the most powerful. That’s why I call it the perfect underdog; overlooked, underestimated, and yet capable of surprising everyone with what it can achieve. With the right mix of skill and luck, the pawn transforms from weakest to strongest, and there’s a lesson in that for all of us. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll share how the pawn’s journey mirrors our own, and why you should never underestimate what’s possible when you combine hard work with opportunity.

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn:An explanation for, "strategic imperfection," and how it differs from simply lowering our standards.A concept called the “¾ baked” philosophy, what that means, and how it can be applied in a fast-paced sales environment.How strategic imperfection actually increases agility and confidence in moments where quick pivots are needed.Why Jason encourages people to look forward to failure, despite many people clinging to perfection because they’re afraid of judgment or failure. How he coaches people to move past fear and actually allow for imperfection.How using imperfection can help you to stand out in crowded markets. Some common traps that perfectionists fall into that kill creativity and productivity.One small, practical shift a listener can make today to stop overthinking and start finishing what matters. To learn more about this guest:Website: www.mclennan-design.com LinedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-mclennan-2144953/   

Perfection sounds noble, but it often becomes the single biggest roadblock to achieving our goals. Whether it’s an author rewriting chapters for years or a jobseeker endlessly reworking a résumé, the pursuit of perfection often leads to unfinished work and lost opportunities. Done, as it turns out, really is better than perfect. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll explain why striving for progress beats chasing perfection every time, and how adopting this mindset can help you finish what matters most.

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn:Martha has worked with Ken Blanchard for more than 20 years and discusses the moment when she knew Ken’s story had to be told in full.The One Minute Manager was everywhere when it came out in the early 1980s. Martha discusses why that book became such a phenomenal success.You'll hear a story from the book that moved Martha personally.  (Rob was moved too!) What was different about working with Ken.What it means to “catch people doing things right,” and how can leaders put this into practice today.How Ken experienced deep personal loss and professional rejection, and how this tested his leadership philosophy.To learn more about this guest:https://www.linkedin.com/in/marthaclawrence/www.marthalawrence.com 

A cup of green tea may not seem like much, but it’s a reminder that small, consistent choices add up to big results. Just as we stack healthy habits to improve our well-being, we can stack professional habits to increase our odds of success. The power isn’t in one move alone; it’s in the collection of “percentage plays” we choose over time. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll show you how these percentage plays work not just for health, but for business, communication, and performance because it’s never just one choice that makes the difference, it’s the sum of them.

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn:How this topic and book found this author.What exactly is a High Emotional Bank Account.The importance of self image and how self-image is more important than external validation.What emotional currency is and what role emotional currency plays in how we respond to failure and adversity.How someone can rebuild their emotional bank account after trauma, rejection, or burnout.How Damion's military experience shaped his understanding of leadership and emotional resilience.A beautiful thought for people who feel unseen, or unheard.To learn more about this guest:Email: drdamion.bolton@gmail.comWebsite: drdamion.bolton@gmail.com 

We’ve all had it happen: you write something that feels perfectly harmless, but the other person takes it the wrong way. A few misplaced words, or more accurately, a missing tune can completely change how your message lands. That difference between what we mean and what’s heard can make or break our communication. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll share a personal story that highlights how intent gets lost when the “tune” is missing. You’ll hear why both written and spoken communication need more than just the right words, and what you can do to make sure your message is received the way you intend.

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn:How an engineer does a 180 and becomes a motivational speaker and coach!When Lasada realized “common sense” alone wasn’t enough, and that he needed to create an actual framework.One of Lasada's principles is about putting principles before profits and he'll discuss why.What this looks like for someone trying to balance ambition with integrity today.Another principle he stresses is overcoming invisible barriers. Lasada shares e a specific moment where he confronted one of those barriers, and what shifted for him once you applied this principle.Relationships, whether personal, professional, or shared, are central to his book. Listen as he shares one of the six principles he feels people struggle with most in relationships, and why.How his principles give people a practical way to apply resilience when life or career setbacks hit.If a listener could only remember one of the six principles and start applying it tomorrow, Lasada picks two, (I couldn't stop him with just one), that he would want people to choose. To learn more about this guest:Websitehttps://www.lasadapippen.com/homeFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/LasadaPippenLinkedInwww.linkedin.com/in/lasada-pippen-keynoteCoachinghttps://www.lasadapippen.com/coachingYouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@LasadaPippenInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/lasadapippen/

Self-deprecating humor can be charming in a conversation or a date, but on stage, in front of an audience? It might be doing more harm than good. In this quick, five-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I'll explore why joking about your own skills or value at the start of a presentation doesn’t win over an audience, it undermines their confidence in you. You'll hear why this common tactic backfires, and what to do instead if you want to connect, not deflect.

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn:The definition of “Organizational ReWilding®.” How someone in sales can rewild his or her own approach to become more aligned with how businesses actually evolve.How Matt went from data analytics and later applied the Stages of Growth methodology to dramatically increase his company’s value.The biggest mindset shift Matt went through to move from analysis to action.The seven Stages of Growth that organizations go through. How understanding where a company is in this growth cycle can help a salesperson tailor their message or value proposition more effectively.How this framework helps salespeople position themselves as strategic partners, especially when selling into early-stage companies.An example where a salesperson completely missed the mark because they didn’t understand the stage of the company they were selling to.Two principles from The Start-Up Stage that every salesperson or entrepreneur, regardless of their own company’s size, should absorb and apply right now.To Learn More About This Guest:www.rewildgroup.com 

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk you'll learn:- Why self-belief sets the foundation for being believed by others- How your imperfections can actually build trust, not diminish it- What “tuning” your message with pitch, pace, and pause can do- How to step into the mindset and body language of believability

You'll learn:Why consistency matters more than clever policyWhat not to say when dealing with a disappointed customerHow small failures can lead to big losses in customer trust

Did you hear that? A shiny new Business Model is making the rounds complete with a clever acronym and bold promises of transformation. But before you chase it down, you might want to pump the brakes. In this quick, six-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I’ll unpack the predictable rise and fall of business models, and why most don’t fail because of bad design; they fail because of weak implementation. I’ll also share a model of my own (yes, it even spells something!) to help you protect your investment, build a real cultural shift, and make sure the model you choose actually sticks.

We’re often told to “find the right words” if we want to make an impact. But what if the words aren’t the problem? In this quick, six-minute Pocket Sized Pep Talk, I'll share with you the surprising origin of my book Why People Don’t Believe You. It's a journey that started not in a boardroom, but in a church basement with a group of job seekers. Along the way, he explores a lesson many communicators and creators learn the hard way: that being believable is about how you say something, not just what you say, and that trying to create something “for everyone” usually ends up helping no one.

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn:What inspired Pat to write Obstacles to Opportunity and why now.We all learn lessons on our journeys, and some we learn the hard way.  Pat shares leadership lessons you learned the hard way.Pat's 3Cs Process and how it leads to more decisive action.A byproduct of growth is often chaos.  Pat discusses the first thing a leader should do to prepare, or react to it.One particular leader's story from the book that still sticks with Pat and what can we learn from it.One challenge most leaders underestimate and why it catches them off guard.We all define success our own way.  Pat provides his definition of success  Pat concludes by telling listeners one last thing from this book that we should implement; today!To learn more about this guest:GUEST EMAIL Pat@PatAlacqua.comGUEST WEBSITE:PatAlacqua.comSOCIAL MEDIA:https://www.linkedin.com/in/patalacqua/