Last week I mentioned the classic Seinfeld episode, The Opposite. George’s interaction with Jerry and Elaine highlighted a paradox when it comes to influence and persuasion: instinctive approaches often backfire. In that post I shared three common mistakes — along with counterintuitive, science-backed approaches to help you ethically and more effectively influence people. I promised […]
Are you a Seinfeld fan? If so, you’ll likely remember The Opposite, one of the most iconic episodes of the series. In it, George Costanza decides that every instinct he’s ever had has been wrong. With nothing to lose, on the encouragement of Jerry and Elaine, he decides to start doing the opposite of his […]
Welcome to 2025! The older I get, the faster time seems to fly by. It’s like going down a slide because feels like time accelerates. I enjoy the start of the new year because it feels like fresh possibilities. I know, January 1st is really no different than any other day but there are days […]
The following is a chapter from Influence PEOPLE: Powerful Everyday Opportunities to Persuade that are Lasting and Ethical. This chapter is particularly appropriate just before New Year’s Eve. I hope it helps you get 2025 off to a great start. PAVE the Way for New Year’s Resolutions If you’re like many people, then you make New […]
Each year around Christmas I share a variation of this post. Enjoy and Merry Christmas! Santa Claus — The Greatest Salesman Who Ever Lived Why do I believe Santa is the ultimate salesman? To start, he has a couple of success stories most of us can’t compete with. First, he’s successfully run the same family […]
Across much of the world, it’s the holiday season and for many people the biggest holiday of them all is Christmas. Some celebrate Christmas as the season of joy and peace. For others, it’s the season of love. For most it’s the celebration of the birth of Jesus. A huge part of the modern celebration […]
The Original Story: Reverse Psychology and the Bathing Suit Early on in my blog, I wrote a piece called “Reverse Psychology and the Vacation Bathing Suit” and people found it to be quite funny. In fact, when I tell the story during training classes I always get lots of laughs. Many years ago, I tricked […]
I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful Thanksgiving. If you’re a go-getter, you may already be getting ready to celebrate another holiday – Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, or Festivus 😊 – so it’s a good bet you’ll be exchanging gifts with friends and family. I’m sure you want those important people in your […]
Why Does Black Friday Make Us Crazy? Black Friday—the unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season is days away. You’ve probably seen the videos: doors flung open as shoppers rush in, some even jostling for position like big time wrestlers. Why do otherwise “rational” people brave the chaos, endure early morning alarms (4 am), and […]
Let’s get right to the point: Don’t ask to pick my brain. Hire me. If you’re a consultant, coach, or in any field where advice is your product, you’ve probably heard requests like “Can I pick your brain?” or “Can we hop on a quick call? I’d love your thoughts.” It sounds innocent, even flattering, […]
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