Your Intended Message

Catch People Doing Things Right: Lessons from Ken Blanchard’s Editor Martha Lawrence

Praise in Public, Criticize in Private

Leadership Lessons with Martha Lawrence

Episode 279 ( Martha is based in San Diego, CA)

In this conversation with Martha Lawrence, we explore:

• how the culture of positivity shaped Ken Blanchard’s leadership philosophy

• why The One Minute Manager changed how organizations lead and communicate

• how to apply “catch people doing things right” both at work and at home

• the fine line between genuine praise and shallow flattery

• what “servant leadership” really means in practice

• how leaders can help team members by asking better questions

• how Martha Lawrence turned trauma into meaningful creative work

• why apologizing and letting go of ego strengthen leadership

• how Ken Blanchard modeled love and humility in leadership

• how positivity and purpose can transform organizations and lives

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About our guest Martha Lawrence:

She's a vertern book editor who has edited hundreds of book including major bestsellers - Feel the Fear and Do it Anyways and The One Minute Enrepreneur.

As the executive editor at Blanchard, she worked with business guru, Ken Blanchard for over two decades.

Learn more about Martha and her new book at https://marthalawrence.com/

Books by Ken Blanchard https://www.kenblanchardbooks.com/

Wow! More resources from Ken Blanchard https://www.blanchard.com/

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Key Lessons from this conversation with Martha Lawerence:

• Positive leadership is rooted in valuing people as much as results.

• The One Minute Manager principles — clear goals, one-minute praising, and one-minute redirects — remain timeless leadership tools.

• Catching people doing things right is more effective than focusing on mistakes.

• Praise in public, criticize in private — simple rule, powerful impact.

• Servant leadership means inverting the hierarchy: leaders serve their teams.

• Leadership is learned behavior; empathy and humility can be practiced.

• The best leaders help others grow by asking, “How can I help you do your job better?”

• Adversity can become the catalyst for purpose and contribution.

• Apologizing well is a leadership strength, not a weakness.

• Real leaders let go of ego — as Ken Blanchard says, ego means “edging good out.”

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What Nature Teaches About Communication: Hugh Coppen

The Power of Listening—Lessons from Elephants and Lions

Elephant Wisdom: Be Still, Listen, and Lead

Episode 278: (Hugh is based in San Fransico)

In this conversation with Hugh Coppen we explore:

• how animals communicate clearly without words

• why listening is a survival skill in nature—and in business

• what elephants and lions can teach us about leadership

• how body language signals intent, trust, and respect

• the importance of belonging and team spirit

• why patience and silence build awareness

• how communication extends across species

• how natural systems model mutual respect and cooperation

• how immersion in wilderness renews perspective and purpose

• the elephant’s message for human beings: listen, think, and be content

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About our guest, Hugh Coppen:

Hugh grew up on his family farm in Zimbabwe where he developed his lifelong passion for wildlife and nature in the African wilderness.

He eagerly spreads his love of nature and lessons from wildlife.

He has severed as CEO of companies in the US, Canada and the UK.

He leads safaris to Zimbabwe to help connect you with nature and the lessons of African wild life. https://tasimba.com/

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Key lessons from this conversation:

• Listening deeply reveals more than speaking.

• Body language is the oldest and most honest form of communication.

• Smell, sound, and stillness carry powerful meaning.

• Awareness depends on observation and patience.

• Trust and belonging are essential survival messages.

• Respect sustains harmony and safety.

• Communication includes shared signals across species.

• Leadership in nature depends on clarity and calm.

• Contentment and self-awareness are signs of true wisdom.

• Happiness is created, not consumed.

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Align Conscious and Subconcsious Intentions: Vince Poscente

Managing Fear and Chaos

The Ant, the Elephant, and the Earthquake

Episode 277 (Vince is based in Dallas, Texas)

In this conversation with Vince Poscente we explore:

• how fear operates in both the conscious and subconscious mind

• why alignment between intention and emotion determines progress

• the meaning behind “there’s no linear way out of chaos”

• how to face personal earthquakes like loss, failure, or crisis

• why breathing is the antidote to panic and paralysis

• how curiosity and letting go create the “third reality” for problem-solving

• the role of outside perspective in breaking self-sabotaging patterns

• how to reframe fear as a source of drive rather than a block

• why connection and community are critical after trauma

• how leaders can model vulnerability and emotional awareness

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About our Guest, Vince Poscente:

Vince is a New York Times best selling author of eight books including his latest, The Earthquake.

He is president of Board Developer providing sound advice for high growth companies.

You can learn more about Vince Poscente and order his latest book at 

www.VincePoscente.com

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Key Lessons from this conversation with Vince Poscente:

• Fear grows when we run away from it and shrinks when we face it directly.

• The conscious mind (the ant) must align with the subconscious (the elephant) to move forward effectively.

• There’s no straight path out of chaos — progress comes through curiosity and releasing control.

• Breathing interrupts the brain’s fear response and helps bypass the amygdala’s freeze-flight-fight loop.

• Fear can be reframed as a motivator rather than an obstacle — make fear your friend.

• Personal earthquakes (crises) expose misalignment between conscious intention and subconscious patterns.

• Healing requires acknowledging pain rather than suppressing it — the “solution loop” starts there.

• Outside perspectives can reveal paths we can’t see on our own.

• Connection and community are essential for long-term recovery — isolation fuels dysfunction.

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Make Your Messages Stick with Brain Glue: James I Bond

Why Logic Doesn’t Sell — and What to Do Instead

Brain Glue: Why Emotion Beats Logic in Business Communication

Episode 276 (James is bases in LA, California)

In this Conversation we Explore:

• Why the emotional brain makes 90% of our decisions

• How rhyme, rhythm, and repetition make ideas memorable

• The secret power of metaphors and analogies in persuasion

• What “Brain Glue” is and how to apply it in marketing and leadership

• Why logic kills sales and how to reframe your message emotionally

• The psychology behind successful brand names and slogans

• How humor and passion build trust and connection

• Real-world examples of how a name change or focus can skyrocket sales

• The behavioral triggers that make communication stick

• How leaders can craft messages that resonate, not evaporate

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About our guest, James I Bond:

James Bond is one of America's leading behavioral management and marketing specialists. He is author of the bestselling book, BRAIN GLUE - How Selling Becomes Much Easier by Making Your Ideas "Sticky"

Learn more about his book at www.BrainGlue.com

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Key Learning points from this conversation with James I Bond:

1. Emotion Drives Decisions

   • Over 90% of decision-making (including financial) is emotional, not logical.

   • Logical arguments alone often fail to persuade because they bypass the emotional brain.

2. Rhyme and Rhythm Create Memory Hooks

   • Poetry, rhyme, and sound patterns activate emotional centers and make ideas unforgettable.

3. Use Visual or Sensory Context

   • Statistics and facts gain impact when tied to vivid imagery or sensory descriptions.

4. Emotional Selling Beats Logical Selling

   • Stories, metaphors, and analogies trigger empathy and attention more effectively than logic.

5. Metaphor and Analogy Are Powerful Tools

   • “Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus” turned a modest book into a worldwide bestseller.

6. Alliteration Amplifies Appeal

   • Repeated sounds in names and slogans (Coca-Cola, PayPal, Best Buy) make them easier to recall.

7. Humor Builds Connection

   • Laughter produces oxytocin, increasing openness and receptivity to your message.

8. Renaming Can Transform Success

   • The right name reframes perception — “Sell More” became “Brain Glue,” and sales soared.

9. Focus Creates Breakthrough Growth

   • Simplify your market and message — one clear focus can multiply results.

10. Passion Is Contagious

• Selling is the transference of passion; when you express genuine enthusiasm, others feel it.

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To Be a Good Leader, Be a Good Follower: Keith Willis

Feedback First: The Starting Point for Better Sales Coaching

Listen for What Isn’t Said: The Coaching Skill Most Managers Miss

Episode 275 (Keith is based in Philladephia)

In this conversation with Keith Willis, we explore:

• why real coaching starts with clarity, not a barrage of questions

• how an Army leadership mindset accelerates business coaching outcomes

• the pharma sales reality and why managers must coach for influence over time

• a practical cadence for field rides, feedback, and field coaching reports

• a three-step coaching move: say it, support it, then ask for their view

• spotting belief barriers (like “I hate being closed”) and reframing them with stories

• listening for the unsaid—naming hesitancy to surface the real issue

• how to kick-off a coaching culture with a 7:1 positive feedback ratio

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About our guest, Keith Willis:

Keith is the president and founder of Core Management Training. He helps organizations build leadership competencies, coaching systems and sales performance frameworks that strengthen managers and elevate teams.

A former U.S. Army Captain he honed his skills in team building, strategic planning and leadering before translating those lessons into coaching for leaders in the pharmaceutical industry.

Learn more about Corel Management Training and their programs https://coremanagementtraining.com/

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Key Learning Points:

• change is constant—assume the environment will shift and prepare people to adapt.

• military leadership and great business coaching share more similarities than most think.

• start with assessment before training: interviews, 360s, and gap-mapping.

• pharma selling is influence over time, not a one-meeting close—so coach for the long game.

• field ride-alongs plus clear field coaching reports (FCRs) remain essential.

• the common coaching mistake: endless questions that hide the manager’s point of view.

• better sequence: say it, support it with observations/data, then ask for reaction.

• coach beliefs, not only skills (e.g., why a rep avoids closing).

• listen for what’s not said; name hesitancy and invite the real conversation.

• to launch coaching at scale: begin with positive feedback, aim for a ~7:1 ratio before tougher notes, use a simple model, and weave coaching into 1:1s.

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Strategy before messaging: Stop “talking to everyone” and start growing: Shay Prosser

Targeted messaging wins: why “market to everybody = market to nobody”

Plateaued growth? Check your vision, strategy, and team empowerment

Episode 274 (Shay is based in Charlotte NC)

In this conversation with Shay Prosser, we explore:

• why strategy must come before messaging

• how interviewing customers sharpens language that resonates

• the danger of “laundry list” offerings and what to say instead

• how clear targeting helps the right people self-select (and others opt out)

• how to set do/don’t-do boundaries so teams deliver consistently

• a simple way to stop scope creep in service businesses

• what makes a business scalable beyond the owner

• how 90-day plans with simple metrics create real momentum

• why rebrands should serve a strategic purpose, not vanity

• how to refine vision so teams can actually execute

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About our guest Shay Prosser:

Shay is fractional chief Marketing and Strategy Officer. She is a founding member of the Birthing of Giants regional cohorts.

She has lived in 10 states plus living abroad.

Learn more about Shay and her services at:

https://north12partners.com/

Connect with Shay:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayprosser/

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Key Learning Points:

• strategy precedes messaging: define who you serve, the problem, and the words they use.

• talk to customers first: use their language to shape offers and copy.

• focus beats laundry lists: communicate the problem you solve, not 25 services.

• repel to attract: clear messages signal who is and isn’t a fit.

• internal alignment matters: communicate what you do/don’t do and set boundaries.

• fight scope creep: “today’s exception is tomorrow’s expectation.”

• services must match promises: align sales, delivery, and scope controls.

• build a scalable business: processes and people so the owner can step back.

• use 90-day plans + simple metrics: create momentum and visible wins.

• vision → strategy → execution: clarify the destination, then pick the route.

• rebrand with purpose: positioning, story, and team rollout—not just colors.

• smart change management: communicate the why, who’s involved, and the plan.

• cross-industry practices help: fractional leaders transfer proven playbooks.

• empower the team: owners are often the bottleneck; promote leadership.

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De-escalate any argument in 90 seconds: Doug Noll

Manage Difficult Conversations & Meetings

The 3-step script to calm angry people (ignore words, read feelings, label)

Episode 273 (Doug is based in California)

In this conversation we explore…

• https://dougnoll.com/why decisions are emotional and what that means for leadership credibility

• the 92-second reset protocol that calms intense situations fast

• a three-step method: ignore words, read emotions, reflect with “you” statements

• the brain science behind affect labeling and rapid de-escalation

• why “active listening” backfires and how to respond effectively instead

• the four relaxation signals that tell you it’s safe to problem-solve

• adopting a compassionate mindset to neutralize personal attacks

• evidence from prisons to boardrooms proving the method’s transferability

• how to prepare for tough meetings with self-labeling and emotion maps

• a practical path to mastery in 8–12 weeks with deliberate practice

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About our guest, Doug Noll:

Doug was born with a set of difficult disabilities: nearly visually blind, color blind, two club feet, poor teeth, left-handed, and too smart for his own good.

He found his life’s calling at 50 years of age when he left a successful civil trial practice to become a peacemaker, mediator, author, and teacher.

Free Offer: Peace Under Pressure Kit

The kit consists of my De-Escalate Advisor, which is a ChatGPT agent that will help you work through intense emotions, my 4- week online video course Dealing With Anger and Aggression, and an invitation to my free Stop Arguments Cold Skool Community.

Either DM me on LinkedIn or Facebook @douglasnoll on Instagram @douglasenoll with YOUR INTENDED MESSAGE 25.

https://dougnoll.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougnoll/

https://www.instagram.com/douglasenoll/

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Key learning points:

1. Emotions drive decisions; treat people as emotional beings first.

2. The 92-second reset protocol (ignore words, read emotions, reflect with “you” statements) reliably calms people.

3. Affect labeling interrupts the amygdala and engages executive function.

4. Avoid “active listening” formulas; use plain “you feel…” reflections instead.

5. Wait for the four relaxation cues before problem-solving.

6. Mindset shift: see attacks as emotions, not truth; respond with compassion.

7. Practice builds automaticity; mastery is achievable in ~8–12 weeks.

8. These skills scale from prisons to boardrooms and change behavior system-wide.

9. Self-labeling (silently) stabilizes you during tough meetings.

10. Preparation: pre-name likely emotions—yours and theirs—before you enter the room.

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No-fluff Approach to Brand Storytelling: Deevo Tindal

Build trust in business through authentic storytelling

The brand blueprint: how to define values and tell your story

Episode 272  (Deevo is based in Charlotte, NC)

In this conversation we explore…

• how to cut through industry noise with a no-fluff branding approach

• why self-discovery is the foundation of personal branding

• the role of trust and experience in building client relationships

• how authentic storytelling creates emotional connections

• why honesty and vulnerability make you relatable

• the importance of aligning your values with your business story

• why branding is more than visuals—it’s every customer touchpoint

• how personal struggles and pain points can strengthen your brand

• why your story won’t resonate with everyone (and that’s a good thing)

• what qualities make someone an ideal client for branding work

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About our guest, Deevo Tindal:

Unapologetically Bold – he says what others won’t, and it lands. Personal Brand-First – he helps people build brands rooted in identity, not imitation. No Fluff, All Fire – Real-world experience meets razor-sharp insights you can act on. It’s Not Just a Talk – It’s an experience. One that will shake your audience into clarity.

Ready to learn more or check out his services? Visit https://www.thebrandstoryteller.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/fusionphotog/

https://www.instagram.com/deevothebrandstoryteller/

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Key Learning Points

• the no-fluff approach means dropping templates and discovering your unique story

• personal branding starts with knowing yourself first, not copying others

• trust is built through intentional client experiences, not just final products

• authentic storytelling connects emotionally and sets you apart

• vulnerability and honesty make your brand relatable

• your values and problem-solving define the heart of your story

• branding is every touchpoint in the customer journey, not just logos or colors

• pain points and struggles can strengthen your story if shared with purpose

• not everyone will resonate with your brand—and that’s okay

• the best clients are purpose-driven, coachable, and ready to share their genius

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Tackle Wicked Challenges with Human Ingenuity: Ken Tencer

Build Innovation Teams That Thrive in Ambiguity

Human Ingenuity: Clever, Inventive and Fearless Thinking

Episode 271 (Ken is based in the Greater Toronto Area)

In this conversation we explore…

• why innovation often stalls in organizations

• the difference between innovation, entrepreneurship, and ingenuity

• how to measure and manage openness to ambiguity

• why diversity of thought and background is essential for innovation

• how leadership roles should rotate during the innovation cycle

• why bias is the greatest barrier to new thinking

• the role of students and external control groups in innovation

• the difference between simple, complex, and wicked challenges

• why human ingenuity requires clever, inventive, and fearless thinking

• how the 90% Rule honors the past while pushing toward the future

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About our guest, Ken Tencer:

Ken is a long time entrepreneur, author and global speaker.

He is completing a doctorate in human ingenuity - clever, inventive an fearless thinking in the faces of wicked challenges (incomplete information, ambiguity, and uncertainty)

Ken works with organizations to help them identify and resolve their wicked challenges, (strategy, team development and tactics). Learn more and contact him at:   https://sayhitothefuture.ca/

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Key Learning Points

1. Innovation requires three dimensions: innovation (process), entrepreneurship (team), and ingenuity (thinking).

2. Ambiguity is a core skill: successful innovation teams must measure and embrace tolerance for ambiguity.

3. Diversity fuels innovation: variety in backgrounds, perspectives, and disciplines prevents groupthink.

4. Leadership should rotate: the right leader shifts depending on the stage of the innovation cycle.

5. Bias is the biggest barrier: more than money or time, it blocks new thinking.

6. External voices help: student or alumni “control groups” bring fresh, unbiased perspectives.

7. Understand the three challenge types: simple, complex, and wicked — each requires different approaches.

8. Human ingenuity demands fearlessness: decisions must be made even without certainty.

9. The 90% Rule: honor the past while pushing forward to the next 10%.

10. Future readiness means “saying hi to the future”: embracing macro trends, empathy, and new thinking tools.

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High-Stakes Communication - Crisis or Launch: Angela Betancourt

High-Stakes Communication: Lessons for Leaders

From Crisis to Product Launch: Mastering High-Stakes Messaging

Episode 270 (Angela is based in Massachusetts)

In this conversation we explore…

• why every business needs a crisis communication plan

• how to identify vulnerabilities and prepare for unexpected risks

• why proactive preparation is a positive mindset

• how to communicate with honesty, transparency, and values

• why “no comment” often damages credibility

• how high-stakes opportunities like product launches mirror crises

• the importance of aligning launches with brand and values

• authentic ways to show gratitude to your “stunt team”

• how stories help explain, justify, and inspire in high-stakes situations

• why customer service and communication plans drive launch success

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About our guest: Angela Betancourt:

Angela is a strategic communications expert with over 20 years of experience across five continents helping business, nonprofits, political leaders and startups clarify and amplify their messages - especially when the stakes are high.

As founder of Betancourt Group she works with purpose-driven organizations that are tackling today's urgent issues.

Learn more about Angela and her services at:

https://groupbetancourt.com/

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Key Learning Points

• prepare a crisis communication plan before you need it

• understand your organization’s unique risks and vulnerabilities

• proactive preparation is positive thinking, not negative

• avoid “no comment” and lean into honesty and transparency

• high-stakes opportunities require the same planning as crises

• align product launches with your brand and values

• celebrate wins and show authentic gratitude to your “stunt team”

• storytelling makes complex or high-stakes messages relatable

• origin stories and narratives reinforce purpose and intention

• communication plans must include both strategy and customer service

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