Torch these trigger phrases in these trying times
The other day I was lacing up my shoes to take my favorite podcast for a walk. The episode was one I’d started earlier, having left off at a commercial break. So when I pressed play, an advertiser began: “In these challenging times ...” Nope. Before [...]
Stuck? A little alphabet soup will help.
You have something to say. Well, you’re supposed to have something to say. “They” expect you to have something to say. You sit down to write. Nothing comes. A few words finally trickle out. They’re awful! &#%!@?! You are stuck. And being stuck sucks. Being [...]
A litany of life lessons, just one at a time
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned …” It’s a phrase that makes you want run, right? Typically, those words are followed by someone’s hard-won wisdom. The kind of advice the giver is determined to share, regardless of how heavily the receiver sighs or rolls her [...]
Having trouble reading in isolation? Me too.
Books are my jam. I read them for pleasure, focus, enrichment. Books capture my attention, inspire my imagination, and comfort my soul. They teach me. Because my default learning mode is “on,” I’m always consuming books in various forms: a physical book to savor at [...]
For now, let’s look beyond that Magic Football
Who’s on your mind right now? In this uncertain time of the coronavirus, the people I’m thinking about are: Striving to stay fit and sane while honoring social distancing rules in a crowded metropolitan neighborhood Navigating a new “workplace” from a makeshift home office, having [...]
4 books that will change your creative life
“What are you reading?” It’s the question I love to ask when I meet others who value great stories, good writing, and creative thinking. When the answer strikes a chord, I add the title to my Goodreads “want to read” list. And when a friend [...]
No joke: serious questions for smart storytellers
Ann, Barb, and Chuck walk into a meeting room. Sounds like the start of a joke, right? Actually, it’s the start of a storytelling project. These three managers have been designated “storytellers” for an event their company is hosting next month. A crowd of their [...]
Get unstuck: 10 ways to banish writer’s block
A note from Beth: I first published this advice on the Spencer Grace website and LinkedIn, way back in May 2015. Though I do sometimes change my tune, this remains one of my loudest anthems. If you're tired of singing the sad song of writer's block, [...]
A creativity wish list for grown-ups
We finish a season of wish lists and enter a phase of resolutions. We’re always wanting something, aren’t we? I’m writing this post in that strange and wonderful week when Christmas Day has past, Hanukah is in progress, and New Year’s Day is soon to [...]
How To Be An Artist In 5 Minutes or Less
I’m sitting in a coffee shop at F and 7th NW. The sound is deafening, crowds of people and every seat taken. Because I am a stranger here in D.C, I have to ask where the line is to order. Shockingly, there is no one [...]
Tigger and Eeyore walk into a room …
Anyone who’s been in a Story Mode workshop will attest: Jill Pollack and I do not play it safe. We seldom use PowerPoint. We crack jokes and tell stories. We get everyone on their feet, talking to us and to each other—usually within the first five [...]
The good stuff takes time
Once in a great while, brilliance bursts forth in an instant. An aha! A big idea! A flash of inspiration! These rare moments are a gift. When you get one, thank the universe. Profusely. And then start adjusting your expectations—and your creative process—for next time. [...]
Want a positive outcome? Adopt a positive attitude.
My husband lost his job this month. Quite unexpectedly, and effective immediately. For his employer, this was purely a business decision—a cost-cutting measure that would save the company some money by eliminating some salaries and overhead expenses. For Jim, this meant immediate change. He walked [...]
Colleagues? Clients? Consumers? People!
As a career-long business communicator, I’ve been challenged to refer to human beings in many ways. Whether driven by industry standards, corporate culture, or the druthers of a senior executive, most of us have adopted some peculiar labels for the people in and around our [...]
To get more than eyeballs, make marketing a conversation
What happens when you dare to not follow Conventional Wisdom? What does conventional wisdom even mean, and who gets to decide what is wise and what is folly? In 1958 John Kenneth Galbraith was trying to persuade the people of the U.S. that our economic [...]
Silence isn’t golden (or, why your email is tarnishing the conversation)
Dear Corporate Poet & Cutter of Crap: Last week I sent my team an email message about something important. As thorough as I tried to be, I totally expected questions and comments. So, as always, I closed the message with “please let me know if [...]
Who wrote the book on storytelling? It could be you …
Ask me how to be a better storyteller. What’s the one thing I need to focus on to tell a better story? Where should my story start? Why are my stories so boring? In Story Mode, we field questions like these all the time—especially from [...]
Your best work is just a few paces away
“When it comes to creative work, I have a pace in mind. But lately, about the only pacing I’m doing is back and forth in my shop.” My brother Paul said this to me and our sister Norma yesterday. His comment was in the context of [...]
If you’re not creating, you’re not communicating.
I call myself The Corporate Poet and Cutter of Crap. I have tattoos and a nose ring. And I wear Wonder Woman high tops to work. Some days, I swap the high tops for more formal footwear. But the tats and piercing are permanent, and [...]
Chances worth taking: 10 ways to build your team’s creativity
As I handed her my business card, the woman smiled and said, “You must really enjoy your work.” I answered without hesitation: “I am having the time of my life!” In the days since that quick exchange, I’ve been mulling why I love my job. Many of [...]
All form and no substance makes your story a waste of time
While I was stewing about what to write for this month’s post, “Every TED Talk Ever” entered my line of sight. Care to watch it without spoilers? Go ahead. You can meet me in the next paragraph in five-and-a-half minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9advgMBbdo&feature=youtu.be Hilarious! At least [...]
No one’s asking you to be weird. Just don’t be boring.
I want my presentation to be engaging and memorable. I want the audience to remember me and my message. I want to be amazing! Sound familiar? Sure. Who doesn’t want to be a killer presenter? But what if the following also rings a bell? I’m talking [...]
These conflicting ideas will make you a better writer
“Easy reading is damn hard writing.” I wish I had said that, but it was the author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Regardless of how you felt about The Scarlet Letter when you read it in high school, your grown-up self must see the wisdom in these words. If [...]
Super communicators, unite! We need to build a league!
Congratulations! Through practice, focus, and sheer brilliance, you have developed an invaluable superpower—and a reputation for making your business look and sound amazing on the page. You are The Wordsmith, the Slide Generator, the Master Messenger. There will always be work for heroes who can convert [...]