From Pet Shop Manager to Late-Night Talk Show Host: How Thinking Bigger Changed Everything Why would I, an overweight, scraggly-bearded Pet Shop manager, ever think I had the qualifications to compete as a late-night talk show host against legends like David Letterman and Johnny Carson? The answer is simple: I believed no dream was too…
How Did Bill Nye the Science Guy Become Famous? The Real Story Behind the Breakout Star of Science TV Bill Nye, famously known as “The Science Guy,” is a pop culture icon whose name is synonymous with making science fun, cool, and completely unforgettable. But how did a Boeing engineer transform into one of the…
Powerful Opening Lines & Ice Breakers to Captivate Your Audience As a speaker, your opening lines and ice breakers set the tone for your entire presentation. The first few moments are crucial—they can either engage your audience or lose their attention before you’ve even begun. Whether you’re speaking at a corporate event, a conference, or…
Public speaking is one of the most powerful tools for personal and professional growth. Whether you’re speaking to a small team or a packed auditorium, mastering this skill can elevate your leadership presence, expand your influence, and help you advance faster in any industry. Think about it—great communicators get noticed. They inspire teams, persuade clients,…
In tough times, most companies become obsessed with their competition. They want to know if others are struggling too.Progressive Insurance wants to know what GEICO is doing. Macy’s wants insider information about Nordstrom. Ford wants to know Chrysler’s secrets—and so on. And because I speak or consult with more than 70 organizations a year (often…
Post-Recession Business Strategies: How to Thrive After an Economic Downturn Recessions come and go. Afterward, will you change the way you do business? While economists analyze GDP growth and unemployment trends, business leaders must face a more pressing question: How will your business operate in a post-recession world? This isn’t about rebuilding the past —…
This article is for speakers. For pastors. For teachers. For attorneys. For salespeople. For parents. For anyone who influences behavior with their words. In other words, you. If you’re a motivational speaker, you already know stories are your sharpest tool. But if you’re just recycling the same old Greatest Hits every time you’re onstage, you’re…
I get asked all the time, “How do I write a book? Where do I even start?” The truth is, writing your own book—especially if you’re planning to self-publish—doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, speaker, or creative professional, a book is one of the best ways to establish authority, generate…
I wrote my book, Behave Like a Startup, because too many of my Fortune 1000 clients were baffled by a painful trend—they were losing deals, relevance, and even top talent to scrappy startup companies with no track record and barely any resources. These legacy companies were doing everything “right”: Award-winning sales and marketing teams Strategic…
Ross Shafer here and when I’m alone a my hotel room I think about the successful people the ones I admire and how they got there…so today I want you to meet my friend, John Lloyd. John is one of those people who refuses to fail at anything but he would be the first to tell you, he’s not a guy who focuses on being #1.