January 6, 2009 by Kyle.

When I was speaking in Vancouver recently, I got a tour of the city from a couple of off-duty police officers. It’s a great city, but being cops, they’re also going to show you some sights a little off the touristy path.

I had picked up sightseeing brochures about the Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island and the Capilano Suspension Bridge (very cool).

However, I had not picked up the brochure about the Hookers and Drug Dealers Tour that I received from my 2 police officer buddies! Very informative.

It was even an interactive tour. A gentleman approached the passenger side of the vehicle we were in and offered me some rock cocaine. As much as I wanted to bring home a souvenir of my trip, I declined his offer.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

December 10, 2008 by Kyle.

Marketing expert Ford Saeks spoke to our chapter of National Speakers Association. He had commented to his mentor about his level of success.

That mentor assured him the same success was possible for him by telling him, “I represent the ideas and dreams you failed to take action on.”

Another way to put it. What will you do that others are unwilling to do? Not unable, but simply unwilling?

That’s where the prize is.

What will you do, what action will you take this week?

When all is said and done, there’s a whole lot said and very little done.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

December 10, 2008 by Kyle.

What a great job!

I get to paid to travel to fabulous cities, meet fascinating people, and talk to them!

Recently, I traveled to Vancouver to speak to a police department in Delta (suburb of Vancouver). From there I flew to Norfolk, Virginia to do a presentation for the US Navy as part of a leadership development conference!

From Pacific to Atlantic in 24 hours! How cool is that?

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

November 19, 2008 by Kyle.

My career as a performance expert and motivational speaker has now taken me to the international realm. (Note the Canandian and British Columbia flags in the background.)

Just got back from Vancouver, British Columbia where I was the guest speaker for the Delta Police Department Constabulary Formal mess.

This is a formal dinner based on military tradition, where the members, properly attired in their finest dress uniforms, poke fun at each other while honoring their past members.

Infractions of not having the proper patches or pins on the uniform met with a fine from the President of the Mess Committee, usually in the form of buying a drink for someone else. According to one member, this year’s event was quite tame. Last year, one member asked permission to leave the table to go to the restroom (after indulging in several cocktails). The officer was permitted to go after singing “O Canada” while doing pushups.

This entertaining event had its serious moments too as we toasted the Queen and also fallen officers from the Department.

Instead of a canned speech encouraging the officers to be accountable, seek more training, and be polite to the public, I presented a list of ways “guaranteed to sabotage a perfectly good law enforcement career,” including suggestions to criticize the Chief as often as possible, get drunk at the awards ceremony - and then drive yourself home, and demand sexual favors from people in your custody (a tactic which did cost an Oklahoma sheriff his job).

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

October 13, 2008 by Kyle.

Some companies wait for business to walk through the door.

Others, the hunters, the hungry business owners, go out and get it.

I was recently a spectator at a senior softball tournament (all players over 70 years old; see Sep 27 post below).

I was surprised to see an attractive young woman walking toward me in her Waffle House uniform. Then I saw another one. Must be some kind of new street gang…

She handed me a coupon for 10% off my purchase at the local Waffle House, wished me well, and kept on moving to other potential customers.

Brilliant.

The owner or manager took advantage of the opportunity in several ways:

— Target market. Most of the people at the softball field were senior citizens - a good market for Waffle House.
— They wore their uniforms to promote the brand.
— The timing was mid-morning, after the morning rush at the restaurant. So instead of employees sitting around looking for something to do, they were generating business.

Are you sitting in the office wondering why more people don’t buy your products or services - or are you a hunter/gatherer, out there actively generating business?

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

October 2, 2008 by Kyle.

I waited like the other 150 people in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis.

Finally, the Duckmaster rolled out the red carpet, the music played, and the famous Peabody ducks marched from the ornate fountain to the elevator where they were whisked away to their Duck Mansion for the night.

It’s amazing that 5 plain old Mallard ducks can create such a buzz.

But they do.

Every day, morning and afternoon, people line up along the path to watch these 5 ordinary looking ducks walk 50 feet between the elevator and the fountain.

But the Peabody Hotel has cultivated that buzz and has perfected the performance.

So if you tell your friends you’re going to visit Memphis, it’s likely someone will enthusiastically say, “Memphis? Are you staying at the Peabody? You’ve got to go see the ducks!”

What are you doing in your business to build that kind of buzz? What do you do that sets you apart from your competition?

The Peabody is a fabulous hotel. Friendly staff, comfortable beds. They do the basics right. But they have the added advantage of the ducks.

What is your business’s Peabody duck?

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

September 27, 2008 by Kyle.

What are you passionate about?

I’m very proud of this guy (my dad) who continues to play competitive softball in the senior leagues. He’s on the 80 years old and over team!

The only challenge is finding enough other 80’s teams to play against!

It’s fantastic to watch these grandpas out on the field with their back braces, knee braces, and ankle wraps. In spite of a little arthritis or knee replacement surgeries, they’re fierce competitors.

Maybe a little slower than they were 65 years ago when they played high school ball, but they still love the game.

Next time you’re complaining about being tired or a little sore when you get out of bed, remember these guys who travel across the country for one more chance to swing the bat and turn that double play!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

August 11, 2008 by Kyle.

When was the last time you met a rock star? No, I mean a real live, guitar-playing, million-album selling, rock star?

REO Speedwagon lead singer Kevin Cronin made an appearance at the National Speakers Association convention last week, and I had the good fortune to meet him. I was coming back into the hotel just after midnight. Kevin had been out also getting some Chinese food. I recognized him from his remarks on stage earlier in the day and took the opportunity to say hello.

He was very gracious, and polite, and allowed us to take a couple of photos. We rode up in the elevator together and had a chance to visit.

Regular guy. He just happens to play rock and roll music for a living.

My brand as a professional speaker is the Black Belt Speaker. From my own background, I equate excellence with having a Black Belt in the martial arts. This guy is definitely a Black Belt musician!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

June 24, 2008 by Kyle.

I booked a flight online recently. Selected my location, return time. Even selected which seats I wanted for each leg of the journey.

Then I got to another drop down box where it asked me about my food preferences for my meal on the airplane. I scrolled down through the choices such as: vegetarian, low sodium, bland, heart-healthy…

Wait a mnute! Bland?

That’s a choice? That must have been my default choice for every flight in my life because bland is what every meal I’ve ever had on an airplane has been.

Who orders a bland meal?

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

June 6, 2008 by Kyle.

Do people remember what you say?

Do you give them any reason to remember? How do you create a ’sticky’ message?

Made to Stick is a great book by Chip and Dan Heath about what makes ideas sticky. Whether you are in advertising, a preacher, teacher, writer, speaker, sales manager, CEO, or parent, this book has some great examples and 6 specific factors to help make your ideas stick.

Read why people remember things like Jared from Subway commercials, a Texas anti-littering campaign, and “Where’s the Beef?”

Read it. Highlight it. Keep it handy for a reference when you’re writing a newsletter article, speaking to the sales team or the Rotary meeting, or when you need to launch a new product.

Make it Sticky!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »