Happy Reading!

August's guest will be Michael Allosso from Boston, director/actor turned corporate leadership/communication coach, conversing with Mikki on "You on Your Best Day."
YOU ON YOUR BEST DAY is a program that puts people through the same kind of training professional actors have in order to maximize their performance every day.

I get to do a lot of client appreciation programs for companies. I just completed two days of sales training for one of my favorite clients in Houston, Universal Weather and Aviation.  I trained the sales force in the use of the DiSC profile to recognize and sell to the behavioral style of their customers.  Then we worked on techniques from my Speakers School to give them the tools for the best presentations, one-on-one or to a group. We spent a day on video coaching and it turned out to be a great two day investment in their people. They all sent me THE most beautiful bouquet for my July 4th birthday with a card that read, "Thank you for an amazing experience."
 
 I digress...This company can be the "poster child" for great customer service as they invest in their people to be better at what they do to give their customers a great experience. When is the first or last time you did something like that for your good customers?
 
In my customer service program I use a lot of examples and stories (you all know, I'm a story teller) to illustrate examples of good and bad service, to inspire leaders to manage "moments of truth."
Read the rest of the article.
 

This cartoon was sent to me in honor of my birthday month...so appropriate. Not that I'm that old but that's what I hope to be doing (and looking like) when I'm eighty.

And introducing our new columnist "MY guru,"
Dave Nelsen
Entrepreneur and Social Media Guide (he says, "Anyone claiming to be an "expert" might be a shyster." I say "Never call yourself an expert; an ex is a has-been and a spurt is little more than a drip.")  So Dave is MY guru - according to Webster, "an influential teacher."

Formal Title: President, Dialog Consulting Group

Three things you should know about Dave:

1)   He's a long time CEO who's started four companies in the last 15 years, raising $70 million in venture capital along the way.

2)   He's been recognized as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, as Tech Council CEO of the Year and as Vistage Best New Speaker of the Year.

3)   From 2005 to 2009 he was CEO of TalkShoe, a social media company now serving more than 1 million monthly listeners.

You can find more formal details here

Yes, that was the name of one of my businesses and oh, come on, I know guys cook too.

Summer is Grillin' Time! EASY!!! Summertime and the livin' is easy!
 
Grilled Shrimp with Rosemary (serves 12)
 
36 large shrimp, peeled, deveined
2 tbs. olive oil
5 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary, plus whole sprigs for garnish
 
Combine shrimp, oil and chopped rosemary in large bowl; toss to coat.
Cover and chill (can be made 1 day ahead, I like that!)
 
Prepare barbeque on medium high heat. Line platter with fresh rosemary sprigs as a bed for shrimp. Thread 3 shrimp on each of 12 metal skewers.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until shrimp are just opaque in center, about 2 minutes per side. Arrange skewers atop rosemary.

If any of you remember the movie or Broadway show "Auntie Mame" or if you're old enough to admit you remember it, then you might recall that Mame was famous for her eclectic circle of friends. I pride myself on that same principle of knowing so many diverse people and calling many of them my friends.

Introducing...this month's teleseminar guest and my dear friend,
Chuck Reaves.
 
Chuck and I have known each other @#$%^&* years. We met through NSA, our trade association (National Speakers Association) and have remained mutual fans and friends for a long time. Aside from the other language he speaks (that would be Southern) Chuck is an amazing speaker, entrepreneur and all around classy dude. But enough gushing, he is a prolific presenter (notice how I slipped in my favorite alliteration), averaging 100 presentations a year and a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. He has consulted with numerous companies, including Fortune 500 to develop marketing plans, incentive/compensation plans and sales training; he's a former professional pallbearer,  and he drove a 1951 Henry J with body damage on all four sides, painted white with a brush, homemade seat covers and, as a result, went dateless through most of high school!

Be outrageous...it's the only place that isn't crowded.
My favorite quote is featured in The Woman's Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar, one of only 365 chosen from over 3,500 submissions.
The Woman's Advantage is a line of information products designed exclusively for successful women business owners. For more information call 919-841-0401
or visit The Woman's Advantage

 

Next Speakers School is September 23-25, 2010
Call for details about how to bring Speakers School to your company: 312.664.8447

SIGN UP NOW
Speakers School is now three days!
Day One: Presentation Skills
Day Two: Learning Lab (Your opportunity to practice what you learned in Day One. You must have completed Day One to participate.)
Day Three: Marketing Your Speeches