Steve Kayser's Riffs, Tiffs and What Ifs » Steve Kayser

Are You Still Relevant?

Steve Kayser — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:41:48 +0000

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.” - Alvin Toffler

I heard a couple of acquaintances talk about a person they work with that was "older" and no longer contributing to their business. This person apparently couldn't, or wouldn't, learn new skills. Or, for that matter, even keep up with the skill-set needed for the job. Age was mentioned, and not favorably. They thought this person should be "put out to pasture."

Good Intentions Gone Bad!

Steve Kayser — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 23:42:35 +0000

Featuring an interview with Lynne McTaggart, author of "The Intention Experiment." I fully intended to keep my 2012 New Year's resolutions. I knew it would be hard. But I had good intentions. I had good intentions. Really. I lasted ...

Tesla vs. Einstein: Transcending the Speed of Light?

Steve Kayser — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:18:54 +0000

Nikola Tesla and Albert Einstein. Geniuses both. One believed the speed of light unbreakable at 186,000 MPS.. One believed the speed of light barrier could be broken ... because he'd already done it. Guess what? Looks like Tesla was right.

How to Create Ideas to Revolutionize Your Business or Life

Steve Kayser — Sun, 29 May 2011 19:49:57 +0000

Is there a magic formula that can enable you to put your feet up in a chair, daydream and think of ideas that can change everything for you? In business and life? Yes, it's "4 I's > C2." Features interview with Joey Reiman, author of "Thinking for a Living."

The Greatest Presentation of All Time?

Steve Kayser — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:26:42 +0000

All great presentations have one thing in common. Do you know what it is? Here are 10 exceptional examples down through the ages. Can you see it? And what about the greatest presentation of all time? It had no PowerPoint. No video. But it had that one thing.

The Seven “New Rules” of Business Presentations I Wish I’d Been Taught in Kindergarten

Steve Kayser — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 13:28:27 +0000

Having seen hundreds of business presentations and given a stinky few myself, there are a few things I wish someone would have taught me in kindergarten. Seven things or “New Rules” of business presentations to be precise. I pass these on to anyone new to the dreaded gauntlet of the business presentation or any grizzled veterans who want to walk on the wild side and shake things up. Avoid lying-flying "Stink-o-potamus" presentation status. Use the principle of "Creative Limitation."

A Simple Timeless Tale: Lessons Learned from Legendary Hollywood STORY Guru Robert McKee

Steve Kayser — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:19:25 +0000

I interviewed Robert McKee, the best-selling author of “STORY” and legendary guru of Hollywood storytelling, several years ago. The premise of the interview was simple - can the principles of his classic book "STORY" be used in the complex sales process?

How NOT to Stand Out in Any Crowd

Steve Kayser — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 03:24:58 +0000

You, your product, your service, your company, is good … maybe great. It’s different, unique, totally rad, awesomeroo and bloggerific. It even (occasionally) delivers real business value; makes an authentic difference in business or life. But … no one has heard of you. You haven't even heard of you! Here's how to get your message out - or not. Featuring an interview with Sam Horn, author of “POP! Stand Out in Any Crowd.”

Ten Tips for Being “Good in a Room” in the Complex Sale

Steve Kayser — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 14:48:31 +0000

What is the one trait that’s an absolute “must have” to win the complex sale in today’s competitive sales environment? The skill is critical to your success – in business or life. You must be ... "Good in a Room." What does that mean? Stephanie Palmer, author of the book of the same name, "Good in a Room," puts it in perspective.

In These Tough Times, Here’s a Way to Print Your Own Currency Legally … with Content

Steve Kayser — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:31:45 +0000

Whatever business you're in you have a story. If it's a good story it informs, educates, entertains and helps people down a path to find a solution to the problem they have. The trip down the path is your story.

What Does “Shoot the Donkey” Mean?

Steve Kayser — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:14:54 +0000

The term “Shoot the Donkey" refers to a classic scene in the movie "Patton" (based upon a true life event) where the Third Army gets critically held up in battle on a bridge, by a cart-pulling donkey that had stopped and refused to budge, totally blocking the bridge. Life and death are at stake. An MP struggles with the donkey and the owner, trying to get them out of the way. But with no success. Then ...

Goldilocks and the Cosmic B2B Complex Sale

Steve Kayser — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:50:43 +0000

To win at the complex sale, one must be a storyteller, master strategist, philosopher, psychologist and have an innate understanding of the B2B Goldilocks Universe ...

New Year’s Resolution Dissolution – When Good Intentions Go Bad

Steve Kayser — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:11:20 +0000

Featuring an interview with Lynne McTaggart, author of “The Intention Experiment,” the first book to invite readers to take an active part in original research and featured in Dan Brown’s new book – “The Lost Symbol.”

An Inconvenient Genius

Steve Kayser — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:20:17 +0000

The Timeless Legacy of an Untimely Man How often has one person affected humanity to such a degree that were the fruits of his labor withdrawn immediately from our day-to-day existence, the world as we know it … would essentially stop? A True Story This story is about one such real-life person. And, we will [...]

DaVincian Coded Quote Reveals Secret to 100th Blog Post

Steve Kayser — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:11:15 +0000

The 100th blog post. The Mount Everest of momentous writing achievements for lazy, lackadaisical, lachrymosely effective writers. I would have never made it if it wasn't for a secret I discovered- hidden in a mysterious, mystical DaVincian coded quote...

Overcoming Resistance: One Tribe at a Time

Steve Kayser — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

For those of you that are, at this very moment, being slowed by Resistance, taunted by Resistance, need inspiration to fight Resistance, aspire one day to defeat the evil beast of Resistance, meet a very special person …

The Power of Resistance: Lessons Learned from Bestselling Author Steven Pressfield

Steve Kayser — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:58:09 +0000

I’ve had the good fortune to interview and work with many great storytellers over the last few years. J.D. Meier, program manager for Microsoft’s Patterns & Practices team, and author of the “Sources of Insight” blog, asked me what the most important lessons I’d learned from the high-profile “working” writers and storytellers … the ones who [...]

A PR & Marketing Nightmare: 110 Slides to Present in Five Minutes – What to Do?

Steve Kayser — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:47:07 +0000

It's an important presentation. You have 110 slides - but only five minutes. What to do? Scream? Give up the ghost? Or go for it? If you want to go for it ... read on.

Secure the Blessings of Liberty

Steve Kayser — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:10:28 +0000

70 years ago today 100 million people were sentenced to death by a charismatic, hypnotically mesmerizing megalomaniac. An evil beast with a silver tongue. An evil beast whose oratory powers seduced the masses until they gave up their liberties - then their lives, their souls - to this Anti-Christ wannabe. Come... look. Remember. Watch. Think. Question. And get ready to fight.

My Darling, Is That Manure Stick You Have on?

Steve Kayser — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:44:00 +0000

Marketing. Advertising. Is there any more expensive way to throw away money with such arrogant disregard for common sense? Or, to do it with such condescending, confounding, disparate, and creative personalities? Is there any more effective way to get people to scratch their heads with befuddled looks and say, "What marketing bonehead thought up that commercial?"

Twitter … Eschatological Sign of Writing Times?

Steve Kayser — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:33:00 +0000

Twitter - a simple micro-blogging service. Nothing more. Nothing less. Ha! That's what THEY want you to think. But professional purveyors of corporate gobbledygook know, yes they know, Twitter is a tool straight ...

The End of Marketing and PR?

Steve Kayser — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:35:54 +0000

It's not PR. It's not Marketing. It's the evolution of business communications. It's a revolution in business communications. And it's ...

Animotorized World Movie Premier of The World Wide Rave vs. The World Wide Knave

Steve Kayser — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:14:00 +0000

You saw it here first. Social Media's version of Ali vs. Frazier. Jordan vs. Bugs Bunny. Luci vs. Dezi and Curly vs. Moe. It's the Thought Leader of the World Wide Rave vs. The Thoughtless Leader - AKA the World Wide Knave. SPOILER. The Knave Rules! SHOWTIME: The Animotorized Premiere of the movie trailer for the World Wide Rave vs.. The World Wide Knave.

Eight Ways to Use Animoto Video in Business Presentations

Steve Kayser — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 04:13:01 +0000

How to get adventurous when giving business presentations? To help banish the "boring" from presentations? I use Animoto. It's a web application that allows you to automatically generate professionally produced videos using pictures and music. Think movie trailer. The creative ways to use Animoto are limited only by your mind. Below are eight real-world examples of some different ways you can use Animoto to communicate with your customers, prospects, friends, or anyone else.

In Scandal or Crisis, Character is the Coin of the Realm

Steve Kayser — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:09:43 +0000

Featuring an interview with Dr. David Abshire, President of the Center for the Study of the Presidency and author of "Saving the Reagan Presidency." The story and interview that follows is not about avoiding a scandal or crisis, but how one American President through strength of character dealt with a situation that threatened his presidency, his reputation, his place in history and ... America’s credibility.

The Power of STORY in the Complex Sale

Steve Kayser — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:51:00 +0000

Robert McKee, the best-selling author of “STORY” and legendary guru of Hollywood storytelling, explains in a down-to-earth, easy-to-understand interview, how STORY principles can be used in business presentations. Learn from the man that wrote the book on story (literally) - how to stun, dazzle and leave your audience craving for more. But what does "Love" have to do with it?

Animoto: Customer Service 2.0 … The Way it Oughta Be

Steve Kayser — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:07:00 +0000

What's the "Perfect Customer Experience?" When your service and product deliver such a 1-2 knockout punch that your customers become your biggest fans and advocates - and your business soars. Here's how a company named Animoto turns their customers into Fanimotos ... along with seven real-world Animoto examples you can check out.

How to Defeat Your Inner Deadbeat

Steve Kayser — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:34:49 +0000

In every person’s life, there is a still, small voice that tries to guide you to a wonderful calling − a destiny. Your destiny. A calling that you, and only you, were put on this earth to fulfill. Near silent, this voice is powerful enough to lift thoughts, dreams and visions to a higher ground. Do you still hear it?

Five Types of People That Should Help You Do the PowerPoint Punt

Steve Kayser — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Can you really give a presentation without PowerPoint slides? Maybe. It depends. The next presentation you give or attend, take note of what occurs after PowerPoint slide number five is swiped/swished onto the screen. Unless you really are "da man," the Steven Spielberg of the sales presentation, 99 percent of the people in attendance will fall into one of the following descriptive categories: