Look Who Was Listening to Mr. Influence?

Earlier in the week I had a great time presenting to the TRMA (Telecommunications Risk Management Association) at their annual meeting in Alexandria, Virginia. I gave a keynote presentation on "Influential Customer Retention" and the people were really appreciative. I got one of my favorite quotes from an audience participant saying "My only regret is that we didn't have enough time together - - I want more!" I love talking about the Science of Influence, and in particular how using the study can advance your business leadership position. This one was no different. I made a claim during the presentation, that if you put to use the Science of Influence you'll have the opportunity to use it to your advantage on even the most skeptical of clients, your kids!

So what did I do yesterday? You guessed it...I spoke to a group of High School Students here in Dallas, Texas. Our topic was a splinter of Communication, one of the 10 Critical Skills I identified in "The Influential Leader", that being effective listening. The group was awesome and we had a good time. We identified several interesting ways in which they perform "Visual Listening", perfect if you are trying to sell to, or just plain communicate with this Generation Z group! If you'd like more information, please send me an email at sp@pathosleadershipgroup.com.

Next week is the last week to enroll in the "Influential Leader" webinar series which begins October 14th and runs for 10 consecutive weeks. During each week, we'll cover one of the 10 critical skills identified in "The Influential Leader". Each week, there will be a one-hour webinar on Tuesday that will overview the weeks topic (Perfect for the Chief Executive, Company President or Business Owner to see how they want to position the material in their organization.) On Thursday of the week there will be a four-hour workshop (Perfect for the Key Leaders in the organization.) If you want more information on this, please email me at info@pathosleadershipgroup.com.

What Can a Hurricane Do For You?

Hurricanes are all the rage these days, and not in a good way for those in their way! As I watched Gustav take aim on the Louisiana coast the other week and Ike bear down on the Texas coast this week, I thought of the hurricane that has become synonymous with me and Pathos Leadership Group.

Four years ago on September 12th, 2004, a hurricane named Ivan was ripping through the warm waters of the Carribean. A category 3 hurricane, it was big and bad enough to consider a threat to all in its path. I was oblivious to it! After all, I lived in Dallas/Fort Worth, which is far enough inland to not have to worry about too many hurricanes. Unfortunately, I wasn't in land-locked DFW at the time.

A month earlier (August), I was chosen by my employer to host a recognition trip to Cancun, Mexico for 200 sales leaders. I'd helped structure the trip, how the candidates would qualify and even announced the winners. Usually, that's where my participation ended...Always the bridesmaid and never the bride. I rarely got to go on these recognition trips, which was really disappointing because they were always in great locations (NCAA Final 4 of the Men's Basketball Tournament, the Super Bowl, the NCAA Football National Championship, etc). This time, I petitioned and politicked hard to get on this trip to Mexico. I had never been to Mexico and these trips were first class all the way, so I worked to get on the "invite" list. NOTE: My mother always said be careful what you ask for! Your mother too? Small world...I should have listened.

When we landed in Cancun it was beautiful...Blue sky above, 90* temperature, 15 mph trade wind...Break out the Coppertone! 10 hours later the recognition dinner was in full swing with lots of dancing, drinking and whooping it up! Then the meeting planner approached me and looked terrible. Her hair was normally all spiked up and crazy looking. Now, with sweat dripping off the ends of her hair, she looked like a member of the Beattles who had just run a marathon! I asked her what was up and with panic filled eyes she told me "Hurricane Ivan is coming right at us! There's a 90% probability that it will be a direct hit on the peninsula of Cancun." I'll never forget that moment or the next one. Because the next moment I looked over at the table of VIP company executives. They were having a similar conversation with the senior executive. At the conclusion of his remarks, they all got up from their seats. From across the room, one looked directly at me, he even pointed to me to make certain that we'd made eye contact, and then he gave me the thumbs up. All of them then left the ballroom together and in a hurry.

I asked one of the other company rep's what are we doing? He told me that the executives were all getting on the G5 and heading back to Texas. I told him "Great, I haven't even unpacked my bags up in my room. Where are we meeting...In the lobby in 10 minutes?" He informed me that we weren't going anywhere, the executives were leaving...NOT US!

At that moment a range of emotions and thoughts went through my head. I felt betrayed and mad that the executives were leaving us behind. I was scared that I'd never see my Dad, Mom, wife and kids again. The hotel manager tried to reassure us that they had enough food and water for 14 days in the event of a direct hit. Unfortunately, if there was a direct hit everyone would be evacuated to the airport. There, they only had enough food and water for the thousands of people that would show up for 48 hours!

I went back to my room and called my Dad. He knew I was there and he was an avid weather watcher. He told me that the storm was coming right for me. He knew that I was in trouble. I put on the performance of a lifetime and told him and my Mom that I was OK and everything would work out. I had similar conversations with my wife and kids. After both conversations I hung up the phone and cried. I then dropped to my knees and prayed. I prayed for a way out. I prayed that I'd see my Dad again. I prayed that I'd see my family. Surely this isn't where it was supposed to end for me is it?

Right then and there I received a sign. It was more like a directive. The thought went through my head saying "If you get out of here, you've got to get out of here!" I had always said that I wanted my own business again. I had always loved the leadership topics. Right then and there I said to myself and God that if I get out of this alive, I am going to start my own company and do what I want to do. Four years ago today, the building blocks of what Pathos Leadership Group (http://www.pathosleadershipgroup.com/) were formed!

There have been three "flash points" in my life. Hurricane Ivan was one of them! So what can a hurricane do for you? If you're like me, everything! It can help you align what you've always said that you were going to do and get you to do it. In writing this, most of you will never feel the effects of a hurricane. Hopefully, you'll never feel the betrayal I experienced. Do you need a hurricane-like I experienced to change your thoughts and change your life? You decide...

The "Science of Influence", Barack Obama & The Democratic National Convention

A client called me yesterday to ask me a question about the Democratic National Convention that is currently taking place in Denver. Just when you thought the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing couldn't be topped! He couldn't escape the press covereage, even though he tried! Here was his question, "The press is covering every aspect of the convention (Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton even Barack Obama's Wife and Kids (Michelle Obama + Malia Ann and Natasha), but where is Barack?"

Those of you who know the "Science of Influence" know that the Democratic National Committee has a lot to win this election year. They also have a lot to lose! Those behind the scenes, like Obama campaign manager David Plouffe know exactly what makes you and I "tick".

Why you don't see Barack Obama front and center initially at the Democratic National Convention is because of the "Science of Influence" principle of "Scarcity". As a society, we are hard-wired to want what there is little of, or what is scarce! David Plouffe and the rest of the Democratic Leadership know that if they flooded the convention with Barack Obama we would tune-out and potentially turn-off! My client remembered the story I told during one of my seminars about Eddie Murphy and Ritz Crackers. The "scarcity" scenario dictates whether you love them or see them as part of the scenary!

Let me go on record as saying that I am neither pro nor con regarding the Democratic Party, Barack Obama, his wife and kids, even the Clintons! There are plenty of blogs you can go to where they'll tell you exactly who to vote for (That's the "Science of Influence" principle of "Authority" at play). Instead, I'll encourage you to watch the convention and see if you can discover what "Science of Influence" principles are in action! It will make the event much more enjoyable, unless you're just watching for the firewords!

I've Seen The Future and It Looks Like This Guy!

A guy walks into a coffee bar with a laptop, guitar, video camera and a cigar...

That's either the beginning of a really bad joke or what the Influential Tecky would take advantage of! (See http://www.pathosleadershipgroup.com/ for more information on the Influential Leader) I know how much you enjoy my jokes, even though I know they're funny! Obviously the answer is what the Influential Tecky would take advantage of, and it was an awesome experience for me to tell you about.

Many of you know that last year I had an "Attractor Factor" with Dr. Joe Vitale (http://www.mrfire.com/) from "The Secret" fame. Well, as fate would take me, I was introduced to Pat O'Bryan late last year. Pat wrote the book on internet marketing and entrepreneurship called "Your Portable Empire" (That's him in the picture...He looks pretty stressed out huh?). The theory behind the book is that if you get good at Technology (Hello Influential Tecky!), you can really set up home-base where ever you want and be where ever you want to be and still make a living. Simple, straight forward, and well worth the read (Find out more about Pat at his website http://www.patobryan.com/ ).

Tuesday night I was invited to meet with Pat. Now even though we're both in Texas, Pat lives down in the hill country (Wimberley, TX) and I live in the DFW Metroplex (Keller, TX), so there is about 250 miles between us. With gas being nearly $4/gallon, I wasn't scared of the "fill-up fee" of driving there. However, I don't have the time right now! And this is where Pat has filled the gap by finding http://www.justin.tv/ and creating his own television channel at http://www.portableempire.tv/ .

The broadcast was filled with Pat playing his guitar, drinking coffee, holding a cigar and talking to the audience of nearly 70 people about what he was up to. There was a chat feature where he could interact with us ("If what you're doing isn't working STOP doing it!" he told one person), and we could interact with each other! The hour was filled with great questions/answers on how to be successful on the net and more than one technical "opportunity" or challenge, but still a great time was had by all. I remember my family's first color television. An awesome day for the Palazzolo family and that's what this day reminded me of. I can still see my Dad adjusting the rabbit ears to pull in that reception...Good times!

My challenge to you is this...In "The Influential Leader" I talk about how technology is coming at us faster and more furious than ever before, and that we must truly be Masters of it in order to be influential. Watching Pat from Wimberley reminded me of how far we've come, and scared the you know what out of me regarding where we're going! It ought to do the same for you. So what are you doing today that is going to allow you to Master technology? Is it dusting off that Microsoft Office coursebook that brought us together for the first time? Are you going to search the net today for how you can become more influential? Are you going to write yourself an action plan on how you can stop wasting 15 minutes a day on nothing and start doing something technology related to make you better?

This weekend is an exciting time for me...It marks the launch of 2 new websites where I will serve those that want to get the "Influential Edge" working for them! One site (The "Influence Revolution" at http://www.influencerevolution.com/ ) is dedicated to reviewing the content of "The Influential Leader" where we'll work through the 10 Critical Skills identified to make you more successful. Here's the best part, there will be no travel for you or for me! No $4/gallon of gas being burned driving to/from the session, no being out of the office for the day, and no wasting of your time! What's in it for me...No planes/trains/automobiles and no phone calls from little girls asking "Daddy, when are you coming home?". We're going to be doing all of our training online via WebEx (http://www.pathosleadershipgroup.webex.com/). Real simple, real straight forward, real good! If you've got time to sit in on the "live" session, great! If you can't spare the hour at whatever time we're launching, great! Why "great"? Every session will be recorded so you can receive the information at your convenience, or participate in something termed "Virtual Training" or "Training on Demand".The other site (http://www.gotinfluence.com/) is dedicated to coaching. This business came out of nowhere for me last year when I had people approach me on taking them to their next level! I had a participant throw me the "Got Influence?" tagline to me similar to the "Got Milk?" campaign and well, it just made perfect sense to me to explore this deeper. I joined the International Coach Federation and began developing my skills as a coach to make certain I can provide 30x my clients investment in value. It's worked so far, and good news must get around because I was approached by Vistage International (www.vistage.com) to start Fort Worth, Texas' first Chief Executive membership group!

I'll be running limited introductory offers during the month of June and I hope you are fortunate to get one of the slots to work with me in these new endeavors...It's going to be awesome!

Who knows where this will lead us? I am dedicated to providing the best tools possible through the most comfortable medium for you! Who knows, someday you may be tuning in to watch Pat and I broadcasting live from a coffee house in Wimberley, Texas together!