Rumors of my Death...

Mark Twain said it, and now it's my opportunity too as well...

"The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated"

Imagine my surprise last Friday when I received a Google Alert on my name. Now the surprise shouldn't come from my name being out there in cyberspace (Last month I was published in 40+ periodicals from an article on "Influential Communication"). No, the surprise came because of who had me in their website, the Michigan Obituaries!

I was shocked...I was horrified...I was outraged...But most of all, I was reflective. As I looked at the words that summarized my life, there was so much more that I wanted to accomplish. There was so much more that I wanted to do. There were so many more people that I wanted to help!

OK, OK...It wasn't really my obituary, the name "Palazzolo" while not being that common a name outside the Italian community within the community can be strong in numbers. This weekend I played in a softball tournament (See...I couldn't really be dead, right?) and there was a gentleman that I met whose grandmother was a "Palazzolo"!

I read the obituary half a dozen times and then it sank in for me. I asked myself "What if this was the time to write your obituary? After all, I am getting older and I did pull a hamstring during game 1 of the softball tournament (It left for a really bad hobble/wobble and everyone calling me "Gimpy"...Apparently that was the 8th dwarf that never made it off of the cutting-room floor!)

In our "Influential Storyteller" sessions we look at this deep issue. What would your obituary say? Who would it mention as being left behind? What would be your greatest accomplishments? Where do you live? What were you best known for?

Perhaps the most important area discussed during this "Science of Influence" looks at leadership discussion is the most difficult for participants to grasp. It brings about tears during each and every session. The emotional impact is P-O-W-E-R-F-U-L (POWERFUL). Here's the "tear-jerker" question...

What legacy are you leaving behind?

Take a moment today...Look at the obituaries in your local paper and say a prayer for the families and friends who have lost a loved one. Then think of what if that was your name staring back at you from the black+white print? If it was written today, would you be happy with what it said? If it was written ten years from now, would you be even more pleased? What legacy did you leave behind? The issue of "legacy" is it that heart and sole of being an Influential Leader!

If you'd like more information on our "Influential Storyteller" or any of our other programs, please drop me a line at info@pathosleadershipgroup.com. We have sessions scheduled regularly through webinars, or we'd love to come to you/your organization!

SP

So What's Your Title? - How the Science of Influence Effects You!

I received an email today...Not that big of a deal right? You probably did too! I read the message, but noticed something unusual that I wanted to bring to your attention. It was the "title" underneath the person's name that stood out...Here it is:

Peer Assistance and Leadership and Link Crew Sponsor Communication Applications, Psychology, Sociology Gallup Strengths: Self-Assurance, Focus, Learner, Relator, Ideation

You are probably asking the same question I asked myself..."What?" I'd ask each of us to look at our signature that gets sent out on each and every email that we send and reflect "What does this say about me?" or more importantly "Do I have a call to action that I want the person receiving my email to perform?"

A few years ago I had the experience of attending a workshop where all we did was develop our signature lines. I never realized the importance of that workshop until today! This one email signature strikes me as both odd and overly-informative simultaneously.

Now I know what some of you are going to say "Why do you care?" The reason I care is that in our Influential Communication workshop we discuss the accuracy of how every-little aspect of our public/private persona is multiplied by 10x when put into a non-verbal format. The reason being that we as human beings tend to "Dr. Phil" each and every email/text message/website that we encounter and analyze them six different ways 'til Sunday! What comes across as perhaps an "insiders Rosetta stone" turns into an outsiders puzzle. We often times are left guessing, and when it comes to "guessing" we generally do not guess correctly!

So what does your email signature line say to everyone, both insiders and outsiders? I'll bet you'll look at making a modification after reading this!

If you'd like more information on our upcoming Influential Communication session, please send me an email at info@pathosleadershipgroup.com... I'll be looking for your signature line!

Sam Palazzolo
President & Chief Influence Officer
Pathos Leadership Group
http://www.pathosleadershipgroup.com/

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...