I was driving in a new area a few days ago and got lost...despite the GPS.

So I approached another human being who was walking his dog and he gave me on-point directions. "Go 2 miles; you'll pass the library and a gas station. At the light, turn left onto Broadway. There's a Walgreens on the corner. Take Broadway about half-a-mile and you'll see signs for the highway on the right. Bear right and then stay left towards Highway 10."

The various places and signs he told me to look for were super helpful in me finding my way. Being specific in our communication is critical, especially when we "talk to ourselves"...you know the internal soundtrack that's constantly looping in our heads. Our brains are wired to be specific. When we write down clear goals, our brains become laser-focused and move us towards what we want.

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A key take-away from students in one of my recent online coaching programs wa...

People often ask me about the "official" name of my publicity training company, Get in Front Communications.

Get in Front is a constant reminder to me to be proactive. It goes back to one of my "signature stories" when I speak and train people. It's about my husband Andrew, our son Danny, and the game of ice hockey.

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When Danny was seven-years-old and learning to play hockey, Andrew, who has been on skates since he was four, told him, "Get in front of the net, the puck, and  the other players."

Danny didn't understand, and with a puzzled look and a shrug of his shoulders, he quizzically asked, "Why? Why should I get in front?"

Andrew's response was simple and it applies to each of us.

"Because that's where all the action is. Nothing exciting happens to the guys who hang out in the back. Get in front of the net, the puck, and the other players. Get in front and make something hap...

Chances are, you’re getting your business story—and marketing copy—all wrong. Don’t worry; you’ve got plenty of company, myself included.

Listening to a presentation by Donald Miller, author of the best-selling book “StoryBrand,” I was laughing—and cringing. The focus of Miller’s talk was clarity around how we present our offerings (products and services) to prospects.

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Here are 10 gems from Miller’s keynote at the EntreLeadership Summit. The final one is a video clip (above) from my follow-up interview with Miller.

1. On knowing your place: “Your brand is not the hero. Your customer is the hero.”

2. On helping your customers survive: “Everything humans think about is about survival. Associate your products and services with your customer’s survival, or they’ll tune out.”

3. On competitors: “Take down the competition by being clear. Don’t be vague 
...

Austin, Texas was the backdrop for the Public Relations Society of Americas’ International Conference #PRSAICON2018.

What’s on the mind of PR pros these days?

The theme: Convergence and Communication covered a range of topics including conflicts, creativity and client relationships. Crunching numbers (data and measurement) was a hot topic as well.

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The three-day event was packed with dozens of workshops, networking and impressive keynotes. Though I was one of the presenters, my greatest joy was sitting in the audience listening and learning from such knowledgeable and interesting peers.

We’re at a time in history when the media has become the scapegoat for what some claim is “fake news.” Others are attempting to clarify the obscured lines between trained journalists and the media. The conversations remain more important than ever. If we think for a moment that we are in ‘j...