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Laughter is the best… lesson
The best bit of my job as a motivational speaker is learning from truly great speakers. I always learn from watching talented performers who can hold the audience in their hands and fill the stage with their presence. I’m referring, of course, to stand-up comedians. And that’s why I recently found myself in a small…
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Making Babies with AI
I’m old enough to remember when Dancing Baby was state of the art: But, three decades later, that pixelated, jerky .gif image looks painfully outdated and amateurish. It got me wondering, what might a computer-generated baby look like in 2025… So, to begin, I uploaded this photo of me to ChatGPT: Then I asked ChatGPT…
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Are your HIPPOS holding you back?
Predicting the future is famously difficult. Mostly because it hasn’t happened yet. But, I’m reliably informed, it will. With this in mind, preparing for the future sounds like a smart strategy right now. In business, we often hand responsibility for our future to the leaders. Their task is to see the big picture, set the…
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Knowing My Luck
Unlucky Alf: “See this? It’s an FA Cup final ticket, though *knowing my luck* they’ll probably cancel the game. So, I’ve decided not to risk it. I’m just goin’ t’ sit here, wi’ a nice glass o’ beer, and watch it on t’ telly.” [he picks up the remote, presses a button and the TV…
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The Old Curiosity
I often talk about curiosity being one of our most powerful AI-defeating human superpowers. Having the ability to question the status quo, to naively ask “Why?”, helps us better understand the present and make space in our minds where new possibilities can bubble up. Much of working life—processes, systems, rules— seems fixed, constant, nailed down.…
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Use Your Imagination
Creativity is a curious beast. When I talk about the miracle of human creativity, and how much better it can be than suggestions from A.I., I often sense a real unease building in the audience. “What? You want me to be creative? At work? Oh no, I don’t do that sort of thing.” “We have…
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But is it what it is?
I’ve never cared much for the phrase “it is what it is.” I’m sure I’ve said it a few times, and heard it many more. But it never sat well with me. It smacks of resignation, reluctance, and self-suffering. Maybe even a little victimhood. We proclaim “it is what it is” when something is not…
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Two questions for busy event organisers
We jokingly called them the “Croissant Department” at Microsoft. The Events Team put on dozens of conferences each month. They were stunningly good at their job. Real legends of the industry. But occasionally even they got caught up in the event management hamster wheel, churning out events because someone wanted an event, not because that…
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How to Rehearse Like a Pro
The Speaker Awards took place in London, UK, last week. This year I was Head Judge, and proudly presented some awards and hosted a quick-fire ‘Ask The Expert’ session. The topic I chose to explore with my fellow speakers: “How to Rehearse Like A Pro” The advice I’m sharing here is relevant to anyone who…
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Adventures in Improvisation for a Keynote Speaker
I’ve been learning improvisation skills for a couple of years now. I find it helps me become a better speaker by developing my performance muscles, but also tests me in ways that motivational speaking sometimes cannot. In simple terms, improv helps me ‘be in the moment’, surviving on my wits. It’s a country mile away…
