5 steps to convince people to change their behavior

Convincing your listeners to stop something is always harder than getting them to buy into a new idea. Bringing a current plan to a halt requires people to admit the idea was bad. Smart people like to be right and will often defend an idea to death. Peer pressure also drives communal thinking, making it even harder to convince a large group that the idea is bad. Read more

5 lessons to write a memorable speech or presentation

As John F. Kennedy closed his inauguration address on that blustery January day in 1961, he made the famous challenge, “Ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” Evaluating this address uncovers how to prepare words that will resonate for decades. Read more

Free PowerPoint-Tastic Templates – #013: Cross-Functional Team

Each week, the Fast Track Tools training company and the Cubicle Ninjas design firm work together to publish a template that makes it easier for you to communicate your ideas. This week, we developed an image that busts the silos in organizations. This free template will help you present the strong working relationships between multiple groups or individuals. Read more

What motivates us? It’s not what you think!

Dan Pink has a great video out about what motivates us. Hint – it is not what you think!

In addition to being fun to watch (take my word for it), he shares really surprising research about what compels people to perform. An MIT study has demonstrated that, once you get beyond rudimentary cognitive skills, higher financial rewards actually result in LOWER performance! Read more

Big challenges ahead of big dreams?

Big dreams often come with challenges and hurdles that must be navigated and overcome. No matter the obstacle, dreams are at the core of most great ideas. But what if the barrier was a law that would not allow you to pursue your dream? Here are three people who would not let that stop them. Read more

Free PowerPoint-Tastic Templates – #012: United Team

Each week, the Fast Track Tools training company and the Cubicle Ninjas design firm work together to publish a template that makes it easier for you to communicate your ideas. This week we developed a diagram for illustrating a team that works well together. Read more

Ken Revenaugh speaks to CEB members

July, 2010 – Fast Track Tools founder Ken Revenaugh spoke to Corporate Executive Board members on July 13, 2010 to highlight the value of a detective workshop in moving sales people to value selling mindset. One of CEB’s research programs, the integrated Sales Executive Council (iSEC), recently published a case study describing a member company’s success in using the detective workshop. Read more

Cultivating strong talent takes time

Blackberries and the Internet make the line between home and work easy to blur. But vacations and work need a strong line drawn. While at play, collecting factoids and stories is about the only thing close to work I want to be doing. After finishing a long weekend in Paso Robles wine country, I can count the stories, but did not read a single email! Read more

Free PowerPoint-Tastic Templates – #011: Three Chapters

Each week, the Fast Track Tools training company and the Cubicle Ninjas design firm work together to publish a template that makes it easier for you to communicate your ideas. This week we developed a group of section dividers that help you mark the three chapters of a presentation. Read more

3 tips to tell authentic business stories

Becoming a good storyteller is key to being able to succeed and communicate well. People enjoy listening to stories and it is a lot easier to drive a point home by using an effective metaphor, powerful descriptions, or tales that will win your audience’s hearts and minds. Read more