A conversation in Singapore recently highlighted again to the value of Listening. “I did the hard work of keeping my mouth shut.” This was the comment made by my friend Dr James Chia, over lunch in Little India. I almost dropped my pappadum back into the cucumber raita. So profound. He’s a great leader, and…
Albert Einstein is quoted as saying ‘Play is the highest form of research’. It doesn’t sound like serious business, does it? But it’s how children learn, and they take their play very seriously. Just try interrupting them to go to bed! Do you put yourself under pressure to network properly, professionally? Do you lie awake…
One of the rewards of publishing a book like Do Talk To Strangers – Connect with Anyone, Anywhere, is to receive feedback from readers who are ‘having a go’ and achieving great things in their lives, and have found important insights in my book and my presentations which encourage, inspire and motivate them to continue…
DO Talk To Strangers – How To Connect With Anyone, Anywhere is a book for Difference-Makers everywhere. It’s a book that will support your personal and professional development – and we’ll create a more connected world. We all crave connection, yet we fall into the trap of busyness, shyness, and underestimating the impact of our…
Meeting someone new could change the course of your life! Which can literally change the course of history. A momentary meeting, where eyes meet and someone offers a comment or question, not knowing if their offering will be accepted. Perhaps it starts with a letter, a comment online or a phone call, but someone takes…
Celebrating Women in Agriculture – what a great idea! This was the name of the luncheon I was honoured to speak at today, hosted by Gary and Joy Paddison of Ozfarm Services in Parkes, NSW. I shared a few thoughts on “connecting” from my new book Do Talk To Strangers and an article that I…
I met fellow Author Tony Inman at my last Perth Conversations event in 2011 and we’ve kept in touch on facebook – lately through my Do Talk to Strangers Group. Tony volunteered to preview my book manuscript and sent me the following email. It’s incredible. Moved me to tears. So here’s “Guest writer” Tony’s amazing…
Go somewhere new! Or say yes to an event invitation! I was invited to an art exhibition opening on Friday night at the Fire Station Arts Centre, and although I didn’t know the artist I knew it would be a great chance to chat with a few people for 20 -30 minutes and see something…
Last week contained several significant moments – our 20th Wedding Anniversary, a speaking engagement with an amazing audience, and a memorable photo shoot with a photographer I’d connected with in a split second. Let’s revisit ANZAC Day for a moment (see this previous blog for the start of the story) where I saw hundreds – maybe thousands of…