I overthink so you don’t have to.

The Red Thread® Newsletter

Stories, examples, images, and data you can use to help bring your ideas and messages to life.

The best ideas aren’t found — they’re built. Get a weekly dose of strategies, studies, and stories — direct to your inbox from me — to help you make your ideas strong enough to build change on.

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FRESH THREADS

The Freenoter Podcast

There are lots of resources out there on how to become a paid speaker or keynoter, but what if you speak to build your business, as a FREEnoter? Each week, join me and Tom Webster as we cover all the angles of how to profit from speaking for free. If you are looking to grow your business from the stage--without "selling from the stage," this is the show for you. We will cover EVERY aspect of building your business through speaking, and even share a different craft cocktail recipe every week, just because. Subscribe now!

Message in a Minute: How to make a Problem more persuasive

People are sometimes surprised to learn that not every piece of your Red Thread needs to be an “aha!” moment—or even all that differentiated.

How could you use it? Neutrinos, pennies, and 99¢ iced tea

I have a confession to make. I couldn’t decide which Red Thread Swipefile to feature this week, as there were just so many good ones to choose from.

Message in a Minute: Getting attention with a Goal

Today is all about pudding. As in the English-language idiom, “the proof is in the pudding.”

How could you use it? The Muppet Show Pitch

Have you ever had trouble figuring out how to end a piece of content? Do your presentations or articles just kind of…stop?

Message in a Minute: How to overcome objections to your message

Because objections have been on my clients’ minds a lot lately, I decided to make this wee video:

How could you use it? The real reason fans hate the last season of Game of Thrones

Okay, I get that you might be tempted to think that this post is about some frivolous, three-year-old article about a show you may or may not have seen. You might even be tempted to think there’s nothing here of use to you. Even if that’s you, please reconsider.

Message in a Minute: What does your audience actually care about?

In a previous Message in a Minute video, you learned that the best way to drive action from your idea is to activate your audience’s attachment to the outcome. And the best way to do that was to frame your idea as an answer to a question your audience is currently asking (the GOAL).

Message in a Minute: Make sure your audience cares enough to act

There’s one question—or version of it—I get a lot: How can we get people to care?

Behind the curtains of my latest keynote

Have you ever wanted to see what a speaker’s presentation looks like from their point of view? The one they see when they’re on the stage? The one they use to rehearse before they perform?

The Red Thread® Newsletter

Stories, examples, images, and data you can use to help bring your ideas and messages to life.
The best ideas aren’t found — they’re built. Get a weekly dose of strategies, studies, and stories — direct to your inbox from me — to help you make your ideas strong enough to build change on.