By Hall of Fame Speaker Connie Podesta Let’s talk about fear. As emotions go, it doesn’t have the best reputation. People don’t usually want to be seen as fearful or anxiety-ridden or…well, wimpy. But here are two things you should know. Everybody (and I mean everybody) experiences anxiety about something. Anxiety can be a catalyst for some pretty amazing things. As someone who’s been a speaker for more than 25 years, I know a thing or two about this topic. You’ve probably heard that people are statistically more afraid of public speaking than they are of death. I get Read More
Creating an Incredible Virtual Experience
Creating an Incredible Virtual Experience
By Connie Podesta, CSP, CPAE, Hall of Fame Speaker When a pandemic forced event planners and leaders to cancel all live events almost overnight, it was hard to even imagine what the future would look like. I totally get it. As someone who makes a living speaking to conventions packed with hundreds and thousands of people, often shoulder- to-shoulder, I feel your pain, and your frustration. Social distancing has seriously thrown a big global wrench into all our calendars. The big question for most became – “Now what?” Lockdowns, shelters-in-place, and shuttered stages aside, what hasn’t Read More
Leadership Book Wins!
Leadership Book Wins!
CONNIE PODESTA’S LEADERSHIP LIKE YOU’VE NEVER HEARD IT BEFORE WINS GOLD AWARD Dallas, TX: December 18, 2019: The Nonfiction Authors Association awards Connie Podesta the Gold Award for her business book, Leadership Like You’ve Never Heard it Before. Here are the reviews: “Podesta has provided those in management with a book that brings her expertise and conversational tone right into their space. She tells stories and she makes them relatable to managers, either new or seasoned, for self-reflection and improvement. I imagine that someone wanting to move into their first management job Read More
Quit Avoiding Difficult Decisions
Quit Avoiding Difficult Decisions
By Hall of Fame Speaker Connie Podesta, CSP, CPAE Decisions are a part of life, especially the difficult ones. The ones that you have to weigh out a little more than most because they can mean a change of direction, new opportunity, new job, or a choice in a relationship. Every day we’re faced with crossroads and opportunities to choose. I had a radio show, then I was offered a speaking job. When I was speaking full time, I was offered a television show. Each time, I had a big, difficult decision to make. I’m glad I made them. For every great decision I’ve made in my life, I’m sure there Read More
Quit Being a Victim
Quit Being a Victim
By Connie Podesta, Hall of Fame Speaker Straight talk? If you’re 25, 65+ years old or anywhere in between and you’re still blaming your parents for a few (or many) things you believe are responsible for the condition of your life right now – then you’re totally on the wrong path. Now I’m not saying to discount any negative childhood messages or experiences. I’m definitely 100% an advocate for children who’ve been through trauma and I know what that means moving into adulthood. What I am saying is that when you reach the age of adulthood, it’s time to use your awareness of what you’ve been Read More
Quit Underestimating the Importance of Childhood Messages
Quit Underestimating the Importance of Childhood Messages
By Human Behavior Expert & Hall of Fame Speaker Connie Podesta Straight talk? If you’re 25, 65+ years old or anywhere in between and you’re still blaming your parents for a few (or many) things you believe are responsible for the condition of your life right now – then you’re totally on the wrong path. Now I’m not saying to discount any negative childhood messages or experiences. I’m definitely 100% an advocate for children who’ve been through trauma and I know what that means moving into adulthood. What I am saying is that when you reach the age of adulthood, it’s time to use your Read More
Quit Shifting the BLAME
Quit Shifting the BLAME
By Hall of Fame Speaker, Award Winning Author. Connie Podesta, CSP, CPAE While accountability is a common topic in organizations these days, I encourage my audiences to think about that concept as a promise. When employees are hired, they are essentially making a promise to the company to perform the duties of a particular job. It’s an emotional commitment as much as a legal contract. But if employees don’t consider themselves totally responsible for doing their jobs correctly, the promise is missing. The sense of commitment is lost. Trust erodes. And we all know it’s virtually impossible Read More
Quit Allowing People to Sabotage You
Quit Allowing People to Sabotage You
By Hall of Fame Speaker Connie Podesta Nothing throws a wrench in a meeting like the sneers of passive-aggressive people. Sitting there, arms folded, huffing and puffing. But they never really say what’s bugging them. Ugh! The next move is yours, and it’s pretty clear-cut. If you don’t shut down that sabotaging behavior now, you’re basically giving them a free pass to be rude. They are getting away with it, and you’re letting them. The only solution is to take a stand—and take action. I know what you’re thinking now: “But Connie, I don’t like conflict.” I get it. Most people don’t. Read More
Quit Allowing Yourself to Be Manipulated
Quit Allowing Yourself to Be Manipulated
By Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta Oh, this topic is a doozy, but it’s universal. Everyone on the planet has come into contact with people who use manipulative emotions like hurt and anger to get their own way. Sometimes it’s obvious. Other times, interactions leave us blindsided by feelings of guilt or fear. No doubt about it, manipulative behavior can be powerful. It’s also a skill that gets tested and perfected from a very young age. I call it the “birth of a jerk” phase. Sounds harsh but stay with me here. Somewhere around three or four years old, kids begin testing Read More
Quit SELLING from a Place of Desperation Rather Than Success
Quit SELLING from a Place of Desperation Rather Than Success
By Sales Keynote Speaker and Human Behavior Expert Connie Podesta Bottom line? People want to buy from salespeople who project confidence, not desperation. In the video below, I share two personal stories of my experience as a new speaker. The first, an occasion where I acted completely out of desperation and literally ended up spending more to get myself to the multi-day event than I made. The other was when I ignored the completely blank you’ve-got-no-bookings calendar in front of me and answered an event manager’s question to whether I was available in July with two very strong Read More