This last week, I delivered a keynote

in Seattle to 500+ top sales & marketing

professionals at a tech/software company.

I gave it my all.

It took a lot of extra prep.

There were a number of important company specifics

that I wanted to weave in and address.

Selecting and crafting the larger

content pieces is always essential,

and the details make a huge difference, too.

Are you pronouncing a key person’s name

(and the company name) correctly?

Do you have their terminology accurately noted?

Do the sales team members meet with

a CTO, CIO, CFO or CEO or other?

When I first worked with Starbucks

(and subsequently collaborated with them on over 13 projects)

I learned in my research early on that

they use the term “partners” vs. “employees.”

Had I gotten on stage and said “employees”

I would have lost some cred.

Years ago, my choreography teacher

(the late great Bessie Schonberg) said,

“Make sure there are no threads

hanging from people’s costumes.”

It’s not about being a neat freak, she explained.

It’s about audience focus.

If there are loose threads dangling,

that’s where people’s attention will go.

The importance and power

of precision

cannot be underestimated.

Risk Forward & Rock On,

P.S. This Wednesday’s keynote was a joy. Amazing company…and a Standing O at the end.