I was about 7 rows back in a packed theatre the 2nd day this movie was out. It was one of the only times in recent memory the audience clapped at the end. Which was deserved. Here are some key takeaways, one being the unlikely suggestion that  we all need to be more like Queen in our public speaking endeavors – especially founders pitching investors. * Side note: I was floored that Hollywood made a PG-13 movie about Queen, and that it is in my view, legitimately PG-13. As many others have already suggested, I predict an Oscar Nomination for…

*editor’s note: This is a shift from regular On Point posts – although we do teach storytelling in a professional context – this is part of my story, and a fun, light-hearted and personal example. Enjoy. ———————————- On the morning of November 2, 2016, I was talking to my 4 kids in the car on the way to school. They ranged in age from 7 to 13. We were pretty giddy, and rightfully so. “So guys, it’s Game 7 tonight right? Well there’s a tradition that after sports teams win it all, they go back to the locker room and…

This week I got a call to help someone with an investor pitch, but it was too late. They were pitching in 48 hours… the deck was final – they’d had to send it to the organizers already. Our schedules didn’t align quite enough. And we hadn’t discussed a general budget nevermind drafted any agreements. Not Enough Time I was bummed. I wanted to help them “Nail It!” And they wanted – likely needed – a “spit shine” so they could pitch with no regrets. So they could say, “We prepared the best we could.” But there just wasn’t time. Not…

ON POINT COMMUNICATIONS: OUR CORE VALUES Curious to know what On Point Communications is all about? Look no further. Find out in 60 seconds or less by reading below.  1: The “I Nailed it!” Feeling. This is the feeling I seek for every client I coach. Our coaching is theory-based. That’s right, Aristotelean Rhetorical Theory (Cindy’s graduate degree), is our foundation and centers on Speaker-Audience-Message. It’s the recipe for achieving the “I Nailed It!” feeling. When you finish an investor pitch, when you find out the Executive Summary you sent to a VC group was exactly what they were looking for,…

I am lucky to have extended family in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. That means that during our visits, we don’t have to explore the jewels of this Civil War town in one fell swoop. We get to discover it piece by piece, one visit at a time. Each year, the week before we travel, I watch Martin Sheen and Jeff Daniels in the film Gettysburg, to refresh my memory about the pivotal events that took place here more than 150 years ago. It makes my visit mean more. There is absolutely a sacred and hallowed ground here in Gettysburg. As you know,…