Excited for my NEW speaker reel to debut on Monday, 2/12. Huge thanks to my awesome videographer Aaron Lympany of Rhymes With Timpani who has been there every step and frame of the way.
Like a good Super Bowl commercial, let me give you some teasers:
– there will be live fish involved
– the Goldfishmobile will make a drive-by cameo
– my virtual studio gets featured
– the concept of DX is front and center
Have a Super Weekend!
Stan Phelp's Blog
The Goldfish Chronicles
Sharing insights on customer experience, employee engagement, and brand strategy.
Extrinsic factors like salary and benefits don’t necessarily lead to employee motivation or boost firm performance. What does?
Intrinsic elements.
That’s what Dan Ariely shared on a recent episode of the Prof G podcast with Scott Galloway.
The Green Goldfish concept, which emphasizes the importance of going beyond monetary incentives, also reinforces this idea.
The color green is a metaphor that signifies the importance of recognizing and engaging employees through non-monetary means. Lagniappe, a Creole word that means “a little something extra,” is a key aspect of this concept of going above and beyond the transaction to honor the relationship.
Ariely highlights three elements of intrinsic motivation: feeling appreciated, psychological safety, and alignment with the company. These elements align with some of the 15 types of Green Goldfish, such as recognition, transparency, and purpose/pay it forward.
Investing in intrinsic rewards can help create a work culture that values and respects employees. It’s not always about the money honey!
“People don’t buy WHAT you do… they buy WHY you do it.” This famous quote by Simon Sinek speaks to the power of a company’s PURPOSE and its role in driving customer engagement and loyalty.
In “Red Goldfish,” Graeme Newell and I examined more than 300 companies. We focused on their purpose and how they did little things to bring it to life.
We saw patterns and our research uncovered 8 purpose archetypes. This video describes each one with a company that exemplifies the archetype.
1. The Protector [Patagonia]
2. The Liberator [Harley-Davidson Motor Company]
3. The Designer [Apple]
4. The Guide [Google]
5. The Advocate [Panera Bread]
6. The Challenger [Nike]
7. The Unifier [Whole Foods Market]
8. The Master [Warby Parker]
What is your PURPOSE archetype? More importantly, what’s your Red Goldfish? How are you doing the little things to bring your purpose to life for both your employees and customers?
What can Andre Agassi teach us about Excelling Under Pressure and winning in business?
Plenty.
In this 8-minute talk from the 2023 AENC Speaker Showcase, I share lessons from the book, “Diamond Goldfish”.
In the words of Marcel Proust, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes… but in having new eyes.”
If you can see business through a new lens as the ultimate game, you can wire yourself for winning.
Diamond Goldfish uncovers how business is a game. The key to winning is managing relationships and minimizing pressure. Performing at the highest level goes beyond simply treating the prospect or customer the way they prefer to be treated.
This short talk shares how the Diamond Rule beats the Silver Rule, the Golden Rule, and the Platinum Rule—combined.
The 4.0 Diamond Rule challenges you to see the process of developing relationships in a new way. It can provide you with a complete business execution system for generating prosperity and winning in business.
I’m typically not a fan of when LinkedIn publishes your work anniversaries. But today is a rare exception. Today marks my 10th anniversary of being an Instructor for the Association of National Advertisers (ANA).
I’ve been honored to be part of ANA’s Marketing Training & Development Center over the last decade. If you are not familiar with the ANA, they are the advertising industry’s oldest and largest trade association.
Focused on driving growth, the ANA works with its members to become more effective marketers, build stronger brands, and benefit humanity through bold leadership and innovative programs.
I facilitate six different virtual and in-person workshops with the ANA, but here are my top three most requested:
– Journey Mapping Your Customer Experience
– Effective Communication & Presentation Skills
– Excelling Under Pressure to Lead Effective Teams
Looking forward to another decade of working with Mark Liebert, Lisa Guhanick, Jerusha Harvey, and the entire team.
It was because the movie decided to leverage the Pink Goldfish strategy of Lopsiding. Greta Gerwig, who directed and co-wrote the script with Noah Baumbach, told “Architectural Digest” that the color was all-important to the movie.
“Maintaining the ‘kid-ness’ was paramount. I wanted the pinks to be very bright, and everything to be almost too much.”
Double and triple down on uniqueness. That’s Lopsiding.
For background, PINK is an interesting color with a unique history…
Pink was first used as a color name in English in the late 1600s. Prior to that, there was no formal recognition that pink was even a color. Some still argue that, scientifically speaking, pink isn’t a color because it doesn’t exist in the light spectrum.
The golden age for pink was during the Rococo Period in the 1700s. Pastel colors became fashionable in all the courts of Europe. Pink was particularly championed by the mistress of Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour.
Throughout the 1800s and into the early 1900s, pink ribbons or decorations were often worn by young boys in England. That’s right. Boys. They were considered small men, and while men in England wore red uniforms, boys wore pink. Pink was seen as a more masculine color than light blue. Let that sink in for a minute. Pink was considered masculine.
A 1918 article in “Ladies Home Journal” explained that “the generally accepted rule is pink for the boys and blue for the girls. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.” Pink was strong. Blue was delicate. Theories to explain this have varied over the years, but it’s generally believed that blue was associated with the Virgin Mary, hence its more feminine connotations, while pink was linked to red, which was seen as a strong and masculine color.
It wasn’t until the mid-1900s that people started choosing pink for girls and blue for boys. This became the accepted norm in the 1940s. The tipping point for pink occurred in 1953. First when the new First Lady of the United States, Mamie Eisenhower, wore a pink gown for the presidential inauguration of her husband, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Then Marilyn Monroe immortalized the color with her iconic pink satin dress while singing “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” in the movie “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.”
In other words, the current mainstream belief that pink is a female color and that blue is a male color is less than 100 years old.
In the book, “Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color” by Valerie Steele, she explains that “the pinkification of girl culture really took off in the 1970s and 1980s when Mattel, Inc. had Barbie acquire a new, predominantly pink wardrobe.” More and more, pink was associated with youthful femininity.
What are you lopsiding?
“Be Like a Goldfish.” That was the last four words of Ted Lasso. It is also the first of three life lessons from the iconic show.
OK – you might think I’m partial to Goldfish because of my books. But to steal a line from Will Ferrell in the movie Elf, “It’s just nice to meet another human who shares my affinity for goldfish culture.”
If you haven’t seen the show, Coach Ted Lasso poses a question to Sam Obisanya, “What’s the happiest animal on Earth?”
Sam is a young Nigerian right-back for AFC Richmond. He’s struggling to find his footing and he’s hard on himself after making mistakes. He shrugs.
Lasso shares, “It’s a goldfish. You know why?”
Sam is puzzled and shakes his head.
Coach continues, “Got a 10-second memory… Be a goldfish, Sam.”
The life lesson from Coach Lasso is don’t dwell on the bad. Forget it and concentrate on the next opportunity.
The second lesson is about effort. The scene begins with the coaching staff watching the players on the pitch.
Coach Beard to Ted, “They can’t maintain their lines. [Ted sighs] These guys are just not in sync.”
Ted calls the team over, “No. No, no. Guys, come on. That ain’t gonna cut it. Y’all gotta be together on this, all right?”
The camera pulls back and reveals that Ted is trying to teach the team a 90s dance routine.
“It’s like this.[Ted demonstrates his best N’Sync form] You may hate me, but it ain’t no lie. Yeah? Then the hands. ‘Bye, bye, bye.’ All right? And watch my jumps. ‘Ain’t no lie.’ See how I’m jumping? Like I’m a marionette. That’s why this song is on the album, ‘No Strings Attached,’ all right?”
[The team murmurs in agreement]
Ted emphasizes, “Yes. Okay, good. Now, look, fellas, performing this at Doc’s going-away party ain’t gonna mean Bo Jackson diddly squat unless she can tell how hard we worked on it. You know what I mean? It ain’t the execution. That ain’t the gift. It’s the effort. Yeah? Okay? You see what I mean?”
Life Lesson: Effort matters
The third lesson comes from my favorite scene in the first season. Ted bets on a game of darts against the villainous Rupert Manion.
Ted is losing badly and needs a near-impossible score of 170 to win.
As he’s about to throw, Ted shares how guys have underestimated him his entire life. He shares that it used to bother him until he saw the Walt Whitman quote, “Be curious, not judgmental.”
He continues his story as he hits a triple 20, “All them fellas that used to belittle me, not a single one of them were curious.”
He shares how their judgments had nothing to do with him because if they were curious, they would’ve asked questions…
“Questions like, have you played a lot of darts Ted?”
Throwing his second dart, he hits another triple 20. Now, he just needs 50 to win.
Ted confirms he played a lot of darts with his late father.
He utters, “Barbeque sauce” and hits the winning bullseye. The bar erupts.
Life Lesson – Curiosity is key.
Through vivid examples like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Japanese art form of kintsugi, and even the unexpected triumph of AI in the game of Go, Rubin demonstrates how embracing flaws and deviating from accepted norms can lead to remarkable breakthroughs.
One of the notable examples that Rubin presents in his book is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Despite being an architectural flaw, the tower has captivated people around the world for centuries. Rubin suggests that its imperfection adds a unique character and charm. The tower’s lean challenges conventional expectations of perfection, illustrating the beauty that can arise from embracing flaws and limitations.
Rubin also highlights the Japanese art form of kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired using gold lacquer, transforming the fractures into beautiful, visible scars of gold. Kintsugi philosophy teaches that the repaired object becomes more valuable and beautiful precisely because of its imperfections. Rubin sees this art form as a metaphor for embracing our own personal imperfections and vulnerabilities, emphasizing that they contribute to our uniqueness and enhance our creative journeys.
Rubin delves into the world of artificial intelligence to showcase how unconventional thinking can yield remarkable results. In 2016, Google’s DeepMind developed an AI system called AlphaGo, which played against the world champion and Grand Master, Lee Sedol. Despite being a highly complex game with more possible moves than there are atoms in the universe, AlphaGo managed to defeat Sedol in a move that defied conventional wisdom.
During the match, AlphaGo made a move, known as move 37, which baffled experts and spectators alike. It deviated from the accepted norms and initially seemed like a mistake. However, as the game unfolded, it became apparent that this unconventional move was a stroke of genius. It forced Sedol into unfamiliar territory, disrupting his strategy and eventually leading to AlphaGo’s victory. This instance illustrates the power of thinking beyond established norms and embracing unconventional approaches to problem-solving.
Rubin’s book serves as a powerful reminder that embracing imperfection is not a sign of weakness but rather a testament to the depth and complexity of human creativity.
Want to learn how to embrace imperfection, check out this video on the concept of a Pink Goldfish and the eight ways to stand out:
Are you navigating the gray areas of leading across five generations in the workplace? Today, I’m announcing a limited time fundraiser to benefit Together We Can Change The World.
You can support a worthy cause while unlocking the secrets to successful leadership across generations! For a limited time, I’m offering an exclusive promotion on “Gray Goldfish – Navigating the Gray Areas of Leading Every Generation” an insightful book co-authored with Brian Doyle that delves into the intricacies of effective leadership in today’s diverse workplace.
The Together We Can Change The World (TWCCTW) charity is dedicated to improving the well-being of disadvantaged children and women in Southeast Asia. By supporting this charity, you’ll be making a meaningful difference in their lives, providing them with access to education, healthcare, and opportunities for a brighter future.
Twice a year, TWCCTW puts on a tour for speakers. Next month I’ll join Scott Friedman, CSP, Jana Stanfield, Jonathan Low Global Speaking Fellow, CSP, ICF MCC, Frank Furness, Jean Marie DiGiovanna, Dr. Jerome Joseph, CSP, Roshan Thiran, Delphine Ang, and Dr. Justin Cohen for a speaking tour in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Cambodia from June 13-26.
Here are the three fundraising options:
Package 1: Individual Book and Generational Matrix – $20
Discover the keys to unlocking your leadership potential and understanding the dynamics of different generations in the workplace. For just $20, you’ll receive:
A thought-provoking copy of “Gray Goldfish – Leading Across the Generations.” Bonus: you’ll receive the comprehensive Generational Matrix, providing valuable insights on how to recruit, train, inspire, and manage each generation.
Package 2: Group Bundle – $100
Enhance your leadership skills and foster a harmonious work environment by sharing the knowledge with your team. For $100, you’ll receive:
A bundle of six copies of “Gray Goldfish – Leading Across the Generations,” perfect for distributing among your colleagues or gifting to fellow leaders and
six Generational Matrices, allowing each team member to gain a deeper understanding of their generational traits and strengths.
Package 3: Leadership Immersion – $275 [Only 2 available]
Take your leadership journey to new heights with our ultimate package. For $275, you’ll receive:
A group bundle of 15 copies of “Gray Goldfish – Leading Across the Generations,” empowering you to inspire and educate a larger audience.
Fifteen Generational Matrices, ensuring each member of your organization has access to valuable insights. And a BONUS 30-minute virtual Q&A session with me, where you can ask personalized questions and gain expert guidance on leading across generations.
Here is the donation link: https://www.twcctw.org/donate-to-support-stan-phelps/
It’s a simple two-step process:
1. Donate $20, $100, or $275 on the link above.
2. Send me an email to [email protected] or a Linkedin message with your preferred postal address and I’ll ship the books.All donations go directly to TWCCTW and are 100% tax deductible. Thank you for your support and dedication to making a positive impact in the world.
After 19 years in the NBA, Carmelo has retired from professional basketball. He did on the doorstep of the NBA Finals. And on the day that the team that drafted him finally made it to the League Championship Series.
Back to being CLUTCH. I’m talking about performing in key moments when the game is on the line. Most people would describe it as “elevating” your game when the pressure begins to mount.
But here’s the reality. For every player in the NBA, their performance doesn’t elevate. In fact, shooting percentages drop drastically when the game is on the line.
Except for Carmelo. The 10 time All Star bucks the trend. His shooting percentages during the game and at the end in critical moments are almost identical. When everyone is falling off, Melo has demonstrated the ability to stay in control.
In the book “Diamond Goldfish,” Travis Carson, JD/MBA, Tony Cooper, and I write about the importance of staying under control and performing under pressure.
We acknowledge that humans are advanced beings living in a modern world, but it turns out we are still operating on fairly primitive biology. And under pressure, that biology predictably runs our hardwired survival strategy every time it detects a threat.
Overcoming that pressure isn’t easy. It requires us to think and respond differently. In the words of MMA Champion Conor McGregor, “I don’t feel pressure in a negative way. I like pressure. I feel excitement and calm at the same time. No pressure, no diamonds.”
So, here is a salute to Carmelo. He is an NCAA Champion, a 3 time Gold Medalist, and a 30,000 point scorer in the NBA. And the closest thing to being CLUTCH in the last quarter century. Melo rose to the challenge of the first line of Rudyard Kipling’s immortal poem “IF”
“If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs…”
Want to learn more about excelling under pressure, here is a 10-minute video talking about the concept of the Diamond Goldfish:
I've had the pleasure of working with teams at:
Find Your Best-Match Program
With over 18 possible keynote speaking presentations, workshops, and GOLDFISH TANK programs available to meet your ever-evolving needs, I’ve created this 2-minute, 6-question quiz to help you understand which program is best for you and your audience.
Meet Your Presenter
Through keynote speaking presentations, hands-on workshops, and GOLDFISH TANK programs, I empower you to power loyalty and growth.
Hi, I’m Stan Phelps. I work with organizations that want to increase loyalty, drive sales, and promote positive word-of-mouth by creating differentiated experiences.
As an author, keynote speaker, and workshop facilitator, my in-person and virtual programs stand out in a sea of sameness because I model my own message of differentiated experience (DX).
I leverage my unique collection of more than 5,500 case studies on customer, employee, and brand experience to engage audiences with practical ideas that inspire action.
Every time we do business together, Something amazing happens in the world!
Through my partner B1G1, each program gives back to create global IMPACT
When we complete a GOLDFISH TANK, we give 1001 days of clean water to school children
When we complete a GLOBAL engagement, we give 365 days of clean water access in Peru, 120 days of learning aids in Malaysia, and 50 days of business training for women in Malawi
When someone downloads a GOLDFISH eBook, we give one brick toward building school facilities in Cambodia
Everyone I talked to enjoyed it and that may have been the biggest crowd we have ever had at a breakfast
"Your talk on building businesses based on purpose was very well received by our Chamber members. It made all of us think about what we are doing in our businesses and how we should strive to make them better. Everyone I talked to enjoyed it and that may have been the biggest crowd we have ever had at a breakfast."
Board Member, Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce
His presentation not only exceeded our expectations, it set the bar for how we treat our own conference guests
"Stan Phelps is one of the most trusted names in customer experience. His presentation at High Five Conference not only exceeded our expectations it set the bar for how we treat our own conference guests. Using Stan's proven strategies we've created an event that outperforms expectations time and time again. I recommend him highly. Plus, he's easy to work with."
Executive Director, High Five Conference
The flow and delivery of his presentation were excellent; it was apparent that Stan has invested in technology and equipment to provide attendees with a polished, well-produced experience.
"Stan created and facilitated an outstanding presentation for the Raleigh/Durham Customer Experience Professionals Organization (CXPA). He did a great job presenting relevant and timely content that resonated with the CX professionals in attendance. The flow and delivery of his presentation were excellent; it was apparent that Stan has invested in technology and equipment to provide attendees with a polished, well-produced experience."
Committee Member, Raleigh/Durham CXPA
A dynamic and engaging speaker
"Stan is a dynamic and engaging speaker. He uses captivating stories, relevant examples and audience participation to draw people in so that they listen deeply and really think about the message. Your audience will learn and have fun in the process. Stan was the keynote speaker at a virtual event for our AMA Connecticut Chapter, and his command of the virtual tools was awesome - it felt like we were in the room with him. I highly recommend him."
President, AMA Connecticut
Goldfish Tank exceeded my expectations
"Goldfish Tank exceeded my expectations. Our normally reserved team was fully engaged and the activities gave them a platform to work together in formulating ideas and sharing with the larger group. I was unsure how this would go with our group speaking Spanish as their primary language and doing this virtual but clearly that wasn't an issue. Many thanks to you for showing our group how our weaknesses can be our strengths."
Chief Operating Officer, Pinehurst Manufacturing
His talk was not only relatable, but actionable
"Stan spoke to a group that consisted of roughly the top fifty leaders in our largest company. These meetings can be challenging as there are multiple areas of focus for the varied team members in the audience but Stan knocked it out of the park. Stan discussed the importance of standing out in a sea of sameness and his talk was not only relatable, but actionable. It's been over six weeks since our meeting and I continue hearing many of our team members using one of Stan's talking points when discussing their new idea."
President, MDO Holdings
He was flexible, entertaining and provided a good message with a number of takeaways
"I was looking for a speaker for a men's retreat. Stan was recommended to me and though I wasn't looking for a business presentation, Stan used his latest material and developed an appropriate talk for my group. He was flexible, entertaining and provided a good message with a number of takeaways."
Event Organizer, St. Michael’s
This talk resonated more deeply and powerfully than I think even Stan expected
"Stan Phelps gave a rousing Ted-like talk at our nonprofit social enterprise. His audience included members of our at-risk workforce, including those re-entering society. What an experience, and inspiration, it was for them to hear that "exploiting imperfection" could lead, with hard work, courage, and creativity, to success. This talk resonated more deeply and powerfully than I think even Stan expected."
President & CEO, HHPLIFT
Stan's presentation style is energetic, personal and engaging
"During the past year, our member electric cooperatives experienced an unprecedented level of disruption due to circumstances related to the global Covid-19 pandemic. Employees and management faced difficulties in keeping connected and engaged. Stan's presentation on Green Goldfish provided solid examples of how employees and managers can take adversity and disruption and use it to their advantage to create stronger, employee and consumer focused organizations that not only survive, but thrive in these strange times. Stan's presentation style is energetic, personal and engaging. He is indeed a master of his craft and subject matter."
Manager of Research Services, Cooperative Insights & NC Electric Cooperatives
He knows his audience and always shares relevant and actionable content that inspires people
"I was so impressed with Stan that I hired him to lead a workshop with my employees after seeing his keynote at a leadership conference. We left his session feeling pumped up and we were armed with several great ideas. I believe what makes him a great speaker, is his ability to listen. He knows his audience and always shares relevant and actionable content that inspires people to embrace their weird."
Co-Founder & Partner, Paperclip Promotions
We will be booking Stan Phelps again!
"Stan Phelps captivated our audience in Alaska with his Purple Goldfish analogy. What I enjoyed best was the framework and tools he provided that was immediately implementable to our marketing efforts. We will be booking Stan Phelps again!"
President, AMA Alaska
We walked away from our leadership meetings revitalized and with the tools to enhance and navigate
"We were fortunate to engage Stan Phelps to speak to our franchise organization. He has a great understanding of business relationships and applies that knowledge and a common-sense approach to solving obstacles. Good management, communication, and leadership skills never go out of style. We walked away from our leadership meetings revitalized and with the tools to enhance and navigate through the ever-changing business environment to produce results."
