Stan Phelp's Blog

The Goldfish Chronicles

Sharing insights on customer experience, employee engagement, and brand strategy.

Things you can do to avoid becoming a shadow puppet when presenting

When presenting and using a projector with slides . . . avoid the tractor beam. Unlike Carol Anne in the classic 80’s movie Poltergeist, “Avoid the light.” [Millennial Update – Little Carol Anne climbed into the television at the behest of a ghost]

It’s simple, don’t walk in front of the projector. Here are three things you can do to avoid becoming a shadow puppet:

1. Masking tape – this is a great tip if you have an overhead projector. During set-up, move around to see where you begin to encroach on the light. Then mark the floor or table to avoid moving into that area.

2. Table it – if the projector is on a cart or table, then simply walk around it. The great news is that projectors have gotten better over the years. Short throw projectors have reduced the length of the beam.

3. Black Out – Some clickers have a blackout button. Use it when you need to walk in front of the projector. One bonus tip when talking about clickers. Don’t use the laser pointer. You are not a Jedi. Resist the urge, you must. Want to highlight something on your slide . . . then do the proper work when creating your slides. A tiny red or green dot isn’t a substitute for your lack of planning padawan.

Do you have any tricks to avoid the projector beam?

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Stan Phelps walks the walk. He stands out in the sea of sameness by modeling his own Differentiated Experience (DX) message: Differentiation isn’t just about what you say, it’s about what you do and, more importantly, how and why you do it. Stan leverages his unique collection of 5,000+ case studies on customer, employee, and brand experience to engage audiences with informative learning-based experiences. He believes purposeful DX wins the hearts of employees and customers, and differentiation ultimately boosts loyalty, retention, referrals, and results.

Find Stan’s in-person and virtual keynotes, workshops, and Goldfish tank programs at StanPhelps.com.

How ready is your organization for radical differentiation? Take the Readiness Test

Ready to be DIFFERENT? Rate your organization and its readiness for radical differentiation.

Selecting the right type of Pink Goldfish from the F.L.A.W.S.O.M.E. types is influenced by how ready your organization is to embrace imperfection and stand out.

Are you ready to be a little bit different or way different?

Use this scale below to rate your organization’s readiness on a scale of one to five with 1 being the lowest, 5 being the highest.

1 – Strongly Disagree
2 – Disagree
3 – Not Sure
4 – Agree
5 – Strongly Agree

1. Our high-value customers value individuality and see themselves as unique _____
2. Our company is significantly different from our competitors _____
3. Our company culture and values support distinctiveness _____
4. Our company has a history of taking risks _____
5. Our employees value individuality and see themselves as unique _____
6. Our high-value customers value excess instead of moderation _____
7. Differentiation is an essential part of our strategy _____
8. Our industry is losing customers and/or revenues ______
9. Our high-value customers value rebellion and/or aggressiveness _____
10. Our high-value customers value scarcity and/or exclusivity _____

Calculate your total score ______

Here’s the Readiness Scale:

10-19 You aren’t quite ready to get weird. Focus on internal strategies with employees, culture, and values.

20-29 Take small steps toward differentiation with Micro-weirding or Swerving

30-39 Make some moderate bets on strategies like Lopsiding, Withholding, or Exposing

40-50 Go big and start experimenting with Opposing and Antagonizing

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Find Stan’s in-person and virtual keynotes, workshops, and Goldfish tank programs at StanPhelps.com.

Can just looking at the color pink make you weak?

In 1979, Professor Alexander Schauss performed an experiment with 153 men. It was a strength test with an unusual twist. Participants were asked to stare at a piece of blue cardboard and then demonstrate their strength to the researcher. They also stared at a piece of pink cardboard before demonstrating their strength. The results showed that they were “dramatically weaker after staring at the pink cardboard.”

This is hard to believe, and many people didn’t buy it. However, other scientists tested Schauss’ findings and discovered a similar connection.

Police departments started painting holding cells pink. The first to do so, the US Navy, reported “not a single incident during the 7-month trial period.” This is the source of the name “drunk tank pink.”

More than 300 jails use pink rooms, but no one used drunk tank pink more than Joe Arpaio, the former controversial sheriff in Arizona. Arpaio dressed inmates in pink socks and underwear.

College football teams, like the University of Iowa, decided to paint the visiting team’s locker rooms pink in order to weaken their rivals.

So it seems like pink makes people weak, but maybe it also makes people strong.

In 2017, Krista Suh and Jayna Zweima, the Los Angeles-based founders of the Pussyhat Project, gained notoriety during the Women’s March on Washington. Their bright pink and provocatively-shaped hats caught the attention of marchers, the media, and onlookers around the world.

When asked why they chose pink, they said it was “because it was a very female color representing caring, compassion, and love – all qualities that have been derided as weak but are actually STRONG.”

Similarly, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation declares that “pink is strong, pink is fierce, pink is brave, and pink is mighty.”

Every weakness has a corresponding strength.

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Find Stan’s in-person and virtual keynotes, workshops, and Goldfish tank programs at StanPhelps.com.

Would you go on a flight to nowhere? That’s what Qantas is offering passengers

Would you go on a flight to nowhere? That’s weird and exactly what Qantas is offering passengers.

This isn’t their take on a Seinfeld “show about nothing” joke. Passengers will depart from Sydney and arrive back in Sydney. But they are in for a treat. On May 25th there will be a super blood moon. This flight to nowhere will give travelers a chance to admire both the late May supermoon and a full lunar eclipse from 40,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean.

Interested? Sorry, the flight sold out in less than 3 minutes.

Let’s rewind for a second. Who is Qantas and what’s a super bloodmoon?

You might remember Qantas as the preferred airline of choice for Charlie Babbitt, (Dustin Hoffman’s character in “Rainman”) because they are the safest airline in the world. The Australian airline speaks to me because I’m a lover of acronyms. QANTAS stands for Queensland And Northern Territory Airline Service.

If a Blue Moon is the second full moon in a calendar month, what’s a Blood Moon? According to CNN, “[it] appears to take on a reddish hue due to the total lunar eclipse. As the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow, it’ll look darker and redder.” It super because it’s the closest the moon gets to the Earth during its orbit, making it 30% larger and 15% brighter.

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Find Stan’s in-person and virtual keynotes, workshops, and Goldfish tank programs at StanPhelps.com.

If you are vaccinated against COVID-19 you no longer have to wear a mask indoors or outdoors

ABOUT FACE! Call it V-Day! If you are vaccinated against COVID-19 you no longer have to wear a mask indoors or outdoors.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the new guidance yesterday. Get the vaccine and you can ditch the mask and social distancing.

And here’s the most beautiful part. No restrictions on the size of the gathering.

If you make your living in and around events, this news is live music to your ears.

If you work in retail or hospitality, this is a game-changer.

If you wear glasses like moi…. they will no longer be annoyingly fogged up.

Why did the CDC rip the band-aid off? It’s because the efficacy of the vaccine is off the charts. A published study in the JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association, showed the vaccine was 97% effective against symptomatic Covid-19 and 86% effective against asymptomatic infection.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky noted that even if you are vaccinated and get COVID-19, “the resulting infection is more likely to have a lower viral load, may be shorter in duration, and likely less risk of transmission to others.”

Question – If no one wears masks, how do you tell who has been vaccinated? I propose two raised fingers… in the shape of a V.

Any other ideas?

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Find Stan’s in-person and virtual keynotes, workshops, and Goldfish tank programs at StanPhelps.com.

“You need something different, and distinct, and memorable. If you want more stories told about you, you need to be worthy of a story.” -Jay Baer

“You need something different, and distinct, and memorable. If you want more stories told about you, you need to be worthy of a story.” This is my favorite quote from the Foreword to “Pink Goldfish 2.0 – Defy Normal and Exploit Imperfection” by Jay Baer.

You can read the entire Foreword in the carousel post below.

Here are a few other memorable quotes from Jay:

“The fact is that all human beings ignore what is average, and discuss what is different.”

“Because after consulting with more than 700 organizations, I have found it to be exceedingly difficult to find lasting success in business without meaningful differentiation.”

“You have to stand out in a way that is noticeable enough to create a tsunami of stories about that differentiator.”

I am huge fan of Jay’s work. If you haven’t picked up YOUtility, Hug Your Haters, or Talk Triggers, you should. There is a reason Jay is in both the Word of Mouth and Speaking Hall of Fames.

David Rendall and I are honored he wrote the Foreword. We’re excited for the launch on July 5, 2021.

https://www.slideshare.net/9INCHMARKETING/pink-goldfish-20-foreword-by-jay-baer

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Find Stan’s in-person and virtual keynotes, workshops, and Goldfish tank programs at StanPhelps.com.

WIIFY: Characters to improve your presentation skills

Even though you are at the front of the room as the presenter . . . it’s not about YOU. It’s about what’s in it for the audience.

It’s called W.I.I.F.Y. An acronym that stands for “What’s In It For You” the audience member. Why should they give you, the presenter, their attention? What value are you providing? What problem are you solving?

Why is this relevant right now? We live in a time when you are competing against a constant distraction. Something that’s a source of entertainment and constant stimulation. Something that the average person whips out an average of 58 times a day. We’re talking about the smartphone. Our phones are always within arms reach. And that’s not going to change. In fact, according to research by the RescueTime app, few of us go longer than 1 hour and 43 minutes during the day without touching our phones.

TAKEAWAY: When presenting, you need to be relevant and compelling to keep your audience tuned in. How do you do it?
Here are five ways to keep the smartphones at bay . . .

1. Leverage stories
2. Understand your audience
3. Address their issues
4. Deliver hope
5. Offer a plan of action

How are u commanding attention when u present?

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Find Stan’s in-person and virtual keynotes, workshops, and Goldfish tank programs at StanPhelps.com.

“There are only two sources of competitive advantage: the ability to learn more about our customers faster than the competition and the ability to turn that learning into action faster than the competition.” -Jack Welch

Jack Welch was a titan of industry. He passed away last year in Connecticut. Nicknamed “Neutron Jack,” he led General Electric for two decades. Over that period, GE’s market value increased by 4,000%.

Fortune once called Jack the manager of the century. Two decades later, many of his practices have been called into question. That said, my favorite quote from Jack was a centerpiece of my book Blue Goldfish, coauthored with Evan Carroll:

“There are only two sources of competitive advantage: the ability to learn more about our customers faster than the competition and the ability to turn that learning into action faster than the competition.”

Welch believed in this two-pronged approach. Learning faster and getting the insight was key. But insight without action was meaningless. The quote underscores the importance of technology, data and analytics in customer experience. How do you leverage the voice of the customer and become agile?

Welch’s legacy? A New York Times editorial upon his retirement spoke to his impact, “His legacy is not only a changed G.E., but a changed American corporate ethos, one that prizes nimbleness, speed and regeneration over older ideals like stability, loyalty and permanence.”

What’s your take on Jack and his legacy?

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Find Stan’s in-person and virtual keynotes, workshops, and Goldfish tank programs at StanPhelps.com.

There are only two types of road trippers in this world. Those that have been to Buc-ees before . . . and those that haven’t

There are only two types of road trippers in this world. Those that have been to Buc-ees before . . . and those that haven’t. Described as the ‘Disney’ of convenience stores, it is a Texas-sized (literally and figuratively) site to behold.

Think about the attributes you look for in a highway pit-stop:

1. Safe
2. Clean
3. Convenient
4. Value

Buc-ees taps into the Pink Goldfish concept of Lopsiding to overdeliver on these four key attributes:

1. Safe – Buc-ees prides itself on being a safe family destination. They lopside this by not allowing 18-wheelers.

2. Clean – wattage and elbow grease. You’ll find a well-lit bathroom, with dozens of stalls, and a 24-hour staff for cleaning. In 2012, Cintas ran a nationwide restroom contest and Buc-ees flushed the competition. They once had a billboard that read, “Top Two Reasons to Stop at Buc-ee’s: #1 and #2.”

3. Convenient – plenty of parking, dozens of registers, and tons of gas pumps means you never have to wait.

4. Value – Buc-ees gas is usually 10 cents a gallon cheaper. Add in great deals on ice and fountain drinks. Save here and then splurge on a plethora of snacks.

Been to a Buc-ees? What’s your favorite thing or part of the experience?

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Find Stan’s in-person and virtual keynotes, workshops, and Goldfish tank programs at StanPhelps.com.

“My carbs, I just wear them.” -Ashley Graham

“My carbs, I just wear them.” Ashley Graham shared this fun quip in a behind-the-scenes video for a Glamour Magazine cover shoot.

Graham is not afraid of Exposing who she is. Exposing is a key element in the FLAWSOME framework. Exposing is about honesty, transparency, and authenticity.

Growing up, Graham was a size 12 by age 12. She shared with the New York Post that she’s never felt uncomfortable with her shape:

“I was always beyond confident because my mom and dad never put me down for my size.”

As a plus-size model and a mom, she is a tireless advocate for body positivity.

“Let’s face it, America is getting bigger, and women want to see themselves instead of the image of what society says they should be.”

Graham says that she’s not hot for a big girl. She’s just hot. She didn’t always believe this. During her childhood, she struggled with dyslexia and kids who called her “thunder thighs.”

She doesn’t just practice exposing. She encourages followers to do the same. In a recent Instagram post, she asked her fans to share the favorite part of their body. Ashley said her thighs are “the strongest part of her body,” and that she wouldn’t change anything about her body.

Are you willing to reveal, instead of conceal and declare, instead of deny?

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Find Stan’s in-person and virtual keynotes, workshops, and Goldfish tank programs at StanPhelps.com.

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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

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Stan Phelp's Blog

The Goldfish Chronicles

Things you can do to avoid becoming a shadow puppet when presenting

How ready is your organization for radical differentiation? Take the Readiness Test

Can just looking at the color pink make you weak?

Would you go on a flight to nowhere? That’s what Qantas is offering passengers

If you are vaccinated against COVID-19 you no longer have to wear a mask indoors or outdoors

“You need something different, and distinct, and memorable. If you want more stories told about you, you need to be worthy of a story.” -Jay Baer

WIIFY: Characters to improve your presentation skills

“There are only two sources of competitive advantage: the ability to learn more about our customers faster than the competition and the ability to turn that learning into action faster than the competition.” -Jack Welch

There are only two types of road trippers in this world. Those that have been to Buc-ees before . . . and those that haven’t

“My carbs, I just wear them.” -Ashley Graham

Find Your Best-Match Program

Meet Your Presenter

Every time we do business together, Something amazing happens in the world!

When someone downloads a GOLDFISH eBook, we give one brick toward building school facilities in Cambodia