Intrigue Me Newsletter Expert Sam Horn has developed a proven, step-by-step process for capturing the favorable interest of anyone, anytime



	POP! Your Communication

In This Issue:	December 2008

•	The Power of Humor

•	Client Success Stories

•	Who Said This?

•	Have Sam Will Travel

•	Announcing the 2008 POP! Hall of Fame

•	How Does Sam Help Clients?

The Power of Humor

”It has always surprised me how little attention philosophers have paid to humor since it is a more significant process of mind than reason. Reason can only sort out perceptions; humor is involved in changing them.” - Edward de Bono

I had the honor recently of presenting a world-wide webinar for Intel.

My presentation included a surprising observation I discovered while preparing for a “Got Clout? Increase Influence, Credibility and Respect" keynote delivered earlier this year at Microsoft headquarters for the Invent Your Future conference.

I interviewed a cross-section of senior executives and asked, “What is one thing you see women doing that’s undermining their influence or compromising their credibility?”

I asked, “Please don’t tiptoe around any elephant-in-the-room issues. If, in your opinion, women are doing something that’s sabotaging their success, fess up.”

One CEO told me, “I think many women in the workplace take themselves w-a-y too seriously. It’s like they’re trying to prove how smart they are and that they deserve a place at the table. The problem is, they come across as uptight which can be off-putting.”

Hmmmm. Well, as someone who grew up before Title 9 (I played on the boys’ tennis team at high school because there wasn’t a girls' team), I can relate to this. I distinctly remember feeling a need early in my career to quickly add value and prove my worth so decision-makers were sufficiently impressed to listen to me and give me a chance.

So, in many of my presentations, I talk about the importance of using humor to lighten up instead of tighten up. As Pearl S. Buck said, “Perhaps one has to become very old before one learns how to be amused rather than offended.” I say, “Why wait?”

I recommend we follow the advice given to brides on their wedding day and always have with us “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”

l go into detail about HOW to find, craft and use old, new, borrowed (with attribution) and out-of-the-blue humor in my Fun Fu! CD.

For now, here’s a story about the good things that can happen when you choose to lighten up instead of tighten up.

Congresswoman Pat Schroeder arrived on Capital Hill the same day as Charlie Wilson (D – Texas). Charlie was quite a prankster (perhaps you saw the movie about him starring Tom Hanks?) so Pat was pleasantly surprised to discover he'd sent her a nicely wrapped gift.

As described in a Washington Post article, Pat opened her present only to find a photo of a tombstone that said, “Davy Crockett’s wife.” Charlie had scribbled at the bottom, “In Texas, our women don’t even rank their own headstone.”

Pat was outraged. She thought, “Who is this Neanderthal?!” and stormed down the hall to his office, ready to give him a piece of her mind. She marched in and found him leaning back in his chair, grinning from ear to ear. He greeted her with, “Hey Babycakes.”

In that moment, she realized he was yanking her chain. She had a decision to make. She could get up on her high horse and get all high-and-mighty on him - or she could follow Pearl Buck’s wise advice and choose to be amused rather than offended.

Choosing the latter, she gave him a mock stern look and said, “That’s Congresswoman Babycakes to you.”

They both laughed, and she and Charlie ended up supporting each other’s legislation, giving each other more clout in the process.

The point? Her ability to come up with a comeback turned a would-be enemy into an ally.

Do you have a workplace colleague who is teasing you? If so, he or she may be testing you to see if you have thin skin. If you get upset and take umbrage, you may alienate that person, isolate yourself and become known as someone who can’t take a joke.

It may be in your best interests (and yes, there are exceptions to this which I cover in my CD) to give as good as you get. By developing a repertoire of Fun Fu! remarks, you’ll never be tongue-tied or tongue-twisted again. People will no longer have the power to push your hot buttons.

What are you sensitive about? Are you overweight? Going bald? The only woman in the room? Prepare a collection of confident comebacks so you can handle zingers with poise rather than panic. As Erma Bombeck said, “If you can laugh at it, you can live with it.”

Want ways to keep your wit(s) about you so you can keep a sense of humor and a sense of perspective during stressful situations? Want to increase your credibility, POP! your communication, and get a Branding Ph.D.?

If so, you'll love my new topics. I've developed these at the request of clients. They've already received raves from organizations ranging from INC 500 to Capital One. They are perfect if your group has heard me present Tongue Fu! and they're clamoring for a "hana hou" (encore in Hawaiian) so they can benefit from more of these original and inspiring insights.

Fun Fu! Keeping a Sense of Humor in Stressful Situations
Art Buchwald said, "I learned at an early age that when I made people laugh, they liked me. This is a lesson I never forgot." In tough times, it's even more important than ever to keep our wit(s) about us. Discover why this program received raves from the International Conference on Humor and Creativity. It shows how anyone -- even people who think they're not funny -- can lighten up instead of tighten up so you and the people around you keep a sense of humor and a sense of perspective instead of getting on each other's nerves.

POP! Your Communication: Get Anyone Interested in What You Have to Say …..in 30 Seconds or Less
People today are so busy and distracted; if we don't say something that immediately makes their eyebrows go up (a sure sign we've piqued their curiosity), they'll move on. Learn 7 specific ways to capture and keep attention. These ideas work whether you're chairing a meeting, introducing yourself at a networking function, pitching an idea, delivering a presentation or talking in the elevator. Discover why Ken Blanchard says POP! is a "lively guide for getting heard, getting remembered, getting results."

Get Your Branding PH.D: Become Niche and Famous and Get Noticed . . . for all the Right Reasons
You don't need a MBA or a multi-million dollar marketing budget to figure out how to stand out from your crowd. You just need Sam's techniques for clarifying your U.S.P. (Unique Sales POPosition) so you know exactly how you are unique. You'll then create a language bank to coin one-of-a-kind business names, slogans, marketing messages and web copy that attract customers, media and decision-makers who will see you as THE preferred choice in your industry or speciality.

Got Clout? Increase Influence, Credibility and Respect
Do people ask for your advice? Support your decisions? Follow your lead? Would you say you have clout? Would your peers? This eye-opening program doesn't tiptoe around sensitive, elephant-in-the-room issues. It dares to pinpoint what many professionals are doing (unknowingly) to sabotage their success, and suggests behavior changes that can immediately improve the way you're perceived so people are motivated to give you the respect you want, need and deserve.

Click here for info on my other new topics (available in MP3, CD or in person to your group!).

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Who Said This?

“I believe marriage is a sacred institution between two unwilling teenagers.” - ??

The above quip is considered one of the best lines of the campaign year. It catapulted this person into the headlines and was enthusiastically repeated on every network.

That one-liner is funny for many reasons, including that it obeyed one of the first rules of comedy: replace something predicted with something unexpected to produce a comic twist. As George Orwell said, “A thing is funny when it upsets the established order. Every joke is a tiny revolution.”

By the way, we’re acting on Ken Kesslin's suggestion who said, “For those of us not married to our Blackberries, giving the prize to the first person who responds with the right answer to your Who Said This contest is unfair.”

Good point. Starting this month, everyone who responds to Jill Anderson with the right answer within 24 hours will be eligible to win. We’ll use a scientific method (East Coast Operations Manager Jill will pick a name out of a hat) to declare the winner. Send your answer TODAY - to have a chance to win your choice of two of Sam's single CDs.

And congratulations to Shel Horowitz who nominated Joel Barker who won our '08 Edge-of-the-Seat Speaker award. They both receive a free registration to my upcoming POP! Your Business and Brand workshop.

You may also register now for the May, '09 POP! Your Business workshop

Announcing the 2008 POP! Hall of Fame

“Go ahead. Make my spray.” - Mr. Clean

It’s that time again.

Time to select the top ten business names, company slogans and book titles from this past year that passed the Eyebrow Test with flying colors. They will join previous winners which include Java Jacket, Diabesity, Weeding By Example, Freakonomics and Eats, Shoots & Leaves.

“What’s the Eyebrow Test?” you ask. It’s what happens when we hear or see something intriguing. Our eyebrows go UP as if to say, “That’s interesting. Tell me more.”

Congrats to these individuals and organizations for coining these catchy sound-bites that caught and kept our favorable attention – the goal of all communication.

Bamelot: This is the name the New York Post has given the incoming administration. It’s what we call in POP! a Half-and-Half Word – a fused version of two words that coins a new name or phrase.

Scads: Those little scam ads (another Half-and-Half Word) that show up when surfing online. A clever ad in USA Today sponsored by the Alliance Against Bait & Click suggests you practice “safe search” and ignore these deceptive ads with their made-up claims that trick you into buying stuff that ought to be free.

Isn’t It Their Turn to Pick Up the Check? This book by Jeanne Hemming and Leonard Schwarz from Free Press demonstrates the power of 1) POP!ing a question to pique curiosity, and 2) saying what people are thinking to win buy in.

What would you call the science of how and why we buy? How about Buyology:? Kudos to author Martin Lindstrom for this fantastic book title. You’ve heard of Spell Check? This is an example of Spell Chuck where you riff of a common word and create a brand new word you can trademark (thereby creating a business empire with the ability to generate revenue in perpetuity).

Want to know who else made this year’s POP! Hall of Fame and why?

Visit My Blog

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Client Success Stories



“When someone does good, applaud. You will make two people happy.” - Samuel Goldwyn One of the many rewarding aspects of my work is that I get to help people turn a dream, idea or message into a tangible product that makes a positive difference for others and a prosperous living for them. It's been a real pleasure working with the following people, and kudos to these clients for their good news: Stephanie Palmer, former Director of Creative Affairs for MGM, reports that Good in a Room (Doubleday) is being translated into Russian and Danish, and Tom Peters just featured her as one of his "Cool Friends" LeAnn Thieman, CSP, RN tells the amazing story in Balancing Life in Your War Zones of how she “just went to buy cupcakes” and ended up flying to South Vietnam to rescue 100 orphans in Operation Babylift. LeAnn, also the co-author of 10 Chicken Soup for the Soul books, was one of 5 selected to the Speaker Hall of Fame this year, our profession's highest honor. Well deserved. California State Senator Jackie Speier, Emmy Winner Jan Yanehiro, Cannes Film Festival film-maker Michaelene Risley and Deborah Stephens, Co-founder of the Center for Innovative Leadership report that This is Not the Life I Ordered (Conari Press) continues to sell well (Kaiser bought 8000 copies for their employees!) Do you have a teen-ager who loves the Harry Potter books? If so, check out The Adventures of Mercury Lane at www.Mercury-Lane.com Author James L. Hayhurst is quite the adventurer himself. He's an avid airshow pilot, was the "Top Gun" at his U.S.A.F. pilot training (Tom Cruise only wishes he was that good!) and five-time U.S. Champion parachutist. Tom Tuohy, founder of www.DreamsForKids.org (which has helped 30,000 + young people get off the sidelines and into the game of life) receives daily emails from people who have been inspired by his book *Kiss of a Dolphin. Tom was recently featured with 14 other contributors at Edie Fraser and Robyn Spizman’s Do Your Giving While You are Living* National Press Club book launch which drew more than 400 people. (I had the honor of Emceeing that event which coincided with Edie and Robyn’s www.DoYourGiving.com movement to turn Black Friday into Give Back Friday.) Svetlana Kim, will be premiering her new book next month at the National Women’s Democratic Club. Lana’s amazing story, coming from Russia with a dollar in her pocket, teaching herself English at the SF Zoo, becoming a Hall of Fame Paine Webber stockbroker and now dedicating herself to service leadership is chronicled in her book White Pearl & I. Neil Phillips (former Harvard Athlete of the Year) has launched www.VisibleMen.com. As Neil says on his website, "the Visible Men movement highlights successful black men in America, celebrates them as worthy, (yet under-recognized) role models, and connects young black boys to these success models. We know the problems. We know the struggles. It's long past time to focus on the solutions. Our mission is to elevate black boys and men to new heights of achievement, fulfillment, happiness and social contribution." Go Neil! *Sugar Shock* (Berkley) continues to drive business for Connie Bennet’s international mission to convince people to kick their sugar habit. Visit www.SugarShock.com to find out more about Connie’s radio show Gab With the Gurus which features interviews with Dr. Mehmet Oz, Jack Lalanne, Fly Lady Marla Cilley and The Secret’s Marci Shimoff, Lisa Nichols and Joe Vitale. Props to Vicki Hess, CSP, RN (www.CatalystConsultingllc.com) and Simon T. Bailey, CSP (www.SimonTBailey.com) for both receiving their Certified Speaking Professional designation, awarded to less than 10% of all professional speakers in the world. Vicki’s book Shift to Professional Paradise is packed with ways to distress in toxic times. Simon’s Release Your Brilliance keynote receives raves from top organizations including McDonalds, Microsoft and MPI. Simon and I just had a chance to co-present Collaborate on Your Keynote in Scottsdale, AZ. Simon is still getting raves for his opening keynote for NSA's annual convention last summer. Want to see a REALLY great website? Check out Dr. Paul Homoly’s (also a CSP) www.TheInterestingExpert.com. His evocative claim that “Just Because You’re an Expert Doesn’t Make You Interesting” supports Paul’s premise that doctors, lawyers, financial advisors, professors – anyone who’s got a higher degree and is in the business of giving advice – owe it to themselves and their clients to become more captivating. His book, speaking, consulting and online programming provide ways to do just that. Dr. Vicki Rackner, (www.MedicalBridges.com) is a board-certified surgeon and nationally-known expert on the doctor-patient relationship. Her tell-it-like-it-is insights on how to take responsibility for your health are sought out by such media as NPR, CNN.com, Wall Street Journal and Martha Stewart Living. Take her up on her offer of a free special report 10 Tips for Stretching Your Healthcare Dollar including how to have a “medication makeover” and ask your physician, “Do I really need this prescription I’ve been taking for years?" Congrats to Elizabeth Franklin of www.FranklinReport.com for delivering what Amy Millman, (President of Springboard Enterprises) called one of the best pitches she’s ever seen at the recent All Things Media Forum at the Paley Center for Media in New York. Springboard has helped women entrepreneurs receive more than $4 billion in venture capital. (Click on the Springboard link to see a photo of the happy Springboard group at the closing bell ceremonies at NASDAQ. That's Elizabeth in her camel-hair coat on the right and if you look hard enough, you'll find me, Springboard's Official Pitch Coach, in the photo too.) And, please visit Judy Underwood's correct website - www.PassingPeacefully.com (we gave the wrong link last month) for helpful suggestions on how to be a source of compassion and comfort to someone who's in their final days.

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Have Sam Will Travel

“To do what you love and feel that it matters; how could anything be more fun?” - Katherine Graham

I’m excited and grateful about the groups I’ve had an opportunity to speak for in recent months (Capital One, Association of Women Surgeons, Society of National Association Publications, National Federation of Women Legislators, INC 500 Conference along with Jim Collins, Tom Peters, Tim Ferriss and Michael Gerber, etc.).

Here are just a few of the events I'll be speaking at in the next few months:

Career Fusion Conference in Daytona Beach
Innovate to Motivate Conference in New Orleans
INC Grow Your Company Conference in Orlando
Mechanical Contractors Assn. in Kansas City
Invent Your Future at the Santa Clara Convention Center
Association of School Superintendents Conference, Indianapolis

Are you looking for a bottom-line oriented speaker who will have your audience laughing, thinking and on the edge of their seats? Do you want to rest easy knowing that your opening speaker will give your group real-life ideas they can take back to work and use immediately to improve performance, productivity and profits?

If so, Contact Us to schedule Sam to speak for your group – and visit Sam's speaking calendar at www.SamHorn.com as we frequently add new dates.

We know times are tough. You can trust Sam to deliver real-world value to your attendees and to make your conference a resounding success in which everyone thinks, “I got more than I expected. This was well worth my time and money.”
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Write A Book That Makes Money and Makes a Difference

”The chief event of life is the day in which we have encountered a mind that startled us.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Comedian Roy Blount Jr. tells a wonderful story about novelist Donald Barthelme who was asked by a reporter to reveal his narrative strategy. Miffed that people seemed more curious about how to write their book rather than what was in his book, Barthelme answered, “I’m not going to tell you because it’s a secret.”

"From whom?” asked his interviewer.

“From youm,” replied Barthelme.

Sam doesn’t hold back in her one-on-one consulting or in her popular weekend Book Camps.

She reveals ALL her secrets to writing quality books that catapult your message, career and income – along with the secrets she’s learned from her 16 years of Emceeing the world-renowned Maui Writers Conference and kibitzing with dozens of bestselling authors including Mitch Albom, Frank McCourt, Tami Hoag, Tony Hillerman, Tess Gerritson, Nicholas Sparks and Terry Brooks.

She reveals the secrets that have helped her six books get:
• deals from NY publishers St. Martins Press and Penguin.
• favorably reviewed in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Investors Business Daily, Chicago Tribune, Readers Digest and dozens of newspapers,
• translated into 17 languages and sold in 20 countries
• enthusiastic endorsements from Stephen Covey, Ken Blanchard, Susan Jeffers, Jack Canfield and Jeffrey Fox.
• Showcased on major media including MSNBC and NPR

Consulting clients and book camp participants are often startled at how much they accomplish while working with Sam.

Why? Well, there are some book coaches out there who have written one (self-published) book who are calling themselves experts. They don’t have any contacts with agents and editors, no big-name endorsements, no connections in the industry, and aren't able to get their clients deals with major publishers.

Sam’s seven books are all internationally published and critically acclaimed. More importantly, she has a 10 year proven track record of helping clients get impressive deals with publishers including Doubleday, Wiley, Berrett Koehler, St. Martins Press, Simon & Schuster and Random House. She's helped hundreds more finish quality books that have received endorsements from high-profile experts including Jack Canfield and Dr. Christiane Northrup, been featured on every major TV network, reviewed in major city newspapers, and produced millions of dollars in revenue from speaking engagements, book advances and royalties, consulting fees, and e-commerce products.

As 2007 International Coach Federation President Kay Cannon says, "When it comes to working with people, I'm tough to please. Sam has the rare ability to help you find the hidden genius buried within your thoughts, shape this into a compelling message and deliver it in an eye-catching package. Working with Sam dramatically expanded the focus and purpose of my work."

She will fast-forward YOUR successful book by helping you crystallize a compelling, commercially-viable topic, title, pitch, niche, content and approach that help your book POP! out of its pack and POP! off the shelves.

Email Cheri Grimm or call 1-800-726-3455 now to take action on your dream to become a published author. Schedule an exploratory call to discuss your book idea and to determine if working one-on-one with Sam is best for you or whether you prefer to work in a group at one of her weekend Book Camps. Make 2009 the year you WRITE ON.

Visit Sam's Website Today

How Does Sam Help Clients?



Sam Horn, The Intrigue Expert, helps people POP!. What does that mean? She helps individuals and organizations develop one-of-a-kind ideas, identities that help their business or brand break out. She does this through her books (POP! Stand Out in Any Crowd, which Seth Godin calls “revolutionary”), one-on-one consulting, weekend camps, media interviews (NPR, Investors Business Daily, MSNBC, BusinessWeek) and presentations (the top-rated speaker at two International Platform Association conventions). She lives and works on a lake near Washington DC's Dulles Airport. Camps aren't just for Kids - Sign Up TODAY! POP! 1-Day Camp - Washington DC - May 15th 2009 Sam’s West Coast Business Manager, Cheri Grimm, operates out of California 1-800-726-3455 Sam’s East Coast Operations Manager, Jill Anderson, operates out of Virginia Contact us at: (703) 232-9757 Info@samhorn.com www.SamHornPOP.wordpress.com - Sam's Blog www.SamHorn.com Act Now on Your Dreams


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