In a rare moment when I was watching network television, a commercial caught my attention. The website being promoted was webuyhomes.com. It prompted me to search for this website and others that had very clear, direct and concise titles. I found webuyuglyhouses.com and 7daystosold.com.

What struck me was the contrast between these 2025 website addresses and my dad’s style of communication. I have said before that I loved my dad’s way of storytelling. I am aware and was aware thirty years ago, that audiences often got frustrated with his circular way of telling a story. On the communication spectrum, my dad would be at one end and these website addresses on the extreme other end.



Our goal is to be somewhere in the middle!

How powerful the last 3 quarters of 2025 is for you may depend on the questions you ask yourself. Here are the second 3 questions to ask as we finish the first quarter, or anytime! The asking may be more important than the answers! I am glad to be a sounding board for you as you ask and answer these questions.

Scenes from a recent visit to our nation's Capital

1.  Even Food Tells a Story

The theme for 2025 has been the Power of a Year. I suppose you could say that The Power of a Story is the foundation for every year. I am all about the story, your story. Every year we are in DC for a conference, we frequent restaurants owned by Jose Andres.

Lesson Learned: Andres is well known for his restaurants and for his humanitarian World Central Kitchen. In addition to his tapas menus, I love his emphasis on “story." I believe everyone has a great story and your company has a story. Andres believes the ingredients in food tell a story. What are your ingredients to a good story?

2. A Rose is a Rose is a Rose

Walking down Pennsylvania Ave. I came upon this fuchsia-magenta car. Dictionary.com does not help me understand the difference between these two colors. I stopped in my tracks at the sight of this Maserati, parked casually by the curb.

Lesson Learned: There really isn’t a lesson here. Is a car just a car? A nod to Barbie Maserati priced at $330,000. It was parked, just like, well- a car! No security, just a car, and a feast for the eye those passing by. What stops you in your tracks?

3. The Value of Visibility

You may have heard me talk about the value of visibility. Good things happen when you are visible that just wouldn’t happen if you stayed behind your front door. We can’t legislate what those things will be. We can embrace that good things happen when we are visible.

Lesson Learned: Unbeknownst to me this photo was taken by a professional photographer, Jenny Nordstrom. The photo doesn’t change my life in any way, it’s just fun. And it wouldn’t have been taken if I stayed behind my hotel door that morning. Can you embrace the value of visibility?

Whenever I travel I pet every dog I come across. I always ask before I approach each dog. If it is a service dog or a working dog, I approach the owner, not the dog.

At the Washington Convention Center there were several working dogs. I came across a handler and dog taking a potty break. While they were not working I talked to the human about his working dog.

His black Labrador was first supposed to be a guide dog. The dog failed because he was too independent. Being independent is a positive skill for a drug dog. They have to be able to follow their nose and not only their handler’s instructions.

Just like with us humans, it’s always about the FIT.

HorseTalk: Lessons in Leadership dates for 2025 

Welcome to the wonderful world of HorseTalk where magnificent 4-legged creatures will teach you more about your communication and leadership skills than you could learn in a decade . . . or even a lifetime.

Bring yourself to one of these dates or bring your whole team to the date of your choice.

• June 27
• July 18
• August 15
• September 19

Join us at these unique events by emailing Leslie at [email protected] or calling at 330.607.5730.

Ask me about my 10 in 10!