We all possess the desire to change the system in some form or another. What we often don’t realize is that it is a skill that involves identifying patterns of behavior within systemic structures and using them as leverage points for change. In this episode of Think Fast Talk Smart,…
Want to know how you really come across? Record yourself. Jefferson Fisher says one of the most powerful things you can do for your communication is simply listen to yourself. Most of us have never done it. And the first time you do, it's uncomfortable. But that's exactly the point.…
This community means a lot to us. We’re inviting you to share your thoughts so we can keep improving Think Fast Talk Smart in ways that matter to you. It’s a quick 5-minute survey, and you’ll be entered into a giveaway as a small thank you. Share your thoughts now…
This community means a lot to us. We’re inviting you to share your thoughts so we can keep improving Think Fast Talk Smart in ways that matter to you. It’s a quick 5-minute survey, and you’ll be entered into a giveaway as a small thank you. Share your thoughts now…
Hot take: trying to win an argument is the fastest way to lose it. Jefferson Fisher has spent his career in courtrooms where winning is the job. And even he says: arguments aren't something to win. They're something to unravel. Don't go in with something to prove. Go in with…
You found the right words. You picked the right time to say them. You even tailored them to your audience. Why did your message fall flat? “It's your tone,” says Jefferson Fisher. Fisher is a trial attorney, New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and one of the most-followed experts…
How much of your communication today was actually intentional? Eric Zimmer says awareness, the ability to pause and see what's happening inside and around you, is the core skill that underlies everything. Not charisma. Not vocabulary. Awareness. We're wired to run on autopilot. But conscious communication? That takes practice. 🎙️…
We're not simple creatures. We want contradictory things. We value things that conflict. Two wolves is almost an oversimplification, but that's exactly what makes it powerful. The moment you hear it, you get it. And you can't unhear it. What are you choosing to feed today? #ThinkFastTalkSmart #PublicSpeaking #CommunicationSkills #MindsetShift…
Change doesn’t come from one big breakthrough. It comes from the small choices we make over and over — often in moments we barely notice. Eric Zimmer, behavior coach, host of The One You Feed podcast, and author of How A Little Becomes A Lot, says the real challenge isn’t…
You’ve been trained to chase what gets rewarded. Money. Status. Titles. But those don’t guarantee meaning. The things that actually make you feel fulfilled? No one pays you for them. No one claps for them. No one even notices. Arthur Brooks asks: Are you building a life that looks good,…
There are two modes: experiencing your life and evaluating yourself. Mirrors push you into evaluation. And the more time you spend there, the more self-critical you become. Happiness isn’t found in perfecting your image. It’s found in forgetting it. Listen to the full episode with Arthur Brooks at fastersmarter.io.
Meaning in life isn’t a concrete point we can route toward. That’s why we need what Arthur Brooks calls “proxy goals” — and much better ones than we typically choose. Brooks, a professor at Harvard Business School and author of The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age…
When you're advocating for yourself, the worst argument you can make is about your own problems. Your boss isn’t going to give you a raise because your rent went up. Erin McGoff says the strongest argument is alignment: How does what you want also benefit them? When people see the…
You talk to yourself all day long. And most of us are far harsher to ourselves than we’d ever be to a friend. Erin McGoff says confidence doesn’t come from shutting that voice off. It comes from training it to be constructive instead of critical.
Succeeding at work doesn’t just depend on how hard you work or how smart you are. According to Erin McGoff, it often comes down to whether you understand the “secret language” everyone else seems to be speaking. McGoff is a career creator, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and author of…
You don’t “wait” to feel grateful. You practice it. Studies show that even simple gratitude exercises make people feel more connected and happier. Not because life changes, but because your interpretation of it does. And here’s the part people ignore: You can’t be grateful and envious at the same time.…
Happiness isn’t just about feeling good. It’s also about knowing your life is going somewhere. Joy + Direction. Emotion + Meaning. Miss one, and something always feels off. That’s why you can have good days and still feel like something’s missing. Listen to the full episode with Sonja Lyubomirsky at
Happiness isn’t just a feeling—it’s something you can actively shape through how you think, connect, and communicate. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside and co-author of How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most, defines happiness…
You’re not confusing people because your idea is complex. You’re confusing them because you’re saying too much. Strong communicators don’t add more; they anchor everything to a simple core. Then they repeat it. From different angles. That’s what makes it stick. #ClearCommunication #CommunicationSkills #LessIsMore #ClarityWins #ThinkFastTalkSmart
No matter how compelling a presentation feels in the moment, most of what you say won’t last in your audience’s memory. The key isn’t trying to make people remember everything — it’s ensuring they remember what matters most. Carmen Simon is a cognitive neuroscientist, author, and expert on how the…
After 48 hours, people forget 90% of what you say. That’s not failure, it’s human nature. The real question isn’t how to make them remember everything. It’s this: What’s your 10% message? Because decisions are made based on what people remember, not what they forget.
New isn’t the only way to get attention. Surprise works too. The brain learns when expectations are disrupted. That gap, between what we expect and what happens, is where attention lives. So don’t just aim for new. Aim for the unexpected.
After any presentation, your audience will forget about 90% of what you said. That’s okay, says Carmen Simon — just make sure they remember the right 10%. Simon is a cognitive neuroscientist, speaker, author, and expert on how the brain processes and retains information. Her research reveals a humbling truth:…
Even if you don’t think you’re a natural, anyone can become proficient at the art of small talk by utilizing the right tactics and behaviors. In this collaboration with Harvard Business Review, strategic communications lecturer Matt Abrahams shares his tips and techniques for cocktail party chit chat, networking small talk,…