Simple storytelling is a core component to success. Complexity is a distractor. The Back of the Napkin (B.O.T. N.) column of Bon Appetit values a short story: your story should fit on the back of the…
Monthly Archives For December 2016
Chocolate Roll Cake with Espresso Whipped Cream
Drum roll, please. Welcome the heavenly chocolate cake roll. Unlike most recipes for a Yule Log, Yodel, Ho-Ho, or other roulade cakes, this one does not crack or sever easily. Rather, this lighter-than-air chocolate angel…
Plan Your Life: Lessons from Cooking Shows
“You know those seasoning packets that come with the ham?” says Sunny Anderson on her cooking show Cooking for Real as she makes a holiday spiral ham. “Just can’t do it,” she says, shaking her…
Storyteller’s Tools: Passion, Smiles, Friendliness
We can learn from celebrated television personalities how to improve our performance in front of an audience, whether it is for your next meeting, classroom, blog, podcast, YouTube channel, or even television show. Storytelling requires…
Egg-free Egg Nog
Rich, creamy egg nog appears only during holiday season, so luxurious that the thick, rum-laced beverage needs a season of indulgence to justify their intake. True to their name, egg nogs are made of eggs,…
Mocha Chocolate Chunk Cookies: The Alaskan Way
When we sipped our way through Alaska’s countless specialty coffee huts, we discovered and fell in love with the duo of coffee and cookies. The drive-through access of the unique and charming coffee huts, like…
How to Write a Thank-You Letter
Sending a note of thanks is a wonderful way to recognize someone and to let them know you care about them. Writing has become more informal over the years, and people are sending fewer hand-written…
Applesauce Cinnamon Buckwheat Granola Crunchies
The holidays have come upon us! Gathering with loved ones, celebrating miracles, and donning the Christmas tree are highlights of the season. So are decadent, rich foods (lobster linguine with cream, anyone?). But, you can…
The Secret to Compelling Storytelling: Simplicity
The Secret of Compelling Storytelling is Simplicity. Compelling stories start with great headlines that convey the one key message behind one idea. Keep it simple. According to Colin Powell, “Great leaders are almost always great…