The Art Of Charm | High Performance Techniques| Cognitive Development | Relationship Advice | Mastery Of Human Dynamics

Welcome to Minisode Monday, where we kick off the week with something quick and actionable -- to make you more magnetic and effective -- that you can implement right away. This week, Dilbert's Scott Adams rejoins us to talk about a concept called skill stacking -- and how it can put you in the top one percent of performers in any area (or mix of areas, as the case may be). Let's get to it! The Cheat Sheet: It's not good enough that you're really good at one thing -- because there are probably a lot of people who are also really good at that one thing. But if you can pick up other skills that complement this one thing -- like public speaking, persuasion, communicating, and writing -- you've got an edge. You're skill stacking. According to Scott, every skill you acquire doubles your odds of success. Scott says he's not a great artist, a great writer, the funniest person in the room, or a stellar businessperson, but his skill stacking of these talents makes him a unique force in the market. Did you know that Di

If you're new to The Art of Charm Podcast, this isn't a great place to start. Most of our content is more in-depth and longer format. Let's cut to it! In this episode: Ben Franklin was good at dealing with rivals who tried to show him up in public, and you can be too. [Related: The Ben Franklin effect] How should a "real" man behave in the workplace? How do you make a decision when both options are great? What's the key to overcoming a physical insecurity? [Related: What is nystagmus?] Some listener feedback for Can't Take Criticism from Fan Mail Friday #98. Are there any advantages or opportunities for people who speak outrageously unique languages -- like Kiribati? Or Klingon? Quick shoutouts to Dave Schudel and NASCAR's Jeff Gordon! [Related: AoC Toolbox episodes found here.] Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@theartofcharm.com! Check out Jordan's (@TheArtofCharm) other show: The Forbes List, and Jason's (@jpdef) other show: Grumpy Old Geeks. Do

Vanessa Van Edwards (@vvanedwards) is a behavioral investigator, body language expert, returning guest, and author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People. "I think it is important to understand how much space you take up in the world indicates to others and yourself how confident you feel." -Vanessa Van Edwards The Cheat Sheet: How can nonverbal communication affect the first impression you make to someone -- even if they're just hearing your voice over a telephone call? Explore the science of popularity -- what makes the cool kids so cool? Understand the difference between social attraction and romantic attraction -- and why they both matter. Find out what we can learn about people from their photographs -- especially on dating sites. What interesting patterns turn up in researching episodes of reality television shows Blind Date and Shark Tank? And so much more... Save money on travel and get a free Amazon gift card every time you use Upside! Enter the code FORBES at checkout here and you're

Sarah Robb O'Hagan (@ExtremeSRO) is an executive, activist, entrepreneur, and author of Extreme You: Step Up. Stand Out. Kick Ass. Repeat. "Almost anyone who's enormously successful will be able to point to epic fails in their life that became the cornerstone of their future success." -Sarah Robb O'Hagan The Cheat Sheet for Extreme You: Thrill to tales of epic failures, embarrassing screw-ups, and glorious rebounds. Find out why it doesn't matter if you know what you're good at or what goals to pursue. Discover how to turn failures into fuel and how to get out of a rut when you've been laid off, fired, or feel like you're going nowhere. Learn how to stand out in your field and at work -- in the right way. Understand why and how successful people are constantly rebuilding themselves -- and how we can do the same. And so much more... If you're a business owner, did you know your payments solution can be an engine for growth? Rethink payments with Braintree. Find out more at braintreepayments.com/forbes! To tr

Welcome to Minisode Monday, where we kick off the week with something quick and actionable -- to make you more magnetic and effective -- that you can implement right away. In this one, we talk about renegotiating the unwritten rules that allow others to exploit our anxiety and explore what we can do to put a stop to spreading this anxiety to others. Let's get to it! The Cheat Sheet to Stop Spreading Anxiety: While it's well known that misery loves company, company doesn't tend to love misery. When you're sharing your problems with others (and vice versa), is it in hopes of finding a solution, or just venting and spreading anxiety in an unproductive way? The correlation between reality and anxiety is tenuous. So be aware that some people do it unknowingly, while others exploit our anxiety for power, attention, or money. Like a virus, anxiety is spread more easily than ever in the age of social media. How often do you find yourself falling prey to it and passing it along to others -- it happens to all of us if

Time for Fan Mail Friday, where we'll be answering your questions and dropping some knowledge and feedback to help you kick the weekend off right. Let's cut to it! In this episode: Sometimes it's easier to know who's not "The One" than who is. Does Jordan talk too much about himself? Some listener feedback for Lydia from FMF #105 about remaining professional in the non-profit volunteer world. Our policy on "controversial" interviews explained. [Related: How a Gang of Skinheads Forever Changed the Course, The Oprah Winfrey Show] How do you seamlessly continue mingling at a social event when you find yourself stuck in conversation with that guy? What's something you think about all the time that you believe makes you crazy compared to other people? Quick shout outs to Mary Tesone and the USA Wrestling Team! Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@theartofcharm.com! Check out Jordan's (@TheArtofCharm) other show: The Forbes List, and Jason's (@jpdef) other

Justin Wren (@TheBigPygmy) is an MMA juggernaut with the body of a Viking and the heart of a Pygmy. He's also the author of Fight for the Forgotten: How a Mixed Martial Artist Stopped Fighting for Himself and Started Fighting for Others. "Charity can be great. But opportunity is always better." -Justin Wren The Cheat Sheet: Slavery may have ended just over a hundred and fifty years ago in the United States, but Pygmy tribes in the Congo are among populations still enslaved today -- in fact, there are more slaves worldwide in 2017 than at any other time in history. With land they've inhabited for generations stolen from under them, Pygmies are considered animals by the landowners and forced into a self-perpetuating cycle of slavery. Now, MMA master Justin Wren fights for the rights of these forgotten people by helping them buy their own land, source their own clean water, and become self-sufficient. How does a clinically depressed, bullied kid become a successful mixed martial artist who raises money and awar

Laila Ali (@TheRealLailaAli) is a world-champion boxer, entrepreneur, and author of Reach! Finding Strength, Spirit, and Personal Power. The Cheat Sheet: What made Laila become the only boxer out of Muhammad Ali's nine children? Why do fighters trash talk (and does Laila regret any trash talking she did during her fighting career)? How did Laila make the choice to pivot from an aspiring nail salon tycoon to a world-class boxer? What was it like growing up around fame, and how does her father's legacy still affect her? How did her father react when she got serious about boxing? And so much more... If you're a business owner, did you know your payments solution can be an engine for growth? Rethink payments with Braintree. Find out more at braintreepayments.com/forbes! Does your business have an Internet presence? Now save a whopping 50% on new webhosting packages here with HostGator by using coupon code CHARM! Free yourself from typing notes, reports, and documents by going with the transcriptionists we trust

Welcome to Minisode Monday, where we kick off the week with something quick and actionable -- to make you more magnetic and effective -- that you can implement right away. Dilbert's Scott Adams rejoins us to talk about using the body to gauge ideas the brain thinks up during the creative process -- and sort what works from what doesn't. "You don't have anything if you haven't moved somebody's body." -Scott Adams The Cheat Sheet for Thinking with Your Body: When trying to create something, Scott uses his body as a sensor to gauge what works and what doesn't. Scott has a process where he quickly cycles through a series of ideas. A lot of them may be good, but it's the ones that elicit a physical reaction -- usually a chuckle -- that stick. "The x factor of any kind of creative effort -- any kind of art, any kind of product -- is that little thing that just makes you go, 'Ah!' Like you feel it." Scott gives the unboxing of an Apple product as an example. Every little facet of the experience is carefully designe

Time for Fan Mail Friday, where we'll be answering your questions and dropping some knowledge and feedback to help you kick the weekend off right. Let's cut to it! In this episode: Do you know anybody who's a jack of all trades? Gabriel Mizrahi joins us, and he's a jack of one trade -- which may seem underachieving to some, but let's be honest: it's still better than being a jack of no trades. When making cuts to your circle of friends, how do you discern between toxic people who take advantage of your good nature and real friends who are simply in a bad place and need your help? [Related: How to Cut Toxic People out of Your Life] The details of your sexual orientation seem to have a record of stalling promotion once discovered by your higher-ups; how do you stay true to yourself without hurting your career prospects? [Related: Neal Brennan | 3 Mics (Episode 601)] How do you convey warmth to others when you have a resting angry/serious face? How do you deal with the fallout when your business partner turns o

R. Douglas Fields (@RDouglasFields1) is a neuroscientist based in Bethesda, MD and author of Why We Snap, Understanding the Rage Circuit in Your Brain. The Cheat Sheet for Understanding Rage and Why We Snap: What is rage, and what evolutionary purpose does it serve? What makes ordinary people "snap" -- that is, react violently when triggered by rage? Can we control our urge to snap when rage overtakes us? Understand the nine triggers of rage. LIFEMORTS: the mnemonic that helps us identify when rage intrudes so we can get a rational handle on it preemptively. And so much more... If you're a business owner, did you know your payments solution can be an engine for growth? Rethink payments with Braintree. Find out more at braintreepayments.com/forbes! Wearing a stylish timepiece shouldn't break the bank. Art of Charm listeners can find out why MVMT is the fastest-growing watch company in the world for 15% off with free shipping and free returns here! Does your business have an Internet presence? Now save a whop

Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) is a trained hypnotist, the creator of Dilbert, and author of the upcoming book Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don't Matter. He also predicted a 2016 presidential win for Trump -- for reasons others didn't see. "Check your facts." -Scott Adams The Cheat Sheet: Did Donald Trump win the election because his persuasion skills include elements of hypnosis? Why is visual persuasion so effective? How do we spot the moment when people are trying to influence us? How is pacing and leading used for persuasion? We revisit the copy machine effect and learn a new one: the McGurk effect. And so much more... Learn over 500 subjects (no tests or homework!) at The Great Courses Plus -- The Art of Charm listeners get one month free here! Does your business have an Internet presence? Now save a whopping 50% on new webhosting packages here with HostGator by using coupon code CHARM! Free yourself from typing notes, reports, and documents by going with the transcriptionists we trust h

In this Minisode Monday, we address why graduating from school into the workforce isn't a pass to stop learning. The world is constantly changing, and the true professional is a perpetual student. Understand why learning and growth should be seen as a prerequisite for success -- not a distraction. The Cheat Sheet - Learning Is Earning Entering the workforce after graduating with a diploma or certificate or degree is no excuse to stop learning. In fact, the savvy and successful know it's just the beginning. A lawyer legally needs to keep learning just to keep his or her license, but anyone who wants to be good at what they do should follow this example -- whatever their field. In short: if you want to succeed at any level, you're never "done" learning. Learning and growth should be seen as a prerequisite for success -- not a distraction. How many books did you read last year? People at the top of their field could probably rattle off a dozen. But the average for someone who thinks they're done with learning?

Time for Fan Mail Friday, where we'll be answering your questions and dropping some knowledge and feedback to help you kick the weekend off right. Let's cut to it! In this episode: At what point are you changing too much of yourself for someone else? Is it worth moving to a place you don't like to benefit your career -- at the expense of just about everything else? [Related: Roy Wood Jr. | Father Figure (Episode 593)] If you had to choose just one skill that you would live / deliver well, what would it be and why? Has this podcast had an impact on your life? Please let us know! [Related: Kimberly Seltzer | How to Find a Therapist (Bonus)] How does body language differ in people who grew up under oppressive regimes (e.g., behind the Iron Curtain or North Korea)? How do you know if you're asking too much from someone? Shoutouts to Blueprint and his team at Super Duty Tough Work Podcast and Chelsea the yacht attendant currently navigating the waters of Central and South America! Have any questions, comments, or

The Art of Charm (@TheArtofCharm) triumvirate of Johnny, AJ, and Jordan discuss the importance of narrative building -- taking ownership of the past, being mindful of the present, and setting sights on what we hope to accomplish in the future. To build rapport with others, we have to know our own story first. [Photo by Jonathan Kos-Read] "If you don't understand your narrative, it puts you in peril." -AJ Harbinger The Cheat Sheet: The monomyth, or the hero's journey as identified by mythologist Joseph Campbell, is a pattern that shows up in stories around the world and across cultures -- from The Odyssey to Star Wars. We all have a story -- a narrative -- that informs who we've been, who we are, and who we'll be. But are we making sure we're in control of how we process this narrative? Are you on a hero's journey or a fool's errand? It all depends on who's authoring your narrative. Shouldn't it be you? Following the narrative building exercises discussed in this toolbox episode is a good place to start. Less

Jason Silva (@JasonSilva) would have been called a "performance philosopher" by counterculture icon Timothy Leary. Among many things, he's a futurist, filmmaker, creator of short video series Shots of Awe, former host of the National Geographic Channel's Brain Games and current host of Origins: The Journey of Humankind. "In the information age, you don't teach philosophy...you perform it." -Timothy Leary "Everything I do is a response against meaninglessness." -Jason Silva The Cheat Sheet: How our concepts of self are formed -- often through the eyes of others -- and how they affect our behavior. How top performers excel by shutting down the editorial parts of the human brain coined by Buddhists as the monkey mind. Why "unscripted" isn't the same as "unprepared," and how videos can be edited to elicit altered states of consciousness. How good directors help performers get out of their heads -- while bad directors do just the opposite. How is day-to-day reality edited by context, similar to the Kuleshov effec

Welcome to Minisode Monday, where we kick off the week with something quick and actionable -- to make you more magnetic and effective -- that you can implement right away. This time around, we talk about the factors that lead to self-sabotage, the self-perpetuating consequences, and what we can do to put a stop to the whole mess. Let's get to it! The Cheat Sheet: Do you agonize over the limited time available to deal with your workload -- or overall lifeload? When we're overwhelmed, a lot of things get swept under the rug. We're compelled to procrastinate, and whatever's left undone begins to build up -- which leaves us even more stressed and overwhelmed. We compare ourselves with people we know who seem to have it all together -- and our self-worth suffers as we fail to live up to what we believe should be possible. Why does this cycle of self-sabotage happen and how can we identify and put a stop to it? Some suggestions: eliminate distraction, change your environment, use the pomodoro technique, and try Ja

Time for Fan Mail Friday, where we'll be answering your questions and dropping some knowledge and feedback to help you kick the weekend off right. Let's cut to it! In this episode: What are some tactics we can use to handle over-talkers short of hiring an orchestra to play them off? Does a lack of college education really put you at a disadvantage with your peers once you've already established competence in your field? [Related: Joi Ito | How to Survive Our Faster Future (Episode 595) and There vs. They're vs. Their] What's the childhood story behind why Jordan became so interested in what makes people tick? Are you at the whim of your insecurities? [Related: Mike Rowe | The Way I Heard It (Episode 597)] Tip: If you're trying to change careers or you're looking for a job, consider spending a little to get professional photos for your website, LinkedIn, etc. A shout out to the Stance sock company who heard Jordan's personal endorsement a few weeks ago and sent him some new socks for free! Have any questions,

Shaquille O'Neal (@SHAQ) has been retired from basketball for almost six years, but he's still got his irons in plenty of fires. Here, we'll discuss everything from superheroes to law enforcement to business to sports to podcasting to -- yes -- the Flat Earth Theory. "It's never gotten out of control because even to this day I don't consider myself a celebrity." -Shaquille O'Neal The Cheat Sheet: What real-world experience Shaq is getting to prepare for a political race in 2020. How Shaq assembled what he calls The Panel to help manage not only his career but all his important life decisions -- and how you can do the same. Why Shaq doesn't consider himself a celebrity (and why that still isn't a good reason to bug him in the middle of dinner). How Shaq manages his emotions so he stays non-reactive on and off the court. Does Shaq really believe in the Flat Earth Theory? And so much more... Want to reach the fabled inbox zero? SaneBox learns what email is important to you and filters out what isn't. Visit san

Neal Brennan (@nealbrennan) is a comedy writer/producer/director, co-creator of Chappelle's Show, and most recently featured in his live stand-up solo show 3 Mics now at Netflix. "A buddy of mine calls me Benjamin Button 'cause he says I'm doing my career backwards." -Neal Brennan The Cheat Sheet: How did Neal Brennan's 3 Mics show come about, and what's the idea behind it's three parts: one-liners, emotional stuff, and stand-up? The comedy writing process and how it mirrors real life. A mindset to get a more realistic handle on the potential outcome of a given project or situation. Tips on getting happy from a guy who's tried everything -- and why achievement can't be a substitute for happiness. When networking, remember Neal's sage words: "No one's going to help you in a way that's not beneficial to them." And so much more... Does your business have an Internet presence? Now save a whopping 50% on new webhosting packages here with HostGator by using coupon code CHARM! If you're a business owner, did you k