THIS MOMENT COUNTS · ISSUE 12 Out Now: The Best Talk of Your Life Wednesday, July 8, 2026 · by Dr. Michael Gerharz Somewhere right now, someone is giving a talk. They are saying all the right things, their slides are clean, the delivery is confident. And the audience? Fine with it. In the most devastating sense of the word. A few warm handshakes, someone says “great talk,” and there’s even a bit of applause. But of course, applause is just the politest form of dismissal. It means: thank you,...
5 days ago • 2 min read
THIS MOMENT COUNTS · ISSUE 11 Why your talk needs a moment of intensity Wednesday, July 1, 2026 · by Dr. Michael Gerharz Did you ever notice the sound of an aha? Seriously, what do you hear while it clicks for you? I bet it’s … silence. At least that’s what it sounds like for me. Almost every aha happens when I have a moment to think, let something sink in, connect the dots. Maybe that’s why so few presentations create one. They simply don’t leave that space. They talk past it and fill every...
12 days ago • 2 min read
THIS MOMENT COUNTS · ISSUE 10 The frustrating feeling of watching a weaker idea win.And what to do about it. Wednesday, June 24, 2026 · by Dr. Michael Gerharz When Simon Sinek or Brené Brown post a thought, it gets a thousand likes and a hundred reposts within minutes. When you (or I) post the same thought, it doesn’t go that way. So why do people love these words when Sinek or Brown say them, but not when you do? We somehow accept this when it comes to famous authors. It’s harder to accept...
19 days ago • 4 min read
What the Best Leaders Say Issue 16 There’s a finding in psychology that ought to be required reading for anyone who needs others to care about a problem. But almost no one in business has heard of it. It explains that frustrating moment when something clearly urgent gets ignored. Today’s issue is about that finding, and how to use it to get your people to care when it counts. Table of Contents Essay PDF Version Readers’ Corner Action Guide Essay:This is a serious problem There is a widespread...
23 days ago • 8 min read
THIS MOMENT COUNTS · ISSUE 09 I hated that talk. So why did it work? Wednesday, June 17, 2026 · by Dr. Michael Gerharz Oh man, how I hated that talk.Though it seemed like I was the only one. The guy (let’s call him Buzz) got standing ovations. He had landed one joke after another. He was charming, had great presence, and clearly, as they say, owned the room. But 10 minutes into the talk, I sat there like the one guy who didn’t get the memo. I just couldn’t find the point. I mean there were...
26 days ago • 3 min read
THIS MOMENT COUNTS · ISSUE 08 The best talk of the whole conference Wednesday, June 10, 2026 · by Dr. Michael Gerharz I don’t often write about client projects. So, this one’s a little special. I’m grateful for Kathy Letendre and Dell Anderson for agreeing to publish their thoughts on our collaboration. Both of them belong to a very rare group of people: generous, humble, and at the same time incredibly ambitious. They came to me with a message that deserves to be heard loud and clear:...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
What the Best Leaders Say Issue 15 “Show, don’t tell” is the best communication advice many leaders have ever learnt. It’s also the reason their most important messages never had quite the impact they were hoping for. They stopped one step short. This issue is about that missing step. It’s also about one of the most-watched talks of the last twenty years, given by a man widely considered a dull speaker. It's where you can watch him take that missing step, in a single, unforgettable moment....
about 1 month ago • 7 min read
THIS MOMENT COUNTS · ISSUE 07 Why persuasion has always felt unambitious to me Wednesday, June 3, 2026 · by Dr. Michael Gerharz I don’t want the ability to talk people into things. I really don’t. Persuasion is often considered the gold standard in communication. Getting people to do what you want them to do. What more could you want … in a pitch, a strategy announcement, a keynote, or any of the moments that count? Well, a lot more, if you ask me. Persuasion has always felt unambitious to...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
THIS MOMENT COUNTS · ISSUE 06 Is this the smartest pitch ever made? Wednesday, May 23, 2026 · by Dr. Michael Gerharz The pitch for the original Alien movie is widely considered to be one of the smartest pitches ever made. Legend has it that it was only 3 words long. It could have been 3 hours long, explaining in great detail how the story works, detailing the dark mood, forecasting box office sales, introducing the creation team, diving into their track record, … … and many more aspects that...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read