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June 21, 2012
First Impressions: Who Wants Gum?

LOS ANGELES — Success or failure might come down to your community’s first impression

LOS ANGELES — In my many years in the comedy world, I have had some amazing moments. I introduced Chris Rock the first time he ever went on stage; almost from the moment he hit the stage I could tell he’d be something special. And I was with him the night he shot the one-hour comedy special that changed his life.

I watched Sam Kinison offend his audience so completely that he literally cleared a comedy club, doing the same material he would do the next night on the HBO Young Comedians Specialthat opened the door to his fame. “Don’t worry,” I told him, “if this comedy thing doesn’t work out for you, you can always become a bouncer.”

I’ve shared stages with Colin Quinn, Dennis Miller and Jerry Seinfeld; golfed with Norm MacDonald, Tommy Smothers and Samuel L. Jackson; bantered with Mel Brooks and Kelsey Grammar; met icons Lily Tomlin, Milton Berle and Johnny Carson.

July 7, 2011
Follow-Up Important In Every Phase

CHICAGO — Going to a trade show is a bit like making professional New Year’s resolutions. You see a new innovation or service, maybe learn about a different marketing strategy or business solution. And you promise that once home, you’re going to integrate what you learned or purchase that product you saw to help take your company to the next level.

But all too often, instead of following through on post-trade show plans, life gets in the way.

May 10, 2011
Retooling Your Mindset

CHICAGO — Every month, I like to align my column to the magazine’s theme. But the May had me stumped. What do I know about “Retooling for Recovery?” I don’t own a plant—not even a ficus.

Then I realized that each of us does some retooling on an daily basis, by taking information and using it as hope for the future. We’re a little bit like Little Orphan Annie, thinking that tomorrow, the world will be a better place. It’s why we buy lottery tickets. It’s why we get out of bed.

January 25, 2011
More Than Its Own Reward

CHICAGO — Making your best effort almost always opens new doors. And in my experience, a willingness to spend a little more time and extra effort than the competition has created bigger successes than the objectives I set out to attain.