Let's start with two facts:

1. The word "testimonial" is defined as "writing testifying to one's qualification or character."

2. The word "testimonial" is derived from the 1432 French term testimonie, which means "evidence, statement of a witness."

So, does a testimonial

Why Are You Being So Nice to Me? - by Scott Ginsberg

PICTURE THIS: You meet someone at a networking event. She's friendly, approachable, asks great questions; even introduces you to a few her colleagues.

After the event you exchange business cards.

A few days later she follows up with a quick

When You Care the Least, You Do the Best - by Scott Ginsberg

Let's say you're on a sales call.

And in the back of your mind, you don't care.

Which is not to say you're apathetic. It's just that you're relaxed. With yourself. With your product. With your prospect.

The Power of Self-Deprecating Humor - by Scott Ginsberg

You gotta love the opening scene of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth.

The former presidential candidate takes the stage, PowerPoint clicker in-hand.
His famous Global Warming Slideshow appears on the enormous screen in the background. Thousands of

The Longer They Take, the Less They Buy - by Scott Ginsberg

PICTURE THIS: you walk into Borders on a Sunday afternoon. You head over to the business section to pick up the latest book on leadership.

Flipping through, you see nothing remarkable ... yet.

So you keep flipping. And flipping.

Always Have Something to Give - by Scott Ginsberg

PICTURE THIS: you plop down next to a friendly guy on the plane.

After a brief greeting, he asks about your work.

"I'm an author," you say.

"Cool! What kind of books?" he asks.

So you tell him. And he becomes

8 Ways to Avoid Conversational Narcissism - by Scott Ginsberg

Forget yourself and submit to the other person.

That's the BIG challenge of listening.

To check your ego.
To relinquish you agendas.
To suspend your preoccupation.

Unfortunately, it's dangerously easy for people to fall into the trap of Conversational Narcissism.

Especially when they're too busy.

Too

18 Behaviors to AVOID For Effective Listening - by Scott Ginsberg

Listening is about what you DON'T do:

1. Don't react.
Respond coolly, objectively and non-judgmentally.

2. Don't think.
Just perceive without interpreting or labeling.

3. Don't perform.
Because some people view listening as a performance.

4. Don't tell someone not to feel a certain way.
This cheats

How to Prepare Yourself to Listen - by Scott Ginsberg

Rehearsal. 
Meditation.
Visualization. 
Deep breathing.
Perusing your notes.
Reading affirmations. 
Practicing your Powerpoint slide transitions.
Listening to the Rocky IV soundtrack in the bathroom down the hall.

All of these are examples of how someone might prepare herself to speak.

Which brings up an interesting,

How to Build a Following - by Scott Ginsberg

Artists.
Authors.
Rockstars.
Cult leaders.
Presidential candidates.
American Idol contestants.

What do all these people have in common?

They're all building a following.

HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS: so can you!

That's the beauty (and ironically, sometimes the horror) of the Web: anyone with an idea can share it