I have the good fortune of working with many amazing clients. As a result, they teach me a few things while we're working on book launches or product development projects.

I will always remember the first book signing I did with Harvey Mackay at the Minneapolis Barnes & Noble. He hosted a book-signing event for four hours on the first day of the book launch. I thought this man has amazing stamina to stand and connect with his fans for so long. It was a great night yet by 9 pm I was cooked and ready to go home. I thought Harvey would be ready to leave too, but NO! He turns to me and says "Bring over the chair, it's time to sign books." I was thinking he had cracked up. My feet hurt and I wanted to go to sleep. Why was he doing this?

He knows how to connect with his audience and appreciate their support. He knew that when someone who had missed the book signing came into the store the next day and could buy a signed book they would be psyched. When you take the time to sign a book and connect to the people who read your books, your readership grows. And as your readership grows, more people talk about your ideas and your expertise. And as a result of their conversations, more books will sell and more speaking engagements will come your way and then more coaching products or events will be successfully launched, etc. etc.

So the next time a bookstore manager or a publicist asks you to sign books after a book signing, grab a pen and honor your readers with your signature and everyone wins.

I do sometimes!

Ok, I speak every day to clients, kids, friends, family. But standing on a stage and delivering a compelling message is not something we can all do with confidence, clarity and poise.

I am working on my speaking this year and am psyched to be speaking again at the Minnesota Certified Financial Association event again on April 26. Non-CFA members welcome to attend.

Help us spread the word and Harness Everyone's Power. http://ht.ly/a7Vo3

Just stop for a moment and think about who's in your life.

Who do you do business with? Who do you love? Who are you related to? Who are you hoping to get to know?

I woke up a few weeks ago and decided it was time to say "Thank You". Nothing fancy. Nothing with too many bells and whistles.

Just a great local bar in St. Paul with a popcorn machine that happens to be run by the guys who owned the "Nook" where we took our kids when they were little for "Nookster" night.

I'm not Irish, but I like the 4 leaf clover. And I've found many through the years who have supported all the book launches we've done by buying books, sending an email or showing up at a book signing on a snowy night. Or maybe my 4 leaf clovers have come to hear a new speaker and expand their network. Or bought me lunch. Or printed my materials and driven them over to help us meet a deadline.

I'm grateful to all the RockPaperStar 4 leaf clovers and I hope you'll join us for a simple Fan Appreciation Night.Bring your friends and let's keep expanding the circle as they used to say in Rugby talk. See you soon at Shamrocks in St. Paul.

There's something about the numbers that don't lie. Maybe that's why those speeding radars make my blood flow. Check out a few numbers below, shared by Nick Tasler, President of Decision Pulse, that suggest that leadership training and development is on a rise. Do you invest in yourself or your staff? Check this out:

In Tasler's research report "Racing the Clock: Will high potentials be ready to lead in time to meet your need?" he uncovered some fascinating statistics on the general state of Leadership Development.

44% of companies expect to increase total spending on leadership development and executive education in 2012 while general corporate training budgets remain flat.

According to the 2011 ASTD State of the Industry Report, companies will spend an average of $1,228 per employee on learning and development.

Nearly 3/4ths of learning executives will increase their focus on high potentials as emerging leaders this year.

Do you want to get better? Check out www.decisionpulse.com to start your growth. Or send Nick an email for the full report and tell him Paper sent you.

I just came back from watching two University of Minnesota Gopher sporting events. One planned and one a drop in. The Men's basketball team lost to Indiana in a game where the ball just wouldn't go in. So we stopped in to the tennis facility to see if we could play later in the afternoon and saw the Women's Tennis Team in the process of crushing Virginia Tech.

Sports are always inspiring and of course winning is the goal, but there's something in watching how the game is played by each athlete and the coaches that draws me in every time. Why is it that some players seem so engaged, focused and hungry for the win? While others seem to be unsure of what the end goal really is when the ball is in their hands. Is it really focus? Is it true that attitude is 80% of the battle towards winning? I'd like to know what you think.

I know that the people I work with often don't have a clear goal of what they want, but they want something, a better speech, more revenue or a bestselling book. We set goals and then we work and work together to reach them. It doesn't always happen in the timeframe we set up, but setting the goal with clarity and focus is the first step towards getting the results you want. Do you know where your basket is at all times?