"The Keeper of the Keys" - Now Available on DVD, Shipping Worldwide

The one question I hear from people who are blown away by my new movie, The Keeper of the Keys, is “Where did the idea for this come from?” As a fan of personal development and self-improvement, I have tried (yes, TRIED) to watch all of the self-help movies that are currently available. About 20 minutes into each movie, I realize I just can’t watch anymore. They are boring; the endless stream of talking heads and trite sound bites quickly become tedious.

I thought, “WHY? Why can’t SOMEONE produce a movie that will help and empower viewers, yet will be so much fun and entertaining that even people who are NOT fans of personal development will be so engrossed watching the movie that they will learn something even if they weren’t trying to?!”

I decided I would produce such a movie. But, I’d never made a movie before. Still, my DESIRE to elevate an entire genre was powerful and I knew I would find a way. Channeling this passion is how I wrote The Art of the Business Lunch, sold it, and saw it published in 12 languages. This is how I published three anthologies, The Power of the Platform, and this is how I have accomplished every significant goal in my life. By connecting with our PASSION, we are able to move mountains.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the past few years had been the importance of working with a mentor … but that is a blog (or 10) unto itself! In this case, I went to the top of the mountain, and asked producer/director Stephen Simon to help me. He was amazing. He said this movie would have to CRITICALLY  different if I was going to achieve my goal. It was Stephen who recommended that I make it funny – and I didn’t even have to think about it. I LOVED the idea!

The Keeper of the Keys was born. But, how could I make the movie funny without taking anything away from the experts? The answer was to have a dream sequence – like something out of A Christmas Carol – that would be the ticket. The idea for this came to me as I was emailing Stephen one day. Yes, it literally came to me. When the Universe wants you to accomplish your goals, it sends a lot of help along the way!

Then, I hired director Scott Cervine. He specialized in directing spiritual films and he also acts. I wanted him to play the main character in my movie. “Michael Walden” represents everyone who feels victimized by their circumstances. His transformation is deep, moving, and hilarious. He is resistant to all things and even argues with the experts to the delight of the viewers.

Next, I needed some star power. In the field of Self Improvement, that could only mean Jack Canfield. And, I love Marci Shimoff – who had contributed to my anthology series, so I invited her to be a part of this movie, too. Marci asked us if we’d like her friend John Gray on board, as well. We jumped at the chance to have John in the movie. The fact that I own the Las Vegas Convention Speakers Bureau and had built relationships with these stars made it easier for me to invite them to be in my movie. They were excited about the prospect. They had each appeared in The Secret, and were hoping that this movie might prove to be as successful.

Armed and ready to go, I recruited 15 top experts – a diverse group of authors and speakers from around the world.

Yours Truly in Costume as "Elizabeth" - the Mysterious Spiritual Guide

I wanted the movie to be mysterious and magical, and Scott, as director and editor, was able to incorporate outstanding special effects. He found the ideal location for the dream sequence in the Parisian Palace in Las Vegas. It offered set after set and lent so much to the feel and power of the movie. The experts appear in frames and come to life as Michael, led by a mysterious spiritual guide, “Elizabeth” (played by yours truly), approach them. Not since Harry Potter has a movie been this mysterious, this magical, or this much fun. The experts share deeply personal stories – nothing anyone has ever heard before – and the stories have a tremendous impact on Michael. His enlightenment is inevitable.The movie has been compared to The Secret for its expertise and likened to Harry Potter for its special effects, though nobody flies around an arena and the transformations are internal – no one is turned into an animal! But, the fun and the moving stories are all there.

DVDs are now available for shipping worldwide. This movie will change your life. It has already been called the new GOLD STANDARD of the genre. The Keeper of the Keys has been licensed to be the April release for Spiritual Cinema Circle and should arrive in members’ mailboxes this week. Members are in more than 65 countries around the world. If you’re not a member of SCC, you can buy the DVD at the official website – click here. Sign up to become an affiliate and earn a % of all sales that come from visitors you send to the site.

I hope you will bring this DVD home and enjoy it with your family. The experts are brilliant, the story is engaging, and the special effects make it as much fun as you’ve ever had at the movies. And you will be moved. I made this movie for you – I know you will enjoy it.

I just had to share. I spoke recently for HP in Southern California, to a wonderful group of their printer resellers and partners. One of the guests was really inspired. Really. Working with Cristine McMillan at NetQuest and Eileen Angel with HP was a great experience. They encourage a fun, creative environment. And, they do a LOT to build solid relationships with their HP partners. Their guests enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Fleming’s during my presentation.

Carol decorated her cubicle with a business lunch fit for even the oldest executives!

I was so grateful when they forwarded these photos of Carol McAloney, an HP IPG Champion, who took my message to heart this Halloween. I guess there is NEVER a bad time for a great business lunch! I was only upset that as the QUEEN of the Business Lunch, I didn’t think of this first! Great job, Carol – I will remember this forever.

Check out the photos closely and you’ll see this happy couple is dining on roasted cockroach, finger-ling potatoes, (made with real fingers!), blood red wine, and the table is adorned with black roses. Of course, my book – “The Art of the Business Lunch, Building Relationships Between 12 and 2″ – is handy in case the mr. or ms. need to quick-check their etiquette!

It’s incredible that several people to whom I showed this photograph said, “I think I’ve eaten in that restaurant….the service is SO SLOW!” Hilarious. Here’s a close up of the fabulous business lunch for two.

Special thanks to Carol, Eileen, and Cristine. It’s a pleasure to work with such CREATIVE, imaginative, and fun professionals! Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!

Ever felt like service was THIS slow?

A LOT Can Go Wrong at a Business Lunch: Being Prepared Will Help

As I wrote in my last post, I spoke recently for HP in Southern California. I was brought in to speak because my clients appreciate the importance of doing a business lunch the right way. Whether you’ve been on more than 3,000 client lunches (like I have) or you’re just starting out, it is important that you feel comfortable and confident. This can come from knowing what to avoid or how to handle certain situations.

During the meal, I asked the printer resellers and distributors to try to “Stump the Speaker / Shock the Speaker.” I wanted to offer my BEST advice for their WORST situations. I haven’t been stumped yet because most challenges or problems that come up at business lunches are more common than people think, but I definitely heard some great stories and thought-provoking questions.

I asked our guests 1) what was the worst thing that EVER happened to them at a business lunch, 2) how they might have better handled the situation, and 3) to share anything they might have trouble with – in general – along the way.

I found it interesting that most people offered their OWN suggestions as to how they might have better handled a particular situation. I think most of us tend to “hash & rehash” those awful moments in our minds. Seems we’d ALL like “a ticket to ‘shoulda, woulda, coulda.’” My mantra is “be prepared,” but things can happen fast when at a business lunch. If you’re with a big client, you might be nervous. And then, there are just a LOT of things that can go wrong. We’re people – not robots – and we have emotions, as well as million thoughts a day. Hindsight is always 20/20. Good judgment – unfortunately – comes from bad experience.

Here are some of the best stories from last week:

Shannon said that a client dumped coffee in his lap. HOT coffee. YIKES! As to what he would do differently? He would not have ordered coffee for the table! THAT was easy! And, I can add this little tip:

IF YOU KNOW that your client likes something you don’t care for – such as alcohol, dessert, or sushi, bring someone from your office as a “buffer.” That way, your client won’t have to drink alone (and YOU of course will be Designated Driver!), YOU won’t have to try to find cooked entrees at a sushi bar, or you won’t have to see your morning workout get annulled by a giant slice of cake you forced down just because your client wanted dessert! Bringing a coworker (or boss) can be a very wise move, especially when you know your client is going to want something you don’t care for.

One executive ended up in a restaurant that was too noisy. We’ve ALL been to restaurants that are USUALLY just fine for a business lunch, but on the day WE are there, there is a baby shower going on at the next table or some other type of large, noisy party. We can’t prepare for EVERY distraction, but try asking your maitre d’ for a quiet table when you make your reservation. (Of COURSE you are going to make a reservation!)

NEVER Pay for a Business Lunch with CASH!

One of my guests asked, “What if your client wants to pay for lunch?”  I went into great detail in my book on how to avoid that situation by slipping your credit card to your server the moment you are seated. Not only does that help to avoid the fight over the check, but it also identifies YOU as the host of that party. This is an especially helpful tip for women when taking men to lunch. In many restaurants, servers still tend to give the check to the man. Ladies – take note! And you definitely want to pay for lunch with a credit card. Paying with cash can create a sort of “Let’s all chip in” or “Can I get the tip” atmosphere.

Alcohol … excessive alcohol, that is, … is the #1 cause of distress at business lunches! People have too much to drink or they are simply drinking a little on an empty stomach. Either way, they get drunk and it’s not long before their behavior gets sloppy. Chris said he brought a sales executive with him to a client lunch. The executive had too much to drink – and Chris ended up having the VP of his company call the client to apologize. I believe there is no quicker way to LOSE YOUR JOB than by getting drunk in front of clients. TAKE IT EASY!

It’s not a sin to eat a little something before you go. And – if you are attending a mixer at 5PM and lunch was at noon, you WILL BE drinking on an empty stomach. Park yourself by the food table when you first arrive. Remedy the situation. THEN, you’ll be free to mix and mingle with a drink in your hand without ending up on the floor! Besides, it’s impossible to eat, drink, AND hand out business cards! I keep a bag of nuts in my car, just in case I get hungry in the middle of the day or for any other time I’m not able to grab a quick bite.

How can you stop someone from drinking too much?  This is a bit touchy, but it’s a great chance to collaborate with your server. Excuse yourself to the restroom, find your server, and tell them to CUT OFF the supply of alcohol to your client! Let them be the bad guy. They can also cut someone’s drink enough to render it fairly harmless. If you suspect your client may be on their way to getting drunk, order appetizers and get your server involved. Have them weaken the drinks so you’ll have the chance to get your client to eat. And NEXT TIME, invite that client out to breakfast. It will be a lot easier for them to stop drinking if they never get started.

Lastly, if you slip and fall, injuring only your pride, just stand up, brush yourself off, and carry on! I always ask if ANYONE in the room has NEVER spilled a drink. I’ve yet to see a hand go up. We are human, floors are slippery. Don’t wear shoes you can’t walk in – THAT should help slightly. Then, watch your step. I’m not saying you’ll never fall again, but being prepared WILL help!

I want to send out special thanks to everyone that I got to meet in OC. I’m here for you if any other questions come to mind. And if YOU have a situation for which you would like to have my opinion or my advice, just ask!

I got to speak to an outstanding group of professionals this week – printer resellers and distributors for HP. Since the program was for several hours and included lunch, I conceived an exercise to keep everyone engaged during the actual meal.

I passed out forms asking what was the WORST thing that had ever happened to them during a business lunch, how they might have been able to handle the situation better, and to add any other challenges they may have at networking or business events.

Since I’ve been speaking on “The Art of the Business Lunch” and building relationships for nearly 10 years now, and have YET to be stumped, I thought this would really be fun. The afternoon flew by, however, and I did not have the opportunity to go over the comments I received. Hence, I wanted to share the responses here … in a blog or two.

Here goes …

Never Draw Attention to Something Bad!

One of my favorite stories came from a rep walked into a restaurant with a client. About 15 minutes later, he pointed out a distracting couple that was making out at their table. Turned out to be his client’s husband and his mistress. When asked what he might have done differently, his only comment was that he should have asked this lady out after her divorce. Apparently, she’d “cleaned her husband’s clock” in the divorce. She got such a grand settlement, she quit her job and hasn’t worked since. I GUESS you could call that a happy ending?!

Another executive actually left his wallet at home. As for handling the situation better? He said he should have rescheduled his meeting for another day. I think that would have been a terrific solution – IF he wasn’t able to borrow $100 from a friend or swing by his house before lunch. BTW, I told him a story from my book about a sales rep who consistently “left his wallet at home” as a means of getting his clients to pick up the check. The buyers, who talk amongst each other, got wise and never fell for this again.

It's Easy to Get Away From a "Jerk" When at Networking Events

One of the professionals said he had a hard time acting interested in other peoples’ stories while at networking events. We’ve ALL been stuck in boring conversations and being prepared for casual conversation can certainly help us to steer a conversation in another direction. That being said, sometimes it is just best to excuse yourself. I’ve recommended to MANY people that they just say, “It’s been great seeing you here, but I need to work the room and mingle. Have a great evening.” Then, walk away and don’t look back!

I will share more stories in my next blog. In the meantime, let me assure you that walking into a room full of strangers is a stressful situation for MOST of us! Being prepared for casual conversation – by reading industry magazines and Web sites, being up to date on current events and pop culture, and knowing a little about a lot – will always help. Like a good scout, BE PREPARED! Asking questions of others – from “What did you do this past weekend?” to “Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?” can break the ice faster and more easily than you could ever imagine.

One final tip for this post: If you know your client likes to drink or eat something you don’t – from alcohol to coffee to raw oysters to dessert – bring a coworker with you. Usually, people just don’t want to indulge ALONE. As long as they have at least ONE “partner in crime,” your business lunch should flow incredibly smoothly.

Thanks again to all the attendees at the HP luncheon in Orange County. Your comments and input should keep me busy for quite a while! Thank you for taking the time to answer “Stump the Speaker; Shock the Speaker”!

Must-see Limited Engagement @ the WYNN Las Vegas

I’ve lived in Las Vegas for 36 years. I’ve seen it all, or so I thought. My 81-year old father continually reminds me of how jaded and cynical I am. I, on the other hand, feel I’m a better critic of what is really outstanding. I don’t fall for schlock dressed up to look like talent. I saw Elvis on his comeback tour in 1970. I saw Jimi Hendrix (Okay, I was barely a teenager, but his psychadelic performance was permanently etched on my young mind!) I’ve seen shows some people never even imagined.

While building my reputation as “The Queen of the Business Lunch” in advertising sales, I was fortunate enough to get media invitations to most of the shows and restaurants that opened in Las Vegas over the past 30 years.

That is why I have to share my thoughts on the newest, limited engagement at the Wynn Las Vegas: “Sinatra: Dance With Me.”

I have never seen a show quite like this. In a word, it’s BRILLIANT! Conception and choreography is all Twila Tharp, who also directed this show. It is fresh, innovative, and engaging. (So engaging, in fact, I didn’t even look at my watch once! For me, that’s saying a LOT!) The music is Sinatra. Sinatra himself would LOVE this production.

There is not a line of dialogue. Instead, we see dancers in a nightclub dance their way through a love story. The music is Sinatra’s original studio recordings backed by a 17-piece big band. I hate to say this, but it’s not long before you forget that Sinatra himself is not on stage singing. His voice was at its finest – every note precise and on the money. The dancing is incredible – I felt as if I was watching a classic painting that moved.

The show is scheduled to appear at the Encore Theater through 1/29/11 – but hopefully, if ticket sales are strong, the property will decide to keep it around indefinitely. This is a hit. You can trust me.  I saw Sinatra “live” at Caesars Palace and I can tell you honestly, THIS was better!

Just a quick note here to reveal what a recent article in the Wall Street Journal stated: Most people love texting because THEY can reach YOU, but YOU can’t reach THEM! What’s up with THAT?! Read the article here – it’s called Y U Luv Texts, H8 Calls!

It’s all because we are SOooo busy! Scenario: You’re getting ready to go into a meeting…BUT, before you do, you can send someone a question or an answer, set up an appointment, or conduct some other brief business.

Later, when you are out of the meeting and can respond, you see that your associate, colleague, or client sent YOU a text with your answer. It’s actually a pretty effective means of communication, don’t you agree? I think it is also a great example of using technology to GAIN CONTROL over your communications! Ideally, however, we still need to save all this time so we can meet our clients and “our people” face to face whenever possible.

If you’ve ever heard me speak, then you know that my favorite airline is Southwest (SWA). WHY? Because they offer the BEST Customer Service EVER! I speak on building relationships, making people feel special, and the entire customer service experience…and SWA gets it RIGHT!

Sure, a business lunch is great for accomplishing those goals, but we’re not always able to have lunch with clients. Sometimes, it’s the every day experiences that help to define your level of Customer Service.

I recently flew FIRST CLASS on another airline – only because I wanted a red-eye to Ohio. The much-aligned “Cattle Call” of Southwest (which I think is one of the most excellent, well-organized plans for boarding…in fact, many other airlines now copy SWA’s “line-up by number” plan), and subsequent in-flight service I’ve experienced with SWA has been consistently better than the so-called “First Class” service of this other airline!

But I particularly enjoy sharing a memorable experience I had on an SWA flight from LA to Las Vegas – after a VERY long day. I got up around 4AM to speak on The Art of the Business Lunch & Networking at a luncheon in Southern California. I flew in for the day….and by the time my presentation was over and I was at LAX, I just wanted to get home. Watch my video to see why I LOVE SWA!