Are you trying to change people’s minds? Data can help. But data is not enough. We all need stories to make that human connection. That’s the point of the podcast I recorded with Sam Taggart: Storytelling is Problem Solving. (That’s the link to the podcast for audio listening.) That page also has a link to […]
As I wait for the back cover and all the other pieces for Effective Public Speaking, I can finally write some fiction. (Yay!) This week’s podcast is the opening of a caper, a form of mystery story. Enjoy! The Podcast: The Transcript: This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for September
I’ve been quieter than usual on all the socials and in my writing because I’m deep into finishing the Effective Public Speaking book. (I’m proofing that book today.) That’s because I’m stuck between the tension of finishing this project and starting a new project. I love starting projects. Once I decide to start a project
This week, the podcast is from the Effective Public Speaking book. I am in the midst of the final proofing before I go to print. (Thank goodness!) Enjoy! The Podcast: The Transcript: This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for September 4, 2025, where I read an excerpt of just a
I’ve been working with several supposedly “agile” teams and their managers. Everyone knows their project is in trouble. And they have no idea what to do about it. The team members say, “We’re on a death march. We have no predictability. Everything takes longer than we think it will.” The managers say, “We have no
This week’s podcast is from the Effective Public Speaking book. I finished the index and am about to get the various print layouts ready. Enjoy! The Podcast: The Transcript: This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for August 29, 2025, where I read an excerpt of just a minute of some
This is Johanna Rothman’s August 2025 Pragmatic Manager newsletter. The Unsubscribe link is at the bottom of this email. Amy, a project manager, said, “With all the changes going on, no one is quite sure of their next steps. The portfolio team is stuck because they can’t predict for a year anymore. The product leader
Today’s podcast is from the Effective Public Speaking book. I am deep into the indexing. Yes, this is part of the finishing that makes me somewhat nutso. That’s okay. I have promised myself a delightful beverage tonight, as long as I finish it today. (To be honest, I will have a delightful beverage whenever I
I have options for all kinds of work I want to do today: The creative work, which includes a wide variety of writing (articles, blog posts, and yes, more books) and more workshops Paperwork. Yes, I have accounting and all kinds of spreadsheet reconciliation. Client preparation work for when they return from their summer vacations.
This week’s podcast is from the Effective Public Speaking book. A funny thing happened on the way to the podcast. I’ve been heads-down, proofing and finishing the book. I plan to start the index today. That’s all finishing the book. I hate this part, but if I don’t do it, I can’t publish the book.