If you look up energy, vision and vitality, you’ll find LA’s Tim Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG global sports, music and film entertainment.

One look at LA’s downtown skyline and you know “The Times They Are a-Changin.’” Staples Center, home to the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Kings, led the way. With the addition of LA Live, the new Ritz Carlton and J.W. Marriott hotels, downtown LA has a brand new vibe.

What’s impressive about Mr. Lieweke’s leadership and the behemoth AEG, they’ve accomplished what naysayers said, impossible, it can’t be done.  No wonder their vision is a reality given AEG’s success record and bankroll. Plus Mr. Leiweke’s leadership, drive, passion and determination. What you get is a winning combination.

When he delivers a speech, he’s into it. Direct, motivational and irreverent enough to show his likable personality.

Gold Star Actions: Attention CEOs, leaders and politicians. Influence is about emotion. Show some, connect with your audience, let them get an insight to who you are and don’t make it too hard for them to like you. You’ll be amazed how it can turn your visions into successful realities.

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French cooking, Paris, and Julia Child. Mix them altogether for a perfect recipe and “presto”, a delicious film! It is a challenge to think of one ingredient without blending all three.

Julia Child was the first celebrity cook I met in person. Before Wolfgang Puck became a celebrity chef with his own cooking dynasty, she was a household name. Julia blazed the trail with her books and television shows by the time we met. I just started my television career when the first opportunity to do “live” television came my way. It was a PBS pledge drive in Los Angeles. I was an eager novice ready for whatever might happen.

In walked Julia Child to the enormous TV studio. You couldn’t miss her 6′2″ frame. Her presence, larger in person, seemed to make the TV studio feel small. A producer introduced us. She leaned down to greet my 5′2″ frame. With great joy and in that only-Julia-Child-voice, she said, “I’ve been watching you and you’re awfully good, you know!” I was awestruck. I thanked her and said, “No, Ms. Child, I did not know.” What a beautiful gift of encouragement she passed along to a beginner. Her words have stayed with me throughout my life. Thank you, Julia.

Judy’s Gold Star Action Tip: Who did you compliment today? What a different world we could create with less criticism and more praise. Somebody needs encouragement from you today.

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Phil Jackson and Judy Jernudd

I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Jackson.  Granted a first impression doesn’t mean you know a person, yet after a few minutes with him, he makes a lasting impact. His unusual combination of competitiveness and Zen not only serves him well as a coach, but it is who he is.

Judy’s Take: During the interview his answers are thoughtful due to his presence with the questions. He listens. His “in the moment” attitude is contagious. You feel yourself becoming more centered and focused because he is.  Everything about him projects sincerity and wisdom. Even some of his players, who’ve publicly admitted resisting his Zen coach approach, give him credit for his meditative teachings. He listens and delivers answers with the message he wants to get across. He looks directly at you when he talks and forms a connection.

Coach Jackson has written a number of books you might want to check out about his leadership style and what makes him win.  One of my favorites that I recommend to leaders is “Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior.”

Gold Star Action: Answering questions in a job interview, to a reporter, in a sales presentation, or conversations in general should be void of sounding scripted or canned. Treat every question with importance.  Think before you speak.  Looking into the eyes of the person asking the question is a powerful way to connect. And be present. Master these skills and people will relate to you more positively and you will create a greater impact.

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Part 1:

Congratulations! Your pitch captured the media’s attention. You just received the call you have anticipated for weeks: “Can you be at the studio in three hours, camera-ready?” Or, they asked if they can send a reporter to your office in a couple of hours along with a still photographer? You’re exited! You call your mother and your friends. “What should I wear? Oh, I wish I wasn’t having a bad hair day.” Your jubilation fades as you begin to ponder; what am I going to say? Now we’re getting someplace. Here’s a glimpse of what kind of mistakes interviewees — you — can make.

• Being unprepared. You are eager to see yourself on TV or your name in print. Media exposure can only help, right? It is after all your subject area, isn’t it? Or, maybe not. Don’t say yes, unless you’re confident you know what you’re talking about and how your information will help the story.

Judy’s Gold Star Action Tip: If it’s not your area of expertise, offer to find the perfect resource. You win in four ways. You make a media friend who might think of you for a future story, you gain credibility, you help a colleague who has the expertise and you save yourself from looking like the flavor of the day. People who try to be all things to all stories don’t produce many results.  And they don’t get invited back.

Stay tuned!

Judyth

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Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Judy Jernudd

You’re sitting in a meeting, when the person next to you asks an important question. You thought about asking the exact same question, but you didn’t.

For instance, what question would you risk asking if you were sitting in the audience with about four hundred strangers listening to keynote speaker, Jeff Bezos, the Amazon.com chief? He was wrapping up his talk about the virtues of Amazon and demonstrating the Kindle wireless reader. While Mr. Bezos raved about the benefits of the product people in the audience, including me, started thinking it would be cool to own one.

As Mr. Bezos was about to leave the stage, without hesitation, a woman in the audience stood up and asked, “Are you going to auction off a Kindle before you leave?” It was clear Mr. Bezos hadn’t been asked the question before, but he acknowledged it would have been a good idea. In a flash, he demonstrated some on-the-spot decision making. He held up the Kindle and said, “Since you asked the question, it’s yours.” Wow! She asked and she received! Talk about immediate gratification.

Mr. Bezos invited the woman on stage to give her the $359.00 Kindle. About twenty photographers started snapping her pix as she stood on stage with Jeff Bezos, her gift in hand, smiling in a sea of flashbulbs. She went from being one of many in the audience to a stand-out on stage…with a new Kindle! Those of us in the audience applauded her highlight moment, although you could hear many moans of…”Oh! Gee, why didn’t I ask that question?”

GOLD STAR ACTION: Your goal might not be about receiving a free Kindle or standing on stage with a billionaire, but the next time you’re in a situation with a question on your mind, just ask. What do you have to lose? It might be your highlight moment.

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What a morning! It is always thrilling to meet someone in person whose talents you admire with a mesmerizing personality. Meryl Streep is one of those special people. But have you ever met someone in person who is an icon only to find that they disappoint? Not the “one and only” Meryl Streep. She is as amazing off screen as she is when delivering one of her electrifying performances.

The Hollywood Reporter’s ”Women in Entertainment Power 100″ Event honored Ms. Streep today. Her good friend, Sherry Lansing, introduced the actor. Sherry, herself a Hollywood legend, admitted to being nervous about introducing Meryl, the woman “she idolizes.” Even people who are used to being in the spotlight get nervous in some situations.

Funny, witty and direct Ms. Streep tells it like it is. When she received the rather phallic looking Crystal Award, she looked at it and announced, “This is a interesting shape for a woman’s award!” She brought down the house.

This wife and mother of four, delivers one-liners that give you a glimpse of the genuine woman behind the award winning actor. “I can’t believe I’m receiving the leadership award. I don’t lead anything…I can’t even get anyone to put their dishes in the dishwasher!”

In person she is the antithesis of her character, Miranda Priestly, in The Devil Wears Prada. In case you missed it, the DVD is out this month. This reporter will be surprised is she doesn’t take home an Oscar after the Academy Awards.

JUDY’S ACTION TIP: In a brief conversation with Meryl, she radiated warmth and grace. No phony airs of someone who takes their “I’ve made it” selves too seriously. Natural, genuine and original. It doesn’t make a difference how high we soar if we can still be real we’re a success.

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