Every Word Matters: How Emotional Triggers Shape Success
Every conversation you have is shaping a story in someone else’s mind—and if you are not aware of it, that story could be working against you. We are emotional creatures. Like a strength, it can help us—but if it is overused, it becomes a weakness. Anything you say to me or do to me, all of a sudden I am creating a story about it. What do you mean? How did you say that? If I am talking to...
Before You Finalize Your 2026 Plan, Watch This
A quick question: have you ever shared what you thought was a brilliant idea, and the reaction you got back was a polite nod, crossed arms, or the classic, “Yeah, let’s think about it”? Same idea, same words, same logic and yet it landed with all the impact of a wet noodle. Here’s why. Have you ever noticed that no two people ever see the exact same rainbow? You can stand right next to someone, look at the same sky,...
The Part of Storytelling Almost Everyone Leaves Out
I became a speaker for the wrong reason. I figured if I could be on stage and slay my dragons by being proverbially naked in front of the audience, then I had made it and gotten rid of all my fears. That’s not true. That was being self-focused, and it didn’t help the audience. I learned from speaking and from NSA (National Speakers Association) that it’s not about you, it’s about them. The biggest mistake people make when they...
The Science Behind Getting Prospects to Say Yes Faster
Before you even introduce yourself, your prospect’s hormones have already voted on you. The question is: did you win? In the first few seconds of any interaction, their brain is quietly—but decisively—determining whether to trust you, engage with you, or shut down completely. And it all comes down to three key hormones neuroscience identifies: cortisol, oxytocin, and dopamine. Cortisol is the fight-or-flight hormone, and it is the first one you need to manage. Before you even start a conversation, your...
The Moment I Stopped Feeling Like a Fraud
You know, there’s a phrase from my childhood that stuck with me for decades. It wasn’t inspirational. It wasn’t wise. It was—“You’re a fraud.” My father said it to me. T And it became a lightning bolt that hit me every single time I tried to do something big. And here’s the worst part… There was one part of my life that actually gave a little credibility to that statement. My weight. How could I get on a stage,...
Happy Thanksgiving from Karr Associates, Inc.
You know, every year around this time, we hear the same thing: it's Thanksgiving, time to give thanks. And while that's a beautiful tradition, I want to challenge that thinking a little. Giving thanks should never be limited to one day a year. If you're living the Velocity Mindset, gratitude is not an event—it's a discipline. It's a force multiplier. It's one of the pillars that keeps your velocity—your speed with direction—moving forward. Let me explain why. When we...
The Surprising Origin of the Velocity Mindset®
Have you ever had a challenge so painful that you waited years to face it? But there were a couple of things I dealt with when I was younger, too. One was an addiction issue, and I open my keynotes with that. Another was that I couldn't enunciate the letter R, so I was bullied a lot in school because I couldn’t even pronounce my own name. I eventually got tired of the pain, so I went to the school...
How Do You Grow Faster? With Clarity and Purpose
When CEOs ask me, “Ron… how do I grow faster?” I tell them the truth: You don’t need more speed. You need clarity… and purpose. Because speed without direction? That’s just an expensive burnout. I’ve had the privilege of sharing this approach with audiences in over 20 countries, helping 200,000+ leaders, executives, and sales professionals achieve results they didn't think possible. Take my work with Cognis Corporation, a global German chemical manufacturer: a team with the world’s best product wanted simply to “win...
The Neuroscience of Trust: Unlock the One Hormone That Drives Influence
Ever wonder why some conversations instantly build trust while others fall flat, especially when money is involved? It all comes down to chemistry, not charm. The key ingredient is oxytocin, the hormone that makes people feel safe, connected, and willing to believe in you. Oxytocin is the love hormone, the trust hormone. My doctor once told me, “You will never have as much oxytocin as a woman in labor.” No one does. But you do need a little bit to...