Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 8/31/26
“What does it matter?” That’s a rather dismissive comment on a low-worth issue. But “How much do you matter?” is a far more important question about your self-worth and esteem.
To “matter” is to have significance: to others, to the surroundings, to issues. The metrics might include that what you say has importance and is taken seriously, and that your mere presence (or absence) can make a profound difference in many instances. Thus, “self-worth” means that you have intrinsic value, and “mattering” means that your value makes a difference.
You may be familiar with Kant’s Categorical Imperative: “What if everyone did that” asked about a questionable behavior, or would you be comfortable with this on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. In other words, how much, positively or negatively does it matter.
If you believe you matter, it combats loneliness, overcomes introversion, and reduces stress. I think it’s a key element in resilience, which I define as “bouncing forward.” Most of us aren’t content merely “belonging” to a group or club but need to believe our presence makes a difference. From William James, to Alfred Adler, and Viktor Frankl (not a bad trio at all) they focus on purpose which embraces significance and worth.
My long-term success was formed early when I stopped thinking others were damaged and instead sought to improve. (Infrequently I was incorrect, but that doesn’t make my starting point incorrect.) I realized that applying their talents and being rewarded for their accomplishments were the keys to growth,
Similarly, socially and professionally (and within all relationships) we are healthiest when we believe, through our own metrics and the feedback of trusted others, that we matter, that our presence and opinions make a positive difference.
If you want to create that dynamic, you have to speak up, show up, and look up—in other words, to have The Courage of Your Talent.
Otherwise, you won’t matter.
Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese. —Luis Bunuel
A human being would certainly not grow to be seventy or eighty years old if this longevity had no meaning for the species. The afternoon of human life must also have a significance of its own and cannot be merely a pitiful appendage to life's morning. —Carl Jung
I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance.
—Pablo Casals
Art teaches nothing, except the significance of life. —Michael Korda
My New Book, The Courage of Your Talent, will be released in October.
You can preorder here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/checkout/p/p-106-1971249-7883468/spc?pipelineType=Chewbacca&isBuyNow=1&referrer=spc
In today’s volatile business environment, professionals face relentless pressures that erode confidence and self-esteem. Too often, worth is confused with performance―rising with each “victory” and collapsing with every “defeat.” This book challenges that cycle, showing how true self-esteem can remain steady, resilient, and empowering without tipping into arrogance or slipping into impostor syndrome.
Drawing on proven techniques, it demonstrates how resilience means bouncing forward from setbacks rather than retreating, and how self-worth must be distinguished from efficacy. By breaking free from herd mentalities, external validation, and self-doubt, leaders and teams can reclaim their autonomy, project confidence, and thrive in times of disruption.
The methodology outlined here equips readers to:
· Gain rapid acceptance of ideas and accelerate career growth in any organizational setting
· Improve health and well-being by reducing stress, guilt, and fear
· Achieve greater success in entrepreneurial ventures, partnerships, and solo practices
· Develop a clear, independent perspective on business and the world
· Build trust in one’s own judgment, enabling faster, more confident decision-making
This book is a practical guide to cultivating self-esteem as the foundation of resilience, adaptability, and leadership. It empowers professionals not just to survive change — but to lead it.
BONUS BOOK PROGRAM: Purchase now in advance or when the book appears but before December 1st in these numbers for these benefits:
Copies:
3: Free attendance at a 90-minute Zoom session on the topic (value $400)
6: One hour (or two half-hour sessions) one-on-one with Alan via Zoom (Value $2,500)
10: Free attendance in Alan’s monthly, 2027 Zoom workshops (Value $3,000)
20: Complimentary participation in The Den, a 45-minute, one-on-one meeting every week for eight weeks. (Value $4,500)
50: Alan will critique a book, web site, podcast series, or video series, existing or planned, with detailed recommendations for improvement and a powerful “draw.” (Value $7,500)
100: Dinner with Alan and a following morning (three hours) of in-person coaching (Value $15,000)
You can preorder here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/checkout/p/p-106-1971249-7883468/spc?pipelineType=Chewbacca&isBuyNow=1&referrer=spc
The Courage of Your Talent: The Zoom Session
I never assume people are “damaged.” But I do know for certain that many people do not exploit their talents nearly sufficiently. They mask their talents through false humility, senseless, fear, self-imposed guilt, and heightened stress.
In The Wizard of Oz the lion needed courage. The Wizard gave him a badge, nothing else. But the badge enabled the lion to call upon the courage that was innate but that he could not previously access. This was not so much a gift as a revelation.
Join me for 90 minutes for this unique and dynamic session based on my new book being released in October, The Courage of Your Talent: How to build your self-esteem, trust your own judgment, and constantly succeed in business (and life).
I’ve helped thousands of people directly, and hundreds of thousands through my books, podcasts, newsletters, and videos, improve their self-esteem and trust their own judgment.
Ego is external, and built to impress others based on what we wear, how we speak, what we drive, where we live, where we go. It is fragile and can be smashed or weakened by personal setbacks, malicious others, errors and mistakes, and other external events. But esteem is internal, it’s the belief in your own worth irrespective of your most recent “win” or “loss.”
Esteem declines not because of external events but because of internal neglect. A constant, appropriate level of esteem will see you through life’s journey successfully, but it requires deliberate attention and an avoidance of the neglect in which some people are unconsciously engaged.
I’m not providing outcomes or outlines here. I can put you on the right road on this journey in just 45 minutes. Of course, it’s up to you to stay on that road. But I can help with that, too.
I’m keeping the fee low: $400. I want you to want to do this. Spending this time with me can change your life. Why should you believe that?
Trust your judgment.
Date and Time: October 15, 10:30 to noon US eastern time
Video and transcription and visual photos to all who register
Fee is $400 until September 30, $500 thereafter.
Register here: https://alanweiss.com/store/quick-pay/
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The response to my special pricing for AI:AlanIntelligence® on my site has been so great that I’m maintaining the $450 fee for the summer with full access for lifetime to my body of work, including book contents.
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Alan Weiss Presents: How to Command A Room
These are the techniques of a Hall of Fame® speaker with the strongest solo consulting brand in the world, and the author of 57 books, 16 additional editions, appearing in 15 languages.
Whether a one-on-one meeting, a session with a dozen people, a group of 100 or even a thousand, you’ll learn the techniques required to be the “driving force” among those present, without aggression, without outrageous behavior, and most of all, without fear.
Whether in a nonprofit or for-profit, a government agency, an academic setting, a panel, a speech, a discussion, a civic meeting, a social event or a debate, learn how to become the highly positive focus of attention from someone who’s done it globally for decades.
You will rapidly master skills and behaviors such as:
• Waiting for the “pivot point” to speak.
• Achieving consensus quickly.
• Using social proof interactively.
• Building your metaphors and analogies.
• Improv and extemporaneous techniques.
• Learning what to ask, not what to answer.
Date: September 15, 2026 Time: 10 to noon, US eastern time, via Zoom
A video and a transcript will be provided after the session There will be volunteer role-plays to hone skills
Fee: $500 (includes AI:AlanIntelligence®) Option: Program plus four, thirty-minute coaching sessions, one-on-one: $2,000.
Fees increase to $750 and $2,500, respectively, on September 1.
Don’t delay, take charge of your discussions, your profits, and your life.
Register: https://alanweiss.com/shop/quick-pay/quick-pay/
2026 Zoom Workshops
January 6 Maximizing the coaching/advisory dynamic
February 3 Maximizing speaking spin-off business
March 3 Role-playing tough conversations
April 7 Maximizing workshop effectiveness spin-off
May 5 Maximizing current events potential
June 12 Role-playing tougher conversations
July 8 Maximizing low project labor practices
August 13 Maximizing panels—participant/moderator
NEXT: September 8 Role-playing toughest conversations
October 6 Maximizing publishing potential
November 2 Maximizing lifestyle potential
December 8 Maximizing 2027 personally and professionally
All sessions are approximately 90 minutes beginning at 10:30 US eastern time. These sessions are $450 each, or the entire year for $5,000. Add three months of weekly 30-minute coaching for $2,500, a total of $7,500. (My cards are accepted for the full-year, and for the full-year and coaching options, not for individual sessions.) All sessions will include video recording, visual photos, and Zoom Companion summary.
Register here: https://alanweiss.com/store/quick-pay/
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