Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 9/7/26
Most of us can recall with uncanny accuracy where we were when significant public events took place. When John F. Kennedy was assassinated, I was sitting in a high school history class, and the teacher, against all protocols, hauled in a radio so we could all listen to the reports.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was in a mid-range hotel provided by an east coast client which had an office and factory in the outskirts of Los Angeles. When I switched on the news right after I awoke I saw a video of a huge hole in a World Trade Center tower and the anchor saying it appeared to be “the result of a small plane crash.” As I realized immediately that it was no small plane, my phone rang, and my wife said, “Are you watching TV?”
At that point, Diane Sawyer was reporting and suddenly said, “Here comes another one,” and we watched it explode into the other tower, and subsequently watched the collapse.
Later that morning, a somber CEO addressed the assembled staff at the scheduled meeting, and made what comments he could. With planes grounded, he and three members of his staff decided to rent a car and drive back to headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina. I changed location to the Ritz Carlton in Marina del Rey, thinking I’d be there for a long time. But upon learning that the marketing manager and my main contact, Leon, was still there in LA, I proposed we use my rental car to drive home.
I picked him up the next morning, stopped at a station to fill the car with gas, where we purchased a US road map for 50 cents, and headed east, with two-hour driving shifts. We stopped only three times, once in Denver, once in Columbus, and finally in Roanoke where we split up in Virginia, for him to drive south in another rental, while I drove north. I fell asleep at the wheel once on that final stretch. Early in the trip, when I couldn’t reach my wife, I called our town’s police to check on her, that’s how crazy the times were. All was well.
During that trip we saw amazing sights, such as artillery-like salvos of lightning strikes miles away in the Rockies, and huge open plains attesting to the enormity of the country. But mostly, especially driving on the interstate through major cities, we saw bridges and buildings festooned with American flags, people united on radio interviews, members of both parties singing God Bless America on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
When I returned my California car to Hertz at Providence Airport, the car checking in ahead of me was from Alaska.
In that time of crisis, when Bill Maher would infamously say “the true heroes were the hijackers who killed themselves flying into the towers” (I would add that heroes don’t fly into innocent and unarmed civilian accountants and underwriters and secretaries), when first responders (among the true heroes) rushed to do their jobs without hesitation in the face of the unknown and murderous, I was proud to be an American.
Having lived through that awful day and aftermath, I can use the strength of this nation to invigorate me. But not everyone experienced it, and now we’re on polarized and selfish paths for far too long.
For all who died that day and in the aftermath, directly and indirectly, we need to restore that unity and strength. It shouldn’t take a cowardly act by murderers to bring us together.
God Bless America.
Otherwise, you won’t matter.
After 9/11, we realized that all these silly culture wars, and arguing about rock lyrics… who cares? You know, we, for some reason, remembered what our real problems are. —Frank Rich
We must never allow September 11th to become a time for protest and division. Instead, this day must remain a time for promoting peace and mutual respect. —Timothy Cardinal Dolan
The first time I realised I was patriotic was after September 11th. —Claire Danes
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/
Live Events: 2027
- Las Vegas February 10-11: Escape Velocity Intellectual Property
• Creating world-class IP daily
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• Cataloging for use
• Trademarking/copyrighting for safety
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• How to create remote work anywhere
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- Miami November 18-19: Creating Your Life Strategy
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• Who do you want to be
Walkaway….with perhaps the first true picture of a wonderful, personal future with processes and techniques to modify and alter based on changing conditions. Begin accumulating the resources you need now to be happy then.
Two days each
$2,500 each ($2,000 prior to Oct. 1, 2026)
$6,000 for all three ($5,000 prior to Oct. 1, 2026)
Register Here: https://alanweiss.com/shop/quick-pay/quick-pay/
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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.
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• 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.
2027 Zoom Learning
The Downside Myth Jan 14
• How to recognize and assess the upside
• Changing your default
• Changing others’ default
• Change does not include neutral
How to Magically Raise Fees Feb 16
• The art of the rebate
• Non-cash lucrative compensation
• Raising option 1 near nosebleed
• Developing immense value
The Empire Strikes Back Mar 16
• Tactfully dealing with stupidity
• Applying overwhelming social proof
• Rebutting in the moment
• Asking, “What will make you happy?”
• Avoiding the shoulda/coulda/woulda
Odds Are 12:5 the Customer’s Not Right Apr 13
• How Nordstrom got fed up with returns
• Gentle corrections using facts
• Firm corrections using authority
• The line is the sand for respect
• Reframing the issue
Using Debt Intelligently May 18
• Finding the best sources
• Refunding through making and not taking
• Interest rates are not the top priority
• Maximizing your credit score (harder than you think)
Raising Your Local Profile June 8
• Why this provides a higher and wider profile
• Learning how to bid with flare at auctions
• Serving on boards and leading boards
• Civic pro bono work
Collecting Powerful Social Proof Daily July 6
• It’s the news, stupid
• Never disregard “irrelevant” items of interest
• Creating analogous lessons
• Staying contemporary
Shedding Stress Aug 10
• Distress and eustress
• Only the dead have zero stress
• How to prevent the usual infections
• How to shed it when you get it
It’s Not What Happens to You That’s Crucial Sep 14
• Getting off the floor
• Rallying resources
• Why it’s not as bad as you think
• What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
The True Metrics for Your Life Oct 12
• Ignoring alien metrics
• Permission to change expectations
• Unbundling concerns
• When to hold and when to fold
Alan’s 10 Top Success Practices Nov 16
I’M NOT REVEALING THEM UNLESS YOU SIGN UP!
The Wizard: Brains, Heart, Courage Dec 7
• Tailoring your feedback sources
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• Releasing true emotions
• The courage of your talent
$3,500 for the year until December 1, then $4,500
$450 per single session
$5,000 with six coaching sessions
Order by October 15 and receive a free session in December 17 2026 on Creating Urgency:
Creating Urgency Dec. 17, 2026
• Moving unmovable objects
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• The straw man on the burning platform
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Register Here: https://alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/zoom-workshops-2027/
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
September 8 Role-playing toughest conversations
NEXT: 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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