Need some examples of the passions and hobbies of famous people—indeed that make them more interesting and approachable. For example, Scott McNealy loves hockey. Please send examples to [email protected]. Would especially like women examples.

If you ask me, the key to attracting more followers, fans, and “likes” is to post interesting stuff—that is, to fascinate people with the information you find. Over at the American Express Open Forum, I explain “how to be fascinating.”

Looking for some unusual examples of invoking consistency to persuade people. This is the concept that if you get people to sign something, verbally agree, identify with a value or type of person, then their desire to be consistent with those items mean that they will follow through. For example, if you tell people you’re [...]

I need an example that illustrates that you often have to enchant more than just the person you’re trying to enchant to try a product or service. There’s also parents, spouses, friends, and colleagues. In fact, you often have to enchant the whole “village.” Of course, you can also use this to your advantage where [...]

I need an example of the use of data to prove a point to do something. The more counter-intuitive the data is, the better. Ideally, it would a brand’s experience. For example, XYZ Coffee Shops thought that no one would buy sushi at its stores, but it tried it and the fifty samples were sold [...]

Looking for some good examples of organizations who have achieved such a close relationship with their customers that their customers have “internalized” the organizations values. Not Apple, please. I don’t want too many Apple examples in my book. Do you have good examples of organizations who have achieved this level of influence with their customers? [...]

Looking for an example in business or history where two opposing entities found something, anything to agree on and eventually worked together. Can be companies, countries, whatever. Just need to illustrate the concept of establishing a beach head. Please leave as comment or send to [email protected]. Thanks!

NASA puts out some incredibly cool photos and videos. You can stay on top of what it’s doing by going to NASA.alltop. There’s also Astronomy.alltop.

I need examples of companies overcoming initial reluctance by customers. Typically companies have to overcome inertia, hesitation, fear of making a mistake, lack of role models, and even having a lousy product. Thanks!

The “availability heuristic” is the related concept that the more easily people can think of example, the more often they think it happens. For example, people think murders occur all the time because of news coverage and television shows, but far more people die because of suicide. I’m looking for positive examples where you notice [...]

Have you heard of the practice of hiring people to cry at funerals? Could your fill me on how this works? The more details the details the better: which country? Are there levels of crying? How much does it cost? Etc.

Robert Cialdini tells a great story about how the people of Ethiopia provided money to Mexico in 1985 despite the crushing hardships in Ethiopia. This was because Mexico supported Ethiopia when Italy invaded it in 1937. I'm looking for more examples of reciprocity that's above and beyond the call of duty. Please stick them in [...]

A salient point takes the truth or the fact and makes it communicate the impact of your decision. All salient points are truthful but not all truths are salient points. For example, imagine if a label on the cheeseburger you were about to eat said, “Eat this, and you’ll gain half a pound” instead “Total [...]