::VitalSmarts - Personal Success Stories::

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PERSONAL SUCCESS STORIES

Download the latest examples of how award-winning training and books from VitalSmarts have enabled the following people to achieve amazing results—both in the workplace and at home. These brief testimonials will inspire you to use your crucial skills to change your world.

Personal Influence: Surviving the Daily Commute
By Sheryl Brining, Bethesda, Maryland

Sheryl identified the vital behaviors for overcoming her anger and made life-changing behavior adjustments.

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Personal Relationships: Overcoming Abusive Conversations
By Cathy W., Indianapolis, Indiana

Cathy used Crucial Conversations skills to overcome past physical and emotional abuse, and improve relationships with her children.

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Personal Relationships: Discovering What You Really Want
By Michele Wilson, Dayton, Ohio

In the middle of a tense conversation with her husband, Michele used crucial conversations skills to discover what she really wanted and find a home that was perfect for her whole family.

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Employee Relations: Saving Jobs with Crucial Conversations
By Erich Steinbock, St. Louis, Missouri

Erich used crucial conversations skills to avoid laying-off current employees in the midst of an economic downturn. The program became a benchmark in his company for strengthening relationships with employees and customers.

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Healthcare: Mastery Mission Accomplished: Crucial Conversations with a Coworker
By Terri Mathew, Portland, Maine

Terri used the Crucial Conversations Mastery Mission to plan out a difficult conversation with her coworker—saving their working relationship.

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Customer Service: Serving Customers One Crucial Conversation at a Time
By Diane M., New York, New York

In the heat of a crucial conversation, Diane mastered her emotions and solved a problem for a frustrated customer.

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Community Influence: Saved A Failing Middle School
Tim Stay, Orem, Utah

Through a targeted influence effort, Tim helped transform his children's failing middle school into a nationally-recognized institution.

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Healthcare: Accountability in the Operating Room
By George Watson, M.D., Fallon, Nevada

By holding his colleagues accountable, Dr. Watson helped save the lives of a woman and her baby when she went into premature labor.

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Education: How Do You Spell R-E-S-P-E-C-T?
By Lisa Salmon, Leichhardt, Australia

Lisa almost quit her job, but through a crucial conversation, established mutual respect with her disruptive headmaster.

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Community Influence: Helped the Poor Save $4.6 Million
Bill Hulterstrom, Provo, Utah

Bill Hulterstrom and his team at the United Way created a culture of saving among the working poor using six sources of influence.

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Engineering and Purchasing: Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks
By Tom Ehrenberg, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Tom, who had a long history of anger management issues, used crucial conversations skills to change his communication style and save his job.

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Personal Relationships: Discussing Weighty Issues
By Sandra Oliver, LaCrescent, Minnesota

Sandra improved her relationship with her teenage daughters by using crucial conversations skills to talk about their weight.

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Personal Relationships: Fostering Crucial Conversations
By Rebecca Howland, Salt Lake City, Utah

Rebecca improved relationships with the mother of her foster children by using crucial conversations skills to establish safety.

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Corporate Influence: Transformed Corporate Culture at MaineGeneral Health
By Patrice Putman, Augusta, Maine

Using six sources of influence, Patrice Putman transformed corporate culture at MaineGeneral Health from one of a culture of silence to a culture of candid and respectful dialogue.

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From Marriage to Management: Crucial Conversations That Work
By Clara Burns, Boulder, Colorado

Clara used Crucial Conversations skills to come to agreement on divorce terms and improve her relationship with her boss.

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Public Service: Navigating Through Community Conflicts
By Milt Haken, Nenana, Alaska

Milt diffused anger within his community by using crucial conversations skills to deal with a politically risky issue.

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Personal Relationships: Strengthening Family Ties with Crucial Conversations
By Kathy Williams-Palmer, Garland, Texas

Through a crucial conversation Kathy restored a broken relationship with her mother after years of anger and resentment.

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Healthcare: Increasing Patient Satisfaction
By Jerry Maliot, M.D, Memphis, Tennessee

Dr. Maliot used crucial conversations skills with a colleague to ensure his patient received the best care.

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Personal Influence: Dropped 45 Pounds
Meagan Palmer, Charlotte, North Carolina

To drop 45 pounds, Meagan Palmer targeted six sources of influence to adopt two vital behaviors that would inevitably lead to weight loss.

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Healthcare: Nursing Crucial Conversations
By Crystal Diggs, RN, Clearwater, Florida

Crystal used her crucial conversations skills to provide better care to her patients and gain respect at work.

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Diplomacy: Crucial Conversations at the United Nations
By Marilu Southam, Geneva, Switzerland

Marilu used her crucial conversations skills to present delicate information on child abduction, safety, and sex slavery to the United Nations.

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Healthcare: Being Patient
By Phyllis Julian, Knoxville, Tennessee

Phyliss used her crucial conversations skills to challenge a doctor and ensure her husband received the right treatment.

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