What we can learn from great gift givers
The two simple questions that’ll help your ideas cut through next year.
A final penny-dropping moment for the year that comes with a huge thank you for reading, following, sharing or listening to The Penny Drop. I know you’re a busy person, so I’m always so appreciate that you choose to spend some of your time at the other end of my writing, my talking and my ideas.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, my latest penny-dropping moment came while I was Christmas shopping.
It was the moment I worked out that there is something we can all learn from great gift-givers.
They have a knack for finding that sweet spot—a gift that feels perfect for the other person but still has a bit of them in it. And that’s no small feat.
I was struggling to make present buying decisions this year. I found myself endlessly adding things to my cart (both in-store and online), only to leave them behind. Nothing felt quite right. So, I asked myself: What am I trying to figure out here?
Turns out, I was unconsciously asking two questions:
What would they like?
What do I want to give them?
The best gifts answer both. If we only think about what they’d like, we end up with a “them present”—safe but forgettable (hello, gift cards). But if we focus too much on what we want to give, it becomes a “me present”—something exciting for us but not for them (cue the shirts my husband never wears).
When we find the balance, though? Magic happens. We feel great giving it. They feel amazing receiving it. And suddenly, it’s not just a gift—it’s a connection.
So what was my penny-dropping moment?
I reckon the same goes for sharing ideas that cut through.
Whether you’re crafting messages, trying to engage an audience, or making sure your voice gets heard, it needs to matter to them delivered in a way that’s unmistakably you.
Because when it matters to them, it moves them—into action, understanding, purpose, loyalty, excitement, innovation, or real change. But if you move too far away from what matters to you, it’ll come across as flat, generic, and forgettable.
That sweet spot isn’t easy to find, but when you do, it’s powerful.
In 2024, I’ve had the privilege of helping clients find that balance—figuring out what matters to them, and to their teams, their organisations, their audiences, and their communities. Whether it’s through storytelling, planning important conversations, public speaking, media training, podcasts, or engagement solutions, the goal is always the same: making it matter to them, in a way that’s unmistakably you.
If this sounds like something you’d like to nail in 2025, get in touch! Just reply to this email and let’s lock in a chat for the new year.
But even more importantly, I hope you’ve got a holiday locked in that matters to you!
Enjoy the break and I look forward to sharing more penny-dropping moments with you in 2025.
Best,
Penny
How can we work together?
Fair question! While we’ll always be working on making things matter, there are many ways to do it.
Here are some of my programs that help people find their sweet spot.
For individuals
📖 Your Origin Story: For CEOs, founders, and senior leaders who want to rediscover the stories that matter. Through an in-depth interview process, I help you uncover your origin story or the insights you no longer see—those things that connect deeply with your audience and reinforce your purpose.
🌟 Amplify Your Impact: This is my signature one-on-one mentoring program – it’s got a workplace storytelling - meets public speaking - meets media training vibe. Over 6 or 12 months, you’ll learn to speak with conviction, impact, and without regret. Ever.
🎤 Be a Better Host: For experts and leaders who want to turn conversations into communities. Whether you’re hosting a meeting, event or podcast, hosting less about what you say, and more about what you create. This 2 x 2hr online workshop will help you create spaces where people want to show up, connect, and thrive.
🎙️ Be a Better Guest: For experts and leaders ready to turn demand into influence. Whether it’s podcasts, panels, or media appearances, over 2 x 2hr workshops, you’ll learn to prepare and share with clarity, charisma and confidence. You’ll learn how to show audiences who you are, what you know and why it matters.
⏱️ Power Hours: Short, sharp online workshops to level up your communication skills. I’ve handpicked my most popular frameworks to help you ask better questions, tell better stories, and have better conversations. Learn them in an hour, use them for a lifetime.
Teams
🔊 Find Your Voice: A one-day workshop for leadership teams to help them get to know and learn to love their authentic voice. This is about building the tools leaders need to role-model authentic communication, inspire trust, and create space for safe meaningful conversations. It’s an engagement supercharger.
📖 Shift the Narrative: A one-day team workshop where your team will learn to both see and share their value. Together, we’ll get to know their audience, break down barriers to connection, and reframe unhelpful narratives. They’ll work together to craft compelling messages and stories, building pride from the inside out.
Organisations
🎧 Internal Podcasts: Perfect for hybrid or dispersed teams, internal podcasts are a powerful way to help your organisation better understand itself. I’ll help you create a podcast that breaks down silos, build empathy, and connect your people to each other and your mission.
💡 Community Champions: Your Message, Their Voice. This program taps into the power of your informal influencers to spread messages and change behaviour. It’s about giving people the tools they need to amplify what matters, allowing the advocates within your organisation or community to drive real change.
🎉 Speaking or MC: Looking for a speaker, panel facilitator, or host? Well, it’s no secret that I love a mic… but more importantly, I love connecting with audiences of all shapes and sizes. If you need an MC, panel facilitator or keynote speaker – I’d love to work with you to make sure your audience turns up, tunes in and takes home new ways of thinking.
You can book a chat, a ticket or get more info at my website.