Procrastination in Speaking

 Procrastination:  to be slow or late about doing something that should be done : to delay doing something until a later time because you do not want to do it, because you are lazy, etc.

Although I have been busy writing speeches, attending meetings, earning educational awards, I have been procrastinating about updating my blogs.  I realized this morning that I have been wasting time by going back to sleep in the morning instead of getting up and getting started.  Because of this I end up rushing around and not accomplishing what I wanted to get done.

Recently I sat down to look at my goals for my clubs.  I had intended to complete a Competent Communicator Manual and Competent Leader Manual for all three clubs.  I did not succeed in completing these goals because I looked at it too late.  Although I obtained a Competent Leader in two clubs and a Competent Communicator and Advanced Communicator in one of my clubs, I did not complete all my speeches or meeting roles.

One of the roles that needed to be completed for the Competent Leader was a newsletter for the Club.  One other member and I worked diligently on this and put together a quality newsletter by the deadline date and obtained our credits for doing so in our books.

I also prepared some articles for a local paper and emailed them out.  I was rewarded by seeing one of the articles in print this week.  However, there is much more to be done.  Speeches to be written, agendas to be prepared, mentees to be nurtured, roles to be filled.  So, no more procrastination!!  Time to write down my Toastmasters goals in order to achieve them by the end of this year.

How about you?  What goals have you set for yourself this year?  Have you been procrastinating?  Is there something specific you want to accomplish?  Write it down in the comment section.  Writing your goal down is the first step to achieving it and when you state it clearly, you brain begins to work on achieving it.

To your speaking success

Fran Watson

P.S.  Need help in determining a speech topic?  Click here for a free list of over 800 speech topics.

How Toastmasters Can Help

By Eric Monse (edited by Fran Watson)


I have a fear of public speaking. More precisely, I should describe it as a phobia.

I’m not really scared, I just react badly when I get up in front of a large group of people. My blood pressure starts to rise, my skin starts to get flush, and worst of all, I lose all ability to think on the fly.

I’m not so bad if I have something prepared, but God forbid if I have to think up something right then and there.

Learning to be a better public speaker is a great thing. But conquering this area of my life probably wouldn’t be enough for me to practice public speaking every other week.

I don’t make very many public speeches. But the benefits that I pickup with learning public speaking will help me in my every day life and in meeting new people.

People are attracted to the person up on the podium speaking to hundreds of people, whether he’s a preacher, a politician, or a professor. He is the one wielding control over the room and captivating the multitudes. True charisma is the ability to seduce thousands, not just one person.

Toastmasters is a worldwide nonprofit organization for the purpose of helping its members improve public speaking, communication, and leadership skills. Joining a Toastmasters club is one of the best things you can do to improve several aspects of your ability to meet new people.

I joined a club about three months ago and it has been a fantastic experience. The people there were skilled and knowledgeable and at the same time, they were warm, friendly and supportive in helping new people learn the ropes and pickup tips to improve.

Toastmasters grooms you to speak in front of large groups of people by critiquing or evaluating your public speaking.

They teach you to focus on things like your body language:
* Don’t rock back and forth when you speak.
* How to move comfortably around when you speak.
* The importance of making solid eye contact.

They also help you learn:
* Ways to vary your tone of voice.
* How to vary your pace but don’t speak too quickly.

Sound familiar? These are all things you should be focusing on when meeting new people.

You will also get critiqued on your language.

A member taking on the role of Grammarian will keep track of unnecessary words like: um, you know, and stuff, right, like, etc. That member will report towards the end of the meeting as to who used what "filler words" in order to help people improve their speaking.  Eliminating riff raff from your vocabulary makes you a more effective and high-value communicator– exactly what you’re looking for when communicating with someone you are interested in.

Developing Leadership Skills

A little known fact is that one of the best aspects of Toastmasters is their focus on teaching leadership skills.

Everyone at a Toastmasters meeting is a volunteer. There are numerous roles at a meeting such as Toastmaster, Sergeant-At-Arms, Table Topics Chair, General Evaluator, Evaluator, Quizmaster, Gramarian, Joke/Word, Educational Tip, Speaker, Table Topics Speaker and Timer.  During the meeting the person in each role gets up at the front of the room and conducts that part of the meeting and or gives reports about that part of the meeting.

The Grammarian is the person who listens and keeps track of vocabulary errors.  The Timer keeps track of all the aspects of the meeting to ensure that everyone is on time.  They will make note by use of cards or lights when the person reaches the minimum amount of time (green card), when they are close to their time (yellow card), and when their time is up at which time they will hold up a red card or turn on the red light to let the person speaking know that they should be wrapped up.

There are usually two or three people who give a 5-7 minute prepared speech at every meeting, and there are people designated to critique those speakers. These people are known as the Speech Evaluators.  Those people get up in front of the room and speak for 2-3 minutes on what the speaker did well and some points for improvement. 

During the Table Topics segment, members of the club who do not have a role will get an opportunity to present a 1-2 minute speech on the topic of the week.  This way, a meeting will rarely pass when you would not get up and practice speaking.

Many of the members of Toastmasters are excellent speakers. They know how to captivate an audience. They are a diverse group of people and are varying ages as well. Some of them have been in Toastmasters for 20 years or more. The speeches they give are usually insightful and worth a listen, even if just to see how people can communicate.

At the same time, they provide an amazingly supportive environment for a new person to learn. These people know what it was like to have such a fear of public speaking. This makes it also easier to get up in front of a group like this and speak.

How Toastmasters Helped My Fear of Speaking to Strangers

When you’ve never done it before and you begin speaking with strangers, the anxiety can be nerve-wracking. It was an emotional roller-coaster ride for me when I started.

If I talked to three people, by the end of the night I would be drained. I felt like I’d been through an emotional heavyweight title match.  However, as I talked to more new people, the fear and anxiety lessened. But Toastmasters helped out as well.

The fear of approaching people is very similar to that fear of getting up in front of a group of people and speaking. As I got more comfortable with one, I became more comfortable with the other as well.

There are thousands of Toastmasters clubs around the world. Different clubs meet at different times and for differing amounts of time.  Some are breakfast clubs, some are lunch hour clubs, some are evening clubs, some are Saturday morning clubs.  Some are advanced clubs, some are corporate clubs.  There is a club for every need.

When you attend Toastmasters as a guest, you’ll be offered the opportunity to speak in their Table Topics  impromptu section where you will speak for 1-2 minutes on a random topic. It’s a great exercise and it's good practice for speaking on the spot at work or at a cocktail party.

The cost is minimal compared to the value you will receive.  It varies from club to club, depending on the costs of the meeting place, but one fee will cover you for a year and you will receive a monthly Toastmasters magazine, your first two manuals - Competent Communicator and Competent Leader and when you have completed your first 10 speeches, you will also receive your first two Advanced manuals. The cost is usually less than a one day program and definitely less than a 4 day or 4 week program at a local college.  Meetings are held weekly or bi-weekly.

You also get educational materials and an opportunity to speak in the Speech Contests where you can get up in front of hundreds of people, not just the 15-25 people who attend at each meeting. They also try to set you up with a mentor to help you with your first few speeches, or as long as you need help.

Toastmasters is an excellent way to become more confident, and it will improve your social life and help you to feel more comfortable in social situations.

************
I have been a Toastmasters member since 2002 and I have served in all of the Executive roles in my 3 clubs.  I have also served as an Area Governor and a District Public Relations Officer.  Toastmasters has made a big difference in how confident I am in speaking with minimal notice at various functions including a recent memorial service for a friend and fellow Toastmaster.

Why not check out a local Toastmasters Club?  There is no cost to visit and you just might find out it isn't at all what you feared it would be.  Tell them Fran Watson sent you!!

To your speaking success

Fran Watson

  P.S.  Get speaking topics and more speaking tips here

Speaker Videos

Check these out.  These are the winning videos from a recent contest.

THE WINNER OF THE BEST SPEAKER


VIDEO CONTEST IS:

JOHN YOUNG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfbDgKHFfs0

What the judges appreciated about John's video: great energy, solid content, unique, relevant, high production quality, positions as an expert.
Congratulations John!

RUNNERS UP ARE:
Simon Bailey (commands the stage brilliantly)

http://www.youtube.com/brilliance777#p/a/u/0/veREsqHhUHg


Bill Stainton (Fun, unique, great energy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdUdKjzX2NY


Steve Shapiro (pulls us in)

http://www.vimeo.com/15265556


Michelle Ray (energy, audience engagement)

http://www.michelleray.com/demo.html


Kris Belcher (great funny stories, she's real)

http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=n7UqrBYt4QY


Congratulations Runner's Up!

And special thanks goes out to the panel: Joe Calloway and Robin Creasman, for their wisdom and expertise!

And, if you wonder why your video wasn't selected, this post called "Video: You Might Lose Me If"
might help. http://ow.ly/36WMI

See you soon Wealthy Speakers!

Comments? Post to my blog

http://www.speakerlauncher.com/blog/
 
Hope you enjoy these
 
Fran
http://www.franwatson.ca/publicspeaker.html
 
 
 

Growing Your Vocabulary

Boys flying kites haul in their white winged birds;
You can't do that way when you're flying words.
"Careful with fire," is good advice we know,
"Careful with words," is ten times doubly so.
Thoughts unexpressed many sometimes fall back dead;
But God Himself can't kill them when they're said.

—Will Carleton, The First Settler's Story.

The term "vocabulary" has a special as well as a general meaning. True, all vocabularies are grounded in the everyday words of the language, out of which grow the special vocabularies, but each such specialized group possesses a number of words of peculiar value for its own objects. These words may be used in other vocabularies also, but the fact that they are suited to a unique order of expression marks them as of special value to a particular craft or calling.

In this respect the public speaker differs not at all from the poet, the novelist, the scientist, the traveler. He must add to his everyday stock, words of value for the public presentation of thought.

A study of the discourses of effective orators discloses the fact that they have a fondness for words signifying power, largeness, speed, action, color, light, and all their opposites. They frequently employ words expressive of the various emotions. Descriptive words, adjectives used in fresh relations with nouns, and apt epithets, are freely employed. Indeed, the nature of public speech permits the use of mildly exaggerated words which, by the time they have reached the hearer's judgment, will leave only a just impression.

Form the Book-Note Habit


To possess a word involves three things: To know its special and broader meanings, to know its relation to other words, and to be able to use it. When you see or hear a familiar word used in an unfamiliar sense, jot it down, look it up, and master it.

Use a new word accurately five times and it is yours. Professor Albert E. Hancock says: "An author's vocabulary is of two kinds, latent and dynamic: latent—those words he understands; dynamic—those he can readily use. Every intelligent man knows all the words he needs, but he may not have them all ready for active service. The problem of literary diction consists in turning the latent into the dynamic."


Your dynamic vocabulary is the one you must especially cultivate.

Form the Reference-Book Habit


Do not be content with your general knowledge of a word—press your study until you have mastered its individual shades of meaning and usage. Mere fluency is sure to become despicable, but accuracy never. The dictionary contains the crystallized usage of intellectual giants. No one who would write effectively dare despise its definitions and discriminations. Think, for example, of the different meanings of mantle, or model, or quantity. Any late edition of an unabridged dictionary is good, and is worth making sacrifices to own.

Word derivations are rich in suggestiveness. Our English owes so much to foreign tongues and has changed so much with the centuries that whole addresses may grow out of a single root-idea hidden away in an ancient word-origin. Translation, also, is excellent exercise in word-mastery and consorts well with the study of derivations.

Search Faithfully for the Right Word


Books of reference are tripled in value when their owner has a passion for getting the kernels out of their shells. Ten minutes a day will do wonders for the nut-cracker. "I am growing so peevish about my writing," says Flaubert. "I am like a man whose ear is true, but who plays falsely on the violin: his fingers refuse to reproduce precisely those sounds of which he has the inward sense. Then the tears come rolling down from the poor scraper's eyes and the bow falls from his hand."

The same brilliant Frenchman sent this sound advice to his pupil, Guy de Maupassant: "Whatever may be the thing which one wishes to say, there is but one word for expressing it, only one verb to animate it, only one adjective to qualify it. It is essential to search for this word, for this verb, for this adjective, until they are discovered, and to be satisfied with nothing else."

Here is an exercise to help you grow your vocabulary: 

Find as many synonyms and antonyms as possible for each of the following words: Excess, Rare, Severe, Beautiful, Clear, Happy, Difference, Care, Skillful, Involve, Enmity, Profit, Absurd, Evident, Faint, Friendly, Harmony, Hatred, Honest, Inherent.

Subscribe to "Wordsmith" and get a word each day.

Don't be pugnacious!

Fran

http://www.franwatson.ca/PublicSpeaking/index2.html

HOW TO LOWER YOUR STRESS BEFORE SPEAKING

 


by J.A. Gamache

Third place Champion at the 2001 Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking

Imagine that you're seated at a head table and asked to speak at the end of the meal. How can you relax when everyone's eyes are on you? Here are three simple ways to calm down in these situations.

1- DRAW A SERIES OF BEAUTIFUL NUMBER EIGHTS

This tip comes from Laurent Duperval (www.duperval.com), an excellent trainer. Before a talk, he might give the impression that he's jotting down some ideas, but in fact, he's taking the time to discretely draw a series of beautiful number eights. Why? Because he has to calm down in order to draw the loops in the numbers, otherwise they would look awful. This type of exercise forces him to concentrate, which is soothing.

2- TAKE A FEW DEEP BREATHS

Have you noticed being short of breath when you're nervous? Taking the time to really fill your lungs loosens you up before speaking. Personally, to relax I take 10 deep breaths at a ratio of 1-4-2. For example, if I inhale while counting to 3, I then hold my breath while counting to 12 (which is 4 times 3), and then I exhale while counting to 6 (2 times 3). Taking in more oxygen can help you calm down.

3- CONCENTRATE ON THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF YOUR SPEECH

When you're stressed, your attention is often focused on the symptoms of your discomfort, such as your clammy hands, racing heart beat, and so on. This focus only increases your tension. Instead of concentrating on your fear and any potential disaster scenarios, think about why it is important that your message be heard. By shifting your focus to your audience, you might grow calmer.

Try the three above techniques the next time you can't retreat anywhere to relax before speaking in front of a group. Draw a series of identical number eights, take a few deep breaths and concentrate on the benefits your speech can bring. You may be surprised by the effectiveness of these simple methods.

Happy speech!
©MMIX J.A. Gamache www.jagamache.com. All rights reserved.

---------------------------------

PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO REPRODUCE THIS ARTICLE in whole or in part if a copy of the reproduced text is sent to J.A. Gamache at info@jagamache.com after publication and also provided that this byline, including the following paragraph, appears along with the reproduced text:

This article was reproduced from "Speaking in Public with J.A.", a FREE electronic magazine authored by J.A. Gamache, International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE e-zine or to find out more about his presentations, visit: http://www.jagamache.com/.

*******************
JA Gamache is a member of District 61 Toastmasters.

Thanks JA for your excellent article!!

Fran

Engage Yourself, Engage Your Audience

By Jean Hamilton, Owner and Founder of Speaking Results

Do you wish you were a more dynamic and compelling speaker? Do you want to know how to effectively engage your audience? In this article I identify 4 elements that enable you be at your best when speaking. The four elements are: Passionate, Analytical, Confiding and Extemporaneous or P.A.C.E.

The Passionate Speaker. Passionate speakers exude energy and a contagious enthusiasm. Passion is the fuel. If we don't care about our message, it's a sure bet that nobody else will. Often, people care about their message, but are reluctant to show much passion in their presentations. In everyday life when we are excited about something, we show it, we communicate it, and influence others. It makes sense then, during a presentation when your objective is to motivate or persuade others, to allow yourself to get passionate!

If you are fearful that you will look foolish, remember audiences do not like boring speakers. So go for it. Allow your voice to get loud. Move through space. Feel strongly about your subject. Both you and your audience will enjoy the benefits. As important as it is, passion just for the sake of passion gets tiresome. It's a wonderful flavor, but we don't always want hot chili peppers.

The Analytical Speaker. The purpose of this element is to establish credibility and expertise. You accomplish this when you relay information in a clear, concise manner. Content level is high with facts and data. For your left-brain audience members, this is essential.

To develop your Analytical side, question your beliefs. How can you support those beliefs with data and examples? There is little body movement in the Analytical style and the voice has little modulation.

The Analytical element is necessary for establishing credibility, but if used too much, presentations will become boring. Many people think that business presentations are "supposed" to be analytical. But if your audience is not listening, your speech has no impact. When eyes start to glaze over, become passionate! As long as you shift gears, you will get the audience back.

The Confiding Speaker. When we confide with someone, we bring them in as our trusted advisor. We develop rapport. To create a stronger connection with your audience, explore the confiding style.

The Confiding speaker talks slowly, and quietly, with good eye contact. Emotion is bubbling right under the surface. Share aspects from your life experiences with stories that overlap with their stories. There is great strength in being "at home" in front of an audience. We can be vulnerable without becoming weak.

Strength and passion motivate others, but the key to an effective presenter is flexibility in your behavior. You can be loud, and you can also be soft. Rather than always persuading or motivating, let the audience come to you. Too much emphasis placed on the Confiding style will make your speech self-indulgent. Just the right amount makes the audience a true supporter. You have brought them into the role of a confidant, and they feel honored.

Finally, the Extemporaneous Speaker. The purpose of this element is to keep your presentations fresh. It requires you to be available and responsive to impulses. Humor happens in the moment. Often the funniest, most pertinent times happen when we are improvising with our audience.

When you speak extemporaneously, your voice has a lot of variety. Your body emphasizes points with gestures and facial expressions. Your mood is light and readily responds to audience reactions.

Many people are scared to be spontaneous during a speech. But if you hold on to the reins too tightly, you squelch the life out of your speech. Even if much of your presentation is planned, allow for some moments of spontaneity, and you will develop a deeper connection to your audience.

How do you become more extemporaneous? Take a deep breath and relax. It's impossible to be extemporaneous if you are tense. Notice yourself in everyday interactions when you give a quick, witty response. Recognize that you have that capability within you. Take an Improvisation or Stand-up Comedy class to build your "spontaneity" muscle. Though it is vital to be extemporaneous, if you spend too much time there, your presentation will lack a clear sense of direction.

By interweaving all four elements of the P.A.C.E. model: Passionate, Analytical, Confiding and Extemporaneous, you will be able to engage your audience intellectually and emotionally.

Flexibility is key. When you have the skill to shift your style according to what the situation calls for, you can engage your audience and have much more impact.

Reprinted from Presenters University
Jean Hamilton, owner of Speaking Results, is a speaker, trainer and coach on Communication and Presentation Skills. She has worked with CEO's, CFO's, administrators, sales trainers, realtors, and financial advisors. Companies that she has worked for include; Aventail, CREW Network, First Consulting Group, Global Partnerships, Merrill Lynch, Peterson Sullivan, and Port of Seattle. Visit Jean's web site at: www.speakingresults.com. Call her with any questions at: 206-933-6645.

Presentations

How to give a great presentation

Most of the presentations you’re asked to give in a business setting aim to achieve one of two purposes: (1) to inform or (2) to persuade. In an informative presentation, the audience learns about a new subject or learns something new about a familiar subject. In a persuasive presentation, the speaker attempts to change the audience’s attitudes or behaviours.

Whether your purpose is to inform or to persuade, your presentation will include many of the same elements. It is important that you know your own purpose before you give a presentation or you may give away details you did not intend to or leave a weak impression on your audience. Always assess your goals before the presentation – your presentation will be stronger as a result. The success of your presentation lies in your ability to reach your audience.

If you are presenting to a large group, you’ll need to do more to make all audience members feel involved in your presentation. With a small group, it may be easier to encourage participation. With some audiences, you may need to provide more background/historical information about your topic before you can effectively persuade them of the correctness of your point and if the audience is not inherently motivated to listen to you, then you’ll need to give them reason to listen within the presentation itself.

The space in which you present will impact both you and your audience. Sometimes you have little control over space constraints, but it is important to check it out before you give your presentation in order to make allowances for comfort of the audience and to ensure that they can all see you, no matter where they are sitting.

A study by Albert Mehrabian at UCLA shows that 55 percent of our total message in face-to-face interactions is communicated through body language. A big part of body language is how you dress. As a general rule, you should dress slightly better than your audience. Conservative dress and solid colours are always winners in the business arena.

Your presentation should have an introduction, body and conclusion. The first part of your presentation is called the opening. You use the opening to get the audience’s attention, build (or continue to build) rapport with the audience, introduce your topic, and prepare the audience for the rest of your presentation. The opening should take only a fraction of your total presentation time. For example, if you’re giving a fifteen-minute presentation, you might dedicate two to three minutes to the opening. Your opening should set the tone for the rest of your presentation. First impressions are important. Make sure everybody knows who you are. The audience needs to know who you are and why they should listen to you. Present your credentials and let people know why you’re an expert on this topic. Be careful not to sabotage yourself in your dress or your spoken words.

Seven ways to sabotage a first impression:

1. Sloppy language. Using words like “anyways” or phrases such as, “That’s a whole ‘nother thing”.
2. Lazy language. Using phrases such as “you guys,” “okey dokey,” “no problem.”
3. Verbal fillers. Using “ums” and “ahs”.
4. Hiding your hands. This demonstrates a lack of trust. Keep your hands where people can see them.
5. Being late for the presentation.
6. Throat clearing. The message sent here is that you think you are superior. Not a good first impression.
7. Lack of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm sells. If you’re not enthusiastic and excited, why in the world should your audience get excited about your presentation?

Many people feel that humour is necessary in a presentation. It may be a valuable attention-gaining technique, but use it wisely. The joke you tell should have some relationship to the rest of your presentation or to your audience. Using humour can help arouse interest, allow you to connect with the audience, disarm hostility, show that you don’t take yourself too seriously and make a positive impression. However, if you don’t feel comfortable with humour, then make them think. Two key strategies will help you get your audience thinking: Present facts, figures and expert opinions or invite the audience to participate. Your opening is your promise to the audience about what they’ll get out of your presentation – make sure you promise something you can deliver.

*****For More Info on Presentations Click Here!"

One way to demonstrate your expertise is to open your presentation with data, exact figures, latest developments, and interesting little-known facts. Provide the audience with some “ah-ha” evidence of a problem or need with which they can relate. Select relevant information that will fascinate or surprise the audience. Try to get the group involved from the beginning by taking an audience poll or holding a mini-brainstorming session.

You have a limited amount of time to address the audience, so you must limit the number of main ideas covered in your presentation. It’s best to stick to two to five main points. You need to provide supporting evidence for each main point, so allow enough time to develop each point in adequate detail. You need to plan your presentational structure and organize the body of your presentation in a way that makes sense for your subject.

Common organizational patterns are:

1. Topical – when several ideas relate to your theme and each distinct idea becomes a main point.
2. Chronological – uses time sequence for a framework.
3. Spatial – organizes material according to physical space.
4. Classification – organizes material by putting things into categories.
5. Problem/Solution – organizes material by describing a problem and then presenting a solution.
6. Cause/Effect – organizes material by describing the cause of a problem and then presenting the effects of the problem.

A good outline includes the main points of your presentation, plus reference to your evidence and should be composed mainly of keywords. You should always practice your speech from your outline. That way it doesn’t sound stilted or memorized.

To create a credible presentation, you must provide supporting materials to back up your claims. Evidence serves to clarify your position or main ideas, prove that your claims are true and creates a lasting and memorable impression. Types of evidence include: facts and figures, statistics, statements by authority, testimony, narratives (stories), definitions and humour.

It is important to separate your main points by using a technique called a transition. Transitions may emphasize the organization of your speech or demonstrate how your ideas relate back to the theme of your presentation. For example, “now that you understand _________, let’s move on to my next point, which is _________.”

When you have covered all your main ideas and don’t have any new ideas to present, you are ready to close. The opening and the conclusion are bookends to the body of your presentation. The goal of the conclusion is to: inform the audience you’re about to close, summarize the main points, leave the audience with something to remember. Whenever possible, as part of your wrap-up, leave your audience with something to do. Giving your audience a call to action in your conclusion accomplishes two main purposes:

(1) It gives your listeners direction regarding what to do with the information you’ve just presented.
(2) it gives your audience incentive to think about your presentation later.

Remember to keep the call to action simple enough to be something your audience can accomplish. For example, “by next Monday I will make 4 calls to potential clients.”

The difference between a good presenter and a great presenter is often “presentational style” or the intangible elements of a presentation including a speaker’s poise, movement, projection of enthusiasm, and comfort in front of a group. Even the most experienced speakers can exhibit ticks and tendencies that interfere with their presentations. Some common problems to look out for as you practice your presentation include:

(1) Verbal fillers – “um”, “uh”, “yeah, so”
(2) Swaying and rocking
(3) Pacing
(4) Hands in pockets
(5) Lip smacking
(6) Fidgeting

The solution to these and other common problems is practice and experience. Nerves are usually the cause of such problems, so the more confident you feel, the less likely you are to engage in such habits. Joining a group such as Toastmasters can help you develop your public speaking skills and make you more confident. With preparation and practice, anyone can give a great presentation. The act of getting up in front of an audience gives you a certain amount of credibility. To be worthy of the audience’s trust, follow a few simple guidelines:

 Be truthful
 Give credit to your sources
 Use current information
 Do not rely excessively on appeals to people’s emotions
 Show respect for your audience’s intelligence


Information adapted from hp learningcenter.com “planning your presentation”

****************
Yours for a GREAT Presentation!

Fran

For More Info on Presentations Click Here!"

Working on a New Ebook

Hi

I am working on a new e-book on public speaking. If you want to be one of the first to see it and get a free copy just for a short testimonial, contact me. I have a few special surprises up my sleeve for my subscribers.

Fran Watson
P.S. Looking forward to sharing some information with you.

You Too Can Be A Public Speaker

I have recently revamped my webpage and will shortly have a lot more information. I am really excited about this. I was on a teleconference call with Kevin Wilke of Nitro Blueprint last night and he critiqued my site......wow, was I excited about that. I made some adjustments based on his comments and much more are to come.

Here are the links, please keep checking as it will be changing with many offers of interest to anyone who wants to know more about public speaking.
http://www.franwatson.ca/public_speaker.html
http://www.franwatson.ca/publicspeaking.html

If you haven't already done so, you can sign up for my public speaking ezine and get a free copy of 800 Speech Topics.

To your speaking success

Fran
www.franwatson.ca

P.S. Those urls again: http://www.franwatson.ca/public_speaker.html
http://www.franwatson.ca/publicspeaking.html

Does Fear Control You?

Why didn’t I send a resume to that job. I had most of the qualifications and the person they hired doesn’t have anywhere near the skills that I have….

Why didn’t I enter that contest last year. I thought about it lots, I could have entered, but I didn’t. Why didn’t I?

Why didn’t I go and talk to that new person at the office. She seemed nice enough, but I just let everyone else say hi. What’s wrong with me?

Is your life full of “Why didn’t Is?” If it is, then you too are a victim of………….FEAR!

Fear causes us to do strange things. It may cause us to hide in our houses and not come out for days or weeks. It can cause us to give up on friendships because we think that the person might not like us. It can cause us to see rejection when someone doesn’t say good morning to us when they come into the office.

That demon FEAR can really wreck our lives!

So what can we do about it?

There are many things we can do. Those of us who entered the door of Toastmasters, quivering and quaking in our boots learned that taking that first step was the absolute hardest, but once that step was taken the rest became easier. And that is the secret to beating that FEAR demon.

The first thing we have to do is to look carefully at what our fear really is. Is it a fear of rejection? A fear of looking foolish? A fear of being judged? A fear of failing? Whatever it is, the next step is to ask yourself, what’s the worst thing that could happen? If I’m rejected, will my world stop, will I cease to exist? No, my life will go on and I will find someone who won’t reject me.

What about looking foolish? Well, let yourself do something really foolish, put on a clown suit, encourage people to laugh at you. And as far as being judged, what does it really matter what the neighbours think? You need to be happy about what you are doing for you, not for the neighbours.

Fear of failure prevents many of us from pursuing our dreams. We ask ourselves… “what if….” Well, what if you do fail? What then? You just try another way. When you were a toddler and you fell down, you didn’t think it was the end of the world, you simply got up and took another step, reaching for your goal.

Fear of rejection has controlled my life in many ways, and I have limited myself, not tried when I expected negative results. The words I heard as a young child come back to haunt me time after time and I have to overcome the feeling and go forward.

I wrote a poem for a friend back in 1987, but it is a poem that I wrote for myself as well and I return to it time after time for the inspiration to carry on when I feel like giving up, when FEAR has me in its grasp and I would like to share it with you in closing. It is entitled RISK.

RISK

Do not be afraid to shine.
This world needs what you have to give.
Open up the areas of your being;
expose them to yourself - to others.
You are valuable.
You are unique.
You have much to give.
Do not be afraid to give it.

As we risk ourselves, we grow.
Each new experience is a risk:
we can try, and maybe fail,
and as a result, grow -
or hold back and stagnate.

You have the potential
to be anything you want to be!
You are free to choose.
You are limited only by your fears.
Let your dreams take over,
fly with the eagles,
soar into life,
the world is waiting for you!

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Fly high, don't let fear drag you down!!

Fran
www.franwatson.ca

10 Ways To Empower Your Communications

There is so much more to know about conversation that anyone, could ever realize. You can watch talk shows; listen to radio programs; attend clubs dedicated to public speaking such as Toastmasters; and have ordinary everyday conversations, but certain rules still apply when it comes to speaking. Even though it's your mouth that's doing the work, your brain needs to be put in gear before you speak. It needs to work twice as hard to effectively churn out the information you know. So what better way to start learning to be an effective communicator than to get to know the very person closest to you: yourself.

1. What you know.
Education is all about learning the basics, but to be an effective speaker is to practice what you've learned. At Toastmasters we learn that we all have our limitations, but that doesn't mean we can't learn to keep up and share what we know.

2. Listening.
It's just as important as asking questions. As we listen to others, we learn good ways to communicate and ways that we don’t want to communicate. Also, sometimes listening to the sound of our own voice can help us to be a little more confident with ourselves and to say the things we believe in with conviction.

3. Humility
We all make mistakes, and sometimes we tend to slur our words, stutter, and maybe even mispronounce certain words even though we know what they mean. So in a group, don't be afraid to ask if you're saying the word correctly. Sometimes you can make a joke out of your mistake. You may make everyone laugh.

4. Eye Contact
Eye contact is very important when you are communicating with someone, whether as an individual in a conversation or speaking to a group. It makes a connection between you and the people you are talking to.

5. Kidding around
A little bit of humor can do wonders to lift the tension, or worse boredom, when making your speech. You'll get the attention of the majority of the crowd. If you use personal stories, they'll feel that you're approachable and as human as they are.

6. Group Interaction
Interaction is all about mingling with other people. You'll find that you will get a lot of ideas, and you will get to know more about the people in your group.

7. Me, Myself, and I
Admit it, there are times you sing to yourself in the shower. I know I do! Listening to the sound of your own voice while you practice your speech in front of a mirror can help you identify places where pauses would work and correct the stress areas of your pitch.

8. With a smile
A smile says it all much like eye contact. When you face your audience with a smile, you will usually get a smile back. You draw them in and you begin to relax so that you can better express what you want to say.

9. A Role Model
There must be at least one or two people in your life you have listened to when they're at a public gathering or maybe at church. Take a mental note of how they emphasize what they say. This can help you once you take center stage.

10. Preparation
Some people like to write things down on index cards, some memorize their speeches, while other resort to looking at their notes written on the palm of their hand (not for clammy hands, please). Practice enough to be comfortable with what you know.

Three Easy Steps To Be Good In Public Speaking

Presentation Secrets Click Here!
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Throughout the history of human civilization, people have been expressing their confidence and strength, not only by force, but also by the noble art of public speaking. The orators of ancient Greece were highly respected and valued in the community. Likewise, today’s world leaders are admired and esteemed when they have the power to address the public with poise and conviction.

Such a high regard for public speaking makes the average person cringe at the idea of talking in front of an audience no matter how big or small the size. Whether giving a toast at a wedding or delivering a speech to a large assembly, most people make a big deal about public speaking and try to avoid it as much as possible. But public speaking should not cause such a big fuss. Challenging as it may be, public speaking can be done with a few simple guidelines.

Before Making The Speech: Preparation

Like any other endeavor, public speaking requires careful preparation to be successful. Many people would dream of having those “inspired” spontaneous speeches seen in movies; however, such scenes rarely happen in real life. To have at least a decent speech, one should plan well. Even the world’s most famous leaders prepare for public addresses, and most even have teams to work on those plans.

Well, even if one does not have a speech preparation committee one can prepare for public speaking. First, one should know for what the occasion the speech is for. The Gettysburg address would definitely not be appropriate for a wedding; thus, a speech has to fit the event it will be delivered to. Second, one should examine the audience who will witness the speech. An assembly of academics would not take a perky speaker seriously; one should choose a suitable public speaking style based on the audience. Third, one should ponder what is being expected in the speech. A farmer’s association would usually not be interested on a speech about the intricacies of beadwork; one should carefully study the subject matter to be tackled in public speaking.

Making The Speech: Writing

Again, dazzling spontaneous speeches rarely happen in real life. Most good speeches have been written before their delivery. While most noted public figures have speech-writing committees, one can make a good speech even without the help of a team of ghostwriters.

When writing for public speaking, one should carefully organize the contents of the speech. It usually pays well to begin with a very strong introduction. It is important to catch the audience’s attention early to prevent them from being bored easily. Next, the body should be purposeful. The contents of the speech should relate well and support each other. It is not good to digress too much; though at times some deviations help attract attention when boredom arises. Lastly, one should make a conclusion that sticks to the mind. No matter how stirring a speech is, it is useless if the people forget it the instant they leave the gathering. Conclusions should give a concise but memorable recap of the body.

The Actual Public Speaking: Delivery

A written speech would not be consummated without the actual public speaking itself. This is the part most people are afraid of; but when proper planning and writing is done well, the delivery should follow easily.

One must decide whether to speak from memory or to use notes. Beginners should benefit from a script or a guide, when one becomes more comfortable speaking in public, one can start relying from memory. Reading directly from a script can be quite boring for the audience; thus, it is important to keep constant contact with them. Speaking from memory is quite impressive, but it can be difficult to avoid missing some parts of the speech. Speaking with notes can be a good compromise so long as one is able to expound on the points well. The choice of how to deliver the speech depends entirely on the speaker; thus, it is important for one to weigh the options carefully.

Learning More About Public Speaking

Several resources could help one do well in public speaking. Several books and articles about the topic have been published and they can well be accessed through the library or the bookstore. Many companies offer public speaking training, and such services provide in-depth courses that could help one speak well in public. There are also several articles and courses available through the internet, some of them are even posted for free.

Public speaking is challenging, but can be a very worthwhile skill. With the guide provided above, one should no longer be afraid to speak in public.

Happy Speaking
Fran

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Presentation Secrets Click Here!
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Self-Consciousness in Public Speaking

Presentation Secrets Click Here!
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Self Consciousness in Public Speaking

“There is a strange sensation often experienced in the presence of an audience. It may proceed from the gaze of the many eyes that turn upon the speaker, especially if he permits himself to steadily return that gaze. Most speakers have been conscious of this in a nameless thrill, a real something, pervading the atmosphere, tangible, evanescent, indescribable. All writers have borne testimony to the power of a speaker's eye in impressing an audience. This influence which we are now considering is the reverse of that picture—the power their eyes may exert upon him, especially before he begins to speak: after the inward fires of oratory are fanned into flame the eyes of the audience lose all terror.”—WILLIAM PITTENGER, Extempore Speech.

Students of public speaking continually ask, "How can I overcome self-consciousness and the fear that paralyzes me before an audience?"

Practise, practise, PRACTISE!

Practise in speaking before an audience will tend to remove all fear of audiences, just as practise in swimming will lead to confidence and facility in the water. You must learn to speak by speaking.

Do not be disheartened if at first you suffer from stage-fright. For one reason or another, some master-speakers never entirely overcome stage-fright, but it will pay you to spare no pains to conquer it. Daniel Webster failed in his first appearance and had to take his seat without finishing his speech because he was nervous. Gladstone was often troubled with self-consciousness in the beginning of an address. Beecher was always perturbed before talking in public.

Be Absorbed by Your Subject
If you feel deeply about your subject you will be able to think of little else. Concentration is a process of distraction from less important matters. It is too late to think about the cut of your coat when once you are upon the platform, so centre your interest on what you are about to say—fill your mind with your speech-material and, like the infilling water in the glass, it will drive out your unsubstantial fears.

Self-consciousness is undue consciousness of self, and, for the purpose of delivery, self is secondary to your subject, not only in the opinion of the audience, but, if you are wise, in your own. To hold any other view is to regard yourself as an exhibit instead of as a messenger with a message worth delivering.

If the theater caught fire you could rush to the stage and shout directions to the audience without any self-consciousness, for the importance of what you were saying would drive all fear-thoughts out of your mind.

Far worse than self-consciousness through fear of doing poorly is self-consciousness through assumption of doing well. The first sign of greatness is when a man does not attempt to look and act great. Before you can call yourself a man at all, Kipling assures us, you must "not look too good nor talk too wise."

Nothing advertises itself so thoroughly as conceit. One may be so full of self as to be empty. Voltaire said, "We must conceal self-love." But that can not be done. You know this to be true, for you have recognized overweening self-love in others. If you have it, others are seeing it in you. There are things in this world bigger than self, and in working for them self will be forgotten, or—what is better—remembered only so as to help us win toward higher things.

To increased self-confidence!

Fran Watson

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P.S. If you have to speak at a funeral, Click Here!

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Mark Victor Hansen Special

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Fran

Insight

Happy New Year

"No, this is not an autoresponder message that is out of
sync. And I haven't gone off my rocker.

It's my way of reassuring you that regardless of what day it
is on the calendar, you can start a New Year today!

Think about it. Traditionally we all get excited about
setting goals on January 1. We are all revved up about
Taking Action - for about 2 weeks. Then we start to beat
ourselves up about why we haven't stuck with the plan - and
by March 1, we're tired and discouraged and think "oh well,
another year down the drain."

It doesn't have to be that way!

You can start a New Year ANY day of the year. For example,

- A New School Year starts the day after labor day.

- A new fiscal year starts for businesses on whichever day
they choose to start it.

- The Chinese new year starts on a different date every
year.

So decide TODAY that you're going to start a new year TODAY.

1. What goals do you have?

2. What actions do you need to take to achieve them?

Take a few minutes to write these down. You already know
what they are because you've set New Years Goals before. But
now you get a "bonus" new start for the year - right here in
the middle of September!"

This is from an email I received today. First it made me laugh a bit and then it made me really think about my goals for this year and how I'm doing on them. The year is 3/4 complete and I should have 3/4 of my goal accomplished. I'm sorry to say that I don't and now I know I will have to get busy and work a little harder!

How about you? How are you doing on the goals you set for youself this year? Are you halfway there, or still at the starting block?

Well, there is no time like the present to get back on track. Take another look at your goals and see what it is that stopped you from achieving them. Were they too large? If so, break your goals into little steps. One step per week for the balance of the year. You will be surprised at how much you can achieve.

Take some time each evening to write down your goals for the next day, so that when you wake up your mind will already have begun processing the steps to accomplish those goals.

As I said above.....Happy New Year!

Fran Watson
P.S. sign up for my free ezine here: speakersinfo@getresponse.com

http://www.quickinfo247.com/7910757/EE

Confident Public Speaking

Amazing Secrets from the World Champion of Public Speaking Click Here!
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Have Something to Say

The trouble with many speakers is that they go before an audience with their minds a blank. It is no wonder that nature, abhorring a vacuum, fills them with the nearest thing handy, which generally happens to be, "I wonder if I am doing this right! How does my hair look? I know I shall fail." Their prophetic souls are sure to be right.
It is not enough to be absorbed by your subject—to acquire self-confidence you must have something in which to be confident. If you go before an audience without any preparation, or previous knowledge of your subject, you ought to be self-conscious—you ought to be ashamed to steal the time of your audience.

Prepare yourself. Know what you are going to talk about, and, in general, how you are going to say it. Have the first few sentences worked out completely so that you may not be troubled in the beginning to find words.
Know your subject better than your hearers know it, and you have nothing to fear.

After Preparing for Success, Expect It

Let your bearing be modestly confident, but most of all be modestly confident within. Over-confidence is bad, but to tolerate premonitions of failure is worse, for a bold man may win attention by his very bearing, while a rabbit-hearted coward invites disaster.

Humility is not the personal discount that we must offer in the presence of others—against this old interpretation there has been a most healthy modern reaction. True humility any man who thoroughly knows himself must feel; but it is not a humility that assumes a worm-like meekness; it is rather a strong, vibrant prayer for greater power for service—a prayer that Uriah Heep could never have uttered.

Washington Irving once introduced Charles Dickens at a dinner given in the latter's honor. In the middle of his speech Irving hesitated, became embarrassed, and sat down awkwardly. Turning to a friend beside him he remarked, "There, I told you I would fail, and I did."

If you believe you will fail, there is no hope for you. You will.

Rid yourself of this I-am-a-poor-worm-in-the-dust idea. You are a god, with infinite capabilities. "All things are ready if the mind be so." The eagle looks the cloudless sun in the face.

Assume Mastery Over Your Audience

In public speech, as in electricity, there is a positive and a negative force. Either you or your audience are going to possess the positive factor. If you assume it you can almost invariably make it yours. If you assume the negative you are sure to be negative. Assuming a virtue or a vice vitalizes it. Summon all your power of self-direction, and remember that though your audience is infinitely more important than you, the truth is more important than both of you, because it is eternal. If your mind falters in its leadership the sword will drop from your hands.

Your assumption of being able to instruct or lead or inspire a multitude or even a small group of people may appall you as being colossal impudence—as indeed it may be; but having once essayed to speak, be courageous. BE courageous—it lies within you to be what you will. MAKE yourself be calm and confident.

Reflect that your audience will not hurt you. In facing your audience, pause a moment and look them over—a hundred chances to one they want you to succeed, for what man is so foolish as to spend his time, perhaps his money, in the hope that you will waste his investment by talking dully?

Concluding Hints

Do not make haste to begin—haste shows lack of control.
Do not apologize. It ought not to be necessary; and if it is, it will not help. Go straight ahead.

Take a deep breath, relax, and begin in a quiet conversational tone as though you were speaking to one large friend. You will not find it half as bad as you imagined; really, it is like taking a cold plunge: after you are in, the water is fine. In fact, having spoken a few times you will even anticipate the plunge with exhilaration.

To stand before an audience and make them think your thoughts after you is one of the greatest pleasures you can ever know. Instead of fearing it, you ought to be as anxious as the fox hounds straining at their leashes, or the race horses tugging at their reins.

So cast out fear, for fear is cowardly—when it is not mastered. The bravest know fear, but they do not yield to it. Face your audience pluckily—if your knees quake, MAKE them stop. In your audience lies some victory for you and the cause you represent. Go win it.

The world owes its progress to the men who have dared, and you must dare to speak the effective word that is in your heart to speak—for often it requires courage to utter a single sentence. But remember that men erect no monuments and weave no laurels for those who fear to do what they can.

No one doubts that temperament and nerves and illness and even praiseworthy modesty may, singly or combined, cause the speaker's cheek to blanch before an audience, but neither can any one doubt that coddling will magnify this weakness. The victory lies in a fearless frame of mind. Prof. Walter Dill Scott says: "Success or failure in business is caused more by mental attitude even than by mental capacity." Banish the fear-attitude; acquire the confident attitude. And remember that the only way to acquire it is—to acquire it.

Here's to speaking with confidence
Fran

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P.S. Don't Forget to Get The Secrets Click Here!

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Stage Fright Strategies

This article is by one of my mentors. I have been a fan of Tom's for several years now and have purchased several of his CDs and books.


Stage Fright Strategies by Tom Antion
----------------------------------------------------
Direct comments or questions about this article to:
Tom Antion, Box 2630, Landover Hills, MD
20784. (301) 459-0738 Outside Maryland (800) 448-6280, Fax (301) 552-0225, Email tomantion@AOL.com, tom@antion.com

Stage fright Is Good and Makes You Better Looking Too!

Before you learn how to deliver your lines, it is important to be ready to deliver your lines. Stage fright is a phenomenon that you must learn to control. Actually, stage fright isn't the most accurate term for the nervousness that occurs when considering a speaking engagement. In fact, most of the fear occurs before you step on-stage. Once you're up there, it usually goes away. Try to think of stage fright in a positive way. Fear is your friend. It makes your reflexes sharper. It heightens your energy, adds a sparkle to your eye, and color to your cheeks. When you are nervous about speaking you are more conscious of your posture and breathing. With all those good side effects you will actually look healthier and more physically attractive.

Many of the top performers in the world get stage fright so you are in good company. Stage fright may come and go or diminish, but it usually does not vanish permanently. You must concentrate on getting the feeling out in the open, into perspective and under control.

Remember Nobody ever died from stage fright. But, according to surveys, many people would rather die than give a speech. If that applies to you, try out some of the strategies in this section to help get yourself under control. Realize that you may never overcome stage fright, but you can learn to control it, and use it to your advantage.

Symptoms of Stage fright
 Dry mouth.

 Tight throat.

 Sweaty hands.

 Cold hands.

 Shaky hands.

 Give me a hand (Oops, I couldn't resist).

 Nausea.

 Fast pulse.

 Shaky knees.

 Trembling lips.

 Any out-of-the-ordinary outward or inward feeling or manifestation of a feeling occurring before, or during, the beginning of a presentation
(Wow! What a dry mouthful!).

Here are some easy to implement strategies for reducing your stage fright. Not everyone reacts the same and there is no universal fix. Don't try to use all these fixes at once. Pick out items from this list and try them out until you find the right combination for you.


Visualization strategies that can be used anytime
 Concentrate on how good you are.

 Pretend you are just chatting with a group of friends.

 Close your eyes and imagine the audience listening, laughing, and applauding.

 Remember happy moments from your past.

 Think about your love for and desire to help the audience.

 Picture the audience in their underwear.

Strategies in advance of program

 Be extremely well prepared.

 Join or start a Toastmasters club for extra practice

 Get individual or group presentation skills coaching.

 Listen to music.

 Read a poem.

 Anticipate hard and easy questions.

 Organize.

 Absolutely memorize your opening statement so you can recite it on autopilot if you have to.

 Practice, practice, practice. Especially practice bits so you can spit out a few minutes of your program no matter how nervous you are.

 Get in shape. I don't know why it helps stage fright, but it does.

Strategies just before the program

Remember Stage fright usually goes away after you start. The tricky time is before you start.
 Be in the room at least an hour early if possible to triple check everything. You can also schmooze with participants arriving early.

 Notice and think about things around you.

 Concentrate on searching for current and immediate things that are happening at the event that you can mention during your talk (especially in the opening).

 Get into conversation with people near you. Be very intent on what they are saying.

 Yawn to relax your throat.

 Doodle.

 Draw sketches of a new car you would like to have.

 Look at your notes.

 Put pictures of your kids/grandkids, dog, etc., in your notes.

 Build a cushion of time in the day so you are not rushed but not too much time. You don't want to have extra time to worry.

 If your legs are trembling, lean on a table, sit down, or shift your legs.

 Take a quick walk.

 Take quick drinks of tepid water.

 Double check your A/V equipment.

 Don't drink alcohol or coffee or tea with caffeine.

 Concentrate on your ideas.

 Hide notes around the stage area so you know you have a backup if you happen to draw a blank.

 Concentrate on your audience.

 Listen to music.

 Read a poem.

 Do isometrics that tighten and release muscles.

 Shake hands and smile with attendees before the program.

 Say something to someone to make sure your voice is ready to go.

 Go somewhere private and warm up your voice, muscles, etc.

 Use eye contact.

 Go to a mirror and check out how you look.

 Breathe deeply, evenly, and slowly for several minutes.

 Don't eat if you don't want to and never take tranquilizers or other such drugs. You may think you will do better, but you will probably do worse and not know it.

Strategies when the program begins

 If legs are trembling, lean on lectern /table or shift legs or move.

 Try not to hold the microphone by hand in the first minute.

 Don't hold notes. The audience can see them shake. Use three-by-five cards instead.

 Take quick drinks of tepid water.

 Use eye contact. It will make you feel less isolated.

 Look at the friendliest faces in the audience.

 Joke about your nervousness. "What's the right wine to go with fingernails?"

Remember nervousness doesn't show one-tenth as much as it feels.

Before each presentation make a short list of the items you think will make you feel better. Don't be afraid to experiment with different combinations. You never know which ones will work best until you try. Rewrite them on a separate sheet and keep the sheet with you at all times so you can refer to it quickly when the need arises.

Use these steps to control stage fright so it doesn't control you.

****************************************************************

I hope these tips were of some help to you.

All the best

Fran
www.franwatson.ca
www.moremoney4u.org



Fran Watson
3119 Stone Road
Douglas
Ontario K0J 1S0
Canada

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What Have YOU Learned Lately?

If we do not change our direction, we are likely to end up where
we are headed.
~ Chinese Proverb
************

We all have ability. The difference is how we use it. ~ Stevie
Wonder
****************

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already
mastered, you will never grow. ~ Ronald E. Osborn
**********************


What Have You Learned Lately?

By Barbara Winter

Every time I left my house, I used to see a poster near my front
door that read, "It's not where you're going...it's where you're
coming from." While that might sound like a bit of leftover
jargon from the sixties, it also bears a truth that touches us
all. Any project, any goal, any relationship with which we're
involved is colored by what we bring to it.

For a long time, I've had a strong predilection for being around
people who are positive, enthusiastic and creative. Somewhere
along the way, I realized that those nurturing kinds of people
would probably not show up in my life unless I was one myself.
And so my personal quest began to become the person I wanted to
hang out with. The quest isn't over yet, but the things I've
learned have been amazing. For example, how do ordinary people
become life's big winners?

One of the most interesting answers to that question came from
author Robert G. Allen in his book, "Creating Wealth." "The will
to prepare to win is more important than the will to win.
Preparing usually means doing those kinds of things that
failures don't like to do. It means studying and learning. It
means reading books, going to seminars. It means not being
afraid to corner experts and ask foolish questions."

Sometimes finding the time - or motivation - to keep learning
seems to be a huge challenge. As busy adults, we may have
forgotten to make Lifelong Learning a high priority. Or maybe we
never had the benefit of a teacher like Rafe Esquith who helped
us discover early on the joy of learning. I recently read his
book

"Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire" and was wildly inspired by his
story and the academic and creative wonders he consistently
turns out. Esquith teaches fifth grade in Los Angeles. Most of
his students come from immigrant homes where English is the
second language. Nevertheless, in addition to performing well
academically, all Esquith's students learn to play a musical
instrument and their annual Shakespearean performances have
received national attention. What Esquith - and all great
teachers - demonstrate is that the potential to soar resides
within all of us, but it needs to be coaxed and nurtured.
Happily, putting yourself in a roomful of others who are on the
same journey can accelerate that process.

Brian Tracy, one of the leading authorities on personal
achievement, makes this observation: "Increasing your knowledge
and skills is like using high-octane fuel in your engine on your
way to your destination...Unfortunately, for most people, their
earning ability is a fixed, or even worse, depreciating asset.
Because of this, most people just have a 'job' which stands for
'just over broke.'"

So it's probably no coincidence that the people who are the most
Joyfully Jobless just happen to be Lifelong Learners as well.
One of those folks was a woman named Donnie, but she didn't
start out with entrepreneurial ambition. Donnie Nair was a
successful real estate salesperson who came to her success after
being a housewife, mother and civil servant. Of those earlier
years she said, "I was absolutely happy and had no ambition
whatsoever."

So what unleashed this super saleswoman who continuously broke
sales records? Donnie said it sneaked up on her when she was
sitting in a Tom Hopkins Sales Seminar one day. "It was like a
light went off in my head. I just knew he was talking about me.
Success really was available to anyone who wanted it." Her
business took off like a rocket. "It didn't matter what goals I
set for myself," she recalls. "I always surpassed them."

What set Donnie Nair apart from those who are less successful
was her continuing effort to grow and learn. One evening she
called me as she was driving to a class. I asked her what she
was studying now and she said, "It might sound silly, but I've
always wanted to learn how to sing so I'm in a class for
beginners who can't carry a tune in a bucket."

Socrates said, "Let him who would move the world, first move
himself." With all the resources - the books, the seminars, the
insights of others - available for a pittance, it makes no sense
to skip the critical preparation stage. Because, in the final
analysis, winning isn't about what you have or even what you do.

Winning is about becoming the person you were meant to become,
no matter how long and difficult that journey may be. So study
and learn all you can. Take advantage of every resource you can
find. You never know what might happen if you do. Like Donnie
Nair, you could find yourself sitting in a roomful of strangers
and suddenly meet yourself.


About the Author

Barbara J. Winter is a Las Vegas-based writer, speaker and
enthusiastic fan of Changing Course. In addition to conducting
seminars for the Joyfully Jobless, she also publishes the
Winning Ways newsletter. Barbara is currently at work on a
collection of stories from people who have made the transition
from employee to entrepreneur. She'll be joining Valerie in
Northampton, MA on April 11-12 for the annual Work at What You
Love workshop (http://ChangingCourse.com/workshop.htm). Visit
Barbara online at http://BarbaraWinter.com