Are you using YouTube to market your business?
This is my daughter Leigh Watson from w-esthetics. This is a promotional video she shot with a web cam for her business.
You can do the same. I recently was directed to someone who has prepared a video series which inspired me and it may inspire you too to create your very own video for your company. I have included a link to her site below. I encourage you to check it out. Social media is growing faster and faster and you need to grow with it.
You don't have to be a public speaker to create your video. You just have to be willing to put yourself on the line to talk about your business. Isn't it worth it?
Fran
P.S. Here is the link to the Video Conversion Formula videos. http://www.videoconversionformula.com/
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Public Speaking Tips - Why Toastmasters?
Pursue Your Passion... This is a phrase we hear often these days, but what does it mean exactly? How do we determine what our passion really is? How do we find the time to pursue anything with all the work we have to do? Those are really good questions and I'm not really sure that I have the answers to them, but one thing I do know is that pursuing your passion involves choices. That's right choices.
If you want to pursue anything, it means you have to take some type of action. The word pursue involves movement and if you are sitting on the couch watching the lastest episode of Lost or The Amazing Race, then you are not moving, (other than to get up from the couch to go to the fridge for snacks).
Pursuing your passion means making choices to forgo that tv show to get out and do something about what you are passionate about. If it is playing hockey, then it probably won't matter that you don't have ice time until 11 pm and don't get home until 1:00 am and still have to go to work. If it is building a better body, then you probably won't mind getting up really early in the morning to exercise and work out. If it is becoming a public speaker, then you will want to attend public speaking events so that you can practice and learn.
Not all Toastmasters have dreams of pursuing a career in public speaking, but they do all have a desire to improve their communication skills in some way. Perhaps they are shy and want to overcome the nervousness they feel in social situations. Perhaps they have to give presentations as part of their job and they want to become more comfortable standing in front of an audience. Perhaps they want to be able to talk about their business without becoming embarassed. Whatever the reason, they have to make a choice. A choice to show up at a meeting, to find out more about public speaking, about Toastmasters in particular.
I have been a member of Toastmasters now for 8 years. I recently completed my DTM. I have held every office in Toastmasters, but my favourite is that of Public Relations. I really like to spread the word about the benefits of Toastmasters! I have seen members grow from being so shy that they could hardly speak loud enough to be heard in a meeting, to competing in a Division Contest.
I have been privileged to be a mentor to many new Toastmasters, to be a part of their growth from their first speech - the Ice Breaker - to the final speech in their Competent Communicator manual and beyond. I have attended conferences and helped with the contest activities by judging and/or timing. I have served as Area Governor and as a member of two High Performance Leadership teams.
My choice is to learn and to serve in Toastmasters, to become better at speaking and to share my knowledge with other club members. That is one of the reasons I insist on Educational Tips being a part of every meeting and every club I belong to. It is important that we learn and grow.
What is your choice? What are you passionate about?
Fran
P.S. If you are passionate about public speaking and want to get a list of over 800 speech topics, simply click on this link to my webpage and sign up for my free public speaking ezine.
If you want to pursue anything, it means you have to take some type of action. The word pursue involves movement and if you are sitting on the couch watching the lastest episode of Lost or The Amazing Race, then you are not moving, (other than to get up from the couch to go to the fridge for snacks).
Pursuing your passion means making choices to forgo that tv show to get out and do something about what you are passionate about. If it is playing hockey, then it probably won't matter that you don't have ice time until 11 pm and don't get home until 1:00 am and still have to go to work. If it is building a better body, then you probably won't mind getting up really early in the morning to exercise and work out. If it is becoming a public speaker, then you will want to attend public speaking events so that you can practice and learn.
Not all Toastmasters have dreams of pursuing a career in public speaking, but they do all have a desire to improve their communication skills in some way. Perhaps they are shy and want to overcome the nervousness they feel in social situations. Perhaps they have to give presentations as part of their job and they want to become more comfortable standing in front of an audience. Perhaps they want to be able to talk about their business without becoming embarassed. Whatever the reason, they have to make a choice. A choice to show up at a meeting, to find out more about public speaking, about Toastmasters in particular.
I have been a member of Toastmasters now for 8 years. I recently completed my DTM. I have held every office in Toastmasters, but my favourite is that of Public Relations. I really like to spread the word about the benefits of Toastmasters! I have seen members grow from being so shy that they could hardly speak loud enough to be heard in a meeting, to competing in a Division Contest.
I have been privileged to be a mentor to many new Toastmasters, to be a part of their growth from their first speech - the Ice Breaker - to the final speech in their Competent Communicator manual and beyond. I have attended conferences and helped with the contest activities by judging and/or timing. I have served as Area Governor and as a member of two High Performance Leadership teams.
My choice is to learn and to serve in Toastmasters, to become better at speaking and to share my knowledge with other club members. That is one of the reasons I insist on Educational Tips being a part of every meeting and every club I belong to. It is important that we learn and grow.
What is your choice? What are you passionate about?
Fran
P.S. If you are passionate about public speaking and want to get a list of over 800 speech topics, simply click on this link to my webpage and sign up for my free public speaking ezine.
Monday, September 27, 2010
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
How To Find A Speech Topic
FINDING A SPEECH TOPIC
by J.A. Gamache Third place Champion at the 2001 Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking
Make an inventory of your personal stories. You know--the anecdotes you enjoy telling your friends and family. You'll be surprised at how many interesting topics you'll come up with.
I often hear people say, "I'd like to speak in public, but I really don't know what to talk about." Not a problem! Anyone who wants to write a speech has a personal treasure trove of stories at hand.
All you have to do is find the stories within your own mind. They're part of your personal history. Never underestimate the value of your life experiences! Your memories contain dozens of anecdotes that are worth telling. Your misfortunes teach many of life's lessons, and your successes can bring hope to others.
There's a great advantage to using your personal stories: they can be told without any formal preparation. Why is that? Because you know the stories thoroughly, having recounted them during family gatherings or with friends.
While the material we need may be close at hand, we forget to use it when we sit down to write, simply because we haven't actually made a list.
Here's what I suggest:
1- INVENTORY ALL YOUR PERSONAL STORIES
Make a list of all the personal stories that come to mind. You don't actually need to write the stories themselves because you're so familiar with them already. A few words will do. For example: "Bitten by neighbour's dog."
2- DON'T CENSOR
Write everything down. Also, note all the anecdotes you don't want to tell in public. Just use some kind of code so no one will recognize the story. It's important to write everything down because a story you want to keep secret may lead to another story that is appropriate to tell.
3- CARRY A NOTEBOOK AND PEN
During your next conversation you'll most likely hear something that triggers a memory from your past. That's when the notebook and pen come in handy. Write the story immediately, and add it to your list later on.
A great many personal stories are stored in your memory. All you need is to find a way to retrieve them and incorporate them into a list. You can then look up a story the next time you're searching for a speech topic. Furthermore, you don't have to limit yourself to your own personal stories. Your parents, grandparents and friends also have great stories
that you could add to your list.
Happy writing!
©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 is a member of my Toastmasters District - District 61. I have heard him speak a number of times and I am subscribed to his ezine. I encourage you to sign up and get the benefit of his knowledge and skills.
Fran Watson, DTM
Renfrew/Pembroke/Valley Vintage Advanced Clubs
by J.A. Gamache Third place Champion at the 2001 Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking
Make an inventory of your personal stories. You know--the anecdotes you enjoy telling your friends and family. You'll be surprised at how many interesting topics you'll come up with.
I often hear people say, "I'd like to speak in public, but I really don't know what to talk about." Not a problem! Anyone who wants to write a speech has a personal treasure trove of stories at hand.
All you have to do is find the stories within your own mind. They're part of your personal history. Never underestimate the value of your life experiences! Your memories contain dozens of anecdotes that are worth telling. Your misfortunes teach many of life's lessons, and your successes can bring hope to others.
There's a great advantage to using your personal stories: they can be told without any formal preparation. Why is that? Because you know the stories thoroughly, having recounted them during family gatherings or with friends.
While the material we need may be close at hand, we forget to use it when we sit down to write, simply because we haven't actually made a list.
Here's what I suggest:
1- INVENTORY ALL YOUR PERSONAL STORIES
Make a list of all the personal stories that come to mind. You don't actually need to write the stories themselves because you're so familiar with them already. A few words will do. For example: "Bitten by neighbour's dog."
2- DON'T CENSOR
Write everything down. Also, note all the anecdotes you don't want to tell in public. Just use some kind of code so no one will recognize the story. It's important to write everything down because a story you want to keep secret may lead to another story that is appropriate to tell.
3- CARRY A NOTEBOOK AND PEN
During your next conversation you'll most likely hear something that triggers a memory from your past. That's when the notebook and pen come in handy. Write the story immediately, and add it to your list later on.
A great many personal stories are stored in your memory. All you need is to find a way to retrieve them and incorporate them into a list. You can then look up a story the next time you're searching for a speech topic. Furthermore, you don't have to limit yourself to your own personal stories. Your parents, grandparents and friends also have great stories
that you could add to your list.
Happy writing!
©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 is a member of my Toastmasters District - District 61. I have heard him speak a number of times and I am subscribed to his ezine. I encourage you to sign up and get the benefit of his knowledge and skills.
Fran Watson, DTM
Renfrew/Pembroke/Valley Vintage Advanced Clubs
Thursday, June 10, 2010
BIG Results
You're bigger than you think. So, fit your thinking to your true size. Think as big as you really are! Never, never, never sell yourself short!" -David J. Schwartz, PhD
"Predetermine the objectives you want to accomplish. Think big, act big and set out to accomplish big results." -Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul
"BIG RESULTS..." Is that what you think about when you set your head on your pillow at night?
There are two kinds of people in this world, those who wish and those who will. The world belongs to those who will." -Louis L'Amour
To be successful is a matter of will....Will you?
Will you do the work it takes to write a good speech?
Will you do the work it takes to practice a good speech?
Will you do the work to find out about your audience?
Will you do the work to craft your speech to fit your audience?
Will you care enough about others to make it about helping them?
I hope your answer is yes!!
To successful speaking....
Fran Watson
"Predetermine the objectives you want to accomplish. Think big, act big and set out to accomplish big results." -Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul
"BIG RESULTS..." Is that what you think about when you set your head on your pillow at night?
There are two kinds of people in this world, those who wish and those who will. The world belongs to those who will." -Louis L'Amour
To be successful is a matter of will....Will you?
Will you do the work it takes to write a good speech?
Will you do the work it takes to practice a good speech?
Will you do the work to find out about your audience?
Will you do the work to craft your speech to fit your audience?
Will you care enough about others to make it about helping them?
I hope your answer is yes!!
To successful speaking....
Fran Watson
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Get a free Mini ecourse in Public Speaking
Many of us are interested in mastering the art of being and becoming a master of public speaking or speaking in public at a variety of formal and social events. This interest is increasing in recent years and people hone, harness and refine their skills. Engaging, shaping and influencing audiences all around is what is at stake. Sounding confident, convincing and speaking with energized speech is paramount, regardless of the context. For business, social and public life, it is a core skill and almost an entry-level pre-requisite these days to be deemed 'successful'.
If you have an interest in improving your public speaking skills, then this is the ultimate practical guide for you. Simply send an email to receive a FREE, five-part mini e-course, which is taken straight from this recently released ebook. Enjoy a preliminary taste of things you will find in this comprehensive public speaking reference guide!
Yours to improved speaking success
Fran Watson
If you have an interest in improving your public speaking skills, then this is the ultimate practical guide for you. Simply send an email to receive a FREE, five-part mini e-course, which is taken straight from this recently released ebook. Enjoy a preliminary taste of things you will find in this comprehensive public speaking reference guide!
Yours to improved speaking success
Fran Watson
Saturday, May 15, 2010
5 Surefire Tips To Better Public Speaking
Public Speaking Tip #1
KNOW YOUR TOPIC! I don’t mean know your topic, I mean inside and out, upside down, what ever question someone could throw at you, you know the answer.
If you search in Google for the term “public speaking tips” you get roughly 2.6 million responses. That seems like a lot, but when you have to be the one standing in front of the group there isn’t enough information in the world that could get you over that fear.
Believe it or not, most of those fears are self imposed. What do I mean? The people listening to you don’t really care how the information is disseminated, they just want the information. It’s the speaker who puts themselves through the ringer weeks before the event. Here are some tips that may seem obvious, but once completed, will really put your mind at ease, trust me.
Public Speaking Tip #1
KNOW YOUR TOPIC! I don’t mean know your topic, I mean inside and out, upside down, what ever question someone could throw at you, you know the answer. You really need to be prepared to reach this level. You need to know your speech almost by heart; you need to know the products you will be discussing. Do your homework, you will know you have reached public speaking Nirvana when you get that “feeling”, it will come with knowledge. Believe!
Public Speaking Tip #2
Greet as many of the attendees prior to your speech as possible. Familiarity promotes confidence. Besides, think of the benefit you provide about the topic you are to speak on when you take the time to meet people before you go on.
This strategy also prevents you from pacing back and forth and worrying yourself to death until you go on. There is no point in cramming now, if you don’t know it, you wont, and it will show.
Public Speaking Tip #3
DON’T think of everyone in the audience as naked or in their underwear. This can be very disconcerting and will, in fact, hurt your chances of a successful public speaking outing.
Public Speaking Tip # 4
When you find yourself with only a mouthful of uhs and ums, stop yourself, repeat the sentence as if to add importance, and replace the uhs and ums with silence to allow your points to hit home.
Public Speaking Tip # 5
Animate your speech. Most people think that good communication is mouth-centric. Nothing could be farther from the truth! To be a powerful communicator, you have to use your entire body. Gestures and body language add energy and enthusiasm to your speech. However, they should be natural and just flow from the words you are speaking. You should not have to think about making a particular gesture.
These are tips can really help you take your next step in public speaking. Do you realize that people pass up promotions because they will be required to speak publicly?
Do you realize people fear speaking in public more than they fear dying? Maybe because dying is abstract and appears far away while the podium or lectern is right in front of them. Either way, you really can come to grips with your fear and maybe you won’t enjoy it, but you’ll be able to get through it easier. I can’t emphasize enough that half of your battle will be just knowing what you are going to say, and anticipating what others are going to ask. It can be easy!
Remember, you are there to share your knowledge or experience with your audience - they are the most important part of your speaking experience.
To your successful speaking experience!!
Fran
P.S. If you can't think of a topic for your next speech, go here for 800+ speech topics. http://www.franwatson.ca/publicspeaker.html
KNOW YOUR TOPIC! I don’t mean know your topic, I mean inside and out, upside down, what ever question someone could throw at you, you know the answer.
If you search in Google for the term “public speaking tips” you get roughly 2.6 million responses. That seems like a lot, but when you have to be the one standing in front of the group there isn’t enough information in the world that could get you over that fear.
Believe it or not, most of those fears are self imposed. What do I mean? The people listening to you don’t really care how the information is disseminated, they just want the information. It’s the speaker who puts themselves through the ringer weeks before the event. Here are some tips that may seem obvious, but once completed, will really put your mind at ease, trust me.
Public Speaking Tip #1
KNOW YOUR TOPIC! I don’t mean know your topic, I mean inside and out, upside down, what ever question someone could throw at you, you know the answer. You really need to be prepared to reach this level. You need to know your speech almost by heart; you need to know the products you will be discussing. Do your homework, you will know you have reached public speaking Nirvana when you get that “feeling”, it will come with knowledge. Believe!
Public Speaking Tip #2
Greet as many of the attendees prior to your speech as possible. Familiarity promotes confidence. Besides, think of the benefit you provide about the topic you are to speak on when you take the time to meet people before you go on.
This strategy also prevents you from pacing back and forth and worrying yourself to death until you go on. There is no point in cramming now, if you don’t know it, you wont, and it will show.
Public Speaking Tip #3
DON’T think of everyone in the audience as naked or in their underwear. This can be very disconcerting and will, in fact, hurt your chances of a successful public speaking outing.
Public Speaking Tip # 4
When you find yourself with only a mouthful of uhs and ums, stop yourself, repeat the sentence as if to add importance, and replace the uhs and ums with silence to allow your points to hit home.
Public Speaking Tip # 5
Animate your speech. Most people think that good communication is mouth-centric. Nothing could be farther from the truth! To be a powerful communicator, you have to use your entire body. Gestures and body language add energy and enthusiasm to your speech. However, they should be natural and just flow from the words you are speaking. You should not have to think about making a particular gesture.
These are tips can really help you take your next step in public speaking. Do you realize that people pass up promotions because they will be required to speak publicly?
Do you realize people fear speaking in public more than they fear dying? Maybe because dying is abstract and appears far away while the podium or lectern is right in front of them. Either way, you really can come to grips with your fear and maybe you won’t enjoy it, but you’ll be able to get through it easier. I can’t emphasize enough that half of your battle will be just knowing what you are going to say, and anticipating what others are going to ask. It can be easy!
Remember, you are there to share your knowledge or experience with your audience - they are the most important part of your speaking experience.
To your successful speaking experience!!
Fran
P.S. If you can't think of a topic for your next speech, go here for 800+ speech topics. http://www.franwatson.ca/publicspeaker.html
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