Presentations and seminars become all too familiar in the business world. Jim Speaker is there with the overhead projector and PowerPoint slides-each with four or five points. Hours later the seminar is over. Seminars are informative but can be deadly. Just give me the handout and I’ll read it at home!
It takes a dynamic presenter to step out from behind the lectern and shake up and motivate their audience.
Facts touch or mind, but it is the power that comes from stories that touch hearts.
Everybody loves a story. Stories give us insight life and human nature. They can make us laugh and they can make us cry. Story telling will go beyond the bullet points and will make a memorable impression on the heart that can change a life.
As a speaker, how can you use stories to give your presentation the impact that you desire:
• Tell inspirational stories to persuade, motivate or entertain. Use stories to illustrate the point you want to make. Try to find stories that are relevant to the audience. For example, for software engineers, tell a story about the young engineer who started a company in his garage and how Microsoft changed the world.
• Tell a story from your own experience. Make a habit of keeping a story journal and record your day’s experiences. You will have a rich supply of unique experiences to draw from to illustrate your point.
• Use gestures and acting techniques to bring your story to life. Don’t just tell your audience about a difficult client; get up and show them. Actions have a greater impact on the point you are making.
• Use description and dialogue. Take your audience into the story by using description and dialogue. Help them visualize and feel that they are part of the experience.
• Practice your story until it’s natural. Use the pacing and rhythm to communicate your message to your audience. Listen to a tape recording of yourself. Check how you have varied the tone of your voice and your speed to create the biggest impact in your story.
Remember it’s not about you; it’s about your audience. You have a great story and an important message to convey. By concentrating on your audience, you will become more confident and relaxed. This will result in your audience feeling comfortable and more receptive to your message.
Barbara White helps speakers develop dynamic
speaking skills
through workshops, training and coaching. For more articles on speaking skills
visit
http://www.livingbeyondbetter.com and
http://www.articlesbeyondbetter.com
Often some one with religious beliefs which are very strong will enter the scientific research field and upon every experiment will insist that whatever the results they cannot conflict with the belief of their god? Recently one such nut case linear thinking human came to an online think tank claiming that man was made in gods image and her experiment would prove once and for all that man was different and divine from all other animals. She states;
“Everyone is free and entitled to there own opinions, truths and beliefs without discrimination. Does that make them hypocrites, arrogant or fanatics?”
I disagree, as if one adopts beliefs in contrary to observation, reality and research then humans generally use such terms as hypocrite, arrogant and fanatics. Indeed that is why these terms exist. In fact if you deny all the facts and still come up with a conclusion, which is 180 degrees out, you are wrong. And that would generally be due to being fanatical [dictionary definition], arrogant [personal trait allowing such] or a hypocrite [in this case claiming science and ignoring all collected data, facts and observations].
The religious nut case religious doctrine follower then stated; “I have stated my position and a simple explanation on why I feel this way towards the presentation of a genetic comparison as scientific evidence that humans are similar to humans. I have ample reason to feel this way and until I am convinced otherwise this is my position on that matter. I can say this without prejudice towards you or any other person who feels differently. More or less”
This did not sit well with one of the other think tank members in the online think tank who stated; “NO, that is incorrect. In that number one you have stated previously that your research has nothing to do with how you “feel” only scientific methods and research. Of which you have produced NONE. Only talk about scientific method, never one piece or shred of evidence. And in all your comments you have been unable to refute the evidence other than quick little trivial condemnations. Anyone can do that.”
And continued; “What I am saying is your position on the matter is IRRELEVANT as it is incorrect. How you feel about it is even more IRRELEVANT. If you feel un-convinced without further evidence, yet do so without reading any of the evidence I have presented then that is a personal problem and a problem of your person, which you will need to deal with. How you feel about me is IRRELEVANT. You are wrong. Unless you can refute the findings off all these top researchers presented and their 1000’s of references and/or know something that the top DNA researchers didn’t know and explain away all the research that backs up what I have said, along with the DNA proof, then you are blowing spit wads in the wind. And well, I just really wish you would do it somewhere else really.”
And continued some more; “You state everyone is entitled to their opinion? Sure they are and free speech, but do not claim to be researcher, scientist or seeker of truth if you deny what is right before your eyes. If you have proof then bring it on. But stop playing games.”
Wow, you know after reading all this debate it is a wonder that we do not immediately dismiss all religious followers from all research and scientific work. As this seems to be the only way we can indeed protect the integrity of the forward progression of the species and propel meaningful scientific study. Consider all this 2006.
“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
White is the perfect colour for your new bed, not only are white beds pretty but there are plenty styles to pick out from so you can be sure of receiving a white bed frame you will like.
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Whether you are doubtful or not, we think you should take a look at our beautiful white bed frames anyway. We have double and single beds, as well as white metal beds which offer a sturdy & long lasting bed frame. So what are you waiting for? Go check out our white bed frames today, with costs beginning as low as £100 can you really afford to miss out on our wonderful sales and price reductions on white beds?
Superman sees through lead, Batman has the biggest bag of techno-gadgets in the business, and Wonder Woman fights for justice with a few, well placed, bits of jewelry. Super Writers see epic adventures in the smallest details, develop their individual tricks and techniques, and with a few, well placed words and phrases, make the intangible, tangible. To be a Super Writer, however, one must first understand the nature of their power.
INSPIRATION:
Let’s face it, without inspiration, our muse is as exciting as the Hulk on a good hair day. Our muse just sits there, brooding and inscrutable, big and well . . . hulking, but overall, dull and useless. Until suddenly, inspiration strikes, goosing the muse into action, shaking the earth with the pounding thunder of creativity.
Inspiration is a tricky thing, however. One simply cannot say “Ah-ha!” and begin writing at warp speed. There must be a sound basis to pursue this idea. We must ask: is it unique? is it interesting? will I be able to sustain this premise for an entire novel or is it better shared through a shorter medium? and most importantly, am I passionate about this idea?
If there’s no passion this idea is likely not an option worth pursuing. Published authors are often offered ideas from non-writers. They are inspired and believe the idea so fascinating and titilating, the author will be honored to write the book. The author usually responds with a chuckle and a shake of the head. “Write someone else’s book? I’ll never live long enough to pursue my own ideas.” In this regard, we are lucky. Not many other professions create so many options, you can dispose of one simply because it’s lacking emotional appeal-or passion.
Choose to expand on the ideas that grab you where you live, let the others percolate somewhere out of sight-in a folder, in a computer file-until the day the idea, perhaps combined with another, has the power of high voltage gamma rays.
INTUITION:
Okay, you’ve chosen to work on that inspired story. It’s timely, unique, and you’re passionate about the idea. This is going to be one heck of a ride! Your intuition is kicked into high gear-you’re operating on feeling, on the emotional impact that passion has on your priorities. Suddenly, you don’t care if the Tazmanian Devil erupted in your living room, it doesn’t matter if the kids are playing with Thing One and Thing Two-you are on a roll!
But wait, what’s that? An evil, ugly force driving away your ability to create. It’s taller than your muse, it’s faster than your typing speed, and it can leap pages in a single bound. It’s your internal editor. Where’s the kryptonite when you need it? Believe it or not, it’s lurking inside you-it’s that ringing bell that jangles when something is wrong, but performs with symphonic beauty when all is well. Listen for the tone, not the internal editor-that’s the bad guy, the one trying to kidnap your muse, tie him to the railroad tracks of your plot, and run him down with a freight train of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
That first draft is an exclusive party. Only your muse and intuition are invited. Who cares how many mistakes you make? This isn’t going to be published as is, there is no one watching over your shoulder saying, “you missed a spot.” It’s a joyous time of creativity.
If you’re one of those extraordinarily disciplined souls who want every paragraph perfect before moving onto the next and end with a complete manuscript that needs no revisions, count yourself lucky and blessed. For most of the writing community, however, writing is a struggle to balance creativity and technical know-how. Of course, one is just as important as the other, but to focus on technical know-how at the muse stage, can be as frustrating as getting Superman to wear a kryptonite necklace.
IMPLICATION:
“Show, don’t tell.” We hear that phrase as often as Captain Marvel hears the word “Shazam!” It’s more than a mantra, more than a symbol of mystical, magical transformation-it’s the heart and soul of great storytelling. Implication defines this notorious phrase.
To imply, rather than state, is a marvelous tool. It lends depth, humor, and realism to our characters. By implying a reaction, emotion, or description, rather than stating the facts, we must dig deeper into our characters, understand each of their personalities, and choose the words that are part of that character’s lexicon. For Example:
Buffy snapped her gum and eyed the guy in the red cape. “Where can I get me some?”
“Jinkies, Buffy. The last thing the universe needs is offspring from that union.” Thelma shoved her glasses higher and dragged Buffy back into the mall.
Above, it’s implied, rather than stated, that Buffy finds the guy in the red cape attractive, followed by the implication that Thelma believes their children would be dangerous. Through this type of writing, you show much more than the words tell. We can infer above that Buffy is a bit of flirt, a little boy crazy. The guy in the red cape must be good looking. Thelma is more straight-laced and disapproves, likely based on past experiences. It’s shown, in this short exchange, that they are friends with differing priorities, but enjoy each other’s company.
Great storytellers, such as Stephen King, fill their books with catch-phrases and anecdotes that build rich worlds for the reader, a hint at the life these characters have lived off the page. Through these word choices, these small revelations, you’ll give the reader a story they won’t want to put down, and won’t soon forget.
IMPLEMENTATION:
“With great power, comes great responsibility.” If Spiderman never used his powers, the bad guys would get away. If Superman took the bus, instead of flying, chances are, he’d miss saving the day. A writer who doesn’t write, doesn’t get published.
Writing the words, implementing the power of your muse, your inspiration, through implication, can help you achieve success-whatever type of success you choose. This may mean simply completing a book, or hitting the New York Times bestseller list. Setting goals, whichever ones they are, is the first step in implementing all you’ve learned.
Be specific, but be realistic. If the goal is to write every day, take the concrete steps you need to make that happen. Prepare ahead of time, set the alarm on a clock or your watch, warn your family or friends that this time is off limits. Whichever process works best for you, follow through.
Prolific writers are drawn to their books, unable to resist immersing themselves in the world they’re creating. By taking the steps above, you’ll find yourself caught in the same hypnotic spell. In fact, you may find it’s going to take a heck of a lot more than the Green Goblin of real life or the Lex Luther of distractions to drag you away.
Remember the Super Writer’s Four I’s of Storytelling: inspiration, intuition, implication, and implementation the next time you flip on the computer, click open that pen, or sharpen that pencil-you just might discover the power inside you.
© J.R. Turner, 2005
Award winning author J.R. Turner writes action, adventure and romance. Visit the author’s official website for her novel, Stark Knight, as well as excerpts, articles, and more: http://www.jennifer-turner.com/
Cleanse Your Body of Toxins – Use tDrFloras Line of Colon Cleansing Products
Having a toxic colon can be extremely hazardous to your health. Since the colon cannot expel these chemicals, there is an increasing accumulation of toxic products. These toxins that we are being constantly exposed to can have a horribly negative effect on our bodies. Be this as it may, there are ways of which you can flush the toxins out of your system. There is absolutely no way around it, for toxins have proven to be practically everywhere. With the use of drfloras, you will be healthier and will also lose weight from using this colon cleansing system.
Colon cleansing is a medical practice that has been occurring for many years, decades, centuries, and even a millennium! In fact, colon cleansing dates back to as early as 1500 B.C. in Egypt. Colon cleansing has been going on since the beginning of our time, or at least since the beginning of recorded history. Having a toxic colon is very harmful to your health. It worked ages ago, and it still works today. One such method of colon cleansing would be drfloras, a colon cleansing system.The methods of colon cleansing have obviously changed, advancing with the times and becoming more user friendly.
Look And Feel Amazing With DrFloras
The drfloras is so simple it can fit into any lifestyle and the results will amaze you. You will feel lively and full of energy once your body begins to rid itself of the toxic build up in your colon. Not only does this colon cleansing system remove the nasty, unhealthy toxic waste build up from your colon, but it also boosts your metabolism, renews energy and vitality, relieves bloating and constipation, contains Pro-Biotics that create a hostile environment for harmful bacteria, parasites, and worms, causing them to flee from your system, and lowers your risk of getting a chronic disease and colon cancer. This product made up of all natural ingredients, which ensures that it is extremely safe for your body. Many people have used this great colon cleanser to not only cleanse their colon, but to also lose weight and to decrease feelings of tiredness and fatigue.
The Hero’s Journey is THE screenwriting and story structure template. By utilising this structure, screenwriters can quickly build effective and quality stories. There are more than 188 stages to the Hero’s Journey.
The Godfather (1972) Summary
Call to Adventure: Sollozzo asks to meet with the Corleone’s to discuss funding a drug running operation.
Refusal of the Call: Vito Corleone refuses drugs because he believes they will have a negative impact for the Mafia in the future.
Supernatural Aid: Michael has two mentors: Kay leads him to the good side and Vito pulls him towards the dark (“what miracles you perform for strangers”).
Crossing the First Threshold: Vito gets shot. Michael, for the first time, sits in on the meeting between Tessio and Sonny and actively takes part in the family decision-making process.
Physical Separation from the Old World (Belly of the Whale): Michael saves his father in the hospital; his face is deformed by captain McCluskey.
Transformation (Road of Trials): leading to Micheal shooting McCluskey and Sollozzo.
Meeting with the Goddess: Michael meets Apollonia.
Rebirth through Death (Woman as Temptress): Female phone call leading to Connie getting beaten; Sonny gets shot; Apollonia dies in the bomb explosion.
Atonement: Vito meets with the heads of the five families.
Apotheosis: Vito realises that it was Barzini all along.
Ultimate Boon: There is peace between the families.
Refusal of the Return: Clemenza and Tessio are refused permission to push back Barzini; Vito cannot break the peace.
Magic Flight: Michael arranges for the move to Vegas.
Rescue from Without: Vito dies.
Crossing the Return Threshold: Vito’s funeral; Tessio sets up Michael.
Master of the Two Worlds: Michael is both good and evil: he “settles all business” while accepting that he will be Godfather to Connie’s baby; Carlo is taken care off / Sonny is revenged.
Freedom to Live: Michael lies to Kay; Michael is accepted as the new Godfather with his own lieutenants.
The detailed deconstruction and the Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/
You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.
Kal Bishop, MBA
**********************************
You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.
Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://www.managing-creativity.com
Having booked over 2,000 paid speaking engagements mostly while being an independent contractor, I know when I’ve done what it takes on a daily basis to increase my income. If you’re a booking agent or a sales representative for a speaker, you know what I mean.
There are basically three kinds of work:
Productive – Making contact with organizations who hire speakers to determine if they are qualified leads for your speaker and taking whatever the next step is to make the sale; Researching an organization via the Internet or a periodical to gather the market intelligence to determine whether or not the prospect would be a probable candidate and need your expertise.
Non-productive – This does not mean that the work itself it non-productive. It is an important element of following through with what needs to be done. But non-productive work is work that is administrative or clerical in nature, such as assembling packages, posting and mailing them, sending reinforcing e-mails, checking with the warehouse to make sure all products are available for an engagements, making travel arrangements, making copies of documents, preparing and filing documents, etc.
Unproductive – Answering personal e-mails, refilling the water cooler, making coffee, cleaning the office kitchen, watering the plants, gossiping with others, continuing negative self-talk, talking with friends over the telephone or in the office, doing Internet searches for your favorite perfume… Do you recognize yourself yet?
You may have others to help you, or you may be doing the entire booking process by yourself. If you’re working alone, there are clearly days that have to be spent doing non-productive work and some of every day has to be spent doing non-productive work in order to get the packages out.
BUT…ultimately, the task that’s not related to a viral marketing internet campaign that’s going to produce the greatest results is calling a prospect and introducing your speaker.
Here are ten ways to keep production down:
1. Be inconsistent with all of my prospecting.
2. Keep waiting for my past clients & centers of influence to call me.
3. Continue to not qualify my leads.
4. Wait for a bureau to call me.
5. Keep discussing my problems & excuses rather than working on my solutions.
6. Not practice my sales scripts.
7. Spend more time on-line answering social e-mails.
8. Organize my desk drawers.
9. Refuse to educate yourself about how to position and attract business utilizing Internet marketing.
10. Print all missing enclosures and assemble promotional packages
Do these ten things every day and quadruple your income:
1. Work on creating a positive and productive mind set. Post this sentence close to your station and say to yourself, I keep productive, creative, profitable and fun ideas in my mind at all times.
2. Have a morning exercise routine of walking or working out before you begin your work. Put a long cord on your phone with a headset or use a remote phone, and stand when making your prospecting calls.
3. Call a minimum of 50 prospects a day to create at least 10 qualified prospects.
4. Make contact with past clients to re-book your speaker.
5. Ask for three referrals from all of your past engagements.
6. To attract the attention of those in your industry, have regular conversations with your Internet marketing expert to implement campaigns that will attract meeting planners to your speaker.
7. Focus on short term goals rather than long term goals, such as bookings this week.
8. Get a letter of endorsement or a quote of one sentence from every meeting planner that has booked your speaker and use them as audio links or quotes in your letters and e-mails.
9. Practice your scripts and modify your script with your speaker when necessary. Discuss objections with him/her and ask for the most appropriate response.
10. Stay in touch with other successful agents to discuss trends and gain new insight about the speaking industry.
Mary McKay is a booking strategist for speakers, experts, leaders, top producers and cultural heroes who want to secure paid speaking engagements.
She systematizes the booking process to uniquely position the speaker, optimize the appearance, generate referrals and enable more revenue potential through product sales. Visit http://www.gettingpaidtospeak.com or call 949-429-6646.
Back in 1770 the 1st lodge was opened in Chamonix. Prior to this Chamonix ski resort embodied a savage and rugged farming hamlet where the people hunted animals and grew their own cereals.
Farms at that time were used to raise dairy cows during the summer. Milk was kept by making it into cheeses and stored in the valley for consumption over the long winters. In the snow season the farms were fastened, and all valued possessions were locked in a shed.
Who came up with the catered chalet vacation is unknown, it was in all probability some zealous people who acknowledged a idea that was new and exciting. With Erna Low it began when she was a nostalgic postgraduate who couldn’t see her parents in Austria as much as she wished. Thus in 1931 she took a gamble and put a small ad in the Times to tempt punters on a winter vacation. The cost was £15 and they journeyed to and from resort, had food and board in the sole pub lodging, and had ski equipment and lessons. The trip was laborious , there weren’t any chair lifts, no safety fixings, simply hard leather boots, but it was such a hit that she kept on taking groups on holiday, seeing to it that she found superior chalets and ski instructors.
These Skiing breaks during the beginning were very different to the luxuries we can receive now. In the early days hot water was in limited supply, the bathrooms would be shared out with all of the punters, and there wasn’t a chef; all the punters needed to help out with the chores. It was a real gamble who might share the chalet for a trip, you may be agreeably surprised to encounter fresh allies, or spend a week of hell with people you didn’t get on with.
The chalet holiday was later on marketed on their new benefits. Your own chef, who served you breakfast and an evening meal and prepared you a cake, lots of warm water for bathing.
Owning the correct fishing tools is a critical thing to remember when your are chewing over your forthcoming fishing expedition. You must permit yourself the finest tools to fall into the “frame of mind” & receive the best benefits of fishing. Purchasing the appropriate fishing supplies will aid you in numerous different ways. As you may well be aware, the more fishing gear you acquire the simpler the fishing will become. One of the things you ought to ask yourself is, do you possess all that you need prior to you heading out on your expedition? To be successful you should make certain that your fishing journey commences with acquiring the best fishing gear. There are many style of supplies and it predominantly depends on type of place that you will be fishing at, what kind of fish you are looking for & the style of fishing that you long for.
There are many variety and styles of fishing reels that comprise of a choice of costs. If you are looking to enter into commercial fishing you would be recommended to ensure that your fishing tools is planed for that sort of use. Commercial fishing calls for a great deal more robust equipment. Because professional fishing items demands twice to 3 times the use they wear out much sooner. This certainly makes it much more wise to pay put the extra at the beginning. There are a mixture of items so that you can make a decision based on wants in addition to what you can actually actually afford. Find great offers on horse riding equipment online today.
The specific make of fishing rod is another important part of the tackle that you will want. You might well need to think what manufacture of rod that you will need for your fishing excursion. Just as there are an array of reels there is a range of fishing rods to purchase. It is suggested to base your conclusion on the type of fish that you are intending to catch.
What is worse than wearing a tuxedo to an event
when everyone else is attending in shorts?
I have said the same thing over and over again: before you attend the event, get to know the audience. If the audience is not right for you, you may attend, but it is unlikely that you will gain any new business. If on the other hand, you want to attend just to form new relationships with others in the business community, then by all means attend the event. Just do not stretch yourself so thin that another event will topple you. So the first thing you must do before attending is to find out who will be there. If there is someone specific you want to meet, then find someone who knows them and get a proper introduction.
A third party introduction will go a lot farther than just introducing yourself from left field. Introductions have a way of confirming that you are worthwhile knowing. Remember the person you meet should be the one that makes the decisions for his company. Do not try and get introductions from subordinates, this will not lead you too far down the path. These subordinates often do not have the decision making power and simply sit as influencers in the decision. I am not saying you should not form relationships with influencers, just the opposite; you need to first have the relationship with the decision maker who will allow you to work with the influencers.
Make sure you know exactly who will be attending the events and then find out their status within the company. The size of the company may matter to you, so make sure you know the size of their company before making any approaches. It is often said it is not who you know but who knows you that counts. So one of the items to plan for when attending an event is who knows you and who they can introduce you to.
You have now discovered who is attending the event and perhaps even why they are there. Most often you will find that attendees are there to get more business. Sometimes they may attend to hear the speaker as the speaker is often the draw. Once you have the audience analyzed, you need to prepare yourself not only for your pitch, but also for the questions you need to ask to get the answers you are looking for.
Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite, She decided to find the best ways to get people’s attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the “Networking Queen”.
Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in June 2005. For more information visit http://BlueprintBooks.com
