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Speaking to an audience requires a mix of knowledge, attitude and skills. We have all sat through presentations by people that were probably brilliant but just could not hold our attention. This blend of requirements is the ideal but take it with a grain of salt. Very few of the best ... Views: 2871
The seminar business is a large and diverse industry. Every day, thousands of seminars are being presented around the world. Many are offered for free and many more are offered at great prices. Products and services of all kinds are bought by attendees who are motivated to improve their lives in ... Views: 3486
The seminar business is not one to enter on a whim -- at least, not if you want to minimize your risk. Between room rentals, equipment, and food and beverage minimums, the production costs can be tremendous. If you don't adequately fill the room, you can lose a lot of money very quickly.
The ... Views: 1592
Everything has changed in 2013- from new gadgets to better technology- all you will get in this New Year will be revamped. So why not give your web development ventures a facelift? Yes! It is time to look forward to some emerging trends which are likely to take over the development frontier in ... Views: 2224
The world has never been more instantly connected or more complex in any time in human history. Wherever you look people are scrambling to achieve freedom, recognition, or success. Everyone it seems is operating in a hurry and patience is rarely observed.
Along with this rush to betterment ... Views: 2433
When was the last time you did something for the first time? When was the last time you did something that was beyond your normal routine? When was the last time you did something beyond your level of comfort; something unknown?
Please understand that the only way for you to receive your ... Views: 1625
Have you bought a Hypnosis or NLP product that you like? If so, what is it that you like about it? Most people will buy a Hypnosis training product hoping that it will teach them "Hypnosis secrets that no one else has". These hypnosis products are ALL over the internet. If you've ever been ... Views: 2474
I decided to write this article as I was nearing the last few days of one of my Success Summits and was receiving many emails and inquiries regarding future guest presenter options. I regularly feature top experts and best selling authors on my transformative Your Path to Success Summit series. ... Views: 2582
There have been gobs of studies like this one from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics focused on the number of years of school someone has completed in relation to their annual and lifetime earning potential. If you are a high school drop out vs. high school graduate vs. Associates Degree ... Views: 1811
When most people think of public speaking or becoming a public speaker or simply giving a presentation at work they think they have to come off with the talent of a Joel Osteen or a powerful corporate executive. Yes those people do possess a type of presence and charisma along with a powerful ... Views: 2004
Perhaps you've been there yourself. You are listening to a speaker drone on with facts and figures… and figures and facts. At that moment your eyes are rolling towards the back of your head. As I always say - audiences will forgive a lot of things from you -- but they will never forgive a ... Views: 2993
Talking to the Bureau in Person or On the Phone
Before you call a speaking bureau, do some research to figure out which ones match your goals. Just as two snowflakes aren't a like -- it's the same with speakers bureaus.
Your best plan (and you'll discover if they are truly interested in ... Views: 2443
There's no getting around it: The moment you bound onto the platform or stage your credibility is at stake. And one way to cement your credibility is to master the art of Q & A (short for Questions and Answers)
Look at how Q & A's are done on the political battlefields. Remember the Hillary ... Views: 1833
Whether you’re a professional public speaker or someone occasionally called upon to speak at company meetings… or to prospective clients… you want to make sure your audience quickly “gets” your message.
The way to do it is to brand yourself. In other words, to sum up your message with a ... Views: 1722
The speakers people like the most, or who have the greatest impact, are said to have “presence.” Something special that leaps out at you. Certain actors have it, and that makes them "stars." Certain models (who by the way are sometime average looking people in real life) somehow "click" with ... Views: 3625
Have you ever really sat down or studied what it takes to become and effective speaker? Well, to begin, you should first determine where you are in the speaking world.
Do you want to be a professional speaker who makes this your livelihood? Are you a weekend warrior who does this part-time to ... Views: 1552
Peter Fogel's "How to NOT to Compete With Food While Delivering a Speech or Presentation!"
This truly could be the bane of any speaker's existence.
Just think: You have to WOW your audience (who might never have seen you before)…. you have to deal with the set of the room (location ... Views: 1687
This truly could be the bane of any speaker's existence. Just think: You have to WOW your audience (who might never have seen you before)…. you have to deal with the set of the room (location of chairs and tables near platform) and NOW, you have the nightmare of having to deal with food that is ... Views: 1372
Preparing your speech and writing appropriate stories can be a challenge at the best of times, but the real challenge is in using and writing those stories in such a way that they really engage your audience.
First, think about how other speakers and presenters manage to grab your ... Views: 1597
Welcome back to Storytelling Tips and Tactics. As I mentioned in my previous article… specificity sells and makes a story more personal!
When it comes to effective story telling give your audience a place to envision by telling them the specific location of your joke or story. For instance, ... Views: 3794
I always say when it comes to speaking or performing, you must adhere to Murphy's Law. What can wrong … will. I don't know who this Murphy was, but perhaps he should get in touch with Montezuma (and his revenge.)
Please note, dear reader, I am not a fatalist. I am more of a realist. Yes, you ... Views: 2971
OK If I Laugh Now?
It seems the jury is out on this one, with opinion divided on whether or not it is okay to laugh at your own jokes. Maybe it's just me (although I doubt it given the number of comedians and humorous speakers who also laugh at their own jokes.
But I believe the aim of a ... Views: 3272
One of the reasons I like writing articles is that I can test out real world public speaking techniques and then share my results to you.
Which brings me to a recent speaking engagement that was… how do I say this delicately …well, NOT the ideal speaking situation.
In fact, for any ... Views: 1691
Ever drive a stick shift in a car? If you have, then you soon discovered if you don't use the clutch the right way (too fast or too slow -- or not at all), the gears will collide and you'll hear an annoying and scary grinding of metal. Most new teenage drivers know this hellacious sound. ... Views: 1896
When faced with the seemingly daunting task of preparing a speech at the last minute there is usually one of two scenarios which put us in this predicament:
1. You have been given the topic of your speech or presentation weeks ago, but you have put off preparing for it until the day before ... Views: 3296
Most people would like to help the environment and would also like to make a little extra money in their lives, but just might not know-how. You purchase technology and equipment and use it until you're ready for something new or just can't use it anymore, but you may not realize you can make ... Views: 825
Inside the school hall in a typical Nigerian examination centre, young men and women are seated with rapt attention as they listen to a middle aged, well built man, clutching a folder containing some sheets of paper. He is surrounded by other ladies and gentlemen numbering about five who ... Views: 7728
As an expert, one of your greatest opportunities to build your market reach and client base is to get on the platform and give a “knock their socks off” presentation.
If you’re an entrepreneur, there are very few strategies that compare to getting on the platform in order to build your ... Views: 2594
Often the purpose of our seminar or workshop is to turn audience members into customers.
Presenting your one-off workshop as a portion of a much larger body of work creates subtle selling without the hard-sell. Here are four ideas that provide this sense:
1. Use your book as a ... Views: 2910
The beleaguered carpenter ran his hand over the wood the way a horse trainer stokes the back of the thoroughbred that he is about to take out for a run.
In happier times this artisan was in high demand. Of course, this was before “the accident” that shocked the town. “No mistakes… not THIS ... Views: 3946
There are basic principles of humor that can enliven your talk. Perhaps the most important one is to avoid telling generic "funny stories," Instead, find and build more humor within the context of personal stories.
To make your mark as a speaker… to get into the hearts and minds of your ... Views: 1823
New speakers (as well as audience members) occasionally approach me after one of my keynote presentations and ask me how I knew I wanted to be a speaker.
Well, that is certainly a good question that has many answers. However, the one resounding theme that percolates inside my head as to why I ... Views: 1596
If you live in fear of forgetting prospects' names, sometimes within mere seconds of being introduced to them, you're not alone. Surveys show that 83% of the population worries about their inability to recall people's names. Ironically, while most of us hate having our names forgotten or ... Views: 2802
It seems the jury is out on this one, with opinion divided on whether or not it is okay for a professional public speaker to laugh at your own jokes.
Maybe it's just me (although I doubt it given the number of comedians and humorists who also laugh at their own jokes), but I believe the aim ... Views: 4162
There is a major 'problemo' that a lot of speakers sometime fall into when using Power Point. I call it upstaging yourself. 'Upstaging' is a 'technique' that stage actors have been using 'against' each other since Greek times. It happens when one actor moves up the stage which in turn makes ... Views: 3218
As I mentioned in Part I, being specific sells and makes a story more personal. Give your audience a place to envision by telling them the specific location of your joke or story. For instance, say you were in Tommy's Diner in Hoboken, New Jersey -- as opposed to just saying New Jersey. Your ... Views: 1693
Have you ever thought about speaking on cruise ships?
Now, I’m not talking about chit chat at your assigned dinner table here.
I am talking about standing in front of five hundred to a thousand people in a gorgeous show room (or smaller lounge) and sharing your passion and expertise on ... Views: 2071
As a professional speaker, not all of your talks will be designed to be humorous or entertaining in that fashion.
Sometimes your talk may be on serious subjects to elicit
donations or certain actions from people in positions of influence. In these instances, you still need to wear your ... Views: 4074
Biorhythmic differences aside, generally speaking, the majority of people are not at their peak first thing in the morning. What does this mean for you if you want to public speak like a pro? Especially if you're expected to "warm them up" with your witty repartee?
Well, it means that ... Views: 3422
New speakers make the mistake of focusing all their creative efforts on the body of their talk, and maybe the opening. But guess what? The 'close' is just as important as the 'opening' of your talk.
In fact, your audience may remember you more from your close than from your opening. If ... Views: 3418
Have You Found Your Personal Calling?
Could it be that we are creating a tribe based in living authentically and following our true purpose?
ABSOLUTELY!
One of the things I know beyond a doubt is that you will find a far greater value than you ever expected... by honoring yourself and ... Views: 3209
Persuasive public speaking is all about connecting with your audience. One of the quickest ways to heighten your audience connection is to use a theatre acting technique called 'Breaking the Fourth Wall.
One of the reasons you go to the theatre is to be transported to a different time
and ... Views: 3449
With over twenty-four years experience performing stand-up comedy, writing comedy, and doing audience warm-up on sitcoms, I've learned that using humor in a corporate setting is a lot different than in a comedy club. For success here, you must tread carefully. To that end, I offer you my five ... Views: 3702
I have an entrepreneur friend who is an engaging speaker. He always gets high marks on audience evaluations.
On stage, he comes off as quite confident. Watching him, you’d think he was loaded with self-esteem.
In fact, the opposite is true. And at a recent presentation, he let his audience ... Views: 2420
Speakers and writers share one thing in common – they’re both susceptible to mind blocks.
This is where your mind goes blank and you can’t think of anything new to write and speak about. You feel like you’re facing a blank wall; your creativity has left you. ... Views: 2716
One of the most important things as a speaker has to do to make an impact with their audience - is to control the environment they are in.
Believe it or not, some speakers get the “gig” (aka the engagement) show up at the correct time and realize the seating arrangements or the lighting is ... Views: 2820
There’s no doubt that speakers put a lot of time into developing the content for their speeches. Unfortunately, as you’re well aware of, because of sensory overload
audiences will only be able to digest two to three points of your talk. (yes, they will channel surf when you speak) So your rule ... Views: 2805
One common question faced by new seminar promoters is determining what day of the week they should hold their event. Here are some points to consider as you make important scheduling decisions.
If your attendees are primarily employees whose employers are footing the bill for their ... Views: 15920
Welcome to my article page for SelfGrowth.com From millions of articles on the web, I want to be savvy, innovative and stand apart from the beginning. My aim is to provide you with short and strategic value adding articles, you can implement straight away in your business to get results. ... Views: 1368
"This is the way the world ends, Not with a bang but a whimper!"
~ T.S. Eliot
WARNING: When it comes to ending your speech, the last thing you want to do is go out with a whimper! In speaking it's important how you start and especially how you finish.
Let's look at this scenario: Let's ... Views: 8553