WORLD CHAMPION SPEAKER
When you think of the word addiction, it usually evokes very negative connotations. Dictionary.com defines it as follows: “Noun: the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.” Are there positive connotations? Do…
Do you use the stage on purpose? If you are not using the stage “on purpose,” you are probably not nearly as effective as you could be. In fact, you are probably doing a disservice to your audience by diluting the impact of your message. Great presenters use the stage to help them clarify their…
This weekend, while playing disc golf with Steve Pavlina, author of Self Development for Smart People, we started talking about the longevity of our speaking careers. He said that when he started, he treated speaking as a presentation or a performance, which put up a wall between himself and the audience. He often felt that…
It is that time of year again when eighty-one of the top speech competitors from around the world prepare for the biggest speech of their lives. They are the semi-finalists competing in this year’s World Championship of Public Speaking. There are also thousands of speech competitors who are licking their wounds wondering where they went…
How long is your “to-do” list? Maybe, if you are like me, a better question is how many lists do you have? I started finding that I had “to-dos” to remind me to check other “to-do” lists. Yikes! I found I was soon forgetting my master “to-do” list. Ugh. Something’s got to give. I don’t…
As I continue my own walk with God, inspired by my pastor, I’ve been reading two Bible verses every morning. I actually started at the beginning and have been pretty good at keeping my personal commitment. I do not claim to be an expert in this area. I’m just giving honest insight into my own…
What goes through your mind as you prepare for a presentation? What are your thoughts just before you take the stage? Whether it is a small boardroom presentation or an audience of thousands, your mindset matters. Your mindset alone will greatly affect the outcome for both you and your audience. It was the mid-nineties when…
OK, I’ve been feeling an internal nudge to start writing a blog about my relationship with God. Honestly I’ve had the thought for a while, but was a bit nervous about doing it. I know in the “Public Speaking World” we’re advised not to talk about Religion, Politics and Sex. I remember Zig Ziglar saying…
Ever been behind someone walking or in traffic and they can’t decide which way to go, so they just stop. There is no way around them. Now their indecisiveness has just impacted your world. Yikes! You think, “Dude (or dudette), just make a choice! Pick a lane! This is not life or death.” Whether a…
“Liza! How many times do I have to tell you?? As my secretary, I want you to SIT at your desk when I walk in in the morning. And, you had better still SIT there when I leave at the end of the day! What pathetic excuse do you have THIS time for being late??…