Do you feel called to change the world?

I ‘m looking for a quote… I do this almost on a daily basis for inspiration.  In this process, I’ll often find someone that I would never had discovered if I hadn’t appreciated his words.  With humility, I must admit that I do not know a man named Peter Drucker.  I am drawn to his quote: “The best way to predict the future is to create it. “

It starts me thinking; My most fascinating clients have indeed been people who wanted to create the future. They see change that can happen in the world and are stepping forth to make that change happen.  I respect their passion, tenacity and their faith in themselves and what is right.

As I look up the name of the man that penned the quote above, it occurs to me that one day, we all will be condensed to a few short sentences: the biography of our lives.  Peter was the “greatest management thinker of the last century” in many opinions, and he authored 25 books. He said just shortly before his death in 2005 at age 95, “I don’t know. What I would say is I helped a few good people be effective in doing the right things.”  He was humble as well.

What do you want your biography to say?  Will you leave a legacy?  Will you change the world?  If there is a dream that you have consistently, by all means have the belief that it can be so, and go for it.  I am a firm believer, of course, in starting with a powerful message and learning powerful delivery; that’s my part of your story of success!  And no matter what comes your way, get out there and do good.  It may seem a bit Pollyanna, but I have seen laws changed and funds raised, and children and animals saved by people I know.  People of average birth and by nothing but pure dedication, perseverance and absolute faith have made lasting changes in the world.

What I teach is not easy. The ability to be vulnerable and authentic takes bravery to put into action, but that is where the true effective communication sometimes lies.  C.S. Lewis said, “It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad. “

While I hesitate to say that we will “go bad,” I do think it very sad if we have a calling we do not pursue, for there are the people, the places and the things that you could have affected for good have you simply followed that calling. Hatch yourself!  Call upon the support team that you may need to get it done, but if the call is yours, answer it.  Make your biography a memorable one.

How you can use the power of empathy

The intense attraction we have toward reality TV is glaringly obvious.

Nothing new here, right?  But what is the IT that attracts fans to these shows in the first place?  What can we learn here, and how can we apply that to the presenting of our story and products and businesses?  

photo credit: Carey Hope

Many think the draw of Reality TV is the belief that anyone can become a Reality TV star – no matter who you are. Sometimes a completely normal-looking individual delights viewing audiences and becomes a superstar (Susan Boyle, anyone?).

Now we are getting to the heart of it… the emotional heart; watching a story like Susan Boyle’s unfold before the world allows us to live out our dreams.  It opens the vulnerable part of us that we often times hide from everyone.  That part still grasps the dreams that we avoid pursuing because of old beliefs that formed when we were children or our great talent that we mourn because we allowed the pressures of our perceived reality to push us far away from it. 

Here is where we may see the missing link when we tell our story: Whatever your passion is, we will understand it more if we see that vulnerability.

True reality is Susan Boyle, wearing her frumpy dress and frizzy hair, must have heard a few snickers from the audience as she first took the stage, but she stood in possibly the most vulnerable position in her life and brought us to tears, creating such an intense emotional response she became an overnight sensation.

You may not always bring your audience to tears, but you do want to wow your audience, your target market, and your clients!  Reach for that part of them that identifies with your vulnerable side.  Share your pain … what happened to you to encourage you to follow your passion?  What hardship did you overcome?

The story of Beth:

I was helping a successful business woman prepare for her promotional video, so I asked her why she was so driven to do what she does. She answered that she wanted to show people how to build financial security for their families.  Sound good, but let’s go deeper:

She explained that she had seen her loving, successful father make a mistake… all his financial eggs in one basket so to speak, and an unexpected legal crisis left the family with nothing. The stress of losing the family home and the pressure of having to rebuild their lives cost his family the ultimate price; he had a heart attack and lost his life at the young age of 52. She shares this painful story because she was too young to help her father, but she can help so many others now.

You may have a powerful personal story like that. Use it. 

Empathy is the strongest bond that we humans have.  It is not perfection to which we are truly drawn but the brokenness in each of us that we understand at the deepest spiritual level.   That is why, without vulnerability in your story, you have no real connector factor.

 If it is tough for you to share your story, seek some help in preparing it.  Don’t let your gift to the world go unopened … find a coach, a mentor, and a support team to help you establish the best way to tell your experience.

Five ways you can benefit from video in your business

We can’t deny it, video is crucial for your business!  We are a visually driven society. We want information shown to us, and it had better be easy to find.

Proof of our visual preference is the demise of 105 American newspapers in 2009.*  Alas, printed newspapers require us to expend energy to get our desired news (walking to the driveway to retrieve it, turning those big paper pages.).

For better, or for worse, the majority of Americans now get their daily news from TV (Cable TV now offers over 800 channels) or the internet (I admit, I actually learned of a new frog species from a Facebook posting).

Even on social networks, videos rule: more people are likely to check out and forward a posting that shows a video than one that has a link to an article. (It’s the forwarding that makes the video so effective).

As of May 2010, YouTube , the most well known of the video sharing sites, exceeds 2 billion views a day!

The unmistakable point is this: Visual stimulation is what we want, and as it relates to your business, the power of video is essential to your bottom line.

Five ways video can be beneficial in your business:

1. Branding: A video on your website homepage enforces a visual branding of your company within seconds and creates trust and recognition of your company’s culture.  This video can feature you and/ or your product, but it is highly effective in increasing your conversion rate on your site, sometimes up to 300%!  No matter what your business, there is a way to showcase it visually!
2. Promotion: Video blogs, (example of a successful video blogger: www.tv.WineLibrary.com) internet commercials, pitch videos to prospective clients or even entice investors!
3. Employee Instruction: Clone yourself virtually!  Instructional videos for new employees can deliver the training while you are actively building your business saving you time while you are making money.
4. Customer instruction:  Create a video to demonstrate proper use of your product or assembly.  This tool alone can drive a consumer to purchase your product over a competitor! Your product will appear more user-friendly.
5. Product: Put your expertise on video and market it as an informational product. Add a revenue stream!

Video need not be a huge expense, but it is important to keep the integrity and quality of your company brand consistent.  Sometimes it is worth the extra investment to create something of lasting value, and sometimes it is more appropriate to keep it simple and fun. Most importantly, if you have not started to use video at all, start by thinking about the list above and asking around for referrals and pricing for various production possibilities.  There is a wide variety of pricing out there, so keep going until you find the right fit for you and your company.

Your market is waiting for you, bring them information that is visual and entertaining, and you’ll watch the benefits to your bottom line!

*Audit Bureau of Circulations. 2009

Keep the energy flowing between you and your audience

There’s the old saying: “It is better to give than to receive,” but really, that’s only the half of it, right?

“Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process,” said Jim Rohn.

Deepak Chopra, in The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, refers to the Law of Giving:  “The Universe operates through dynamic exchange… giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of the universe.”

While these philosophies are usually associated with wealth and prosperity, they can be applied to your next presentation or media opportunity with great success as well!

A wealth-consciousness coach assists the flow of energy as it is associated with money. A relationship coach does the same with love, but as a performance coach, I focus on the flow of energy between the speaker (or “performer”) and the audience.  When the flow is unobstructed, the rewards are great; you have a message that can change peoples’ lives, and, in turn, change the world! It is imperative that you optimize every opportunity, right?

Effective communication relies on this free flowing pathway. At the most effective level, this pathway is like a clean, life-giving, sparkling stream. If you have had a presentation experience that resembled more of a twisted garden hose, then maybe we should take a look at a few easy ways to re-establish that surge!

The biggest inhibitor of flow anywhere in our lives is fear, of course.  That is a topic that I feel is best managed in one-on-one training. (There are even ways that fear can work for you, and not against you!)  Today, however, I am going to focus on two physical obstructions to flowing communication…the beaver dams in the stream, so to speak.

The first obstacle is the most obvious: it is the stage podium.  Some presenters look at it as a safe have. Well, I don’t think the podium was designed to deflect obstacles being thrown from the audience, and unless your topic is so controversial to make that a legitimate possibility, I say, stay clear of it!  It hides you and obstructs your energy from the audience.  Keeping your notes on the podium and returning to it occasionally throughout a long presentation is totally fine, but open yourself up physically and the audience will open up to you much easier.

Second is a physical blockage that is less obvious. It’s one of the basic elements of communication and emphasized in most speech classes but one of the most misunderstood and underdeveloped skills that I come across. This is eye contact.

Eye contact is not just a scan from one side of the room to the other.  Nor is it “3 seconds this direction, switch, three seconds there…”  Eye contact to a group should be much like any conversation; think of a party where you walk up to a discussion already in progress: the moment the person speaking makes eye contact, you feel acknowledged and respected.  You have been included.  When speaking to a group, there are certain moments that are the most powerful times to connect and create this same feeling:  usually this is the end of a sentence or a thought. Try it yourself in front of a video camera; read something and look into the lens as you say the last words of each sentence.  It takes some practice but learning to bring the eyes to the audience at the right time can make even “cold” speeches, like introductions of the next speaker, so much easier!

Creating an easy flow of energy when you are sharing your message is a skill that can create a wonderful experience for you and your audience. Ease of flow in communication directly helps the flow of love, money and even health.

I have a love/ hate relationship with memorization. I admit it!  I will not let my clients memorize their script completely (unless a producer has asked them to do so, of course!) because it can ruin spontaneity and get them into trouble.  HOWEVER,  I do realize that key points are sometimes hard to remember under stress, and for that, I recommend using any tool possible to remember.  I am also a BIG fan of keeping the brain healthy, too, so when I came across this article I had to share it.  I totally used the tip here about reading and then going to sleep! It’s how I learned all those lines for my Soap Opera roles!  It works!

Memorization is the practice of using specific techniques to learn new information and store it permanently in your long term memory. Done correctly, memorization can mean that an individual can recall information learnt years previously.

A bad memory is usually the result of poor memorization techniques. Once mastered, anyone can and is able to massively increase their potential to learn. It is not just the ability to learn that is important. Memorization also helps to improve the health of your brain.

This may seem strange, but in actual fact, it makes perfect sense. Your brain is like a sponge. The more you learn the more saturated with information it gets. But unlike a sponge which can only hold so much, your brain has the amazing ability to learn exponentially. It literally grows new neural pathways which in turn increases your brain power.

Neural pathways are the connections between the various parts of the nervous system, including the messages between the brain and the rest of the body. A healthy brain and healthy body is dependent upon strong neural pathways.

It was once thought that humans were born with a given number of brain cells and that these died and depleted over time eventually leading to a deterioration of brain function. Studies have found that this is only partially true. Learning and actively training your mind helps to rebuild the connections within the brain. This helps to delay the onset of age related memory loss.

Using memorization techniques will help to strengthen the brain and increase its capacity to learn and grow. One simple technique to use is repetition coupled with vocalization. This technique requires that you read what you are learning aloud and repeat it several times.

You may think that this is nothing special, since this is what many people do, but there are subtle differences in the way many people learn and the way that a person should learn for optimum results. For example, if you had to study a large set of notes, you would firstly need to condense your notes to the bare bones of the most important concepts and keywords.

Next, you would organize your material so that it was in point form – in other words in short sentences that you can understand and which make sense. You would then read aloud the first sentence and repeat with your eyes closed. Repeat the process and then move onto the next sentence.

When you get to the second sentence, you start with your first sentence again and then the second sentence and learn it in the same manner. Repeat through your list of points so that each time you learn a new point, it involves re-iterating loudly all the points before it and also again with the eyes closed.

Because memories are fragile, you need to consolidate what you have learnt and store it immediately. The best way to do this is to take a nap. Napping is the best way for your mind to sort through the information learnt and store it in your long term memory. You should find that once you wake up, you will find recall easy, regardless of how many notes you have learnt.

Any studying and memorization which is followed with a nap helps you to store the information and keep it there. This practice alone will help to expand your mind and help you achieve a perfect brain.

For more information on brain training and how to develop a perfect brain, please visit http://www.perfect-brain.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arfa_Saira_Iqbal

My presentation was so good in the bathroom…what happened?

It’s an old actor’s comment after flubbing an audition, “I was so good in the bathroom at home…”

Has that happened to you?  You felt prepared, your research was done, your key points were solid in your brain, and you did your relaxation exercises; so, why in the world did your confidence drop in mid-speech?

I know that feeling, too, and in that moment you might as well be standing there naked as a jaybird because the embarrassment and vulnerability that just washed over you like a tsunami feels like it could take you down right then and there.  In fact, you might wish it to happen! Then you could be dramatically carried off stage by a strong handsome man who will be your future husband….

But no.  It’s just you.

You carry yourself  off to a corner and wonder what went wrong.

Let’s look at a few reasons for Vanishing Confidence Syndrome:

First, I invite you to look at the situation as though your confidence never left you, but something else temporarily blocked it.  Like a thin wall, we can knock down the blockade; we just need to address its origin.  So:

1. Did you memorize too much? Knowing your key points is fine, and you can even have a cheat card in your hand in many cases to be sure that you hit them.  Memorizing full sentences, though, and tag lines might be a recipe for disaster.  The problem is that once you “lose your place” in your memorized script, you can be off-kilter immediately.  It’s often hard to recover.
2. Do you not trust yourself? Often I see experts that can rattle off information and factual statistics like crazy in a one-on-one conversation, but once the cameras are on, they hesitate and second-guess themselves.  There could be a deep-rooted childhood experience that can cause this… perhaps a fear of reliving a bad public experience.  Seeing a professional coach, or even a psychologist could be the key to freedom if that is the case.  Once that old “story” is proved false in the now, you are free!
3. Are you being a perfectionist? Sometimes this goes hand-in-hand with the situation above; do you find it hard to forgive yourself if you forget a point or stutter a bit?  It helps to understand that to err is human, and to be perfect is, well, not possible.  God is perfection, and last I checked He didn’t ask you or me to substitute for Him because we don’t qualify for the job.  Give yourself a break, and realize that it is actually refreshing to see a speaker be authentic: So say, “I’m sorry, I could you repeat the question?” or “I can’t recall that number right now, but I’d love to get back to you in a bit!”

Most importantly, if you had a moment where your confidence left you high and dry, know that it does not have to happen again.  The next experience could be the best one yet.  The one after that fantastic, too!

How to entertain an audience in a time of personal turmoil

Have you ever been hit by an emotional boulder? Maybe you just got a disturbing phone call from a family member, had a fight with your significant other or a business emergency that shakes your emotional foundation like a southern California earthquake.  You need some time to process and recover, right? 

What happens if you don’t have the luxury of time?

You are required to speak in front of an audience in moments; they have expectations, and you have turmoil. The countdown to your presentation is on, what do you do?

Consider this your media emergency preparedness kit.  I utilized these three steps myself recently, and I consider it a responsibility to share them.  Realistically, at some point, we will each have to speak, present or participate in an interview when we feel like it the least.  Having a method of quick emotional reset can save your opportunity and keep your bad day from going over the cliff completely.

Call your support. Immediately, make a phone call. Be it a trusted friend mentor or coach, make sure that this is a supportive, positive person in your life.  If the first person you call is not available, do not put the phone down!  Call another, instantly.  You are pulling yourself out of the emotional waters right now, and you just need a hand to get into the boat… call until you find the available hand. You are not calling to vent or open the floodgates (you may already be at that emotional point); you are calling to get consolation and encouragement in the moment. Have them tell you that you can handle this situation after your presentation. 

 Do it for them. Mindset change…it’s about them, not you. You are there to serve this audience… it may be a live audience, a boardroom or a television audience, but you have been called to this opportunity to serve in some way. You have an obligation to share your message and better the lives of others.  By focusing on giving instead what is happening to you, you will find that you have a better handle on the moment at hand.

Make an appointment to feel bad later.   Remember how you could continue to play once the Snoopy Band Aid was applied to your scraped knee?  It hurt less, but it still needed to be treated properly and given time to heal.  The steps above are like the temporary bandage and are not meant to eliminate or diminish the value of the proper handling of an emotional issue.  Make an appointment with yourself after the presentation to allow time to deal with the offending situation in a healthy way.   This is your mental health and this appointment is very important!

  You can still make good on a bad day!

Dr. Jordan Schaul from Zoo Peeps is a special guest blogger this week.  Please read below as he discusses people skills for animal people!

I believe Animal Keepers’ Forum, the publication of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, still publishes a column that has drawn much acclaim from the AAZK membership and perhaps a broader demographic of animal/zoo professionals. People forget that that having an innate animal sense is important, but it actually takes a lot of skill to harness the emotional intelligence to cultivate relationships and read people. So I’m sometime suspicious of people who say they have great animal sense they just don’t have use for people. I assure you that individuals with “people skills” are not fond of many folks’ they encounter, but they work or finesse the moment with impressive “People Savvy.”  I’m not talking about politicos, just those with polished interpersonal skills. Remember, these individuals are likely to have a lot of patience for difficult animals, if they have patience for difficult people.  I mean, what would you rather deal with first thing in the morning?

I don’t know that the following topic has ever been addressed, but one thing that I always found interesting is that some keepers at facilities in temperate climates are eager for summer to pass because they just prefer the peace and quiet of life behind- the- scenes with their animals and nothing more.  I was told that I was an exception in that I looked forward to summer. I like the bustling activity that the patrons provide, even if they are pointing at the restroom while asking me where it is.  To me the zoo is about educating the visitors or at least providing exposure.  Of course, I like the animal interaction, but I couldn’t imagine working at an off-exhibit facility for extended periods of time. I’ve done it and to me it feels as though it is missing a critical component.

The ironic thing is that some of the keepers with the gift for gab who are naturally poised for public interaction avoid it like the plague and others who could benefit from some training are eager to jump in and host an Animal Planet production. I’ve seen keepers give informal and impromptu “Meet the Keeper” talks that would give Jeff Corwin a lot of competition, not that I follow him much.  Keepers are the conduit between the animal ambassadors 10 meters away and general public. They know the individual animal, but can speak to the conservation issues and natural history. No one is more poised to engaged an audience. It’s what makes the zoo experience so special. Web cams and TV programs can’t replace that authentic experience. Even a naturalist familiar with the habits of individual wild animals is not in a position to convey the personal experience with these magnificent animals that keepers are so fortunate to have.   Hopefully more people will remember how poised they are to impact so many people. It takes 10 minutes out of your day to leave a lasting impression on zoo visitors who collectively can make a big difference.

Dr. Jordan Schaul, Zoo Keeper Emeritus

No matter what your area of expertise, do you find that the same few questions are always asked?  I think we all do, and today, I am going to touch on just three of the most common questions that I am asked when I work with people who are preparing their message for the stage or for TV; they just might be what you need to know!

 So, here ya go!

Q:” I get so nervous before I go on stage, how can I deal with that?”

Knocking knees, butterflies and increasing self-doubt… so not fun!   I know for me, years ago, what I felt was closer to terror! Well, as uncomfortable and disconcerting as it is, a certain degree of nervousness is a good thing.  It is proof that what you are doing matters to you!  First thing to do is trust that the energy running through your limbs and into your belly can be controlled and harnessed to better your focus and help you shine out there. I undermined myself completely in the beginning by panicking the moment I felt my knees get weak, my heart would start to pound, and it got progressively worse from there. My body was reacting primitively to the message I was sending … it was the old fight or flight response that served our early ancestors but, it was inappropriate for that moment. Was there a true possibility of me dying out there? Was my life going to be in danger? No! 

What I learned to do was appreciate the first signs of nervous excitement because you know it’s going to be there! And be grateful for it. “Hello, Nervousness. I expected you!  Let’s get going…” Take that energy with you and do something good with it.  Know that energy is going to feed into your audience and your excitement will be infectious! 

So, you see, it’s a mindset change from the very start. That feeling of jitters is not the beginning of your demise; it is the start of something great!

Q:  “I worry that I will forget what I need to say!”

Nothing wrong with taking some key points on index cards with you.  Small cards are not going to pull away any focus like a paper would nor will they make any noise when they are shuffled.  It is a learned skill to be able to glance at the information on the cards and not keep your eyes diverted for too long a period of time.  You don’t want to lose the connection with your host or your audience.  It is better to give yourself piece of mind and get all your key points addressed than to be preoccupied with worry.  If cards help you to be more in the moment, then go for it.  If this is a topic you will discuss time and time again, you will eventually be able to go without those cards, but give yourself a break and use them until you feel comfortable without them.

Q:  “What if I don’t have an answer to a question that is asked of me?”

 Always admit that you do not have the answer… never fudge it.  Nothing is worth running your reputation and trust.  Simply say something like, “I don’t feel comfortable giving you those facts, until I check on them.  I would like the chance to get back too you on that.”  It’s always best to show respect for the question, even if you don’t have the answer on hand.  Another way to handle it is to ask another clarifying question: “ I am curious as to why you would ask that… what is it you really want to know about that subject?”  You may find that you really can handle the question once it is more specific.

Most importantly, be yourself, have fun and enjoy every moment!

Many people have been have been inspired by the buzz about a very recognizable TV producer’s search for the next big TV show host! If this sounds familiar, you already know I am talking about Oprah. Whether you are going for Oprah’s contest, or you have your sights set on other networks that would be more appropriate to you than Oprah’s OWN network, shooting that pitch video is a great idea. But it can be tricky!

There are a few essential things that you should know; some of these things are insider realities from the casting perspective. I’ve been on that side, looking for star talent that will blow my project out of the water, and I can tell you the brutal realities of what it’s like in that seat! So many things can make or break your video pitch:

One of the basic tips I can share is this…

Put your best stuff up front.

This comes from that casting office perspective that I mentioned earlier. Just like any presentation, consider your audience first. In this case, the “audience” is a busy casting office, and, specifically, a poor chap who has been sitting in font of his monitor watching hundreds of faces talking at him for many hours.

Casting reality check: Producers like Oprah don’t sit through all the submission; all videos are screened and only the most promising make it to the producer at all!

The folks at the casting office want you to be great, but they need you to be great fast. Imagine how long it would take if they actually watched every video all the way through? It doesn’t happen, so don’t try to be “artsy” or “different” and put your best stuff at the 2 minutes-and-thirty second mark…it will not get seen.

Take your first 20 seconds and fill them with energy, ideas and whatever makes you different! Show that passion, and show the possibilities for many years of programming! Remember, your idea needs to be long-lasting, and if it can reach other countries, so much better! Think big picture.

Don’t forget to show your personality and humor; producers want your show to last for a long time, but they are human, too, and would prefer to work with someone they like!