Sunday, June 14, 2009
Seven gemstones for success
When you set a goal, no matter how difficult it seems to accomplish, don't be afraid to take the risk. In life, some sacrifices are worth the challenge. So, stop making excuses. Life is too short to miss out on reaching for your goals and realizing dreams do come true. With a little effort and a little time on your part make a commitment to go for it!
If your goals and your dreams are good ones a plan is required to make them real. Develop a time plan or a target. For instance, when you know the end result you wish to accomplish, you might list several mini targets to work on first.
Your initial target plan might look like this:
If you wish to lose 20 k.gs, set up a weekly schedule. The first week you might start a daily exercise program. Second week- start cutting back on sugar and sweets. Third week - try and lowering your daily intake of calories, and so on until your goal weight is achieved.
If you wish to take a trip abroad (or wherever), or if you desire to expand your business, the strategy would be similar. You may need to set up a weekly or monthly schedule to put a sum away toward the cost of the trip or the cost needed to purchase more space and more equipment for the business. You could cut back on your spending and put the savings aside, or take on an extra paying project until you reach your required goal. When you've accumulated sufficient funds for the trip or the down payment on the larger business space and more equipment, you can plan your next target.
So that you may have a richer, fuller, more rewarding life, putting a system together to target your success and make your dreams a reality may include the following seven gems:
1. Set reasonable goals and target dates. Day to day living makes a lot of demands on you - your time, your physical and emotional energy, and your responsibilities. Do not set yourself up for defeat. Master one goal at a time and do not expect instant gratification. With the onset of the microwave, and then along comes the computer and the internet both giving ways to shortcut everything you do, trying to stay focused isn't always easy.
2. Be the master of your thoughts. Dream big. A small goal takes just as much time and effort as a giant one. Think your goal through and keep a record of your ideas and a time schedule of what needs to be done and when. Seek help where needed.
3.Choose goals that you are passionate about. Motivation and inspiration are powerful forces that keep you moving toward your goals. Positive attitudes are also helpful. And of course, never forget your faith and the knowledge that a higher power is available to help you reach your goal. Remember: Nothing is easy, and everything takes time - lots of it. So, be patient -it eliminates the stress.
4.Stay healthy and practice taking care of yourself - first. When you aren't feeling well, everyone around you is affected -your family, your friends and associates, and your business clients. Try to stay flexible and allow enough time to work on any project so you won't have to rush. The old saying: "Haste makes waste," is often true and may even cause a serious accident. And if you are a sole proprietor, when illness or accidents happen, this could mean a devastating loss of business income.
5.Don't be afraid to take risks. Fear is an internal blockage that you impose on your thoughts. It is a way of making excuses for not dealing directly with your anxiety. Or, you may not wish to face the outcome. What if it doesn't work out? Instead, replace your thoughts of fear with your own source of strength and let your inner support system guide you.
6.Keep a list of your qualities and values. What do you consider to be your most valuable asset? Do you know which of your qualities you need to make stronger? Make a list of those qualities and values that you think are the best you, those that make you feel most secure, and give you your highest self-esteem. Some of these may include: self-confidence, a forgiving nature, courage, being a good listener, trustworthy and honest, and a willingness to inspire others.
7. Keep your emotions under control. A peaceful attitude and an awareness of your surroundings go hand in hand with prosperity and success. When you are peaceful, your thoughts and actions come from a wide-awake place that is free of fear and confusion. You will see more clearly and act quickly. When you are at peace within yourself, you attract all that is good. You are more likely to bring success, happiness and prosperity to you. When you feel rich, you attract riches. And when you feel successful, you become successful.
Make it your goal to attract the best of gems to reach your success and prosperity!
Self Development
Have you ever taken a long, hard look at your life and felt depressed when you thought about things that it lacked? Chances are, you have. No one has a perfect life. There are countless and constant ways in which a person can improve. Self-improvement motivation comes from a place inside each of us that desires to be a better person. There are several elements that are considered part of self-improvement motivation.
Among the most popular are:
-Appearance improvement
-Intellectual improvement
-Financial improvement
Dress to impress:
Appearance improvement is one of the most popular types of self-improvement motivation. For many people, there is always a pound to be lost, a gray hair to be covered up, or new clothing to be purchased. Other people get extremely obsessive about appearance improvement, paying thousands of dollars for nose jobs, liposuction, collagen implants, hair replacement, or other such procedures. Because of the media and the influence of Bollywood and Hollywood stars, people who are young, old, male, and female have become appearance improvement crazy. These are the often the same people who feel that appearance is all that matters in life.
Self-improvement motivation by the books:
Intellectual motivation is another key element of self-improvement motivation. The desire to become more educated or gain more knowledge on a subject drives many minds. Well-informed people are often perceived as powerful people. After all, knowledge is power.
Today, it is no surprise that more and more middle-aged adults are going back to school to get their bachelor's or master's degrees. This desire to get more education often stems from the fact that most companies are interested with employees who know how to use the latest and greatest software and computer programs. Companies are also interested in employees that have an up-to-date education. Many companies, especially larger ones, will pay for employees to go back to school or be trained for a specific job.
Financial improvement:
Another important element of self-improvement motivation is financial motivation. In reality, most people desire to have more money than they have at the present time. Perhaps a person wants to purchase a home, car, or an education. Perhaps someone needs to pay medical bills or legal fees, or raise a child. Finances are key to surviving in today's world. Financial self-improvement motivation often comes in the form of taking on a second or third job, investing in stocks or bonds, or learning how to save money wisely. Financial self-improvement motivation may also include asking a current employer for a promotion or a raise.
Overall, anything that motivates and in turn improves the physical, material, or mental part of a person is a form of self-improvement motivation. No one is perfect, but many of us can try to get as close as we can.
Among the most popular are:
-Appearance improvement
-Intellectual improvement
-Financial improvement
Dress to impress:
Appearance improvement is one of the most popular types of self-improvement motivation. For many people, there is always a pound to be lost, a gray hair to be covered up, or new clothing to be purchased. Other people get extremely obsessive about appearance improvement, paying thousands of dollars for nose jobs, liposuction, collagen implants, hair replacement, or other such procedures. Because of the media and the influence of Bollywood and Hollywood stars, people who are young, old, male, and female have become appearance improvement crazy. These are the often the same people who feel that appearance is all that matters in life.
Self-improvement motivation by the books:
Intellectual motivation is another key element of self-improvement motivation. The desire to become more educated or gain more knowledge on a subject drives many minds. Well-informed people are often perceived as powerful people. After all, knowledge is power.
Today, it is no surprise that more and more middle-aged adults are going back to school to get their bachelor's or master's degrees. This desire to get more education often stems from the fact that most companies are interested with employees who know how to use the latest and greatest software and computer programs. Companies are also interested in employees that have an up-to-date education. Many companies, especially larger ones, will pay for employees to go back to school or be trained for a specific job.
Financial improvement:
Another important element of self-improvement motivation is financial motivation. In reality, most people desire to have more money than they have at the present time. Perhaps a person wants to purchase a home, car, or an education. Perhaps someone needs to pay medical bills or legal fees, or raise a child. Finances are key to surviving in today's world. Financial self-improvement motivation often comes in the form of taking on a second or third job, investing in stocks or bonds, or learning how to save money wisely. Financial self-improvement motivation may also include asking a current employer for a promotion or a raise.
Overall, anything that motivates and in turn improves the physical, material, or mental part of a person is a form of self-improvement motivation. No one is perfect, but many of us can try to get as close as we can.
Tips on Time Management
If you find yourself doing a lot of unnecessary overtime or bringing work home more often, then it’s about time you change this routine. There are better ways to manage your time and reduce your stress - ways that don’t involve drinking a lots of coffee and pulling out your hair in frustration.
Since you’re already neck deep with work, I won’t waste your time with pages of time management theories. In fact, I’ve limited myself to 5 simple ways to better manage your time and reduce your stress!
1. Avoid multi-tasking.
I know multi-tasking can appear to save you a lot of time, but that technique could backfire. A lot of people start out with multiple projects at the same time, and end up not being able to finish half of them.
To be more efficient, it’s best to finish what you have started before moving on to the next one in your to-do-list.
2. Get it right the first time.
Nothing wastes more time than having to do something over again. If you want to manage your time and reduce your stress, you’re going to have to do the project as best as you can the first time. That way, you’ll avoid having to make needless revisions.
3. Focus on your work.
Little things like taking coffee breaks, cigarette breaks, or even chatting with the person in the next cubicle eat away at your time.
If you have a gazillion thing to do, you have to stop taking so many breaks. When these breaks all add up, you’ll be surprised at how much time you have wasted.
However, it is a good idea to take a much-needed short break to recharge yourself, but only after you have fully focused on doing a task non-stop for an allotted time.
4. Get plenty of sleep.
Don’t be so surprised. If you want to manage your time and reduce your stress, you should be taking care of yourself. Your body needs to rest, so give it decent hours of sleep.
Staying up late can contribute to grogginess at work. When you suffer from lack of sleep, it shows in the kind of output you produce. It slows you down and even the easiest tasks can take twice as long to finish.
5. Don’t check your email sporadically.
Checking your email can take up more time than you think. The best way to check your email is to appoint a specific schedule for it.
Check your email after you’ve done all other important tasks. But if you find this difficult, you can check your e-mail once in the morning, and again before you finish your workday.
These are the 5 ways you can better manage your time and reduce your stress.
Since you’re already neck deep with work, I won’t waste your time with pages of time management theories. In fact, I’ve limited myself to 5 simple ways to better manage your time and reduce your stress!
1. Avoid multi-tasking.
I know multi-tasking can appear to save you a lot of time, but that technique could backfire. A lot of people start out with multiple projects at the same time, and end up not being able to finish half of them.
To be more efficient, it’s best to finish what you have started before moving on to the next one in your to-do-list.
2. Get it right the first time.
Nothing wastes more time than having to do something over again. If you want to manage your time and reduce your stress, you’re going to have to do the project as best as you can the first time. That way, you’ll avoid having to make needless revisions.
3. Focus on your work.
Little things like taking coffee breaks, cigarette breaks, or even chatting with the person in the next cubicle eat away at your time.
If you have a gazillion thing to do, you have to stop taking so many breaks. When these breaks all add up, you’ll be surprised at how much time you have wasted.
However, it is a good idea to take a much-needed short break to recharge yourself, but only after you have fully focused on doing a task non-stop for an allotted time.
4. Get plenty of sleep.
Don’t be so surprised. If you want to manage your time and reduce your stress, you should be taking care of yourself. Your body needs to rest, so give it decent hours of sleep.
Staying up late can contribute to grogginess at work. When you suffer from lack of sleep, it shows in the kind of output you produce. It slows you down and even the easiest tasks can take twice as long to finish.
5. Don’t check your email sporadically.
Checking your email can take up more time than you think. The best way to check your email is to appoint a specific schedule for it.
Check your email after you’ve done all other important tasks. But if you find this difficult, you can check your e-mail once in the morning, and again before you finish your workday.
These are the 5 ways you can better manage your time and reduce your stress.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Discipline
When we sacrifice self to self, our on personal growth can soar. By moving out of our comfort zone and releasing the old self (along with all the baggage that comes with it) and exchanging it for a self that is newer and better, we can grow and reach beyond what we currently are. It may be difficult at first to move out of the familiar of whom and what we are. The old self is familiar, safe and fairly easy to maintain.
Change can be exhilarating. It carries us beyond our boundaries and challenges us to explore the unfamiliar. It forces us to put aside well worn habits and put forth the effort and sacrifice that old security blanket - whatever it may be. It may be a comfort to stick with the familiar, the status quo, but these things can put you in a rut and bar you from achieving the most that you can.
Our primal instincts lead us to satisfy the desires of body and mind. It is very seldom that we extend ourselves beyond the most basic of desires and satisfactions. Yet, when we are stuck in this hedonistic, limited perception, selfishly refusing to sacrifice, our growth is stunted.
To wallow in that rut is to experience a figurative death. Likewise, death of self can mean a new beginning. The changes may demand things that you are not yet ready to give, or you may feel as if you are treading water, going nowhere and you embrace the change, ready to grow.
To affect a change in your life, you must die daily. In other words, sacrifice your immediate wants and you will affect a future result or metamorphosis. Like the caterpillar that sacrifices time in the sun to slip into a cocoon so that it can later emerge as a beautiful butterfly, when you sacrifice your self to your self, you too will reemerge into the sunlight transformed. This can also be of benefit to others as well. When you surrender yourself completely you will find your true self.
Personal growth is about a process of giving and receiving. Giving is a virtue. You know that it is better to give than to receive, but for many people receiving is just so much more fun. Receiving is good and necessary. In order for exchange to take place, both actions must be present. One can not take place without the other.
This is the law of compensation; if you give, you get. We do not live in a vacuum. Our actions will always bring results of one kind or another, regardless of whether we realize it or not. It is up to us to guide the result to benefit ourselves and others.
Try not to feel frustrated when you are trying to make changes to improve yourself. Any efforts that you make, regardless of the outcome, are not wasted. Even your failures can be great learning experiences. You are building a store of experience that will serve you well as you continue to grow.
Once you set your goal, know that the little things that you do on your way to achieving that goal are as important as the big things that you do. Each step, even when you feel that you take a few step back, will aid you in achieving what you want. Fulfillment will happen through persistence. If you give up or fall back, just gather your wits and begin again.
Perhaps there is something that you want to do or obtain. Set you goal and go for it. You have likely thought about it, thought how to obtain it and the steps you will need to make it happen. Take the next step and write your goal on paper to aid your focus and bring it to life. Post it in an area where you will see it each day.
Write your goal at the top of a sheet of paper and draw a large red arrow pointing up to the goal. Along the arrow, write things you can do to work toward achieving your goal and what actions you can take to move things along.
This paper, your action plan, should be under constant review and revision. It has one direction and one intention which is your goal, but the details may change. Add information as it comes to you and revise your path as you go along. Each step in your path will change you and as you change, your steps will change as well.
Your new self is the one who has attained the goal. Your old self may try to lay barriers in your way as you try to break away from old habits, but it is imperative that you sacrifice your old self by being disciplined. Sacrifices require discipline. Personal growth requires sacrifices.
Sometimes discipline may mean crawling before you walk. With most goals, the process is as important as the end. In order to fully appreciate the achievement of the goal, you must go through the processes to get there. You must be patient. If you are anxious and impatient, you are not exhibiting discipline. Put forth the effort a little at a time and keep your focus on your goal.
You should also refrain about getting angry over the bumps and obstacles that you experience on the path to your goal. Anger is unproductive for the most part, it takes energy that should be channeled in more productive ways and wastes it. Turn that energy into something productive and channel it toward your goal.
Discipline and sacrifice are the keys to personal growth. When you have this powerful combination, you can achieve the things that you want; the sky is the limit.
Change can be exhilarating. It carries us beyond our boundaries and challenges us to explore the unfamiliar. It forces us to put aside well worn habits and put forth the effort and sacrifice that old security blanket - whatever it may be. It may be a comfort to stick with the familiar, the status quo, but these things can put you in a rut and bar you from achieving the most that you can.
Our primal instincts lead us to satisfy the desires of body and mind. It is very seldom that we extend ourselves beyond the most basic of desires and satisfactions. Yet, when we are stuck in this hedonistic, limited perception, selfishly refusing to sacrifice, our growth is stunted.
To wallow in that rut is to experience a figurative death. Likewise, death of self can mean a new beginning. The changes may demand things that you are not yet ready to give, or you may feel as if you are treading water, going nowhere and you embrace the change, ready to grow.
To affect a change in your life, you must die daily. In other words, sacrifice your immediate wants and you will affect a future result or metamorphosis. Like the caterpillar that sacrifices time in the sun to slip into a cocoon so that it can later emerge as a beautiful butterfly, when you sacrifice your self to your self, you too will reemerge into the sunlight transformed. This can also be of benefit to others as well. When you surrender yourself completely you will find your true self.
Personal growth is about a process of giving and receiving. Giving is a virtue. You know that it is better to give than to receive, but for many people receiving is just so much more fun. Receiving is good and necessary. In order for exchange to take place, both actions must be present. One can not take place without the other.
This is the law of compensation; if you give, you get. We do not live in a vacuum. Our actions will always bring results of one kind or another, regardless of whether we realize it or not. It is up to us to guide the result to benefit ourselves and others.
Try not to feel frustrated when you are trying to make changes to improve yourself. Any efforts that you make, regardless of the outcome, are not wasted. Even your failures can be great learning experiences. You are building a store of experience that will serve you well as you continue to grow.
Once you set your goal, know that the little things that you do on your way to achieving that goal are as important as the big things that you do. Each step, even when you feel that you take a few step back, will aid you in achieving what you want. Fulfillment will happen through persistence. If you give up or fall back, just gather your wits and begin again.
Perhaps there is something that you want to do or obtain. Set you goal and go for it. You have likely thought about it, thought how to obtain it and the steps you will need to make it happen. Take the next step and write your goal on paper to aid your focus and bring it to life. Post it in an area where you will see it each day.
Write your goal at the top of a sheet of paper and draw a large red arrow pointing up to the goal. Along the arrow, write things you can do to work toward achieving your goal and what actions you can take to move things along.
This paper, your action plan, should be under constant review and revision. It has one direction and one intention which is your goal, but the details may change. Add information as it comes to you and revise your path as you go along. Each step in your path will change you and as you change, your steps will change as well.
Your new self is the one who has attained the goal. Your old self may try to lay barriers in your way as you try to break away from old habits, but it is imperative that you sacrifice your old self by being disciplined. Sacrifices require discipline. Personal growth requires sacrifices.
Sometimes discipline may mean crawling before you walk. With most goals, the process is as important as the end. In order to fully appreciate the achievement of the goal, you must go through the processes to get there. You must be patient. If you are anxious and impatient, you are not exhibiting discipline. Put forth the effort a little at a time and keep your focus on your goal.
You should also refrain about getting angry over the bumps and obstacles that you experience on the path to your goal. Anger is unproductive for the most part, it takes energy that should be channeled in more productive ways and wastes it. Turn that energy into something productive and channel it toward your goal.
Discipline and sacrifice are the keys to personal growth. When you have this powerful combination, you can achieve the things that you want; the sky is the limit.
Communication
We all want to be heard. The problem is that few of us want to hear the other person. Listening is a skill that is well worth learning. No matter who you're talking with, you will gain a lot more ground if you interact instead of react. Here are a few tips that are bound to improve communication between you and your spouse, boss or kids:
1. Let the other guy finish his sentence. Like your Mamma told you, interrupting is rude. A friend of my father's used to watch the other person's lips. The second they stopped moving, he would start talking, whether he knew what had been said or not. If you are inclined to interrupt, close your eyes when someone else is talking. When you aren't looking, your ears will tell you when it is your turn to speak.
2. Think before you respond. What did the other person say? Did they sound stressed? Did they sound happy? Did they make sense? Are you sure what they meant, or are you puzzled?
3. Ask questions. I don't mean "what the heck did you mean by that?" I am suggesting questions like, "Are you saying you get upset when I ...?" Listen to their response before you continue. Put yourself in their shoes. Would you be annoyed or upset if they did whatever it was to you? Even if you don't feel you did it, the fact that they thought you did is enough to ask yourself if that was how your action or words might have seemed.
4. Concentrate on what the other person means. Some people aren't as articulate as others. They express themselves awkwardly, and may sound annoyed or angry when they are just frustrated because they can't find the words they want. If you listen patiently, they will be better able to form their thoughts then if you interrupt and make it clear that you are in too big of a hurry to try to understand their meaning.
5. Stay calm. If you get mad too, you're not solving any problems. The other person is angry and carrying on like their tail is caught in a trap. Why stick your own tail in. If you stay calm, maybe the other person will settle down too. If he / she doesn't, politely suggest that you discuss it at another time. Don't say "when you calm down", just ask "can we talk about this later?" Remember, you are trying to keep the conversation from becoming a confrontation. You are trying to solve the problem, not just prove that you are right
Persuasion Techniques
Persuasion techniques are effective weapons of communication. They allow you to get what you want whenever you want without having to use force. A lot of successful people have gotten to where they are because they knew how to use persuasion techniques to their advantage.
I’m sure you wouldn’t want to miss out on similar opportunities. Below are some persuasion tactics that will suit almost any situation.
1) Be their hero.
The very foundation of persuasion techniques lies in the person doing the talking. If you don’t have any self-confidence, you’re not going to get very far. You might garner a pity vote or two, but that’s not what you want to happen.
To be persuasive, you have to be their hero, their knight in shining armor. You must not falter in your quest because one wrong move can send you spiraling back to zero. So trust in yourself and your skills. Hone them with every opportunity and take the time to actually practice them.
2) Level with them.
If you want to persuade somebody, you have to understand where they’re coming from. You also have to possess an intuition of how to approach certain kinds of people. This sort of intuition only gets stronger with every use of your persuasion techniques.
Along the way, you’ll learn that you can’t use facts and numbers to persuade an emotional person, because that person can’t “connect” with what you’re talking about.
Likewise, you can’t expect to persuade an “analytical” type to donate money to your cause with tears and heart-warming stories of the endangered Pandas in China. This leads me to one of the most important persuasion techniques you have to master.
3) What’s in it for them.
Whether the person you’re trying to persuade asks this out loud or not, they are most likely thinking about it. To get someone to support you, you have to tell them how your proposal will benefit them.
Not everyone will agree immediately to your request, unless you clearly indicate what’s in it for them. As the persuader, you have to be two steps ahead of the others.
You have to know what they might want to have in return. Do they want the satisfaction of a job well done or do they want clearer compensation? Be ready to offer what they really want; because unless you hold what they desire on your plate, the chances of persuasion are slim.
Using persuasion techniques varies from person to person. Others are naturally gifted with a golden tongue and can persuade anybody of anything. However, practice, perseverance and the right knowledge combined can lead to your success.
I’m sure you wouldn’t want to miss out on similar opportunities. Below are some persuasion tactics that will suit almost any situation.
1) Be their hero.
The very foundation of persuasion techniques lies in the person doing the talking. If you don’t have any self-confidence, you’re not going to get very far. You might garner a pity vote or two, but that’s not what you want to happen.
To be persuasive, you have to be their hero, their knight in shining armor. You must not falter in your quest because one wrong move can send you spiraling back to zero. So trust in yourself and your skills. Hone them with every opportunity and take the time to actually practice them.
2) Level with them.
If you want to persuade somebody, you have to understand where they’re coming from. You also have to possess an intuition of how to approach certain kinds of people. This sort of intuition only gets stronger with every use of your persuasion techniques.
Along the way, you’ll learn that you can’t use facts and numbers to persuade an emotional person, because that person can’t “connect” with what you’re talking about.
Likewise, you can’t expect to persuade an “analytical” type to donate money to your cause with tears and heart-warming stories of the endangered Pandas in China. This leads me to one of the most important persuasion techniques you have to master.
3) What’s in it for them.
Whether the person you’re trying to persuade asks this out loud or not, they are most likely thinking about it. To get someone to support you, you have to tell them how your proposal will benefit them.
Not everyone will agree immediately to your request, unless you clearly indicate what’s in it for them. As the persuader, you have to be two steps ahead of the others.
You have to know what they might want to have in return. Do they want the satisfaction of a job well done or do they want clearer compensation? Be ready to offer what they really want; because unless you hold what they desire on your plate, the chances of persuasion are slim.
Using persuasion techniques varies from person to person. Others are naturally gifted with a golden tongue and can persuade anybody of anything. However, practice, perseverance and the right knowledge combined can lead to your success.
Tips on " Good Speech"
Be nervous
It is not the fear of public speaking but fear of either not knowing your words or being found out that you don't know. A little nervousness forces us to prepare and become alert.
Have anecdotes
If you have anecdotes the delivery can be taken care of, a story, an incident ….. having a beginning, a middle and an ending is a great way to make a point and keep the audience clued in.
Speak your speech
Do not read the speech. It insults the audience and makes it boring and monotonous. Jot down the main points and connect with the audience. The speech should appear spontaneous.
Make a phrase or one-liners, which an audience will remember
This will be the take away for the audience. They might forget the speech but will always remember these one liners. Remember what you remember about the Nehru independence speech -'The India awakes when the whole world sleeps…." Or Kennedy's speech ask not what the country has done for you but what you can do for your country…..
Write your own introductions -
So that you can start your speech right away instead of correcting your introduction which might be incorrect or not updated. You can also set the mood in the beginning.
Lower the expectation with your humility
Act like the person next door. With your humility or self depreciating humour lower the audience expectation. This will ensure that the audience will not get disappointed and expect you to make an earth shattering speech.
Get serious
A speech cannot be only based on style. Style is important but so is the content. Do not make a mistake of ignoring the content and only concentrating on style or vice versa . The audience needs to be charmed but the objective of the speech should not be forgotten.
Conclude the speech
End the speech at the right time. While concluding speakers have the tendency to ramble and be repetitive. Audience sense the ending of the speech and if the speaker is going on and on while concluding, it makes them restless.
And The usual ones
Rehearse
You need to work hard and put in a lot of effort to be perceived as giving an effortless speech. So not only prepare the content but also rehearse it. repeatedly and get feedback from your well-wishers
Connect with your audience
In the start of the speech connect with the audience with a joke, or narrating personal experience or ask questions, this will break the barrier between you and the audience and they will get warmed up to hear about you.
Be clear of your theme
Be clear of the objective of the speech
Is it to inform, persuade, inspire or educate or Leave an important message to motivate!!
It is not the fear of public speaking but fear of either not knowing your words or being found out that you don't know. A little nervousness forces us to prepare and become alert.
Have anecdotes
If you have anecdotes the delivery can be taken care of, a story, an incident ….. having a beginning, a middle and an ending is a great way to make a point and keep the audience clued in.
Speak your speech
Do not read the speech. It insults the audience and makes it boring and monotonous. Jot down the main points and connect with the audience. The speech should appear spontaneous.
Make a phrase or one-liners, which an audience will remember
This will be the take away for the audience. They might forget the speech but will always remember these one liners. Remember what you remember about the Nehru independence speech -'The India awakes when the whole world sleeps…." Or Kennedy's speech ask not what the country has done for you but what you can do for your country…..
Write your own introductions -
So that you can start your speech right away instead of correcting your introduction which might be incorrect or not updated. You can also set the mood in the beginning.
Lower the expectation with your humility
Act like the person next door. With your humility or self depreciating humour lower the audience expectation. This will ensure that the audience will not get disappointed and expect you to make an earth shattering speech.
Get serious
A speech cannot be only based on style. Style is important but so is the content. Do not make a mistake of ignoring the content and only concentrating on style or vice versa . The audience needs to be charmed but the objective of the speech should not be forgotten.
Conclude the speech
End the speech at the right time. While concluding speakers have the tendency to ramble and be repetitive. Audience sense the ending of the speech and if the speaker is going on and on while concluding, it makes them restless.
And The usual ones
Rehearse
You need to work hard and put in a lot of effort to be perceived as giving an effortless speech. So not only prepare the content but also rehearse it. repeatedly and get feedback from your well-wishers
Connect with your audience
In the start of the speech connect with the audience with a joke, or narrating personal experience or ask questions, this will break the barrier between you and the audience and they will get warmed up to hear about you.
Be clear of your theme
Be clear of the objective of the speech
Is it to inform, persuade, inspire or educate or Leave an important message to motivate!!
Motivate yourself
1. Take time everyday to do something for yourself. This is so fundamental. Many people go through their day giving of themselves to other people, their job etc. and don't have time for themselves. Even if you give yourself 15 minutes, that is time with yourself to reflect and focus on the most important person in your life, YOU.
2. Read or listen to personal development material. You must find time to learn about personal development to read or listen to positive and inspirational messages. You could use the 15 minutes put by for yourself to read a chapter of a book. If you drive, put in a tape or CD, this is making use of net (no extra time) time.
3. Decide what you really want to do and do it. Often we think about what we want to do and make excuses as to why we can't do it. The reality is that the time we have taken to think up excuses as to why we can't do something, we could have done it. What have you been putting off doing? Take this opportunity to do it, clear out the clutter. Once you have done it there is space in your mind to think about other things.
4. Do not be afraid of making a mistake. You will only achieve success from doing. In history many brilliant ideas have come about because of a mistake. Don't let fear of failure stop you from doing what you want.
5. Do not put off making a decision because you are afraid it may be the wrong one. Nothing is gained by sitting on the fence. So the sooner you make a decision, even if it is the wrong one, the sooner you can make the right one. Practice being decisive.
6. Keep a journal recording your thoughts, ideas, feelings and personal growth. Keeping a journal is a great way of measuring your progress. Looking back at your journey. It is also a great source of material for any projects you hope to do in the future. If one of your dreams is to write a book, why not start with jotting down ideas in a journal.
7. Be flexible and willing to change your approach if things are not working. Sometimes when you set your mind to do something, with a set plan, things don't always go smoothly. Remember that as long as you are clear about your destination, you can always change your route, it may take you longer, but as long as you get there in the end.
8. Visualize your goals on a daily basis. Better still put up pictures of your goals so that you can see them on waking up and going to bed. Our minds respond better to pictures than words.
9. Get yourself and elastic band and put it around your wrist. Make sure it fits loosely. Every time you find yourself thinking a negative thought pull the elastic band and let go so that it snaps back onto your wrist. Yes, it will hurt. That is the whole idea. Keep this up for the next 30 days and notice what happens.
10. Celebrate your achievements. Award yourself for any progress that you make because you deserve it.
2. Read or listen to personal development material. You must find time to learn about personal development to read or listen to positive and inspirational messages. You could use the 15 minutes put by for yourself to read a chapter of a book. If you drive, put in a tape or CD, this is making use of net (no extra time) time.
3. Decide what you really want to do and do it. Often we think about what we want to do and make excuses as to why we can't do it. The reality is that the time we have taken to think up excuses as to why we can't do something, we could have done it. What have you been putting off doing? Take this opportunity to do it, clear out the clutter. Once you have done it there is space in your mind to think about other things.
4. Do not be afraid of making a mistake. You will only achieve success from doing. In history many brilliant ideas have come about because of a mistake. Don't let fear of failure stop you from doing what you want.
5. Do not put off making a decision because you are afraid it may be the wrong one. Nothing is gained by sitting on the fence. So the sooner you make a decision, even if it is the wrong one, the sooner you can make the right one. Practice being decisive.
6. Keep a journal recording your thoughts, ideas, feelings and personal growth. Keeping a journal is a great way of measuring your progress. Looking back at your journey. It is also a great source of material for any projects you hope to do in the future. If one of your dreams is to write a book, why not start with jotting down ideas in a journal.
7. Be flexible and willing to change your approach if things are not working. Sometimes when you set your mind to do something, with a set plan, things don't always go smoothly. Remember that as long as you are clear about your destination, you can always change your route, it may take you longer, but as long as you get there in the end.
8. Visualize your goals on a daily basis. Better still put up pictures of your goals so that you can see them on waking up and going to bed. Our minds respond better to pictures than words.
9. Get yourself and elastic band and put it around your wrist. Make sure it fits loosely. Every time you find yourself thinking a negative thought pull the elastic band and let go so that it snaps back onto your wrist. Yes, it will hurt. That is the whole idea. Keep this up for the next 30 days and notice what happens.
10. Celebrate your achievements. Award yourself for any progress that you make because you deserve it.
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