I love people! I can be in a mall or at the beach, on a dinner cruise or in a casino, and I will strike up a conversation with a total stranger. Of course, in my view, there are no strangers only friends I have yet to meet.
While I make no claims on being the life of any party, it is a safe bet that my personality type will seek to add laughter and good feelings to any social occasion. The nature of the good feelings I will freely sow into a crowd are complimentary in nature. I can find something worth noting in everyone. It might be their physical appearance, perhaps their profession, home town, college, or favorite sports team.
Because of my affinity for my fellow humans and willingness to engage in gab, I have added significantly to my knowledge base. This has resulted in an ability to find a commonality in even the most ethnically and culturally diverse gatherings. Which brings me to the topic of coaching.
When I take on a new client who desires to improve their public speaking performance, their professional presentation skills, or to improve their spoken English language skills, they can have great confidence I have their best interests at heart. I want my clients to achieve at the highest levels in every endeavor to which they commit themselves.
The basis for my well wishes interestingly has little to do with my bottom line. Of course my success as their coach does bless me financially, and it directly affects their success in the area for which my services were retained. But more importantly, I celebrate their successes because of what it means to them, their careers, and families.
It is an amazing privilege to operate in my passion for communicating and serving people. The Coach in me relishes each opportunity to help someone maximize their potential, and live the passion in their own lives.
Fearlessly,
JD
Showing posts with label public speaking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label public speaking. Show all posts
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Now That's Living!
Ever dream about being on stage? Not everyone does. As a matter of fact if you search the internet for ‘Number One Fear’ you will find that public speaking is listed by many as THE number one fear. Even greater than the fear of death or dying!
Jerry Seinfeld famously made reference to this by quipping, “So if I’m at a funeral, I’d rather be the guy in the coffin than the guy speaking about the guy in the coffin?!” Too funny, and isn’t that crazy?! Of course it’s because facing death is not only a huge unknown but is something very difficult to imagine for most of us.
On the other hand we can all easily remember anxieties related to having to stand up in class at some point to answer a question from the teacher, or to deliver a book report, or some similar ‘public’ speaking opportunity (test? trial? humiliation?). At a private club where I was once a member, I was speaking to a lady on this topic while she and I waited for our respective parties to show up. The conversation turned to our avocations. Being paid to speak was little more than a hope for me at the time, so…
I revealed to her my vision for an amazing speaking gig. In this vision I am just off stage, waiting to be announced. The house lights are off. All is pitch black except for a single spotlight illuminating a mic stand in the center of the stage. The sound coming from the audience is like standing near a diesel locomotives at idle. The volume and constant noise tell me beyond doubt the crowd is in the tens of thousands.
Realizing the size of the crowd, a smile begins to spread across my face. Oddly, my heart rate levels out even as the adrenaline begins to ratchet up. I flex my hands and fingers, roll my head and shoulders, and then…. I hear my name and step confidently into the darkness, crossing the stage to the place where I belong – in the spotlight, mic in hand, and I’m on!
When I finished regaling my momentary acquaintance with this story, she was white as a ghost! No doubt about her number one fear!
Is being on stage, mic in hand, your dream, your passion? Discover how to make it happen, determine to elevate it to a life priority, and turn your dream into reality. Now that’s living!
Fearlessly,
JD
Jerry Seinfeld famously made reference to this by quipping, “So if I’m at a funeral, I’d rather be the guy in the coffin than the guy speaking about the guy in the coffin?!” Too funny, and isn’t that crazy?! Of course it’s because facing death is not only a huge unknown but is something very difficult to imagine for most of us.
On the other hand we can all easily remember anxieties related to having to stand up in class at some point to answer a question from the teacher, or to deliver a book report, or some similar ‘public’ speaking opportunity (test? trial? humiliation?). At a private club where I was once a member, I was speaking to a lady on this topic while she and I waited for our respective parties to show up. The conversation turned to our avocations. Being paid to speak was little more than a hope for me at the time, so…
I revealed to her my vision for an amazing speaking gig. In this vision I am just off stage, waiting to be announced. The house lights are off. All is pitch black except for a single spotlight illuminating a mic stand in the center of the stage. The sound coming from the audience is like standing near a diesel locomotives at idle. The volume and constant noise tell me beyond doubt the crowd is in the tens of thousands.
Realizing the size of the crowd, a smile begins to spread across my face. Oddly, my heart rate levels out even as the adrenaline begins to ratchet up. I flex my hands and fingers, roll my head and shoulders, and then…. I hear my name and step confidently into the darkness, crossing the stage to the place where I belong – in the spotlight, mic in hand, and I’m on!
When I finished regaling my momentary acquaintance with this story, she was white as a ghost! No doubt about her number one fear!
Is being on stage, mic in hand, your dream, your passion? Discover how to make it happen, determine to elevate it to a life priority, and turn your dream into reality. Now that’s living!
Fearlessly,
JD
Monday, April 9, 2012
Communication Apprehension Reduction Strategies...huh??
When I first saw the term of art, Communication Apprehension Reduction Strategies, my very first reaction was not, “Oh yes, must look into that. Good info.” Nor was my reaction, “Ahh, I myself have suffered from this debilitating malady.” No, my first blush comment to myself was, “Huh?” It was not an intellectual response, just an honest one.
There are many amazing and scholarly white papers, essays, lectures, and articles devoted to the topic of minimizing stage fright. Certainly there are books devoted to the subject. My goodness if you get into a discussion group with access to speakers you may come away with as many different ‘fixes’ as there are contributors!
The cautionary tale of this note has nothing to do with stage fright, however. Instead I wish to pass along a word of encouragement to any who find themselves in front of an audience for one reason or another. The encouragement came to me from my friend, Carlos Greene, who co-authored, The Family Goal Planning Guide and Workbook (www.thegoalplanner.com).
In doing an early review of what would become my first book, Embrace: Meditations from a Word of Truth (available on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com), Carlos noted that my well researched and thoughtful writing would not appeal to all of Christianity, but instead to a demographic very limited in number. The problem was my choice of words.
In my desire to be as eloquent as possible, I had committed a common mistake. Carlos rightly suggested the larger audience I sought to reach would understand what I had written, they just might not enjoy reading it. That’s a problem!
Knowing your audience is as important in speaking as it is in writing. When you can express yourself simply, and make your points easily why complicate the message? A sample of the best selling thought leaders (speakers or writers) will reveal a lack of what my Dad would have called ten-dollar words. They make their points convincingly without them.
Unless attending an audience of psychologists in a break-out session on anxiety disorders, one might never come across communication apprehension reduction strategies. But in the world where most of us live, it will not be uncommon at all to discuss stage fright or a fear of public speaking. Make your message simple and easy to adopt. In that simplicity is eloquence we can all appreciate.
Fearlessly,
JD
There are many amazing and scholarly white papers, essays, lectures, and articles devoted to the topic of minimizing stage fright. Certainly there are books devoted to the subject. My goodness if you get into a discussion group with access to speakers you may come away with as many different ‘fixes’ as there are contributors!
The cautionary tale of this note has nothing to do with stage fright, however. Instead I wish to pass along a word of encouragement to any who find themselves in front of an audience for one reason or another. The encouragement came to me from my friend, Carlos Greene, who co-authored, The Family Goal Planning Guide and Workbook (www.thegoalplanner.com).
In doing an early review of what would become my first book, Embrace: Meditations from a Word of Truth (available on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com), Carlos noted that my well researched and thoughtful writing would not appeal to all of Christianity, but instead to a demographic very limited in number. The problem was my choice of words.
In my desire to be as eloquent as possible, I had committed a common mistake. Carlos rightly suggested the larger audience I sought to reach would understand what I had written, they just might not enjoy reading it. That’s a problem!
Knowing your audience is as important in speaking as it is in writing. When you can express yourself simply, and make your points easily why complicate the message? A sample of the best selling thought leaders (speakers or writers) will reveal a lack of what my Dad would have called ten-dollar words. They make their points convincingly without them.
Unless attending an audience of psychologists in a break-out session on anxiety disorders, one might never come across communication apprehension reduction strategies. But in the world where most of us live, it will not be uncommon at all to discuss stage fright or a fear of public speaking. Make your message simple and easy to adopt. In that simplicity is eloquence we can all appreciate.
Fearlessly,
JD
Monday, April 2, 2012
Here Come Da Judge
Does anyone out there in the blogosphere recall Laugh-In from the 70's? I loved that show, and when sitting down to blog about the North South Foundation this past weekend, the 'Judge' segment from Laugh-In came to mind.
On Saturday, 31 March, I was honored to be invited to participate in the North South Foundation's day of 'Bees' at Georgia State University. The North South Foundation (NSF) is an Indian American 501(c)(3) non-prof which has as one of its main aims the academic nurturing of Indian American children.
My history with the Indian American community began just this past December when I held one of my Fearless Speaker Clinics for the Telugu community and the North America Telugu Society locally in metro Atlanta (NATS). That Clinic was specifically written for children and teens of Telugu parents. By contrast the North South Foundation caters to all of those Americans of Indian ancestry and heritage.
I and two other judges graded out the participants of the NSF's Regional Public Speaking Bee. Divided into two classes, Juniors (grades 6-8) and Seniors (grades 9-12), we were impressed with the ability of these young, would-be orators. Most impressive to this judge and observer is the dedication of the Indian American community to their children.
The 'Bees' also included competitions in Math and Geography, and the halls of Georgia State University were abuzz (pun intended) with excited children and their devoted parents. As a community, Indian Americans are fiercely dedicated to the success of their children in American society. In Judging the Public Speaking Bee, I was greatly encouraged by the performances of the children who had a mere thirty minutes to prepare their 3-minute speech.
Do yourselves a favor and find out if more events such as this one are taking place in your own community. If not, be the catalyst for the success of the children you know. It was very satisfying to see a practical demonstration of my presentation, 'Caretakers of the Voice' by the parents and volunteers who provided this forum for these wonderful pre-teens and teenagers, and I will take this experience with me always.
Fearlessly,
JD
On Saturday, 31 March, I was honored to be invited to participate in the North South Foundation's day of 'Bees' at Georgia State University. The North South Foundation (NSF) is an Indian American 501(c)(3) non-prof which has as one of its main aims the academic nurturing of Indian American children.
My history with the Indian American community began just this past December when I held one of my Fearless Speaker Clinics for the Telugu community and the North America Telugu Society locally in metro Atlanta (NATS). That Clinic was specifically written for children and teens of Telugu parents. By contrast the North South Foundation caters to all of those Americans of Indian ancestry and heritage.
I and two other judges graded out the participants of the NSF's Regional Public Speaking Bee. Divided into two classes, Juniors (grades 6-8) and Seniors (grades 9-12), we were impressed with the ability of these young, would-be orators. Most impressive to this judge and observer is the dedication of the Indian American community to their children.
The 'Bees' also included competitions in Math and Geography, and the halls of Georgia State University were abuzz (pun intended) with excited children and their devoted parents. As a community, Indian Americans are fiercely dedicated to the success of their children in American society. In Judging the Public Speaking Bee, I was greatly encouraged by the performances of the children who had a mere thirty minutes to prepare their 3-minute speech.
Do yourselves a favor and find out if more events such as this one are taking place in your own community. If not, be the catalyst for the success of the children you know. It was very satisfying to see a practical demonstration of my presentation, 'Caretakers of the Voice' by the parents and volunteers who provided this forum for these wonderful pre-teens and teenagers, and I will take this experience with me always.
Fearlessly,
JD
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