Archive for October, 2009

Many thanks toJeff Porro for submitting this great post. Jeff is a Washington, DC-based speechwriter for Fortune 250 CEOs, diplomats, and other government leaders, as well as executives of some of the nation’s leading trade and professional associations. He is also an award winning screenwriter and a PhD with 20 years of experience in research, public policy, [...]

Part 2 of 2 
 
In Part 1 of this blog we talked about the importance of teaching children public speaking skills and using The Fun Theory to make the experience enjoyable and effective. The last thing anyone wants is to raise a child who suffers from glossophobia – the fear of public speaking. Today, as many as 75% [...]

I first understood the power of storytelling early in my career when I was an actor in a small children’s reader’s theater company called the Peanut Butter Readers. Our small troupe toured in schools and libraries throughout New England and Canada dramatizing classical and modern stories. One of our favorites was Where the Wild Things Are. I have a long history with this enchanting story and I’m looking forward to seeing it on the big screen this weekend.

Are you a pubic speaker and entrepreneur with a great message, but not sure how to reach more customers? Are you a Small Business Owner with a great product and service, but feel like your marketing just doesn’t work and you are wasting a great deal of time and money?

As a communications professional, I believe that an apology is one of the most difficult forms of public speaking. I define the apology as an acknowledgment by the wrongdoer of misconduct that is offered to the offended party in exchange for reconciliation. Admitting to a transgression against another allows those involved to either grow stronger [...]

I took a walk today at Lake Lagunitas, one of my favorite Marin County hiking spots. This lake is part of the Marin Municipal Water District and supplies good old tap water to our entire county. It is a beautiful spot—a hidden jewel of raw wilderness just a short drive from the bustling small towns [...]

On the Road: My Experience Teaching PowerPoint
 
This is a guest post from Kirk Mossing, PowerPoint™ Consultant and Trainer.
 
What do Audiences REALLY Think About PowerPoint?
 
Travelling across the nation and working with clients like Google and Stanford University, I routinely ask my students one key question: “As an audience member, what do you hate most about [...]

We learned from the Beijing Olympics that China knows how to dazzle an audience. And they did it again. No detail was overlooked in preparation for the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China held on October 1. The parade participants practiced individually, rehearsed in groups and perfected every performance routine. As The New [...]