Sheryl Roush presents Communication & Leadership Workshop – July 28, 2012

Speaking Events| No Comments »

 

SPECIAL WORKSHOP
presented by Sheryl Roush

hosted by
Project Management Institute – Los Angeles Chapter
and  Sparkle Presentations, Inc.

7 Secrets to Connect with Anyone

Simple tips to improved communication and leadership in all areas of your life

Saturday, July 28, 2012
Program 8:00am-Noon
Registration 7:30-8:00am
Huntington Hospital, Braun Auditorium, 100 West California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91105

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

In this tailored and high-content special workshop, you will:
• Assess your current communication style and what it reveals
• Discover how to connect instantly and easily with others
• Explore ways to generate authentic rapport and influence
• Glean insights into public speaking skills and giving effective briefings
• Gain confidence and credibility in your voice, image and projection
• Enroll employee engagement, teamwork and cooperation
• Boost your interpersonal skills … ideal for training, speaking, managing, leading (and parenting)
*** PMI Members receive 4 PDUs toward your PMP certification for attendance.

REGISTER TODAY!!  
Regular Prices (July 1-27)
Member: $69 ……….. Non-Member: $79
At the Door (July 28)
Member: $79 ……….. Non-Member: $89

Register here

Registration Contact: Programs@pmi-la.org
Onsite registration will only be by cash or check that day.

Online Registration:   www.pmi-la.org
Online registration will accept credit cards or PayPal.


Sheryl Roush, President/CEO of Sparkle Presentations, Inc., is an internationally top-rated trainer with over 3,000 presentations delivered in 9 countries. With 35 years in communication, she is a 13-time published author. A Professional Member of the National Speakers Association, she was honored with the "Member of the Year" from both the San Diego and LA Chapters. She is a past President of the San Diego Professional Coaches Alliance. Toastmasters honored her as the 6th woman (28th overall) to receive the elite Accredited Speaker designation for outstanding presentation skills in five categories. To date, only 63 have earned the award out of 4.4 million members in 116 countries. Sheryl has presented on programs alongside Olivia Newton-John, Howard Putnam, Suze Orman, and Marcus Buckingham. Clients include: 7-Up, Abbott Labs, Amtrak, BoozAllenHamilton, County of Los Angeles, Gen-Probe Technologies, HM Electronics, IBM, Intuit, LA Unified Schools, Mitsubishi, San Diego Zoo, Sheraton, Sony, Southwest Airlines, UCLA, Union Bank, US Census Bureau, US Navy, and Verizon Wireless. www.SherylRoush.com

For course information or questions, email the speaker Sheryl@SherylRoush.com

PARKING:
There is Free parking 1.5 blocks from the Auditorium.
Paid parking in the North Parking lot at the main entrance and enter at the Hospital Lobby.
Valet parking at the main entrance, and enter at which will be emailed to you upon registration and before event.
Hospital telephone: 626-397-5000

Download JPG flyer here

Register here

Joni Wilson Interviewed by Debra Simpson For September Workshop

Workshops| No Comments »

VoiceOfSuccessJoni Wilson, The Voice of Success, shares tips from her new book on how women can speak with power and persuasion.

Joni will be presenting Speaking Skills and Voice Workshop with Sheryl Roush on September 26, 2009, 9am to 4pm in San Diego.

A FUN, INTERACTIVE & VALUE-PACKED DAY Communication skills are critical to your self-esteem, professional worth and financial future!

LEARN VALUABLE SKILLS YOU WILL USE IMMEDIATELY!

  • Public speaking, training, sales and presentation skills
  • Voice, projection, diction, assertiveness, voice image, dialect
  • Speak to promote your business, product, services or your cause

At the workshop you will learn tips to:

  • Shine on the telephone and in person
  • Handle your emotions calmly under pressure
  • Demonstrate credible body language
  • Build rapport instantly with others
  • Design and deliver PowerPoint with professionalism and confidence!

I know both these women personally and know you’ll learn a great deal about voice and presentation skills. Let me know what you think of the interview.

Speaking Skills & Voice Workshop-Sept. 26

Speaking Events| 8 Comments »


Want to be a better speaker, trainer, leader?

Need to speak up and be heard?

Time to polish up on your communication skills?

Speaking Skills

& Voice Workshop

Ideal for every level of presenter…
Whether you are in sales, training, management…

You will discover
The Voice of Success™
and
Sparkle When You Speak!™


Saturday, September 26, 2009  
9:00am – 4:00pm
San Diego, CA

A FUN, INTERACTIVE & VALUE-PACKED DAY

Communication skills are critical to your self-esteem,
professional worth and financial future!


LEARN VALUABLE SKILLS YOU WILL USE IMMEDIATELY!
• Public speaking, training, sales and presentation skills
• Voice, projection, diction, assertiveness, voice image, dialect
• Speak to promote your business, product, services or your cause

You will learn tips to:
* Shine on the telephone and in person

* Handle your emotions calmly under pressure
* Demonstrate credible body language
* Build rapport instantly with others
* Design and deliver PowerPoint with professionalism and confidence!

REGISTER TODAY!

Only $99 for the Full Day Workshop
Includes a 40-page Workbook loaded with exercises, worksheets, tips, and more!

2 EXPERTS WORK WITH YOU ON YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS!

Joni Wilson, a voice expert and performance coach, President of SalesTalkBiz™ Int’l, is the creator of the 3-Dimensional Voice® Training System, and author of the new book The Voice of Success: A Woman’s Guide to a Powerful and Persuasive Voice, published by the American Management Company. Learn from her amazing expertise and insight!
www.VirtualVoiceCoach.com


Sheryl Roush
is a conference presenter, top-rated trainer, author, and speaking coach, with nearly 3,000 presentations given in nine countries. She brings over 30 years in sales, marketing, and graphic design to this program. Sheryl is only one of six women in the world to earn the elite Accredited Speaker designation from Toastmasters International in 106 countries and out of 4 million members, and a 12-time author, including Heart of a Woman in Business.
www.SparklePresentations.com

Both facilitators are long-term active Professional Members of the National Speakers Association, and the local San Diego and Greater Los Angeles Chapters.

WORKSHOP LOCATION:

Business Park
B.E.O.B. Advanced Training Institute
3954 Murphy Canyon Road
Suite D-204, 2nd Floor
San Diego, CA 92123   
Institute is wheelchair accessible.
Details and directions will be provided.
Located at I-15 at Aero Drive, next to San Diego Chargers.
Free Ample Parking.

STIMULUS DEAL!
Pre-register before September 24 for only $99
Register between Sept. 24-25 for $129. 
At-the-door (if available) $159.

Beverages & Treats are served at morning and afternoon breaks.
Lunch is on your own with numerous choices nearby!

PRE-REGISTER TODAY! 
Space is LIMITED to 35 attendees.
Attendees receive a 40-page loaded Workbook.

CONTACT:
CALL 858-569-6555
Sheryl Roush, Sparkle Presentations, Inc.
Email Sheryl@SparklePresentations.com
Checks payable to Sparkle Presentations, Inc., mailed to P.O. Box 2373, La Mesa, CA 91943
AmericanExpress, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and PayPal are welcome!

Sheryl Roush presents Sparkle When You Speak!™ Workshop at AICI International Conference May 14

Speaking Events| No Comments »

Sheryl Roush presenting
Sparkle When You Speak!™ Workshop
at AICI International Conference
Thursday, May 14

Want to authentically connect better with others?
Need to polish up on your public speaking skills?
Ready to present with more confidence and credibility?

 
Internationally top-rated professional speaker and trainer Sheryl Roush is presenting a special 3.5 hour Pre-Conference Workshop entitled Sparkle When You Speak!™
from 8:30am-12 Noon on Thursday, May 14 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, CA. The workshop launches the annual conference of the AICI – Association of Image Consultants International, running May 14-17.

Sheryl’s interactive workshop helps women have business and personal success to stand up, speak out and shine! Ideal for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed with nervousness, panic or anxiety — they can fear no more! Whether speaking in front of a small or large group – whether a beginner or expert – participants discover simple tricks, tips and treasures to use immediately!

Attendees will:
* Identify your authentic communication style
* Discover the 7 multiple modalities in any group
* Connect instantly with and retain audience attention
* Develop skills to mind map, craft and organize your presentation
* Design effective presentations using professional visual aids
* Use visual aids including props and slide presentations

Expert speaker Sheryl Roush has presented nearly 3,000 presentations in 9 countries over the past 20 years, to groups as intimate as 5 and large as 5,000. President/CEO of Sparkle Presentations, Inc., Sheryl is a top-rated trainer in eight countries as selected by attendees for engagement, content, interaction, tailoring and impact. She has presented on programs alongside Olivia Newton-John, Jane Seymour, Geena Davis, Suze Orman, Vicki Lawrence and more. She served as the Director of Training for the US Olympic Training Center, coaching Olympians in speaking skills, and is coaching the award-winning San Diego Charger Cheerleaders for her ninth year. Sheryl is an eight-time business owner since age 16, and 12-time published author, including Heart of a Woman in Business.

www.SparklePresentations.com

Sheryl Roush Speaks at CalSAE Regional Luncheon May 13

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Sheryl Roush Speaks at CalSAE San Diego
Regional Luncheon May 13

International speaker Sheryl Roush is the San Diego Region Luncheon keynote speaker this Wednesday, May 13 at CalSAE – the California Society of Association Executives – at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Mission Valley, San Diego, CA.

Communicating and Connecting
During Critical Times

This keynote session is designed for senior management and experienced sales team members. In the current environment of changing economics, expanding technology and increasing work life demands how much would even one new technique be worth to improve your communication skills? 

This presentation will assist in reviewing your own communication techniques while outlining the critical elements of connecting with others – including members, employees and peers. It will also assist you in leading and maximizing communication efforts in your organization! Cut through the noise and get to the point in this fun, high-level, interactive session! 

Topics covered include:


SPEAKER INFO:
Sheryl Roush, CEO of Sparkle Presentations, Inc., is an internationally top-rated presenter, known for her high-energy, high-content, how-to presentations. Her programs rekindle the spirit, raise the bar and create excitement. Sheryl has over 30 years of expertise in communication, is a 12-time published author, and has presented over 3,000 programs in nine countries with rave reviews and results. Toastmasters International honored her as only the third female in the world to earn their prestigious Accredited Speaker award, out of 4 million members in 93 countries. Sheryl is receiving their highest honor in member service, The Presidential Citation, at their International Convention this August. As a conference presenter, she has spoken alongside celebrities including: Olivia Newton-John, Geena Davis, Jane Seymour, Joan Lunden, and Art Linkletter.  And business giants including: Robert G. Allen, Southwest Airlines’ CEO Howard Putnam, Suze Orman, and the Gallup Organization’s Marcus Buckingham. Some of her clients include: hotels, law firms, real estate, housing, retail, tourism, HR, associations and small business.
www.SparklePresentations.com


Luncheon Registration opens at 11:30am and is open to non-members, $50

Crowne Plaza Hotel
11:30am – 1:30pm
Peacock Room
2270 Hotel Circle North
Mission Valley
San Diego, CA 92108
Phone: 619-297-1101

Women Step Up as Men Lose Jobs

Heart of a Woman in Business| No Comments »

Women Step Up as Men Lose Jobs

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — At first glance, the scene radiates domestic bliss.
March 20, 2009

Click USA Today link and story here.

Caitlin Lawson, 17, races into the dining room to report that she has been accepted at her favorite state college. Alex Lawson, 49, a longtime auto sales executive, wraps his daughter in a bear hug. Beaming nearby is mom Antonia, 50, aka "Tuppy," whose colorful works of ceramic art fill the family’s immaculate suburban home.

But like many images in these ruthless times, this picture deceives.

The Lawson home is spotless because it’s for sale so they can reduce their debt. Alex has been unemployed for nearly a year; in January, he had a stress-induced stroke. Tuppy became the financial head of household overnight: She has abandoned her decade-in-the-making art career and taken a sales job at the local Apple store to keep her brood, which includes another daughter in college, solvent.

"It’s all so bizarre," says Tuppy, head tilted, looking like someone who has just been told the moon really is made out of cheese. "But I’m going to do what I have to do, and do it the best I can."

Throughout the USA, moms such as Tuppy are rushing to the helm of the family ship.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
67% of women with children under 18 work
and women make up 46% of the labor pool.

But this recession could soon make women a majority of America’s workforce: 82% of the 2.5 million jobs lost since November were held by men.

Behind that cold statistic is an often heated rearrangement of the family dynamic. With gender roles and responsibilities being radically redefined, wives now face the pressure inherent in being the sole breadwinner while also retaining their household responsibilities. Meanwhile, husbands must reconstruct their definition of contributing to the family enterprise, often swapping a paycheck for a broom.

Working mothers — and just a few fathers, as many declined to talk — reveal equal parts pride in leaping into the breach, and frustration that things have come to this. Some express relief at seeing a husband develop new at-home skills; others despair when a spouse simply shuts down.

What all of them exude is an ability to focus uncomplainingly on taking care of business.

"Times are a-changing, and you got to roll with the times," says Christina Fekas-Gorman, 34, of San Diego, a secretary in the county offices who recycles cans for cash to cover staples such as diapers for 2-year-old Zoe.

Husband Sean was laid off from a pool repair company a year ago and quickly sank into depression. The couple fought a lot, and he moved out.

"I felt like, ‘I cook, I clean, I shop, and now I’m the only one with a job?’ " she says. "That got physically and mentally draining real fast. He apologized and came back home."

A silver lining?

Some observers say the recession could benefit women’s march toward social equality.

"How interesting that four months of a terrible economy could in a way prove to have more impact than four decades of feminism," says Amy Keroes, founder of mommytrackd.com, a networking site for working mothers.

"The women on the site who are primary breadwinners say they’re proud to be that, but at the same time there’s also a longing to be home," she says. "The economy has simply taken choices away from people."

Past recessions and, notably, World War II also saw women charging into the workforce. But those leaps forward were often accompanied by steps back into the home, says Rebecca Traister, who writes on women and politics for Salon.com. This time, she says, things will be different.

"Feminism laid the groundwork for progress in income, in job positions," she says. "On top of that, now you have a radical shift in the view of fatherhood and its importance. So really what remains to be seen is whether that all translates into (a male) embrace of the drudgery that is domestic work. Either way, these times will require a huge re-imagining of roles."

In the best cases, which the Lawsons typify, these domestic flip-flops are faced with both humor and acceptance.

With Tuppy’s peaceful daily routine — tea and National Public Radio, waiting for inspiration to strike — replaced by a daily job, art is but a distant memory. "I can’t really think of anything I want to create," she says.

Alex has learned to conjure family dinners, searching for recipes when not pumping out upward of 40 résumés a month.

The idea to sell the house was his. Tuppy blanched at first, then agreed it made sense.

"We’d sell anything to help our girls stay on their academic tracks," says Alex, whose eldest is a junior at Stanford University. The family is awaiting word from both girls’ schools about financial aid, which will determine their scholastic fate for next year. Until then, selling the house helps the Lawsons become debt- and mortgage-free. And flexible.

"If I land a job, we can go as far as Timbuktu," Alex says.

In the meantime, Alex says he has a newfound appreciation for the simple pleasure of returning from work to a cooked meal. And Tuppy "finally understands why (Alex) would come home and insist on a glass of wine," she says. "After a day of customers asking questions, I totally get it now."

But for many families, the turmoil that sweeps through the house when a husband is laid off can have the effect of a tornado ripping through a campground.

Life was good for Bridget Culpepper, 37, and her husband, who had a successful career in the mortgage business in Portland, Ore. "Times were great," she says. "He’s a good person."

The freefall was painfully long. With the mortgage industry in decline last year, her husband retreated into online gaming. Culpepper began to work, taking any job she could to help provide for the couple’s two young girls, from freelance Web design to running Spanish-language play groups. "I was sure things would turn around," she says.

Instead, the couple lost their house and cars. Then she nearly lost her will: "I hit a wall, and contemplated suicide."

The couple separated. He lives with his parents and she lives in a rented apartment with the girls.

"This is happening to many people I know," she says. "The ones who do OK are in partnerships in which sometimes you know that the parts might shift. There’s excitement in redefining roles. But a lot of people are having a hard time with it."

Count Teresa Maute-Carr, 37, of Quakertown, Pa., in that group. After her husband lost his longtime construction-related position in February, her job — and health insurance — in the billing department of a local hospital became the family’s lifeline.

"We were always people who lived within our means, we didn’t do anything wrong, so why are we paying for it?" she says, her voice cracking. "I sweat bullets to stay within our budget. Our 6-year-old keeps asking why Daddy is still at home."

And that frustration shoots in her husband’s direction. "I want to yell, ‘Just fix it.’ But I know it’s not his fault."

After a long silence, Maute-Carr laughs. "I will say it’s easier now to ask my husband to unload the dishwasher or to vacuum," she says. "And I do think he might see me differently. He admires me."

‘This is what needs to be done’

There’s mutual admiration in the Lage home in Richmond, Va.

Both Cheryl, 44, and Scott, 41, have roots in the ad production world. When Scott’s 15-year career with Circuit City crashed to a close in January, he was left with part-time employment while Cheryl scrambled for work after seven years at home with twins.

"The way it worked out with us both freelancing is great," she says. "And he’s home a lot more. I loved being with the kids all the time. But this is what needs to be done now."

In the Bretana home in Irvine, Calif., Anne, 42, is impressed with the adjustments made by husband Louis, 43, who has quickly developed go-to dinners and figured out the school schedules of daughters Emilia, 5, and Lily, 3.

"I’m not going to say it wasn’t hard at first, to go from being the guy bringing home the money to being in charge of shopping, but I look at it as a chance to expand some skills," says Louis, whose architecture firm cut him back to half-time recently. That means he has home duty but also needs to make sure clients are happy.

Anne is in the same field; she works 80% and is now pushing to go full-time. "There’s a lot of pressure on me to make sure I’m not laid off," she says.

"I didn’t think I’d be dealing with this sort of situation in my 40s, when our careers and lives should have been well-defined. I thought life would be different. But there you go."

SERIES for WOMEN coming back into the workplace:
Hosted on Wednesday mornings in San Diego April, but available to bring to your city as a 2-day Boot camp! CLICK HERE.

TIPS for WOMEN coming back into the workplace:
Heart of a Woman in Business
by 8-time Business Owner, Sheryl Roush
Stories, Strategies and Skills for Business Success
Available at Amazon.com, or click here

Sheryl Roush presents No-Cost Teleseminar Tonight on Sales & Communication Skills

Speaking Events| 1 Comment »

Sheryl Roush presents No-Cost Teleseminar for MLMU tonight on Sales & Communication Skills

FREE TELESEMINAR TONIGHT
Thursday, September 18
9:00pm Eastern, 6:00pm Pacific
ONE HOUR CALL

7 Sales Secrets:
How to Instantly Connect with Anyone
 
How is your business?
And your communication skills?
Want to connect authentically with others?
Sell more products and services?

If you are active in networking marketing or a speaker, trainer, presenter, coach — this material enhances your profession!

YOU WILL:
* Discover your preferred communication style
   and the 7 natural modalities of listening.
* Learn how to easily establish rapport, gain credibility
   and authentically relate with each of the groups.

If you are not meeting people where they are, communicating as they need it, you’re missing the mark, and the business. Enhance your charisma and connection factor.
 
This TeleClass is based on “7 Kinds of Smart” multiple intelligence research from Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D., and Howard Gardner, Ph.D., then simplified and translated into business skills to use today.
 
You will be able to apply these tactics immediately to your next interaction, sales call, marketing materials, presentation, coaching or training session, with great effectiveness.
 
Presenter Sheryl Roush has trained organizations around the globe in this information including 7-Up, Intuit’s Turbo Tax executive sales team, Stampin’ Up demonstrators, direct sales, speakers, trainers, coaches, real estate professionals and more. Sheryl has started eight companies since 16. Author of 12 books, she has been a professional speaker for 20 years, presented in 9 countries and is one of only 6 women worldwide (in 93 countries and out of 4 million people) to have achieved the honor of Accredited Speaker. She is a 20-year Professional Member of the National Speakers Association, and Past President of the San Diego Professional Coaches Alliance (ICF).
See www.SparklePresentations.com
 
Email in advance for the communication skills assessment handout, Sheryl@SparklePresentations.com
Subject line: MLM TeleClass

Visit:
http://www.mlmteleclass.com/MLMteleclasses.lasso
and click on the SIGN UP link

Register for: Class SR-101a
The phone number to call in will be instantly emailed to you.
The class is free. The long distance phone charge is your responsibility.

Free Business TeleClasses

Heart of a Woman in Business, Speaking Events| 1 Comment »

Free Business TeleClasses

The Kids are Back in Class… How About You?
 
Summer will soon be over…The kids are back at school…Time to stop by MLMTeleClass so you can be trained, motivated and inspired by some of the leading “experts” in the industry at no cost to you.
 
During the month of September MLMTeleClass is offering some of the best teleconferences training from: Eric Lofholm, Kimberly Eaton, Scott Coady, Tracy Monteforte, Jeff Davidson, Edwin Edebiri, Christine Comaford, Debbi Chambers, Sheryl Roush, Rod Nichols, and Ron Sukenick.
 
http://www.mlmteleclass.com
 
MLMTeleClass is a coalition of carefully selected professional trainers and leaders who provide quality training via teleconference.
 
In these sessions you will learn:
– How to Become a Recruiting Superstar
– How No Objection Will Ever Stump You Again
– The Art of Leadership Mastery
– How to Turn Your Phone into a Cash Machine
– How to Manage Information and Communication Overload
– How to Promote Yourself
– Little Known Secrets to Successful Networking
– How to Manifest Your Goals with Grace and Ease
– How to Instantly Connect with Anyone (Sheryl Roush, Sept. 18)
– Proven Methods for Generating Free Leads
– How Networking is Not Like What It Used to Be
 
Register by going to http://www.mlmteleclass.com.
You can register for as many classes as you like and please feel free to pass along this invitation and link to your friends.
 
Visit http://www.mlmteleclass.com and "grab your seat" now!
 
Register for as many as you wish…Remember there is no cost to you.
 

How to Bring Eloquence to your Presentation Skills

Heart of a Woman in Business, Tips & Trivia| 1 Comment »

Published in Heart of a Woman in Business, releasing October 1, 2008

Which Words?
How to Bring Eloquence to your Presentation Skills

Eloquence is lean. But, I didn’t know that when I started speaking 7 years ago. I used weighty language, and for the wrong reasons. In retrospect I can see innocence in the mistake. I was a woman and often younger than my mostly male clients. My expertise had been acquired through an eclectic route and bore no degrees or designations to fortify surety in myself. So I used three-dollar words to sound credible, content-ful and smart. The more nervous I got, the more tiles disappeared from my scrabble bag.

A breakthrough came while a consultant was preparing me for a radio interview on parenting, the topic of which was to be a concept I call “The Trophy Child.” In our practice session, I kept saying the problem of using our children to gain status was systemic, and she kept saying the word systemic was inaccessible and preventing me from connecting with the audience. She was right and this “a-ha” lead to the development of a mental filter. A little bell began to go off when the wrong motive was behind a lavish word. Now I work to make impact without pomp. I have found simplicity and brevity are harder.

The tendency to be verbose can come from other roots. Many industry and business experts are so familiar with their own jargon, they cannot see how thick and impenetrable it is to the listener. Professorial trivia buffs have trouble with arcane references that create separation and leave folks behind (seen any Dennis Miller lately?).

Does this mean that we should shy away from using colorful or interesting words? Au contraire! But, we must be sure our selections are mindful, and strive to elevate the message, not ourselves.

Each of us have some verbal shortcomings and big words may not be your issue. You may have trouble putting your thoughts together in a clear way; you may be a 20/30 something for whom “like”, “you know” and “totally” have infected your delivery; you may have a hard time feeling confidant in front of any size group and find that this internal experience corrupts your ability to speak well. Let’s face it, we can all turn up the heat on purposeful word choice. There is work to do. The first task is to reflect.

Step one is external. We must have truth reflected back at us, as in a mirror. Seek feedback on your presentations through video, coaching, honest words of colleagues, and evaluations. Now take these numerous and thorough points of view and see how they reflect your eloquence. Are you hearing “to the point”, ”articulate” or “really kept my attention?” How many said “seemed a bit long” or “couldn’t quite follow.”

Step two is internal. Usually a critical mass of data is building around us to help reveal blind spots, and if we are quiet we will begin to notice themes in our own professional flaws. Become a watcher to your own play and try to actually listen to yourself while you speak. This will take some time but soon you will actually be pulled out of your own presenter trance when your words sound over-the-top, meandering or dull. You will notice when you drone on during your A to a short Q. Speaking of Q’s…asking yourself reflection questions can help. “Am I saying exactly what I mean?” “What portions of this presentation don’t really add anything relevant?” “What would it look like to be in complete command of this room?”

Step three is eternal. As our presentation careers progress our word choice becomes more perfect and more natural. Eventually we move from Thermometer to Thermostat. A thermometer constantly checks to see what the room feels like. A thermostat hovers at the right mark by making constant adjustments automatically.
And after all of this reflection; Redesign! Here are a few tips to get you started…

12 Stops on the Road to Eloquence

Upgrade your Source: Don’t stop at your computer thesaurus. Purchase The Synonym Finder by J.I. Rodale and Nancy LaRoche. This juicy tome is the difference between the spatula aisle at Vons and William Sonoma.

Off your Offspring: Writers fall in love with their own words. But, when it comes to editing the common thought is, you must “kill your children.” Go through your presentations and edit listening for overkill, showing off, repetition and repeating.

WWMAD: What would Maya Angelou do? If I were one of the great masters of clarity blended with poetry, how would I say it?

Practice Makes Perfect:
Don’t feel strange about rehearsing what you are going to say whether it is to an audience of 1, 3 or 1000. Nerves can hijack your eloquence in a heartbeat unless they are tamed by practice. Use this discipline especially when speaking in front of anyone that is particularly intimidating to you or who presses that Daddy/ Big Brother/ Hot-Guy-Who-Rejected-You button.

Go Low: Ladies, be aware of when you are chattering away in your high register. To empathize with the male perspective on this sound, try calling to mind the last time your children were whining. Use your low tones. Then give yourself positive and affirming self-talk to add the confidence to back them up.

Follow Through: You know how to follow through in sports. Do the same in speaking. Once the perfect eloquent words are in your speech infuse them with good full breaths. Let your weight drift forward to the balls of your feet. Linnnger slightly on the right consonants and exlooore your vowels.

Cut That Out: When striving for eloquence on paper try to cut out the word “that” whenever you can. It is unnecessary 90% of the time.

Write It- Edit It: You have 100 words to make a point to a man. Any more and you venture into the territory I like to call “The Avalanche;” pouring tons and tons of info into their very action-oriented minds. Try this- write out everything you want to say and then edit it down to 100 words. When you read it back you will get the felling of the brevity and directness that makes men listen.

Go Easy on Quotes: If you crave more splash in your words, don’t borrow them too liberally to meet this need. Too many quotes in a presentation smacks of amateurishness. They came to hear you.

Drop the Cookbook:
I love to bake because it is an opportunity for instinct and nuance. A good recipe partway through is abandoned, like a guidebook that at some point is tossed to the tour-bus floor so one can run off and explore. The point is…Improvise a bit; even through content you have already written.

Identify your Recipe: One more baking analogy and then I am going to have to go whip up a lemon bundt cake so I can get back to concentrating. There are different flavors of eloquence. Ask yourself, what is your eloquence recipe? A spoon of wisdom? A pinch of sweetness or sarcasm? Just a dash of subtlety?

Warm Up: Why write it if your lips can’t say it? The most beautiful words need a warm and flexible vocal instrument to be heard. You can sing scales. You can hum a note, sliding up and down. Don’t forget the tongue twisters. My favorite; “She stood on the balcony inimitably mimicking him, hicupping and amicably welcoming him in.”

Welcome to today’s words. “Punked” is a verb and Paris Hilton a role model. We need every well-spoken syllable we can find. So don’t give up the fight. Carrying the torch of moving and relevant language is, as it always has been, up to you, to me and the occasional odd guy on a box in a public square.

-Juliet Funt, Speaker, Author

Juliet Funt is the owner of Talking on Purpose, Inc. Her hilarious, lively and idea-packed presentations may just be the most fun thing about your next meeting or training day. Check out www.julietfunt.com for more info or contact Juliet at 323 854 8855 or Juliet@julietfunt.com

Sparkle-Tude: Keeping a Goal-Focused Sparkling Attitude

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Sparkle-Tude: Keeping a Goal-Focused Sparkling Attitude
by Sheryl Roush

17 STEPS TO FOCUSED GOAL-SETTING
  1.  Keep your self-talk positive, proactive and affirming.
  2.  Make sure the goal you are working for is something you really want,
      not just something that sounds good.
  3.  Write your goal in first-person “I am” or “I have” as already
      having achieved it.
  4.  Add feelings to your goal statement. (“I am excited about…”)
  5.  Ensure your goals are not in contradiction to any of your other goals.
  6.  Write your goal out in specific detail
       (numbers, target date, locations, size, pounds dropped, dollar amount).
  7.  Make your goal high enough, and know that you are deserving of it.
  8.  Treasure Map your goal with inspiring visual images in front of you.
  9.  Read your goal OUT LOUD each morning when you wake up,
      visualizing/feeling the completed goal (including smells, sights,
      sounds, feelings, tastes).
10.  Read your goal OUT LOUD each evening right before you go to bed,
      visualizing/feeling the completed goal (including smells, sights, sounds,
      feelings, tastes).
11.  Create a target (realistic) timeline for the goal, with a step-by-step plan.
12.  Set incremental benchmarks and highlight them on your calendar.
13.  Surround yourself with supportive, positive goal-setting people.
14.  Re-View, Re-Evaluate and Re-Write Regularly (every 3-6 months).
15.  Look for unexpected opportunities, unusual happenings that could
      relate to your goals, as these may be incredible and perfect opportunities
      in disguise.
16.  Reward yourself for taking incremental steps toward achieving
      your goal.
17.  Plan a celebration date of completion, announcing the party date
      to your friends.

GOAL-FOCUS
Every time you make a decision during the day, ask yourself:
• "Does this take me closer to–or further from–my goal?"
• “Is this a distraction from–or attraction to–my goal?”
• “What is the NEXT most important thing to do?”
• “Is this my highest priority right now?”

My Goal: “I am/have_______________________________________________________________."

"Sparkle-Tude!" is Trademark protected by Sheryl L. Roush, Sparkle Presentations, Inc.
Sheryl Roush is an internationally top-rated trainer and in-demand keynote presenter, inspiring organizations and staff to bring their heart to work. Visit www.SparklePresentations.com for availability and topics including communication skills, boosting attitude and creating positive work environments for enhanced teamwork, cooperation and productivity.

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