Motivation Articles, Essays, Tips and Advice

One of the primary tenets of any successful presentation (a presentation is defined as any time you talk to one or more people) design is the establishment of “tone.”

When it comes to presentations, the term tone refers to much more than merely an individual’s “tone of voice.” The tone of a presentation is really about audience perception.

The simple truth is that your success or failure at anything – whether ordering a hamburger in a restaurant or speaking to a 5,000 person assembly – is largely contingent upon how you are received by the person or persons you are speaking to.

Tone then, is really all about the way an audience is affected by (and therefore perceives) the sum of everything you do; from the way you speak, your gestures and the subject matter, to the way you dress.

A presentation’s tone is contingent upon the many details, large and small, that collectively contributes to an overall impression: Was the subject matter enjoyable and useful? Was the presenter inviting? Did participants feel welcome? These are all questions of tone, and understanding how tone works and how to set the tone you want (need) is extremely important.

Any time a situation requires audience buy-in or a response of some kind – regardless of whether your audience is one or 1,000 – your best hope for communication lies in your ability to tailor the tone of the presentation to that specific audience.

In my book, Inspire Any Audience, I spend a great deal of time going over the ins and outs of setting appropriate tone for a given situation. Different audiences and topics require different tones in order to be successful.

For example, the success of a presentation for a charity fund-raiser to a local high school group hinges on a tone that is most likely different than the one you would establish for a marketing presentation to a group of bank CEOs.

As complicated as some like to make the issue of establishing tone, when it’s all said and done, it all comes down to one simple, golden rule:

It is a recognized fact that people dread attending most presentations almost as much as they dread giving them. Why? Because presentations have a reputation for being boring.

Let’s face it; for most of us, our entire education has been “administered” to us in one form of a lecture or other. The lecture format for relaying information though now considered outdated by many education and training professionals – has been the tried and true method for generations.

The good news is that while few people enjoy being lectured, most everyone enjoys a lively conversation. The trick is in creating a conversational tone with even large groups, a feat that is ideally accomplished within the first two or three minutes of a presentation.

In an attempt to make this easier to accomplish for the readers of my book, I have condensed from years of study and experience a listing of the 10 key tips for appearing conversational with even the largest groups. They are:

* Try to talk with not at your audience
* Use conversational language and avoid large, multi-syllable words
* Ask questions immediately and listen to the answers
* Get the audience involved, even if it means having them stand and shake each other’s hands
* Place nothing between you and your audience – avoid lecterns, podiums and risers when possible
* Mingle with your audience – if possible, actually walk into the audience
* Use participant names whenever possible and encourage them to use yours
* Smile – it’s a natural conversation starter
* Use humor when and where you can
* Use personal anecdotes and stories – they give your audience something to relate to and make the presentation experiential

As simple as these tips may initially seem, they are very powerful. Consistently applied, they are guaranteed to not only improve your presentations, but also increase your confidence and comfort level in front of any room.
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Tony Jeary has conducted hundreds of training events worldwide for a variety of clients. He is the author of several books on the subject of presentation, including Inspire Any Audience. Visit him at TonyJeary.com.

* Learn more about his Communication Mastery program.

-Do you have any other presentation skills you believe are important? Please take a moment to share your thoughts in the comments.

Just because the economy is in a nose dive and life may feel out of control, that’s no reason to feel helpless.

You can make a huge contribution today by making someone else’s dream come true.

Who should be the lucky recipient of your gift? Choose someone who you are grateful for, or the one who needs it the most, or even the person you can most easily help.

I chose my dad. At 80 years old, it’s been painful to watch my young hearted father fight a battle with his aging body. He had been an avid golfer (“5” handicap) and fisherman but a few years ago his back began to hurt and he abandoned both of his favorite activities.

Over the last few years he’s had major surgeries with pins and rods. Not only did he lose his mobility, but the intolerable pain turned him toward pills, potions and patches.

Later, when he was diagnosed with lymphoma, he gave up. If he got out of bed, he moped around in his bath robe and talked about wanting to die. Our family, including me, felt helpless to pull him out of his depression.

A few months ago, his doctor demanded he get some exercise. He fired or quit on his first few therapists. Finally, he got a tough gal. She was relentless and worked him out daily till he was sore. He’d go home and pass out pooped. After a few days he realized he was sleeping without his pain patch and continued with his workouts.

He moaned and groaned about her, but he found a little strength. And a little turned into more. Recently, he told me his dream was to hit a few golf balls next week and to play a round with my brother when he comes to visit next month.

“Dad,” I said, “do you still have the dream of going on an African safari?”

“Of course,” he immediately replied.

“Well. I’ve been waiting for you to get strong enough for me to offer. How about if I take you?”

He bellowed out a resounding, “Yes!”

“Great,” I said, “but there are two conditions. One, you have to be really strong and healthy because a safari is a rigorous adventure. And second, no complaining allowed.”

“Deal,” he shouted. “I am going to get into the best shape of my life.” Then his voice broke and he added, “This really is a dream come true. Thank you. Thank you so much!”

I felt like I added ten years to his life. Then I cried. For over 20 years I’ve been teaching people how to make their dreams come true but what a gift to actually grant someone’s wish. I highly recommend it.
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Marcia Wieder is a motivational speaker, specializing in helping people make their dreams real! In addition to her speaking and coaching she is the author of several books, and programs including: Design You Dream Life (4 CD set). Reach her by visiting her website.

-What are your thoughts? Take a moment to consider some of the people in your life — personal or professional who you can make dreams happen for?

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As someone once advised, “Grow antennae, not horns.” If you prejudge someone as shallow or crazy or ill-informed, you automatically cease paying attention to what they say.

So a basic rule of listening is to judge only after you’ve heard and evaluated what they say. Don’t jump to conclusions based on how they look, or what you’ve heard about them, or whether they’re nervous.

In fact, maybe a good exercise would be to go out of your way to listen to a difficult speaker. Maybe he talks with a thick accent. Or talks much more rapidly, or more slowly, than you, or uses a lot of big words.

Whatever difficulty this speaker poses, seize it as an opportunity not to prejudge but to practice your listening skills. Given some time, you’ll become more comfortable and effective in listening to diverse styles.

– Tony Alessandra
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Dr. Tony Alessandra has authored numerous books, recorded over 50 audio and video programs, and delivered well over 2,000 keynote speeches since 1976. If you would like more information about Dr. Alessandra’s books, audio tapesets and video programs, or about Dr. Alessandra as a keynote speaker, visit his website at www.Alessandra.com.

* Learn more about The Complete Success Package by Tony Alessandra

-What do you think of the ideas shared above? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

“The person of good and lawful purpose cannot fail. It only needs that he daily renew the fire and energy of his fixed resolve, to consummate his object.” – The Mastery of Destiny

It is the great equalizer for all of those reaching for success. It overcomes lack of education, money, talent, intelligence, looks and all other seeming advantages. President Calvin Coolidge said nothing could take its place: “Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

I cannot think of one victory I’ve ever had that I won without persistence. For a while I just thought that I had to work harder and longer than anyone else in order to achieve because nothing has ever come easy for me. Then I really looked around and noticed that everyone else was just like me.

Every mentor I’ve ever had and every successful person I’ve ever known has their own story of how persistence was the key to their success.

Here’s what Bob Proctor teaches on one of the Universal Laws called the Law of Gender: “this law decrees that all seeds (ideas are spiritual seeds) have a gestation or incubation period before they manifest.

In other words, when you choose a goal or build the image in your mind, a definite period of time must elapse before that image manifests in physical results.”

One of my most favorite inspirational examples about persistence is the story of an Asian bamboo species that even after five years of watering, weeding and fertilizing is barely visible.

Then, in a span of about six weeks, it grows two and a half feet a day to 90 feet and higher. It grows so fast that you can literally “hear” it growing.

The question to ask is did the bamboo grow 90 feet in six weeks or did it grow 90 feet in five years?

Obviously it grew 90 feet in five years, for all the time when growth wasn’t visible it was developing a massive root system that would later support its magnificent growth.

Can you see where the current circumstance in you life are developing your massive root system? Can you see where you must continue to “fertilize” and “water” yourself even though maybe you can’t see any visible changes today?

Napoleon Hill thought that persistence was such a key to success that he devoted an entire chapter to it in the classic Think and Grow Rich. He writes, “Persistence is a state of mind, therefore it can be cultivated… Before success comes in any person’s life, he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat, and, perhaps, some failure.

When defeat overtakes a person, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to ‘Quit.’ That is exactly what the majority of people do. More than five hundred of the most successful people this country has ever known told the author their greatest success came just one step beyond the point at which defeat had overtaken them.

And that’s worth thinking about.

Vic Johnson
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Vic Johnson is a speaker and founder of a host of personal development websites. You can grab your free ebook copy of “As A Man Thinketh” by James Allen, a timeless success classic by clicking here!

-How important has persistence been in your life? What are your thoughts on the ideas shared in the article above?

To play big in life and work you have to act big. I don’t mean that you have to act superior to anyone or believe that you are better than someone else.

When you act that way you are really acting very small and insecure. When you behave in a way of superiority you are letting your ego take over and eventually you will pay the price.

Competing with someone else gives you a false sense of superiority or bigness.

The people who act big believe that within themselves they are gifted with the talent, determination, faith and persistence to be the best they can be.

It is not about competing against someone else, but about pushing to surpass yourself, to be better than you were before.

Acting big is about behaving as though you are the best you can be, without putting limitations on how phenomenal you are.

Acting big means that when you are at work you are performing your best at every task you do, no matter how trivial or important. It means that from the moment you walk into your office you are “on”, you are focused on being the kind of worker you would want working for you.

You answer the phone with genuine interest and know that how you act communicates your awareness of the responsibility that comes with creating a positive and powerful reputation.

Acting big means that when you are interacting with your kids you are being the best dad you can be. You know in your heart and soul you are the dad you wanted for yourself and you strive, in every moment, to be that dad to your kids.

The truth is we only have moments, short, memorable, life changing moments. It also means saying, “I’m sorry” when we mess up. It is how you teach your children forgiveness.

Acting big means that you strive to attain a deep, supportive and fun relationship with your significant other.

You keep your side of the fence clean, meaning that you don’t point out what they are doing wrong, instead you focus on what you can do right.

After 25 years of marriage I can attest that this is a daily, practiced and focused endeavor. It is so easy to fall into the habit of pointing out what others do wrong.

However, acting big means you get into the habit of pointing out what others do right. It is important to take action. My husband is my hero. I choose to treat him that way (or at least I strive to most of the time).

Acting big means knowing where you are going and having the courage to get there. It means finding friends and associates that are also growing, transforming and changing.

Acting big means asking for help from those who have what you strive for and learning from them. Learning from their mistakes and from their strengths.

Be brave, be bold, play big

Decide today to act big!
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Pegine Echevarria is a motivational speaker and author – a nationally recognized expert on success, leadership, and team building. Visit her at Pegine.com

-What are some ways you “act big”, or can begin to do so in your life?

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I believe among the most valuable traits of any human being is the ability to honestly, objectively, and realistically assess themselves.

It is easy to look at friends, neighbors, and colleagues and judge their success in their personal or professional lives.

This ease in judging others comes from our tendency to look at everyone else’s actions and results while only viewing our own intentions.

We all start out with great intentions that can often become an excuse when we fail to perform.

Socrates said that the unexamined life is not worth living. For years in my corporate and arena speaking engagements, I have challenged my audiences by telling them that most people spend more time planning their three-day weekend than they spend planning what they are going to do for the rest of their lives. This accurate self-evaluation is extremely difficult.

We’ve all heard of anorexia which is a debilitating disease that can result in death. Anorexic patients literally starve themselves to death.

They can look in a mirror and see themselves as overweight, even though they are literally only skin and bones. For anorexic patients to be cured, it requires a sort of reprogramming in their perceptions and outlooks.

For you and I to assess our lives, we’ve got to undergo similar reprogramming. We can only judge our success and progress based on where we should be in our lives.

Comparing ourselves to others, or even comparing ourselves to where we used to be, will always lead us to a false conclusion.

The following questions may be helpful as you begin the process.

1. What do I stand for?
2. What are the things I most want to accomplish in my life?
3. Who are the people that are most significant to me?
4. Am I making a difference in the lives of those I most care about?
5. Am I on-track to reach my personal and professional goals?
6. Am I making a lasting difference in the world?
7. Am I enjoying the ride?

The answers to these questions can begin the exercise of looking into our own life mirror and judging what we see. No one else can do this but us, and no one else’s opinion really matters.

As you go through your day today, resolve to not judge anyone else nor allow them to judge you, but put your life on trial and control the verdict.

Today’s the day!
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Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, as well as a published author of many books including The Ultimate Gift. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. He may be reached by e-mail at JimStovall@aol.com or by visiting www.JimStovall.com

-What did you think of the ideas shared in this article? Answering the questions posed in the article can be challenging, but doing so can serve you greatly. Is there anything you would like to add along the lines of what was shared in the article?

Verb always inspires, for a verb is an action word. It is action that propels us to move mountains and tear seas apart.

It is action that motivates us to look forward to the next day with an eye of enthusiasm, passion and purpose. It is action that shifts our focus from “arm chair dud” to “get your hands dirty” dude.

If you just reflect on all the accomplishments that you have had in your life, 99% of them have been action oriented. Be it winning the hundred meters dash during your growing years, or the big corporate deal for your company wherein you spent days and nights preparing for the final presentation. It is action that gives each one of us the highest spirit of performance.

Why do we relate so much to sports? Because, we see unbridled passion, excitement, enthusiasm, focus, togetherness, all packaged and given to us in the form of raw action. Now that was the verb part.

As we progress, we are looking at accomplishing as much as we can in the quickest of time. Competition is non-optional. You have to be in the line of duty to perform. In such cases, you have not much of a choice but to give your best shot in whatever you do in the quickest of time. Speed with precision is the call of the times.

Thereby, I have taken the liberty to move a step ahead and introduce to you a word – Verbed! What is it? Verbed is “accelerated action.” You need to stay verbed to remain competitive in the race. When others are trying to grasp the nuances of the subject, you should endeavor to be ready with three probable answers. You should be inspired enough to take immediate action and try to show results with precision at the quickest of times.

That is accelerated action. In any sphere you are in, try to look at how you could complete any given task in the quickest of times and with great precision. So this year and every passing year, let the motto of your existence be “Verbed.”
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Dewaker Basnet is a leadership and personality development consultant based out of India. He is the founder director of 24hoursinspired which facilitates leadership and personality development workshops that inspires youngsters to become the leaders of tomorrow. He also runs a website www.24hoursinspired.com

-what do you think of the ideas shared above?

Get three strikes in baseball and you’re out. But what if that weren’t the case? What if you could swing and swing and swing without ever striking out?

I have a metal paperweight on my desk with the inscription, “What would you do if you could not fail?” It’s a nice ornament with a positive message, but over the past several years I’ve realized that it’s the wrong message. Anybody can fail at anything. It’s important to know that going in. A much better and more useful message would be, “What would you do if it didn’t matter if you failed?” To me, that’s much more realistic and powerful.

If you start a new venture without first thinking about and limiting risks, you can put your finances—and worse yet—your relationships in jeopardy. What starts as a way to build a dream life, become your own boss, or make a fortune can turn into a nightmare if you don’t limit your risk. Instead of taking a lot of risk and jeopardizing a cataclysmic strike out, your goal should be to limit the risk of financial catastrophe.

Here are the top 6 ways to limit your risk:

1. Keep your day job (at least for now). The first rule is that you still need to follow the traditional financial planning rules—at least until you achieve success with a new venture. You need to keep working hard and saving. You’re going to need the stable income from your job, and you may need some extra money to get started.

This will provide you with a safety net while you transform into a Cre8tor. As much fun as creating is—and it really is fun—and as much potential there is when you create, this game doesn’t provide a sure-fire way to overnight riches (I’ll leave that promise to the get-rich-quick con-men on late night TV). It’s important to have that steady and predictable income during the day while you swing for the fences at night.

2. Other people’s talents. Enlist the support of others. Find service partners willing to invest their time a piece of the venture’s future income instead of upfront cash. The same person who would laugh you out of their office if you asked them for a $2,500 investment may gladly trade $2,500 of their services for a small piece of ownership in a promising new venture. Why? Like you, most people are looking for an opportunity to get ahead without risking too much. If someone can invest a little of their time with the hopes of making a huge return, they may jump at the chance.

In my book The Other 8 Hours I provide detailed recommendations on how to minimize your costs by getting others to work on your venture for free.

3. Negotiate fiercely. As a Cre8tor, you must be relentless about getting what you need. You don’t have the luxury of a six-figure budget. You’ve got to get your ventures up and running as cheaply as you can. One way to minimize risk is to negotiate everything. Don’t accept anything as is.

Negotiate discounts, concessions, bonuses, terms, etc. It will feel awkward at first, but keep practicing. You’ll discover two things very quickly. Almost everything is negotiable, and most people can’t negotiate to save their life. Learning to negotiate effectively is one of the best skills you can ever learn.

4. Make small bets. Would you throw all or you money on one number in roulette? Well don’t make huge bets when you’re starting a new venture. It all comes down to how much money can you afford to lose without it destroying your finances and your ability to pay your rent? Start small and start slowly. Immediately committing thousands of dollars to an idea is as ridiculous as walking up to a girl you’ve never met and asking her to marry you. You need to put a little out there and get a little back. Then you can put a little more out there and hopefully get a little more back.

5. Limit liability. If you are producing a product or providing a service that could lead you to get sued, you must protect yourself against lawsuits by incorporating or creating a limited liability company and by having the proper liability insurance. Don’t risk financial disaster by going naked (i.e., without shielding your personal assets from your business assets).

6. Other people’s money. The best combination of letters . . . OPM. Spread the risk around. Get investors to contribute money, ideas, and resources. Learn where to find investors and what you need to show them to get their attention and their checks.

Warren Buffett famously said, “Rule No.1 is never lose money. Rule No.2 is never forget rule number one.” Follow Buffett’s lead. Limit your risk to maximize your success.

- Robert Pagliarini
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In his new book, The Other 8 Hours: Maximize Your Free Time to Create New Wealth & Purpose, Robert empowers people to live life to the fullest by radically changing the way they spend “The Other 8 Hours” – the 8 hours not spent sleeping or working. Robert has appeared as a financial expert on 20/20, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil, ABC Morning News, NPR’s Marketplace and in The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, BusinessWeek, Money Magazine and many others.

-What do you think of the ideas shared? What was your biggest takeaway or lesson learned?

Our studies of high achievers have shown that no matter how different their personalities, work habits, occupations or gender, the people who accomplish great things in life have visualized and expected success all along.

They’ve had the ability to vividly picture their achievements and to reassure themselves in the face of long odds that they would come through.

To visualize the person you want most to become, set aside some time this week in which you can create an atmosphere conducive to re-affirming your life dreams.

You may want to be near the ocean, or a lake, or in a park, in a garden or in the woods. Or you might just sit quietly by yourself in a comfortable lounge or chair. Get yourself in the mood for visualizing. When the left hemisphere of the brain is quiet and relaxed, the mind is most receptive to creative inputs.

To facilitate this you may want to use soothing recorded music, preferably slow and inspiring like Bach, Handel or Vivaldi if you like classical music, or soft, popular instrumentals from epic movies or other mood music.

Once you’re properly relaxed and optimistic, let your mind focus on who you really want to become. Visualize the future in two time frames: five years from now and ten years from now.

First, design a day in your life five years from now. Who are you five years from now? Where are you professionally and geographically? On Monday mornings, where do you go?

What are you doing, seeing, feeling and thinking? Who are the people around you? What’s different about your life five years from now?

Next, project ahead ten years from today. Picture a film of your life at that time. Who is watching it with you? What dramatic moments are depicted by that film? What personal triumphs are revealed? What obstacles are courageously overcome?

Don’t be shy! The purpose of this exercise is to load visualized software in your mental computer. Just as a computer must be configured to accept specific materials, your mind must be prepared to accept the reality of your greater success. By introducing positive images of goal achievement, you’re preparing yourself to translate those goals into reality.

I especially like to visualize myself being introduced at a dinner in my honor. Maybe it’s the Coaches’ Hall of Fame! Don’t laugh! It could happen!

The emcee comes to the microphone and reads the highlights of my life and adds some insights as to who I really am. What would the emcee be saying about you if such a dinner were held in your honor ten years from now?

Devote a page in your journal to describing the things you would want said about you.

This visualization will put you on a path that leads to your future self that you vividly picture today!

- Denis Waitley
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Denis Waitley is one of America’s most respected authors, keynote lecturers and productivity consultants on high performance human achievement. Learn more about his program The New Dynamics of Goal Setting.

-Do you use visualization to help you achieve your goals? If so, how do you visualize your success?

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The turning point in my life came when I discovered the law of cause and effect, the great law of the universe, and human destiny. I learned that everything happens for a reason. I discovered that success is not an accident.

Failure is not an accident, either. I also discovered that people who are successful in any area usually are those who have learned the cause-and-effect relationship between what they want and how to get it.

Determine Your Personal Growth and Development Values…
To realize your full potential for personal and professional growth and development, begin with your values as they apply to your own abilities. As you know, your values are expressed in your words and actions.

You can tell what your values are by looking at what you do and how you respond to the world around you. Your values are the root causes of your motivations and your behaviors.

Clarify Your Personal Growth and Development Vision…
Create a long-term vision for yourself in the area of personal growth. Project forward five or ten years and imagine that you are developed fully in every important part of your life. Idealize and see yourself as outstanding in every respect. Refuse to compromise on your personal dreams.

Set Goals for Your Personal Growth and Development…
Now take your vision and crystallize it into specific goals. Here is a good way to start. Take out a piece of paper and write down ten goals that you would like to achieve in the area of personal and professional development in the months and years ahead. Write in the present tense, exactly as if you were already the person you intend to be.

Determine exactly what you want to be able to do. Decide who you want to become. Describe exactly what you will look like when you become truly excellent in your field and in your personal life.

Upgrade Your Personal Knowledge and Skills…
Set specific measures for each of your goals. If your goal is to excel in your field, determine how you will know when you have achieved it. Decide how you can measure your progress and evaluate your success.

Perhaps you can use as a measure the number of hours you study in your field each week. Perhaps you can measure the number of books you read or the number of audio programs you listen to. Perhaps you could measure your progress by the number of sales you make as the result of your growing skills.

Develop Winning Personal Growth and Development Habits…
Select the specific habits and behaviors you will need to practice every day to become the person you want to become. These could be the habits of clarity, planning, thoroughness, studiousness, hard work, determination, and persistence.

Action Exercise:

Decide today to develop yourself to the point where you can achieve every financial and personal goal you ever set and become everything you are capable of becoming. Write down your goals and make sure to look at them every day, then ponder ways you possibly achieve these goals.
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Brian Tracy is one of the world’s leading authorities on personal and business success. His fast-moving talks and seminars are loaded with powerful, proven ideas and strategies that you can apply immediately to get better results in every area. Be sure to visit the Brian Tracy web site

-What was biggest takeaway you got from the ideas shared? You’re welcome to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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