by Alan | Feb 16, 2009 | Communication skills, Efficiency, public speaking
I was teaching/coaching a group last week and they were hitting their head against the wall. We were discussing making things interesting with good openers, and the basic tenor in the class was “I don’t think this topic (I) is (am) very...
by Alan | Nov 22, 2007 | Communication skills, Customer Service, Don't!, Efficiency
On a day where we are supposed to stop, ponder, and give cognizant acknowledgment to the many good things in our lives (but here in America, judging from the size of my newspaper this morning, it is apparently about planning our shopping day for tomorrow), let be the...
by Alan | Sep 23, 2007 | Communication skills, Content, Efficiency, Sales, Toastmasters
It’s often amazing to me how much is said and how little is communicated. Many people seem intent on making sure they are heard — not that their message is heard.It’s Toastmasters contest season again, and due to another obligation I was unable to...
by Alan | Jun 6, 2007 | Efficiency, Leadership, public speaking
I heard this quote (no attribution) the other week:”We spend far too much time on our jobs, and far too little on ourselves.”I spent a little time improving myself this week at the ASTD ICE conference. It was quite amazing, and I come back with gobs of...
by Alan | Mar 20, 2007 | Content, Efficiency
Sitting in a hotel reading the instructions for “complimentary high-speed wireless internet service”.Seven steps, easy enough. Then there’s another step listed after an asterisk (even though there is no asterisk anywhere else on the page). The step...
by Alan | Feb 26, 2007 | Content, Efficiency
After some sickness putting us out of commission a bit, we’re back in business. Sickness makes the well times seem so much more weller.Had a faithful reader give this tip, and I can’t believe I didn’t know it or discover it before. You should know by...
