I was compelled to make one more post this week to share one of my annual observances. Turn off the electricity. Do something non-technical for an hour! Free your brain. Reconnect with your people! Support the Planet.
1 HOUR! 8:30 to 9:30 PM anywhere on earth!
KG
"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." Calvin & Hobbes - Bill Watterson
On this the last day of 'The Blog Project' I'll admit I faced a few personal challenges pulling it together. And I'm still learning! That's really what it's all about after all. Peter Urs Bender and his unique take on self and leadership is being absorbed into my pores as we speak. I hope you enjoyed the journey. I thank you for travelling with me!
I'll leave you with this wisdom found tucked in my personal journals and emails from friends. I think Peter might have had to comment, don't you? I hope they inspire you to be your best self!
Karen G.
"It's true...the only way to grow is to step outside of your comfort zone now and then."Sandy Bell-Lundy
Two Wolves: Which wolf wins?
One evening a grandfather told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said,
"My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all:
One is Evil –
It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good –
It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?" The grandfather simply replied, "The one you feed."
Peter Urs Bender was a master at delivering a clear message. Perhaps, because he challenged and overcame dyslexia to become a gifted speaker, Peter had a better understanding and ability to make the message clear so the audience understood.He made it a point to speak the language of his audience, to build friendly rapport, to fully tune in, to fully deliver the, What’s in itfor me?programming of every presentation. WII-FM - A Classic Audience Station. Tune in and be rewarded.
"Perfect Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance!" Peter Urs Bender
Reference:
Bender, P. (1991). Secrets of Power Presentations 5th Edition. Toronto. The Achievement Group.
WII-FM. Did I mean to type Wii™-FM?Has Nintendo™ added yet another module to their famous video game console? Nope!
WII-FM is classic audience radio! WII-FM has maintained top ranking on Peter Urs Bender’s playlist since Secrets of Power Presentations was released in 1991.
Translation, “What’s In It – For Me?”
(Bender, 1991, p. 52)
You can bet that all audiences ask this question even before they take their seats. They ask this question when they read the invitation. They ask this question when they give their credit card number to confirm their registration. And they definitely ask this question as the lights are lowered and you step out on stage.
What’s in it for me?If as a speaker, you have not prepared well and are not ready to deliver targeted, relevant, motivational and memorable material, you might as well wave to the crowd and leave. Don’t waste their time! From a quote in the fly leaf of my borrowed copy of Secrets of Power Presentations is the dedication that Peter Urs Bender wrote to an audience member, “Toronto, Oct. 94…as you know – even the greatest ideas – must be presented well!”
All the best techniques that Peter Urs Bender lays out in his book, Secrets of Power Presentations; (Bender, 1991, pp. 39-97)
modulate your voice,
use shorter words and phrases,
inject energy and enthusiasm,
use hand gestures to signal topic flow, and
use visual aids or technology
won’t guarantee your presentation’s success and you won't be presenting well if you haven’t tuned in to the audience. You know how annoying it is when your favourite Jazz station doesn’t play a clear signal. What do you do? You change stations! And that’s what the audience will do to you, an ill-prepared speaker, tune you out!
George Torok, co-authored with Peter Urs Bender, Secrets of Power Marketing. He shares with the authors and audiences of the text Business Communication Process and Product how he and Peter might have allocated their time when tackling the WII-FM question. He applies the 3x3 Writing Process model that Guffy et al. feature in Chapter 14 of the text. (Guffy, et al., 2011, p. 513)
Tune in to WII-FM - ANALYSE, ANTICIPATE, ADAPT
BE CLEAR ON YOUR PURPOSE.The very first, essential step in preparing a presentation is to be clear on the purpose …”be razor sharp before beginning.” (Guffy, et al., 2011, p. 513)Expect half of your preparation time in this step to be devoted to analysing the goal and committing to the key message of the presentation.
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE.Spend about 30% of your time to anticipate what content must go into your speech by getting to know your audience, the nature of the event and its purpose.Be prepared to focus on what the audience needs to know, their level of understanding of the subject, and the possible reaction to the information.Will the audience be jubilant?Will they be upset? Will you need to do some convincing, or will they be on-side?
ADAPT THE MESSAGE.Every part of your presentation must relate to your audience. You’ve allowed for the last 20% of your time to be about adapting your message.Plan your opening to address the special nature of the meeting or its location or relevance to the group. (Bender, 1991, p. 73) Your credibility can be established in the opening first minutes of your presentation if you do it right.
George Torok explains that if you have used the above 50/30/20 breakdown to prepare the outline in your first step, then the final two phases should flow easily as you complete the presentation and make ready to deliver it to your audience. (Guffy, et al., 2011, pp. 498-501)
PRE-WRITING - Step 1
Analyse / Anticipate / Adapt
WRITING PROCESS - Step 2
(Research / Organise / Compose)
REVISING-REHEARSING - Step 3
(Edit / Proof / Evaluate)
If you have been following the model and at every stage in the process, your every point or activity supports the purpose of your presentation, you can be sure that your audience will be tuned in!
KG
References: Bender, P. (1991. Secrets of Power Presentations 5th Edition. Toronto. The Achievement Group. Guffy, M., Rhodes, K. and Rogin, P. (2011). Business Communication - Process and Product 6th Canadian Edition Toronto. Nelson Education Ltd.
The music is "The Stopping Place" by Sam Cardon and Don Stirling from the album "Faithful" (licensed for use with this video)It is available on iTunes.
So...in this first week of March I need a little something, some extrasomething... something, to help me push through. With a jam-packed calendar of booked quizzes, mid-terms, assignments and…not to be overlooked, job hunting, cooking, cleaning, dog walking, sleeping – that “stuff”, I need a little pick me up.Many of you are doing the same thing this week.In lifting myself up to get started and keep going, I decided to share what works for me. I hope it does the same for you. Here we go!
Begin. Do. Lead by example. Build trust.Motivate yourself and others.You’ll be rewarded when you do. Self-motivation is triggered because we need something. Sometimes the hardest part is to identify what it is that we need. Sometimes we don’t know until we begin to act.The process is different for everyone.You need to discover what drives you, what fulfills you, and as you do, each small success feeds the next one.
With self-mastery, balance and success in your personal schedule at home, work and play, one of the happy side benefits is that in addition to your own inner glow -- all that positivity begins rubbing off and it will infect people around you in the best way possible – and then, ultimately, back to you!
Motivation can’t be forced.If you disagree with me, perhaps you are actually thinking about action.Actions canbe forced.If you are the boss, you make the rules; you assign the work; but, do you notice if people are very happy when you do?Your goal as leader is to create an environment where people are self-motivated to initiate and achieve the target outcome of tasks set by you because they trust you.
Now, back to you – how to motivate self?
Peter Urs Bender leads us to the how, many, many times in his writing as you will discover if you borrow one of his books from the library or buy a copy of one of the titles that speaks to you.From Motivate Others: Motivate Yourself, from Peter’s web site*, be inspired to step outside your comfort zone to achieve every goal on your list!
Set sensible goals – write them down – keep that list with you—check in often.
Read good books – a book written by Peter Urs Bender, for certain…but do some research.Talk to friends and your local librarian and read what interests you and catches your attention.There are great books out there!
Watch good movies, TV and Online – you’ll be surprised where you get your motivation!I know, you may be asking, “What is she thinking to recommend television or the internet, for that matter?”It’s not all dark, violence and junk.Be selective.I happily discovered the TED: Ideas worth Spreading website via this project assignment.You too, may be inspired!
Look after your body.Good health and fitness is an obvious motivator. When you feel great – you can get to great, and then you get out and do things.The process is self-perpetuating!
Work at rewarding projects.Do things you enjoy doing.If you are not working in a job right now that totally excites you – although, it may give you what you need materially (that’s the compromise you choose, by the way), make sure to include a project that allows you to feed your passion.Volunteer!Coach a sport team!Work with your hands.My sister-in-law makes her own greeting cards and sews beautiful quilts that she raffles off for charity.C’s creativity is respected and celebrated.She is approached often to contribute a project for an event.She also loves her job – in part, because she has created the time for play.
Last but not least, realize that you cannot always be UP!There are going to be days when it is hard to stay positive.Life can blindside us from time to time.That’s life.But don’t take anyone else with you, and don’t stay there after you’ve taken your self-approved short side trip to lick your wounds – begin preparing for the next positive moment immediately- it will happen before you know it!The system that is working for you, the one you set up last week by following Peter Urs Bender’s sage advice, does work!
KG
...You thought I was going to suggest something totally different, or maybe a Tim Horton's break, didn't you? They too know their marketing strengths, but, I chose the following uplifting message from another well-known sponsor…
Poetry by Ogden Nash Illustration by Etienne Delessert
I had to put in another endorsement for OVC Pet Trust and The University of Guelph.
I am diverting briefly away from my main topic, although 'whimsy' will cover me on this occasion.
The new Mona Campbell Centre for Animal Cancer has officially opened.The research to find cures continues.The more we research to find cures for cancer in our best friend the dog, and for all animals, the closer we will be to finding cures for cancers in humans.It is important work being done and I support it whole heartedly.
WII-FM. Did I mean to type Wii™-FM ? Has Nintendo™ added yet another module to their famous video game console? Nope!
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE. Spend about 30% of your time to anticipate what content must go into your speech by getting to know your audience, the nature of the event and its purpose. Be prepared to focus on what the audience needs to know, their level of understanding of the subject, and the possible reaction to the information. Will the audience be jubilant? Will they be upset? Will you need to do some convincing, or will they be on-side?
