----------------------------- No Sweat Speaking(sm) Ezine ----------------------------- Speaking Tips for Greater Confidence, Skill, Influence & Profit ----------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 3, Number 8 September, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Allan Kaufman & Allan Misch, Editors, Allan and Allan, Inc. mailto:cust-serv@nosweatspeaking.com http://www.nosweatspeaking.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- This monthly newsletter is distributed by request only. If you want to stop it, you can find instructions at the end of the newsletter. (c) 2004 Allan And Allan, Inc. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Please send this Ezine to those you know who (1) need to give technical, sales, marketing, or management presentations; (2) are interested in developing or improving their presentation skills; (3) want to make money speaking and training; (4) need to improve their performance; or (5) have a fear of speaking or are nervous when they speak. This newsletter also is good for building relationships with your clients, customers, associates, and friends. Send this to them with a note that you're thinking about them. ----------------------------------------------------------------- *** Attention *** If you're receiving this issue from someone and would like to get your own complimentary newsletter plus TWO valuable BONUS reports, please visit... http://www.nosweatspeaking.com or... mailto:nssezine@nosweatspeaking.com?subject=Subscribe ----------------------------------------------------------------- PRIVACY STATEMENT: We absolutely will not share your address with anyone. Period! ----------------------------------------------------------------- "Learning to communicate is like taking out an insurance policy. You never know when you'll need it, but it's too late to take it out after you need it." Allan Kaufman as quoted in Baltimore Magazine ----------------------------------------------------------------- *********************** Check This Out! *********************** ***Is Your Public Speaking Fear Holding You Back?*** Are you not getting the job you want or the promotion you deserve because you suffer from speaking anxiety? How much money, loss of opportunities, or damage to your reputation is this fear costing you? ***We Can Help You*** Using our No Sweat Speaking(sm) techniques, we provide personal coaching to help you get rid of your speaking anxieties in a relatively short period of time. Send us an email and tell us you want assistance. We will email you some questions to assess your situation and then send you a proposal as to how we can help you. It doesn't matter where you live as this can be done via email and phone consultations. mailto:allank@nosweatspeaking.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- In This Issue ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Featured Article 2. Presentation Skills Tip 3. Humor Tip 4. Dear Allan and Allan (Answers to Your Questions) ----------------------------------------------------------------- *** Attention Small Business Owners *** Here's one of the best websites on the Internet for small business marketing. We use this site and its great information as a resource. Get a free 24-page Marketing Plan Workbook. Visit... http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?AFID=50478 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Featured Article ----------------------------------------------------------------- **Transitions... Your Secret Weapon for Being Understood** by Allan Misch Have you ever seen a movie that's difficult to follow or understand? Where a scene doesn't relate to any previous scene? Where you ask yourself, "Did I miss something?" How does that make you feel? Confused? Disappointed? What causes this? Simple, the movie lacks effective transitions (usually bad editing or flawed script), so it's hard to follow. A presentation is like a movie. It tells a story. Even though its opening and close must be the most powerful parts, your presentation must be easy to follow. If it's not, your audience will leave feeling confused and disappointed. To make your program understandable and easy to follow, use important rhetorical devices called transitions. Transitions are words, phrases, pauses, and movements that connect one idea or one part of the presentation to the previous one. Transitions take your audience from the beginning to the end of your program in an easy-to-follow manner. Here are a few tips for using effective transitions. *Tip #1* -- Use Simple, Short Words and Phrases. Use words such as "But," "Furthermore," "In addition," "Yet," "Second" (or "Third," Fourth," etc.), "Next," "So," "In conclusion," and "To summarize." Also use short phrases that lead your audience. Try this, "As important as is, is even more important." Short, simple words and phrases help you to move quickly from one point to another. They set a quick pace and make it easy for your audience to follow. *Tip #2 -- Use Pauses or Movement. A pause after a point or idea in a presentation is like a paragraph shift in a book. A new idea or change follows both. For example, "" Pause and state " Moving, such as taking three steps to the left or right and addressing that side of the audience, is like a changing chapters in a book. Your audience expects a shift, especially if you pause and move simultaneously. For example, "" Pause, take three steps to the right, address the right side of the audience, and state " Pauses and movements transmits to your audience expectations that you are shifting from one idea to another. They are especially powerful when you introduce an important point, because they focus your audience's attention on what's coming. *Tip #3 -- Use Linking Words. This is a powerful technique to transition from one point to another. Accent a word towards the end of your point or story, then use the same word in the beginning of your next point and accent it. As an example, I tell a story about my uncle Manny. I end it by saying, "My uncle Manny has the ability to *focus* on anything that's important to him, like golf." (Now I begin my next point.) "Today, I too want to *focus* but not on golf. I want to *focus* on...." By accenting the word "focus," I link the two thoughts and take my audience from one part of my program to another. You can literally lead your audience from the beginning to the end of your presentation just using this technique. Isaac Asimov said, "Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome." Avoid troublesome transitions in your presentations. Like a well-paced, easy-to- follow movie, use effective transitions that contain short words and phrases, pauses or movement, and linking words. Remember, transitions are your secret weapon for being understood. ----------------------------------------------------------------- "In minutes you were able to do for the audience what some people have been trying to do for themselves for a lifetime. You two helped audience members get rid of the fear of public speaking right before my very eyes.... Any organization can benefit greatly by witnessing your seminar.... You two are a great team!" Craig Valentine Toastmasters International 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking ----------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Presentation Skills Tip ----------------------------------------------------------------- **Don't Worry About What Your Audience Is Thinking** by Allan Kaufman In my opinion, some of us worry way too much about what other people think. My wife is like that. I keep telling her, "Don't worry, it does not matter." Maybe you've heard this before: "Don't sweat the small stuff. It's all small stuff." What other people think is a subset of this. I'm not saying to ignore your audience or to forget about meeting their needs or expectations. Just the opposite, we say meet and then beat their expectations. However, most people place way too high expectations on themselves and set themselves up for failure if they don't meet all their expectations. If you have prepared yourself by developing good communications skills and have researched your subject, then stand before your audience and enjoy yourself without worrying about making some mistakes. Remember you and your audience are humans, and humans make mistakes. We are imperfect. Your audience understands and empathizes with you when you are not perfect. They are rooting for you. If you make a mistake, for example you lose your place or train of thought, do what I do. Ask your audience, "Where was I?" They will tell you. You can also do what Allan and I do a lot lately. We say, "I'm having a senior moment." So don't worry about what your audience is thinking if you make a mistake. They are pulling for you. Just move on. ----------------------------------------------------------------- *** Great Speaking Resource *** Turn your speaking, training, or sales skills into cash. Check out a great professional speaking resource. We recommend it highly. Lots of great tips and tricks. Just click on or paste the URL into your browser. http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?AFID=50475&u=www.antion.com/public-speaking.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Humor Tip ----------------------------------------------------------------- **Use Allan and Allan's Tips for Using Humor** by Allan Kaufman 1. Learn how to think funny. 2. Use humor throughout your presentation. 3. Use humor in your introductions. 4. Personalize your humor. 5. Don't announce you are telling a joke. 6. Keep your humorous story short. 7. Learn the story. 8. Don't apologize if it "bombs." 9. Don't be offensive. Some of the above have been discussed before in previous ezines. For example, "Learn How to Think Funny" is covered in the November, 2002 issue. "Three ways to Personalize Humor" is in the June, 2004 issue. Today let's briefly discuss number 2 above: Use humor throughout your presentation, especially in your opening and in your closing. It's important in your opening to get your audience's attention, to get them interested right away before their minds' walk out on you. If you leave them laughing with your close, they will receive your message and feel good. Chance are they will invited you back. You'll be judged a success. You might even get a standing ovation. In the body of your speech, use humor to transition from one point to another and/or to help your audience remember a point. For additional information, try these sources: Antion, Tom. Wake 'Em Up! How to Use Humor and Other Professional Techniques to Create Alarmingly Good Business Presentations. Landover Hills, Maryland: Anchor Publishing and Minneapolis, Minnesota: Creative Training Techniques Press, 1997. http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?AFID=50475&u=www.antion.com/wakebook.htm Braude, Jacob M. Braude's Handbook of Stories for Toastmasters and Speakers. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1980. Orben, Robert. The Encyclopedia of One-Liner Comedy. New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1971. Peret, Gene. How to Hold Your Audience with Humor -- A Guide to More Effective Speaking. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writers Digest Books, 1953. Prochnow, Herbert V., and Prochnow, Herbert V., Jr. The Toastmaster's Treasure Chest. New York: Harper & Row, 1979. Wilde, Larry - author of over 60 humor books. Do a Google search on Larry Wilde for more information. To summarize, use humor as much as possible to make your presentations much more interesting and memorable. ----------------------------------------------------------------- **If You're Looking for a Home for Your Website, iPowerWeb Makes Website Hosting Simple!** We did a lot of research on Web hosting companies and compared many of them. We decided on iPowerWeb to host our website, and we made a good decision. iPowerWeb is rated #1 for affordable, high quality web hosting. You get an incredible 500 megs of space, 300 POP email accounts, 30 gigs of transfer, website builder, 24/7 customer support, free setup, marketing package, and much more... all for an incredible $7.95 per month! So if you're interested in establishing a presence on the Web for the first time, or if you want to change your Website hosting company because you're tired of getting ripped off, check out iPowerWeb. http://www.ipowerweb.com/cgi-bin/tracker/trackeraf.cgi?rid=afftrend ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Dear Allan and Allan (Answers to Your Questions) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Allan and Allan, I am an electrical engineer and I have to give technical presentations. They are very boring. What can I do to make them more interesting? Boring In Baltimore Dear Boring In Baltimore, This is a question we get often. First, congratulations! At least you're aware that your presentations need some spice. Without knowing the specifics of your problem, it's difficult to give you specific suggestions. Here are some general suggestions to spice up your presentations. Include some personal anecdotes that illustrate your points. Anecdotes balance an otherwise dry, analytical, logical propositions. They humanize your presentation and create audience interest. Next, you could inject a little humor, but not too much. You could do that with humorous anecdotes, a humorous audio-visual graphic, or even an "in-joke." Allan and Allan Submit questions to mailto:questions@nosweatspeaking.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------- *** Hot Internet Business Secrets *** Over 1,000+ PAGES of the Hottest, Proven Profitable Internet Business Secrets Broken down Into An EASY-TO-DUPLICATE System! We highly recommend checking out this site. It's jam-packed with THE EXACT INFORMATION YOU NEED to start, build, and grow your very own, profitable Internet business. This is what we used to get started. So visit... http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/769587 ----------------------------------------------------------------- **************************** Earn Referral Fees **************************** You can earn a 15 percent finders fee for referring Allan and Allan, Inc. for speaking and training engagements. For details contact us at... mailto:cust-serv@nosweatspeaking.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Complimentary Articles for Your Publications ----------------------------------------------------------------- We have articles available for reprint in your publication, company newsletter, etc. You may use articles written by us that you see on our website at... http://www.nosweatspeaking.com/articles/article_index.html and in the NSS Ezine. View back issues at... http://www.nosweatspeaking.com/ezine/back_issues-2002.html Print the entire article along with the by-line at top and the credits, and complete contact information at the end of each article. Also, please send us a tear sheet or electronic copy. Thanks! ----------------------------------------------------------------- We don't send out an unsolicited newsletter. You must request it to receive it. We don't like receiving SPAM, and we sure as heck try not to SPAM others. But sometimes people sign up their friends. If you received this issue and don't recall requesting it, refer to the email address at the end of the Ezine. If it's not yours, then someone sent it to you. To get your own copy, sign up now. To stop the newsletter, refer to the instructions below. ----------------------------------------------------------------- "... I've even taken an extended course at UCLA Extension in California. The course was about $500.00 and lasted 8 weeks. I've learned more from 2 of your newsletters than I learned in an 8 week course... your newsletter is incredible, enlightening, informative... the best I've read to date... and I've read some good ones!" Janice Smallwood-McKenzie, The Networking Coach/Author "101 Commandments of Networking: Common Sense But Not Common Practice" http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/2513 (The link is for your information. We make nothing on it.) ----------------------------------------------------------------- To Request the No Sweat Speaking(sm) Ezine: http://www.nosweatspeaking.com or mailto:nssezine@nosweatspeaking.com?subject=Subscribe To Stop Receiving the Ezine: http://www.nosweatspeaking.com/unsubscribe.html For Personal Coaching Inquiries: mailto:allank@nosweatspeaking.com For Back Issues: http://www.nosweatspeaking.com/ezine/back_issues-2002.html To Submit Questions to Dear Allan and Allan: mailto:questions@nosweatspeaking.com For Feedback on the Content of This Issue: mailto:cust-serv@nosweatspeaking.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- *** A Fantastic Resource *** Need MORE TRAFFIC to your website or affiliate links? "Turn Words Into Traffic" reveals the secrets for using *free* articles to drive Thousands of NEW visitors to your website or affiliate links... without spending a dime on advertising! We use this resource and it's incredible! The idea is simple and ingenious. Find out more at http://hop.clickbank.net/?aanosweat/ezarticles. ----------------------------------------------------------------- No Sweat Speaking(sm) Ezine ----------------------------- Publisher: Allan and Allan, Inc. Editors: Allan Kaufman and Allan Misch P.O. Box 2721 Columbia, Maryland 21045-1721 USA Tel: 410-363-0080 Fax: 410-356-8374 mailto:cust-serv@nosweatspeaking.com http://www.nosweatspeaking.com "Your next presentation doesn't have to make you sweat!" Experience No Sweat Speaking(sm)! -----------------------------------------------------------------