This is our Holiday issue. We take time off in November and December to rest and celebrate the season and New Year with our families. So we're publishing a combined November and December issue. We hope you have a festive holiday season and a new year filled with good health, happiness and prosperity. Ho, ho, ho. We just finished transferring our subscription and newsletter broadcasting processes to a new system. A special thanks to our subscribers from our old system who re-opted in to our new subscriber list. Also, a big welcome to our new subscribers. ----------------------------- No Sweat Speaking(tm) Ezine ----------------------------- Speaking Tips for Greater Confidence, Skill, Influence, & Profit "Your next presentation doesn't have to make you sweat!" ------------------------------------------------------------ Volume 6, Number 9 November/December, 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------ Allan Kaufman & Allan Misch, Editors, Allan and Allan, Inc. http://www.nosweatspeaking.com Email: http://www.nosweatspeaking.com/contact.html ------------------------------------------------------------ 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) 2007 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 and 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! *********************** "Public speaking and even presentations to small groups were my greatest fears and I had gone to great lengths to avoid them throughout my career. In my new company, public speaking was not something I could avoid and my speaking ability would be quickly tested. After a lot of research, I turned to Allan & Allan. Most other companies only offer skill training. What I needed was to overcome my life long fear of speaking in front of groups. The No Sweat Speaking system seemed illogical to me at first and I was skeptical. The great part about the system is that you don't have to understand it or believe that it will work. It just happens. Today I speak in front of groups, give media interviews and conduct training sessions on a routine basis. Not only is my speaking anxiety gone, but my skills continue to improve and I look forward to my next opportunity to speak. I give my highest recommendation for Allan and Allan's system. If it works for me, it can work for anyone." Thanks, Jim M. Connecticut --------------- We Can Help You --------------- Using our unique No Sweat Speaking(tm) techniques, we provide personal coaching to help you get rid of your speaking anxieties in a relatively short period of time. Go to our website and complete the Coaching Inquiry Questionnaire at http://nosweatspeaking.com/coaching_inquiry.html. Completing the questionnaire doesn't obligate you or us to work together. We will assess your situation and send you a proposal about how we can assist you. It doesn't matter where you live. Our coaching can be done by email and phone consultations. ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ **Feedback - The Tool for Improvement** by Allan Kaufman and Allan Misch When was the last time you gave yourself feedback on your presentation? Most people just don't do it. When did you last ask your audience for feedback? Giving presentations is pointless if your audience is not benefiting from listening to you. So how do you know if you are progressing as a presenter? Through feedback. We (Allan and Allan) get feedback continuously through self- evaluation and from others. We use this information to improve our presentations and delivery. We suggest that you do the same. Here's a 3-step feedback process for self- improvement, and to improve your message. Step 1 -- Self-evaluate your presentation before you present it to your audience. Audio record and/or video record your presentation in a practice session. Play back the recording. Listen and/or look for effective organization and construction, attention- getters, vocal variety, gestures and engaging stories. Make necessary changes to your organization and content. Work on eliminating distracting mannerisms such as filler words, pacing, and nervous body movements and gestures. Work on improving shortcomings such as poor timing, emotionless delivery, and a weak opening or closing. Self-evaluation should correct glaring weaknesses in your presentation. It will also reinforce or bring to the surface your strengths. But self-evaluation has its limitations. It won't catch the qualities, good and not so good, of which you are unaware consciously. That's where the next step comes into play. Step 2 -- Get feedback from trusted colleagues, friends or family, and/or a mentor. Arrange to practice your presentation in front of them. Ask them for feedback. Find out what you did well and how you could improve your talk. If you plan on having a Question and Answer session, brainstorm possible questions you may be asked. Develop answers to the questions. Then, give the questions to a panel of your friends or colleagues and have them fire the questions at you. Evaluate how well you respond. The information on the organization, content, and delivery of your presentation and supporting materials is invaluable to you. This perspective will shed light on strengths and weaknesses that you are not aware of. You will be armed with information that you did not have before -- how others view your presentation. Now you can self-correct further. But feedback doesn't stop here. The ultimate feedback comes in the next step. Step 3 -- Get feedback from your audience in two ways. First, while delivering your speech, engage your audience. Look for audience interest. Are they leaning forward or are they nodding off? Do they laugh at your humor or seem puzzled? Do they ask questions or are they fiddling with their Blackberries? Second, create a feedback sheet. Hand it out to your audience to complete at the end of your presentation. Do not make it too long or your audience will not complete it. The feedback sheet could have a numeric rating on a scale of 1 to 5 on various aspects of your delivery and content. Include some subjective questions; asking them what they liked most about your talk and how you could have made it better. Be sure to ask them if you met or even exceeded their expectations of your presentation. Ask them what else they would like to see in the presentation if you were to give it again. Review the feedback sheets to see if a recurring pattern emerges, or if there is even one good idea to make your presentation more beneficial. You will you get an insightful perspective for improvement, and your audience will appreciate that you value their opinion. So use our 3-step approach for getting feedback to improve your presentations. First, self-evaluate. Second, get feedback from people you trust. And third, ask your audience for feedback. Remember, the basis for self-improvement is a goal. But you need to have a fix on your starting point to know what you must do to achieve success. You must baseline where you are. That's what feedback does for you. It tells you how you are doing and how much more you have to improve, if any, to reach your goal. As Ken Blanchard said, "Feedback is the breakfast of champions." ------------------------------------------------------------ "Keynote was a huge success! You were right about everything--from bringing my introduction to adding humor. I ended up adding about 9 humorous things to my presentation-- I actually brought the house down with the expandable ball visual. Thanks for everything. You made all the difference." Best, Trish "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 ------------------------------------------------------------ **Public Speaking, Why Bother and What Is It Worth?** by Allan Kaufman Instead of a presentation skills tip, I decided to offer an idea in time for the New Year. Hey, public speaking is not for everyone! Let's face it; some of us are born with silver spoons in our mouths. We are natural born orators. Is this true or is it a myth? I suspect it is a combination of the two. Yes, some people are just gifted and fearless. But for most of us, it is a learned skill. And yes, it can be learned. But is it necessary? Probably not for everybody. If you are happy the way you are, and you do not need to give presentations at work, then why bother. Likewise, if you are not interested in stating your views at events or occasions such as at a PTA meeting or at your church or synagogue, why bother. If you are not interested in being a leader, why bother? Why bother getting rid of your fear of public speaking and developing effective communication skills? Developing public speaking skills takes work. It's not for free. But then again, that is true of all worthwhile things. For example, if you want to become a pianist, you must take lessons and practice, practice, and practice. The question you need to ask yourself is, "What is it worth?" What is it worth to become more outgoing? What is it worth to feel more confident? What is it worth to become a respected and competent leader? What is it worth to be persuasive and convince others to take action? What is it worth to be glibber? What is it worth to make more sales? What is it worth to become a more valued employee? What is it worth to become a more effective business person? What is it worth to get promoted? Why bother and what is it worth? January 1, 2008 is right around the corner -- a new year approaching quickly. 2007 seemed to fly by faster than an F-22 Stealth Raptor fighter. Anyway, it is time to do what we all do for the New Year -- make our New Year's resolutions, right? Well, it sounds good, anyway. So why not focus on making public speaking resolutions? Why do I say this? Because being able to communicate confidently, without fear, and with skill would be a major accomplishment with great payoffs, wouldn't it? My strong hunch is that it may help you get promoted, boost your career, get you more respect, and make you more popular. It gets even better. Being relaxed when speaking, even having fun being in front of an audience, is such a great feeling. It's an incredible "high" without drugs. So now is decision-making time. If not now, when? Please send us your public speaking resolutions. We will share them anonymously in a future issue of our NSS Ezine. We also may offer helpful suggestions. Go to http//www.nosweatspeaking.com/contact.html. Put your resolutions in the contact form and send them to us. ------------------------------------------------------------ *** 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ **Keep a Humor Journal** by Allan Misch How can you get humorous material to sprinkle in your presentations without having to create jokes like Jay Leno's comedy writers? Keep a humor journal. Get a notebook and keep it in your briefcase, bag, or pocket. Any time you experience something funny, make a note of it in your journal. It could be something funny that someone said, a funny situation, or an observation that was humorous. You'll find lots of material in your daily comings and goings and in your family interactions. You'll get plenty of fodder from the dumb things that happen at work and the wacky stuff that employees and patrons do in stores. You'll find more funny material in your local newspapers and on TV. As you come across this material, jot it down in your journal. Note the date and source. Then ask yourself, "How can I use this funny piece in any of my presentations?" Before you know it, you'll have plenty of material that will start creeping into your presentations. You'll become a more interesting and engaging presenter. So keep a humor journal. ------------------------------------------------------------ **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 1,000 megs of space, 500 POP email accounts,40 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 have an intense fear of public speaking. I don't know where to look. I shake, voice and body and my palms get extremely sweaty. Also my heart pounds and sometimes I feel light headed and weak in the knees. I can never do a presentation. I become out of breath, speechless. I feel very nervous in front of a group of people. I want to gain my confidence and I want to solve this problem so I could talk freely in public or give presentations in class. I need to overcome my fear of public speaking. I just freak out when requested to speak or even respond to a question. I have a fear of speaking around peers. I freak out in front of crowds and this is a major impediment to my promotion. I want to be able to talk confidently and move people to action. I black out during speech presentation. I tend to read and memorize my speech and if I miss the meat of my speech, everything will erase in my mind. From Callers for help throughout the world. Dear Callers In Emotional Turmoil, As bad as it seems, you are not alone. Most people are suffering the way you are. The difference is that you recognize that you have a problem. Most people hide from it, avoid it, and watch lots of opportunities go by. What can you do? First, document all your symptoms. Keep a record of when you get the symptoms. Note when the problem began. Write down what you think is the root cause of your problem. Then, seek help from a professional who understands your problem and can work with you individually to help you alleviate your emotional pain and replace it with confidence and presentation mastery. What can we do? We can offer you a proven system to melt away your anguish and morph you into a competent presenter. If that appeals to you, go to http://www.nosweatspeaking.com/coaching.html and complete our Coaching Inquiry Form. Allan and Allan Submit questions to Dear Allan and Allan at http://www.nosweatspeaking.com/contact.html by using the contact form. ------------------------------------------------------------ *** 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ *** 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! 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To Stop Receiving NSS Ezine: (1) Click on the link at the end of this ezine. or (2) Go to http://www.nosweatspeaking.com/contact.html. Complete the contact form and put "Unsubscribe" in the subject. (3) Send a request by fax to 410-381-8924. (4) Send a request by postal mail to the address at the bottom of the Ezine. For Personal Coaching Inquiries: Go to http://nosweatspeaking.com/coaching_inquiry.html and complete the Coaching Inquiry Questionnaire. For Back Issues: http://www.nosweatspeaking.com/ezine/back_issues-2002.html To Submit Questions to Dear Allan and Allan: Go to http://www.nosweatspeaking.com/contact.html. Complete the contact form and include your question. For Feedback on the Content of this Issue: Go to http://www.nosweatspeaking.com/contact.html. Complete the contact form and include your comments. ------------------------------------------------------------ No Sweat Speaking(tm) Ezine ----------------------------- Publisher: Columbia Owings Publishing Editors: Allan Kaufman and Allan Misch P.O. Box 2721 Tel: 410-363-0080 Columbia, Maryland 21045-1721 USA Fax: 410-381-8924 http://www.nosweatspeaking.com Email: http://www.nosweatspeaking.com/contact.html "Your next presentation doesn't have to make you sweat!" Experience No Sweat Speaking(tm)! ------------------------------------------------------------