Speak to Entertain & Inspire

What is the message?  How do you want to engage the audience?  How can you be inspirational in your talk? Thinking about all that -- I research speaking and get up on stage as much as possible to share my story.

Recently I spoke for the DetermiNation team at the pre-race Pasta Party in New York City.  I really love to tell my story and am so honored when anyone asks me to speak.  I love to speak in front of crowds and getting nervous is not normally an issue for me.  I am very critical of my speaking and have considered joining Toastmasters but the locations and times are too much to juggle in my crazy lifestyle.   I have video taped my talkss and work to see what I can do better each time.  Check out my YouTube Channel to see me in action!

On LinkedIn one of the groups I follow had a question out there asking people what was the best tip tthat has influenced their public speaking.  Here is a collection (in my opinion) the best answers from that online conversation of Speakers & Trainers.  I recommend being a part of that group to get some really great insight from fellow professionals.  Here is the discussion below:


Nancy (Peck) Cook • Relax, Be yourself, Don't write it out and read it - use bullets of the points you want to make in an organized flow to get out your message and end with a strong summary stateent. Take your time and breathe.

Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater. ~ Gail Godwin

 Jonathan Lavaro • A Guru once taught me, public speaking is likend to serving a dish in a restaurant. You first give them an appetizer. Then you serve them the main meal, and finally, serve them the deserts.

The best advice I ever got was to forget you're talking to a group. Speak to individuals and imagine having a series of individual conversations. It keeps you casual and relaxed. Otherwise we run the risk of sounding like we're pontificating. (Ron Cole)

1) Immediately open with a compelling statement (fact, question, challenge); never open with "Good morning, how are you? My name is..."

2) If you are going to take questions leave your closing line or inspiration statement for after the Q&A (you don't want to end with, "I guess there are no more questions...") So take the questions and then say, "I'd just like to leave everyone with one more thought..."

3) Similar to #1 above (and a little more controversial), never thank people at the beginning of your talk, thank whoever needs to be thanked at the END of your talk

- Kevin
Blog: http://www.kevinkruse.com/

 Prepare, rehearse, and record yourself if necessary. It's important to get your timing down. It is good to hear if you say things like "um" a lot.  (Sean Moran)

Know your audience well. This means doing your homework. It's only when we know our audience well that we are able to connect with them. And being able to do this is half the battle won. (Abdulrazak Yaacob )

Linda Hutchinson • The most important public speaking tip I've learned is to create a commitment bigger than my fear. We have all heard that speaking in public is one of the highest sources of fear. To overcome the fear, I create a commitment for the audience/participants bigger than the fear, that is, what is the difference I want to make with them. I do my best to keep my focus on that. Another tip, perhaps the most important, is that I have taken the Avatar Course (www.theavatarcourse.com) where I learned how to "discreate" the fear and anxiety in the moment and create a belief (like the commitment mentioned above). Recently I presented in front of 725 (my largest so far), I used the Avatar tools to have the courage to say Yes, then to quell my anxiety along the way.

Jackie Capers-Brown • Make sure the message you deliver is relevant to your audience. What's the point of someone listening to your speech if the information doesn't benefit them in some way? And, add as much play as possible in the presentation.

23 comments to date and the conversation is still going on if you want to add your insight and best tips---- or comment here below.  Thanks!

Conference Call Tips - Keep them engaged!

I have been on some great and not so great calls in my worklife and have really tried to figure out the best way to facilitate a good conference call with all the budget restrictions for face to face and time restrictions due to the busy schedules of everyone. A friend recently asked me for some tips as she has really enjoyed being on my calls and I thought I would share them with you in case there is a chance to share this more broadly.

Let me know your thoughts or any other ide

as!


Nancy's Tips for a Successful Conference Call

1. Prep is important - contact people ahead of time to ask them to say a few words on something that has happened in their area. division or company
Any updates or action items can be listed on the prep email that you can go over on the call to emphasize in the beginning

2. Use Webex if possible - keeps those multi tasker type people involved and using 2 senses helps keep them focused on you as much as possible. Webex allows you to get everyone on the "same page" as you - whether it is your content in a powerpoint or showing useful websites or walkthrough to navigate them to sites they need to know about.

3. Welcome everyone by name with a personal touch
Write those names down for reference during the call
After every agenda item be sure to call on one of those names
referencing a conversation you have had with them
ask them a question how it relates to their area

4. Always "mix" up the voices
Ask for others to speak on their expertise (great recognition)
Ask someone else to facilitate and introduce you as the expert (if appropriate)

5. Save sharing for last - don't take too may interuptions or questions and ask that they save it to the end and you get the pertinent info covered. And they all like that part of the call to "brag" so save the best for last and they attend to the end!

6. Always say thank you for attendance (in the beginning and the end) - with the mention of how valuable everyone's time is (staff and volunteer) - it will make a difference!

7. Get the notes out as soon as possible - highlight the action and key takeaways

8. Save the Date! - for the next call and or series of calls with a call for agenda items if necessary


Additions from my friend Lissa -

1. Build an agenda, share it 24 hours in advanc, & stick to it.

2. Introduce the salient points of the call, go through the "presentation" of each topic, then solicit opinions, feedback, discussion, or questions as relevant *specifically about that topic* before moving to the next one. Do not allow your call to be hijacked by a question irrelevant to the topic at hand; my stock response is, "that's a great point but let's hold it until the end of the call; I'll stay on a few minutes late to address it with you."

3. Tag team: have one person as the presenter and one person as the note-taker. Ensure that the note-taker provides the recap of each topic and closes the call; allows for a reiteration of the main points and immediate clarification as necessary. (Especially helpful, as hearing two views on a topic boosts memory.)

4. DO NOT waste people's time; start and end on time.

Freakonomics and charitable giving

Attending this webex from Merkle today called "Five Strategies for Successful Fundraising in a Challenging Economy" and jotted down some useful resources that I need to look into more later and decdied to share with all of you in the meantime. Interesting stuff looking into the future and current state of charitable giving.

Trends in Giving from Contributemedia.com


NY Times blog on Freakenomics
About Freakonomics
Stephen J. Dubner is an author and journalist who lives in New York City.
Steven D. Levitt is a professor of economics at the University of Chicago.
Their book Freakonomics has sold 3 million copies worldwide. This blog, begun in 2005, is meant to keep the conversation going.

Giving and volunteering in the US data

Key findings:
Giving (households)
89 percent of households give.
The average annual contribution for contributors is $1,620.

Volunteering (individuals)
44 percent of adults volunteer.
83.9 million American adults volunteer, representing the equivalent of over 9 millionfull-time employees at a value of $239 billion.

Nonprofit times survey about Online giving this holiday season
Among those who plan to donate, 42% plan to give $100 or less, 20% plan to give between $100 and $1,000 and 4% claimed that they will give $1,000 or more, 35% are not sure of the amount but plan to donate.

"Micro charities set up for giving online":
Mission fish
Just giving
Six degrees.org - started by Kevin Bacon!
One.org - more advocacy highlights
Network for Good

Understanding the Giving Model - AUDIENCE 98’s Giving model is an statement of the interactions between givers’ motivations, mindsets, and means.

A little fundraising rant - boy did this search come up with a lot of information, all very interesting to read... and it lead me to this about "Baby and the Bathwater".... to my favorite quote of the day -

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Get some more bathwater. And maybe a few more babies.

One of Schuyler's favorite books was mentioned that i have pictured here. The book was so popular that it inspired the If You Give A series, which includes If You Give A Pig A Pancake, If You Give A Moose A Muffin, and If You Give A Cat A Cupcake.

If you give a mouse a cookie and he will ask for some milk:
Compare that to: If you give a donor power and they will ask for options, customization, greater insight and issue focused giving and ability to designate.


Ending thoughts....

"It's time we stop talking about giving as being voluntary when the great bulk of history looks at it as a moral obligation".

Hope you enjoyed my notes!

Flash from the past! Searching the archives...

Looking for some photos for my dear friend Kevin who has something up his sleeve... I came across some classics to post on my blog. Friends, smiles, good times, conferences that really made a difference and celebrating volunteerism with some of my long time favorites.

1. Jim & Angela

2. Phylecia(GA), Sandra (WI) from GE , John Klika (WI), Pat Flynn (WA) - from last year's recognition

3. Arlene (MA) & Kristie (NY)

4. Bobbie Johnson (CA)

5. Ava Volandes (NY)

Opportunity Knocks -

The beginning of my week was traveling to Atlanta to attend the 2008 National Conference on Volunteering & Service put on by the Points of Light foundation. My role was man a "booth" for the American Cancer Society with aspirations to link to our current corporate constituents and to look at the potential companies for our workplace solutions programs. It was a great conference - with a theme "the urgency of NOW" - which I found very inspiring. We were surrounded by some wonderful non-profit volunteer recruitment and engagement companies and major sponsors of the event such as UPS, Loreal, Delta Air Lines & Home Depot. It was great to meet people excited about volunteering in their community and how to connect with what they had to offer volunteers.

One of great people I met was Lynne Norton of "opportunity knocks" - an online job site for non-profits. The traffic of people was slow that morning and we sat and talked for quite some time. She told me about her move from corporate to non-profit and the transfer of skills and experiences, and then I spoke about my career history with ski patrol, acquatics, American Red Cross & American Cancer Society and how I have grown as a professional within ACS. It was fun to talk to her about the journey and she then asked if I would be interested in being interviewed as a part of her podcast series on "OK Radio" highlighting professionals in non-profits. What a great "opportunity" for me to share my story. And very appropriate after the presentation with the AMA!

Jim's Angels

We are prepping for our bi-annual EI staff meeting and needing to keep this underground, but had to share our latest brainstorm for the Mission Support team - - these are all the girls that report to Jim.... Kyla (MSABC NTP), Miranda (Workplace Giving), Detra (Corporate Recognition) & soon to add Dannica (our NHO point) and of course... me!

I think the theme is right on and with such style and grace, we really do make quite the team! More later!

From Concept to Congratulations - Nancy Cook - featured speaker to the AMA

The AMA has monthly speakers at their luncheons and I was recruited by Paul Shurr, a SUNY marketing professor and volunteer with this group. He was in Steve's Pro Jam group at Mt. Snow in December prepping for his level 2 skiing, and after talking to him about what I do for ACS, he asked me to come and speak to the group. He was especially supportive yesterday, as well as Courtney (a fellow Vermonter) and the new incoming chairperson, who stayed after to help me pick up my speakers and computer equipment I had brought to the event.



Keith, ACS Regional Director (from Lake George area) and Michelle (Strides manager from Albany) were able to join me at the luncheon. Michelle actually helped with the ppoint and it was great to have the local connection there for the group. Great people as always - my ACS colleagues. It was a last minute note to the Upstate team and they were so great to make the time to come and support me.



The announcement of my talk to the group is posted here to see the summary and what they published in the newsletter. All great stuff. Good for the ACS to reach out, good for me to outreach and talk to marketers in the field. And great to be re-energized!








More of what they published on me and the talk about the NCTP. It was a great experience for me and really has energized me in my position right now. One must reach within themselves, sometimes get positive feedback from their supervisor, but this is great way to help feel good about what you are doing and know that you are making a difference.

Here is the link to the AMA

Here is the summary of my key points

1. How to maintain momentum while starting from scratch in your market by sharing experiences of participation and success in a nationwide forum.
2. Strategies to foster success among diverse audiences. Whether it is a smaller office based in New Orleans, Miami, New York City or LA, the NCTP to engage with each company in every region through resources provided to volunteers and staff.
3. Incorporating key values into your message. Finding a “mission match” and how these companies have made a difference in the fight against cancer through community values. We will look at some examples of companies and how they have sent key value statements in promotion of involvement in the community and how it benefits them to support that outreach and philanthropy.

Here is the link to the videos i showed at the luncheon - and it all went very smoothly! Thanks to my husband, the MAC and the Dell speakers, everything fell right into place!

Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.

Corporate Appeals with the NCTP

One more thing:
Keith wrote a wonderful note to his colleagues as a follow up to seeing me at the event. (another really cool feel good thing for me) : )

Good evening All,
Michele Mack and I were honored to be the lunch guests today of Nancy Cook, National Director, Corporate Relations, American Cancer Society Relay For Life and Employer Initiatives... She was the Featured Speaker addressing The American Marketing Association's Capital District Chapter at Wolfert's Roost Country Club...

It was great to meet an ACS member who deals on a National Stage and to hear her recount the incredible genesis of what now number 37 RFL National Business Partners from a modest start of 4 when she started out on this National initiative... Her efforts have manifested themselves in many of our Capital District Relay Team's Relays including PARTY-LITE, BESTBUY,DRESS BARN/MAURICE's,METRLIFE,WALMART and on and on...She has really distinguished herself...

Nancy did a great job, was very personable, ( Michele even worked her Powerpoint presentation for her :-) ) and was a Fun, lady to boot...

Attached you will find a photo that a Photographer in American Marketing Association was kind enough to send to Michele and me of the three of us....

Any questions, then please do not hesitate to reach out to Michele or me...

Have a Great Friday!

Keith d. :-)

"The Energy Bus" - by Jon Gordon

Flying home from the 3 day Kansas City Nationwide All Relay Staff meeting last night I read the entire book that they gave us at the conference and really LOVED the read! The energy, the positive nature of the rules and the story really supports so many aspects of life that are important to be happy, to stay happy and to live and love life to the fullest. Work, play, family and passions are all included in the subject matter with its simple format and focused simple steps. Such a great and easy read - I recommend it to all of you to read today! : )

Here is the website to give you some insight and even beyond that Jon Gordon's newsletters are also available and more great reading! What I love really is this ticket to ride concept, inviting others to "ride your bus", no "energy vampires" and the downloadable posters too! Check it out - you will NOT be disappointed.

For today - I am inviting you all to join my bus - get on and ride. Be positive and strive for success, keep your energy flow positive and moving forward. Be a part of the "movement". Ride my bus! I hope you accept my invitation, because I want you all to be happy & successful in your lives!

By the way - the meeting, my presentations, networking and recommendations were really successful for me in my position - a great trip for my worklife at this time and although a crazy aborted landing last night (plane went back up before landing and kinda scared me - frequent traveler that I am) -->> it was a great 3 days.

Brand Awareness

Loved this quiz and thought I would share - - click here to take the quiz. I got 10 out of 15 - see if you can beat that! Great corporate factoids in here too!

CLICK HER TO TAKE THE QUIZ!

When you are smiling...

(forward by Kathi Matthews - my friend and colleague in the Great West)

Hi Team,

While I normally don't forward (or even read) this kind of email, I thought this one was especially relevant to our work. I challenge you to complete for yourself, in writing, the five sentences in the next 24 hours. You'll be astounded how much the exercise will impact your "joy factor" and will be even more surprised how often you hear yourself using the sentences in conversations with everyone you come in contact with.

I actually attended one of this guy's seminars in the 80's. I still remember everything he talked about that day and when I've put "sales materials" and training together for ACS, I've used in part the info I learned from Chris Lytle. Enjoy & keep smiling! -Kathi

When you are smiling
by Chris Lytle

Salespeople need to smile more, and not forced smiles like Arthur Miller envisioned in Death of a Salesman: He's a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine.

It takes much more than a smile and a shoeshine to succeed in sales today. Still, they are a good place to start.

I sell speeches. A few years ago, I participated in a speakers' showcase held by a speakers' bureau. I paid the bureau a fee, and they invited meeting planners to see speakers, including me, deliver speeches. We each got 15 to 20 minutes to perform some material in front of this live audience of buyers. It's like a battle of the bands. Each speaker tries to wow the audience to win business. When it was my turn, I did my 20 minutes and then yielded the stage to the next speaker.
Out in the hotel hallway, I ran into another speaker. "Wow, you really looked like you were having fun out there," he said.
"If I'm going to pay my own money to speak, I'm going to enjoy myself," I replied.
"I'm too nervous in front of an audience to have fun," he told me. He was a college professor who felt comfortable facing his students but not in front of the corporate market. "I wish I felt the same way about speaking that you do.
Here's the point: People can tell when you're enjoying what you do, and they can tell when you're not into your job. How does your customer experience you?

These are the three vibes you must give off when with a prospect or customer:
1. I'm glad to be here.
2. I know what I'm talking about.
3. I love what I'm doing.

Work is not a punishment for not being born rich. It is critical you find joy in your sales job. The great author Elbert Hubbard put it this way: "Get happiness out of your work, or you may never know what happiness is."
Not only that, if you don't have passion for what you're selling, the prospect won't either. So working on your belief and attitude is critical for sales success.
The following exercise will help you identify what you love about your sales job. Once you have discovered what you love, share it with your customers.

For example, you could say, "One of the things I love about my job is to see customers get the outcomes they want from the products and services I sell. It's even more fun when I get a letter from a happy customer who was skeptical at first."

It is energizing to focus on the good things about your job, and when you share your enthusiasm, you may find the meeting has a different dynamic. When you're glad to be there, your customer may be glad you're there too.

Completing these five sentences will get you started:

1. One of the most exciting things we're doing at our company today is…
2. I get a great deal of job satisfaction when…
3. The best thing a customer ever told me about our company is…
4. I took this job because…
5. The reason I'm doing this -- besides the money -- is that it offers me the opportunity to…

As you complete those sentences, you develop your own sense of what is important about your job, and you discover some things to share with your customers. Whether you make the sale or not, one of the impressions you want to leave with a person is:

That salesperson really loves what he is doing.

When you're at your very best in sales, you are happy. You feel important. You get great satisfaction. If you're not getting great satisfaction from your work, customers will know. It's the vibe. They will wonder why you're not enjoying your job -- maybe your product is inferior or your company is undergoing a tremendous upheaval. They will wonder if they'd be better off with your competitor's product.
So start smiling.

GET OVER IT!

From Tom Suddes - WOW email 11/6/07
I love the magazine Selling Power (mostly just because I love the idea of sales). Gerhard Gschwandtner is the founder and publisher of Selling Power and has had a tremendous influence on my thinking. The subtitle of the magazine is "Solutions for Sales Management", and they provide a lot of solutions!
I was skimming an old issue (May 2005) looking for more stuff on PROSPECTS and I came across this article called

GET OVER IT!
Post-9/11 Everything Changed EXCEPT THE NEED TO SEE PROSPECTS!
(Those are my caps and my exclamation point.)
The article was by Geoffrey James.

Here are the guts of the article:
1. "It's never been more difficult to get through to an executive to make a FORMAL APPOINTMENT."
In our For Impact World, we deal with that in a number of ways. Most importantly, we don't look for a "FORMAL APPOINTMENT"... but rather a VISIT!!!
'APPOINTMENT' (especially a 'FORMAL' one) immediately triggers your synapses to think 'DOCTOR'! Or, worse, 'DENTIST'!
2. "You have to do a better job of making prospects want to see you."
The way we do that is making a big, big deal of PREDISPOSITION!!!
3. The absolute best PREDISPOSITION for all of us in the For Impact World is to actually bring the 'prospect' to where you deliver your service. Let them SEE, TOUCH, HEAR, SMELL WHAT you do. Make it palpable. Make it memorable. Make it an experience.
4. "Once you do get in, however, you'd better be prepared to build a LASTING RELATIONSHIP."
WOW! As most of you know, our GOAL with all of our PROSPECTS is to create a RELATIONSHIP... ideally a LIFETIME RELATIONSHIP... and, then
MAXIMIZE THAT RELATIONSHIP... AT EVERY GIVEN MOMENT!
The article goes on to talk about working to get a 'VISIT'.
I love their "warning":
"Working this system requires PREPARATION and PERSISTENCE."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
BOTTOM LINE: Your goal should be to get a VISIT (with a QUALIFIED PROSPECT... to MAXIMIZE THE RELATIONSHIP... at THIS GIVEN MOMENT.) Doing so requires PREPARATION AND PERSISTENCE.

Tipping

Taking a day off today - even though I am sitting on the computer right now and blogging, I took my regular morning run after sleeping in, making coffee, having a little family time while Schuyler, Stephen and Samantha are here this week. Later I will post the fun birthday party we had last night!

So I found this posted article in a round about way through Shelley's blog, which is always good for some incredible photography, some love insight (her and Jonathan's wedding site is a must see!), and her links to her friend's blogs - which includes me! So on Stella's site I found this cool tipping article that is also near and dear to my heart having waited tables for more than 15 years and now in the business world, not knowing what the heck to tip! READ ON.....

Relay Summit in Dallas

My favorite photos of the week - I was in Dallas with the NCTP volunteers and staff relationship managers and just had a good time with them and all the volunteers and staff I know and love. It was like going back to summer camp (just with a lot more stress!)

from top to bottom:
1. Bob MacKay & I testing out the award photo area on Thursday night
2. My buddies / collegues / best friends -Shawn Coltharp (Paduka, KY)and Kathi Matthews (Seattle)
3. The Austrailians with Becky, Iris and Darnelle
4. Donna from dressbarn with me as she was on her way to catch her flight home
5. Charlie & Sue Ann in the crowd at the closing ceremony

Resume Building

Saw this article on Monster and thought it was a great one to share for future reference. I have shortened it and included the link because there is a lot of good advice and continued support links on the site. CLICK HERE to view the whole article and additional links.

Writing a resume is like exercising: You may not look forward to it, but you feel better once it’s done. And like the results of a good workout, a well-presented resume can help you keep your career in shape.

Title and Objective
Enough with the stupid titles we dismiss and make fun of. This is your career we're talking about.”
And an objective must get an employer’s attention quickly or it won’t get any attention at all. Your resume must grab my attention within the first few words of the objective. It must be clearly written and relevant to the position you are applying for. Take a little extra time and customize the objective to the position you are seeking…. If you cannot sell yourself with your resume, you might not have the opportunity to sell yourself at an interview”

Look and Feel
For the hard copy of your resume, make sure you invest in good paper stock, says one HR professional who has also composed and drafted resumes for professional clients. “Before our prospective employer even takes one glance at our resume, there is something they do first, and that is FEEL it,” she says. You can double the effect if you choose good-quality paper in a professional color other than white.”

Length
When President Lincoln was asked how long a man’s legs should be, he said they should be able to reach from a man’s body to the floor. Likewise, your resume should be long enough to sell you properly without overstating your accomplishments.

Style and Grammar
Trust me: I won't give a second thought to deleting a resume and/or cover letter that is fraught with mistakes.”

Resumes normally get less than a 15-second glance at the first screening. If someone has asked you to review his resume and you want to help him ensure it gets read -- or want to know if your own is up to par -- be sure you can answer yes to the following questions:

First Impression
Does the resume look original and not based on a template?
Is the resume inviting to read, with clear sections and ample white space?
Does the design look professional rather than like a simple typing job?
Is a qualifications summary included so the reader immediately knows the applicant's value proposition?
Is the length and overall appearance of the resume appropriate given the career level and objective?

Appearance
Does the resume provide a visually pleasing, polished presentation?
Is the font appropriate for the career level and industry?
Are there design elements such as bullets, bolding and lines to guide readers' eyes through the document and highlight important content?
Is there a good balance between text and white space?
Are margins even on all sides?
Are design elements like spacing and font size used consistently throughout the document?
If the resume is longer than a page, does the second page contain a heading? Is the page break formatted correctly?

Resume Sections
Are all resume sections clearly labeled?
Are sections placed in the best order to highlight the applicant's strongest credentials?
Is the work history listed in reverse chronological order (most recent job first)?

Career Goal
Is the career objective included toward the top of the resume in a headline, objective or qualifications summary?
Is the resume targeted to a specific career goal and not trying to be a one-size-fits-all document?
If this is a resume for career change, is the current objective clearly stated, along with supporting details showing how past experience is relevant to the new goal?

Accomplishments
Does the resume include a solid listing of career accomplishments?
Are accomplishments quantified by using numbers, percentages, dollar amounts or other concrete measures of success?
Do accomplishment statements begin with strong, varied action verbs?
Are accomplishments separated from responsibilities?

Relevance
Is the information relevant to hiring managers' needs?
Does the resume's content support the career goal?
Is the resume keyword-rich, packed with appropriate buzzwords and industry acronyms?
Is applicable additional information, such as awards and affiliations, included, while personal information like marital status, age and nationality unrelated to the job target omitted?

Writing Style
Is the resume written in an implied first-person voice with personal pronouns, such as I, me and my, avoided?
Is the content flow logical and easy to understand?
Is the resume as perfect as possible, with no careless typos or spelling, grammar or syntax errors?

Hope Lodge Tampa, Florida

Photos: 1. Welcome to Hope Lodge Tampa! 2. The Look Good Feel Better Room 3. Ceiling tile sample of hope and prayer 4. Our friendly tour guides and directors of the Lodge. CLICK HERE to view the photo slide show of the Hope Lodge, Tampa





Part of the Relay Advisory Team meeting in Tampa was a tour / visit to the Tampa Hope Lodge (CLICK HERE to read more about Hope Lodge in Tampa). This is a home away from home for cancer patients and their caregivers. It was really great to go with our leadership national volunteers to see the great work and wonderful facility there in Tampa. It was very heartwarming to hear the stories of the patients that have benefited from this care and location close to the cancer treatment center. We also got to see the patient service center (call center). Great staff people and volunteers work very hard to make this all work and be a good experience for the patients. Here are some of my favorite photos from the tour --->>

9 Guiding Principles for Sales Success

by Tom Suddes
Here are my 9 GUIDING PRINCIPLES to help you 'sell' your VISION, your MESSAGE, your PRIORITIES. Pretty self-explanatory, but there are some 'notes' at the end.
Action: You can print this out and carry with you as a REMINDER.


GP #1 CHANGE YOUR VOCABULARY!
WORDS ARE IMPORTANT! Stop using all the typical 'nonprofit' industry jargon. Start using 'sales' terms, 'business' terms, 'common sense' terms.

Appointments
Visits
Power Points
Presentation Tools
Asking for Money

Presenting the Opportunity


GP #2 THINK BIG. BUILD SIMPLE. ACT NOW!
My absolute favorite Entrepreneur's Mantra. Also works great for SALES. THINK. BUILD. ACT. BIG. SIMPLE. NOW.

GP #3 THE RULE OF 3!
This principle alone is worth the price of admission! 'FORCE' everything you do into groups of 3! Your Message Points. Your Priorities. Your Buckets. Your Sales Presentation. Trust me. It works.

GP #4 NO TIMEOUTS. NO SUBSTITUTIONS. NO EXCUSES.
My Notre Dame Boxers' Mantra. Works for sales. Take responsibility for your life. Your actions. Your results.


GP #5 PREPARE. PRACTICE. PERFORM.
You get PREPARE and PERFORM. What we never, ever, ever do (in our world) is PRACTICE! PRACTICE YOUR PRESENTATION. Your response to objections and challenges. Your opening. Your close.

GP #6 FIRST WITH THE HEART. THEN WITH THE HEAD.
This is the corollary to a great line in my favorite book, THE POWER OF ONE. Zig Ziglar, über sales trainer, says it perfectly: "People buy on emotion, then justify with logic."


GP #7 DO THE MATH.
You can't 'SELL' unless you understand all the 'NUMBERS'! This is about goals, self-fulfilling prophecy, and the Stockdale Paradox (Face the Brutal Facts).

GP #8 ASK QUESTIONS. (ACTUALLY) LISTEN TO ANSWERS.
This is, without question, the greatest 'SALES TIP'... ever!

GP #9 SHARE THE STORY. PRESENT THE OPPORTUNITY.
No explanation necessary. Just do it.

I'm working on my new Sales Book and would love some feedback. Send me an email (tom@forimpact.org) and let me know how these guiding principles impact you or your organization.

Ten Tips for Staying Happy at Work

I found this article on the web while browsing and thought it was pretty appropriate for my current situation with a few edits....

Ten Tips for Staying Happy at Work
(by Beverly West)


1. When you're preoccupied with personal issues, it's difficult to concentrate or be happy at work, says Alison Rhodes, a founding partner of The Balance Team. By all means, make sure you have your kids covered in the event of an emergency, but realize that nobody's personal life is ever going to be completely problem-free. Just as you need to let go of work to enjoy your time at home, it's important to leave personal worries at home so you can focus and be productive at work.

2. Create an Office Nest: "You are at your job for at least eight hours a day, which is more time than you probably spend in your bed," says Jennifer Star, a founding partner of The Balance Team. "Make your space your own, decorate your area as much as your company policy permits, and make yourself as comfortable and relaxed as you can be in your office.

3. Develop an Office Support System: "Gathering a circle of colleagues who share similar backgrounds or lifestyles can take a lot of pressure off you at work," says Rhodes. "When you are able to voice your feelings to people who understand, it can really help minimize stress.

4. Eat Healthy and Drink Lots of Water: "Maintaining a good diet and keeping yourself properly hydrated throughout your workday can really make a big difference in your energy level and attitude," says Shirly Weiss, a certified holistic health and nutritional counselor and consulting expert for The Balance Team. "And if you can manage to maintain a diet of whole foods, as opposed to refined foods such as sugar and bread, then you'll really be ahead of the game.

5. Be Organized: Create a manageable schedule to handle your workload, suggests Stacy Raden, a founding partner of The Balance Team. "A sense of empowerment stems from accomplishment," she says. "When you feel overwhelmed, it tends to intensify dissatisfaction. By being proactive and taking control, employees can feel a sense of satisfaction, enhanced confidence and motivation.

6. Move Around: "Working in an office can be a very sedentary job, so it's especially important to your overall sense of health and happiness to take a few minutes during your workday to get up and move a little," says Jason Bergund, founding director of Dancetherapy, a dance class, and a consulting expert for The Balance Team.

7. Don't Try to Change Your Coworkers: "You can't change anyone; you can only change the way you react to them," says Star. "Don't let other people's actions affect you. Just figure out a way to resolve conflicts and avert uncomfortable situations."

8. Reward Yourself: Identify a reward outside of your job, and indulge yourself, says Raden. somthing else it be dinner with friends, a movie, exercise or a manicure, treat yourself every once in a while. Just as stress from home can interfere with work, the positive aspects of your life can influence mood at work as well.

9. Take a Breather: "In yoga, we practice the breath of joy, in which we inhale a long breath and then exhale laughter," says Sarah Schain, founding director of Yoga Tales studios for children and a consulting expert for The Balance Team. Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides. Inhale deeply, then exhale laughter and bend forward. Try to do this movement 10 times.

10. Focus on the Positive: "Identify the things that you like at work, even if they are as simple as your coworkers or the nice view from your office window," says Raden. "You create your own mind-set. If you stress the positives, you will make your job more enjoyable. Worrying about the negatives may cause you to become overwhelmed."

This is good. Keep it all together. It will help you excell in work and home.

Stowe Relay For Life

My trip this weekend to the only nordic Relay this weekend in Stowe after Schuyler's Mighty Might Challenge. It was a busy day, skiing all day, driving to the event - - taking photos in the rain -- the rain stopped - - I skied about 10 laps around the course and the tents in the snow - - alongside the skate sleds, the xtry skiers, classic and skate, the snow shoeing people... I did make it in time for the opening ceremony where the President of Johnson State College gave the opening remarks, how all our lives are touched by cancer as she named off the immediate circle of recent and past diagnosis she personally experiences...

I pause to think of my friend fighting, those surviving,(Susan and Keith - the strongest woman and man I know that fight daily... ), those still fighting (Naomi's dad), those lost (Chester my beloved dog, Kim the incredible volunteer from Boulder, Diana Love the number one volunteer in Western NH for so many years). Strong lives lost and strong ones continuing to live with this disease - - including those I meet at each of these events that touch my heart and my soul and keep me working for the cure - - I know so many incredible people from my travels around the country, survivors of all kinds - - fueling the fight in so many. 4700 events this year nationwide - it is mind blowing if you think about it, how communities across the country put these overnight events together and celebrate survivorship with those they know and honor those they have lost and spend time talking, supporting, having fun and celebrating life - yes this is a celebration.

The tent was warm, the outside snow was wet and a bit slick, the teams were so spirited. I took many pictures, but lost them on my hard drive, I was so sad, and still am, after my friend and I search and tried to recover them.... But the spirit and the pictures are still in my head. The season is just beginning, the passion for the fight - - stay tuned..... here we go!

CHANGE

"When you CHANGE your THINKING, you CHANGE your BELIEFS.
When you CHANGE your BELIEFS, you CHANGE your EXPECTATIONS.
When you CHANGE your EXPECTATIONS, you CHANGE your ATTITUDE.
When you CHANGE your ATTITUDE, you CHANGE your BEHAVIOR.
When you CHANGE your BEHAVIOR, you CHANGE your PERFORMANCE.
When you CHANGE your PERFORMANCE, you CHANGE your LIFE."

- John Maxwell

Ten Career Resolutions

Ten Career Resolutions
by Dan Miller
Like the old saying, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life," it's never a bad time to start moving your career in a better direction. Here are 10 New Year's resolutions to help.

Pay Attention in Class
Treat every workday like a school day. Be sure you learn something and use it to make yourself more productive. It doesn't have to relate to your skills set. It may be as simple as understanding how to work with specific peers or emotional intelligence. Take mental notes.
Don't sleepwalk through the day.

Look for the Next Rung
You need to excel at your job. This is how you gain credibility. But understanding your next step is key to career happiness. Career pathing is critical to remaining engaged on the job. Schedule discussions with your manager to get clarity on the next challenge. If you don't get it on your team or in your company, it may be time to look elsewhere.

Understand Company Goals
Make sure you understand how your job contributes to your company's business objectives. Are you in a revenue-generating role? A brand-awareness role? Is your mission to delight the customer? Knowing how your job fits into the big picture will give you inspiration and a sense of accomplishment -- and will help you understand your job's impact.

Be Ethical
Bring integrity to your job. Whether you're running the company or cleaning its bathrooms, be honest in all you do. Don't call in sick just to get a day off -- that's stealing. Put in an honest day's work. Be accountable. If you're working remotely, be sure you are. Do what you say you're going to do. Honesty and reliability mean a lot to your manager.

Stay Fit
OK, this was probably on your last New Year's resolutions list, but that's because it's so important. Try to break a sweat for 20 minutes, three days a week. Go for a walk at lunch. Join a gym. Lift weights. A healthy body makes a healthy mind. Exercising increases blood flow to the brain and gives you ideas. You'll be more productive at work, and best of all, you'll feel better.

Stretch Your Role
Occasionally think how you can go above and beyond. Are there projects outside your defined role you could help with? Be proactive; ask to join. Come up with your own ideas, and work with your manager to implement them. If you're a hamster, step off the wheel and poke your head out of the cage. Stretch a little. This won't go unnoticed.

Manage Up
Make sure you and your manager are in firm agreement on what you're doing. Be proactive and get on his calendar to ensure you're meeting or exceeding expectations. Don't assume he's paying close attention. There are bad managers. If there's a disconnect between what you're doing and what your manager wants, you're partly to blame. Don't wait until review time.

Manage Across
Even if you work primarily alone, be sure to make time to understand your peers' roles and how they go about their jobs. Show an interest. Don't just choose a few friends and become part of a clique. High school is over. You never know when you may need people -- or be reporting to them.

Communicate
Don't leave people waiting for answers. If you're in an email environment, return emails promptly. Let people know what you're doing. If you're working on a project, always ask yourself who needs to know about it, then tell them. Talk to people; give them a heads up. And when someone helps you out, be sure to thank him. It's amazing this even needs to be on a list, but bad communicators abound. Don't be one of them.

Make Time for Play
Have fun. Work hard, but smile while you're doing it. No one likes a grump. Approach each day with a positive spirit and stay loose. Enjoy your family and friends as well. Make time for them -- and you. It's called work/life balance. All work and no play makes life a chore.