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Wednesday 27 May 2009

''The Dale''

What a great experience ''The Dale'' has been and we've only got to session 6. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, it's the Dale Carnegie Course: Effective Communications & Human Relations.

At the beginning I didn't know what to expect. It's certainly not like any other training courses I've been involved in, willingly or unwillingly. Because we are required to consistently participate, it really keeps us entertained and engaged.

For the last session there wasn't a lot of preparation required as it involved impromptu speaking. I think a lot of my colleagues exceeded their expectations for this exercise and everybody did very well despite the nerves.

In the other part of the session we had to present a skill or concept at work and make our ideas clear. It was great to see others being so creative and bringing their presentations to life. I've literally seen how easy it is to make a Cosmopolitan cocktail and how to transform a napkin into a flower. I've learned about sound waves and DNA.

I just can't wait for the next session!

Corina Balaneanu
Sales Consultant

Friday 22 May 2009

Peruvian Attitude


Challenges come in all shapes and sizes with differing degrees of difficulty.

Raising funds for a children's Hospice in London is for me one of the most worthwhile causes to support and nothing is too great a challenge to help them.

A team of 14 people, 3 guides and 21 porters trekking the Inca Trail in Peru meeting with Tarantula spiders, Scorpians and Bees that can disarm a Tarantula in seconds. Eventually these dangers became the norm and we could focus on the surrounding beauty of the mountains. The incredulous drops of over 1000 feet either side of the trail left no room for error. With Condor's and Parakeets gliding across the tree tops, the mind could only believe the wonderment of their freedom. What Bears? luckily they were in hibernation although Willow our guide teased us with glee to be careful round the next corner.

Experiencing the healthy diet of the mountain people who's average age is 80 years gave us the energy to cope with the exhausting and tiring trek at high altitude. Fun, laughter and tears were shared along the way. As altitude sickness kicked in, all inhibitions were lost. The support and friendship gained will always live on in all of our memories. Today the team are in constant contact, the support continues.

Reaching Machu Picchu, emotions flowed, time stood still, gazing on one of the worlds wonders, life for us humans has been but a short time on this fragile and beautiful planet, yet so much has been achieved.

Acheivement is gained from believing you can do the impossible. Attitude is key and when you challenge yourself to do something never attempted before and success is won, the attitude changes within you growing the self belief in our abilities.

Today do something or start something to stretch you and feel the difference.

Frank Steggall
Consultant

www.london.dalecarnegie.com

Thursday 7 May 2009

Leaving a legacy....

Recently, my dear Father passed away. After a brief battle with cancer, it got the better of him and last month he passed away peacefully in his sleep. Putting my grief aside, what has touched me are the words used to describe him from those that knew him. Words from family, friends and business acquaintances. Words such as remarkable, courageous, loyal, loving, generous, kind and not forgetting a man who didn’t suffer fools gladly (very true!)

Being his daughter, I guess I took for granted at times my Dad’s values. I was brought up around them and I saw my Dad from a daughter’s standpoint, not as an outsider would. So when people came up to me before and after the funeral saying all these wonderful things about him, it hit home just how great a Dad he was and how important his values were to him.

Now, this blog is not to put my Father on a pedestal as he most certainly had his faults too, but the recent events have made me take stock and consider values.....my values, those around me and those in business. In essence values make us who we are and how we show up to the world. They make us honest, make us kind, and make us forgiving. They help select our friends, help us reach decisions and help us feel at peace with ourselves.

It’s a well known fact that in tough times values can be tested. Internal fraud cases increase in businesses during times of recession. People may look for a quick buck at the expense of something else, quite possibly one of their own values. But it is also a time when people look within, and make life changing decisions based on the person they want to become, not the person they once were.


So, who do you want to be?

Thanks Dad for leaving such a legacy....


Helen Mills
Financial Controller


http://www.london.dalecarnegie.com/