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Friday 31 July 2009

Seeing and Coming From Your Perspective

Picture a snow globe....you shake it about (and you do the hokey kokey oops got carried away there :) and you watch the snowflakes - in what appears to be chaos -slowly fall in different places; yet the essence of the globe remains intact, complete and silent.

I recently felt like the snowflakes falling; I was moving house, returning from a beautiful holiday being with my family, completing some rigorous training to instruct and facilitate the Dale Carnegie Programmes and returning to my business which felt like my first day! Amidst the discomfort, the place I call the ‘peace room’ was waiting, waiting patiently for me to connect with. My experiences were a gentle and kind reminder to be in the moment and to live from my core, which is where you and I are at our most powerful!

Then a discussion with a client provoked my thinking of a particular habit I have had – that once served me well – which is now redundant and has been a barrier to my deepening the quality of my connections with family, friends, colleagues and clients: that I assume what someone is going to say or need and that I have the answer for them! What a humbling moment! There is no right answer, no-one has an answer for someone else and our greatest joy is in serving each other. As I approach the world of buying and selling and delivering training, one of the biggest gift I can give to my clients is the space to allow them to come up with the right solution to solve their problems, live the life they so desire and create their desired environment. In other words, focus on their agenda. Now that is liberating and will make me a lot more money!

Wednesday 22 July 2009

Public Speaking


I was watching American Gangster with Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington at the weekend. For those of you who haven’t watched the movie, it’s based on a true story and it’s about someone who, against all odds, establishes himself as the number one importer of drugs in America.

Russell Crowe plays a police officer who’s taking adult classes to get rid of his public speaking fear. He says: “You know the number one fear of most people isn’t dying; it’s public speaking. They get physically ill”. Fascinating, isn’t it?

In the short space of time I’ve worked for Dale Carnegie, I have found variations of this fear that a lot of people have. Some are nervous throughout their presentation and calm when it gets to the Q&A part. For some it’s the opposite, they are totally comfortable until the end…and then it starts…the fear of being asked something they might not know the answer to.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve learned that it’s good to be nervous when presenting; it shows you respect your audience and you care about the outcome.

So whether you join an Association, Club Talk organisation or take one of our courses, if you want to get better at public speaking, TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Corina Balaneanu
Sales Consultant

www.London.Dalecarnegie.com

Thursday 16 July 2009

Reaching the Stars


On the 21st July 1969 Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. In 2001 I was fortunate to see him present to an audience on Broadway, New York, where for one hour he spoke about his adventures. This is not something he is known for doing, so priviliged we all were. What stuck in my mind since actually watching the moon landing at the age of 8 and then seeing him at the age of 40 has been the incredible achievement that can be reached if only we believe the impossible is possible. I am living life like this now.

Last weekend I passed the Dale Carnegie endorsement to become a trainer and although that was excellent for me, it was the participants of the programme that showed me anything was possible. A small excersise I ran asked the class to lay down and visualise taking off from the earth and landing on the moon. What would be the first words you spoke if you had been Neil Armstrong? I placed a step ladder from the hotel in the centre of the room and the responses were inspirational. Everything from "women were first to the moon" - "this human made it so can everyone else" and one of my favourites was "I can hold the whole world in my hands". This reminded me of when Neil Armstrong spoke of how beautiful but fragile our planet looked.

If in two days we can develop our ability to stretch our capabilties further then there is no reason why Humans will not be able to send a craft of some description to the stars.

The mind has the ability to visualise anything, try imagining achieving something you thought impossible for you and see how much nearer that becomes for you to actually try. After my back operation I imagined climbing mountains to raise money for poorly children and now I actually do it. Do something amazing today and shout from the rooftops when you achieve it. We all want to hear you. The stars are part of us so reach for them and you will do the impossible.

Frank Steggall
Consultant

www.London.dalecarnegie.com

Friday 10 July 2009

Overcoming Procrastination in Busy Times

I’ve found in seminars and meetings that I’ve run in the past couple of months the recurring theme of getting more done each day seems to be in the front of many peoples minds and as we’re overwhelmed by more and more work the tendency to procrastinate grows and grows .... !

I have so much to do I don’t know where to start ....! Do those words sound familiar?

Being somewhat of a champion procrastinator myself I thought this week I’d share some words that I came across about six months ago that have helped me to focus on those mornings when I don’t feel like starting anything.















The following Poem was found in Paul "Bear" Bryants wallet after he passed away in 1983 (for those who don’t know Paul was one of the most successful American College football coaches of all time)

This is the beginning of a new day.
I have been given this day to use as I will.
I can waste it or use it for good.
What I do today is very important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever.
Leaving something in its place I have traded for it.
I want it to be a gain, not a loss - good, not evil.
Success, not failure, in order that I shall not forget the price I paid for it.

The words that really ring out for me are ‘exchanging a day of my life for it’ and ‘this day will be gone forever’ It has spurred me into action on many days in the past six months .... I hope it does the same for you!

David Anderson
Managing Director
Dale Carnegie London

Friday 3 July 2009

Game, Set and Match

Today the nation awakes in anticipation...can Murray win it? That is the question on everyones lips. Wherever we are this afternoon we will be glued to our TV sets and radios willing the Scotsman to win a place in the final. A British player hasn't won Wimbledon since 1936 when Fred Perry took the title.

In Murray it is refreshing to see someone with such a determination and drive to win, this year we feel we may actually have a player who can lead us to victory. For too long we have been seen as the unsuccessful underdog of the tennis world with no chance of seeing one of our players lift the trophy, our spirits have been at a low.

Watching Murray make his way through each round has brought our competitive streak back, our morale has been boosted and we are ready for action! A bit of competitiveness keeps us motivated, upbeat and wanting more.

I have begun to play tennis again myself and although the pace is a far cry from the likes of Federer, Roddick and Murray, playing has definitely aroused a competetive streak within me which I find I'm really enjoying. This desire to win keeps me playing and puts a spring in my step.

So with Murray in the semi-final of Wimbledon and the nation behind him let us remember that a bit of competitiveness is healthy, it drives us forwards and keeps us moving.

Sophie Whittall
Marketing & Admin Co-ordinator