Time to Learn
by: Author Unknown
A young but earnest Zen student approached his teacher, and asked the Zen Master:
"If I work very hard and diligent how long will it take for me to find Zen."
The Master thought about this, then replied, "Ten years."
The student then said, "But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast -- How long then ?"
Replied the Master, "Well, twenty years."
"But, if I really, really work at it. How long then ?"
asked the student.
"Thirty years," replied the Master.
"But, I do not understand," said the disappointed student."
At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that ?"
Replied the Master," When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path."
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
How to Effectively Close Any Speech or Presentation Part 2
Keep in mind that a good speaker doesn't just talk to his audience. If he isn't there strictly to entertain, he is there to inspire, motivate, or lead. If your talk hasn't achieved much of that, you have only your closing statements left... so make the most of them.
Here are some tips to help you:
• Whet your audience's appetite at the beginning by starting to tell a story. But leave the rest of the story -- and the punch line -- for your big finish.
• The title of your speech should summarize your main point in a memorable, catchy way. So if you can incorporate the title into your closing words, that will reinforce your message.
• End with a humorous or meaningful quotation from somebody famous. There are many quotation websites on the Internet, and you will have no trouble finding something suitable.
• Don't end abruptly. A hasty "Well, that's it from me, thanks for coming" and off you go is unprofessional. It tells your audience that you are inexperienced and/or unprepared.
• Give your audience a signal that the end is near so they will pay attention to what you are about to say. If you were walking around with a hand-held mike, for instance, you could replace it in the stand. If you were reading from a book on the podium, you could shut it.
• Involve your audience. Ask them to repeat something after you -- maybe a simple "commitment oath" you have written.
• Congratulate your audience and wish them future success. Ask them to stand and applaud themselves for their achievements. (They may not be applauding you as you leave the stage, but it's still applause, at the right moment. And it will still make you look good and feel good.)
• Issue your call to action. Tell your audience what you want them to do next and ask them to do it.
• Lead them to whatever it is that you're selling. You might say, for example, "In about 10 minutes, you will find me at the back of the room, where I will be answering any questions you may have and autographing copies of my books and CDs."
Don't forget to thank your audience and the organizers of the event, of course -- but don't let your thank you be the last thing you say before leaving the stage. Choose your final words carefully. Like I said, that's what your audience is going to remember.
Here are some tips to help you:
• Whet your audience's appetite at the beginning by starting to tell a story. But leave the rest of the story -- and the punch line -- for your big finish.
• The title of your speech should summarize your main point in a memorable, catchy way. So if you can incorporate the title into your closing words, that will reinforce your message.
• End with a humorous or meaningful quotation from somebody famous. There are many quotation websites on the Internet, and you will have no trouble finding something suitable.
• Don't end abruptly. A hasty "Well, that's it from me, thanks for coming" and off you go is unprofessional. It tells your audience that you are inexperienced and/or unprepared.
• Give your audience a signal that the end is near so they will pay attention to what you are about to say. If you were walking around with a hand-held mike, for instance, you could replace it in the stand. If you were reading from a book on the podium, you could shut it.
• Involve your audience. Ask them to repeat something after you -- maybe a simple "commitment oath" you have written.
• Congratulate your audience and wish them future success. Ask them to stand and applaud themselves for their achievements. (They may not be applauding you as you leave the stage, but it's still applause, at the right moment. And it will still make you look good and feel good.)
• Issue your call to action. Tell your audience what you want them to do next and ask them to do it.
• Lead them to whatever it is that you're selling. You might say, for example, "In about 10 minutes, you will find me at the back of the room, where I will be answering any questions you may have and autographing copies of my books and CDs."
Don't forget to thank your audience and the organizers of the event, of course -- but don't let your thank you be the last thing you say before leaving the stage. Choose your final words carefully. Like I said, that's what your audience is going to remember.
How to Effectively Close Any Speech or Presentation Part 1
By Peter Fogel
Effective public speaking isn't only about grabbing your audience at the beginning. The way you finish is crucial to the overall success of your speech.
For one thing,your final words are likely to be the ones your audience will remember for the longest time. More important, if you don't persuade them to take the action you want them to take -- perhaps to donate to a worthy cause or buy your back-of-the-room product -- you will have wasted your time.
Some speeches lend themselves to a humorous finish, while others require a more serious approach.
As a comedian, I'm all for leaving 'em laughing -- provided it's appropriate. If, for example, you were delivering a eulogy, that would usually not be a good time to try to be funny.
Usually, but not always. I'll never forget a funeral service many years ago for Dennis Wolfberg (a wildly funny friend of mine). With Jay Leno, Paul Reiser, and Jerry Seinfeld among those participating, there was LOTS of laughter. And Dennis wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
It's easier to go out with a bang when your audience responds with laughter and thunderous applause. You know you've made a strong impression on them and your speech will be remembered. They will be quoting you and talking about you around the water cooler for days.
An appreciative and happy audience also provides a great backdrop for you to take your final bow and leave the stage. It makes you look good and it makes you feel good.
But you can make a powerful impact on your audience by ending on a somber note too. Even if you had them rolling in the aisles throughout your very witty presentation, it shows that, frivolity aside, you take your topic seriously... and so should they.
Inspire, Motivate, and Entertain Your Audience -- Always!
Note: Part 2 will be published tomorrow
Effective public speaking isn't only about grabbing your audience at the beginning. The way you finish is crucial to the overall success of your speech.
For one thing,your final words are likely to be the ones your audience will remember for the longest time. More important, if you don't persuade them to take the action you want them to take -- perhaps to donate to a worthy cause or buy your back-of-the-room product -- you will have wasted your time.
Some speeches lend themselves to a humorous finish, while others require a more serious approach.
As a comedian, I'm all for leaving 'em laughing -- provided it's appropriate. If, for example, you were delivering a eulogy, that would usually not be a good time to try to be funny.
Usually, but not always. I'll never forget a funeral service many years ago for Dennis Wolfberg (a wildly funny friend of mine). With Jay Leno, Paul Reiser, and Jerry Seinfeld among those participating, there was LOTS of laughter. And Dennis wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
It's easier to go out with a bang when your audience responds with laughter and thunderous applause. You know you've made a strong impression on them and your speech will be remembered. They will be quoting you and talking about you around the water cooler for days.
An appreciative and happy audience also provides a great backdrop for you to take your final bow and leave the stage. It makes you look good and it makes you feel good.
But you can make a powerful impact on your audience by ending on a somber note too. Even if you had them rolling in the aisles throughout your very witty presentation, it shows that, frivolity aside, you take your topic seriously... and so should they.
Inspire, Motivate, and Entertain Your Audience -- Always!
Note: Part 2 will be published tomorrow
Thursday, June 24, 2010
No Arms? No Legs? No Worries!
What is your excuse for not giving your speech......Scare of what others think of you?
Monday, June 21, 2010
Recognition as Club Coach by Toastmasters International for Rosa Phua and Vallie
Congratulations to Rosa Phua, ACS and Vallie Poonnaiah, CC for being recognised as Club Coach by TI for coaching NUC Toastmasters Club last year July - Dec 2009.
Thanks for bringing further glory to the club!!
Thanks for bringing further glory to the club!!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The Language Perfectionist: Still More Confusables
By Don Hauptman
It's time once again for a look at commonly confused words. I found the following examples in print and online.
• "Are you inferring that I have plagiarized your post...?"
The words imply and infer are often misused. A speaker or writer implies (suggests). A listener or reader infers (deduces). So the testy question above should read: "Are you implying that I have plagiarized your post...?"
• "But to the army of IT flaks who dominate the blogosphere... a desire for privacy is something to be scoffed at."
The pejorative for a publicist is flack. The word flak is a German acronym for an antiaircraft gun, which inspired the colloquial English meaning of criticism or abuse. Note: The acronym stands for Flieger (flier/aircraft) Abwehr (defense) Kanone (gun/cannon).
• "The first of these scenes is the suitors' choice between the three caskets in The Merchant of Venice."
A choice is made between two alternatives but among more than two.
• "The collection includes exceptional tables, cabinets, folio stands, and dressing mirrors commissioned for... railroad magnet Mark Hopkins."
Hopkins may have had a magnetic personality, but the correct word here is magnate -- a powerful industrialist.
It's time once again for a look at commonly confused words. I found the following examples in print and online.
• "Are you inferring that I have plagiarized your post...?"
The words imply and infer are often misused. A speaker or writer implies (suggests). A listener or reader infers (deduces). So the testy question above should read: "Are you implying that I have plagiarized your post...?"
• "But to the army of IT flaks who dominate the blogosphere... a desire for privacy is something to be scoffed at."
The pejorative for a publicist is flack. The word flak is a German acronym for an antiaircraft gun, which inspired the colloquial English meaning of criticism or abuse. Note: The acronym stands for Flieger (flier/aircraft) Abwehr (defense) Kanone (gun/cannon).
• "The first of these scenes is the suitors' choice between the three caskets in The Merchant of Venice."
A choice is made between two alternatives but among more than two.
• "The collection includes exceptional tables, cabinets, folio stands, and dressing mirrors commissioned for... railroad magnet Mark Hopkins."
Hopkins may have had a magnetic personality, but the correct word here is magnate -- a powerful industrialist.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Fabric Talk by Kay Ku on 10 June 2010 at D'Utama Advanced Toastmasters Club
Kay Ku was recently invited by D'Utama Advanced Toastmasters Club to give a 20 minutes talk on fabric. Her title was "Wear and Weather"
Kay Ku is attached to the largest textile manufacturing company in Malaysia for over 20 years. She is Plant Manager specializing in weaving material and adding colors to it. She travels extensively and attends Fabric Exhibitions in the world's fashion capitals such as Paris, Milan and Shanghai.
Today, she is coordinating a 32-million-meters fabric operation in a month, which run in five different factories.
The objectives of the talk are:
* To understand the fundamental characteristics of synthetic and natural fiber.
* To select the right material for the right occasions, e.g. empowered clothes for work, free and easy for leisure, style for wedding dinner.
* To learn about fabric suitable for our Malaysian climate
In the 70’s, the material for clothing at work showed your level of professionalism and status. Some material such as jersey, knitting are considered as casual, and are not allowed in the work place.
Today, the creativity and variety of material have revolutionized the clothes we wear. This trend has enriched the designing of clothes, thus giving us a lot of choices when we shop for an outfit. By mastering some basic knowledge of these beautiful materials will definitely add value to your selection; and at the same time provides you the comfort suitable for our tropical climate.
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