Recommended Books

We are so obsessed with our dreams that we have forgotten how to obtain them. This exciting new e-book will show you how. "Here's my question to you: If you could find a resource that offered everything you ever wanted to know, on how and what you had to do to become happy and wealthy would you be interested? Well you have found it. If you're really interested in making a better life for yourself and your willing to learn and practice these simple principals then you have found what you are looking for. My method for obtaining the happiness and wealth you want can work for you." Mark Claridge's book is simply a "must have" for those who are serious about achieving their full potential. Everyone can benefit from using the techniques in this book. And, as a bonus, Mark also includes some very useful and relevant books for free. Click here to read more

A Piece Of Blarney: 10 Ways To Empower Your Communications

Your personal success could depend on how well you communicate with people. And, believe it or not, I'll start off by mentioning a bit of Irish folk legend. Yes, it is relevant!

The Blarney Stone is a historical stone, or actually part of the Blarney Castle in Ireland where it was believed that kissing the stone can grant you the gift of gab. Yeah, it seems strange in this day and age, but who are we to question tradition? It's not like I'm saying that Santa Claus doesn't exist (OOPS!).

There is so much to know about conversation that anyone, even I, could ever realize. You can go though watching talk shows; radio programs; clubs dedicated to public speaking; ordinary conversations; certain rules still apply when it comes to interaction through words. It may sound tedious, I know, but even though it's your mouth that's doing the work, your brain works twice as hard to churn out a lot of things you know. So what better way to start learning to be an effective communication is to know the very person closest to you: yourself.

1. What you know.

Education is all about learning the basics, but to be an effective speaker is to practice what you've learned. My stint as guest at every Toastmasters' meeting I go to taught me that we all have our limitations, but that doesn't mean we can't learn to keep up and share what we know.

2. Listening.

It's just as important as asking questions. Sometimes listening to the sound of our own voice can teach us to be a little bit confident with ourselves and to say the things we believe in with conviction.

3. Humility

We all make mistakes, and sometimes we tend to slur our words, stutter, and probably mispronounce certain words even though we know what it means, but rarely use it only to impress listeners. So in a group, don't be afraid to ask if you're saying the right word properly and if they're unsure about it then make a joke out of it. I promise you it'll make everyone laugh and you can get away with it as well.

4. Eye Contact

There's a lot to say when it comes to directing your attention to your audience with an eye-catching gaze. It's important that you keep your focus when talking to a large group in a meeting or a gathering, even though he or she may be gorgeous.

Most of this information comes straight from the pros. Careful reading to the end virtually guarantees that you'll know what they know.

5. Kidding around

A little bit of humor can do wonders to lift the tension, or worse boredom when making your speech. That way, you'll get the attention of the majority of the crowd and they'll feel that you're just as approachable, and as human to those who listen.

6. Be like the rest of them

Interaction is all about mingling with other people. You'll get a lot of ideas, as well as knowing what people make them as they are.

7. Me, Myself, and I

Admit it, there are times you sing to yourself in the shower. I know I do! Listening to the sound of your own voice while you practice your speech in front of a mirror can help correct the stress areas of your pitch. And while you're at it you can spruce up as well.

8. With a smile

A smile says it all much like eye contact. There's no point on grimacing or frowning in a meeting or a gathering, unless it's a wake. You can better express what you're saying when you smile.

9. A Role Model

There must be at least one or two people in your life you have listened to when they're at a public gathering or maybe at church. Sure they read their lines, but taking a mental note of how they emphasize what they say can help you once you take center stage.

10. Preparation

Make the best out of preparation rather than just scribbling notes and often in a hurried panic. Some people like to write things down on index cards, while other resort to being a little more silly as they look at their notes written on the palm of their hand (not for clammy hands, please). Just be comfortable with what you know since you enjoy your work.

You know, it’s funny but I believe that writing about a topic I enjoy helps me learn about it much easier. When I write the article, I’m also thinking of you, the reader, and trying to anticipate what you might want to know next. I’ve found that by doing that, not only do I learn more, but I also know you will find it more informative. I hope I have achieved that with you, here.

And that about wraps it up. These suggestions are rather amateurish in edgewise, but I've learned to empower myself when it comes to public or private speaking and it never hurts to be with people to listen how they make conversations and meetings far more enjoyable as well as educational.

• Polycom and McAfee Alliance to Further Secure Unified Communications and Collaboration
  
  PLEASANTON, Calif. & SANTA CLARA, Calif.----Marking yet another category-defining innovation for telepresence, Polycom, Inc. and McAfee, Inc. today announced a framework for a global strategic alliance to jointly develop and deliver Secure Unified Communications and Collaboration .
  


• Third Degree Uses Internal Culture to Empower Healthcare Staff
  
  DURHAM, NC--(Marketwire - July 27, 2010) - On the heels of significant Midwest success, Third Degree Advertising is now offering its healthcare-oriented internal communications expertise on a national scale -- starting with the East Coast.
  


• Avaya Government Solutions Delivers Unified Communications to Ensure 'Always-On, Always-Available' Care for Veterans
  
  FAIRFAX, VA--(Marketwire - 07/27/10) - Avaya Government Solutions , a wholly owned subsidiary of Avaya, today announced the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Center at National Naval Medical Center has deployed an end-to-end Unified Communications (UC) network that enables the communications needed in the care of veterans that have sustained brain ...
  


• Polycom UC Intelligent Core Delivers Lowest Total Cost of Ownership, Increased Capacity, and Greatest Network ...
  
  Polycom Bolsters UC Intelligent Core Infrastructure to Power Communications With up to 50 Percent Lower Bandwidth Requirements Than the Competition
  


• Thailand's Late Adoption of 3G is to Its Advantage as Pitfalls are Tried and Tested by Counterparts - Frost & Sullivan
  
  BANGKOK, July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- In its recent outlook on the Southeast Asia mobile markets, Frost & Sullivan noted that operators in Thailand are learning that data services growth is fast replacing declining voice revenues. This realization has spurred aggressive push from the operator side to encourage take up of 2.5G services. As a result, operators have been anticipating the licensing ...
  


• Genachowski: Broadband Authority Key to Cybersecurity, Privacy
  
  Washington -- Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski Tuesday took his testimony before a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on online privacy as an opportunity to put in a plug for clarifying his agency's broadband regulatory authority.
  


• Time to talk tax reform: North Dakota Policy Council to host property tax forum in Williston
  
  Area residents have an opportunity to hear ideas on property tax reform and ask questions during a public forum in Williston on Thursday.
  


• Expro Creates A Sonar Metering Centre Of Excellence In Aberdeen
  
  29 July 2010 Leading international oilfield service company Expro has created a Centre of Excellence in Aberdeen, providing specialist training to employees on its innovative sonar metering systems.
  


• FCC Launches Consumer Help Center
  
  Broadband speed tests, help with high cell phone bills, and complaint filing are some of the services offered.
  


• Strategic plan makes its way to the board
  
  Laura Kohler read the New Albany-Plain Local School District's mission statement July 26, as is done at the beginning of every school board meeting.