knowledge

Public speaking, whether it’s to small groups or large audiences can make a significant difference in many personal and professional fields. Many experts on the subject provide a detailed list of do’s and don’ts, and these can be useful for helping avoid some of the faux pas that some beginners (and sometimes experienced) speakers commit.

I’m instead going to provide just three primary factors that will greatly improve the chances of speaking success. They are knowledge, passion and style.

Knowledge means having a high level of either theoretical or experiential (and ideally both) content on which you can draw to both develop your talk and to respond to audience questions. Theoretical knowledge can be gained by reading books or articles, or attending seminars/classes on the subject. Experiential knowledge requires having applied the theory in a wide range of situations, although interviews of others who have had these experiences can be used as a partial substitute.

Why are both types of knowledge so important? Well for one, the audience wants to know that they’re hearing from someone who knows what they’re talking about, rather than just someone who can speak! Secondly, and this is especially vital for developing in-depth rapport with an audience, is that in-depth knowledge allows you to answer nearly any question on the subject without struggling to do so. That is, you are able to apply your knowledge to situations where you may have never done so before, or even thought about.

Passion means caring about the topic on which you are speaking. Although a speaker may know a lot, of they don’t really care a lot about the subject matter this will show through, providing the audience with an information dump with no emotion behind it. Again, you can build rapport much quicker with an audience when they know you are passionate about it, and may even give you a little more leeway because of it.

And by style, I don’t mean being well-dressed or a highly polished motivational-style speaker I mean being yourself. While certain speaking styles may be better suited to some audiences and/or topics, you’ll do much better to identify your own strengths and build on them, rather than trying to mimic what someone else does.

Combine knowledge, passion and style and you can’t really fail. Even if your audience isn’t as enthralled as you are, at least you’ll know that you presented accurate information, that you really cared about it, and that you were yourself. I call that success!

© 2006 Duke Okes

Duke Okes speaks and writes on a variety of topics related to organizational and personal improvement. He can be reached at http://www.aplomet.com.

Tags: speaking, style, successspeaking, style, success

Share This

Without a doubt, knowledge is your most valuable marketing tool.
It is the essential and necessary element needed to succeed in
any marketing venture. This holds especially true for Internet
Marketing.

The right marketing knowledge will save you time, money and a
whole lot of stress.

But where does one acquire such knowledge? Where does one find
the necessary information you need to market successfully online?
And just HOW does one go about acquiring such knowledge?

Internet marketing is a relatively new field. The Internet
itself is a relatively new phenomenon, created within the
living memory of most of the people reading this article.
Most of its now common features… search engines, online
stores, email, websites, blogging… are all new inventions
for our glorious cyber age.

Take for example, one of the Net’s major players Google;
it has only been crawling and searching the Net since 1998
— who would have believed an 8 year-old could wheel so much
power and influence?

Other players such as Amazon, Yahoo, Ebay, MSN… are all
just new kids on the block when compared to the long history
of marketing.

Like any industry, business or field of study, Internet
Marketing has produced its own experts. People who have
mastered the art of web marketing from first-hand experiences,
lessons learnt and drawn from the trenches — the most trustworthy
of all knowledge. Valuable knowledge they can use again and
again to market their wares online.

This knowledge has become a valuable marketing tool for those
who have mastered the skills of the trade. It can quickly
turn any website into a profitable endeavor, producing
income 24/7/365.

Nor should this knowledge be seen as anything magical.
Knowledge in any field can produce wealth; think of all
the fine craftsmen and artists of old who had to learn a
skill and knowledge to produce great priceless pieces of art.
Think of the cabbies of London who must acquire the Knowledge
of the routes around London in order to make a living.

For that matter, think of any modern profession and you will
have to acquire the proper knowledge in order to practice
your trade or profession. Internet Marketing is no different.
You must acquire the skills and knowledge to market
successfully online.

But the question still remains, where does one acquire this
knowledge, the real marketing tool you need to succeed online?

One source would surely have to be the experts. Who else will
know the answers but the present day Top Internet Marketers?
But who are these people? What are their names?

If you surf the web, no doubt you have come in contact with
these marketers. Directly or indirectly their handiwork is
everywhere. Their ideas, methods, and marketing techniques
have influenced most of the sites on the web.

Many of better known ones even have mentoring programs to
train and teach their prot

Tags: internet marketing, internet marketing guides, marketing toolsinternet marketing, internet marketing guides, marketing tools

Share This

Do you remember that day? Perhaps it was your first job interview. Perhaps you were speaking to a group for the first time. Maybe you were starting a challenging new career or meeting a special person for the first time. Your throat became dry and your knees wanted to shake.

You were about to leave a place of mental and emotional safety. You were putting your skills on the line and taking a risk. If you were successful, there could be great reward. However, self-doubt was trying to discourage you.

Confidence is essential in our lives; without it, we will not make the first attempt to do what we really want. Confidence allows us to move forward despite temporary discouragement. So where does confidence come from, and how can we become and remain confident? Here are seven actions that will help to develop unshakable confidence.

1. Expand Your Knowledge

Gaining new skills for any endeavor - personal or career - is the first step toward confidence. Identify key areas where you need more confidence to be successful. Then expand your knowledge by taking courses, reading books, and attending learning events. Tele-classes are enjoyable and convenient for learning and discussing ideas with a peer group. Continuous learning is essential for maintaining a high level of confidence.

2. Experience Small Successes

Confidence also comes from experiencing small daily successes. They are like rewards for putting knowledge into action. They may not be the final goal. Yet they are important. Even a pat on the back from a colleague or a compliment for a job well done will boost a person’s level of confidence. Keep track of each small success you experience. You will begin to feel your confidence grow day by day.

3. Exercise Passionate Faith

Confident people have faith that the Creator has a special plan for their lives. They appear to know inherently that when they follow this plan, they will be successful. If you want to achieve something, you absolutely must believe that it is possible for you. You must believe firmly in your potential. A passionate faith will lead you to find and follow that purpose.

4. Enable Firm Resolve

There will be disappointments and set backs. It is natural to become discouraged at times. However, disappointments are not the end of the road if we view them as learning tools.

Faith in your abilities will lead you past discouragement into a firm resolve. Resolve overcomes obstacles because it displays patience. Instead of giving up, you will meet challenges by continuing through difficult times. Keep your mind on your intended outcome, not on the obstacles. Think of reasons why you can, not reasons why you cannot.

With time, talents develop and abilities grow. Then you will get a taste of what is possible — a measure of success that leads you forward with enthusiasm. Enthusiasm keeps you fired up to achieve more of those small daily successes.

5. Enlist Expert Help

Enlist the help of experts in areas where you need more confidence. Experts can be found though books, articles, videos, seminars, or via a phone call. A professional coach will help you stay focused on your objectives and hold you accountable for taking the necessary actions to complete your plans.

Confidence also attracts more confidence. Experts will support your plans and offer to help you in tremendous ways if you are enthusiastic and believe in your goals. Moreover, when you show confidence in others, they will show confidence in you.

6. Envision Confidence

Envisioning confidence begins to make confidence real in your experience. Imagine how you will feel and act if you already had the confidence you need for a specific situation. See yourself in your mind’s eye, acting with courage and conviction. Hold that picture in your mind, and your vision will start to become real.

7. Expect to be Confident

Expectation is faith in action. Now that you have imagined how confidence will feel, act as if you were already confident. Move assuredly and energetically as you go for your goals. You are now seeing, feeling, and acting in a confident manner. You will achieve what you expect. Expect to be confident, and you will become confident.

Give yourself time to increase your confidence by using these actions during the next several months. Get a sheet of paper now and write down how you will apply each of these actions. They can make a tremendous difference by allowing you to move more quickly and assuredly toward your objectives. Today, you can begin developing an unshakable confidence that will bring you joy and success in every area of your life.

© Copyright 2005 by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve is a professional success coach who assists individuals to achieve their objectives and lead joyous confident lives. Get Steve’s popular ezine, Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, bringing inspirational and motivational nuggets to help you achieve more in your career and personal life. Visit http://www.AchieveEzine.com

Tags: confidence, emotional safety, expert help, faith, knowledge, resolve, successconfidence, emotional safety, expert help, faith, knowledge, resolve, success

Share This