Many of you know that I am involved in Toastmasters and love it! So it shouldn't surprise you that I would write about the benefits of joining the organization. First let me tell you that it is one of the most inexpensive communication and leadership training venues around. At this time, the International dues are only $54 a YEAR and then you have your club dues on top of that and those will vary depending on where it is held and other expenses they incur. Second, it is a fun and safe environment to hone your skills. Yes, I said fun AND safe. The meetings encourage everyone to have fun - we even have a Jokemaster at some clubs. What's safe about it? You get to try things out, get constructive feedback and can improve without getting attacked. Everyone had to start out somewhere and they understand where you are coming from. They also understand where you can get to. Third is the confidence level you will achieve. I have not spoken to one person in the organization that didn't improve in some level of confidence whether it was speaking, listening, critiquing, using humor, running a meeting or just plain meeting people.
Everyone gains something out of Toastmasters. People come to the organization for a variety of reasons and get so much more out of it than they thought. Of course it directly correlates to what you put into it. If you don't do any speeches, your speaking skills will not do much improving. Though you will improve just by listening to others and watching what they are doing. However, practice, practice, practice will allow you to improve. Most people think Toastmasters is an organization to improve your speaking skills and who really wants to get up in front of a big group of people and talk - besides me that is? Though that is not what it is all about. One of the biggest benefits is the 2 minute talk called Table Topics. This exercise teaches you how to answer questions or come up with something thoughtful to say off the cuff. People have told me this has greatly improved their interview skills, responding to their coworkers, giving an update to an employer, and even dealing with their children.
I highly suggest you visit a couple of different Toastmasters Clubs because they are not all alike. You need to find the one that not only fits your schedule and location, but also your goals and personality. Toastmasters International can help you find the meetings near you. Once you find a couple, contact them and let them know you are coming as a guest. Then show up for free just to observe and get a feel. Then make your decision as to which one or more you want to join to start improving your overall communication and leadership skills.
For inexpensive entertainment, take in a speech contest. Some are free and some collect a small fee to cover the cost of the room and any food that may be served. We are currently in contest mode now so check out the District Calendar in your area. When I am in Minnesota, my District is 6 and you can get to the calendar here. I am also the Area 21 Governor and my contest will be held on March 11. Please RSVP to me if you would like to attend.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Does Your Opinion Really Count?
We almost got sucked into an infomercial. The product looked too good to be true (at least they were doing their job well on the screen). Being the savvy consumer, I searched online to get more information. There were so many hidden fees in that product offer that it would have ended up costing us 13 times what they were stating on television that you could try the product for.
That seems so wrong that they can advertise a product, put up a "try it" price and then charge you so much more if you decide you like it. Some of the issues I found with the "try it" price were that the trial period began when you placed your order though you may not receive the product until right before the period ended or worse yet - after. And then the shipping fees are crazy. If you didn't want the product, you once again had to pay shipping. What a racket!
You may be asking yourself, how I did my research. I read blogs by just searching for the product with the word Reviews at the end. The big question is, who wrote the blogs? Was it a competitor who was just ripping the product down? Were some from the manufacturer itself? I didn't stop at just one blog site. I read many. During the research a competing product came up with glowing reviews (thus the suspicion regarding a competitor). I checked out their site and various reviews for that product too. I actually had a difficult time finding negative reviews about that product. When it referred to someone endorsing the product, I searched them and found that they actually did endorse it. So, I bought it. It arrived in only three days and it works!
If you ever thought your opinion didn't matter, just remember the blogs. People really do count on your honest opinion of products and services. With the Internet, it is much easier for people to find out the good and the bad before they try it. To comment or add to a blog, just like here, you will need to create at least a pen name, usually with an email address and then write away. Maybe one day you will help someone else keep from getting scammed.
That seems so wrong that they can advertise a product, put up a "try it" price and then charge you so much more if you decide you like it. Some of the issues I found with the "try it" price were that the trial period began when you placed your order though you may not receive the product until right before the period ended or worse yet - after. And then the shipping fees are crazy. If you didn't want the product, you once again had to pay shipping. What a racket!
You may be asking yourself, how I did my research. I read blogs by just searching for the product with the word Reviews at the end. The big question is, who wrote the blogs? Was it a competitor who was just ripping the product down? Were some from the manufacturer itself? I didn't stop at just one blog site. I read many. During the research a competing product came up with glowing reviews (thus the suspicion regarding a competitor). I checked out their site and various reviews for that product too. I actually had a difficult time finding negative reviews about that product. When it referred to someone endorsing the product, I searched them and found that they actually did endorse it. So, I bought it. It arrived in only three days and it works!
If you ever thought your opinion didn't matter, just remember the blogs. People really do count on your honest opinion of products and services. With the Internet, it is much easier for people to find out the good and the bad before they try it. To comment or add to a blog, just like here, you will need to create at least a pen name, usually with an email address and then write away. Maybe one day you will help someone else keep from getting scammed.
Friday, February 12, 2010
What Do You Offer That is Free?
We are all looking for good deals. The word Free sticks out and then we get skeptical about it. We have had the experience of getting something for free and then a charge shows up on our credit card, we get five emails a week from the company, the shipping and handling is more than the item is worth, or it turns out to just be an ad. What is the quality of your free offerings?
When I started Burnside Dynamics, the only thing I had to sell was my knowledge. So I created a subscription program where companies paid me a flat fee for the year and their employees could ask me questions. Very few actually ever used it. Then one day someone called and asked me if they could ask me a question. She wasn't sure they were still under contract. That was the last day I ever offered the subscription program. As a trainer and a person who loves to solve problems, I thrive on questions and the challenge of finding the best answer.
If you have a question, call or email me and I will do my best to either answer it or point you to someone or some place where you can get the answer. If the answer would involve a training session, I will offer that to you at my training rates. Since I have been answering questions for free, I have increased my business substantially, solidified my credibility, and increased my network.
I also offer an e-booklet called Take the Pitfalls Out of PowerPoint. You can get it on my website at no monetary charge, but I do require a subscription to my free email newsletter (which you can unsubscribe at any time though I don't know why you would). This booklet has received many compliments and even helped one women complete her MBA project at the top of her class.
Give quality free whenever you can. The ROI on free can be amazing!
When I started Burnside Dynamics, the only thing I had to sell was my knowledge. So I created a subscription program where companies paid me a flat fee for the year and their employees could ask me questions. Very few actually ever used it. Then one day someone called and asked me if they could ask me a question. She wasn't sure they were still under contract. That was the last day I ever offered the subscription program. As a trainer and a person who loves to solve problems, I thrive on questions and the challenge of finding the best answer.
If you have a question, call or email me and I will do my best to either answer it or point you to someone or some place where you can get the answer. If the answer would involve a training session, I will offer that to you at my training rates. Since I have been answering questions for free, I have increased my business substantially, solidified my credibility, and increased my network.
I also offer an e-booklet called Take the Pitfalls Out of PowerPoint. You can get it on my website at no monetary charge, but I do require a subscription to my free email newsletter (which you can unsubscribe at any time though I don't know why you would). This booklet has received many compliments and even helped one women complete her MBA project at the top of her class.
Give quality free whenever you can. The ROI on free can be amazing!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Not Sure Who How or Where?
When you have a question that you need the answer to and Google just doesn't do it for you, ask your network. Networking is one of the most important aspects of business success. Get involved in LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. and you can put a question out to the universe and get many answers back. It is amazing how much people are willing to share with each other.
We can tend to get caught up in, "I should be the expert so people will come to me". However, I am finding that people have more respect for people that ask questions rather than always just answering. The links and respect you can build by asking are amazing.
Most communication or sales seminars will tell you to listen more and talk less. This same theory applies here. Asking others to give you answers and giving them the ability to "talk" will make personal gains for you. Don't worry about people thinking you don't know things. The real take is that you respect others and are interested in them.
We can tend to get caught up in, "I should be the expert so people will come to me". However, I am finding that people have more respect for people that ask questions rather than always just answering. The links and respect you can build by asking are amazing.
Most communication or sales seminars will tell you to listen more and talk less. This same theory applies here. Asking others to give you answers and giving them the ability to "talk" will make personal gains for you. Don't worry about people thinking you don't know things. The real take is that you respect others and are interested in them.
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