Gambling Till You Drop

It was 3 p.m. on a hot, summer afternoon. The non-air conditioned college classroom was jammed with CityYear participants who had started their active day before 6 a.m. I was doing a workshop on using the “Magic of Storytelling in the Community” when I noticed a few eyes closing and a few heads nodding. I said, “Let me tell you a story” and everyone perked up. Everyone loves a good story. How can we use the power of story to enhance our presentations?

Why should we use stories? The truth is that audience members probably will not remember our names, but they will remember our stories. Even if we have given them handouts and talked for many minutes on an important topic, participants often won’t remember the points we have made. But they will remember a point that has been illustrated with an effective story. We enjoy, internalize, and remember stories. That’s why fables, parables, folktales, and family stories have lasted for centuries.

Where can we find stories to tell? Stories are everywhere. By being observant and making notes of daily occurrences, we can find lots of material for our stories. For example, if you are doing presentations on customer service, you encounter examples of good, bad, and, hopefully, superior customer service on a regular basis. Our own lives and experiences offer a wealth of stories. Just remember, that the audience will enjoy hearing about your struggles and failures more than your successes. It puts us in the category of vulnerability. The audience members relate with a “me too” bonding.

What makes an effective story? To be effective and memorable, a story — and not just an anecdote or description — has several components. First is the main character who has something to learn or overcome. You, the speaker and narrator may often be the main character. There is something blocking you or causing you trouble which turns into a crisis. It may be an outside force — for example, the weather, a catastrophe, or another person — or it may be you, yourself. A crisis is any event that stretches the main character and brings about the climax. For a story to be successful, the plot starts with a status quo, moves into the crisis, and following the climax, nothing is ever the same again. A story provides the perfect venue for making a point, imparting a life message, or teaching a lesson.

Where should a story or stories occur in the presentation? The positioning of a story in the presentation depends upon the type of story we choose to tell. Often a humorous story placed at the beginning will evoke laughter which helps with audience rapport. An autobiographical story at the beginning of a presentation can also introduce you and your background to the audience. During the presentation, what I call “ah ha!” stories can help with making many points. Ending with an emotional story will keep your presentation and you alive in the audience’s hearts and minds for a long time following your speech or workshop.

Start telling, retelling, and retelling. The more often you tell your stories, the more comfortable and the better you will become as a storyteller. So tell your stories to anyone who will listen — friends, family, peers, and co-workers. Watch to see how they react. Ask them for feedback. The stories will soon take on a life of their own and you can start using them to enliven your presentations.

Chris King is a professional speaker, storyteller, writer, website creator / designer, free agent, and fitness instructor. Sign up for her eclectic E-newsletter, Portfolio Potpourri, at http://www.PowerfulPresentations.net You will find her information-packed E-book How to Leave Your Audiences Begging for MORE! at http://www.OutrageouslyPowerfulPresenter.com and her business website at http://www.CreativeKeys.biz

Each year it’s the same tale. In spite of cycling to the office, and an infrequent trek, each skiing season kicks off with those agonising 1st couple of tours when one is left in the route of junior and healthier skiing pals. It’s enough to ruin my skiing holiday.

Being in bad shape when touring it’s unpleasant, and may be out and out risky. To get down one requires some spare capacity. A tired skier is more than likely to have skiing injuries and tiredness is likely to be a contributing element to accidents, for example falls and crevasse falls.

There must be a safer way to begin the ski season, and a freshly issued 308 page account by Cornelius Howe looks to provide a solution. Whilst directed at climbers the data is mostly relevant to touring, with its strenuous scrambles as well as different hobbies.

Running, practicing for peak results is well detailed and easy to read. It’s a acceptable all-round guide which puts together a lot of info. You can acquire a particular exercise program or improve your current programme. Granted that it is aimed at mountaineers, so a little of the info maybe unsuitable for touring, it’s certainly a book to get if you want to do a few of the big day or multi-day routes.

I’m going out on a limb today by writing about the most successful person that I know. It feels like going out on a limb because the person is ME, and I’m aware that to others this may sound egotistical and arrogant.

So, let me explain. First, it’s taken me years, actually decades, to realize that each of us have the opportunity to choose for ourselves our definition of success. For the first 30-40 years of my life, I allowed my definition to be determined by the GREAT AMERICAN DREAM. You know the one that says you’re not really a success until you have at least one huge house (2 or more is even more successful), a couple of fancy cars, take expensive vacations to luxury resorts, eat out 3-4 nights a week, etc.

But now I realize that for me success is having ‘clarity of purpose,’ really knowing one’s true purpose in life and allowing that purpose to shape life. The level of success then isn’t about how much ’stuff’ you have, but how truly you are living on purpose.

And I’m so very grateful to say that I live a life of purposeful, passionate, and playful service, a life of mindful abundance balanced with simplicity and a life of spiritual serenity. And since I know my life better than I know anyone else’s life, I can honestly say I am the most successful person I know.

And last of all, I’d like to thank the CEO of Life On Purpose Institute, Inc. for making this all possible. BTW, the initials, CEO, mean the Cosmic Enlightened Officer. I’ll let you figure out who I mean by that.

Until next time, here’s to your being the most successful person you know as well.

©2005 Brad Swift of Life On Purpose Institute, Inc. This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article and this resource box are included.

In the research I did on my recent public speaking trip to Thailand, I discovered that a meeting or seminar custom is to seat VIP attendees in the front row. No one of a lesser status either socially or in business would think of sitting closer to the front than their boss, or someone of a higher social ranking. This is a very loose and largely ignored custom in Western meetings, and carries a significantly higher decorum in Thailand and Asia. Since many meetings are rather westernized anyway, don’t fret if your speaking engagement is not run this way, but your knowledge and adherence to this custom can earn you some real points with the people that count.

Room Setup

I normally use a semi circular theatre style room setup whenever I can. In my Thailand talk, I found out approximately how many VIPs there would be and set the front row with plush chairs that were obviously nicer and different than the rest of the typical hotel chairs. I befriended one of the attendees who knew what the VIP attendees looked like. When a VIP was identified, either me or my assistant escorted them to a front row seat. I had some time to blow while awaiting the arrival of the Governor so, I went around the room allowing the attendees to name themselves and their affiliations. I started at the back of the room and ended with the most senior official in the front row. These gestures were very well received and paved the way for a very productive speaking engagement.

Copyright © 1998 – 2005 Advanced Public Speaking Institute

Tom Antion provides entertaining speeches and educational seminars. He is the ultimate entrepreneur, having owned many businesses BEFORE graduating college. Tom is the author of the best selling presentation skills book “Wake ‘em Up Business Presentations” and “Click: The Ultimate Guide to Electronic Marketing.” It is important to Tom that his knowledge be not only absorbed, but enjoyed. This is why he delivers his speeches laced with great humor and hysterical jokes. Tom has addressed more than 87 different industries and is thoroughly committed to his clients’ needs. http://www.antion.com

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Internet Marketing Tips for Moms

1. Generate Traffic. To generate a lot of traffic to your site and gain recognition, you need to promote in as many places as you possibly can. Do not throw all your advertising dollars in only one or two spots. Try to determine or ask the amount of traffic they are generating. Sites generating huge traffic often require higher advertising rates. Be aware; however, that some sites requesting high advertising rates, may not necessarily be generating that much traffic. There are many sites out there that really offer a great deal and do not charge high rates. To generate more traffic find as many free places to advertise as you possibly can.

2. Target the Right Market. Try to find sites that target the type of audience you are marketing to. Example: Someone selling baby products should advertise at baby sites, mommy sites, networks, groups and forums where mommies hang out and visit frequently. Just because you may be a work-at-home mom doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to just advertising at “WAHM” sites. Place your focus mainly where your targeted market will be, but find all similar possibilities to target as well. Example: If you sell educational products to career-minded young people, you would want to focus where young people of this age visit frequently, but you can also search for a few places to network where moms may visit who have teens getting ready to graduate from high school.

3. Visit Mom Sites. Spend time visiting other sites by moms and see where they are advertising. If they are displaying a banner on their site referring to some directory or networking site this gives you a clue that they may have exchanged links or listed in their directory for free in exchange for displaying their banner. Exchanging links with websites of similar content and products as yours will help with your search engine rankings and once again target your market. While you are visiting other sites by moms, be sure to sign their guest book while you are there. Many guest books allow you to add your website’s url.

4. Use the Search Engines. Use Google and Yahoo and do a search for “Free Advertising”, “List your URL”, “Add your URL”, “Add your Site”, “Free Site Promotion”, etc. Also include keywords you use for marketing your site. Just be cautious before spending money with any new sites you haven’t heard of before. You will probably be surprised at how many sites you find that still offer free advertising.

5. Go Local. There is a HUGE competition going on all over the internet especially for those who are promoting websites with direct sales. “Local” is gaining popularity…and for a good reason. If I decided to start buying Avon, for example, I would probably prefer to buy from someone locally. Use the search engines to do a search for free classified ads in your city and nearby locations. See if you can find any local networks, groups, forums, portals, directories, etc.

6. Write Articles or Ebooks. You don’t have to be a professional writer. Just find some great content, some interesting facts, some helpful hints, etc. Your article does not have to be very long at all. To get better results, write more frequent short articles than just a couple of big long ones now and then. Be sure to include your name and website at the end. If you offer a newsletter, promote it as well. After you write your article, submit it to as many places as you possibly can. Give permission to others to use your articles as long as they include your name and website address.

7. Start a Newsletter. Newsletters are a great way to generate repeat traffic. It reminds your customer or interested visitors about your site when they receive your newsletter. In your newsletter, be sure to encourage your subscribers to forward your newsletter to a friend. Include information about how they can easily subscribe to your newsletter. Offering your subscribers a chance to win a free gift will often help you receive more signups.

8. Add Content. Content helps get repeat visits to your site. Sites become stale without new content. If you have a site that you can edit, use plenty of good content, especially using keywords that the search engines will pick up particularly targeting your audience that you are marketing too. If you don’t have time to do this, there are lots of sites that offer “free content” and “free articles”. Just do a search on the search engines to locate them. You can use their content for your site instead of trying to write your own content.

9. Partner with Someone. Working at home can begin to seem like a long lonesome journey. Find someone you can connect with and trust. Exchange front page links or banners and help each other promote your businesses. You could even add your partner to your signature. For example, under your name and link place: Partner, Sherry – partnerdomain.com. Have your partner do the same for you. Write and promote a newsletter together; manage a networking group together. Partners can encourage each other and make the marketing road a little smoother.

10. Read and Learn. Marketing is an endless task that must be done to generate sales. The best tip I can give is to read and learn all you can about marketing and sales. You can do this on the internet as well as your local library. Find someone who is successful and get some of their best tips. If possible, set aside at least an hour or two each day promoting your business. Many people make the mistake of thinking they can create a website and traffic will automatically arrive. It just doesn’t happen. Behind each successful site is a hard worker who labored away to advertise and promote. You can do it too!

About the Author

Rhonda White
http://wahm-announce.com
http://small-budget-advertising.com
http://OklahomaCityShoppers.com

Any time we start something new it is exciting and we are very motivated and committed. As time goes by, however, the burst of enthusiasm can wane as the reality of how much work is going to be involved kicks in. When you find yourself slacking a little and not being as enthused about the new change or goal you are working towards, that isn’t a sign to quit. It is a sign that it is time to re-commit.

I am in the fourth month of my “New Program” of eating right and exercise. The first three months I was excited, enthused and rearing to go. However, I have found that the last month has been a tad more challenging and I have begun to slip a bit in my new exercise and eating habits. As I waned so did my results, which made me think it wasn’t working. Closer examination revealed that it wasn’t the system that wasn’t working; any system will work if you work it. But, it isn’t magic. It takes effort and, most of all, commitment. When I realized that my commitment had slipped I recommitted and got back on track. This is all part of the process and I don’t see my temporary slide in commitment as a failure. I see it as an opportunity to strengthen my resolve and continue on the journey.

The more you renew your commitment the stronger it will be. Commitment isn’t a magic pill, take it once and you’ve got it. Commitment is something that needs to be tended to, adjusted and strengthened. I have begun to renew my commitment every day, which helps to remind me how much I really want to make this change work and stick. You might not have to renew your commitment as often, but it does pay to check in and see where you are on the commitment scale. If you notice that you are not where you want to be with your goals it might just be that it is time to renew your commitment.

Coach Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, PhD, is a Certified Master Coach specializing in working with business owners and professionals in being more profitable and productive while staying sane and balanced. Coach Lee is the publisher of the award winning e-zine, 365 Days of Coaching. Her first book, 365 Days of Coaching – Because Life Happens Every Day (Universal Publisher, 2004) was named a finalist for Best Book 2004 by Publish.com and has a five star rating on Amazon.com.

The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the cast majority of successful screenplays are built upon. Films as diverse as Gladiator (2000), Million Dollar Baby (2004), Raging Bull (1980) and Scarface (1983) were all constructed around the Hero’s Journey Template.

The Inciting Incident is a confusing term and, in general, not very helpful.

Within the context of the Hero’s Journey, it could represent a few points of action.

The first and most obvious is the Call to Adventure. For example, in Gladiator (2000), it could be the point where Marcus Aurelius asks Maximus to take his place.

Generally, the hero undergoes a refusal and the inciting incident could also be that which forces the hero to overcome his or her resistance. In Gladiator (2000), Maximus overcomes his resistance quite easily (after the consultation with his man-servant). However, in Star Wars (1977), resistance is overcome after the experience of the Unbearable Antagonism (Luke sees that his uncle and aunt have been murdered). The inciting incident could also be the Unbearable Antagonism.

Finally, the Inciting Incident could be that event that pushes the hero to the First Threshold.

Perhaps the Inciting Incident is useful in [infantile] three, four or five act structures, but amidst the complex Hero’s Journey, it is less useful.

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://managing-creativity.com/.

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://managing-creativity.com/.

Destiny. What a powerful word. And the great thing about it? Everyone has one! You have a destiny! Another great thing about destiny? We have a significant role in shaping our own destiny! In essence, you can choose your date with destiny – powerful!

Your destiny is the dream that lies within you of your desired and preferred future. And the things that we choose each day are what lead us to that destiny: Our actions, our words, our attitudes, and our relationships. They all add up to develop and shape that date on which we will reach our destiny.

Here are some thoughts to think about as you work on shaping your Date with Destiny:

The Mental Question: Do you believe that you can achieve a life of abundance? The frank truth is that many people simply do not believe that they can achieve what lies in their heart. Success is for someone else, a better person, or a smarter person. This is not true and is perhaps the greatest obstacle we face on the journey to our destiny. If we are to achieve the abundance in life we must first believe we can, or face our own continual self-sabotage of what a college professor of mine called “stinkin’-thinkin.’”

Here is the truth:
It doesn’t matter what your intelligence is.
It doesn’t matter what your current resources are.
It doesn’t matter what you currently earn.
It doesn’t matter what family you came from.

Nothing in your current circumstances matter in whether or not you can achieve your destiny! Nothing! Now, your current state may make it a longer or harder journey than someone else, but the possibility is always there no matter what your current circumstances are.

And that is the message we need to continually tell ourselves. “I can do it.” Not “I can’t do it.”

Clear vision. Do you have one of your destiny? Here are some questions to determine whether or not your vision is clear.

Can you describe it in intricate detail?
Can you “see” it?
Can you “feel” it?
Can you “hear” it?

Here are a couple of illustrations.

Perhaps you came from a dysfunctional family and your dream is to have great moments with your family. Let’s start with a Thanksgiving meal. Can you see each person there? What are they wearing? Are they smiling? What is the conversation? Can you hear the laughter? Can you experience the joy? Can you smell the turkey? Can you see people hugging each other and saying “This was wonderful,” as they leave?

Another scenario: Your company. Can you see the large building you are in? Can you see the workers? Can you feel the positive attitude they have as they carry out their work? Can you experience the excitement as you get the quarterly results? Can you see yourself handing out healthy bonuses that bring pleasant surprises to your employees?

This is where it begins. A clear vision of your destiny.

Consider your resources. Are you aware of the resources you will need in order to set your date with destiny? Do you know how you will go about getting them? What are your natural gifts and talents that you have? How can you best utilize them in achieving your destiny?

What are your current level of resources?

Money?

Time?

Emotional health?

Help from others such as friends, family, employees or volunteers?

What will be your needed future level of resources? And have you developed a plan to achieve this level?

The last thing I would encourage you to do is fix a date in the future that you believe you could believe you will be living your destiny by. A real date. What this enables you to do is then begin to work backwards in setting goals to move you along the way, proving you with future points to strive for and evaluation point to reflect upon.

Here are the points again:

Answer the mental question: Do I really believe?

Develop a clear vision.

Consider the resources needed.

Set a date with destiny.

Develop a plan to get there.

About The Author:

Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of
Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn
their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and
achieve their dreams.

To see Chris “live” at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on
the subject of Secrets of Influence go to
http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.

What Does Surf For Money Really Mean?

If you’ve been in any internet circles within the last eight years you’ve probably been approached by an eager “surfer” wanting you to register for a surf for money or surf for cash program. What exactly are those and are they profitable? Let’s see.

Basically surf for money programs are advertising programs that allow their members to participate. The member makes money by watching the advertisements in a surf rotation, and makes a commission from doing so.

In most of these programs, the member also makes an income from telling others about it, and they then can sign up, using the member’s referral link.

Do members have to actually open the advertised sites, or just watch them appear?

In some current surf for money programs, the advertised sites do not necessarily have to be viewed, however the catch is there are oftentimes sites of interest that may not be a nuisance to learn from – or be entertained by.

With more advanced scripting in use, viewers are given the option of opening any site of interest in another window while not losing their place in the site rotation so the quota for the day can be reached.

Auto-surf is a new option in some control panel menus that allow the member to “visit” websites with a new site automatically loading every 20 seconds. No clicking involved.

After the member has finished surfing, the member’s page is refreshed manually and credit is placed on his/her account. Depending on the level of investment, more or less sites must be surfed involving more or less time of the member.

Reputable surf for money or surf for cash programs disallow pornographic sites or those utilizing pop-ups or abusive language.

How is the Surf For Money Member Paid?

Often these programs use third-party gateway payment systems such as Paypal and still others use an in-house payment processor.

Additional Surf for Money Concepts

Members who have their own commercial interests to promote can also accrue advertising “credits” towards free “hits” for other surfers in the same program to visit. This allows people to
advertise their sites to an audience of potential customers for
free or at a low cost. When a site is listed, it can be placed
into a rotation system. There’s also the option to buy more credits and banner ads.

But Are Surf For Cash Programs For You?

It can’t be denied that anything associated with referral marketing has been given a bad name because of greedy administrators and even greedier users who try to spam the system in one’s favor. In fact, one popular surf for money program has been in internet news for failure to process pay-outs. (Sorry, it can’t be listed for legal reasons).

However, the concept of surf for money is solid and when properly employed can earn a member a few coins. Especially if the integrity of the company is sound – but remember that principle applies to any business venture.

The popularity and feedback from enthusiastic users of surf for money programs attests to its potential and has helped more than some meet their advertising goals. And reputable surf for cash companies allow a money back guarantee. The Terms and Conditions are to protect both parties and to ensure everyone knows what their obligations are.

So there you have it! If there’s no investment and the risk is low, perhaps surf for money is for you.

About the Author

Reggie Andersen is a prolific writer, author and speaker. She makes it easy to create a prosperous lifestyle, quickly & easily. Learn some of the methods she’s used for years by signing up at Surfing For Money

No one is exempted from Elizabeth A. Ryan’s “Dudley Doolittle”, and no one could have coined a better name for every writer’s enemy – the dreaded “block”.

Dudley Doolittle (hope Ms. Ryan would not mind my borrowing) is a little devil that appears as soon as you grab a pen, or even while you’re in the middle of a major writing session. You are so engrossed in scribbling your thoughts when suddenly you pause to ask yourself how could you write something utterly useless and – poof! Where have all those loud thoughts gone?

It is frustrating especially when you are cramming for a writing project such as an essay you only have an hour to write, because that is when Dudley likes it best.

I have imagined Dudley as a little red devil complete with a pointed tail, two tiny horns, little fangs and that fork which he should have left at a dinner table. He sits on your shoulder whispering negativity to your ears to lure your focus away from writing.

The truth is…Dudley Doolittle is that part of you that doesn’t believe in your self. It is pessimism in action. It is your defense mechanism, meant to ward off embarrassment and frustrations before they happen. But such mechanism could never help you if you want to be a better writer. You would end up being unable to put coherent sentences together to save your life. If you dream of being a Sheldon, a Dan Brown, a J.K. Rowling or even an Elizabeth A. Ryan, brace yourself from lots of frustrations and embarrassments but be willing to accept them as part of the learning process. Take it as a christening. I know I have. And I’m not even an R.L. Stein yet. As long as you are not breaking rules nor stepping on somebody, there is no harm in trying.

If I have not magnified your confidence with my perk talks, here are some tips. Read on!

1. Have the courage to pick up your pen and let your heart out. Say what you have to say. Do not mind your grammar. Forbidding rules on grammar as well as rules on punctuation only choke you up, preventing your creative juice to flow and narrowing your exploration space. Write what comes to mind in fragments, jargons, vernacular or slang, or even in your abbreviations. There is only one rule to follow – yours!

No matter how simple or ridiculous it sounds, write it. Think about how laughable you are later. Just get it on paper!

2. Remember: you can write. Let it be your battle cry. You are an interesting person and you have something important to say. My personality development teacher once said, “Don’t be inhibited by holding back.” Think of your accomplishments and recall how interested your friend was when you told her about it. Picture someone who would just love to know about the topic you are writing about.

3. Tune Dudley out through brainstorming. Let your thoughts do the noise. In brainstorming, your brain gets itself into a storm to spill ideas out onto paper. More often than not, you end up looking at a long list.

4. Writing more than one draft clearly reminds you that no one will ever get a glimpse of your early disasters. It’s like practicing until you’ve perfected it. The draft is yours to keep, just to figure out what you can write.

5. You may pretend you are writing only for the eyes of close friends or for your grandmother who spoils you rotten and who will love and appreciate you, wrong grammar and all. Besides, what are editors for?

6. Stop worrying about “not knowing what to say”. Often you may feel as though you’ve got “zero balance” as far as knowledge on a certain topic is concerned. But that is the purpose of brainstorming, my friend. Brainstorming is for you to know what you already know about the topic and fill in the gaps later.

7. Don’t be afraid to be wrong. You may be holding back perfectly good ideas. Don’t excuse yourself by saying your cerebral bank is empty or the “info feeds” in your school days as well as TV sessions (call it media bombardment) have been null and void. That is pure laziness. Take the trip down the memory lane.

8. Write as much and as often as you can. Make it a hobby. A journal is your best shot.

9. Write what interests you.

10. An added suggestion would be…by all means, meditate! If this doesn’t help, you still have research to save the day.

More than hundreds of people could have been writers if they had not let Dudley get the better of them, if they had not held back perfectly good ideas for fear of being wrong.

So stop fretting. Get rid of Dudley Doolittle and pick your pen up for battle!

Sheryl Joy Olao is a junior editor of publishing company CannonCreek Asia Inc., where she deals with business news. A journalism graduate, she is a contributor of newspaper Sun Star Daily Cebu and a staffer of The Write Spot. She also writes for The Naked Press and Writing Village. A former literary and copyeditor of the Masscom Coordinates’ magazine, an award-winning feature and essay writer and correspondent for the Police Beat of another newspaper The Freeman in her college days. To keep her in touch with arts despite being immersed in journalism, she worked in a museum owned by the Ramon Aboitiz foundation three months before her graduation. She writes short stories, poetry and essays as a hobby. She has also tried her hands on a novel.