Inspiration: Life is Too Short

business_time_3I’ve heard the phrase “Life is Too Short” a number of times throughout the years. Sometimes it refers to a person’s reaction to someone else’s behavior (Life is too short to hate your sister) and other times it’s just a general statement (Life is too short — there’s so much to do). The other day, I was thinking about some of these phrases I’ve heard as well some that I’ve thought to myself and thought it would be a good topic for a post. So here’s some that I’d like to share:

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  • Life is too short to hate your life.
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How to Improve Your Articulation

clear water by Yarik MishinAre there words which you frequently stumble over while speaking? Do people have a tough time understanding what you’re saying? Is English not you’re first language? Well don’t worry because you’re not alone. Many people, including professional speakers, struggle with their articulation. Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to work on improving the way you pronounce words.

There are two techniques that I highly recommend for those of us that desire better articulation. Both of these techniques not only help you speak more clearly, but they also have some added benefits.

The Radio Repeat:  Read more... (486 words, 4 images, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

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What to do When Your Child is Bullied

Street-waving by Hans Kristian PedersenI’ve had a number of people talk to me about bullying over the last few days. Many have asked for recommendations for materials such as books and films while others have asked for advice. Some are having problem as adults such as cyberstalking or bullying in the workplace, but unfortunately many are having issues where their child is being bullied.

When a child is continuously bullied it affects them for the rest of their lives. In most cases, they keep to themselves as adults, have low self-esteem and struggle in social situations. In some cases, it bubbles up resulting in violence – either against the tormentors, themselves or even unfortunate bystanders. Bullying is a serious problem and needs to addressed at the first sign of it.  Read more... (1925 words, 4 images, estimated 7:42 mins reading time)

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Are Your Services Priced Correctly?

Last week I received an email from a speaker that we’ll call “Ken” (obviously not his real name). After a few tips and quotes about public speaking, Ken had a very nice looking coupon. The coupon had attractive fonts, good use of color and even had a professionally taken picture of Ken. But the thing that caught my attention was the large text that read “all services 80% off.”  Read more... (484 words, 2 images, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)

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Public Speaking Success: Scared of Taking That First Step? Here’s How to Do it

Public Speaking Success: Scared of Taking That First Step? Here's How to Do itSo you’ve heard (or read) me say it over and over again that the only way to overcome your fear of public speaking is to get up there and speak. Like telling someone not to rub their eyes, it’s easy to say but not so easy to do. Just keep in mind that the hardest step to take (and the most terrifying one) is that first step. After that step, everything gets easier.

Taking that first step:  Read more... (759 words, 4 images, estimated 3:02 mins reading time)

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Have a Communication Fear? Here’s What To Do About it

Have a Communication Fear? Here's What To Do About itIf you’re like most people, you probably feel some sort of discomfort speaking to groups or going up to someone you don’t know and introducing yourself. As you can imagine, you’re certainly not alone as you’d be surprised at how many people are deathly afraid of either of these situations. But the good news is that there are things that you can do to deal with your fears — and they’re not as scary as you might expect them to be.

Practice makes perfect:  Read more... (677 words, 4 images, estimated 2:42 mins reading time)

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Should You Give a Speech While Wearing Your Halloween Costume?

Should You Give a Speech While Wearing Your Halloween Costume?When it comes to public speaking, and in particular the fear of public speaking, I’ve heard some wild things. “I wish I could give my speech in the dark.” “I wish I could be invisible when I have to give a speech.” I’ve yet to hear anyone say that they wish they could give a speech that no one can hear, so there’s obviously something about being seen by and audience that strikes fear in the hearts of many.

There are a number of things that cause the fear of public speaking but they generally fall into one of three categories:  Read more... (827 words, 4 images, estimated 3:18 mins reading time)

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