7 Best Kept Secrets LLC

You think you forgot what you wanted to say while your audience thinks you give them a moment to

- absorb what you’ve said
- gather their own thoughts
- prepare themselves for the next segment

The pause doesn’t change.

The perspective does.

How to find out what you want to do in life.

This worked wonders for me. It focused my efforts.

And it worked!

But you have to try it to know...

1) Turn off the damn phone. (Yes, I said it, but first, finish this thread...)

2) Find a comfortable chair, sofa, anywhere aside from any distractions.
I mean it. No dog, no cat, no spouse, no friend, no TV, no music, no phone!

3) THIS IS NOT A NAP! You are not trying to sleep.

4) Now; pretend you have a lot of money in the bank. A lot. For some reason 41 million
always pops into my head.

5) Obviously, you won't have to work for a living again.
(As long as you don't blow it all!)

6) I'm sure you'll buy a cool car, nice house, and see the world...

5) Then what? What would you really like to do if money was no object?

6) Who would you be doing this with?

7) Where would you want to live?

8) What would you do to occupy your time?

9) What will it take to accomplish these things?

10) Now WRITE these answers down!

And last...

Get up. Go and do the things you dream of. Plan well.

Adapt. Learn. Grow.

In the world today you can literally do almost anything (legal).

But you have to start!

If you don't start, you'll NEVER finish.

3 simple ways to improve your public speaking skills...

- without getting up in front of an audience!

(Seems weird doesn't it?)

Read on!

Public speaking is not difficult. After all, we talk to people every day.

At work. At home. In the grocery store. Lots of places.

The problem is when all those eyes turn towards you!

So you need to get used to it. But really, you don't...at first...

1) You have to practice. There is no substitute. But you can dictate the terms!

Get in front of a mirror. A large one or floor length if possible.

Now set a timer (your phone has one!) ... and talk to yourself in the mirror!

At least 3-5 minutes.

Notice your hand gestures. If you can, move to each side a bit. Notice how you look.

Find what works for YOU, and what doesn't.

Do this at least three times a day. If you can, three times in the morning, and three in the evening.

You will get better at it, I promise!

Besides, it's only you! No one else needs to see. I still do this!

My wife might think I'm crazy...but so what?

She thinks I'm crazy anyway!

2) Another interesting way is to have a fake audience.

I know a very successful speaker who sets up a bunch of stuffed
animals in chairs and practices in front of them!

You can also just pretend people are on your sofa or around your dining room table.

Funny, but it works!

3) Another way is to record yourself on your phone. Remember, 3-5 minutes.

Yes, it is different and often sobering to watch yourself back. You will learn a lot.

Again, no one else needs to see it! The great thing about video tech today is
you can easily delete it...

Or save it!

I have done this dozens of times. I've deleted most of them but kept a few goodies.

Please, do practice for a while. For some may get comfortable in a week,
..others may need lots of weeks! You will know. You will feel it.

It feels good to see yourself progressing. It's the same reason they hang mirrors on the wall at the gym.

Improvement is great motivation!

Fair warning, you will doubt yourself. You may not feel ready yet.

There is an in-between step!

Find your local Toastmasters club. They are in hundreds of countries and locations
all over the world.

Go and just watch at first.

They allow guests almost everywhere.

Why? Because ALL of them know what it's like to have the fear!

This is the next step. You will learn how to use "vocal variety".

How to learn to "read" your audience. Why and how not to say "Ummmm",
and "Ahhh".

It is usually a friendly place where people understand.

Because they've all been there themselves. Here you give speeches

in a "safe" environment. They will even give you feedback on what you

you did well, and what you need to improve on.

I still go most weeks. 15 years, and now I'm a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM).

Do it. It will change your life.

It changed mine!

In fact I got the best job I ever had due to public speaking skills...