aldous_huxley

You are in luck that once again I have pulled from the shelf of friends this little goody.

There’s only one corner of the Universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.  So you have to begin there, not outside, not on other people. That comes afterwords, when you have worked on your own corner…

By: Aldous Huxley

So who might this person be that has brought us so much to think about? Do you know?

Comments can be sent to Nancy at: nancy@davisexecutivetraining.com or blog away

Pulled from the shelf today: How To Listen

By: Ted Pollock

Page:45

A FINAL PEEK AT YOUR PROFITS

That’s all there is to it:

1. Consider the source.

“Who is he?”

“What are his qualifications?”

” Has he a vested interest in what he says?”

2. Hear what he really says.

Take the chips off your shoulders.

Keep an open mind.

Concentrate on ideas.

3. Listen actively.

Anticipate the speaker.

Weigh and review what’s been said.

Listen “between the lines.”

Listen with your hands.

4. Make sure you understand.

Ask questions, but don’t interrupt.

Briefly restate what he’s said.

Ted Pollock say’s most of his life has been “one long earful.”

Helpful I hope? Comments can be sent to Nancy at: nancy@davisexecutivetraining.com

In the Birmingham newspaper today. Writers Barnett Wright and Roy L. Williams  wrote the front page article titled: “Obama reshaping image of black men.” A quote by Ann Jerald DeVance said something that is so fitting to me that I had to send it out:

Obama shows the importance of preparation so that a person can be ready when opportunities arrive.

A reminder of how important it is to have great communication skills.

Thanks for bring us the news each day and keep the inspiring pieces coming.

Thanks for blogging with Nancy today.  If you find this information helpful please let me know. I always welcome suggestions, comments and new subscribers.
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The letter below is from Aaron Gresham, Associate Creative Director of o2ideas, a large advertising & marketing firm with national and international clients. We did an In-house workshop, The ART of making powerful effective presentations, for this company on August 1, 2008.

Aaron’s letter describes a real world application of the skills we teach. Not only did our workshop give him the techniques and confidence to succeed in a very challenging situation, his ability to make presentations that work are now permanent!  We are proud to know he will be a confident and effective speaker and presenter for the rest of his life.

From: Aaron Gresham
To: Davis Executive Training
Date: August 12, 2008
Subject: Aaron Gresham’s Toys R Us Story

Hey Nancy and Moe,

The Monday after the Friday workshop we did with Davis Executive Training, I was informed that Mark Ervin (our creative director) was too sick to fly to Newark, NJ and give a presentation at Toys R Us Headquarters.

So at 10 am, I am booked on a flight to Newark-(5:00 PM flight-lands at 9:30 PM).

This is important for 2 reasons: one – I have never seen the presentation I am giving and two – I am giving that presentation the next morning at the clients once a year, national meeting. So I have a hard copy of the 40 page deck I will be presenting, and a stomach full of nerves with me on the plane. (Note: Moe had asked the group if we were nervous before we did presentations–I can say for the most part no — but in this case- a definite YES). By the time I landed and got into my hotel, it was around 11:30 PM. So I spent the night practicing the presentation in the mirror and I used the lamps and chairs in the room for eye control. I was remembering all the things we had practiced, and I even envisioned myself on the videotapes, and adjusted the way I was presenting. So the next morning we show up to Toys R Us and as I get there they tell me I will be presenting to an auditorium of over 150 people (not what I was expecting). They wired me for sound and I sat through the presenter before me, who was very good by the way. Then it was my turn. As I began, I started in my neutral position and chose to present from the floor instead of the stage. I talked loud, maintained a lot of energy, used eye control (people were nodding in agreement) and I began walking slowly to each side of the room picking different people as I moved. By the time I was done the people in the audience seemed energized. I concluded the presentation asked for questions and got nothing but softball pitches, then, resounding applause.

I must say the workshop we did with Davis Executive Training has already improved my presentation skills tenfold. It has given me the presence and confidence necessary to hold an audience.

I now look forward to presenting, because I have the tools necessary to do it well.

Aaron Gresham

Associate Creative Directoro2 ideas

Familiar Quotations By: John Bartlett

From page: 475

A quote from: Thomas Carlyle ( 1795-1881 )

The Age of Miracles is forever here!

Thanks for bloging with Nancy and by the way, how timely is this quote?

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The book I took off the book shelf today is titled: 

Why Do We Say It? The stories behind the words, expressions and cliches we use.

By: Castle ( Book Sales, Inc. ) Two pages 48 and 88

Pg: 48: Budget. How did we get the word “budget”?

It has long been the custom for the English Chancellor of the Exchequer to bring his papers regarding financial expenditures to the House of Commons in a leather bag or portfolio which he places on the table before him. The “budget” was named for this bag-for the old French word for a “bag” is bougette. To “open the budget” is a literal description of the procedure the Chancellor follows-he opens the bag and takes out his papers.

Page: 88: Economy. Where does the word “economy” come from?

From the Greek word for ” house manager.” The one place where we generally insist on the careful expenditure of money is in our own home. 

This tells me the true meaning, however the shape of the World today makes the meaning even more confusing.

Thanks for blogging today with Nancy @ Davis Executive Training.  If you find this information helpful please let me know. I always welcome suggestions, comments and new subscribers.
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This is not a rare book at all. I had rested it on the bookshelf just yesterday and was so upset when I couldn’t find it last night for my late reading. Have you ever misplaced one of your most recent books and picked up an old friend to pass the time until the new shows up? Today I will read from the newest and tomorrow I will capture from the rare temporary book/friend. The book for today is hot off the press and so far a book that might make me call in sick because I love the way it reads. The page I will be quoting is so fitting for today’s world I am so glad I thought of a small page number. I hope you enjoy the passage enough to run out and purchase this one!

HOPE ( When Everything Seems Hopeless) by: Dr. Tom Dooley, PH.D. ( pg:1 )

This book was written especially for hurting individuals, those who are buried under the snowdrift of hopelessness and left there as half-dead. May this book breathe a measure of hope, which is the bedrock upon which genuine faith is established. Without hope there can be no faith. And without faith, one cannot please God.

Dr. Tom Dooley

“How sweet is that?” I am so glad that this book found it’s way into our home. No, it was not from my friends rare collection but I could not resist.

Thanks for blogging today with Nancy @ Davis Executive Training.  If you find this information helpful please let me know. I always welcome suggestions, comments and new subscribers.
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My hands landed on the ( book ) friend:  blink -by the author of The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell -The Power of Thinking Without Thinking.

A few sentences from page 23 ( You will need to read this wonderful book if you haven’t already )

But Gotman, it turns out, can teach us a great deal about a critical part of rapid cognition known as thin-slicing.  “Thin-slicing” refers to the ability of our unconscious to find patterns in situations and behavior based on very narrow slices of experience.

Go to www.gladwell.com to find out more about this author and book form of communication.

Tomorrow we will meet another friend off  the book shelf. It might be a book dating back well into the years of great classic’s. You will have to wait and see.

Thanks for blogging today with Nancy @ Davis Executive Training.  If you find this information helpful please let me know. I always welcome suggestions, comments and new subscribers.
(To subscribe use the subscription button in the lower right of this page.)