Craig Strachan - communication excellence

Thursday's Thought

The power of humour is like a magnet: positive attracts, negative repels. Use it wisely.

Darren LaCroix - Laugh and Get Rich

How Linked in are you?

I just came across a great article on Ramon Thomas’ website about the power of LinkedIn. He gives a brief overview of social networking and then discusses LinkedIn specifically. There are some great suggestions on how to grow your network, and more importantly, who you should grow your network! Ramon should know – he has over 1000 connections.

One of the most powerful comments he makes is that most people who get business through connections get it not from a direction connection, but from one of their connections. Eg - a friend of a friend. So, you aquire business through weak, and not strong connections. This means that the bigger you can grow your network, the more you are creating business opportunites for yoursef!

I have been growing my LinkedIn network – I am up to 134 (from about 110 a week ago), and my goal is to get to 200 by the end of May. So come on over, and let's link.

Here is a link to my profile.

Thursday's Thought

One of the strange things about human beings is that they value only that which has a price. The free schools of America, and the free public libraries, do not impress people because they are free.

Napoleon Hill - Think and Grow Rick

8 tips from Mark Brown

Here are eight thoughts that Mark left us with when he was at our Toastmasters Conference last May.

• What do you want the audience to think differently about when they leave the room?
• It is not about being sensational, it is about being sincere.
• It is not what you can offer, it is what does the audience want.
• Stories do not need to be mind-blowing, they just need a point.
• Everybody has stories.
• Be aware of others - listen to them, learn their names.
• Be humble - you are speaking for others.
• Be descriptive.

Follow these ideas, and you will present a great speech!

ps: If you ever have the opportunity to hear Mark Brown speak, please do - he has a great message (and a pretty amazing voice as well!)

Thursday's Thought

Your business is not your life

Michael Gerber - the E Myth Revisited

10 Myths of Public Speaking

1) I can wing my presentation. No you can't - the audience will know if you are prepared or not.

2) Creating a few slides is a substitute for preparation. The slides are there to enhance a presentation, not substitute for it. Creating the slides are only part of the presentation. In fact, most presentations may even be better without any slides at all.

3) It's all about what I know, not what I can give the audience. It is all about the audience - what is in it for them? If you create an audience focused, as opposed to a speaker focused presentation, it will be far more effective.

4) Who cares about timing? Well, a lot of people actually - especially the audience and meeting planner. If you are constantly over time, you will annoy a lot of people, reduce the effectiveness of your message, and reduce your chance of future bookings.

5) It doesn't take long to prepare a speech. Some speakers may be able to prepare quickly, but you cannot prepare your entire presentation the evening before, or even worse - on the way to the presentation. And if you really have to, please don't tell anybody - it does not look professional. I have heard speakers say "When I was preparing my speech on the way to the venue this evening..."

6) I can write out my entire speech, and just read it back. If you are reading your speech word for word, it will sound read, you will be unable to focus on your audience, and you will loose lose your audience.

7) I don't need a microphone. For an audience larger than 50, you need a microphone - no matter how booming your voice.

8) Structure isn't important. Lack of structure = lack of preparation.

9) I'd rather die than give a speech. Go ahead then. Can anybody find where this "statistic" comes from? Would you really rather die than give a speech?

10) I can make jokes at the expense of the audience. Only if you want to alienate your audience.

... and a bonus

11) You have to be born a good speaker. So, do you have to be born with a microphone in your mouth? Sure, many people are born great speakers, but many more become great speakers through persistence, preparation and practice. Ask any Toastmaster!

Thursday's Thought

It is not whether you believe you can or can't. It's a matter of whether you will or won't.

Ken Annandale

New website launched

Just a quick note to let you know that I have completely revamped my website - www.craigstrachan.com. It is easier to navigate, contains free resources & RSS feeds.

Have a look when you have a moment, and let me know what you think!

24 free PowerPoint Templates + Win a CD

I have just completed a CD containing over 400 PowerPoint templates. What is special about this CD is that the templates are categorized, and EVERY TEMPLATE has a thumbnail view, making it very easy to browse and find the best template for your job!

You can view a sample, and download 24 free templates here.

I am selling the CD for $15, which is less than 3.75c per template - and to celebrate it's launch, you can use the following discount code to get a 20% discount - valid until the end of April 2008. Just enter the word PowerCode on the checkout page. Buy now - only $15.

To celebrate even further, I am going to give away five copies in a lucky draw - just leave a comment on this post, and I will select five random names. I will contact you for delivery details if you are one of the five (names by April 25 please).

When you are the Emcee at a Wedding

I mentored a new client recently on being an emcee at a wedding - so the responsibilities of the emcee have been been on my mind. Enjoy!

The role of the emcee is simply to ensure that the event runs smoothly. This really is a two-fold role – running the show on the day, and being prepared for any eventuality. The more prepared you are, the easier it will be to handle the curve-balls.

This checklist is really a guide of what may be required of you. At many weddings, there is a separate wedding arranger that will take care of a lot of these things, but you may be required to handle many unexpected situations.

Because your role is very prominent, you are the person that most people are going to approach with any questions or problems (even if it is officially not your problem), so it is best to be prepared. Remember to delegate and get assistance where possible or necessary.

Before the Event

• Get a copy of the agenda and check the timings
  • Who is speaking?
  • How long are the speakers speaking for?
  • When are they speaking?
  • What time is dinner, dancing, etc
  • Get contact numbers for all involved (just in case)
    • Bride/groom
    • Venue
    • Photographer
    • DJ
    • Best man
    • Bridesmaid etc
• Find out the dress code
• What are the “taboo” topics?
• Is there a special eating order (eg: table 1 first etc)?/li>

At the Event

• Arrive early
• Check out the venue
  • Toilets
  • Smoking area
  • Where are you speaking from?
  • Table for the gifts etc
• Ask the best man to phone you a few minutes before they arrive, so you can get people where you want them for when the bridal party arrives
• Confirm timings for the meals with the venue
• Find out where the controls are for the sound
  • Is there a DJ?
  • Where do you switch the background sound off?
  • How do the microphones work?
  • Is there a dedicated audio-visual person to assist (hotels etc may have)?

Stagetime

• Welcome the guests
  • Briefly go through the programme “we are going to have starters, then the groom will speak…”
  • Mention logistics
    • where to smoke
    • where the toilets are
    • please switch your phones off during the speeches etc
• Mention Eating order
• Speeches
  • You just need to bridge the speeches, you are not the star of the show
  • Be brief
  • Watch timing of speakers – adjust the programme if necessary
• Let the venue know if food needs to be earlier/later
• Humour – keep it appropriate
• You are not the star of the show, but you are critical to the success of the show
• Remember that you are working – watch alcohol
• Have fun and enjoy yourself!