How I Captivate My Audience

No matter what group I'm speaking to or what program I'm giving, I always start off with 5 to 10 minutes of non-stop comedy. Why? Because nothing can captivate an audience and hold their attention more than "The Power Of Laughter." As soon as the laughter starts I can actually feel the tension in the room dissipate. Their energy level is cranked and everyone is primed for a good time. I heard someone say that today we live in the "United States Of Entertainment." I believe speakers have to adhere to this statement. We are living in an age were the attention span of the average audience is about 30 minutes out of a 60 minute span. To make matters more challenging, audience members are twittering, text messaging, e-mailing and even answering their cell phones during a presentation. Unless a speaker has some kind of entertaining quality, they run the risk of loosing their personal connection with the audience. Laughter isn't the only way to engage an audience. But I believe it happens to be the most powerful way. Nothing can put an audience in a good mood more than laughter. Not even sex. And this is coming from someone of the male gender. What I mean is that, to most men sex is like pizza. When it's hot, it's great. When it's cold...it's still great. But I digress.
A physiological and mental reaction takes place when you laugh. Laughter charges your inner battery and helps you cope with tough times. Laughter is an instant mind-shift that comes from a higher part of you. It has a soothing quality that can lift your spirits and instantly break down barriers that can otherwise stand between a speaker and the audience. Let's face it, people love to laugh and they love people who can make them laugh. This is where "the-trust-factor" comes into play. In other words, if they like me they will trust me. This gives me the opportunity to gradually weave my message in and around the laughter. Through the guise of humor I teach people the skills they need to get to a better place at work and in life. Here's the big pay off. My ability to make the audience laugh not only helps me to hold their attention, but also aides in them enjoying the entire process.
Studies have shown if you are having fun as you learn you will ingest more information. As one of my clients said,
"Never has my group laughed so hard and learned so much in one sitting! Thanks for the ride!"

Hell or Heaven

Ralph Waldo Emerson was right when he said, “To different minds,
the same world is a hell or heaven.” It's a matter of perspective.
The same occurrence can be experienced and interpreted in
different ways by different people. There are those who view
little mishaps as a major catastrophe, while others find the humor
in them. Some people would have their day ruined if their car
didn’t start. People like these intensify their problems by
continuously rehashing their woe-is-me story. This is also the
attitude that will keep them from the success and happiness they
desire. It's difficult, if not impossible, to enjoy your life on
any level if you are always focusing on what isn't working. That's
not to say that your wrong to get upset when your car doesn't start
and you're late for work. That's natural of course, but you're
doing yourself a grave disservice by dwelling on that all day long.
If you're not vigilant, one bad mood can snowball out of control and
ruin what could otherwise be an enjoyable and productive day.
As always, the choice is yours.

Being Successful

The entire world can view your life as the ultimate success story, but the bottom line is this: If you are not happy, you are not successful.

Speak Words That Empower

We need to be especially careful about the words we speak out loud when things aren't going the way we want. Yes, it's true that what you think is what you get, but what you say out loud in the midst of troubling times has even greater impact on how long you stay in those situations, and how deeply you are affected by the situation. The words you speak amplify your feelings and trigger mental images. Your feelings lead to the actions that you take and the actions that you take lead to the outcome. In other words my friend; if what you think is what you get, then what you say is what you ask for.
If you're always thinking about how badly life is treating you, and telling whoever will stand still long enough to regret doing so about how you can't get a fair shake, you will always feel miserable. Ever hear anyone say, “Misery loves company?” Being miserable doesn't exactly attract good things to you. Get it? If you want to change your life for the better, start by consciously changing what you think...and what you say.

Reality Is Whatever You Identify With

It absolutely amazes me that there are people who have been given every opportunity in life and still manage to sabotage their success and destroy their chance at happiness. Somewhere along the way they have adopted a negative perception about life and they continue to reinforce that perception by obsessive thinking. Let's face it; it's difficult to feel successful when you keep focusing on your mistakes, setbacks and failures. Likewise, it’s impossible to be happy if you constantly feel victimized or singled out when your life doesn't go as planned.
Reality is whatever you identify with. If you keep focusing on what's not working you will always be in some kind of turmoil. You make a difficult situation worse when you are unable to shift your focus and appreciate what you have, rather than focusing on what you don't have. Whether you believe it or not, there is a spiritual law that works with perfection, it's called “The Law Of Attraction.” This law simply states that the more you concentrate on your lack, the more of that you will get back. The more you think of what's not working, the more your life won't work.
People who are successful consciously or unconsciously think successful thoughts. Whether they are aware of it or not, their predominant thoughts are of optimism, for wealth, health and abundance on a consistent basis. They don't allow negative thoughts of deficiency and failure to take root in their minds. That doesn't mean they don't have negative thoughts. We all do. It simply means the majority are positive.
Have you ever noticed that those who are always talking about their ailments are always ill?
Those who speak about prosperity are prosperous. Those who talk about how wonderful life is are always happy. And people who are constantly talking about their cats, well that's a different story and I don't have the time right now.
The point is that your thoughts cumulatively provide a general blueprint of directives for how you react to everything in your life. Whatever you habitually think about or focus on the most will become your realty. So, whatever you do, don't focus on getting hit by a train. That's not going to end well.

I Love My Job

On March 13th I flew to Macau China, where I experienced five incredible days of laughter, friendship, great food, great wine, and top notch service. No, I wasn't on vacation. It was a business trip. Fortunately, I'm in the type of business where quite often it's difficult to tell the difference. Yes I love my job that much. In fact there are times I'm on such a high about what I do for a living that I actually laugh and think to myself, “And I get paid for doing this!”
There are two reasons why my trip to Macau was so special. First, was the seminar I gave to an incredible group who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people all over the planet.
Polaris Media Group is an international community of successful men and woman that provide resources to ignite creativity and success at work and in life. They create inspirational media products and educational materials that reveal the true nature of the human spirit.
I have spoken to all kinds of groups throughout my speaking career, but few have had the passion, enthusiasm, and incentive to learn and take immediate action than the wonderful people of Polaris Media.
I was fortunate to spend quality time with some of the members and it became very clear to me that these people are on a mission to make the world a better place. Their dedication and desire to serve truly inspired me. It's always an extra bonus when the teacher becomes the student and walks away feeling uplifted. I wish them all the very best that life has to offer.
The second reason my stay in Macau was so special was the making of a new friendship. I've known Jim Cathcart casually through the years as we are both members of The National Speakers Association. It wasn't until we worked together in Macau that we got to know each other on a personal basis. Jim has an impeccable reputation as a speaker and it was a real treat to see him in action. He captivated the entire audience, myself included, for four hours.
I've always said that one of the joys of traveling is spending quality time having dinner with clients and friends in various parts of world. It's a time to relax, let loose and to get to know one another. The memories of sharing heartfelt stories and non stop laughter always bring a smile to my face. I will take those memories with me till the day I leave this world.
Occasionally, usually sometime the following day, I realize that a special connection was made. It truly is a blessing to know that there is someone else in my life that I can call friend. Thanks Jim, It was a pleasure and an honor getting to know you. The next time our paths meet I know I will be greeting someone who is more than an acquaintance.

It's A Matter Of Choice

Choice! The key is choice. You have options. You need not spend your life wallowing in failure, ignorance, grief, poverty, shame, and self pity. But hold on! If this is true, then why have so many among us apparently elected to live in that manner?
The answer is obvious. Those who live in unhappy failure have never exercised their options for a better way of life because they have never been aware that they had any choices.

The above words are from The Choice, a book written by Og Mandino. Read it again my friend because it is a cornerstone for building a successful and happy life. You inability to use your power of choice can affect your entire life. Life is about choices. Every situation is a choice. You choose how to react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or a bad mood. The bottom line: The choices you make determine how you live your life. Once you can say to yourself that you have a choice on how to deal with a problem or even a crisis, you are sending a message to that brain of yours, stating that you are in control of the situation, Instead of the situation controlling you. In other words you are not at the mercy of the situation.
You can choose to believe that you are helpless and at the mercy of life's unpleasant twists of fate and misfortunes. You can choose to believe some people are lucky and some are destined to a life of misery and despair. If this is what you believe, then that will be your reality.
On the other hand, you could choose to believe you have a choice in your affairs, that you may not be able to control what happens to you, but you can always choose how you think about what happens, you can always choose the state of mind you need to be in regardless of what is happening around you or to you. The choice is yours my friend, it has always been. It always will be. It's always just a matter of choice.