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Volume 4, Number 5 August 10, 2004
Publisher: GoalMinds, Inc.
E-mail: condrill@goalminds.com
http://www.goalminds.com
Copyright 2004 Jo Condrill All rights reserved ##################################################

Welcome to our many new subscribers! You are receiving this newsletter either because you signed up for it or someone has forwarded it to you. To receive your own copy go to http://www.goalminds.com/moreinfo.html and sign up. We appreciate your continuing support.

Privacy statement http://www.goalminds.com/Privacy1.html

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. Communication Snafus

2. Delivering a WOW Elevator Speech, by Pamela Kelly

3. Creating an Action Plan
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UPDATE: In the last issue we presented the photo of the Marine Corps flag in the Pentagon after the attack on 9/11. That flag was flown into space aboard the Endeavor space shuttle in December 2001 and is now back in the Pentagon. Have another look at http://www.publishandprosper.com/Flag.htm Information courtesy of Craig D. Jensen, Associate Counsel for the Commandant, and Harriet J. Brattain, Headquarters, USMC

The first Writers Camp at Lavender Spring Ranch is now history. Feedback: "I had a work in progress that was "stuck," unsure of my next move. I've got up to 100 ways to go now. . . and know the top 10 coming up soonest!" Peter Gustafson, Writer/Broadcaster, Ruidoso, NM
Another participant wrote, "Since I had four books published, with one going into its fourth edition, I considered going to the Writers Camp at beautiful Lavender Spring Ranch an expense to be written off as I relaxed with good food in beautiful surroundings while I visited with people who share my interest. However, the five informative days spent with Jo Condrill of GoalMinds was a very enlightening experience. I now realize how much I didn't know about writing and getting a book published." Malcolm Beck, Founder, Garden-ville, Organic Specialist, San Antonio, TX
From cookbook to memoir to proposal writing and self-publishing, we covered a lot of ground. We also fed the deer, watched the geese, and picked raspberries. Photos will soon be posted.http://www.publishandprosper.com

Writers Camp West coming to the Los Angeles area later in the year. Watch for details.

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1. Communication Snafus
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Have you ever agonized over what you would've, could've, or should've said? Has your tongue ever seemed to be disconnected from your brain--especially at a pivotal moment in time? Have you ever blown a deal, a job interview, a promotion, or a relationship because you just couldn't think of the right words to say? We have all experienced these embarrassing moments at some time or another.

You can easily overcome anxiety, expand your abilities, and empower yourself for success. Decide to do it now! That's the first step.

Begin with the end in mind. Know what you want to say. By listening carefully when someone else is speaking and formulating your thoughts before you begin to speak, you will increase your effectiveness as a powerful communicator.

Get to the point quickly. Then it is easier for the listener to remember what you said. Provide supporting details using descriptive language, if appropriate. Most people think in pictures not words. Help them understand your meaning. Don't be afraid to repeat your point later on.

Respect the other person's point of view, even if it differs profoundly with yours. This is especially important in an election year. It is best to disagree without being disagreeable. If everyone had the same point of view, some of us would be unnecessary! Working with the military in the Pentagon, I learned one very important lesson in this regard. There is a time for disagreement; showing optional courses of action was expected. Even displaying strong belief in one course and pointing out weaknesses in others was acceptable. Naturally, not everyone agreed on the best course. However, once a decision was taken, everyone fell in to support it to their utmost. That's what's missing on the American scene at this time. We need to develop this approach to do what's best for all Americans.

Take responsibility for your communication skills. Don't blame others for not understanding what you mean. If your listener is puzzled, ask "Am I not stating this clearly?" rather than "Don't you understand what I just said?" Clear up misunderstandings as quickly as possible. Restate your message using different words.

Concentract on improving your skills and overcoming the embarrassing blunders. Effective communication skills are the mark of an achiever!

A free self-assessment is available at http://www.goalminds.com/RateYou.cfm

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2. DELIVERING A "WOW!" ELEVATOR SPEECH
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Imagine - you’re in an elevator and you have only the length of a brief ride to sell your product or service to the other passengers before they step out. This is the premise of the “elevator speech.”

So how can you deliver a WOW! Elevator speech… one that produces your intended results? The key is Intention. Extraordinary communicators begin with the end in mind. What are the results you want to produce? Commit yourself to this Intention and it will act like a powerful magnet, drawing the appropriate behaviors from you and rejecting the rest. As a young senator, John F. Kennedy was criticized as “the worst speaker on the hill;” but he learned from his mistakes and became lauded for his speaking skills. This is how Intention works. Over time, you BECOME YOUR INTENTION, just as President Kennedy had when he pointed to the moon and said, “We’ll put a man on the moon.” Within a few years, his words became a reality. Firm Intentions cause us to drop inappropriate habits and distracting mannerisms, and to become more powerful in producing our results.

When you’re clear about your Intention, you’re ready to begin preparing your elevator speech. Remember, in public speaking there’s WHAT YOU SAY and there’s HOW YOU EXPRESS YOURSELF. The first refers to your verbal content, the words and their organization. The second refers to how you project your personality and is non-verbal. When your words match your non-verbal delivery, your communication is CONGRUENT. This is a characteristic of great communicators, like Oprah. Oprah always means what she says and says what she means and everyone knows it. That’s congruence.

So what are the different ways we communicate non-verbally? Think about how your listeners receive you. They see you, they hear you and they feel you. They see your eye contact, facial expression, body language, appearance, grooming, poise and visual aids; they hear your voice pitch, volume, tempo and pauses; and they feel your energy, emotion, commitment and conviction. But you have to REACH them for them to receive you – VISUALLY, VOCALLY and VISCERALLY. That’s why it’s important to rehearse until you feel natural and comfortable projecting yourself (and your intention) across the distance to connect with your listeners. It’s not about being loud or artificial. It’s about being CONGRUENT and CONNECTING.

The great philosopher, Raquel Welch, said, “Style is being yourself, but on purpose!” And she knew what she was talking about. You learn to project your personality intentionally, selecting the behaviors that do work (like enthusiasm or speaking up) while dropping the behaviors that don’t work (like a dead-pan expression or talking too fast).

Now let’s return to preparing the elevator speech. For the verbal content, you could use a simple Point-Reason-Example-Point format; such as the one a client used.

“How would you like to enjoy radiant health and beauty? That’s what’s available to you through my deep healing massage. I massage your lymph system, which causes a de-toxing action to carry the poisons out of your body, while more oxygen is carried into your tissues. You’ll feel a surge of rejuvenation and you’ll look radiant with glowing health and beauty!”

You can add spice to your PREP with questions, dramatic statements, startling statistics, quotes, humor, illustrations, props, rhyme or action. Then practice aloud; but instead of trying to remember what you wrote, EXPLAIN YOUR IDEAS UNTIL THEY FLOW. This will connect you to your ideas and to your listeners. I call this the First Level of Practice. The Second Level is when you get up and throw yourself, body and soul, into your elevator speech. Remember, you want to be congruent, so use the force of your personality - your body, voice and your life force. Project your intention and reach your listeners. If you’re rehearsing by yourself, reach the walls of where you are. Be ten times louder and ten times more excited, until you’re no longer self-conscious and are simply BEING THE MESSAGE. At this point, the rehearsal stage of your preparation is over. You’re ready for an audience and can throw away the techniques and simply be yourself, but on purpose, connecting with your listeners.

(Now, from inside the elevator) WOW! That sounds great! I’ll take it!
by Pamela Kelly, Communications Consultant,
EMail: PKellycom@aol.com

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3. Creating an Action Plan
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Okay, you’ve bought into the idea that you need to live life on purpose. You have an intention and you’ve tentatively developed a life vision. You know what you want life to be like five or ten years from now. . . but taking that first step to make it happen is daunting. Try this.

Look at the big picture and then break it apart like a jigsaw puzzle. Some things you want may be already in place--a loving spouse, a beautiful home, a promising career. Set those aside in a "maintenance" area. Then separate the rest of the puzzle into action steps that you can take like stepping stones to fill in the missing pieces and reach the result you desire. You want the "yet to be accomplished" items in small pieces that you can see are doable. You won't know everything that needs to be done. That's okay. Begin with what you do know.

Then, for each puzzle piece, list everything you can think of that will have to be done to bring it to fruition--to make it real. This will help you decide which ones to work on first. For instance, one of the pieces might be: "Get a degree." Some things on your action step list might be:

1. Talk with someone in Human Resources to see if the company will pay for any courses.

2. Get college catalogs.

3. Talk with a counselor to set up a program. What are the required courses and when are they offered? Can any work experience count for college credit to shorten the classroom time?

4. Get family support. Talk with spouse, if any, about this new outside activity to gain support. What will it take in class and study time? What will you and the family gain from this activity? What if there is resistance? You need a contingency plan. Drill down.
If your spouse refuses to cooperate, what are the alternatives?

Classes during work hours

Correspondence courses

Courses on the Internet for credit

Delay start of courses

You have choices. Scope out your alternatives. Know your options. As you show that you are determined and will not neglect your family responsibilities, chances are that the spouse's attitude will soften. While they may still withhold full support, they may make some concessions.

At this point, you are trying to better define what needs to be done and when. If there are any shortcuts, now is the time to uncover them! You won't know everything that will need to be done. That's okay. Your list will change and grow as you learn more. Just find the first step and take it.

For a detailed goal-setting system go tohttp://www.goalpro.com/entrance.cfm?ID=50927

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