How To Present October 2011

OCTOBER 2011

www.michellebowden.com.au

IN THIS ISSUE Bruce Sullivan CSP, 2007 Speaker of the Year shares his tips for professional presenting Presenting to Boards Kinesthetic Learners Motivating your audience 10 TOP TIPS Using Humour Success Stories Parents Corner PLUS: MindManager And much, much more... www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

October 2011

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DIARY DATE INFLUENTIAL PRESENTATION SKILLS (2-day Public Program) Join Michelle at her next public program IN SYDNEY: • November 22-23 • December 13-14

(hurry only two places left in 2011!!)

To register or chat about your specific needs please email: michelle@michellebowden.com.au

Who is Michelle Bowden?

Michelle is an expert in influential presentation skills in business. She has run her 2-day Influential Presentation Skills program over 570 times with many thousands of people and she’s been nominated for Educator of the Year 3 years running. Michelle is one of only 25 Australian females who is a Certified Speaking Professional the highest designation for speakers in the world. For a list of Michelle’s clients please go to: www.michellebowden.com.au

Michelle’s Update Welcome to the October issue of How to Present. This issue is packed with articles that will assist you to present with greater engagement, confidence and influence at work.

We know that one of the main ways to ‘get noticed’ in business is to be the funny guy or girl. But there’s a fine line between being funny and an air head. How do you bridge the gap? Especially if you don’t think you are that funny yourself? If these questions have ever crossed your mind then you’ll enjoy the article from Marty Wilson who is an internationally successful comedian. He sheds some light on how to work with a comedian so you can ‘be more funnier’.

And check out our latest handsome fox on the cover this month!

Bruce Sullivan is the nicest man, one of our most highly successful keynote speakers in Australia and so passionate about helping you to live ‘red hot relationships’. I think you’ll enjoy his tips for presenting in business.

PLUS I’ve shared some of my 10 tips for effective presenting in business, tips for motivating your audience, using MindManager to Storyboard your presentations, the role of the Icebreaker as well as Bruce Sullivan’s Tips for Families, Presenting to Boards, and some inspiring success stories.

My international speaking tour for Weight Watchers was so successful we began negotiations to send me to Barcelona, Spain to present to an international audience - very, super, seriously exciting! You’ll see some of the photos from this keynote in the photo pages at the back of How to Present magazine.

So grab yourself a ’cuppa’, put your feet up and have a read! And most importantly, make sure you put the invaluable advice into immediate action so you see some fast results.

Happy Presenting!

www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

October 2011

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10 TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE BUSINESS PRESENTING

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN Here are 10 public speaking tips to help you so that so that the next time you speak you do an excellent job and feel great!

1.

Pay attention to logistics. Set-up your room properly, know how to use the microphone and the PowerPoint.

2.

Analyse your audience. Make sure everything you say and do is completely in line with what ‘they’ need to see and hear so they change their thinking or behaviour.

3.

Rehearse. There is no substitute for rehearsing parts of your speech over and over until the words flow easily. But don’t rote learn it – your brain won’t handle it.

4.

Be funny. Public speaking provides you with the chance to entertain your audience. Find something that they find amusing.

5.

Manage difficult audience behaviour.

There are lots of things you can do to facilitate the group dynamics in a positive way that support the individuals whilst maintaining the good of the group.

6.

Be yourself and let them ‘know’ you.

Create rapport by telling your audience about yourself. My audiences love to know I have three little girls! And always make the personal details link to your content – otherwise it’s a story for the sake of a story.

7.

Feel it. What do you want your audience to feel? Make sure you feel it too! Want them to feel confident in you and your www.michellebowden.com.au

message? Then you must feel confident too!

8.

Use props or slides that help you make your point. Slides should reinforce your three key messages and help keep it interesting.

9.

Bring solutions. If you’ve researched your audience well, it should be easy to bring needs-based solutions to their problems.

People listen to speakers who can solve their problems!

10. Call your audience to action. What do you want them to ‘do’ with your information? !Make sure you are explicit about this – so people know exactly how to change as a result of your message.

Please contact me with your presentation stories.

I’d love to hear from you!

Happy Presenting!

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SUCCESS STORIES! What kind of presenting do you do at work?

ALEX THRELFALL INSURANCE PRODUCT MANAGER MACQUARIE LIFE

There is a wide variety of presenting in my role ranging from casual in house training for small groups, interactive technical sessions for financial advisers and more formal presentations about Macquarie Life’s product innovations for groups of 200 plus people.

What prompted you to attend Michelle's Influential Presentation Skills program?

Presenting is becoming a more important part of my role so I wanted to do formal training to help me structure my message and improve my confidence on stage. My ultimate goal was to enjoy presenting and start seeking opportunities to do it more.

Also, given that life insurance can sometimes be perceived as a dry subject, I felt it was important to develop a style that helps me convey my passion for it and to learn ways to help the audience relate to the message.

How did Michelle's program change your attitude to presenting in business?

Alex is the Insurance Product Manager at Macquarie Life and has more than ten years experience in service, training and product development in the life insurance and financial services industry.

Mainly it was about learning to have fun presenting and identifying ways to connect with the audience and lead them through my message. This has given me greater confidence and a sense of calm and control when presenting.

Alex joined Macquarie in 2006 and was instrumental in expanding the company’s insurance capabilities with the successful entry of Macquarie Life into the retail insurance market. !

In general, what has been the outcome of your improved presentation skills?

During this time she has driven the development of true product innovation, delivering unique insurance solutions to the Australian market. www.michellebowden.com.au

Soon after Michelle’s program, I presented to a group of 300 financial advisers from one company. Following the presentation my colleagues and I were invited to their head office to discuss further business opportunities, particularly around a unique and innovative life insurance product we recently launched. The presentation must have resonated well!

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SUCCESS STORIES (CONT.) In what specific ways have your presentation skills improved since completing Michelle's training?!

I feel more comfortable with the end to end process of presenting, from how I approach content planning, identifying the key message to weave through the presentation, and especially in delivery.

What were your top three take aways from Michelle's program?

1. Pacing the audience was a real revelation to me, 2. The 4MAT structure for ordering the flow of the content, and 3. Dealing with on stage delivery techniques, were the three key outcomes for me.

www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

October 2011

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STORYBOARDING IN 2011

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN Have you heard of MindManager? It’s a commercial!mind mapping!software application developed by Mindjet Corporation. Mind maps created in MindManager are based on the mind mapping method by!Tony Buzan. The latest version, MindManager 9, is available for!Microsoft Windows!and!Mac OS X, and also provides integration with Microsoft Office applications such as Outlook and Excel.

There are also a number of online mindmapping tools, some of which are free or offer free trials.

www.michellebowden.com.au

Steve (one of my clients) put together this Storyboard for a recent 2-day Influential Presentation Skills program I was running using MindManager.

If you’ve completed my 2-day program, or read Don’t Picture me Naked you will recognise the 13-step model that Steve has included in his mind map here. If the old fashioned ‘post-it’ notes method doesn’t work try brainstorming or Storyboarding this way...Good luck!

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www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

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BE MORE FUNNIER...

A MICHELLE BOWDEN INTERVIEW WITH MARTY WILSON - COMEDIAN When you’re presenting to a group of people do their eyes sparkle or gently glaze over?

If you’re giving a speech does your audience nod in agreement or just nod off?

At the end of a new business pitch do they write you a cheque, or check their pulse to make sure they’re still among the living?

It’s time to Stand Up and Stand Out. It’s time to go for the big laughs and the evenbigger bucks.

Be the go-to-guy or girl in your field.

Be the first person booked when your industry puts on a conference.

Be the one they turn to in the new business pitch. !

Be More Funnier today!

So Marty, why should people even try to Be More Funnier?

How many mega-successful speakers and businessmen do you know who don’t throw a few laughs in every time they talk publicly? Allan and Barbara Pease are hilarious. Anthony Robbins was doing quite well as the 7-foot tall, Mr Hardcore Motivation, but when he put some self-deprecating humour into his workshops he got way more media coverage and went through the roof. Even tough guy Donald Trump, has opened up new media (and therefore business) opportunities by showing his funny side and exposing a bit more humanity. (Did he really have a choice with that comb-over?) www.michellebowden.com.au

So firstly, we remember funny. For your message and the brand called “You” to survive, let alone thrive, in 2011 you must be memorable. And funny makes ideas stick. What are the ads you remember off the tele? The funny ones and the ones that are so annoying they’re funny. Which movies and TV shows do people talk about around the water cooler? The comedies. (Look at moy, Kimmee, look at moy”) How often do we go home and tell our spouse about a great joke we heard that day? Wrapping a joke around your key business messages are one of the strategies used by almost all great advertisers. It’s like coating your product, your

How to Present Magazine

October 2011

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BE MORE FUNNIER...

Realism: How to use all of your senses to tell stories and make them believable.

Exaggeration:!One of the golden rules of comedy is the same as one of the golden rules of drama – “Up the stakes” When times are tough, emotions are at their extreme and this means there’s more drama and more funny.

Emotion:!When you’re trying to be funny you should get up every day and say to yourself “I hope today is a really rough day.” When things are going well it’s much harder to make jokes. brand and your business with super glue for the brain. And if you make it funny enough you’ll actually have people telling stories about you when you’re not even around – you get word of mouth advertising!

What do people need to learn to Be More Funnier quickly?

Surprise:!The twist, the in-swinger that changes direction at the last minute. This is where the experience and craft of funny comes in.

Where can people go for more information about the Marty Wilson Be More Funnier Mentoring?

People can simply go to: www.martywilson.com.au/bemorefunnier and please email me for my free report from this link.

Firstly, to do comedy you must be!MAD...

Material –!how to get it right for your personality, and lots of tips for writing jokes.

Thank you Marty! You’re a laugh a minute it’s been a pleasure!

Audience –!how to get it right for your crowd size and make up.

Delivery –!how to practice the skills of timing and funny speaking.

Let’s get another acronym in there! To write good gags, plant some TREES. Right now is the easiest time to be funny in 20 years because humour needs: Target:!Right now there’s really clear targets to poke fun at – Banks, Carbon Tax, Qantas, the GFC Mark II. www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

October 2011

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VALUES AT WORK - GIVE AWAY Leading Through Values - Linking company culture to business strategy.

Michael Henderson, Dougal Thompson and Shar Henderson This book is the follow up to the hugely popular Values!At Work and takes the reader to the next level of values alignment within an organisation. A must-read for all business leaders who have an intent to create great places for people and organisations to grow and who want to develop employee engagement and understand the relationship between leadership, strategy and culture.

FREE GIFT: If you’re in business and would like a copy of Leading through Values be one of the first 5 readers of How to Present Magazine to email michelle@michellebowden.com.au with the words: Values

WIIFM? Have you ever stopped to think about how many meetings you attend in a day at work where you derive very little value?

How many meetings do you think you attend simply because you ‘should’, and when you arrive all you can think about is all the ‘other’ work that is piling up at your desk while you are there?

Do you know what motivates them?

Do you know how to have your audience sitting on the edge of their chairs wanting to hear more from you?

Think about this before your next presentation and be sure to include a WIIFM for your audience.

When you feel like that, it’s clear that you don’t know ‘what’s in it for you’ to be attentive and emotionally connected. The presenter may as well be saying ‘blah blah blah’ because you find it so hard to pay attention.

Yo u r a u d i e n c e m e m b e r s w i l l ( e v e n subconsciously) be looking for a WIIFM, which stands for What’s in it for me? You have not earned their full attention until you answer What’s in it for me? for them.

It is important to remind yourself when you are preparing your presentation that you are not designing it for you; you are designing it for your audience. It is not about you, it’s all about your audience. www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

October 2011

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SHOULD I USE AN ICEBREAKER?

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN Certainly some public speakers prefer to begin their presentations sometimes with an icebreaker. Icebreakers can be very effective in certain situations. I suggest that icebreakers should be used selectively because a poorly scripted or poorly executed icebreaker can make it difficult for you to build rapport.

What do I need to know about delivering an effective icebreaker?

I’ll list the key points about delivering icebreakers: •

What is an icebreaker?

•

An icebreaker can be a joke, interesting fact, figure or statistic that you deliver in your first 30 seconds to help your audience sit up and take notice of what you have to say. It’s called the icebreaker because its job is to ‘break the ice’.

•

What are some examples of good icebreakers?

Here are two of my favourite icebreakers that I have heard over the years: ‘Of all the tax we pay in one year, 30% goes on welfare and half of that on fraudulent claims. My name is X and I’m here today to talk with you about the allocation of welfare in our society.’

•

Icebreakers are delivered before you introduce yourself.

They must link to the content of your presentation.

They must be delivered in a conversational way, or you’ll look like you’ve been reading a presentation skills magazine!

Only use humour where appropriate - you know best if you’ve analysed your audience before writing what you’re going to say.

Tip: Icebreakers can be a very effective way to begin a presentation. You may also have realised that some icebreakers don’t always build rapport. In fact, some icebreakers actually break rapport with your audience. So be careful. If you decide to use an icebreaker make sure you use it cleverly. Good luck!

‘One in six people in Australia claim they are bullied. My name is (name) and I’m here today to help you understand the impact of your cultural footprint on your organisation.’

The general pattern of an icebreaker is to: 1.

2.

3.

Deliver an interesting fact, figure or statistic.

Announce your name or welcome the audience.

Tell the audience what you are there to talk about or what they will achieve from being in your presentation. www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

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ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN Have you ever sat in a presentation or meeting feeling so bored you were nearly asleep?

As a presenter, have you ever wondered what excellent trainers and speakers do to keep the interest of their audience?

We know that audiences are made up of people with a variety of different personality preferences.

Due to popular demand, in the last few months I have given you lots of tips for engaging people who have a visual preference. This month let's focus on how to stimulate the people in your audience with a kinesthetic preference.

What does having a 'kinesthetic' preference mean?

In most audiences there are people who favour their touch, movement and emotions for processing and storing information or memories.

They favour their kinesthetic channel.

- These people breathe from the bottom of their lungs.

- They move and talk slowly and dress for comfort.

- They are often referred to as touchy-feely.

- They respond to touching and physical sensations.

- Many kinesthetics stand very close and often touch you when they talk.

Do you find it easy or difficult to deal with people who have the kinesthetic preference? Would you like to make influencing these people easier?

Keep reading for some helpful presentation tips to help engage the 'Touchy-Feely' people in your audience! www.michellebowden.com.au

Remember that the key to rapport building is the ability to ‘flex’ your personal preferences so you are as ‘like’ the different people in the audience as possible.

1.

2.

3.

When you question them, don’t expect an immediate response. Kinesthetics need time to sort through your message in their own way. They need time to focus, think about and process your information. It is difficult for them to come to a decision on the spot as they often need to mull it over.

Build strong rapport with your language, dress, room set-up. Kinesthetics respond well to hand shakes, smiling and other appropriate physical approaches.

Give out things to touch and explore physically such as samples, examples and handouts. Stress balls and 'fuzzywuzzies' were made for people with a kinesthetic preference!

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ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE (CONT.) 5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Don’t give out pens that click! The kinesthetics will find a way to tap, knock, bang or click whatever writing implement you give them! Much to the distraction of people with a visual or auditory preference!

Tell stories that invoke emotions.

Ensure you build in activity, moving around, talking and interacting or they will become very restless in your room and will distract others.

Give them a chance to talk through how they feel about your content. This will help move them to a decision.

Use kinesthetic language. here are a few examples for you: Activate, Affection, Agitate, Annoy, Anxious, Arouse, Attach, Backing, Balance, Blend, Blistering, Bliss, Block, Bore, Bond, Bounce, Break, Calm, Case, Catch, Cemented, Chew, Compress, Connect, Cold, Complacent, Cool, Cram, Crush, Cut, Delightful, Depressed, Disenchanted, Drive, Ecstatic, Electric, Emotional, Embarrassed, Energetic,

Equilibrium, Exasperated, Excited, Extend, Exuberant, Fall, Fasten, Fed up, Feel, Feverish, Firm, Flat, Flowing, Frustrated, Fumble, Glad, Glum, Gnash, Handle, Hang, Happy, Hit, Hold, Horrified, Hurt, Jarring, Joyful, Lift, Link, Loose, Love, Kick, Manipulate, Mash, Merge, Mix, Mould, Move, Pack, Passive, Peaceful, Penetrate, Penitent, Point, Pressured, Pull, Push, Reach, Resist, Rigid, Rough, Seize, Shape, Solid, Support, Tender, Turn.

10. Try some evocative images in your PowerPoint.

11. Compliment your audience and cause as many 'positive ripples' across your audience as possible throughout your presentation.

By using the strategies listed above, you will be more likely to build rapport with the kinesthetics in the room, hence influencing them to change their thinking or their behaviour. How exciting!

TESTIMONIAL From: Ed McHue, Group Manager, Finance Projects and Systems, Essential Energy !

"Michelle’s models and the way she teaches them really do work! The transformation (for the participants from our team) which has taken place since undertaking Michelle's Influential Presentation Skills course has been fantastic.

We now are using a structured way to prepare and deliver our messages and are better placed to influence positive outcomes in a really effective way. !

This course has not only helped create more effective outcomes, it has also provided us with a very efficient way to operate, and has built team confidence in presenting across our group.!

The course was extremely well designed and run, it is challenging and intense, but Michelle provides an inclusive, fun and empathetic environment to facilitate the process."

www.michellebowden.com.au

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PRESENTING TO BOARDS accordingly, and explains that, once the audience’s needs are met, the presentation is often remembered as successful.

Presenting to Boards offers practical examples and standard templates to use during effective presentations, and outlines techniques and the use of technology as they relate to communication. Follow-up procedures are also provided, including the preparation of resolutions and minutes.

Presenters from any background can successfully present to boards across industry if they are well prepared. Readers can use this information to tailor their presentations to succeed in any type of organization.

Business executives know that there are a number of factors that affect a successful board room presentation. The boardroom is a place where patience and time are limited, and Julie Garland McLellan clues in presenters on what they should know when speaking before company directors in Presenting to Boards: Practical Skills for Corporate Presentations Julie shows business professionals of all backgrounds how to create corporate presentations that will not only inform, but impress the boardroom audience. While most guides explain how to survive speaking before a crowd, Julie aims to provide the means to help presenters not only meet, but exceed, directors’ expectations. Presenting to Boards assists readers to excel at the highest level corporate presentation, from speech creation to delivery.

According to the author, boards are different from any other corporate audience. Julie describes a board’s key characteristics and its needs so presenters can modify their delivery www.michellebowden.com.au

We know the boardroom is not an easy place to make a presentation. The stakes are high due a judgmental audience, and a poor presentation can result in lost sales or stalled projects. Julie hopes that with the help of her boardroom expertise, readers can improve their confidence and focus during that next big presentation. ** SPECIAL OFFER TO READERS OF HOW TO PRESENT MAGAZINE: Receive a 10% discount off the price of the Presenting to Boards at: https:// www.createspace.com/3445262 About the Author...

Julie Garland McLellan is one of Australia’s leading governance consultants. As a company director she has been on the receiving end of countless presentations, and as an executive has presented to some of Australia's largest and most important boards. The author has served on several boards, including Melbourne Water Corporation, Victorian Minerals and Energy Council, Melbourne University Engineering Foundation, Kimbriki Environmental Enterprises, Bounty Mining and Hassall & Associates.

How to Present Magazine

October 2011

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YOU

IS IT TIME IMPROVED YOUR PRESENTATION SKILLS? COME JOIN ME! Dramatically improve the way you present and influence.

programs and who has been nominated for Educator of the Year for the last 3 years.

Attend one of my Influential Presentation Skills programs.

Absorb yourself in a generative and experiential approach. Learn something then practice, then learn something then practice…

It’s a life changing experience!

Risk free - 100% moneyback guarantee.

Endorsed by thousands of people from over a hundred corporations around Australia.

Interactive and personalised.

Facilitated by Michelle Bowden who has over 18 years experience running her

Group sizes are limited to only 10 people per program.

Learning with lots of laughter.

Techniques are embedded so you remember them decades later.

SYDNEY DATES: November 22-23 (1 place left) December 13-14 (6 places left)

Risk free approach to a subject most people find ‘daunting’!

To chat about your specific needs or receive more information please email Michelle directly:

Plenty of time for you to get personal one-on-one time with Michelle’s during the program.

michelle@michellebowden.com.au

Address your specific, personal needs.

TESTIMONIAL I just want to say a big THANK YOU for your book Don't Picture me Naked. It has already made a huge impact in my business & personal presentation skills. I have changed my thoughts on presenting from nervous/anxious to EXCITING/WHAT A THRILL! "It's not about me - It's all about the audience" has helped me to stay focused on what the audience wants and this in itself has removed the nervousness I usually feel. Thank you for providing a system that is easy to pick up and use from my everyday 1:1 presentations to large team meetings. Ayla, NAB

www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

October 2011

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TIPS FROM A PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER 6. Be careful - There a difference between

BRUCE SULLIVAN PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER, CSP, SPEAKER OF THE YEAR 2007

apologising and acknowledging your audience’s situation - you don’t have to ‘buy-in’ to it.

7. When you tell stories always have a point

and a link to the problem you are solving.

8. Bruce suggests that when you grow and

develop as a person it can only impact positively on your ability to connect with people on their level.

9. Consider the way you dress, tailor your

apparel to the audience - consider a ‘notch above’ what your audience is wearing.

10. Be aware of the privilege of the platform, if

the human isn’t adding value then send them an email instead.

11. Find your passion and live it.

It was lots of fun having Bruce in the recording studio. Bruce is the expert at how to have the energy of a 4-year old! He’s larger than life in so many ways and has an ability to help you feel joyous the whole time he’s with you! Bruce gave us some wonderful tips for presenting at work and here’s the summary for you: 1. Focus on your value, back your

preparation and be empathetic to the different style of people in your audience.

Bruce is so exciting to spend time with! His points are so important. Be sure to read and reread them please.

Please contact me with your ‘presentation’ stories, questions and comments at www.michellebowden,com.au – I look forward to knowing you, helping you and sharing in your success! Happy Presenting!

2. Exceptional presenters have a willingness

to serve the audience.

3. Use humour where you can and be

passionate about your subject.

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4. Be genuine.

5. Acknowledge the real world for your

audience. Spend a good amount of time in your opening reflecting what the audience is thinking and feeling so they know they will receive value from you.

www.michellebowden.com.au

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SUCCESS STORIES! interesting and a bit fun. I thought Michelle was perfect to give me the skills to do this.

AMY JACOBSON STATE UNDERWRITING MANAGER ASTERON LIFE

How did Michelle's program change your attitude to presenting in business?

It has changed my complete style of presenting.

My openings weren’t very strong and I learnt just how important it is to ‘win’ an audience over instantly with ‘pace, pace, lead’ using truisms. I feel a lot more confident leading into a presentation now and deliver a more exciting presentation tailored around the audience needs.

How have your presentation skills improved since completing Michelle's training?!

I am given a lot of pre-prepared presentations to make. Since the course, I now totally change each presentation to take on the ’13 step format’.

I love the opening and I love the ‘hot spot’ and blanking out of the powerpoint screen to really bring the attention to the presenter. The number of pages of powerpoint has reduced to pictures and statements only and I have become more interactive with my audience.

I am the State Underwriting Manager for Asteron Life WA with 11 years Life Insurance industry experience. I manage a team of underwriters and service consultants to assess the medical, financial and occupational risk factors on Life Insurance applications submitted through Financial Advisers. And importantly I am also the mother of two gorgeous kids: Amelia (4) & Koen nearly 3 - they are the lights of my life!

What kind of presenting do you do at work?

Mostly to adviser groups at training sessions, development days, company launches. The groups range from approx 20-60 people.

What prompted you to attend Michelle's Influential Presentation Skills program?

I really enjoy presenting to a lively audience and trying to make the very dry topic of underwriting www.michellebowden.com.au

What were your top three take aways from Michelle's program?

Wow, to try to narrow it down to 3 is really difficult! I found the course an instant change to the way I think and approach presenting. I find myself analysing every other presenter now and am equally critical of myself.

1. The ‘13 steps’ was definitely a big one’, 2. Understanding how the audience perceives you compared to how you want them to perceive you; 3. Using powerpoint effectively. Michelle’s course was the best I have been on in a very long time. It was jam packed of critical and realistic information with ‘no fluff’.

They say if you walk away with 1 new thing it was a good course.... I walked away with dozens and it was a brilliant course!

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October 2011

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PARENTS CORNER These time periods can be utilized for everything from homework and studying to grocery shopping and running errands. No matter what the activity, the important thing is that we are spending quality time with one another.

MAKE TIME FOR FAMILY

BY BRUCE SULLIVAN PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER, CSP, SPEAKER OF THE YEAR 2007

Next, we need to involve our family members in as many of our extracurricular activities as possible. This is as important for parents as for the children, in that it provides a sense of unity and support for all. For example, if we spend time volunteering at our local homeless shelter, we should bring our family along to help out.

Similarly, if our child is actively involved in sports, our entire family should be present to cheer them on. Just think, if the activity is important enough for us to give our time to, then it should also be just as important to everyone in the family.

We all live hectic, busy lives between our jobs, our homes and our hobbies. We seem to give all of our time to these tasks, often wishing there were more hours in the day. We all know that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t possible, so we must make our family a priority in our daily schedule regardless of the other duties in our lives. There are a number of simple strategies we can use to do this without sacrificing essential tasks.

First and foremost, we need to establish a schedule in our household. Set regular meal times, during which we can gather with our family to prepare and eat the food. This gives everyone in the family a time to share about their day and build close, strong relationships. We also need to define periods of one-on-one time between each parent and each child, as well as between children.

www.michellebowden.com.au

Finally, we need to set limits on the time we spend outside the home, even at work. This is especially true when putting-in extra hours is not a necessity for keeping our job or for financial reasons. We must recognize the inherent value of being present for our family, even if we are simply at home to prepare our children a snack when they arrive home from school. Studies show that a parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence in home, in and of itself, provides children with a sense of security and stability within their living environment.

We all must, obviously, maintain employment in order to provide for family. In addition, it is also important for each member of the family to have their share of private time. However, making ourselves available to our family by involving them in our outside activities, scheduling time with them and making our time at home a priority, will have a positive impact on our relationships for years to come. Go to: http:// redhotrelationships.com/

How to Present Magazine

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LOVE SUMMIT

CD OF THE MONTH

LOW CALORIE WINE

Love Summit www.lovesummit.net is a joyous experience, a gathering of people wanting to embrace more love and happiness in their life: Spiritually, physically, family, emotionally, relationships, work & overall life.

Thinking of improving your presentation skills but don’t want to go on a training program? You need to grab a copy of How to Present - Tips from the Master. Tips from 13 of Australia’s top public speakers. Go to my website

Boasting a rich blackberry flavour which changes magically into cherries as you swallow, this low alcohol (therefore low calorie) wine is served chilled. The real difference is how you feel the next morning! www.blackleavineyard.com.au

DETOX

BOOK OF THE MONTH

Asparagus has so many health benefits, it should be added to the healthy diet. Asparagus is great as a detox vegetable, an anti-aging

MICHELLE LOVES...

vegetable, and no surprise - an

OK, I know it’s MY book! If you are serious about really improving your business presentation skills then you need this book. Go to my website

aphrodisiac, and much more.

Here are some of my favourite things for you

HEALTH & FITNESS

INDULGENCE

GET INVOLVED

Spin (also variously known as cycle classes or RPM) has taken the world of gyms by storm, combining low levels of embarrassment — it's conducted in low-lighting studios — with music and one of the biggest fat-burning workouts you can get.

Richards Chocolates is the best kept secret in Manly, Sydney.

Making fine couverture chocolate since 1988, Richards Chocolates expertly crafts special treats perfect for every occasion. www.richardschocolates.com.au

October is internationally known as Breast Cancer Month and Pink Ribbon Day is October 24 2011.

Buy your pink products this month in your local supermarket.

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How to Present Magazine

October 2011

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Photo Gallery

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How to Present Magazine

October 2011

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