How to present september 2013 edition

SEPTEMBER 2013

www.michellebowden.com.au

IN THIS ISSUE Glenn Capelli NSAA SPEAKER OF THE YEAR shares

his tips for presenting in business Presentation Tips for Kids The 3 MYTHS of Success Success Stories Using a lapel Mic The KEY to great Customer Service FREE: Book Giveaway!

PLUS: Who’d be on your team?

Wardrobe Malfunctions www.michellebowden.com.au

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DIARY DATE INFLUENTIAL PRESENTATION SKILLS TRAINING

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

(2-day Public Program) Join Michelle at her next public program SYDNEY September 3-4 September 17-18 October 22-23 November 13-14 MELBOURNE March 18-19, 2014 BRISBANE April 15-16, 2014 CANBERRA October 10-11 this year!

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 5 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 www.michellebowden.com.au

I’m very excited because my new book: How to Present finally reached the top 10 Aussie titles last week! If you still haven’t found yourself a copy it’s available for a HUGE DISCOUNT over the page.

Enjoy!

GREAT NEWS!! I’ve finally scheduled a Presentation Skills 1-day Refresher Program for graduates of my 2-day Influential Presentation Skills on December 5th this year. It’s only $595 + GST for the full day (early bird is $495 + GST and expires on 5 October 2013. Group size is limited so please get in quickly and email me michelle@michellebowden.com.au.

And how cool is this? Every year the National Speakers Association of Australia awards a Keynote Speaker of the Year award. This year the award was taken out by none other than the lovable Glenn Capelli. Glenn shares his tips for presenting in business with us.

PLUS I’ve shared some of my Presentation Skills Tips for Kids so be sure to share this with your children to help them as much as you can! I’ve also included my tips on how to Use a Lapel Mic Properly.

Lorna Patten reminds us to Just Choose, David Keane enlightens us on the 3 Myths of Success and Ken Warren gives us the Key to Great Customer Service. The wonderful Robin Powis shares some tips for Overcoming Wardrobe Malfunctions plus she gives the boys some tips for wearing their business socks! And as usual I’ve shared plenty of inspiring success stories for you to read and some fantastic photos from the last exciting month too.

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!

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SUCCESS STORIES! In most cases, there are a minimum of 4-6 key decision makers, and sometimes up to 20 people can be in the room at once. I wanted to improve my presenting skills so as to increase the impact of my message in these mid-sized meetings.

JASMIN HERRO CEO OUTBACK GLOBAL

When presenting online it is difficult to get a feel for the audience. I feel a professional, engaging presentation that maximises audience reach is very important, particularly when dealing with large corporates in Australia and particularly in the US. How did Michelle’s program change your attitude to presenting in business?

Jasmin Herro is the CEO of Outback Global, one of Australia’s fastest growing Indigenous businesses. She’s also Vice President of Outback Global USA. Outback Global strategically sources products directly from factories in the Asia Pacific specialising in uniforms, work wear, PPE and promotional products. Out of the office Jasmin is working on her food security project, Eco-Mushrooms growing mushrooms from coffee waste and is a ‘hands on’ mum to Victor (11) and Alyssa (9). www.outbackglobal.com; www.ecomushrooms.com.au

I feel more empowered to confidently present to 5 or 500, to colleagues or to strangers. Michelle’s program has also equipped me with skills to handle impromptu interviews as the demand for instant video updates and news articles increases online and via social media.

What kind of presenting do you do at work?

I present at business conferences, company and product presentations live and via video.

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

As Outback Global has grown, one-on-one sales or company presentations are a thing of the past. www.michellebowden.com.au

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SUCCESS STORIES! (CONT.) In general, what positive outcomes have you achieved from improving your presentation skills?

I have received a great deal of positive feedback on my presentations and it has improved my ability to develop important business relationships. This year Outback Global was presented with two awards; “Supplier of the Year” and “Supplier to Supplier Partnership of the Year” at the Supply Nation Connect 2013 event in Melbourne.

I believe that Michelle has helped me increase my personal and business profile with confidence so my presentations have that “WOW!” factor that they lacked in the past.

After a recent presentation I delivered in Perth several different people stopped me as I was walking back to the hotel and expressed how they enjoyed the presentation and that it was very inspiring to them.

have influenced my business success. Now I can quickly produce a presentation that will impact people using the processes that Michelle has taught me, and with minimum stress.

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

1. Manage the audience objections, it stops people from switching off.

2. Speak to all the senses in the room, everyone will get something different from your presentation. If they each take something away you have influenced the majority of your audience.

3. Close well. The energy and message that you finish on will leave a lasting impression.

In what specific ways have your presentation skills improved since completing Michelle's training?

Michelle’s training has improved my presentation skills by increasing my engagement with those members of the audience that I might not have reached prior to attending the program. I incorporate Michelle’s 13 steps into almost every business encounter I have and this has impressed many people that

TESTIMONIAL about Michelle’s training: FROM DONNA HARDIE , ACCOUNT MANAGER, WELCH ALLYN “Finally I am confident I have the tools to be an impressive presenter. Thank you!”

For more information on Michelle’s coaching or training go to www.michellebowden.com.au

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How to Present Magazine

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WHO’D BE ON YOUR TEAM?

BY JAN TERKELSEN Most of the time we actually don’t pick our own teams, they are picked for us. We get promoted into them, we get seconded, transferred, even referred into them. Some teams we are even born into.

If you work for a large organisation you are part of multiple teams. If you work solo or are a contractor, you still need to work in teams,from one project to the other.

So my question is: “Who would you have on your team and why?” As a manager you need to be asking these questions and be able to clearly articulate the answer, so every team member knows what you see as their unique contribution.

Then you could ask yourself: “Would I pick myself?” What do you bring to the table? Are you motivated, action-oriented and constructive? Do you share knowledge easily and regularly? Are you positive and affirming? What criteria do you set for your team and yourself?

As a manager or member of a team we all add to the end result. That’s why it is so damn satisfying when you know you have done great work. You have added something that no one else could or did. Being special is overrated. Being unique and using your talents in a way that contributes is what will make an awesome team.

Ultimately we want everyone on our team, so start by acknowledging the contributions and unique qualities that everyone you encounter holds.

What characteristic do you think is important to have on a team?

Jan’s specialty is facilitating team building programs that have a lasting impact on your business. www.janterkelsen.com.au

FREE BOOK GIVE AWAY HEALTH AND WELLBEING MILLIONAIRE We have all heard the saying that “health is wealth” and nowhere is it more apparent than in the stories these authors tell, as we write about the importance of creating outstanding health as a tool for achieving amazing things in life. Whether that is creating financial abundance – or just having the energy to follow your passion in life - whatever that may be. For the health experts featured in the book (yours truly included!), our passion is health and we all have built successful businesses in this field doing what we love.

To claim your very own copy of Health & Wellbeing be one of the first 5 to email michelle@michellebowden.com.au with the words ‘Health and Wellbeing’ in the subject line. www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

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TIPS FOR USING A LAPEL MICROPHONE SUCCESSFULLY

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN Have you ever seen a presenter trip over the cord of their microphone like a circus performer? Or heard that high-pitched interference squeal or spitting sounds that are the result of poor microphone skills. Don’t let this be you! The best sound system is the one the audience doesn’t notice!

Ensure that all technical aspects of your presentation are thought through and that you have assistance standing by. For those unaccustomed, it is simple to behave naturally with a microphone as long as you follow a few tips: Check the equipment first. Be sure to arrive in plenty of time so you can test your equipment and talk to the sound technicians well before the presentation begins.

Wear a belt. Clip-on mics should be clipped onto your belt, so remember to wear one.

Remember to thread the cord through your shirt and tuck the surplus cords down into your trousers or skirt.

Position. Keep the head of the microphone low enough to avoid the spitting sounds, but high enough so it projects your voice. (Roughly 5-10 centimetres from the tip of your chin.)

Mute. I recommend you check where the on/ off and mute buttons are. Remember to mute the sound if you go to the toilet! I’ve experienced many times the embarrassment of a fellow speaker who forgets to switch their microphone to mute before going to the toilet only to entertain their audience with their trickling sounds! As a professional speaker I always ask the sound technicians if I can control my own mute buttons. If you are unaccustomed to speaking with a microphone you may prefer www.michellebowden.com.au

to let the sound people manage this for you.

They will turn you on and off, so you can focus on the more important job of saying what you mean to say in a confident, clear, charismatic way!

Frequencies. Ensure that the audio speakers are set to different frequencies so they don’t clash when you speak.

Be natural. Speak in your natural voice, don’t strain or push the sound towards the audience.

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TIPS FOR USING A LAPEL MICROPHONE SUCCESSFULLY (CONT.) Back-up plan. Remember, you are the presenter, so you control your space. If something goes wrong with your microphone, don’t ignore it and hope it will go away. Have a back-up on hand (either another lapel mic or a hand-held microphone) that you can use immediately. And make sure you have either brought your own replacement batteries or ask the sound technicians to have them ready just in case. Maintain your composure no matter what happens with your equipment. Continue your eye contact with your audience so you keep up your connection with them, and just keep going as soon as the mic problem has been resolved.

Take care if you walk around with a microphone. You can’t always walk anywhere you want if you are wearing a mic. Rehearse

with the microphone if you can. On some stages and with certain sound systems, if you walk too close to the speakers they will let off a piercing interference squeal that is very uncomfortable for your audience. That means you must rehearse with the microphone and to test to see if there is anywhere you can’t stand to avoid that dreadful squealing sound.

If there is more than one presenter.

If you have more than one presenter, ensure you have two microphones and have the second person wired up well before you finish your presentation. A seamless transition from one speaker to another often goes unnoticed. A messy transition will have you looking unprofessional and disrespectful. www.michellebowden.com.au

WARDROBE MALFUNCTIONS

BY ROBIN POWIS Cleavage Overload How do you cover your cleavage without unsightly safety pins or having to wear a camisole under a low cut top? I love Swarovski crystal Bosom Buttons as you can attach them just where you want them.

Each Bosom Button is handmade with quality crystal stones. Pierce it through your clothing and fasten with the clutch at the back.

Skirt Lengths How short do you go? When purchasing a skirt or dress always sit down in front of a mirror to see how far it rides up. www.michellebowden.com.au

Laddered Stockings Don’t put on a pair with holes or ladders and wear them out, they're sure to run more.

Never wear dark sheer hose with ladders or holes as they look totally distasteful.

Take a spare pair of hose to alleviate a disaster or Rush out to buy a replacement, even if they are a bit ordinary from a convenience store or Remove the laddered pair if your legs are looking good.

Robin Powis is an image consultant who believes some people are born stylish whilst others need to learn about style. She’s passionate about colour and creating a fresh and stylish new YOU. www.definingstyle.com.au

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PUBLIC SPEAKING TIPS FOR KIDS

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN looking for a way to help your child to be one of the few people who can engage a crowd and get through their speech so they feel terrific and proud of themselves at the end.

You can assist your child or children to be confident public speakers by simply following a few simple tips.

Practice makes perfect One of the first things you can do to help your child feel calm and at ease is to give them some practice speaking in front of people. One way to do this is to ask your child questions about their day and give them direct eye contact as you sit down and listen intently to what they are saying. If they can stand up and ‘deliver’ the summary of their day to you that helps establish a presentation mindset. If they struggle to explain something then be patient, smile and encourage them to keep going.

Eventually, you may want to add people to the audience: grandparents, siblings, neighbours.

The more they practice in front of others the more the fear will be reduced. Practice also builds self confidence.

We present from an early age

Nervousness or Excitement?

From the day your child starts pre-school they will find themselves in situations where they are giving little speeches. Some places call it ‘show and tell’ others call it ‘news’. And as they move up the grades in school they will be called on more and more to ‘present’ to their classmates and teachers – sometimes even for assessment or grading.

Are you a parent who wants to help your child?

And you probably know that public speaking is in the top three fears for most adults – it develops from somewhere – generally our childhood. So if you are a parent, you might be

www.michellebowden.com.au

Did you know that it’s the exact same physiological experience in your body whether you’re nervous or excited? The only thing that determines whether it’s a good or bad experience is the word you choose to use to describe it? That means that some children will call it excitement, other will call it nervousness, some children will dread speaking to their class, others look forward to it. As a parent you can play an important role in helping your child ‘re-frame’ the feeling by helping them to stop calling the feeling ‘nervous’ and calling it a more positive word such as ‘excited’ or ‘pumped’! In our family we call it funny tummy.

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PUBLIC SPEAKING TIPS FOR KIDS (CONT.) Many parents say to me “how can I help my child to reduce their fear of speaking Michelle? You see I hate speaking and couldn’t do it myself so I don’t know what to do to help my child”. Sound familiar? Of course a key role we play as parents is to role model the behaviour we want to see in our children. Be sure not to ever talk about how nervous YOU get before a workplace presentation in front of them – they’ll use you as their role model and will seek to copy you throughout their life. So maybe it’s time for you to work out how to kick you own nervousness as a presenter!

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Practice it at least three times. But realistically – if they want to be really good they should practice many, many times over before and after school.

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Reading in front of a mirror will help your child see how terrific they look while presenting and can reduce possible fears by putting it all into perspective for them.

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The majority of practice should happen standing up and moving about as they would do if were the real event.

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Professional presenters rehearse the breathing and the gestures. When you practice make sure you plan what you will do with your breathing and your arms.

Make sure you keep telling them that they have done the work and they’ll be great.

Encourage them to believe in themselves and to tell themselves that they can do it.

A wonderful confidence coach and friend of mine, Kathryn Orford does this fantastic exercise with kids where she gets them to imagine the nervousness or fear as a little ball in their hands and then throw the ball with both hands into the sky and say “whoosh” really loudly as through you are throwing away the negative emotion and this definitely works for many people. Try this with your child and see if they can “whoosh” away their fears.

Preparation Tips To prepare the presentation: •

Select a topic and do the research.

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Write out the main topic, then divide into three subgroups. Put some brief information and a little story into each of the three subgroups.

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Read and re-read the material, making sure they understand the content.

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Make sure the presentation is in your child’s words – don’t write it for them!

www.michellebowden.com.au

The delivery of the message When it is time for the presentation, these ideas offer ideas to calm any jitters.

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Tell yourself you can do it! Believe in yourself!

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What do you want your audience to feel?

Make sure you feel that emotion too.

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Relax and smile.

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Take a lot of nice calm, deep breaths right down to the bottom of your tummy.

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Assure yourself you are talking to a group of friends.

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Know that your confidence will show.

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Try to make eye contact.

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Take your time.

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Don't rush through your presentation.

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Speak clearly and pause and breath throughout.

It’s a constant journey for most adults and children, so welcome to the journey and let me know if there’s anything I can do to further assist you. Happy Presenting!

How to Present Magazine

SEPTEMBER 2013

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CONFIDENT SPEAKING VOCALS–AUDIO

A confident, persuasive speaking voice lies within you!

Many of us know someone who has a strong, rich, resonant voice. Maybe it’s an actor like Sean Connery or Cate Blanchett.

At some point you may have found yourself wishing that you could enhance your vocal quality and projection so you were more compelling, influential and persuasive when speaking in meetings, persuading your manager, or selling to your clients.

Well you know it’s possible, and it’s easy! Creating a rich, resonant influential voice is all about warming up your voice, and this CD will take you through the warm-ups that actually work one by one. Enjoy!

HOW TO PRESENT–TIPS FROM THE MASTERS–AUDIO SERIES

Fast-track your presentation and speaking skills success by discovering the presentation secrets of 14 of Australia’s top conference keynote presenters.

What would be possible for your career and income if you absorbed the wisdom of Australia’s top speaking professionals and could learn from their tips and their mistakes?

Well, now you can in this series of insightful interviews by Australia’s #1 Presentation Skills Expert–Michelle Bowden.

Learn critical presentation tips from the amazing: Amanda Gore, Lisa McInnes-Smith, Glenn Capelli, Alan Parker, Siimon Reynolds, Rodney Marks, Sam Cawthorn, Marty Wilson, Terry Hawkins, Dale Beaumont, Catherine DeVrye, David Penglase, Avril Henry and Bruce Sullivan.

EXCEPTIONAL PRESENTATION DESIGN–DVD

You can design an exceptional presentation in a minimum amount of time!

Imagine how helpful it would be if you could have your very own coach taking you through the design process for an exceptional presentation. That’s exactly what this DVD is for!

If you have a presentation to write, simply play this DVD and Michelle Bowden will coach you through the design of an exceptional presentation from beginning to end. It couldn’t be simpler!

An ideal accompaniment to Michelle’s book How to Present, you’ll be reminded how to identify the purpose of your presentation, analyse your audience and design a powerful message that influences your audience to change their thinking and/or behaviour using techniques that actually work!

www.michellebowden.com.au www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

SEPTEMBER 2013

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THE KEY TO GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE

BY KEN WARREN “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”

Bill Gates, Philanthropist

If you work with people, then you are in the customer service business - whether you are supporting staff in their work, helping clients of your workplace, or dealing with enquiries from the public.

Most of us already know what great customer service is. But I think the more important question is why aren’t we always giving customers a great experience?

While not making excuses, I think there are barriers that often get in the way of us performing at our best: We become busy and it’s easy to forget what is important.

Our work becomes routine – we have seen it all before.

We see many 'difficult' customers which makes us guarded.

We are unhappy at home or work and this is impacting on the service we give.

Systems at work get in the way of delivering good customer service.

Our workplace grows and we think a p a r t i c u l a r c u s t o m e r i s s o m e o n e e l s e ’s responsibility.

Overcoming these barriers can take a range of actions. But there is one solution that produces instant results. And that solution is finding the right mindset.

As with so many things, our thinking determines our behaviour. If we can get our mindset right, it becomes far easier to give our customers a great experience. www.michellebowden.com.au

Here are some examples of thinking that helps:

How can I make this person feel good? I remember one lovely Sales Assistant I met at a service station who started making Ken and Barbie jokes when she saw I was still wearing a nametag after presenting earlier that day. She later told me there was always something to tease customers about. She said she saw her job as being paid to make people smile.

When we genuinely care about making our customers feel good, we are quickly making assessments as to what a particular person will need and then running an experiment.

Sometimes, our attempts fall flat, but here we quickly adapt our approach.

Some customers value a genuine, personal connection. Others in a hurry appreciate a speedy response. Then there are others who have had a hard day who might appreciate some lightness added to their day.

There really is no such thing as altruism, where we give to others and receive nothing back in

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THE KEY TO GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE (CONT.) return. When our focus is on making others feel good, we also experience the feel-goods that come from providing great service.

I can find a way to help. This type of thinking encourages creative ways to help, even if the service a particular customer is wanting is not what you provide.

I recall one bus driver in Sydney, who when he found out we had just missed our bus, told us to hop on. We took our seats and held on while he accelerated and took short-cuts through suburban streets until he pulled over at a bus stop just in front of the bus we needed. He then refused to take payment. While I am not sure as to how many road rules he ignored, we were very impressed that he found a way to help.

Sometimes, there might be flexibility in how you or your workplace normally does things. Other times, you might simply ask questions so you can better understand your client’s situation, finding out what has worked before, what ideas they might have, perhaps even referring them to someone else who is a better position to help.

How can I be memorable for the right reasons? People delivering service are often memorable when they do something unexpected. Certainly the bus-driver in the story above did something unexpected. But we can also pleasantly surprise people when we relate to them in ways they are not used to.

I recall one lovely lady who works for Centrelink who gives a beautiful personable response to clients of her agency. She uses everyone’s name and lets everyone know her name too. For those doing it hard, she gives genuine empathy.

For others, she often adopts an approach with a sense of fun – “Fred, you will have to stand in this line over here … but I am only putting the good looking people in this particular queue today!”

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Complaints are an opportunity to get things on track and improve what I do. If you see some of your customers as rude, difficult or disrespectful, you can imagine the demeanour you will project. Given that the majority of our communication is with our body language and tone, the ‘this customer is a problem’ mindset might have you communicating messages that make the situation worse.

Those who excel in customer service often see these customers as giving valuable feedback or giving an opportunity to improve the service given or repair the relationship with this customer. Some see such customers as a positive challenge, to win them over.

Yes, there are other things that determine truly great customer service. But I think that having the right mindset is the most important.

For me, I try to help people whether or not they become paying clients. My ‘difficult’ customers are always right (even when they are wrong).

And I am always looking for ways to improve.

What thinking works for you?

Ken Warren is a Relationships Specialist who helps teams to perform at their very best.

Check out all of his FREE resources at www.positivepeoplesolutions.com.au

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THE 3 MYTHS OF SUCCESS

BY DAVID KEANE In my work with successful people I have noticed that those who achieve extra-ordinary results have a certain way of approaching their lives. The success they achieve is never down to good fortune or even the ability to work hard.

Successful people are successful simply because they see the world differently from everyone else. And then they act on what they see.

Developing the ability to look upon your world in a new way involves questioning some common thinking patterns and rejecting the myths that keep us from achieving our full potential. Three of the most restrictive myths are: that stress is bad for us, that our goal should be to achieve happiness in our lives, and that being busy is a good thing.

Myth 1: Life is Stressful In survey after survey, stress is identified as one of the most pressing problems of our age.

Indeed, for organisations, stress has major implications as it is the prime contributor to a b s e n t e e i s m , w o r k p l a c e c o n fl i c t , l o w productivity and low morale. It is also behind t h e re c e n t l y re p o r t e d p h e n o m e n o n o f presenteeism, a situation where employees are physically present but their minds are not on the job. According to the Harvard Business Review, a study conducted by Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston found that presenteeism costs employers far more than absenteeism.

During my workshops, I ask participants to identify the causes of stress in their lives. All can easily generate a long list of factors, such as financial woes, relationships, childcare, ageing parents, work/life imbalance, unclear expectations at work, or too much to do with too little time and so on.

I then ask the participants to examine these factors one by one, with the aim of isolating the underlying

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reason each factor causes them stress. In one hundred percent of cases, it is not the factor itself that is stressful but the participants’ reaction to the factor that causes them stress.

This is a very important point. Once recognised, it can fundamentally change your life. In simple terms, it means that you can choose to be stressed or not.

Now, in putting forward this argument, I am aware that some stress — which I prefer to call pressure — is actually healthy and useful. It helps us to get out of bed in the morning and raises our energy levels when there is a task to be done. The interesting question is at what point does stress turn from being healthy to unhelpful and potentially destructive?

I believe that you already know the answer to this question. If you look at situations where you were in the unhealthy zone, you will notice telltale signs.

For example, some people become very quiet and introverted, some develop a short fuse and become irritable, and some develop excessive behaviours such as eating, drinking or sleeping too much or too little. I know one person who knows she is stressed when a rash appears on the inside of her left wrist!

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THE 3 MYTHS OF SUCCESS (CONT.) I know one person who knows she is stressed when a rash appears on the inside of her left wrist!

The key point here is for you to develop an awareness of the signals that you are moving from feeling healthy pressure to unhealthy stress. When you become sensitive to stress in this way, you can take action and make decisions that dramatically reduce the problems of stress in your life.

This, then, is one of the most important steps towards becoming successful. It is becoming so self-aware that you can actually use stress to your advantage.

Myth 2:

Happiness is the Goal

If your goal in life is to be happy, I can guarantee that you never will be. Now that is a pretty strong statement, but I wanted to shock you into looking at the idea of happiness again.

The trouble with happiness is that it is a feeling that gains a momentary foothold only to be replaced by other feelings. It’s a bit like the sun on your face: wonderful while it lasts, but after some time the clouds come.

If we set up our lives seeking happiness, we are assured of disappointment. In my coaching work, I have seen that people who are driven by the search for happiness are never really successful because their mental state is highly volatile and unreliable. The quality of their lives is determined by what happened yesterday (or five minutes ago), and they are constantly seeking the next high to make them happy.

This self-perpetuating state of dissatisfaction explains why, for some people, spending money, eating and drinking, or even working hard can become such addictive activities.

know what your purpose is, and live every day moving closer and closer to what is important, happiness is what you get.

Happiness, therefore, is not something you go after. It comes to you.

Myth 3:

Busy is Best

How often have you been asked if you are busy? It’s a most interesting question because behind it lurks some fundamental assumptions that colour how you might answer – irrespective of the truth.

Perhaps the most significant assumption is that being busy is a good thing.

And, conversely, not being busy – being idle – is undesirable. For some reason, people assume that to be busy is to be productive and, by extension, content.

Now you may think I am harping on a technicality here, but I am convinced that this one question has a profound influence on how we live and the results we get in our lives. To test this, the next time you are asked the question, ‘Are you busy?’ simply say ‘no’ or ‘not really’ and see what kind of reaction you get.

You may hear, ‘Oh dear, what’s wrong?’ ‘It will come right’ or, my personal favourite, ‘Lucky for some’ – in other words, ‘I am busy and you should be too’.

In my experience, it is far better to see happiness not so much as a goal or something to be achieved, but rather as a result or byproduct of doing something else. And the best way I know of doing that is to make ‘living a life of purpose’ your primary motivation. When you www.michellebowden.com.au

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THE 3 MYTHS OF SUCCESS (CONT.) If you are feeling really adventurous, you could try it with your boss and see what happens.

The most likely outcome is that you are given more work to do!

The problem is that this mistaken logic is so ingrained in our culture that we don’t even notice it. For example, people who are seen to be the busiest are more sought after and more highly rewarded in organisations. And, if you are a parent, there is thought to be something wrong with you unless you are constantly ferrying your kids from one sporting activity to the next. The implication here is that being busy is socially acceptable and normal, while not being busy is abnormal. This leads people to generate busyness in their lives for the sake of being busy.

It is far better to be busy with the things that really matter and to ignore the things that are not that important. In this way, you can really focus on things that are moving you closer to

real success. Incidentally, my answer to the question ‘Are you busy?’ is ‘I am as busy as I choose to be!’

When you take these three myths and subject them to some healthy questioning, you may be surprised by what you discover. I believe you’ll begin to see your professional and personal life in a new way. And when you see with fresh eyes, you’ll act in ways that bring about extraordinary success.

Dr David Keane is a speaker, author and coach and an expert on helping professionals achieve extraordinary success in their lives. His acclaimed book, The Art of D e l i b e r a t e S u c c e s s : Tr a n s f o r m Yo u r Professional and Personal Life, is published worldwide by Wiley. www.drdavidkeane.com

MEN’S SOCK SENSE

BY ROBIN POWIS Attention to detail shows Impeccable Style.

Most men pay hardly any attention to their socks, usually leaving purchasing decisions to their partner, or they buy multi-packs (no thought required).

Now I totally agree buying a couple of the same pairs to mix-n-match however a chain store multi-pack is a bit ordinary. Your sock gives you the chance to flash your individuality and I don't mean cartoon characters or such. A flash of colour like red or purple looks very distinctive if it tones in with your outfit. Why not buy your ties and socks together to tone and create a coordinated look.

www.michellebowden.com.au

Your socks should ideally be made of natural textiles like purest cotton, fine merino wool or cashmere. So think distinction, luxury and ultimate style.

Let Robin help you co-ordinate your look, call on 0419 468 272.

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JUST CHOOSE

BY LORNA PATEN Making choices is simple ... just choose.

And that’s where it can get really complicated for you when faced with making an important decision. The thinking mind gets engaged in frantically sorting though the options, making pro vs con lists and endlessly checking the weight of judgement. It’s particularly frustrating when you only have two options ... not much choice going on ... rather more a dilemma! Either/or is often neither and the spiral of thinking and swinging from one to the other is exhausting.

And nothing changes until you make a choice.

When you make a choice something happens, not necessarily what you expect and something always shows up. And when it does, pay attention to your immediate energetic response.

That will let you know how to respond … .i.e. make the next choice then something else shows up, then you take responsibility for whatever it is and choose again.

This also poses a conundrum for you. What to choose? What is the right choice? How can I be sure I have made the right decision? Blah, blah, blah ... Once again the thinking mind intrudes and you are on a fast tack to nowhere decisive or satisfying.

The paradigm of I Create The Whole Of My Own Reality means you get to choose whatever you choose to choose! There are no limits to the number of choices you can make ... you have as many options as you can imagine you have and you are free to choose whatever you want to choose.

www.michellebowden.com.au

So stop ... take a breath ... get present ... and remember: ♥ Who you are is magnificent, powerful, lovable, valuable creative being. ♥ Choose what you really, really, really, really want as an outcome. ♥ Detach from future projecting and managing every detail of the the process. ♥ Take responsibility for what shows up and choose again ... and again ... and again ...

Don’t get superstitious with this either ... it’s not a magic lamp with a genie giving you only 3 wishes so you'd better be careful! You have unlimited power to choose and unlimited choices ... go for it!

Lorna Patten is recognised, accepted and respected as an expert in helping people create fundamental shifts in relationships.

You will find Lorna passionate, dynamic and warm. She rigorously questions the way things are, and challenges you to think differently about what’s really going on. But be warned: when you engage Lorna, she will confront you with breathtaking truths and take you to places in your mind, heart and soul that truly are life changing! www.openup.com.au

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TIPS FROM A PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER GLENN CAPELLI KEYNOTE SPEAKER OF THE YEAR

The 2013 award for Keynote Speaker of the Year went to Glenn Capelli. Glenn has presented his message of working smarter in a crazy World in 27 countries to diverse industries. His keynotes and training are theatre like creations weaving music, laughter, sign language, conversations and visual illustrations to layer learning so people really GET it. One week will see him presenting at a Real Estate Conference, then presenting Safety Thinking on line camps, then presenting to CEOs on High Performance Workplaces. Followed by presenting to students at Primary and High schools. www.glenncapelli.com

3. Make the deep engaging.

4. Make the engaging real.

5. Honour diverse learning styles – think and design in ‘how better’ and ‘how else’ modes. As you do so, create environments of laughter that dissolve barriers to learning.

6. Have your folk understand diverse learning styles and why it is important for them to know and honour such diversity so that real learning happens for as many people as possible.

7. Teach and reach folk in layers so they can see how the ideas/concepts/strategies can be utilised in work, at home and within families.

8. If people own an idea for their relationships and their kids they will own it better for their workplace.

9. Stretch beyond your personal style to ensure you reach as many people as deeply as possible.

10. Never trust 10 tips, go beyond them, think them through, apply nuance in all you do.

Enjoy.

Glenn Capelli’s book Thinking Caps is now available in App form for reading on an iPad from the App store.

Here are Glenn’s top tips: 1. Make the complex simple.

2. Make the simple deep. www.michellebowden.com.au

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YOU

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

Attend one of my Influential Presentation Skills programs.

then practice, then learn something then practice…

It’s a life changing experience!

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

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 programs and who has been nominated for Educator of the Year for the last 4 years.

Absorb yourself in a generative and experiential approach. Learn something

Group sizes are limited to only 10 people per program.

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

Address your specific, personal needs.

Learning with lots of laughter.

Techniques are embedded so you remember them decades later.

There’s no need for you to be nervous or miss a career opportunity ever again!

SYDNEY DATES 2013-14: September 17-18 October 22-23 November 12-13 December 3-4 February 18-19 March 12-13 April 8-9 May 20-21 BRISBANE: April 15-16, 2014 MELBOURNE: March 18-19, 2014 CANBERRA 2013: October 10-11 Disclaimer: I promise no hand holding, crying or useless role plays in this adult-centric, business learning environment!

To chat about your specific needs or receive more information please email Michelle directly: michelle@michellebowden.com.au

TESTIMONIAL about Michelle’s training FROM PAMELA DICKERSON, HR SPECIALIST, hr2go vital people

"Michelle is passionate and expert in her methods on helping us deliver our message.

We had plenty of fun, laughs and learnt so much along the way, and the great thing was Michelle let us put that knowledge into practice in a safe environment so we got the most out of our time with her. Thanks Michelle."

For more information on Michelle’s coaching or training go to www.michellebowden.com.au

www.michellebowden.com.au

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BOOK OF THE MONTH 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

CD OF THE MONTH

PLEASURE

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 14 of Australia’s top public speakers. Go to my website

Floriade is Australia's biggest celebration of spring. This iconic Canberra event runs for 30 days from 14 September to 13 October.

It showcases one million flowers in bloom, set in Canberra's Commonwealth Park and entry is free.

AMBIENCE

LUSCIOUS LIPS!

Like driving on a windy Italian road overlooking the stunning ocean, GLASSHOUSE Amalfi Coast will excite and relax in unison. With Freesia, Lavender and Lime, it’s as invigorating as an afternoon siesta.

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm is super-nourishing and loaded with mango and shea butters. Just what dry, delicate lips need to feel comfortably soft and smooth.

MICHELLE LOVES...

Here are some of my favourite things for you

SUGAR-FREE Packed with reader anecdotes and lists to help you organise your sugar-free life, this book presents one of the most accessible and achievable strategies around for losing weight and avoiding some of the more pernicious lifestyle diseases that are increasingly associated with excessive sugar.

www.michellebowden.com.au

EVEN BETTER EYES NEW Clinique Even Better Eyes has the power to brighten the appearance of the entire eye area. I use it all the time, I love it!

MEETING ROOMS My favourite location for training in Australia. In my nearly 2 decades of experience there simply isn’t anywhere better!

Go to the Christie Corporate websitel

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Photo Gallery

www.michellebowden.com.au

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