Summer Vacation In Spain

If you had noticed that I had been a bit light on posting to the blog in late June, it is because my family spent eleven days in Spain. I had planned to blog from the road from my "Netbook", but there was not much free time, the internet connectivity was not ideal, and the netbook keyboard is really small. Thus, I just enjoyed the time with my family and our friends.

Additionally, I do not like to openly blog or tweet that we are away from home. Not that anyone who reads my blog is a robber... but I still like to keep it on the down low!

This was our third trip to Europe with the Morris family. They are life-long friends who have three daughters whose ages match up exactly with our girls. They rent a house somewhere in the world every couple of years and invite others to come along and share the experience. Leslie does an amazing job of finding large houses, with swimming pools, that are close to lots of sights to see. (here is her blog post on how to orchestrate a multi-week, multi-family vacation).

Four years ago we were in Sienna, Italy. Two years ago we were in Provence, France. This year.... This year was Malaga, Spain.

Traveling with other families and staying in a big house is a wonderful way to see the world. The kids are still young, but even four years ago (my youngest and the Morris twins are now seven, but in Italy they were three-years-old) they understood that it was a "special" vacation. Plus, traveling with your mom, dad, and sister can get rough, but when there are a pack of kids with whom to run, the world is your playground.

We joined the Morris' for the second week of their vacation along with their friends, the Kupers, from Boston (who also had a seven-year-old daughter, bringing the count to six kids ages 12, 11, 7, 7, 7, and 7...all girls).

One family who was with them "week one" blogged about the vacation. Therefore the week before we left for Spain we could read Neeracha's blog and look into a crystal ball about all the wonderful places to go and food to eat! It helped us map out our travels to ensure we made the best use of our limited time in Spain.

We began our trip with three days in Barcelona. We lost most of the first day because of Delta Airlines delays. We had the worst experience with an airline going both directions over the Atlantic. Overall 30 hours of delays. But the trip was so wonderful, I do not want to ruin this post with those details. I will write about that later.

Barcelona is now tied for my favorite city in the world (I still LOVE Venice). The people, the architecture, the food, and the overall vibe of this town makes it wonderfully unique. We stayed directly on Las Ramblas, and we walked for miles everyday.

The kids were adventurous with trying the food (mostly Tapas at every meal), although they liked the "bikinis" best (ham and cheese on white bread tapas, cut in triangles). They also enjoyed the elimination of "bed time" in Spain, since restaurants don't start serving until well after 8 PM or later.

We then flew to Malaga in the south of Spain where we joined our friends at Rancho Del Ingles. The Rancho was a hillside farm with a large house and several other bunking houses. It was a rustic old house, but a beautiful place to sit pool side and read a book. Some nights, after returning for a day-trip, we would go to local restaurants. Other evenings we cooked at the house.... and the last night we hired a local chef to come and cook for the group of twelve.

The rule of the house was the first person awake needed to drive to town to buy fresh churros for breakfast. Since I am an early riser, I happily did this trek daily. The guy who made the churros spoke no English, and I speak no Spanish, but we developed an understanding of my need for LOTS of churros for a big crowd. Again, the kids were thrilled that the normal nutrition rules of our home were suspended and they were eating fried dough for breakfast and were welcome to ice cream any time they saw a place that sold the cold treats.

We day tripped to several Spanish cities and landmarks including Granada (The Alhambra is the most visited attraction in Spain, and one of the most impressive historic palaces and gardens you could ever see), Ronda (hilltop town), Gibraltar, Torre Del Mar (Father's Day was spent playing on the beach along the Mediterranean with the kids), Marbella (fancy shopping, lunch and more time in the sea), and Tangier.

Besides hanging around with wonderfully amazing people, Tangier was the highlight of the trip. Sara and I were very apprehensive about taking the girls on a boat to Africa for the day. The guide books and internet research made Tangier sound dangerous. Everything warned that Americans should not eat or drink there, as diarrhea was common from the food (yuck.. not the best way to spend your vacation), and that pick pockets were pervasive. We wanted to go, but did so with some trepidations.

As it turned out, while we had to be conscious of our surroundings, the day in Tangier was a fantastic. I never felt threatened, and we packed peanut butter sandwiches and other snacks for us and the kids to eat (diarrhea was just not something we wanted to deal with on this trip!).

We spent about four hours touring the "old city" with a hired guide, who kept from getting lost through the winding streets and crowded shopping areas. If you ever go to Morocco, hiring a guide is the key. Once we were with him, nobody bothered us, as it was clear that we were with him for our tour.

Life for the people of Tangier is very different than it is for those who live in Austin, Texas. But there was joy, laughter and entrepreneurial spirit around every corner. These can be found to be pervasive throughout humanity.

Many people advised that with the economic downturn, and my launching out on my own business this year, that we should have not spent the money on an extended European vacation.

WRONG.

To have missed this trip would have been the worst money I ever saved! I find that I learn so much when we travel. Seeing different cultures, experiencing life in various countries, and traveling with others (especially other families!) is the greatest gift I can ever give my children.

Have A Great Day

thom

The Dream of Writing A Book Can Be A Reality

I met a very dynamic industry leader who has a dream. He is the CEO of an exciting and growing technology business.... and he wants to write a book on his industry.

He knows that his book is not a New York Times Bestseller, and does not have fantasies of Oprah calling. He instinctively knows that his book would be an amazing marketing tool for his company. The book would set him apart from his competition. His book is his claim to his industry thought leadership.

He is not unique. It is said that over 80% of all people WANT to write a book. But most people never take the action to make that dream a reality because they do not know how to get started.

After we launched New Year Publishing with the creation of my first book, "Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow and Keep Your Business Relationships" we were approached by others who wanted to complete interesting book projects. The company has continued to grow and we now work with an exciting group of authors.

New Year Publishing is a cutting edge publishing company that helps executives and professional speakers create books and other marketing materials to advance their businesses.

The publishing industry today is not the same business as it was ten years ago. 2008 was the first year that more books were released via self-publishing and small-press publishers than were created by the traditional publishing venues. The obstacles are falling away, and it has never been easier to complete a book project.

If you know a C-Level executive or a professional speaker that has the desire to write a book, contact New Year Publishing for a consultation.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Bigfoot Gave Me The Finger

Ok, Bigfoot did not really give me the finger.

Austin author, blogger, journalist and spoken word performer Dan Solomon wrote a blog post about the new local information site The Austin Post, where he criticized both the Post and its writers (of which I have posted a few submissions).

Solomon, and others, do not like the Austin Post. That is cool. There are lots of things on the internet that I do not like. Many sites are offensive, rude, unfit for my kids, and all around stupid. I try not to personally attack everyone involved... or that itself could become a career!

One complaint is that the Austin Post does not pay the contributing writers. While that is true, there are millions of sites that do not pay writers. I accept guest blog posts on this blog. The pay for being a guest blogger equals zero. The argument is that by not paying writers, the Post diminishes the whole writing profession.

I am a professional speaker. I charge corporations to present at their conferences, seminars and sales meetings. Meanwhile, there are others out there who speak for free. I have no issue with this practice if it works for their goals. It is my responsibility to deliver a service that meets the clients expectations for the fee I charge. Just because free speakers exist does not dilute the value I provide.

Solomon also lumped all the authors who contribute to the Post as lowly attention seekers, stating; "If you actually go to the site, the sad nature of people who are looking for exposure becomes really clear". He went on to mock several authors directly.... including me!

I have no issue with criticism of the Post (I have no ties to the site, but enjoy writing different stuff from time to time), or of my writing. If he finds my words so awful, he need not read it. This is what I love about life.... there are all sorts of options. We can all choose to read, view, and become affiliated with the things we choose. I hardly believe the Austin Post is ruining journalism.

If the product is not valuable to readers, then nobody will go there for information. The marketplace will determine if the Post will become a viable property in the Austin online landscape.

I am sure that some who read Solomon's writing are unimpressed, too. Enjoyment of the written word is subjective. Some people who "wow" millions bore me.... and I find brilliance in many who are obscure.

I have never met Dan Solomon, but I invited him join me for coffee or a beer, as I think overall he seems like an interesting person. I find that I become a better man when I get to know people from different backgrounds and who approach the world from a different angle. I learned long ago that my opinions are just that -- mine. If everyone agreed with me, life would be dull.

I hope he accepts my offer of a beverage and conversation.

Have A Great Day.

thom

The ABC's of Public Speaking - J is for Jokes

J is for Jokes

For decades people have been given the erroneous advice of starting their presentations by telling a joke. The idea behind this is that your humor will warm up the crowd with laughter and make them more receptive and comfortable with your talk. While laughter is great, a joke that flops can damage your credibility with the audience.

Unless you are a professional comedian, it is best not to "tell jokes" when you are the speaker. It can be awkward and painful to watch a presenter, with no natural comedic timing, tell a joke that has no relevance to the presentation. Comedians make joke telling appear easy, but it is a learned skill that takes years of practice to perfect. If you are not naturally funny, it is best to stay away from trying to do a stand-up routine.

However, humor is one of the most important and effective elements of delivering a memorable presentation. People want to be entertained, and thus when they can laugh along with a speaker, they will feel more connected to the person and the information. The power of laughter comes when it is natural and relevant to the topic at hand, not when it if forced into an otherwise serious presentation by someone who is not a comic.

Understand there is a difference between telling jokes and sharing observational humor.

Witty personal anecdotes and self-effacing humor that is germane to the topic will help your audience view you as genuine. Sprinkling your nuggets of humor throughout the speech is better than loading them up at the start and then just going along with a monotone nature. Let your own personality shine during your talk, and the amusing parts will take care of themselves. Free yourself to be open and mirthful.

Telling personal stories of your own bumps in the road with the topic make the speaker one of the crowd, and not some stuffy expert. Sharing your own humorous mishaps can get the laughs you desire while making a real connection with the audience.

Be careful never to ever make fun of anyone besides yourself in your narrative. Poking fun at an audience members, or people not present, will be viewed as mean spirited and create a gulf. Also avoid any political, racial, religious, or other controversial topics. Just because you find jokes about some divided topic amusing does not mean everyone will share your views.

Embrace humor and wit in your presentations, but avoid telling jokes for the sake of quick laughs.

Have A Great Day.

thom

The ABC's of Public Speaking - I is for Intention

I is for Intention

Any time you speak to an audience you must do so with intention. Know your purpose for being on stage. Are you there to educate? To inform? To entertain? To tell a story? To motivate? To influence or encourage those listening? To deliver good or bad news? Is your presentation designed as a call to action for others? What is your personal motivation for being the person speaking?

Be determined to deliver your talk so that you intentionally stay true to purpose.

Regardless of why you are there, you should have a desire to impact your audience for the better. Many people enjoy being the center of attention, and thus shine on the adoration they get from the audience. However, the best speakers bounce the spotlight off themselves and re-focus it on the others in the room.

When you are clear to the reason you are presenting, you will be more powerful. Being intentional bends your mind toward your objective. All speakers should want to be viewed as meaningful and significant to their audiences. Have a clear idea of how you can influence and make sure that you continue to stay true to that objective.

Your intention is the aim that will guide you to being more effective. Very often business professionals try to rely on technical data or well designed PowerPoint slides, and thus lose track of the deeper meaning of their presentation. A speech is not a Broadway Play. While it is a performance, it is not as much about the staging, props, and prose as it is about the connection that the speaker makes with those in the crowd.

Know why you are there and be intentional in everything you do with regards to your presentation.

Have A Great Day.

thom

The Bullshit Meter

What should you do when the "Bullshit Meter" goes off in your mind?

You meet someone at a dinner party, or you listen to a speaker / guru at a conference, and everyone around you is deeply enamored with every word that comes out of the person's mouth, but you get that gut feeling that the person is a fraud. How should you react?

Do you tell others how you feel? Or just politely smile and listen, excusing yourself before the love-fest gets out of control?

Worthy of some time to ponder. I am not sure of the correct answer. After all, it is just a gut feeling, I am not sure that this gives you the right to speak against someone or try to undermine them. Maybe they are legit? To be critical would make you look bad if the other person has the integrity you missed.

Yet on the other hand, if you are correct and the person is nasty, shouldn't you warn others?

You input is welcome.

Have A Great Day.

thom

The ABC's of Public Speaking - H is for Hand-Outs

H is for Hand-Outs

When delivering a business presentation there is a lot of discussion as to if it is recommended to provide handouts of your PowerPoint slides in advance to the audience. People often like to get copies of your slide deck to take notes and to have them for future reference. If you are speaking at a conference it is the common practice for the organizers to place your presentation in the binder that is provided to all participants.

While there is not a "right" answer, my recommendation is that you do not provide hand-outs that are the exact replica of your slides in advance.

There two reason for this perspective:

1). Your slides themselves are NOT your presentation. There should not be enough detail in your PowerPoint that it alone provides the informative parts of your discussion. Your PowerPoint is a tool for you to remember what stories you wish to tell, not a piece of reference material for the audience. I will touch on this in more detail when we get to "P is for PowerPoint" in this series of blog posts.

2). If people have copies of your presentation they will undoubtedly scan ahead while you are delivering your speech, and thus not be actively engaged in what you are talking about in the moment. It is human nature to want to know what is coming next, and if you have provided them with the map of your presentation you have eliminated any control you should possess in guiding your audience along the path of the information exchange.

Much like watching a movie when you have already read the book, having the slides for a speech in advance will take away the joy of discovery for the person listening. Storytelling has forever been the major form of human educational communications, and your audience is more apt to learn from you if they are not preconditioned to know every subject you will be covering.

However, people like hand-outs, and providing them with a place to take notes (that also has your name and contact information printed on it for future reference!) is an important step to ensure that they remember you and your pontifications.

A one page "key points" sheet, or a list of important websites, blog, books, and other points of information on the topic area is a great way to provide hand-outs without using your PowerPoint.

Always make sure that you have your name and contact information printed on the materials that you provide to the audience. You want to make it easy for them to reach out to you following your presentation.

Some business professionals fear providing contact information, as they imagine they will be over-run with people wanting to email or call them for trivial reasons. But few people are going to bother you unless they want to reach you to learn more about your company's products and services, provide you with a referral, praise your presentation, or maybe ask you to speak at another event. It is in your best interest to make it easy for them to find you.

If people are interested in having a copy of your PowerPoint, and you are willing to provide it to them, you can always email them the electronic version after the event. Additionally you can have printed versions available after the conclusion of your remarks.

It is a good idea to get something into the hands of your audience, as it is a direct connection point to you, but it does not need to be your slide deck.

Have A Great Day.

thom

NetworkInAustin.com "Netstorming Events"

Today was another "Netstorming Event", hosted by Scott Ingram of NetworkInAustin.com.

Each month Scott hosts a consistently enthusiastic and eclectic group of Austin business professionals for an interesting mix of a motivating and informative speaker, coupled with "Netstorming".

The June event speaker was local businessman Peter Strople, founder of Zero 2. Peter's challenging message to the eager audience was one of excelling in your career. Peter is a student of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's Theory of Flow, and the repetitively reminded the crowd that when you are doing what you were meant to do, it just become natural. It is not work when you know who you are and how you are making a positive impact on the rest of the world.

Netstorming allows for tables of eight to explore ways for people to provide valuable advice to others who are looking for creative ways to expand their business. Each person has five minutes, in which time the savvy ones spend 90 seconds giving an overview of what they do, coupled with half a minute of describing a challenge. The remaining three minutes are used for those at the table to shout out ideas that can inspire the person to discover a new way of approaching their business.

The table I sat out had a delightfully diverse group of professionals. The advantage to participating in the NetworkInAustin.com events is that you have the opportunity to meet an exciting cross section of people whom you may not otherwise encounter. The best part is the ideas you hear pour out of people from different backgrounds. It is easy to see the world through the windows from which you and your peer group look from.... but true perspective comes from alternative vantage points.

Networking is an important element in success and any gathering where good people congregate can bring opportunities.

Have A Great Day.

thom

The ABC's of Public Speaking - G is for Gestures

G is for Gestures

Those who are relatively new to speaking in front of an audience often are concerned about how to move about on the stage. It is very natural for speakers to be self-conscious about how the motions of their arms, hands, feet and face can emphasize the key points in their presentation.

Specific and well planned movements will express a powerful thought and help you make a lasting connection with the audience. However, stiff and awkward gestures distract from your expertise and make you appear nervous, uncomfortable and novice. When you are the center of attention, it is the whole package that is being viewed. It is not just your words, clothes, or slides that make up your presentation, it is everything that the audience can see and hear. Each movement matters.

Using your body in conjunction with your words is a learned skill. This comes easily for some people, while others need to be dedicated to becoming comfortable with their bodies while delivering a speech. Do not ignore mastering gestures, as this is a skill that will set you apart from the average speaker.

Keep your head high. Let your eyes and mouth (smile) shine through. The movement of your arms should be from the shoulders, not the wrists or elbows. Allow your hands to be open, not clinched at the fists. Even the placement of your feet and how you hold your body posture makes an impression. While all of this sounds like a lot to remember while simultaneously speaking, it becomes second nature over time.

Nothing is more important than experience when looking to master your abilities to use gestures in your presentations. When you first concentrate on how you move your body on stage you might feel as if it is forced and phony. You must realize that there are times for both small understated gestures and larger exaggerated movements. Knowing what type of meaningful gesture to use comes from practice (trial and error).

Video taping your presentation and having friends and co-workers in the audience who have been asked to watch for, and constructively critique, your gestures will help you be aware of what is working and not working in your movements.

The most important thing to remember is to be yourself. Allow your body move naturally in ways that are comfortable and fit your personality. Do not over think or force your gestures to the point that you are "in character" when giving a speech. You are a speaker, not an actor. However, be careful not to let nervousness hold yourself back from fluid natural movements.

Have A Great Day.

thom

NETSTORMING Event - June 15, 2009

Last chance to sign up for the NetworkInAustin.com monthly NETSTORMING event.

June 15th
4:00 - 5:30 PM
Norris Conference Center

Scott Ingram, the founder of NetworkInAustin.com has been hosting these events since early this year. They are an interesting way to meet new people and make connections with dedicated business professionals who can, and will, help you discover new ways of attacking challenging business issues.

Sign up NOW

See you there!!!

thom

Steve Harper's 8 Minute Ripple Event - June 25, 2009

June 25th will be the next "8 Minute Ripple Event" in Austin, Texas. Local author, Steve Harper, has been hosting these events for years.

Sign up NOW for this unique mixer and chance to make new connections.

Have A Great Day

thom

I Don't Carry Business Cards (Because I Am Way Cooler Than You Are)

There has been a lot of buzz lately about the demise of the business card. It has become trendy to announce to people that you do not carry business cards, as they are "so yesterday" or that you are doing this to save the environment.

The thing is that if you are doing away with business cards for a legitimate business reason, that is great (not sure of what that would be???). If you are doing it because it seems trendy and cool, that is lame.

Many people seem to be taking the "anti-business card" stance to send a message that they have evolved beyond traditional business norms. In reality they just like to be "contrarian". I am a huge fan of finding ways to be unique, but I am not sure that avoiding business cards really helps you in the long run.

When networking, you want to make it easy for the other person to remember you at a later date. If you don't carry cards it might make it harder for them to remember your name or company a few days later. They knew they liked you, but now have no idea how to reach you. Alas, this might lead to a missed opportunity.

If it takes an effort to locate you, they will simply turn to your competition if they already know them.

If a young professional sees some famous and cool tech exec say "I don't carry business cards" they will think that is acceptable. Sure, for the seasoned person whose name is known it might work just fine, but not for everyone.

Some people claim they forgo the cards for environmental reasons (I believe them if they drive a Prius and buy carbon credits). However, there are lots of companies who make recycled paper for business cards, so this does not seem to stand up by itself. (I am not sure that the woes of the planet are caused by the number of business cards in circulation, but if someone has the statistics of how many trees a year are cut down for business cards, please enlighten me!)

The idea in networking is to make connections that can lead to mutually beneficial relationships. Meeting someone one time does NOT make them part of your network. Meeting them once makes them a stranger who you once met. If you really care about developing a connection, you want to make it easy for the other person whenever possible.

I do know people who don't carry cards because they just keep forgetting to put them in their wallet or purse. Of course, they don't want to admit this, as it sends a message to others that they are not very prepared (not a good message to those you might wish to do business) -- so they make up a story about not being in favor of having business cards.

If you have a great system to always follow up and get your info to the other person, great - do it all day long. The problem I see is that people are lousy with follow up. They say "give me your card and I will send you my information", but they never take the action to do that. This means they fail to connect and they lie to the people they meet.

I by no means think that business cards the only way. But they do serve a purpose of getting both parties the necessary contact information to follow up. If one person does not have a card, it might work for you to follow up with an email, but if neither person has a card, how will you do it?

Not having a card could lead to a missed opportunity. While it is fun to be trendy,... actually doing things that lead to mutually beneficial opportunities (by which I mean: business, jobs, deals, money, etc...) is better.

I think people who don't carry business cards are just trying to be cooler than I am. Or, maybe I am an old fart and they ARE way cooler than I am!!! (Heck, I have been wrong before!)

Have A Great Day.

thom

The ABC's of Public Speaking - F is for Feedback

F is for Feedback

Improving your abilities as a speaker requires you to examine your skills. Review your strengths and weaknesses after every talk. Take advantage of each presentation as an opportunity to advance your talents. Every time you are in front of an audience is part of your journey, not a stand alone event.

It is important for a speaker to look closely at their performance, but you cannot properly ascertain the best perspective with self-appraisal. You need to enlist the feedback of others to best appreciate your skills as a speaker.

Create an evaluation form that inquires of your audience suggestions on how to improve. Ask a series of questions and allows them to both rate you on numerical scale as well as giving them space for written ideas. While it might not be appropriate to use such forms at every presentation, when you can view immediate impressions from a group, you will begin to notice trends. Awareness is the first step to expanding your talents.

In addition to written evaluation forms you should also solicit direct feedback from people you know and trust. Ask co-workers or other trusted advisers to attend your speeches and take notes on what you do well and areas where you can improve. Be sure to let them know that their observations are important to your goal of becoming a better speaker, and that you are not requesting them to only tell you about positive aspects of your speaking.

If you request another person to assess your speaking, accept their input with a positive attitude. Leave your ego at the door. Even the best professional speakers know that they have quirks. Ignoring these flaws will not allow you to excel.

Don't shoot the messenger when they point out your mistakes. If they tell you that you said "Um" or "Ahh" too often or that you kept your hands in your pockets, realize that this is important information. Knowing that you are doing these things will allow you to be conscious of bad habits the next time you are on stage.

All feedback is good feedback, but because someone did not appreciate something in your talk does not mean you necessarily need to change. How one person perceives your presentation is subjective. You need to have several sources over time giving your their reviews to best understand the areas to focus your improvement.

Always thank those who give you feedback (both those you asked and those who volunteer information), as people who critique your performance are doing you a favor that can be the catalyst that leads you to greater success.

Have A Great Day.

thom

All Boards Happy Hour

Eric Hennenhoefer, founder of Obsidian Software and the former president of the Austin Chapter for the Entrepreneur's Organization, had an idea several years ago (at least I think it was his idea???) to create the All Boards Happy Hour. This event brings together the boards of directors of all the areas business non-profit organizations for an evening of networking.

Think about this for a minute.... the people who serve on boards for business organizations (think Chambers of Commerce, industry groups, networking organizations, educational clubs, etc...) are all leaders in the community, but often do not know those who serve with different organizations. When you bring together the leaders in any community, new relationships are formed and big things can grow from that in the future.

This event has been reoccurring in Austin for several years. Every time it is an impressive gathering of amazing people. Tonight's event, held at the Acton School of Business campus, was not exception.

Sponsored by EO and the Winstead Law Firm, over 100 people came together and made connections.

If you live in the Austin area and volunteer for a business group, make sure that you show up next time. Tonight I talked with people from the following organizations: The Austin Chamber of Commerce, TEXCHANGE, Entrepreneurs Organization, NetworkInAustin.com, Austin Technology Council, Rice Alliance, Austin Women in Technology, Association for Corporate Growth, Bootstrap Austin, Leadership Austin, Financial Executives International, the Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, The Acton Foundation, and many others.

If you live outside of Austin, Texas.... this is a GREAT IDEA to recreate in your community.

Have A Great Day.

thom

2009 ACG Outstanding Corporate Growth & Emerging Company Awards

The Central Texas Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) today hosted their annual Awards Luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas.

Nine great local companies were finalists in three categories:

Emerging Companies - Revenues up to $25 Million

Angel Staffing
Rules Based Medicine (WINNER)
Zebra Imaging

Outstanding Corporate Growth - Revenues Between $25 - $100 Million

All Web Leads
LifeSize Communications
SolarWinds (WINNER)

Outstanding Corporate Growth - Revenues Greater than $100 Million

Harden Healthcare (WINNER)
HealthTronics
Silicon Laboratories

These companies are proof that success happens in all economic climates!!!

Bob Boldt from Perella Weinberg Partners (formerly the President and CEO of UTIMCO) was the keynote speaker and delivered a great overview of the economy and private equity.

The Association of Corporate Growth continues to host some of the highest quality programs in the Austin Business Community.

Have A Great Day.

thom

The ABC's of Public Speaking - E is for Energy

Many people desire to improve their speaking skills. When I write or speak about this topic I hear from people from all levels the career ladder. From the entry level employees, to CEOs, to entrepreneurs -- if you fine tune your speaking skills you will uncover more opportunities.

E it for Energy

If you are not excited and enthusiastic to address an audience, you should not take the stage. Do not accept an invitation to speak unless you really want to be there. If you do not like public speaking, or you have a reason not to want to address a certain group, then let somebody else be selected to make the presentation.

There is nothing worse than watching a speaker who is just going through the motions and steadily clicks though his or her slide deck. Any audience member who has seen such a monotone presentation knows the feeling of wishing they had sat on the isle near the exit.

When you speak, your energy level is very important. There is an unseen force that flows out of the person talking and makes a deep connection with those watching. Energy is the currency that is exchanged between the speaker and those listening. When you fail to put a spark of vigor into your delivery, then your audience quickly goes broke and has no energy to send back toward you.

An experienced speaker will draw power from the reactions of the crowd, and thus they will create a back and forth exchange of liveliness that will energize all. It is a continuous loop that will engage everyone and leave your audience with a more satisfying experience.

There are five steps to ensure that you are bringing energy to your presentation:

1. Be prepared. Those who claim they can "wing it" when speaking are usually flat on injecting real energy into their presentations. Preparation allows you to be on top of your game.

2. Accept the responsibility. It is an honor to be asked to speak to an audience. Feel the pride of being selected to make the presentation and couple that with an understanding of the responsibility you owe the audience to deliver a quality discussion.

3. Get enough rest. In today's busy world many people allow themselves to get run down. Make sure that you have had enough sleep and exercise in the days leading up to your presentation. This is especially important when you are speaking out of town. If you are exhausted your energy tank will be on empty.

4. Know the audience. Before you speak make sure that you know the make up of those in the seats. Ask questions in advance of the person who asked you to speak about the demographics of the audience. Additionally, arrive early and meet several of the people and learn about them. This will allow you to have personal connections which will help you relate to the crowd.

5. Have fun. It is exciting for everyone to watch others have fun. No matter what you are doing, if you are having fun, those watching will enjoy the experience more. This is true with speaking. If the audience gets the impression you are nervous or loathe speaking, they will feel your pain. Enjoy yourself while delivering your presentation and you will emote higher levels of positive energy.

Have A Great Day.

thom

The "41 Things" Blog Post

Three years ago yesterday, on the eve of my 40th birthday, I wrote a blog post that has stood out as one of the most powerful things that I have shared on this blog. The title of the post is 41 Things I've learned By 40.

Today is my 43rd birthday, and I was thinking of adding three things to the original post. The problem is that I have learned more than three things in the last three years. The other issue is that the original post still is powerful.

CLICK HERE to read the post and let me know what you would add.

Have A Great Day.

thom

The ABC's of Public Speaking - D is for Dress Code

As a professional speaker I get asked for advice, tips or tricks from business executives and others. The most rewarding part is that it is the little things that make a big difference when you make a presentation, thus I am devoting my blog posts this month to sharing some small but powerful ideas that will help everyone.

D is for Dress Code

When you are speaking it is not just the words that come from your mouth that make an impact on how the audience perceives the experience. Many a speaker has taken the stage with a powerfully crafted script and dazzling PowerPoint slides, only to leave the audience with nothing memorable.

While the message is important, everything about your voice, your gestures, your grammar, your movements, your mannerisms, your clothes, and your style will add up to the impression you make on the audience.

How you are dressed is a very important part of this equation. While the movement over the last decade has certainly been toward a more casual atmosphere for business clothing, this does not mean that you can ignore your wardrobe if you are scheduled to deliver a presentation.

Many younger executives and creative types are accustomed to wearing jeans or dockers to work, and pride themselves on not having to wear the "uniform" of a suit that their parents were subscribed. This pride in "casual" leads many to forget that you are judged by first impressions, especially when you are on the stage as the speaker.

When addressing a large group the visual part of a first impression is more important, as the one-on-one interpersonal connection is divided by the distance.

If the industries in which you work, or the people to whom you are speaking, are going to be casually dressed I am not suggesting you show up in an Armani Tuxedo. But you need to be aware in advance of the dress code for the audience and make sure that you are dressed just a little nicer.

"A little bit nicer" is subjective. You need to take into consideration the audience, their industry style of dress and your own personal style. Wardrobe choices are more varied for women, which gives women a wider variety of options, but both men and women should wear clothes that make them feel comfortable regardless the "level" of dressiness.

A few examples of what to consider when selecting what to wear:

• Audience in jeans and t-shirts: Speakers wears pants or skirt (think khakis) and a golf shirt or blouse.

• Audience dressed "business casual": Speaker wears a dress or skirt (for women), or slacks with blazer or other jacket...maybe a tie (for men).

• Audience wearing business attire (with or without ties for men): Speaker wears a business suit (with a tie) or an appropriate dress.

You do not want to be "over dressed", as it can create an artificial distance between you and the audience. However, consciously selecting your clothes to be just a little nicer than the crowd can make sure that you are viewed as an established expert.

Additionally when you are dressed in a professional manner you send a message to the audience that they matter to you. Your investing the time to select the appropriate wardrobe is a sign of respect to those who are listening to your presentation. The trendy young entrepreneur who shows up wearing shorts and flip flops to address a conference is sending the message his priorities are more focused on himself (and his trendy anti-establishment image).

If you want to get respect, you first must give respect. Your choice of clothes can make a difference in the success of your presentation.

Have A Great Day

thom

As Seen in the New York Times

I am quoted in the New York Times in an article about helping job seekers.

Click Here to read the article.

Hey, it is my blog, I can boast a little, can't I????

Rock 'n' Restock Charity Concert - June 19th (Austin, TX)

6th Annual Rock 'n' Restock benefit concert back to the intimate Zilker Clubhouse!

Grab your partner, your friends, your co-workers, and your funky dance moves and come out for a night that you will not soon forget. All food, drinks and music are included in your donation ticket price.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19

DOORS OPEN AT 6:30 P.M. • MUSIC BEGINS AT 7:30 P.M.

• Space is very limited! RSVP online today: http://www.rocknrestock.com/


• Tickets are required for admission. No ticket sales at the door.


• $30 ticket price includes food compliments of Iron Cactus, plus both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.


• All proceeds benefit the Capital Area Food Bank (http://www.austinfoodbank.org/) and Right Course (http://www.rightcourse.org/).


• Parking is limited, so please consider carpooling.

Questions? Call 512-420-0300 or e-mail info@goldwasserrealestate.com

Have A Great Day.

thom