09 Oct Nature’s Balm

TIP OF THE WEEK: NATURE’S BALMAutumn in the Canadian Rockies is exquisite. The mountains are decorated with layers of deciduous trees in breathtaking shades of rust, gold and bronze. The chill and dawn light makes you feel more alive, refreshed and grateful.In harvest season, agrarian...

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02 Oct Freefall

Tragic stories pop up regularly about people dying from taking selfies. They were usually too close to a cliff or waterfall without a safety net. Speaking can also feel like standing on the edge of a cliff. Rather than memorize or read a presentation, we encourage...

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25 Sep Which Word

C.S. Lewis is best known for “The Chronicles of Narnia,” but he also wrote extensively on the subject of writing. C.S. Lewis and the Art of Writing by Corey Latta is a wonderful reference for aspiring writers. Because most speakers first write out their material, there are...

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18 Sep Truth or Consequences

How do we separate real from fake? Thora Tenbrink, Professor of Linguistics at Bangor University researched this very topic. Her findings-- and ours will ensure that you’ll never exhibit signs of fakery when you speak. Be worthy: Speak from knowledge and experience. Then have a clear objective...

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11 Sep How to Cope

At 19, Singer Amanda Mammana reached the semifinals of America’s Got Talent. When she first introduced herself, her stutter was so pronounced that she could barely manage it. But not when she sang. Amanda said “I discovered that when I sing, I don’t stutter.” In the film The...

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04 Sep What’s in a Name

Whether you have ambitions to speak at a conference and grow your business, give a TED talk, or raise money for your favorite non-profit, you need strong, well-organized material. But most speakers overlook a compelling title, which is a major factor in booking a presentation,...

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28 Aug The Entertainer

Over twenty years ago, director Ridley Scott’s film Gladiator won the Best Picture Oscar. It’s a great movie, but the Director’s Cut holds many gems that were edited out when the film was released. At one point, Proximo, the Gladiators’ promoter, says to his champion...

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21 Aug Long Arc

This musical artist began performing at age ten in a Czech polka band and worked odd jobs until he established himself as a songwriter in Nashville. Success as a performer didn’t come until his mid-forties. Then he hit the road, averaging over one hundred live dates...

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14 Aug Heroes or Villains

Every day, stories of villains dominate traditional and social media. Yes, we need to be informed, but at what cost? What struck us about last week’s tip about the “amazing” Grace Hopper is that neither of us had ever heard of her. Yet, almost everyone knows...

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