“Always mystify, torture, mislead, and surprise the audience as much as possible.” — Don Roff, writer and filmmaker. Standing at the podium, I raced with thoughts of Winston Churchill’s infamous words: “Take away this pudding; it has no theme!” I had just concluded a rambling and disorganized speech, leaving the audience befuddled, disinterested and less […]
“Puddinggate: When Themeless Speeches Let You Down Read More »
“Humility will open doors more than arrogance ever will,” — Zig Ziglar. The underlying fear of public speaking is a judgment or negative evaluation by others, but with preparation and persistence, you overcome it. Here is what we can do to get you started and beyond your fear. Know your topic The better you know
When Your Heart Skips a Beat: Overcoming Fear in the Spotlight Read More »
In March 2020, Beth Blum published The self-help Compulsion: Searching for advice in modern literature. The Harvard Assistant Professor of English studied how readers have engaged with books as guides for becoming better people. What caught my eye was Blum’s suggestion that perhaps we are missing out on literary classics like storytelling and fiction as
How Low can FlufferNutters go When Telling a Story? Read More »
The fear of public speaking is a shared form of anxiety. It can range from slight nervousness to paralyzing fear and panic, trembling hands, sweaty palms, tense body, breathlessness, a quavering voice, and a brain freeze. Does that sound like fun to you? Right? That fear, by the way, is what keeps you humble and
Why Your Fear of Public Speaking Never Works Out the Way You Plan Read More »
By Phil Méthot and Richard Tardif Are you looking for a fun way to improve communication and build skills to help your career? Pointe-Claire Toastmasters allows you to engage with people with similar interests in a supportive and comfortable setting. Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a
Six Shocking Ways Toastmasters Will Make You a Better Dancer—Even If You Don’t Speak Read More »
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead. Many join a local Toastmasters club because they fear public speaking. Speaking up during company meetings or having to give a five-minute presentation gives them the shakes. Defining a “successful”
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Research led by Andrew C. Gallup, associate professor of psychology at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, suggests that yawning has a brain-cooling function. “Brain temperature rises during times of stress and anxiety,” Gallup said. “And yawning naturally occurs before and during stressful situations, promoting relaxation and better cognitive functioning. It has nothing to do with boredom.” Although there
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The underlying fear of public speaking is the judgment or negative evaluation by others, but with preparation and persistence, you overcome it. Here is what we can do to get you started and beyond your fear. Know your topic The better you know your subject, the more confident you will be. Hence, you’ll likely have
How Speaking Like a Pro is Bringing Sexy Back Read More »
If you’ve seen the 2010 film The King’s Speech, you know it is about King George VI’s 1939 live radio address explaining why the United Kingdom had to enter into war against Germany. Simple? Right? It was anything but for the new King. He faced several difficulties, including his impostor-syndrome anxiety after ascending to the throne,
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An effigy of hate, discrimination & intolerance Originally published May 1, 2019. The headless fatty, a term made popular in 2007 by activist Charlotte Cooper, refers to photographs or videos of anonymous obese people used in news media stories about obesity. The headless fatty is seen walking while drinking a diet soda, sitting in front
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