Students Of Success

There’s one skill you can develop that will boost your confidence, credibility and career. It’s public speaking. If the very thought makes you queasy, you’re not alone. For some people, only death is more frightening. For others, death is preferable. Are you the latter? Avoiding the spotlight? Suffering not just butterflies but sheer panic? Dry mouth? Shaking hands? Flushed or pale face? If this sounds like you, then consider overcoming—or at least controlling—your fear. You can start by attending a Toastmaster’s meeting and picking up a couple of books for additional help.

Forget any ideas you have that Toastmasters meetings are intimidating. You might think you’ll encounter only eloquent and self-assured speakers which would make you even more self conscious, but that’s not the case. You’ll find a variety of members, ranging from those who recently joined to those who have been members for years. They represent diverse lifestyles and occupations and varying levels of education. What do they have in common? Almost every single one joined because they were afraid of public speaking just like you. This isn’t a place for polished performers to show off; it’s a place to learn and practice. Those members who dazzle with each speech…they’ll be your mentors. And, trust me on this, each fellow member will be rooting for you to succeed.

In a typical meeting, lasting 60 to 90 minutes, the Toastmaster will introduce two to three speakers who will give their prepared 5 to 11 minute talks. Their evaluators will follow with a short, gentle but fair critique. Everyone in the group will also fill out a critique which the speakers take home with them to review. The Table Topics Master will present the meeting’s theme and ask questions of attendees who will reply with one to two minute impromptu answers. Members (who have been given advance notice) will provide the inspirational pledge, word of wisdom, mentor moment or joke, or serve as timer, general evaluator, grammarian, vote counter or “ah” counter. The idea is that everyone will have a chance to speak, no matter how briefly. At the end of the meeting, Best Speaker, Best Table Topics and Best Evaluator are voted on and ribbons are awarded. And surprise! It’s all fun. (Table Topics can be scary but it’s great practice for thinking on your feet!) Membership costs approximately $20-25 for six months including chapter fees; check with your local group for exact costs. You’ll receive several manuals to get you started and a booklet for your evaluators’ critiques. As you accomplish the speaking goals in the manuals, you move up to different levels and receive certification for those achievements.

Do this for yourself…find a local Toastmasters group at www.Toastmasters.org and commit today to attending one meeting. You might try several groups in your area, meeting at different times of the day, to find the one where you’re most comfortable. Guests are free, so you have nothing to lose. This one simple step right now could make a huge difference in your future. Dave Hershman, a proponent of Toastmasters, says in his book, More Income with Less Stress, “Public speaking is such a great tool because not many people do it well or effectively (if at all). Attend any marketing seminar and they will tell you to market by making yourself look different. People then spend thousands of dollars concocting major schemes to shoot themselves from cannons…Look at me; I am different. In reality, it only takes something everyone already has to look different: your mouth. You should do it and do it well because your competitors can’t.”

For additional help, if you’re truly frightened of public speaking, read Janet Esposito’s In The Spotlight: Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking and Performing. The author herself suffered with this fear for years before using her training as a psychologist to study the cause behind the problem and develop a method for overcoming it.

If you’re just a little nervous before speaking and would like to improve your technique, try 10 Days to More Confident Public Speaking published by the Princeton Language Institute and Lenny Laskowski.

How will public speaking boost your career? Every marketing guru tells you to visit any group where you can promote your business. “Speak to them,” they say. “Hold a seminar.” For instance, if you’re a loan officer, the group may be MLS meetings, real estate offices, homebuyer seminars, and of course, the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Leads Club and so on. That’s good advice if you can speak with authority and confidence. You’ll be able to do that with the help of Toastmasters. Maybe not tomorrow or next month, but eventually you’ll receive a big payoff and be proud of conquering your fear. And if you can speak comfortably in front of a group, imagine how easy your one-on-one presentations will be!

Here’s a tip that applies to this and every other idea you consider: If you don’t take some action within the next 24 hours, the odds are you won’t ever act on this idea. So do something now, even if it’s only writing a note on your calendar to find a Toastmasters group. That’s a start.

About the Author:
Sharon Hassler was a successful loan officer and real estate agent in Southern California, then served as Communications Manager for First American Title-Arizona for 11 years. She is President of Go Get Experts, owner and operator of GoGetLoan.com, a web page directory for mortgage brokers and loan officers, along with GoGetEscrow.com, GoGetNotary.com and GoGetRealEstate.com.

Copyright © 2005, Go Get Experts, for GoGetLoan.com. All Rights Reserved. Permission to reprint this article is granted if the article is reproduced in its entirety, without editing, including author’s information. When using this article in magazines or newsletters or online publications, please include the full URL or a hyperlink to http://www.GoGetExperts.com

Ever since I took a power walking class in college, I have been hooked. If you are thinking about learning how to power walk, I strongly urge you to do so. It is fun and a great way to get in shape and stay healthy. Friends and family members can join in, and it ends up being a great way to bond as well. So, spend a little bit of time learning about power walking. You may find that it is just what you are looking for. We will discuss the fundamentals of power walking, as well as go over a list of the equipment that you need to get started.

Many people may ask what exactly is power walking? You have been walking for years, but chances are, you haven’t been utilizing all of your muscles. Power walking is achieved by walking at a brisk pace, while tightening up all of your muscles. You should feel your abs and butt tighten as you walk. You can pump your arms for added resistance as well. When done correctly power walking can give you the benefits of cardio and strength training at the same time. When you first begin power walking, you will notice the difference right away. Your entire body may be sore after your first workout. This is completely normal and means that it is working!

Before you head out, you will need to get a few supplies. Most of them you probably already have, so it won’t take much to get you started. The most important piece of equipment is a good pair of shoes. Power walking takes a toll on your feet, so it is important to have good arch support. You can probably use a pair of shoes that you already have, but I would invest in a good arch support insert to breathe new life into your shoes. You will also want to invest in some good workout clothes. Choose fabrics that are breathable, and reflective if you plan on power walking outdoors.

Choosing where to walk is also important. If weather permits, you can always head outdoors to do your walking. Look for a local track or park that offers no traffic or distractions. Treadmills offer a great alternative for those that like to power walk at odd hours or in the privacy of your own home. Look for one with a long deck so that you can stretch out your legs between strides.

Last but not least, make your walk fun. Bring along a cd player or Mp3 player to keep yourself entertained. Bringing along a friend is also a great way to keep entertained, and catch up on the latest gossip. Of course, you can also take your power walking time to reflect on yourself. Think about the upcoming week and center yourself. If you are using a treadmill, try to put up pictures of an exotic local, so that you can pretend that you are walking on the beach, etc. Or you can always catch up on your TV watching. Whatever you decide, make it fun. You are more likely to walk longer and get a better workout if you are enjoying yourself.

About the Author

Marcy Jenkins is a personal trainer and freelance author. She is a contributing writer to http://www.treadmills-resource.com – a site providing free treadmill tips and consumer information.

From jeweled necklaces to ankle bracelets, and all the tops and bottoms in between, we suddenly see Bling on every one and every thing! You instinctively knew that something about diamonds and rubies made you feel good when you first saw them sparkle on your friends, and they made you feel even better when they were shining on you.

However, did you know that many of the gemstones we have come to know and love as Bling could actually heal you both physically and emotionally? Yes, now you can justify owning gems in every color because more and more evidence is surfacing that they can actually heal you. As Bling is dominating the fashion scene from the living room all the way to the red carpet, it is not just for frivolity anymore. Bling is much more than simply a fashion statement ~ it is a newly recognized medicine ~ a healing energy that has been used for centuries.

After years of study, practitioners of alternative medicine and complementary health, as well as acupuncturists and even some forward thinking medical doctors now recognize gemstone therapy as a legitimate healing art. It is a form of energy medicine that is on the cutting edge of health care. In a time when we are all looking for a cure and realizing that many of the traditional treatment methods are not only laden with side effects, but simply do not work, gemstone therapy is certainly worth a try. Besides, Daahling, what other therapy offers glamour as a side effect?

Many professional and even Olympic athletes are reporting dramatic improvements in their performance when using various therapeutic gemstones. Glen Christiansen, a Swedish Olympic record holder, has now broken nine world-swimming records! Glen reports, “the experience that I am having with the Green Tourmaline necklace is that it gives me a lot of strength. And I recover faster from hard workouts. (Curiously enough, it gives me more sexual interest and power.)” He definitely recommends the Green Tourmaline to athletes who do endurance sports like swimming, bike riding, tri-athletes, marathon runners, and athletes who do technical sports like golf and tennis.

Athletes are not the only ones discovering the healing qualities of beautiful stones like diamonds, emeralds and rubies. Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars are proudly wearing their latest Bling ~ beautiful, therapeutic gemstone necklaces. Television actress Bonnie Hunt reports that she “feels calmer” after putting on her Mother of Pearl necklace. Clint Eastwood, Uma Thurman, and Angela Bassett all own Carnelian necklaces which promote vitality and happiness, and the lovely Halle Berry has a necklace made of Leopardskin Jasper to bring harmony into her life. Whether they are seeking strength, emotional support, spiritual uplifting, or physical healing, stars can easily have it all as they work, play, and even as they walk the red carpet (is that work or play?).

The good news is that gemstone therapy is becoming more common and is for not only athletes and celebrities, but is available to anyone wanting to experience it. According to Michael Katz, author of GEMSTONE ENERGY MEDICINE, Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit, “…a minor revolution has taken place. The paradigm on which energy medicine practices are based has become more widely accepted. This paradigm sees the human being as an integral part of a universe in which, on a fundamental level, matter is a form of energy. In this paradigm, each person is a unique system of interconnected fields of energy and information. Treatments used in energy medicine address this most fundamental level of the human form, affecting the very stuff of which we are made. These treatments target the underlying causes of illness and discontent, rather than merely the symptoms. By using this approach, energy medicine aims not only to improve our health but to transform it. Today this new, energetic model of the human being and human health is not only embraced by large numbers of people, it has excited the interest of many physicians and medical researchers.”

Michael Katz has been exploring gemstones as energy medicine since 1988. He has seen a lot of progress in this field and says; “Doctors and patients are experiencing that energy medicine works - often where conventional medicine does not. Chronic debilitating illnesses, common ailments, aches, pains, and everything in between have responded to energy medicine practices. Energy medicine is shedding light on the true nature of health and disease and offering solutions to seemingly intractable health problems - often leaving those who practice it healthier and more vital than they thought possible.

One of the most powerful forms of energy medicine is gem therapy. Here, too, a change has taken place. Once relegated to the fringes of the healing arts, the therapeutic uses of gems were not widely adopted by either doctors or the public. Offering neither a coherent model of the human being’s energetic nature nor precise therapy protocols and tools, gem therapy practices were inconsistent at best and ineffective at worst. Today, all that has changed. Pioneering information and effective new practices are allowing gem therapy to take its rightful place as a cornerstone of energy medicine.”

Mr. Katz goes on to say “thousands of people around the world - physicians, homemakers, Olympic athletes, business people, celebrities, and many others - have come to experience remarkable healing by applying therapeutic gems with these new methods. Confirmed during over a decade of clinical experience, these discoveries have yielded gem therapies that work - both as primary treatments and as complements to other healing modalities. Emotional maladies, mental complaints, and acute and chronic illnesses of all kinds have responded to these gem therapies in unprecedented and exciting ways.”

Discover for yourself that Bling is not just for beauty anymore. Get serious about your jewelry and choose stones to compliment personal areas where you need support. Select your gems carefully and they will not only make you look good ~ they could also make you well!

For more information on Gemstone Therapy and specific gems for specific ailments, please visit http://BlingSpa.com/

All men over the age of 30 experience impotence as least once in their lifetime. Estimating the numbers is difficult because less than 2 men in 10 seek treatment for impotence problems. The conclusion is impotence is a very common problem in men.

The big problem is it seems that for a large number of men, their ability to get an erection and have sex is viewed as an integral part of their masculinity and potency and can be debilitating to his mental health.

First reaction of a man dealing with impotence is to make excuses or avoid sexual situations with his partner in an effort to forget about the condition. This tendency can often leave the partner feeling unloved, unattractive and unwanted. By consequence, the man’s failure to communicate his condition may contribute to frustration, stress or depression in his partner, or even lead to relation failure.

Encountering this problem, men must think first that this is a very common male problem. He is neither alone nor unusual. There are over hundred million partners of impotent men!

Then, next step is to communicate with the partner. Couples who can talk openly about this condition have a great advantage. Sharing fears and worries is a first step toward feeling better.

Woman’s emotions regarding the impotence of her partner can be complex as well. But she must not forget that the male partner is going through similar strong emotions.

It’s generally known that about 85-90 percent of erectile problems are caused by an existing medical condition. Woman’s help and understanding of situation is very important. In a spirit of friendly cooperation, she must offer her support in solving partner’s problem going together to see a doctor.

Valerian D is a freelance writer specialized in health issues affecting men such as erectile dysfunction impotence.