Archive for July, 2009

They say “practice makes perfect.” And in fact, repeating an action over and over again is the single biggest factor in acquiring skill. It means spending hours in pursuit of perfection, putting in the 10,000 hours that Malcolm Gladwell speaks about in his book, The Outliers.
 
 

After hours of scouring job listings, milking your rolodex, proofreading cover letters, and tweaking your resume, you’ve finally obtained a coveted job interview! Considering how competitive today’s marketplace is, it feels as though a minor miracle has taken place. But now that you’re in the door, what steps can you take to maximize your chances [...]

Two weeks ago, I shared an amazing public speaking blog collective called, Speaking Pro Central. I’d like to follow that up with another spectacular resource called Alltop.  Founded by Guy Kawasaki and debuted in 2008 at SXSW, Alltop is an “online magazine rack” of your favorite websites and blogs. There are over 32,000 information sources [...]

And now I’d like to… (Pause…um…err…ah…). Do you ever find yourself grasping for words or losing your place in the middle of a sentence? If so, you’re not alone. This behavior is often a symptom of “under preparation,” speaking too fast or just plain nervousness. And for some people it can also be a sign [...]

Nick Morgan, author of Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma, is one of the nation’s top communication coaches. He graciously contributed the following post. Please take a moment to explore Nick’s blog and his wonderful insights contained within. 
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Connection with an audience is a goal all speakers want to achieve, but it can be elusive.  How can you ensure [...]

Last week, I worked with a client who was having trouble controlling and projecting his voice. While he had a deep voice with a low, appealing tone, it was a bit raspy and extremely monotone. He also complained that his throat “hurt” when he gave a long speech and that when he tried to speak [...]

From Rachel Ray to The Iron Chef to Bobby Flay, today’s TV chefs teach us that food is to be carefully prepared, presented with style and savored with enjoyment. They also show that sound cooking principles, a flare for the unique and the freshest ingredients can make all the difference.
 

I’m proud to announce that DeFinis Communications is now included in the blog hub, Speaking Pro Central. SPC is a community of top public speaking experts who represent the best information on the web pertaining to the business of speaking.

According to a team of Dutch scientists, walking backward helps people think more clearly.
 
I saw this article in the San Francisco Chronicle awhile ago and it piqued my interest.
 
 

Today, July 1st, is an auspicious day for corporate America. Assuming the role of CEO of Xerox Corporation, Ursula Burns will become the first African American woman to lead a major Fortune 500 company. She is also the first woman in modern history to take the reins from another female, departing CEO Ann Mulcahy.