April 2005 News Flash
Enjoy the Journey through 2005
- President’s Message
- April 9 Meeting
- Living Room Forum April 26
- Upcoming NSA-Arizona Programs
- Future NSA Programs
- Speech Development Lab
- Business-Building Bulletin
- Humor Tip
- Word Trippers
- Website Wisdom
- Worth Repeating
- About This Newsletter
NSA-Arizona President’s Message from Ted Rogers
We’ve just come through March Madness when college basketball mania sweeps our country in search of a new champion. Everyone loves watching the greatness of these players that results from their focused, complete, absolute efforts. The excitement when underdogs who play their best and upset the favored teams…the last-second shots that bring heartbreak or exhilaration…the absolute law of “lose one and go home.”
We’ve heard slogans about giving 150% when it’s a big game. But there is a little-known secret that we can use in our own personal and business lives. I call it the “Ten Percent Factor.”
This secret stems from tracking the NCAA Basketball Tournament scores over the last few years. Statistics show that, for between 65 and 85 percent of all the games played in the championship rounds, had the losing teams increased their scoring efforts by only 10 percent, they would have won their games.
I want to repeat this. Had the losing teams performed just 10 percent better, they would have won their games.
That means two of every three games played during these Tournaments would have had a different outcome if that 10 percent increased effort had been applied!
What would our worlds be like if we had 10 percent more clients, 10 percent more revenues, 10 percent improved organization of our offices, 10 percent improvement in our relationships? Just by improving by a mere 10 percent, the increased potential for our businesses and lives would be amazing!
It’s also amazing when you consider how easy this would be to achieve. So often we get caught up in major commitments when, in reality, by making small, consistent improvements, we can arrive at greatness.
I challenge us all to play our own “games” just 10 percent better. Each and every day, day in and day out. When we do, we will amaze ourselves with greatness.
To your journey of inspiration and achievement.
Ted Rogers, President
NSA-Arizona
NSA-Arizona Monthly Meeting April 9, 2005
9:00 a.m. - 12 noon; networking 8:30 a.m.; Candidates Program 12:15 p.m.
How To Be Heard Above The Noise: Branding Your Uniqueness
with Branding, Marketing, and Media Expert Dick Bruso
This jam-packed and highly practical program is designed to help you:
- develop your distinctive brand
- use your uniqueness to reach your target markets
- position yourself to be “heard above the noise” in the marketplace
Maximize your ability to reach your target market(s) via creative marketing, the incredible power of media, and strategic networking. In this program, you’ll learn to:
- Create a clearly focused vision statement based on desired outcomes for your speaking practice
- Better evaluate and define your target market(s)
- Develop your distinctive brand (what sets you apart in everything you do, say, and communicate in any form)
- Craft a positioning statement centered on your distinctive brand and your target market(s)
Dick shares excellent examples of branding, positioning, and creative marketing used by speakers and other professionals. If you want to be “heard above the noise,” don’t miss this outstanding presentation at our April 9th meeting!
Dick Bruso is a member of the NSA, president-elect of NSA/Colorado, and active in Colorado Society of Association Executives (CSAE). He has served as a member of both the NSA National PR Advisory Task Force and the Biola University Studio Task Force. He received the CSAE 2003 Associate of the Year award. In 2003-2004, Dick served as a reporter for VOE and as the Chair for the NSA Writers & Publishers PEG. Tapes of his branding programs at recent NSA national conferences have been top-ten bestsellers.
An experienced broadcaster and media insider, Dick has managed three radio stations and served as host and producer of a syndicated radio feature heard on over 300 stations. He has been executive producer and host for a variety of talk shows and produces nationally syndicated radio features and specials. He also helps develop special CD projects for speakers, authors, and other professionals.
MC for the Day – Joe Hammer
Candidates Program – Dick Bruso Bonus! Brandstorming
Starts promptly at 12:15 p.m.
Creative branding expert Dick Bruso shares his insights on the topic of “branding for someone new to the speaking profession” and will conduct a “brandstorming” exercise with select Candidate volunteers.
Date: Saturday, April 9, 2005, 9:00 am - 12 noon; networking 8:30 am
Location: NSA Conference Center, 1500 S. Priest Dr., Tempe, AZ
Prepaid registration (by 5 p.m. Wed., Apr. 6): $25/members, $35/guests
At-the-door registration: $35/members, $45/guests
To register for this meeting, please follow these prepayment procedures.
Prepayment Procedures: To streamline check-in at monthly meetings, the board now requires that you prepay for your meeting attendance. Members save $10 when they prepay by 5 p.m. on the Wednesday before the Saturday meeting. Registration at the door (available as space allows) is at the full rate of $35 for members and $45 for nonmembers. Thanks for your cooperation with these new procedures.
Note from Executive Director Gwen Henson: We’re happy to keep your credit card on file for meeting payments but it’s not an automatic service. Please specifically ask us to do that.
Three ways to register:
- Online
- By email: send name, company, and number of attendees to Gwen@nsa-arizona.org
- By telephone: call (480) 968-7443
Living Room Forum April 26
The April LRF featuring Seminar/Workshop topics will be held at the home of Michelle May, 2145 E Sapium Way, Phoenix, AZ 85048-9554. (Starting at the intersection of I-10 and Ray Road – Head WEST on Ray. Turn Right on Thunderhill. Turn RIGHT onto E SAPIUM WAY.)
Living Room Forum May 25
The May LRF featuring Consultant/Coach topics will be at the home of Bill Johnson.
Note: Living Room Forums are held from 7 pm – 9 pm. A light dinner is provided.
If you are interested in attending future sessions or staying connected between meetings via email and the YahooGroup site, send an email with your contact information and area of interest to Joan Koerber-Walker at jkw@corepurpose.net
Three ways to register:
- Online
- By email: send name, company, and number of attendees to Gwen@nsa-arizona.org
- By telephone: call (480) 968-7443
Future NSA-Arizona Programs 2005
May 14, 2005 – Jane Atkinson, Promoting Your Business
June 11, 2005 – Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE
**Order NSA-Arizona Program Tapes **
Couldn’t attend our fabulous meetings featuring Brock and Creamer, Paulson, Poynter and Poscente, Labalme and Leblanc, Calloway, Sanborn and McKain, Friedman and Sjodin, Burgett and Godek, our own Steve Tyra and more? Order their presentations (starting with Aldonna Ambler in January 2002) on audiocassette for $10.00 each. Send an email to Gwen@NSA-Arizona.org to request the order form. Additional charge for shipping.
Future NSA Programs 2005
The NSA Humor Lab: Putting Funny in Your Pocket
April 29 - May 1, 2005 – NSA Headquarters, Tempe, AZ
Do you think your presentations are funny? Guess what? They could be funnier…after you attend a weekend retreat with seven of NSA’s top “fun guns” for a Humor Lab on developing and delivering humorous material.
Here’s what’s in it for you:
- Five incredible sessions full of techniques to improve the humor in your material;
- An opportunity to interact with the faculty to apply the information to meet your specific needs;
- A weekend at NSA Headquarters in Tempe, Arizona;
- An opportunity to present your material and have the faculty and other participants make it funnier;
- Small group discussions where you can brainstorm and discuss the topics with one of the faculty and other participants;
- Networking opportunities;
- A chance to kiss the ring of NSA President Scott Friedman;
- The eternal gratitude of Lab Chairs, Ron Culberson, MSW, CSP and Mark Scharenbroich, CSP, CPAE.
Sign up today at http://www.nsaspeaker.org
NSA’s National Conference
July 9-12, 2005
Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Look for details in future issues of News Flash and at http://www.nsaspeaker.org
**Speaker/Speech Development Lab **
Join the NSA Speakers Lab every second and fourth Tuesday morning from 9 a.m.-11:00 a.m. at NSA Headquarters in Tempe. Here’s your chance to try out new material, revise current material, practice delivery, and receive feedback from NSA speaking colleagues at this Lab. It’s open to both regular and candidate members. Fees for participation are $75/year for those expecting to attend half of the meetings or more; $20 per meeting for those who drop in randomly; $50 for random attendees who want to perform and receive feedback only on the day they attend.
Questions? Contact Don Thoren, CPAE, at dthoren@cox.net or Eileen Roth at EileenRoth@aol.com
BUSINESS-BUILDING BULLETIN
This bulletin publicizes events of interest to NSA-Arizona members and announces member accomplishments. When more announcements are sent in, you’ll receive dedicated Business-Building Bulletin issues in addition to News Flash.
Matthew Moran Launches IT Book
Entering the field of information technology can be difficult without the proper tools and approach. Matthew Moran offers a solution in his new book, The IT Career Builder’s Toolkit, published by Cisco Press. Divided into five sections – An Introduction to Career Building; Filling Your Toolkit; Putting Your Toolkit To Use; More Options to Build Your Career; The Value-Added Technologist – The IT Career Builder’s Toolkit builds on each section to ensure that readers are fully prepared for today’s competitive IT job market. A companion CD-ROM contains résumé and cover letter templates, forms to track important contacts, and other career-management tools.
Matthew reports that it’s been the number-one selling technology career book on Amazon.com during March, and been written about in Washington Post, The NY Post, The Dallas Morning News, TechTarget, IT World, Network World, GoCertify.com, CertMag.com. Contact Matthew at mmoran@cbtoolkit.com
New E-Learning Program Announced
Scottsdale National Gender Institute is releasing a new e-learning program “Bridging Gender Differences©.” The course reveals the gender-related misunderstandings that create obstacles to communication, teamwork, productivity and employee retention. Leslie Jenness and Alan Rigg are speakers with Scottsdale National Gender Institute. To learn more, contact (480) 473-0426, info@gendertraining.com To view an online demo, visit http://www.diversityacademy.com
Speaking Seminar At Sea May 23-27
For REAL excitement, sign up for the Cruise YOU deserve, this May 23-27 to Baja Mexico from Los Angeles, promoted by Bill Johnson. You’ll have opportunities to get a professional critique of your speech and attend a seminar each morning (if you choose) so your fun time won’t get interrupted!
What FUN we’ll have with MR. FUN Steve Tyra along with past NSA & ASTD President Ed Scannell and the man of great vision Larry Colbert. The giant 2,700-passenger Royal Caribbean ship offers everything from pool playing to rock climbing and even a few bars. On this cruise, sponsor Arizona Small Business Association is offering plenty of networking opportunities. For full details, please click on http://www.billjohnson.com/dx/ASBA_Cruise_Flyer_sm.pdf or Bill@BillJohnson.com.
**Authors and Speakers Roundtable **
Authors and Speakers Roundtable, sponsored by Arizona Small Business Association, meets the third Wednesday of each month. All are welcome between 11:30 am to 1 pm. Bring your own lunch if you choose; drinks are provided. Each month features an author who tells about his or her authorship journey and the challenges along the way. Great information! 4130 E. Van Buren, Phoenix 602-265-4563. http://www.asba.com. Monthly meeting is no charge for ASBA members ($125 for annual dues); $20 for guests. This community of Arizona Small Business Association is chaired by Bill Johnson, CSP. It’s advisory board is made up of NSA-Arizona members Sue Shipman, Bob Kelly, Suzy Allegra, and Rich Hamilton.
Passionate sales person wanted for Tucson-based speakers bureau! Know anyone who loves relating to people on the phone? And helping to match the right speaker/trainer/ celebrity to their needs? It takes a special person to do this work. Sky’s the limit on earning potential if you’ve got what it takes! The right candidate needs to be sharp, have the ability to ask questions, love computers and phone work, be detailed, a self-starter and possess integrity, a positive attitude and personality plus. You know the industry and what is needed…send qualified applicants to Andrea Gold @ Gold Stars Speakers Bureau, andrea@goldstars.com.
What business-building events of interest to NSA-Arizona members are coming up? What new books and tapes will you launch soon? Send your announcements to Barbara at editor@barbaramcnichol.com
April’s Humor Tips
Steve Tyra and June Cline
Tip #1. Invite humor! Ask your family, friends, and co-workers to tell you their “idiot moments.” It’s amazing how people love to tell you all about the dumb things they’ve done. Make them good sources of stories for your presentations. The best part is they are free and real!
Tip #2. Find a humor buddy! This is a great way to test new bits of humor. If you ask your buddy “would you laugh at my stuff?” but he or she doesn’t laugh after hearing your story…that’s a clue! Re-think…re-write…or…throw it out!
Word Trippers from the Platform
This feature from Barbara McNichol helps you find the exact word for your presentation or written piece.
Quite, quiet – “Quite” is an adverb meaning completely or very; “quiet” means be still, calm, silent. “The crowd became quite quiet after singing the national anthem.”
Reasoned, reasonable – “Reasoned” means to think logically while “reasonable” refers to sound thinking, being fair and within the bounds of common sense. “She reasoned that paying full price was a reasonable deal at this store.”
Rationalize, justify – To “rationalize” is to ascribe actions to causes that seem reasonable but do not reflect the truth; to “justify” means to prove to be just, right, or reasonable. “I rationalize my desire to travel by finding a business reason to justify the cost.”
Word Trippers are featured in The Door Opener, an ezine that helps you open doors to your dreams through the written word. Subscribe at http://www.barbaramcnichol.com or send an email to editor@barbaramcnichol.com
**Website Wisdom **
Keep in mind the “little things” from webmaster Kendall Summerhawk that can make your website better.
Tip: Review these essentials of a highly effective website, one that:
- Shortens your sales cycle
- Motivates prospective clients to contact you
- Weeds out the wrong kind of clients
- Increases your revenue and adds profit
How well does your website accomplish these goals?
Worth Repeating
Thanks for our March speaker Terry Brock for these ideas worth repeating:
“It’s not about E-Commerce. It’s about R-Commerce. It is often easy to think that the technology alone will drive our business. This is wrong and has always been wrong. It will be wrong in the future. The key to successful E-Commerce is not about the E, the Electronic part. The key is the R-Commerce, the relationship on which the commerce is based.”
About This Newsletter
Email your News Flash announcements to editor Barbara McNichol at editor@barbaramcnichol.com or call 520-615-7910 by 15th of each month.
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