|
If for any reason you missed our last newsletter, number 91 published electronically 1 August 2008, you can read it by going to www.congruence.co.za/news. Past articles can be found here.. To email us please do not hit the reply button as there may be a delay in us responding. Rather mailto:director@congruence.co.za If this has been forwarded to you, you may subscribe for your own monthly copy at www.pauldutoit.net or www.congruence.co.za or use the link above right. Simple unsubscribe steps appear at the footer. I hope you won't! Dear {{FirstName}}
1. Latest on the book: Even You Can PRESENT WITH CONFIDENCEThe ramblings of a first time author continue. Humour me please. After reading this, I trust you will take this publication seriously, especially if you do the occasional presentation or speech...bacause they sure are taking notice overseas! Having lugged 60 copies of the book over to the NSA convention in New York, I was quite staggerred at the positive feedback I received from established authors and professional speakers. This feedback from Bill Stainton, himself a professional speaker: "I read your book on the long flight (although not long by South Africa standards!) back to Seattle from New York. OUTSTANDING job! It was thorough, complete, highly informative—and fun to read as well!" Bill Stainton, Professional Speaker, VOE Chair 2007-2008, Seattle WA (9 August 2008) Even more exciting is that I am currently negotiating an agreement with a major book group in the USA who only take on between 3% and 5% of all titles presented to them each year, and they have indicated that they want my book. It will also be available in Australia and New Zealand well before Christmas through Maruki Books. The official SA bookstore publication date is 1 September 2008, so right now it is trickling in to most major bookstores. This is how you get your own personal copy now:
Who should read this book? Professional and Industry speakers, toastmasters, executives, managers, sales professionals, exhibitors, lecturers and teachers - or anyone wanting to learn how to speak with ease and clarity to an audience. Confucius say: "Avalanche always start with trickle". Well, he didn't really say that, I did, but what the heck, watch this space! 2. If you acknowledge your weaknesses, you can turn them into opportunitiesFeature article - snippet from "Even You Can PRESENT WITH CONFIDENCE" Once you have learnt the theory, had some practice and delivered more than one successful presentation, meeting your desired outcomes, you may be forgiven for expecting every engagement to be a walk in the park. This is unlikely. It's a bit like buying a "good share" on the stock exchange after receiving a good tip and then expecting the share price to rise each day without ever going the other way. Well, good shares do indeed dip and they can do so in good times and bad times. When there is a downturn in the market, almost all the shares tend to dip! Each presentation brings with it differing conditions and will produce different outcomes. In order to experience gradual personal improvement as a presenter, you need to keep delivering them, thereby gaining experience. By doing this you will find that your failures will teach you more than your successes and you will continue to improve as you persevere. As with the development of any worthwhile skill, presentation requires ongoing practice and perseverance. I have heard that the first step in curing alcoholism is to acknowledge your addiction. Only then can you begin the healing process. Without that acceptance of where you are now, no progress is possible. Progress is fuelled by a hunger for improvement, but hindered by delusion. If you want to learn how to speak to other people with impact and persuade them to your way of thinking, it's time to take a look at yourself. Discover where you are right now, what factors are helping you to succeed and which ones are standing in your way. Perhaps you're a little too intense. Maybe you have a tendency to mumble or waffle. Perhaps you're a bit too complacent. Whatever it may be, you'll only discover what it is if you take a good look at yourself. When you accurately identify your current position, you have a powerful base for progress. Without a powerful base, your first steps are always tenuous. The best way to approach your weaknesses is to refer to them as areas of opportunity. Because your brain is guided by your attitudes, the word "weakness" presents a giant mountain to climb. If you constantly use the word "opportunity" your brain perceives this as being exciting and desirable. This has a positive impact on your brain and will result in far quicker improvement. Paul du Toit, Certified Speaking Professional, Author, Mindsetshifter and Presentation Skills Coach. 3. Update - the Relationship Selling seminarIn brief, four seminars later and Gauteng is done, the last was Pretoria last week Thursday. Cape Town was last Tuesday at the Cullinan. It's been a load of fun (and some hard work!) and the feedback has been heartwarming with ratings consistently well in to the 90's. Next up is an evening event in Durban on 9 September - PE and East London will follow. I can not imagine why anyone in sales would elect to miss a turbo-charged injection of sales inspiration - especially one geared to building long term, profitable business relationships. But obviously not everyone made it to the seminar or I'd have sold Loftus out a few times. No matter - many who came are already experiencing great results. If you're in Gauteng and missed it, give me a call and lets see what I can do for your team. Upcoming evening events: Registration tea/coffee from 16h45, seminar 17h15-20h15. Scrumptuous finger buffet served midway.
At only R679 per person including VAT, a meal and a complimentary copy of my new book "Even You Can PRESENT WITH CONFIDENCE," this is a particularly good value for your sales team. More information and online bookings can be found here, or phone us on share call 0860 503 191. {{FirstName}}, everyone has left beaming so far. I intend to keep it that way.
East London and Polokwane stand by, will schedule your seminars for this year soon - real soon! 4. Upcoming Short-course Programme ScheduleThe following public programmes (2 days each unless otherwise specified) are scheduled for the next 3 months in Gauteng: Please notethat booking deadlines are 5 working days prior to the commencement of each programme.
You can go here for the schedule, prices and venues, or phone us share call on 0860 503 191(+2711 804 3520 from Namibia). Both our programmes and facilitators continue to receive sky-high ratings. Programmes are NQF aligned, and assessment is available. Congruence Training is accredited as a training provider with the Services Seta. 5. Downturn Exploiting Strategies - a top class PSASA Event in GautengWhen an event is put together by the country's most diverse group of recognised subject experts, smart successful people sit up and take notice.... On Tuesday 7 October 2008 the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa will be hosting a high powered full day seminar event of extraordinary impact. Coming at exactly the right time, many of South Africa's most dynamic speakers and subject experts will share their winning strategies - ideal for the downturn we are currently experiencing.
Absolutely monumental value at a mere R1,675 (inclusive of VAT) if you book by 17 Sep 2008 (R2,675 if booked after 18 September). That's a grand reduction, if ever there was one! Seating is limited so I suggest you act soon! More information and online registration at www.psasouthernafrica.co.za or phone share call 0860 067272. I'll be there, and I hope you will too! The Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (PSASA) hosts the Global Speakers Summit from 16-19 April 2009. This is a good time to start blocking off the dates in your diary if you'd like to view some of the world's best speaking talent Perhaps you aspire to be a professional speaker one day? Go to globalspeakersummit.org. |