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If for any reason you missed our last newsletter, #94 published electronically in November 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 by clicking on the link on the top menu bar. Simple unsubscribe steps appear at the footer. I hope you won't! Dear {{FirstName}},
1. Even YOU Can Present with Confidence Launch - Feedback “Even YOU Can Present with Confidence” is a wonderful resource! You have left nothing out and it's succinct, focused, and complete and was extremely valuable in improving my presentation content, style, and confidence. I took away a wealth of information that will make me stronger in front of customers, key executives, and my peers. I highly recommend this book for business people and speakers alike. Thanks for a great book!" Grant Vernon – Professional Speaker Well - it was a blast. Thank you to everyone who attended. Felt a bit like a celeb doing all those book signings - but really grateful that the event was so well supported - thank you to all who came, and all those who really wanted to to, but couldn't for some reason or other - it's you I'm talking to now. I'm happy to say that the book is selling. You can get your copy directly from us by going here, or visit any of the following book stores: Adams, The Bookmark, Cascades, Estoril, Exclusive, Fogarty's, van Shaik's or Wordsworth. If they're out of stock, they'll order it for you. Besides, if you're racking your brain for a Christmas gift for your colleague or friend or spouse - how about their own copy of.....(you fill in the rest!) 2. How You Can Achieve Your New Years Resolutions in 2009 *** feature article *** For most of us 2008 has simply whizzed past. Some of us have reached significant milestones, but for some of us our goals and dreams have disappeared in its wake. Have you achieved what you set out to around this time last year? If you have, then give yourself a well earned pat on the back and bask in the satisfaction of personal achievement - because for many of us, we're exactly where we were a year ago, or perhaps even a few steps back. This could be for any number of reasons, many of them external like the economy or the price of fuel (which mercifully has retreated back to far more sensible levels now!). These things are often difficult to control. But the internal ones, like your own state of mind, are a different matter and this is where you can exert significant influence in achieving your 2009 goals and dreams. We all have opinions about whether new years resolutions work or not. I'm one of those who believe they do work. But I also believe that many of us misunderstand the word resolution. It emanates from the term resolve, and when you resolve to do something it becomes non-negotiable. Anyone treating a new year's resolution in this way is destined to achieve what they set out to for the following reason: Your brain is like a very sophisticated piece of computer hardware. But despite its extraordinary capabilities, hardware does only what it is told. It is the software that instructs the hardware. So the capability of your hardware is not an issue here - your brain can and will - if you tell it to. Question is, how is your software programmed? What back doors are you providing for your new years resolutions? What excuses are you making to justify failure? Many people mistake wishes for resolutions. When they abandon these wishes as being unrealistic, there are no consequences, so it doesn't matter. You don't abandon a resolution. You stick with it no matter what, because it is your word to yourself and it defines your character. You have no greater critic than the face in the mirror. The two most common new years desires are to lose weight or quit smoking. They are also the ones least likely to be kept. Lets pick on the latter - quitting smoking. The steps I'm about to share with you relate to quitting anything addictive like over-eating, drinking, substance abuse or even gambling. In this case we can narrow it down to changing behaviour in order to eradicate a harmful habit. Here are your 7 crucial steps:
All living creatures enact instinctive behaviour and develop habits that either serve them or handicap them. In most animals these habits are not reversible. Humans are different. In our case, even an old leopard can change its spots - if it wants to badly enough! There is of course one last footnote. When you've rid yourself of the bad habit, there really is no turning back…ever! Paul du Toit, Certified Speaking Professional, Author, Presentation Skills Coach, Mindset Shifter. 3. Kick Start your 2009 in January with a Scintillating Talk My pre-VAT local 1 hour keynote speaking fee will increase from R16,000 to R17,500 for engagements booked from 1 January 2009. For 2009 talks booked in 2008 for 2009, the 2008 rate still applies. As each month passes, I become more and more convinced that a good speaker will "make" your conference - and make it big. When you look at the cost of putting on a conference, your speaker is a minor budgetary consideration, yet if you make the right choice the impact can be massive. But even if you're not planning a conference, a "shot-in-the-arm" for your committed staff, especially at the beginning of what promises to be a challenging 2009 can do wonders to boost morale, increase productivity and ensure that your team hits the ground running next year! And there's nothing like a great start to the year! You will know that I am well known for being anti-discounting. However, special circumstances (which many businesses are facing) require special responses. So I am making you a January 2009 special offer as follows: Any one hour talk that I deliver between 13 and 31 January 2009, anywhere in South Africa, will be at my 2004 rate of R12,000 + VAT. This offer will run strictly on a first confirmed, first helped basis. Here are the topic choices:
From 1 February 2009 my new rates will apply. Please email me directly on mailto:director@congruence.co.za, phone share call 0860 503 191 or go to www.pauldutoit.net and see why choosing a Certified Speaking Professional to inspire your team makes good business sense. I've set a goal to help address 100 audiences in 2009 and show every person in every audience I speak to how they can reach their goals in the forthcoming year. We've got lots to look forward to - I look forward to being a part of your future! Paul du Toit is Africa's first new Certified Speaking Professional in 24 years. He specialises in service, sales, shift and in-Spiration. 4. Congruence Public Course Schedule (first quarter 2009) For the full current public schedule including Gauteng, East London and Polokwane, please go here
To enquire or book please visit www.congruence.co.za or phone us share call on 0860 503191 (RSA). These programmes can also be delivered in-house anywhere in the world. 5. BSc Environmental Sciences We have had the pleasure on two separate occasions this year of having a student, Simphiwe Myeza working with us. She has just completed her BSc in Environmental Science - and just heard she's obtained distinctions in both the exams she wrote this year. Congratulations Simphiwe, we are very proud of you! We have found Simphiwe a pleasure to work with - efficient, professional and with a great attitude, and feel that anyone lucky enough to get her on a full time basis will be employing a true gem with a great work ethic.
By the way, thought I'd just mention quietly that she is looking for a position where she can use her skills and qualifications....pop me a note if you'd like to speak to her! The Congruence team wishes all our readers and clients and Merry Christmas, peace and rest over the traditional festive season.www.pauldutoit.net |