Author Archive

“Elaine, my issue is a lack of patience.” “Tell me more, Jeff. Patience is what context?” “It is a lack of patience in everything.” Have you ever been impatient with co-workers, family, friends or other drivers on the interstate?

Imagine you are rushing out the door from work and suddenly your boss adds one more assignment to your already bulging briefcase. Perhaps you are exhausted at the end of a long day and come out to find a flat tire. How many other scenarios come to your mind of times when your energy was already low and one more incident added to the precarious pyramid of eggs which represents your tolerance level? After all, we are human. We do have a limit.

Incidents accumulate until your tolerance reaches that magic point that says “enough, I’ve had it.” Have you ever regretted words said in haste or words said in frustration?

Would you like the 3 keys to peace of mind which will reduce or perhaps even eliminate that lack of patience?

Would it surprise you to know that the answer lies in the IRS? Yes, the answer really is in the IRS.

Identify your feelings and why you feel as you do

Relieve the tension

Seek a solution

You have just experienced a subtle mind shift. Was your first thought the Internal Revenue Service? What is the lesson? There may be more than one way of viewing an acronym or a situation. A slight change in your workplace attitude or personal attitude could make a monumental improvement in your results.

What would it be worth to you to learn the details of those three keys – the IRS?

Imagine you life with increasing stress and lack of patience until your world comes apart at the seams? Loss of family, loss of your job, or even severe health problems result from too much stress and pent up tension.

By learning and following this formula you can have more patience, peace of mind, happier family, more productive work and peace of mind.

Choose the pain or the gain, the choice is yours.

Contact me and let me help your. Go to www.Elaine4Success.com or www.ElaineSpeaks.net and send me a note. When you reach the point you are ready to change your workplace attitude, personal attitude or patience level, contact me – preferably before you are at the breaking point. Hire Elaine Love as the keynote speaker or workshop trainer for your next event. Hire Elaine Love as your personal coach and mentor.

Share/Bookmark

Take Your Life from Now to WOW

“If I would just get out of my own way, there is something so much greater out there for me.” Peter J. Gomes, renowned theologian, paused in mid sermon with his deep baritone voice trembling to confess that “I am tired of my own excuses and of my own small mindedness. I know there is something so much greater for me if I would just get out of my own way.”

Where are you in your life right now? Are you living up to your potential or settling for what is currently at hand? Why settle?

Individuals come to my workshops or speeches every week lamenting the woeful state of their life. When asked “What are you passionate about doing? What is really important to you?” All too frequently, the answer is either “I don’t know” or on the rare occasion that they do know, they are not doing anything even close to their passion. A litany of excuses pours forth about why they can not or are not even toe testing their passion. (Toe testing is when you go to the beach or swimming pool and gently touch your toe to the water to test the temperature.) They do not have a success plan or even know how to create one. Let’s face it; there is virtually zero risk in toe testing. Find your passion, form a success plan and at least start toe testing it.

Have you heard the expression that time is money? Well it isn’t. Time is time and money is money. Have you ever made a mistake and lost some money? Certainly, everyone has lost money on a purchase at one time in life. Was it fatal? No, probably not. If it was a small amount, you worked a few extra hours and made the money back. When money is lost, it can be regained. Yes, even in this economy. You will always be your most productive, most profitable and most emotionally peaceful when you are doing something you love.

Time is another issue. When time is gone, it is gone. Time can not be recovered. How many people do you think have reached the end of their life and said “I wish I had spent more time at the office and away from my family?” Few if any. How many people look back on their life and regret not spending more time at their kids’ school activities or just spending time with their family? That number is undoubtedly much higher. Time is not equal to money. Time, because it is unrecoverable, becomes far more precious.  

How long do you choose to wait to finally begin at least toe testing your passion? Time is slipping away; in some cases, time is rushing away at the speed of light.

Steve Jobs, noted icon of Apple Computers, said it best. “You will spend a great deal of your life at work. The only way to be totally fulfilled is to do really great work. The only way you will do really great work is to do something you love. If you don’t love it, keep looking. Don’t settle.”

I have had more than one very successful career: teaching, Candy Mountain Culinary Creations, Mountain Castles Property Management and financial education. Even though I enjoyed each one and was very successful, it was not until the world of public speaking and coaching burst into my life that I discovered my true passion and purpose in life. Once the realization enveloped me, I immediately formed a success plan and started implementing the plan.

You will know when you fall in to your stride. Suddenly what you are doing comes easily to you and you know you are doing what you are destined to do.

Last Wednesday evening after speaking to a delightful audience, a wave of satisfaction enveloped me. There was such a beautiful feeling of gratitude and accomplishment because the ladies told me I had inspired and empowered them. When the feeling totally settles into your soul and you know you would do that again even if you were not paid, then you know you are in your element.

Reach for your dream, your passion, and your unique niche in life. Time ticks away every day. At the very least, toe test your dream. Everyone has a special talent or niche in life, find yours. Stuff the excuses in a closet. Dust off your dreams and bring them out of the closet. It is all about what you feel and do. If you don’t love what you are doing now, keep looking. Don’t settle. It is your life. Reach for what totally fulfills your soul.

Having questions finding your true passion and niche in life? Let me help. Join me at www.Elaine4Success.com or www.ElaineSpeaks.net. Hire Elaine Love as your coach and as the keynote speaker or workshop leader for your next event. Whether you are seeking to improve your career situation, gain more expertise as a public speaker or be more effective persuading your kids, hiring a coach will assist you. Time is slipping away, find your niche and life the life you are destined to live.

Share/Bookmark

Are you connecting with your audience or just communicating?

The “Presentation Skills Quiz” helps clarify your individual presentation style. Are you truly connecting with your audience? Do people respond to your opening statement with a question for you or do they start telling you about their business? If they start telling you about their business, chances are you have not created the connection you desired.

How will your business, bank account and successful image change when you increase the connection with your audience? As a business development coach, many personalities and attitudes reveal themselves to me. Today’s interview with a successful businessman revealed interesting data. “Elaine, out of 652 people I presented to last year, only 25 converted.” “Ralph, that is 3.8% conversion. How did it rank with other managers on your comparable level?” “My boss thought 25 conversions was good.” “Ralph, how do you feel about being good?” “Good feels like average to me and I don’t like thinking of myself as average.”

Ralph is not only wise, but honest. In the book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins, he details why some make the leap and others do not. Numerous articles have expounded the attitude that good is simply not good enough. Industry icons have never settled for “just good enough to get by.” This ‘settle for the status quo’ attitude is socially polite terminology for “lazy.” Industry leaders and top producers in every field of endeavor stretch themselves to be the best possible.

Research is even beginning to show that people who remain mentally active and are constant learners have less incidents of Alzheimer’s disease. Why? The brain is one of the few organs which actually becomes stronger with use. The more connections you form by continuing to learn, the more connections which are available. If you lose one or two connections through aging, it is far less significant when you have multiple connections still available. Learning increases your quality of life in the short term and the long term.

Whether you are presenting to your board of directors, your potential clients or your kids, you want to be your most effective. This “Presentation Skills Quiz” was created as a module for use as a business development coach program. The quiz is directed more toward business presentations, but the same principles apply to all presentations. The core premise is connecting rather than just communicating.

For your free copy of the “Presentation Skills Quiz” and other helpful information, go to www.Elaine4Success.com. Anyone who completes the quiz and forwards the completed quiz with their contact information (name, email and telephone) will receive a free 30 minute coaching session. How will your business, bank account and success image improve when you increase your rate of connection rather than just communication?

Join me at www.Elaine4Success.com or www.ElaineSpeaks.net. Hire Elaine Love as your coach and as the keynote or workshop speaker for your next event. Whether you are seeking to grow as a speaker to improve your employment situation, gain more expertise as a public speaker or be more effective persuading your kids, hiring a coach will assist you. Take control of your presentations.

Share/Bookmark

Is it enough? Are you enough? Are you living the life you were destined to live?

Today I am speaking on a topic near and dear to my heart, and I hope to your heart as well. “Possibilities” otherwise known as opportunities exist for all of us. Mel Robbins, author, syndicated radio host, and executive producer reminded us in her Success magazine cd interview for September 2011 that over one third of the people in America are dissatisfied with their lives.

Jim Collins echoed this theme in his book, “Good is the Enemy of Great.” It is easier in the short term to make excuses and settle for “what is” at the present time rather than reach for “what can be” in the future.

What gives me the right to encourage you to reach for your dreams?

I’ve experienced enough Emotional Ice Water to cause the second world-wide flood. At age3, my father told me “Neither your mother or I wanted you. We wanted a boy who would be worth something. You’re nothing but a ____ girl.”

He refused to sign my college scholarship for the same reason; “You’re nothing but a ____ girl. You don’t deserve an education.”

The easy path would have been to say, “That is the end of all opportunity for me. Nothing is possible for me in this situation. I just have to accept it.” On the contrary, those incidents were just the start. Have you heard the old expression, ”If it is to be, it is up to me.”

Create your own success plan and work it. Listen for the opportunities. Expect possibilities and then find a way to create positive results. Possibilities exist for everyone. It is a matter of listening for them, sorting out the best and taking action on those opportunities.

It was decision time. Stay in that toxic atmosphere and give up on life or find a rope to climb out. My coach and mentor told me “Get to climbin’ baby.” The next few decades are history and testimony to climbing up to self respect and achievement.

My success plan included a college degree: mission accomplished at age 21 (It costs the same amount for a dorm room with an enrollment of 10 credit hours as it does with an enrollment of 18 credit hours. Food costs about the same per day regardless of enrollment. Studying for 18 credit hours certainly keeps the mind on books rather than booze; not enough time to waste any of it.)

Part two of the success plan was acquiring an excellent job. Graduating earlier meant earning a full time income sooner.

Possibilities exist for the under achiever and the over achiever. The ambitious person earns more rewards and earns them sooner; ambitious people have a success plan. You do not have to be the smartest, the fastest or even the most attractive person. Unless you inherit money or have it given to you in the lottery (or other such non-earned manner), plan on working for your income. FAME AND FORTUNE DO NOT GO TO THE LAZY.

The under achiever may get and perhaps hold a low paying job and squeak by an existence. Is that what you truly want? I don’t think so or you would not be reading this right now.

Look seriously at your life and determine if you are an under achiever or an average person who is getting by but not doing great. Opportunities exist for all of us The ambitious recognize the opportunity and take action. The average person analyzes and thinks about it and does nothing. The under achiever may not even bother to think about the opportunity.

Leadership speaking opportunities flash through our lives frequently. Are your ears tuned to hear, recognize and take action? Have you turned a deaf ear to the voice of opportunity because it is just too much trouble to take action? Do you have a success plan? Are you on track or is the plan in a closet gathering dust?

Possibilities exist for all of us. The difference between the successful and the “just getting by” individuals is who is listening and taking action. Unless you are on target and moving forward, you may not be living the life you are destined to live.

Join me at www.Elaine4Success.com or www.ElaineSpeaks.net. Hire Elaine Love as your coach and as the keynote or workshop speaker for your next event. Whether you are seeking to grow as a speaker to improve your employment situation, gain more expertise as a public speaker or be more effective persuading your kids, hiring a coach will assist you. Take control of your possibilities.

Share/Bookmark

Would you like to know the secret of successful businesses? It is a commonly accepted fact that it costs more to acquire a new customer than it does to retain an existing customer. The same is true of employees. It costs more to recruit, interview, hire and train a new employee than to develop and retain an existing productive employee. What would it do for your customer retention and employee retention if you knew the secret to business success?

As a business development coach, the symbiotic relationship between employees and customers is a major key to business success. Employees and customers really are not so different; they have a symbiotic relationship. I hear your brain saying, “What? I disagree. They are very different.” Are they? The role of an employee is to support the company and thus the customer; they must be an enthusiastic and productive member of the team. The employee contribution is their time, energy and expertise in exchange for their pay check.

The customer or client contributes the funds necessary to pay the employee in exchange for receiving the goods and service of the company. The customer contributes money, energy and enthusiasm about the high level of value they receive. The productivity and profitability the customer achieves as a result of the product and service they receive from the company is a major factor in whether they continue to buy from the company.

Without the employee or the customer, the company does not survive. Perhaps you are a solopreneur; in that case you are your only employee. The solopreneur must perform all of the functions of the employee or the company folds. The company can not exist without customers purchasing; customers will not purchase or continue to purchase without receiving value commensurate with the money they spend.

If the company is a quarter, the customer represents one side and the employee represents the other side; the coin does not exist without having both sides.

As a business development coach, this relationship between customer and employee retention emerges consistently. The secret to successful business is providing high value to the customers in order to attract more customers and thus more income. At the same time retaining excellent employees provides more consistency for the customers. Employees and customers become acquainted with each other and form a solid business familiarity. If there is a new employee each time a customer calls, what does that say to the customer? It says possibly growth but certainly re-explaining what they need and expect. Busy people like to work with those with whom they are familiar; people resist change. More likely the new voice on the call each time conveys the message of company instability.

Have you heard the expression “rats run from a sinking ship?” (I found the line used numerous times but can not seem to locate the original source of the quotation.) The run on banks and the plummet of the stock market are all examples of the herd mentality of people fleeing from an entity which is unstable and perhaps teetering on the precipice of plunging toward failure. Employee retention and consistency provides a source of confidence and familiarity to customers. By the same token, employees feel more confident when they continue to speak with familiar customers as well as new customers.

At Rotary this morning, the owner of a very successful law firm stated that his legal assistant, receptionist and over 90% of his staff had been with him for at least the last 15 years. It is no surprise that his law firm is a highly successful business. He is retaining high quality employees and high quality customer. His company represents one more success story expounding the value of employee and customer retention.

Join me at www.Elaine4Success.com or www.ElaineSpeaks.net. Hire Elaine Love as your business development coach, presentation coach and as the keynote or workshop speaker for your next event. Whether you are seeking to grow as a speaker to improve your employment situation, improve your business or be more effective persuading your kids, hiring a coach will assist you.

Share/Bookmark

Resonate with the audience. Speak to be remembered and repeated. After all, that is one of the main goals of a speech – to be remembered and repeated by the audience 3 days, 3 weeks and even 3 years later.

Design your message to connect with the audience, not just communicate. Have you ever heard a speaker who appeared to be “winging it” or “mailing it in?” Have you ever given such a speech?

Granted there are master storytellers who can stand up at a moment’s notice and tell a story. There are other individuals who have a charming gift of gab and can speak with seemingly little preparation or forethought about their topic. Unfortunately in some of these cases, the speaker has a tendency to ramble. Rambling keynote speeches can frequently be all over the subject map with very little organization. Certainly, finding the point or a core message can be over the top of the challenging scale.

How do you avoid the appearance of lack of preparation? How do you avoid the “rambling racket,” more noise than cohesive message?

Decide on the core message to be delivered to the audience. At the conclusion of the speech, what do you want the audience to think, feel or do? Once you have determined the core message and core action desired from the audience, you are ready to begin crafting your message.

There are numerous structure styles for your speech. The simplest form for keynote presentations is:
Opening
First point
Second point
Third point
Conclusion

This can become slightly more advanced by adding the element of story to the points. This structure is credited to Patricia Fripp; her credentials and accolades would require an entire page. Two of which are “first female president of National Speakers Association” and “certified professional speaker.”

Attention attracting opening
Make a point – tell a story to emphasize the point
Repeat the process with the second point backed by the second story
Repeat the process with the third point backed by the third story
The conclusion story ties all 3 points together and leaves a strong “walk away” message.

Another advanced structure is credited to Judy Carter, humorist and author of “The Comedy Bible.”

Opening
State the problem to be addressed
State what the audience will learn
Present your credentials
Give 3 – 5 action steps
Summary story

The cohesive thread in all of these formats is that they all have a specific structure. No rambling prescribed. Know the main point you desire to convey to the audience and systematically substantiate your case. When you know in advance the point you desire to make and the resulting action you desire from the audience at the conclusion of the speech, you can organize your thoughts and delivery of the message.

The second common element of all speech structures is that if you desire to include questions and answers, do so after your main point and before the conclusion. Audiences tend to remember the first words and the last words. Every successful speaker prefers to have their core point and “walk away” message be the thought lingering in the audience’s mind after the speech. How many people do you know who want “the last word” in a discussion? This same principle applies to keynote speeches. Having a rouge, off the wall, question or comment be the last words an audience hears can destroy the impact of a perfectly crafted speech. Last words do linger; be certain the words which are remaining in the mind of the audience are the words you choose.

Decide on your main message, structure your speech to logically flow from point to point toward your desired conclusion. Craft an attention getting opening and a comprehensive conclusion to tie all of the points together. Using an organized structure helps assure that the audience walks away with your core message. Always speak to be remembered and repeated in a positive way.

Join me at www.Elaine4Success.com or www.ElaineSpeaks.net. Hire Elaine Love as your coach and as the keynote or workshop leader for your next event. Whether you are seeking to improve your employment situation, gain more expertise as a public speaker or be more effective persuading your kids, hiring a coach will assist you. Speak to be remembered and repeated.

Share/Bookmark

Keynote speaking is an honor. Someone believed in you enough to offer you the privilege of the platform. While your message and knowledge entitled you to step up to the microphone, your first impression is conveyed when you enter the room. Your attire, attitude and personal poise establish the first impression.

Toastmasters, National Speakers Association and every speech coach I have ever encountered emphasize customizing the message to the audience. This theme resounds and repeats throughout every speech training. Learn about your audience, interview potential audience members and event organizers to be certain the message dovetails to the audience interests and high expectations. Changing only the title on a canned speech does not constitute customizing. More on this subject later.

Information about customizing the message to the audience is a familiar theme in training for keynote speaking. The subject of energy, attire, and attitude are infrequently addressed. Your energy, message and attire should be crafted to match the audience. Attitude and attire are obvious before the first words of the message are ever uttered.

Since your attire and personal poise first attract the eye of the audience, those are the first issues to address. If you are speaking to a beach party on a tropical island, high heels and an evening gown would look a bit out of place. As the speaker, you are in a position of prominence; reflect that image. Dress appropriate for the gathering and just a small step more toward the well dressed.

Patricia Fripp, first female president of National Speakers Association, recommends that women not wear white slacks as it draws the eye down and away from the face and the message. Patricia also cautions, “Avoid wearing sleeveless tops on stage;” there are very attractive sheer sleeve tops which are appropriate even for a beach speaking engagement. Another tip of Patricia’s is, “avoid any attire which will be distracting” such as dangly, bangly, dangly earrings. Classic “understated elegance” has always been my preference. Men you might select a nice sports shirt with an open collar instead of a tee shirt. Women, select an attractive pair of sandals with a nice sundress rather than a tank top and shorts. These may appear obvious or exaggerations; however, caution and consideration are preferable to appearing overly casual. The platform is a privilege. Dress to demonstrate respect for the honor of speaking and the occasion. Continue that respect by matching the energy, attitude, of the gathering.

Craig Valentine, the 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking, encourages speakers to match the energy of the audience. When speaking to a more subdued audience do not come out bouncing off the walls with pogo stick enthusiasm, “the audience will feel like jumping out of the window” even from a high floor. Match the energy of the audience and then you can take them with you as you gradually increase the energy in the room. At a recent sales conference, the previous speaker had the audience pumped up and ready to do the Scott Alexander “rhino charge.” In that instance maintaining high energy in the opening would be absolutely appropriate.

If your energy and attire are appropriate for the occasion, the audience will be more receptive to listening to your message. Being cognizant of energy, attire and message will enhance your inclusion into the event and the attention of the audience.

Join me at www.Elaine4Success.com or www.ElaineSpeaks.net. Hire Elaine Love as your coach and as the workshop or keynote speaker for your next event. Whether you are seeking to grow as a speaker to improve your employment situation, gain more expertise as a public speaker or be more effective persuading your kids, hiring a coach will assist you. Take control of your image as a keynote speaker, leader and business professional.

Share/Bookmark

Our Toastmasters theme today was “aspiration.” To what do you aspire?

Yes, I am aware that it is also a medical term; however, my focus relates to dreams, goals and action. Dreaming is a pleasant diversion but accomplishes very little positive results all by itself. The dream starts the process. The follow through of action, any positive action, begins the actual change.

As a Kansas farm girl in a very poor community, I could have chosen to live in a dream world in my head without moving my physical circumstances. Even though it may not be recommended to take the radical action which I chose, it did prove beneficial. Every individual must search their soul and make the decision they feel is best for them.

Come with me to Linn county Kansas in 1962. With a high school class of 40, only 3 were planning to attend college. Most of my classmates were perfectly content to stay on the farm and in the small, and supposedly safe, community where everything and everyone was familiar. One boy, Larry Morgan, decided to pursue his dreams of college. Larry incidentally had exactly the same birthday as mine. He later graduated and became a college professor.

One other girl decided to attend but she was more interested in the social aspects than the academic. She lasted one year.

Have you ever felt that there must be something better out there for you even though you did not possess any proof yet? Does a dream of a better life lure you to test the possibilities? Somehow that dream nudged the edges of my consciousness and begged to be explored. It felt like Alice in Wonderland testing unknown paths, hiking an unfamiliar trail or driving down an unexplored country road. Even though there is uncertainty, there is also excitement.

Despite the contrary wishes of my parents, my classmates and my neighbors, there was one who encouraged me. Earl McCray, high school music teacher said “Go test your wings, Elaine. You can have a future if you reach for it.” Reach I did. Dr. Earl McCray’s leadership speaking inspired me to dare the unknown. A ride was located to college. No money, no job, no place to live and no guarantee of anything, I left.

Easy, no, but oh so worth it. Long story short, a college professor, Dr. Charles Reilly, gave me a job as his student secretary and convinced the college to allow me to live in old Willard Hall dormitory in exchange for a major portion of my student wages. The remainder of the student wages would go to pay tuition and books. Once again leadership speaking and action paved the path. Yipee! Progress!

Three years later at my graduation as outstanding student of my college class, Dr. Reilly stood there proudly congratulating me. Never underestimate the power of encouragement and determination. The leadership speaking of Dr. Earl McCray and Dr. Charles Reilly were the sparks of encouragement which changed the course of my life forever. I am eternally grateful to both men. Whose life can you change with your own leadership words? Perhaps, even your own life.

You can achieve your dreams. To what do you aspire? What is stopping you from stepping out of your comfort zone and reaching for that elusive dream?

Join me at www.Elaine4Success.com or www.ElaineSpeaks.net. Hire Elaine Love as your coach and as the keynote or workshop speaker for your next event. Whether you are seeking to grow as a speaker to improve your employment situation, gain more expertise as a public speaker or be more effective persuading your kids, hiring a coach will assist you. Take control of your leadership; become a more effective leader for yourself and others.

Share/Bookmark

Last words linger. Have you ever judged the health or a relationship by the words or actions of the last encounter? At various points in my life, I have. Sometimes that was with a warm glow of pleasure and other times with a deep sadness or hurt. Breaking out of that mindset is critical for the health of the relationship and individual health. Yes, it is human nature; however it can also be destructive in the greater span of emotional health.

Just as those last words, actions or thoughts linger in a relationship, they also linger in presentations. Being a leader requires leadership speaking skills. Over and over in feedback surveys it has been repeated that people remember the first words and the last words they hear in a presentation. How can you use that response to your advantage?

Patricia Fripp, first female president of the National Speakers Association and recipient of the coveted Certified Professional Speaker designation, designed an effective speech structure. Her speech structure opens with a powerful, attention getting, opening and closes with an impactful story which encompasses all of the main points of the speech.

Note! Patricia does NOT end with questions and answers. Far too frequently inexperienced speakers conclude with Q & A. All it takes is a rouge, off the wall question at the end of the question time period and the audience walks away with the wrong final words in their head. If you choose to have a question time frame, Patricia suggests that you slot that segment after your final point and before your powerful story conclusion.

At the beginning of my public speaking, I learned this lesson through making the mistake. One member of the audience chose to make a humorous comment which was totally off topic and left me standing there wondering how to respond. After a few uncomfortable moments for myself and the audience, the organization President thanked me and resumed control of the meeting. The last words which lingered were certainly not the “walk away” message originally intended.

With determination to discover leadership speaking skills, it was time to seek help. At that point the research began about how to handle that awkward situation. Research revealed Patricia Fripp at Fripp.com and worldchampionsedge.com. Both of these are excellent resources. From that point forward, Patricia Fripp and World Champions Edge have been frequent resources for me.

One of the marks of wisdom is locating resources for expanding knowledge and thus a coach. None of us started out knowing all of the answers nor do we have time to discover all of them on our own. Resources led me to hiring a coach and thus expanding my knowledge and experience through not only my own personal efforts but also all of the experience, knowledge and resources of the coach.

The last words to linger from this article are:
1. Make the last words your audience hears be your powerful message.
2. Never end with questions and answers.
3. Research and find answers.
4. Research will lead you to the ideal coach for you. Hire a coach.
5. Enjoy the rewards of powerful presentations and the ideal last words to linger with your audience.

Being the most effective leader and speaker requires leadership speaking skills. Coaching has become such an integral part of my growth as a public speaker that my own requests to coach others have expanded on a weekly basis. What a positive situation. My coaches learn and pass information on to me and I learn and pass information on to my students. After all, that has been the foundation of all education throughout history. Find and hire a coach. Let me help you grow as a speaker.

Join me at www.Elaine4Success.com or www.ElaineSpeaks.net. Hire Elaine Love as your coach and as the keynote or workshop speaker for your next event. Whether you are seeking to grow as a speaker to improve your employment situation, gain more expertise as a public speaker or be more effective persuading your kids, hiring a coach will assist you. Take control of the last words which linger.

Share/Bookmark

Energy Checklist for Success Plan

Success requires energy. What is your energy plan? What is your success plan? Is time dragging? Are you watching the hands on the clock moving in s-l-o-w m-o-t-i-o-n? Chances are you are probably not working an effective success plan. Do you have the energy to succeed?

When was the last time you completely lost track of time? What words come to mind to describe the emotion you experience when your energy is high and you forget all about time? Focused, enthused, driven, excited, empowered, engrossed and “in the zone” are the descriptive words commonly stated. Athletes such as alpine ski racers frequently envision every bump, twist and turn of the course before the gun ever sounds to commence the run. Writers and painters have also been known to work “in flow.” When you are “in flow” your concentration and energy are high.

When you are not flowing, there are various potential causes. The four major areas affecting our energy are physical activity, nutrition, sleep and mindset.

A very successful network marketer once told me, “Elaine, network marketing can make you fat.” With a petite five foot one inch frame, every pound shows. Daily exercise constitutes mental and physical stress reduction for me, not to mention dress size maintenance. In the June 2011 edition of Success magazine, fitness experts Tony Schwartz and Joel Harper detailed how sitting for 3 or more hours per day slows the metabolism. The metabolic rate slows so much that even an hour of exercise per day will not offset the sedentary hours. That lack of activity can be expansive. Back in the 50s and 60s, before many of you were born, we called it “typewriter spread.” Today it is television, computers and video games; however the net result remains the same. Sit for long periods of time without counterbalancing with exercise and your frame will spread.

Walk, jog, stretch, lift weights or even go to the gym. Walk, does not mean a trip to the cookie jar or a stroll to the refrigerator for a sugary soda. Work at the telephone or computer for 90 minutes and then do something active for at least 15 minutes.

Nutrition is critical. Raw carrots, salads, fresh fruit and raw almonds are all preferable to brownies, cheesecake and potato chips. No, you do not have to give up all of your favorite foods. You are either conscious of what goes into your face or you will be conscious of an expanding pant size. What goes into your mouth will have an effect on your waistline and your energy. Imagine filling your automobile with soda pop instead of gasoline and see how long the engine will run. Poor nutrition into your body will diminish your energy.

“Sleep is highly over rated.” This quote was told to me by an extremely successful young man who bragged that he slept less than 3 hours per night. It actually worked for him for a few years until his body collapsed. Brain Rules by Dr. John Medinal declares that your body will be 30% less efficient at burning calories when it is sleep deprived. During my days owning and operating Candy Mountain Bakery, I attempted to work from 11 pm to 5, 6 or 7 pm 7 days a week. That came to a screeching halt when I could no longer keep my eyes open to drive home. It has been stated that less than 3 percent of the population truly functions very long or very well on 6 hours of sleep per night. Some authorities even recommend a 20 minute power nap in the afternoon.

The fourth factor which is frequently overlooked is your mindset, your attitude. An interest deficit can drag your energy down as fast as lack of sleep, poor nutrition or lack of exercise. When the project does not match your talents, expertise or interest, motivation will probably be missing. Placing a social butterfly in a cubicle and telling them to work with detailed accounting projects would be a disaster. When the degree of enthusiasm or mindset toward a project is lacking, the interest deficit can be a total drag. Your attitude influences your energy and your productivity. When your attitude is not in sync with your project, your performance will not be optimal.

The next time you have the yawns, the desire to check your email or do anything other than concentrate on the task at hand, do an energy check. A quick mental check of your recent physical activity, nutrition, sleep and mindset will reveal the issue to be solved.

To achieve your maximum success, energy is essential. Include all four energy areas in your success plan. Some tasks can be delegated to free you for your most productive activities; physical exercise, nutrition and sleep are strictly your responsibility. Your mindset is paramount to achieving your goals. How are you doing on your energy check?

Hire Elaine Love as your next keynote speaker, workshop leader or personal coach and mentor. Go to www.ElaineSpeaks.net or email Elaine@ElaineSpeaks.com.

Share/Bookmark