Easier Said Than Done!

The Single Most Important Piece of Advice

...regarding public speaking?

Your audience wants you to succeed.

While most professional meetings do not require a 2 drink minimum (although sometimes we wish they would), remember, it's equally as painful to watch someone tank as it is to tank (well, in most cases anyway). Great information delivered with a shaky voice loses its greatness--we are focused on the delivery and not the information.

Pull your audience in! Engage them! Don't just read to them directly from your Powerpoint. Not only is it boring (and frankly, insulting), but it's a waste of time as the handouts could have easily been printed and mailed.

From a young age, we learn that when it was time to be read to, it was time to grab a blankie and lights out! Not exactly the climate you want to create for your fabulous speech!

To do a "dry run" for your next speech, contact me for an unbiased, professional critique.

http://www.donnmariawalker.com/

Lots of Grads, Few Jobs

The National Association of Colleges and Employers has reported that employers nationwide are planning to hire only 1.3% more college grads in '09 than they did in '08. When surveyed in August 2008, the same association had predicted a 6.1% increase in new hires. Yow-za!
This year, colleges and universities are projected to graduate 1,585,000 students with bachelor's degrees (up from 1,506,000 in 2005-06).

If you are a soon-to-be college grad, here are some ideas to help you get a job in tough economic times:

• Secure an internship now, if possible.


• Volunteer for an organization while you are still in college...this may lead to a job opportunity when you graduate in May. At the very least, you will have the opportunity to network with professionals you may not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet.


• Join a professional club or other networking organization.


• Get your resume together (make sure you're documenting all of those awards & accomplishments)!


• Graduate school (many schools offer online and evening classes should you be one of the many who must work AND attend college).

If you are a soon-to-be high school grad, here are some ideas to help you get into college in tough economic times:

• Attend your local community college. Stay close to home and save money!


• Apply to public colleges/universities. The sticker price of your education will be substantially less.


• Research private schools with mega-super-sized endowments (as many private schools are eliminating all need based loans).


• Save as much money as possible. If you can't seem to land a job, mow lawns, clean houses, rake leaves, shovel snow, and/or babysit to get some extra dough. This will not only add some sound experience to your admission application, but will help pad your wallet a little for those inevitable expenses.

http://www.donnamariawalker.com/

Chao's Dirty Secret

Read the article on the wkyx website to find out what Chao's dirty secret might be...

www.donnamariawalker.com

What is Your Leadership Style?

A client recently asked me to help her with a pre-employment screening tool which required candidates to complete a series of essay questions. One question asked her to define her "leadership style." Unable to lead herself to a place from which to start, here are the tips I provided to her which I hope you will find helpful as well:

1. Write the names of leaders you admire (former co-workers, bosses, family members, friends, etc.).
2. List the leadership qualities about those individuals which you find most impressive.
3. Look through the list and circle those qualities you feel you also possess.

This simple exercise provided a nice place to start.

We are naturally drawn to those whom possess qualities we admire and respect, and consciously or not, we begin to emulate those qualities and practice trying them on for size. Some fit, some don't, but ultimately, we make some form of them our own and find our unique style.

Conversely, you could make a list of those whom you least admire and the qualities about them that you least respect, and use this as a starting point. Sometimes the best way to know what we like is to know what we don't!

Selling ourselves isn't always the easiest thing in the world to do, but a must if you want that job or appointment!
Give it a try and let me know how it goes!
http://www.donnamariawalker.com/

Quote for Your Day

"When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other." --Chinese Proverb

http://www.donnamariawalker.com/

Mark Your Calendars!

According to the office of the Kentucky Secretary of State, October 24 (at 4 p.m.) is the last day to file a declaration of intent as a write-in candidate (not less than 10 days before election) as well as the last day to apply for mail-in absentee ballot (not later than close of business 7 days before election).

www.donnamariawalker.com