Posts Tagged ‘Learning new skills’

The Right Stuff Award: Maury Marler

Friday, September 25th, 2009

JBCAWKLTJICA8ZEF9PCAA0AZZCCAR585JYCAT6XK06CA0C3649CAD9V2NLCAYA15QDCALVLDCGCARRHJYQCAGU1Z0VCARDMPP4CAWBKW7ECAJJ7SKFCAQ3PL43CADQ05IYCATMFN4UCAVWD7OCCA3YU365By Madeleine Kolb

The Right Stuff is a term popularized by author Tom Wolf in his rollicking, uproarious, roller-coaster-ride of a book by the same name:  a book about America’s seven original astronauts.  They were men who had what it took to climb into a massive rocket loaded with explosive fuel and blast off into space. They had the Right Stuff. 

In that spirit I will present awards from time to time to people with the Right Stuff. People who take on a challenge and triumph over obstacles. Or who suddenly, unexpectedly find themselves in a challenging situation and rise to the occasion quietly and competently. Those who demonstrate what a single person can accomplish if she or he has the Right Stuff. 

And the first Right Stuff Award goes to (more…)

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Posted in The Right Stuff Awards | 11 Comments »

Seven Invaluable Skills I Learned in Toastmasters

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

By Madeleine Kolb 

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My first real job involved occasional public speaking, and looking back I’d have to assess my performance as “uneven.” Sometimes I was relaxed and confident, other times, quite nervous. Sometimes I connected with the audience, other times, I didn’t even come close.

I was frustrated because I wanted to be a good speaker all the time, not just from time to time. But I’d never had training in public speaking. Until the day–many, many years later– that I got up my nerve and walked into a Toastmasters meeting.

There I was warmly welcomed and sat back to enjoy the proceedings. I went back the next week and the week after and then I joined. That was over 9 years and 70 some speeches ago, and in that time I’ve learned  these invaluable skills. 

1.  How to write for the ear

Writing a speech is different from writing a report or an article. A speech is more informal, more conversational:  You need to write for the ear rather than for the eye. Writing speeches has taught me how to do that. And as an unexpected bonus, it  has improved all my writing.  (more…)

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Posted in Mental Activity | 13 Comments »