by Jim Cathcart

Yesterday I attended a service at Calvary Community Church here in Westlake Village, CA and discovered that Nick Vujicic, the inspiring speaker who was born without arms or legs, lives here too! You may be one of the millions who have seen Nick on YouTube or heard him speak in the US, Africa, China and throughout the world. If you haven’t then watch this YouTube clip now. He will touch your life forever.

Here’s a guy who’s addressed more people at age 26 than I have in my 32 years as a full time professional speaker. Nick inspired about 1,000 of us yesterday and I doubt that anyone will ever forget hearing him speak. He is a regular, likeable, funny, passionate and good looking guy and he has no arms or legs.
Now what was your problem?
Yeah, me too. We get so concerned over things that are small or that seem large. It really helps to remember that we are capable of so much more.

Here is the link to Nick’s ministry website: Lifewithoutlimbs.org.
I hope you get as much inspiration from my new neighbor as I have.

by Jim Cathcart

Clayton Shold called me recently with an invitation to contribute some ideas to his Salesopedia knowledge base. Below is the link to this recording. I think you’ll enjoy it and find it stimulating. Please take some time to listen and feel free to share this with others. And let me know when I can help you achieve more of what you want. 

Salesopedia Podcast on Intelligent Motivation with Jim Cathcart

by Jim Cathcart

Last week I was in Memphis, Tennessee to deliver the inaugural lecture for The Prosperity Series hosted by Don Hutson of US Learning, Inc. The event was held at the Memphis Botanic Gardens and 130+ Memphis business leaders were in attendance. 

Earlier that day I had the joyful experience of being on the CBS Morning Show hosted by Alex & Mary Beth on WREG TV. Some interviewers can be cynical and confrontational but not these two! They were like good friends. The interview was indeed a happy experience. I’ve posted it here so that you can enjoy it as well. 

Whenever you are near Memphis please tune in to this station and their show. And when you are in need of inspiration and training, contact Don Hutson to enroll in The Prosperity Series.

By Jim Cathcart

Times are tough, but not here!

Iran has tough times. Iraq and Afghanistan have had tough times. People who have to walk through land mines to get to their destinations are having tough times. Many parts of Africa have tough times. People who live in fear of murder, rape, oppression, disease, catastrophe all have tough times.

Millions of people even today have never used a telephone, a kitchen appliance, a modern bathroom, or even seen a television. For those people a drought isn’t a reason to limit watering your lawn or washing your car. It is a death threat!  

Access to a doctor is unheard of and most illnesses are fatal. Times are tough for them.  

Times are tough, but not now!

The events of September 11, 2001 were horrific and tragic. At that time, things were tough, really tough.

During the great depression millions of people were forced from their homes, unable to afford to raise their own children, willing to do anything to survive. Times were tough during the depression.

During the Revolutionary War and the Civil War people were forced to fight without proper clothing, adequate arms, sufficient food, decent transportation or lodging, and they had to fight friends and family members on occasion. Times were tough.

In World War II food was rationed, hosiery was recycled, home gardens were the main source of produce; gasoline, cloth, virtually everything was limited so as to support the war efforts. For a few years into the war we didn’t even know if we could win. Everyone was drafted for some form of war support. People were losing sons and daughters in every city in the country and news was slow and unreliable. Times were tough.

In the prison camps of WWII hundreds of thousands of people were imprisoned, starved, forced to do slave labor and killed for amusement. Times were worse than tough.

Times are tough, but not for you and me!

Families are cramming into cargo holds of ships, hiding in the back of trucks, crawling under barbed wire fences, sleeping in ditches and running from killers just to get into the United States in hope of a better life. Times are tough for them, but they are willing to risk it.

In many parts of the world, people are battling AIDS, Cancer, and countless other diseases without the help of medicine or physicians. They often lose limbs and eyesight, yet they somehow go on doing life’s daily chores. Their children die in childbirth and hope is unknown to them, yet somehow they endure. Times are tough, for them.

Drugs are controlling the emotions, thoughts and bodies of many people every day. They started using as an amusement or an escape and ended up enslaved and tormented. Times are tough for them.

Hatred and fear dominate much of the world at any given time. They always have. But there is abundant good taking place as well.

Millions of people are receiving the best healthcare in history and most of them don’t pay for all of it themselves. Insurance companies have made excellent healthcare accessible to the average person, not just the privileged few.

More “miracle” drugs and treatments for life’s medical challenges exist than ever before. They are expensive by some measures but consider the alternative.

We can fly anywhere on earth usually within one day. We fly in comfort with air conditioning, padded seats and even personal meal service. Though hundreds of thousands of planes are airborne at any given time, air travel remains the safest of all forms of mass transportation.

We have automobiles to go where and when we wish. We all agree to the same rules of the road and it is safe to drive almost everywhere in America. 

We live in luxurious homes, take opulent vacations (a vacation or holiday is unheard of in many societies), wear fine clothes, use reliable appliances, and dine out often.

We find time and money to sit in huge theaters and watch amazing movies while eating and drinking what we wish.

Spoiled? Yes, I’d say we are.

What are your big complaints these days?

Slow email? Website was down all morning? Mail was late today?

Business is off? Orders are well below where they were last year?

Had to wait in line at the airport and take off your shoes for security?

Stuck in traffic and missed an appointment?

Economic news (that you learned of from your personal newspaper or TV or cell phone on the same day that it occurred) is not what you had hoped for?

Your investments aren’t appreciating for now? (“Investments!???” What a luxury!).

The housekeeper forgot to vacuum the guest bedroom?

Your new running shoes are wearing a blister on your toe?

You had to wait four hours for the telephone company to install DSL service?

A power outage caused you to lose the computer files you were working on?

Your kids are being picked on at school?

Your neighbor’s dogs just won’t stop barking every time you go outside?

The credit card company made an error on your bill again?

You had to park two blocks away from the store where you get your choice of fresh vegetables?

The clerk gave you a latte instead of a mocha frappucino?

They ran out of bran muffins and you had to eat a blueberry muffin instead?

The restaurant lost your reservation and you had to eat in the bar area?

The contractor hasn’t finished installing your new cabinets yet?

Your mate just won’t stop leaving the house in a mess?

Your friend left you off the invitation list for their party?

You had to get up before sunrise to drive your partner to the airport?

The DVD you rented had a glitch and you missed the last half of the movie?

What are we whining about?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let’s keep things in perspective folks. Times are tough but not for us, not here and not now. Besides when times do get tough we find out that we are tougher. And think of all the energy and strength we have saved while living this life of luxury. We have reserves we have never tapped.

 Thank you God for our abundant blessings. Please keep us grateful. Make us ever mindful of the needs of others and the huge opportunities we have for doing good in the world. Let us not only count our blessings, but also share them often.

Times are good! Thank you, thank you, and thank you. Now you’ll have to excuse me there is much work to be done. 

1074 words

Never deliver a mediocre speech ever again!

“I’m already a good speaker,” he told me, “I’ve done this dozens of times and I am an expert on this topic.”

But when the evaluations were reviewed it seemed that the audience didn’t share his enthusiasm. Scoring 2s & 3s out of 5 do not constitute a successful speech.

The days of thinking that knowing your subject would make you a good speaker are long gone. After years of CNN, MTV, YouTube, High-Definition TV, hilarious Advertisements and Websites that are often better than Movies, our audiences expect a lot more from us than just good information interestingly presented.

Come with me and let’s discover how much better you could be…even without high-tech extras.

Hello, I’m Jim Cathcart, the author of 15 books including Speaking Secrets of the Masters, Relationship Selling and The Acorn Principle and co-founder of The Professional Speaking Institute.

After delivering more than 2,700 professional speeches in all 50 US States, most provinces of Canada and around the world, I can show you how to improve your speaking, no matter how successful you’ve been so far.

Click here to see my brief Video Postcard to you:

http://videopostcard-004.com/X.asp?4598472X1920

I’ve been inducted into the Professional Speaker Hall of Fame, earned the Certified Speaking Professional designation, received The Cavett Award from the National Speakers Association, served as their National President, and received Toastmasters International’s Golden Gavel Award. The San Diego NSA chapter renamed its Member of the Year Award “The Jim Cathcart Service Award” and in 2008 I was inducted as one of the “Legends of the Speaking Profession.” In other words, I really do know what I’m talking about and from experience I can show you ways to “Own the Platform” when you speak, as never before.

<See what others have to say about Jim Cathcart as a Speaker & as a Coach & Advisor.>

So, are you ready to reach for the next level?

What is your current experience level?

Are you a Beginner who is still getting used to being the center of attention, Experienced but still a bit anxious, Confident but not yet a Master Speaker, Subject Expert and veteran presenter, Top Presenter who regularly gets rave reviews and standing ovations, or Full Time Professional Speaker and Best Selling Author?

I’ve worked with (and been) all of the above, and I know that you can be even better. Let’s explore how.

My mentors have been the giants of professional speaking: Earl Nightingale, Zig Ziglar, Og Mandino, W. Clement Stone, Cavett Robert, Bill Gove, Dr. Kenneth McFarland, Ken Blanchard, Tony Alessandra, Patricia Fripp, Art Linkletter, Brian Tracy, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hanson, Bert Decker, Ty Boyd, Jeanne Robertson and many more Hall of Fame speakers. They have been not just my teachers but also my close friends and fellow learners. We’ve sat together in coaching sessions with drama coaches, voice coaches, story consultants, comedy writers, choreographers, literary agents and image consultants. We have hired psychological experts to help us truly reach our listeners and have an impact on them. We coached each other and been each other’s biggest fans.

Now it is your turn to benefit from all of this learning.

To save you the time and travel that it took all of us to learn these insights I’ve created a DVD/CD package with a full course in Public Speaking plus an audio series on Leading Meetings. Order Now! Click here.

When Bill Brooks, Tom Antion and I created The Professional Speaking Institute I went on camera with 53 three-minute briefings on every imaginable element of speaking. From “how to change the audience’s mindset” to “how to structure a story” to “what to do when the speaker before you goes 30 minutes over time”, I’ve experienced it all and I share it with you in this system.

Confident Communication, The Cathcart Method for Public Speaking & Leading Meetings

This series of short video coaching sessions, full-length speeches and audio lessons is packaged so that you can learn these insights from the comfort of your desk, home or conference room. You may use the programs in a training session with others or simply study it on your own. If you wish to you can also download the lessons to stream through your iPod®, iPhone® or laptop device. NOTE: This entire system is also accessible via DailySuccessStream.com. Be sure to use the promo code: Cathcart for a 20% savings.

Order Now! Click here.

Here are the contents of the system:

Part One: PUBLIC SPEAKING

53 short lessons on how to speak like a Pro and own the platform!

Over three hours of Jim Cathcart’s best advice on how to speak in public. Here are 53 personal briefings on every facet of how to be successful when speaking to groups.

Learn what the professional speakers do to grab and hold an audience.

Public Speaking Videos

Overall Program Contains 4 video DVDs and 4 audio CDs.

DVD disk one – Lessons 1 through 19

Overall length: 59:24 minutes

DVD disk two – Lessons 20 through 39

Overall length: 62:43 minutes

DVD disk three – Lessons 40 through 53

Overall length: 52:03 minutes

DVD disk four – Jim Cathcart’s Golden Gavel Keynote

Overall length: 39 minutes

Leading Meetings Audios

(8 thirty-minute lessons)

CD 1. & 2. Mastering the Six Vital Elements of Meetings

CD 3. Managing Group Dynamics

Conducting “Planning” Meetings & Keeping Them Under Control

CD 3. Maximize Your Presentation’s Impact

Meetings Set-Up & Dealing With The Unexpected

CD 4. Listening Strategically & Mastering One-on-One meetings

HOW TO USE THIS SYSTEM

STEP ONE:

Play the Golden Gavel DVD (39 minute keynote)

See Jim in action, examine his masterful use of humor, watch him weave stories to drive home his points, learn how he connects with the audience, see how natural and relaxed he appears to be onstage. Notice how he makes eye contact with every person in the audience, look at how he compensates for the huge head table behind him, see how he responds to the introducer and how he shows the importance of embracing his message. This powerful speech combines all of the elements covered in the Master Speaker course detailed above.

STEP TWO:

View the 53 lessons at your own pace

You may schedule these for one lesson a day or one a week or create training sessions around half a dozen lessons each time. The key is to space the learning over time and to discuss and then apply each of the lessons. These can be done as exercises in class or in actual speaking engagements. Take the time to review and apply each lesson.

Public Speaking

DVD Golden Gavel video:

“All Leadership Begins With Self-Leadership.” Jim Cathcart’s Golden Gavel Award keynote presentation, delivered before 1,500 Toastmasters leaders at their International Convention. 39 minutes of humor, inspiration, motivation and ideas to be a better leader of yourself and others.

Contents of DVD video coaching disk One

1. How to be natural on stage

2. Know your opening and closing verbatim

3. What to do during your introduction

4. The first thing to do in a speech

5. How to structure a speech

6. Onsite preparation tips

7. When does a speech really begin?

8. How to connect with your audience

9. How to end your speech

10. When to end your speech

11. How to dress for each speech

12. How to recover from a bad introduction

13. How to manage your own first impression

14. How to change their mindset from earlier events or speakers

15. How to sell the audience on the value of this meeting

16. Podium or none?

17. Head tables are dead!

18. Speaking in the round

19. Cards, notes, handouts or none?

Contents of DVD video coaching disk Two

20. How long should a story be?

21. Using Props effectively

22. Write your own introduction

23. How to speak “among” the audience

24. When others run overtime before you

25. Remember when to smile

26. Where to look during your speech

27. Hit your marks

28. Greeting different audiences

29. Keeping your voice

30. What to do within 10 minutes before you speak

31. Articulation matters

32. See the meeting room early

33. Coach your introducer

34. Coach your cameramen

35. Be aware of your energy and pace

36. Know your patterns; Problems that repeat

37. What to do when laryngitis attacks

38. When A/V stops working

39. Always get a copy of their program

Contents of DVD video coaching disk Three

40. Keynote vs. Seminar

41. Get to know your set-up crew

42. What to do when the front rows are empty

43. Use technology for you & not against you

44. How to become the characters in your story

45. How do you get people back to their seats after a break?

46. Befriending your translators

47. What is scheduled for after your speech?

48. Who should you take time to thank?

49. Be a low maintenance speaker, know your place within the overall meeting

50. Offer them value on your website

51. Meeting room disasters and recovery strategies, (10:46)

52. Getting started as a speaker

53. How to get known in the speaking industry

STEP THREE:

Then watch Jim’s Golden Gavel Keynote once again.

You will pick up nuances and techniques that completely escaped your attention during the first viewing. Discuss these with others and see what they noticed that you did not.

So here’s the training process: See it done, learn how and why it works, then see it done again. And always, apply this learning to your next speech.

Perfect for use with groups.

Each lesson is between 2 and 10 minutes long. Most are around 3 minutes. Show one short lesson, discuss the ideas and then apply them on your own.

Combine several lessons into a full classroom session. There is no fixed order for you to review these lessons.

Skip around as needed.

You can navigate these lessons as you see fit. Learn at your pace and on the topics you need next. Get the advice of one of the world’s top professional speakers and business advisors; Jim Cathcart.

STEP FOUR: Listen to the 8 audio lessons on CD

Part Two: LEADING MEETINGS

These half hour audio lessons are completely separate from the videos in the Public Speaking portion of this program. The audio lessons are high production narratives designed for repeated listening to assure that you become a Meetings Master.

1. Mastering the Meeting (Part One)

Meetings are a primary source of information exchange for most of us. By mastering the skill of meeting with people, you can get what you want in your career and your life. Contents include: Four basic assumptions in mastering meetings. Six vital elements of every meeting. Defining the Purpose. Who will attend and why? What will they do? The three categories of meetings complexity. How to determine the best location to meet. Setting up time and format.

2. Mastering the Meeting (Part Two)

Timing, time frames, and time constraints in planning your meeting. Preparing the format and distributing the agenda. Conducting the meeting: orientation, overview, participation, maintaining the flow of topics, assigning responsibilities to implement decisions, reviewing what was accomplished, and follow-up. Selling the meeting to participants in advance, as well as the time it’s scheduled, and making sure that everyone is prepared. Creative meeting ideas.

3. Managing Group Dynamics

Three keys to understanding how people act & interact when they are in a group. The roles of personal power and position power. Rules for controlling a group. Working with: Changemasters, Agreeables, Drifters and Anchors. Avoiding mob mentality. Visual cues and predictable behavior. Techniques for controlling a meeting, keeping it on track, and keeping it on schedule.

4. Conducting “Planning” Meetings & Keeping Them Under Control

The purpose of your “Planning” meeting dictates the format. Strategies for: the committee, standing committee, and task force. Regular meeting dates and one-time meetings. Staff meetings to discuss operations and organizational directions. The brainstorming session as a forum for new ideas. The Annual Planning Meeting or Retreat. The Project Planning meeting. How to structure each format and achieve the desired results.

5. Maximizing the Impact of your Presentations

How to structure your presentations whether you have a week, a month or an hour to prepare. Jim Cathcart’s five-step structure and other commonly used structures. How to build information files on commonly addressed topics. How to handle questions during your presentation. How to research and customize your presentation. How to participate when there are other presentations so that you achieve the overall goals. Taking notes, offering comments and implementation steps.

6. Meetings Set-Up & Dealing With The Unexpected

Platform mechanics, physical set-up and layout or staging strategies. How to use direct and projected visual aids. Overcoming tension. Using eye contact and gestures. Handling questions and challenges effectively. Purpose, format, complexity, timing, audience needs, anticipating questions & challenges. Visualizing the meeting beforehand. Last minute checklists and problem avoidance.

7. Listening Strategically

Establishing your purpose and framework for participating/leading the meeting. Managing internal and external distractions. Guidelines for more effective listening. Dealing with negative feedback. Asking questions effectively. Using the CARE system. Avoiding irritating listening habits. Techniques for passive participation. Using listening strategies to master positive interaction.

8. One-on-One Meetings

The most common meeting you experience is one to one. How to apply: Purpose, People, Complexity, Time, Place & Format to these meetings. Selecting the right place even for brief encounters. Making sure that format and environment advance your purpose and achieve the desired outcome. Types of meetings: interviewing job applicants, orientation of a new worker, motivating a coworker, performance reviews, disciplinary discussions, reprimands, and settling grievances.

You can develop the same poise and confidence that you see in professional speakers and media personalities. It is a learnable craft and this program is your key to the behind-the-scenes thinking, strategies and skills it take to master it. Let Jim Cathcart be your speaking and communication coach. For in-person training programs, keynote speeches, or individual coaching give us a call. Our goal is to help you develop the confidence and skill to become a Master Communicator.

ORDER YOUR CONFIDENT COMMUNICATION NOW!

The price for the full training system with Four Video DVDs and Four Audio CDs is just $457.00 US. That is a full year of training sessions that you can use with individuals or groups indefinitely, for less than you’d spend to serve one of them coffee each day. What is it worth to you to have better meetings and more influential presentations? Order Now! Click here.

Sign up for the Daily Success Stream and get this program and MANY more online 24/7 in Hi-Definition! Just $49.95 a month if you use the code word: Cathcart when you enroll. Cancellable anytime. Join today!

Special Bonus Offer: For every program that you purchase at the regular $457 price Jim Cathcart will personally provide a half-hour telephone coaching session at no additional charge! This is Jim himself actually coaching you on the topic of your choice. These telephone-coaching sessions alone are often $600 or more. Now you get personal telephone coaching for free with each program you buy. Buy multiple programs for your company and combine the coaching sessions for in-depth consulting advice.

Get the advice of one of the world’s top professional speakers and business advisors; Jim Cathcart, CSP, CPAE. Become the best speaker and meeting leader in your organization. Become a Speaking Pro!

PERSONAL COACHING: To have Jim become Your Personal Speech Coach, click here for details of his one-to-one coaching.

“GOING PRO”: For those who choose to pursue professional speaking and begin to speak for a fee, go to www.professionalspeaker.com and review the entire knowledge base on video, audio and in print.

<See what others have to say about Jim Cathcart as a Speaker & as a Coach & Advisor.>

For more information on our prices, our systems or to book Jim Cathcart for your meeting please contact us.

Cathcart.com, Executive Office,

Phone: 805-777-3477

Fax: 805 499-7670

Email: jim@cathcart.com

Website http://cathcart.com

Copyright © Jim Cathcart 2009

Order Now! Click here.