Published by Robert A. & Vicki L. Prentice of Professional Development Systems
March 6, 2006 Issue 188
From the Desk of Bob
I really believe that a little variety is the spice of life. To spice things up I have invited my incredibly beautiful wife to present her thoughts on communications today for Monday Morning Motivations.
I have lived with this woman for 27 years. She works harder on her communications than anybody I know. Vicki realizes the awesome power of this skill. Take to heart her encouragement for us today. Let it touch you and challenge you to be the best that you can be. Let me just say that when I really tune in and hear what she has to say it is downright powerful and life enhancing.
Maybe you have heard the statement “behind every great man is an even more incredible woman.” This is exactly the case here.
To your success! Bob
In this week's issue
Life Attitudes
Seeds of Success: The ART Of Conversation
The Prairie Beacon
Mr. Attitude's Life Tested Tools
Life Attitudes
"There is no such thing as a worthless conversation, provided you know what to listen for. And questions are a breath of fresh air.”
~Jan Nathan Miller~
"Great people talk about ideas. Average people talk about things. Small people talk about other people.”
~Anonymous~
"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.”
~Dorothy Nevill~
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Seeds of Success: The ART Of Conversation
By Vicki L. Prentice
Some people seem to be naturals when it comes to making conversation, but for many, it is difficult to talk to someone they have just met or don’t know very well. If you’re like me, you’ve sometimes wished you had the confidence to be better at conversing with others; and you are quite sure that if you were a better conversationalist, you would have more confidence.
It can be downright frustrating at times, because you know that people are judging you by your ability (or lack of it) to carry on a conversation. But there is good news! Anyone who has the right attitude can learn the “art” of good conversation. After all, learning how to carry on an interesting conversation with someone is really just using good manners and showing a genuine interest in them.
To make it a point to learn the art of making good conversation, you must:
A–Ask questions to get others talking about them selves, and then listen to their answers. Ask about the other person’s job, their family, their hobbies, their recent travels. You can also ask about favorite movies, music or sports; their home town, church, educational background or something about current events.
R–Relate with the other person. Share something about yourself that relates to what the other person has shared with you. As a result of listening intently, you both will discover common interests that will naturally cause the conversation to flow more easily.
T–Talk in the terms of the other person’s interests. No one likes to listen to someone go on an on about a subject that doesn’t interest them, so be sensitive.
Add to these a friendly smile and an courteous and respectful attitude, and you will be well on your way to mastering the art of good conversation.
A Touch of UP-lifting Humor
Ever stop to think about UP?
There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meaning than any other two-letter word, and that is “UP.”
It’s easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we waken in the morning, why do we wake UP?
At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?
We call UP our friends and we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.
At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.
And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.
We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be knowledgeable of the proper uses of UP, look UP the word in the dictionary. In a desk size dictionary, UP takes UP almost 1/4th the page and definitions add UP to about thirty.
If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don’t give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.
When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets UP the earth. When it doesn’t rain for awhile, things dry UP.
One could go on and on, but I’ll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP, so I will just shut UP!
~Author Unknown~
Bob "Mr. Attitude" Prentice is available for Keynote, conference engagements, and in-house company training assignments Call to schedule Bob TODAY! 800.437.9715
Read on...
The Prairie Beacon
The Prairie Beacon is a monthly positive attitude paper, published by Mr. Attitude, featuring Seeds of Success articles, motivational stories, quotes and attitudes, all guaranteed to challenge and inspire it's readers to live a richer, fuller and happier life.
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Mr. Attitude's Life Tested Tools
My training sessions consist of the principals, attitudes, and skills that I have discovered over the course of my life, and that I aspire to practice in my day to day living. These are the Life Tested Tools that I have to offer:
KEYS TO BETTER LEADERSHIP • Creativity Encounter • Planning for Results • Organizational Effectiveness • Understanding Ourselves and Others • Teamwork Works • Building Morale
KEYS TO BETTER SELLING • Gaining a Prospects Attention • Building Interest • Communicating with Conviction • Painting Pictures of Desire • Asking for the Business • Welcoming Objections • Showmanship in Selling • Total Customer Service • Bootstrap Marketing o Barter o Networking o Advertising o Podcasting/Blogging o Internet
KEYS TO BETTER LIVING • Attitudes for Excellence • Managing Stress and Time • Complete Life Strategy • Tapping our Potential
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Feel free to pass your Monday Morning Motivations on to a friend.
What a great way to let them know you are thinking of them!
:: bob@mrattitudespeaks.com
:: http://www.mrattitudespeaks.com
:: 800-437-9715
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