http://trimountcommunications.com/blog Comments, suggestions and questions are welcome! Mon, 22 Dec 2008 02:27:08 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Let 2009 be the year you conquer your fear of public speaking! With proper training, you really can become a good speaker. It doesn’t matter whether you train with Trimount or take an adult education class at the local high school. The important thing is that you take action. You ... http://trimountcommunications.com/blog/2008/12/21/a-new-year-a-new-you/ Some business letters are short and to the point. Some are long and complex. Whatever their length, almost all business letters share one thing in common: a request that the reader take action. It may be something as simple as acknowledging receipt of the correspondence or it may be as ... http://trimountcommunications.com/blog/2008/12/07/183/ In these difficult times, a little humor can go a long way to dispel some of the gloomy economic news. And that’s exactly what comedian Andy Borowitz did in characterizing President-elect Barack Obama’s recent interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes. Obama's Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy Stunning Break with Last Eight Years In ... http://trimountcommunications.com/blog/2008/11/22/a-little-humor/ This excerpt from a British blogger demonstrates why a speaker should never rely on PowerPoint as a crutch when giving a presentation. PowerPoint cannot match the power and passion a really good speaker brings to the podium: "I once gave a presentation which told, in fine detail, the life and works ... http://trimountcommunications.com/blog/2008/11/08/avoid-overdependence-on-powerpoint/ The presidential election is only a few days away. Spinmeisters from both camps are working overtime to present their candidates in the best possible light. Unfortunately, both camps have reportedly spun stories which distorted the facts. Such distortions may be common, but they weaken the credibility of the candidates. Of ... http://trimountcommunications.com/blog/2008/10/31/spinmeisters/ Besides teaching you the mechanics of public speaking, a good coach can help you overcome the nagging self-doubts that bedevil so many promising speakers. I show my clients how to increase their confidence and let go of the negative thinking which has dragged them down in the past. Please visit ... http://trimountcommunications.com/blog/2008/10/22/confidence/ Did you ever wonder if your writing is helping or hurting your chances for success? Ask a friend or co-worker to read your next letter or report and critique it. You may be surprised at how someone else interprets what you’ve written. No matter what the person's reaction may be, ... http://trimountcommunications.com/blog/2008/10/15/is-my-writing-good-enough/ When giving a speech, you have to watch for people’s reactions: Are they paying attention? Do they seem restless? Are they shuffling in their seats? These are sure signs that something is wrong. The remedy may be as simple as cutting short a presentation and taking questions from the audience, ... http://trimountcommunications.com/blog/2008/10/09/is-the-audience-paying-attention/ A pronoun should be close enough to the word it replaces that readers aren’t confused. For example, “The ship sailed in the morning after a long night of loading manufactured goods destined for a port some 12,000 miles away. Loading took so long, it nearly missed the tide.” “It” is so ... http://trimountcommunications.com/blog/2008/10/02/remote-pronouns/ Being questioned by the press can be a little scary, especially if you haven’t been interviewed before. Find someone who has experience in dealing with reporters to guide you through mock interviews so that you know what to expect. Good preparation helps you stay on message whether you’re being interviewed ... http://trimountcommunications.com/blog/2008/09/24/media-relations/