Interview with Justine Moss, Managing Director of Jay Jay Communications

Justine Moss

Managing Director, Jay Jay Communications www.jayjaycommunications.com

Justine was one of two radio presenters who interviewed me on 93.8LIVE on 20th March 2012. You can read about my experience here.

1) Besides radio and golf writing, you do a lot of training and coaching too. Why did you decide to be involved in all of these and which of these are you most passionate about?

I’ve enjoyed diversification in my work from day one – I got bored in any job if I found myself having to do the same thing every day.  So when I set up Jay Jay Communications I knew I needed to have lots of variety.

The jigsaw puzzle of the Jay Jay portfolio came together organically over time – some were very intentional and others I fell into.  I really enjoy everything I do in the business and that gives me balance, energy and the ability to remain fresh.

2) You’ve worked with a number of high-profile organisations in Singapore. Which was most memorable and what did you help them to achieve?

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with some wonderful local enterprises, such as A-Star, Health Sciences Authority and Singapore Exchange.  These have been in the areas of voice coaching, media training, business English, presentation skills and intercultural awareness.

What I really enjoy is seeing my clients improve in the areas they have challenges in such as voice or media presence.  I love seeing the results – be it an improvement in their vocal clarity, tone, projection or pace, or greater presence and impact in their presentation and media skills.  I feel a tremendous sense of satisfaction knowing that I’ve helped them communicate more effectively.

3) You’ve lived and worked in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. How do Singaporeans fare with regard to media skills? Are we more or less savvy in handling the media as compared to the people in the other countries you’ve lived in/worked with.

I think that, on the whole, Singaporeans fare quite well with regard to media skills.  We are fortunate in that the media here, and in some other Asian countries, tend to be less aggressive than, say, Australia, USA or the UK.  Having said that, many people I’ve interviewed here are well researched, knowledgeable and have done their homework.  This is a great asset as the trick for any interview, whether it’s print, television or radio is to be prepared and to deliver your key messages with confidence and ease.

4) What do you love most about being a radio host/presenter and are there any misconceptions that people have about this profession?

One misconception is that people think it’s just all about having a nice voice.  That helps, of course, but there are many more elements to working successfully in radio.  You have to think on your feet, plan ahead and utilise your voice in a way that shows interest, is natural and conversational with a good variety of tone.  And, very importantly, especially for newsreaders, is to never sound like you’re reading a script. That can be tricky sometimes, especially when you receive the script 5-10 minutes before going to air.  It certainly keeps you on your toes!

5) What advice/tips do you have for people going for their first interview on air (how to calm those nerves, or things people tend to overlook, etc.)

In my work as a voice coach, one of the first things I teach my clients is how to ‘breathe’ properly.  By breathing from the diaphragm, rather than from the chest, one is able to sound richer. It helps with voice sustainability and the ability to breathe well for long interviews. The bonus is that it also calms the nerves.

Another tip is not to speak too fast – this can make you stumble and listeners may not catch all the key messages which you’re aiming to deliver.  I remember when I first started out in radio in 2000, I would pretend that it was only my mum listening to me and this helped me relax.  Don’t go into the interview thinking about all the thousands of listeners out there!

Grace says: My interview on radio went so well because of Justine and her co-presenter, Sarah. I really can’t thank them enough and I’m grateful to Justine for sharing her tips on handling radio interviews with ease here.

*Great news for all: I’m conducting another Blogging Workshop in June – the final one before I fly off for my holiday! I have added a bonus segment on how YOU and YOUR BLOG can get featured on radio too! If you’d like to attend, register your interest by emailing me at gracewwg@gmail.com now.

Interview with Richard Gavriel, Speaker Manager & Wedding Planner

Richard Gavriel

Speaker Manager & Wedding Planner www.RichardGavriel.com

1) How did you make the transition from Wedding Planner to Speaker Manager, and what do you love about what you do?

I am currently running both businesses.

For speaker management, I manage a team of professional speakers.

For wedding management, I will launching a diploma in wedding management in the 2^nd half of this year and I will be the Master Trainer.

As to how I made the transition from Wedding Planner to Speaker Manager, it has to be because of God!

With no knowledge of what professional speaking is all about, I entered this industry by faith.

I was introduced to a book ‘The Wealthy Speaker’ written by Jane Atkinson, a very successful speaker manager from the US, by my ex-business partner in corporate training.

I learnt a lot about how to run a successful speaker management business from that book.

There is nothing to hide.. I learn as I grow in this speaker management business.

What do I love about what I do in speaker management? I love meeting people. It is in my blood, I guess *winks* Haha..

 2) Share with us about how you balance the demands of your work and time for your family. Which comes first – work or family? Why?

To be honest, I used to be “very busy” with my work in the past.

I thank God that I have a very understanding and supportive wife.

Often, I neglected my family because of my work. And till today, I still feel bad at times when I think about it.

However, things started to change for the better at the beginning of this year, after some changes were made in my business plans.

Family is the most important to me now, nothing else matters.

Family is above work. There is no point in achieving “public success” but be a “private failure” at home.

I used to leave family matters to my wife but I have since realized that it was so unfair to her in the past and I have gotten more involved this year.

As a husband, I realize that I need to play my part too.

I have been walking my daughter to school since the first day of school this year, and I have never failed to do so unless I am unwell or overseas.

This is such a joy – communing with my little princess while walking with her.

I have made it a commitment to walk my daughter to school and have dinner at home daily unless I have important meetings to attend.

Apart from these, I will spend time coaching my daughter in some of her school work even though she has personal tuition.

This is to build a strong bond between “daddy” and “daughter”.

Family is all that you need. Trust me! I know what I am talking about.

I have been through life… I am 43 years old this year… not too old but not too young either.

People came and left, money was made and then was gone… the people that stayed with me are my wife and daughter.

Who else should I give my time and focus to?

It has to be them right?

Balancing work and family can be very tough but God has been faithful!

I cut down on entertainment meeting and networking sessions so that I can be with my family.

I have learnt this : don’t find time, make time!

3) What are some of Life’s lessons that you’d want to share with your daughter as she’s growing up? 

1.      As we are a Christian family, we definitely want her to know more about Jesus first.

2.      With regard to work, I want her to enjoy what she is doing.

She needs to enjoy what she does and most importantly, follow her passion!

3.      Money is important but not the most important thing in life.

Relationships should be the most important.

She needs to understand the importance of family. That is why we eat dinner together every night no matter how busy each of us is.

4.      We need to have integrity, honesty and truth in our lives, and in our dealings with people.

5.      Life is not all about the popularity game! It is only by being the “Right You” that you will gain respect and trust from people.

6.      Be contented in life as contentment is great joy!

7.      Character is above achievement. Pursue character, not success. Don’t lie your way to success!

4)      You’ve mentioned your Christian faith as being a huge factor for your success. How have you applied Christian principles to your work and life, and how has that made a difference? 

There is indeed a big difference in having these Godly principles in my life.

I learnt the grace of God through my pastor’s preaching and have applied them in my work.

Anything that I hold tightly, I have to continue to hold on to and anything that I let go of, God will hold tightly for me.

My first few moments when I wake up are spent with Jesus every morning now.

And trust me.. I receive many creative ideas and solutions during such moments.

These are ideas that money cannot buy.

Sometimes, I receive certain directions for myself or my businesses.

They are life-changing experiences.

For example, I woke one morning with a direction for myself at work. I applied it and that action itself brought forth abundant sales and other business opportunities.

Everything that I have is by the grace of God in my life.

If I can think of a reason and tell you why I am blessed today, I would be discrediting that “God” element in my life.

I know it myself – Richard is not that clever… in fact, not clever at all.

For me to have become a top wedding planner with my bridal boutique in Chijmes in 1998 has to have been the work of the Lord.

For me to have run a successful corporate training company in 2009 and now a speaker management company has to be the work of God.

All that I have belongs to Jesus and Him alone!

Having Him in my life and business has made a huge difference,

He gave me strength when I was weak and directions when I was lost.

5) Share with us some tips on people skills, from your experience of working with people from various walks of life. 

As I said, I am not that clever but I do feel that there are a few important qualities that we need to have when working with people and I hope that I can help others in becoming better “people-person” through these observations of mine.

My observations are as follows:

1.      Be Sincere

-          Sincerity is the key to all quality relationships

People like to do business or make friends with sincere people

In life, there are business associates and there are friends, there is no need to talk about business all the time.

Make friends, friends are assets to you.

2.      Be Observant

-          Be observant about the people and environment around you.

Be sensitive to the likes and dislikes of people that you meet

People like to know how much you care before you can build any relationship with them

Give some thought to people’s feelings

3.      Be Real!

-          Be real when being a business person or a friend

-          Don’t pretend to be someone that you are not

-          Be authentic, be truthful. For one day when your true self is exposed, it is going to be very ugly.

-          What you say is what you are! Say what you mean and mean what you say

Grace says: I’ve known Richard for only a short while but I’ve noticed that he is very ‘authentic’ in his dealings with people. What I find most remarkable about him is what I’m going to call his “Clickability Factor”. You can be introduced to him via a mutual friend, and suddenly you feel like you’ve known him for the past 10 years. This is why I just had to ask him Question number 5.

Come back again soon for more awesome interviewees and remember to enter your email address in the Subscription field in the top-right corner if you haven’t done so already – you’ll get all updates delivered FREE to your email inbox. How cool is that?

APSS’ Annual Convention 2012 – Passion. Purpose. Progress.

Barely 3 months after the highly successful Raise Your Game 2012, the Asia Professional Speakers – Singapore (APSS) was back yesterday with the APSS Annual Convention 2012! Held at Marina Mandarin Hotel, the Convention featured powerful presenters and passionate speeches. If you’ve missed the event, make a date with them next year at the Annual Convention 2013, slated for 14th May 2013. In the meantime, you will find below some of the nuggets of wisdom I gathered yesterday and the ‘shot & saved’ pictures taken at the event!

One word to describe yesterday’s speakers:

If your understanding of ‘speakers’ is that they simply speak on stage, you can’t be further from the truth. They are fabulous entertainers too!

We were serenaded at this event by the lovely Jana Stanfield who also shared about the importance of giving back to society a portion of what you earn.

The MC, Scott Friedman, kept the laughs coming throughout the day. *Scott was formerly the President of the National Speakers Association (USA) in 2004-05.

1) Laura Stack spoke about ‘The Mission of the Professional Speaker’. She is America’s productivity expert and was introduced by Scott as having a “legendary ability to get things done”. She shared that we have to remind ourselves about the reason(s) we got into this business in the first place, so as to keep the Passion alive. Also, Progress can be achieved when speakers help make the ‘pie’ bigger so everyone can have a slice, and if 1 person does a good job, the rest look good too.

2) Charles Kovess spoke about ‘Harnessing and Expressing your True Passion as a Speaker into Irresistible Value Propositions for your Clients’. A former international tax lawyer, he is now known for being Australasia’s Passion Provocateur. He was introduced as having 5 children aged between 18 months and 30 years, and it caused quite a stir in the audience! His eye-catching outfit also made him stand out among the other speakers:

Charles reminded us that we cannot be in great shape physically, mentally, spiritually, etc, without hard work. He also encouraged us to step out of our comfort zones and set goals for ourselves. He said that Hard Work and Discipline are what it takes to be great, and that easy fixes don’t exist.

3) Bernadette T. Vadurro shared about ‘How to get FREE Publicity’. She is the Past President of the New Mexico State Chapter of the National Speakers Association and the Past President of Capitol City Toastmasters.

Bernadette said she once paid US$40,000 to her publicist, only to find that she was capable of doing a better job than the publicist did. She gave very good tips on how to get free publicity and I love that she exhorted the audience to provide people with articles that can help them.

4) Pamela Jett shared about ‘Rock the (Virtual) House – How to Provide High-Content Virtual Events to Enhance Your Bottom Line’. Pamela has been delivering teleseminars and webinars as she is an “early adopter of virtual presentations”.

She reminded us to write marketing copy for the wallet and how offering a series of webinars is very good for the bottom line. What seemed counter-intuitive at first was her suggestion to “Market FIRST, then develop the content”.

5) Ron Kaufman’s topic was ‘From One-man Business to Global Empire’. Ron told us to pick the strongest guy seated at each table. Then, he created quite a sensation when he announced that each of those selected should proceed to collect copies of his new book (hot off the press) from the stage for everyone.

Here’s Tim Wade handing a copy to a delighted Andrew Chow:

Ron’s new book is titled ‘Uplifting Service’. You can get a copy here.

What impressed me most about Ron is his obsession with detail. At one point, he had hired 8 editors for his new book, and there were many versions of the book cover before he decided on the one you see above.

6) Ed Scannell shared about the ‘Games Speakers and Trainers Play’. Ed was NSA’s National President in 1991-92 and in 1999, he received NSA’s highest individual award – the ‘Cavett Award’. He was named a ‘Legend in the Speaking Profession’ in 2006.

One important takeaway I received was that if I make a person like himself/herself a little better, the person will like me better too.

7) Alexander Blass spoke about ‘Priceless Strategies from an Innovator’. He is the youngest prize winner of the Daily Record’s Top Innovator of the Year Award.

He shared that innovators know that regret is far worse than failure. He told us to think about that one big idea we have been sitting on and not taking action about. If we don’t do it, we can be sure someone else will! Alexander told us to think about what will make sense tomorrow and to create trends instead of following them.

8) Janelle Barlow shared about the ‘Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) – What does it mean and how can you get it?’ Janelle is President of the Global Speakers Federation.

I came to realize what the designation of CSP means for professional speakers and how it opens up even more doors for them. The APSS currently has 7 Certified Speaking Professionals among their 49 Professional Members.

9) Chester Elton was interviewed by Rebecca Morgan about ‘How to Build a Million Dollar Speaking Career’.

I was very amused when I noticed that Chester was wearing orange socks. (I did not find his orange tie unusual but I was surprised to note that his socks were orange in color too!)

He later shared with the audience that he and his team wear orange watches, ties and socks – “hard to find, but always on sale”. It’s because of The Carrot Principle, which you can find out more about by clicking here.

10) Patrick Liew’s speech was titled ‘Revolution! A Clarion Call to Rebuild the Business World’. Patrick is the CEO of HSR Global Ltd and a co-founder of Success Resources. You can check out my video interview with Patrick here to find out more about him.

Patrick inspires me as he claims to not be a professional speaker but he has a commanding stage presence and his speeches have resonated with many. I appreciated his candor in sharing how it was so difficult for him to say “I love you” to his employees, even though he wanted to convey this message to them. I think the Business World will be a better place if more employers learn from this Love Evangelist.

And if I may add just one comment about the Convention, I would like to say that I wish I did not have to miss hearing from certain speakers because some presentations occurred in 2 different ballrooms simultaneously. It was one of those times I wished I could be in 2 different places at once, and not have to make the painful decision of choosing one ballroom to be in. I want to honor the other speakers whom I did not have a chance to hear from: Mike Hancock – Become a Rock Star in your Niche, Raymond Phoon – Five Sure-Fire Ways to Win Long-Term Business Engagements, and Gustav Gous – The Art of Inter-Cultural Presentations.

As everyone has different takeaways despite attending the same convention, here’s what my friend, Richard Gavriel noted (used with permission).

I was pleasantly surprised by the APSS Awards Presentation segment. 3 Spirit of Service Awards were given out to (from left) David Lim, Andrew Chow and Shirley Taylor:

I think it’s great that this recognition is given to honor the unsung heroes – those who give selflessly for the progress of the organization.

Finally, a big thank you to Andrew Chow for the invite and support of what I do. Thank you, Tim Wade, for helpful suggestions for improving my blogging ‘business’. And two thumbs up for Shirley Taylor and her team for putting together the awesome APSS Annual Convention 2012!

*To find out more about the Asia Professional Speakers – Singapore, or to join the APSS, click here.

*To find out more about the individual speakers, simply click on their names above and you will be directed to their websites.

Andrew Chow’s 7 Life Lessons about the Entrepreneurship Journey

’7 Life Lessons about the Entrepreneurship Journey’ by Andrew Chow

*With graphics added by Grace*

1. Invite a mentor, not hire a coach. A coach is responsible for your performance while a mentor is interested in you as a person. You can always hire a coach but it is hard for you to invite a mentor into your life. He has to be genuinely interested in your life and your personal development. Both of you should like to spend time with each other a lot.

2. Building a quality Database is the second most important task for an entrepreneur other than maintaining healthy cash flow. This is probably the biggest asset an entrepreneur can enjoy in the initial phase. Learn to build the database by networking, event marketing, strategic alliance, referral and crowd sourcing on social media platforms.

3. Keep yourself gainfully occupied between the time of Sowing and the time of reaping. You should continue to sow as a lifestyle. If you keep sowing as a momentum, reaping will happen continuously too once the first fruits appear. What you sow may not be what you reap. Who you sow to may not be the same person you will reap from. Where you sow may not be where you reap as well.

4. The best business friend an entrepreneur can have is members of the mass media. As advertising loses its effectiveness in startup business, public relations can position an entrepreneur in the minds of the target audience faster and have him be seen as more credible. The art of media pitching is something everyone can master through practice and a little creativity.

5. The toughest call in an entrepreneurship journey is making a decision to move on after a failure. It is about activating your exit plan. It is about taking stock of your resources and an audit of where you are in the business plan. Take your time to reflect on the mistakes you have made and write down lessons learnt in order not to repeat them.

6. The hardest part in any business operation is getting from generating Ideas to actual implementation. It requires determination, creativity and innovation. The management of ideas becomes very important. Know who to share the ideas with. Share ideas without sharing its concepts. Ideas are generally cheap, implementation is always expensive. Ideas are from visionaries but an entrepreneur also needs to be a manager to implement them.

7. The way to effective marketing of an entrepreneur’s business often lies in his personal branding. Once your name and what your forte is has become deeply rooted in the minds of people around you, you literally multiply yourself many folds. Personal branding is about building your profile, knowing which partners you want, which publication to produce, what media to connect with, which charity to serve and also what awards you want to win to showcase your spirit of enterprise.

Interview with Andrew Chow, Social Media Strategist *Includes: 8 Ps of Personal Branding for Entrepreneurs*

Andrew Chow,

Social Media Strategist at Ideamart.

Andrew is a speaker and trainer whose lifestyle I admire – he works only 10 days a month! During our chat, he shared with me about how he was involved in ‘Romancing Singapore’ and the dating business for 3 years, during which he learnt how to “romance the media” by essentially being his own PR guy. He now speaks and trains others with his insights on Social Media Strategy, Media Management and Personal Branding. *You’ll find an entire segment below about Personal Branding for Entrepreneurs.

I asked Andrew about how he knew that this was what he wanted to do in life, and how we can come to such a realization about our own purpose in life.

“Draw out your own future, visualize it. What are you going to bring – gameplan, mentor, foodpack? Life is very simple: you are a traveller. You’ll likely have to step out of your comfort zone. Even though I’ve never sung at a karaoke session before, I went to sing at a charity concert! I’m also going to produce my own album too! The proceeds can go to a trust fund I may name the ‘Andrew Chow Trust Fund’ and it can be used for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) purposes. Rub your rough edges against other entrepreneurs. Most importantly, love life – when you love Life, you’ll look younger too.”

And if you recall how the late Steve Jobs mentioned that we can connect the dots when we look back on what has happened, Andrew has his own method of doing this…

“I have my own report card every year which states my 10 top moments of each year. It’s all about work. I take notes everyday about what I do. After 10 years, I’ll be able to find those dots.”

I think this idea of a report card is pure genius. I’ll certainly want to have a glowing report card end of 2012.

Now, carry on reading to find out more about Andrew and how you can excel in your personal branding as an entrepreneur…

Personal Branding for Entrepreneurs

In a nutshell, Personal Branding is the process of how we market ourselves to others via all kinds of channels, not limited to just social media.

It is not about achieving excellence but communicating that excellence. Many of us are great in what we do, we are just very weak in telling others how good we really are. My life is a living testimonial of how a good personal branding has transformed my life.

The story of Andrew Chow

In 2005, Only 50 friends on Friendster and Plaxo ,  Google : no mention of “Andrew Chow‘” for first 5 pages . I was never invited to speak in any free workshop let alone a paid speaking engagement. There was not a single interview or article about me from the press and media. I only tried to attend a structured networking session once in 3 months. Naturally, 100 of my business cards will take a year to deplete.

Fast forward to 2012, my Facebook account is maxed out with 5000 friends, I have a page with over 2500 fans all over Asia. My blog is ranked top 500 site in Singapore by Alexa.com. Now, I am recognized as a Thought Leader on Social Media and Public Relations Strategy. On the social media front,  I have acumulated over 10,000 profiles from 3 social portals.  In 2011 alone, I was invited to speak in Asia and as far away as in Dubai, UAE. There are now over 220 features and interviews about me on local and regional media over the last 6 years. I have also become a multiple business awards winner.

Road Map of Personal Branding

It is really very simple. Who are you? What do you do? Why are you so unique?

The advantage of good personal branding is that I rarely have to sell. My credibility is almost never questioned. People look forward to working with me or my company. Others do the marketing for me through word of mouth

The fundamental criteria for success in Personal Branding is to be committed to do it consistently. Focus on what makes you special and shows Thought Leadership with the right platforms which make it viral.

8 Ps of Personal  Branding

1.      Create your Profile on different social media platforms

a.      Twitter: Do you know who else is similar to you?

b.      Blog: What do you blog about that others are interested in?

c.       Linkedin: How many quality recommendations do you have?

 

2.      Develop your own Portal for Network for networking and alliances

a.      How do you keep track of your inner circle?

b.      Do you have a system to track all the name cards you collect every time?

c.       Are you using mobile technology sufficiently?

 

3.      Work with the right Business Partners

a.      What are the business associations which will give you the most leverage?

b.      What kind of endorsement can you get from business groups?

c.       Who are your best partnership in terms of IT, customer service, printing, etc

 

4.      Position yourself for more Public Speaking

a.      Own your own voice and platform

b.      Developing several key notes you can deliver every time

c.       Speak with charisma

 

5.      Publish a book

a.      Authors have authority

b.      A book is a gateway to more public speaking

c.       Your thought leadership is consolidated

 

6.      Master the art of Media Publicity

a.      The media is your best business friend

b.      All press and media is interested in human stories

c.       You need media if you are managing a crisis

 

7.      Serve the Public by serving Charity and taking on Corporate Social Responsibilities

a.      You are blessed to be a blessing

b.      Serving charity and CSR is a form of brand communications

c.       You will reap what you sow

 

8.      Claim your Prize

a.      Look out for the right award to win

b.      Award winning is a form of authentication to your personal branding

c.       Winning awards will give you more opportunity for public speaking, publishing a book and more media attention .

 

Come back again soon for Andrew Chow’s  ’7 Life Lessons about the Entrepreneurship Journey’.

Raise Your Game 2012 with the world-class speakers from Asia Professional Speakers -Singapore (APSS)

I had the privilege of spending the entire day yesterday in the company of some of Asia’s top speakers at the event Raise Your Game 2012 – Essential Secrets for Achieving Greater Success at Work! Held at Holiday Inn Orchard, it was presented by the Asia Professional Speakers – Singapore, with 10% of all profits donated to Operation Smile. If you’ve missed the event, make a date with them next year! Meanwhile, I have the highlights for you right here so read on… One of the very first networking tips I got from the event with 8 speakers and 7 panelists was to ask the people I meet…

“What’s one tip you have for me?”

For instance, when meeting a Real Estate expert, I can ask him “What’s one real estate tip you have for me?” It’s really useful! Try it!

And here’s one takeaway I got from each of the speakers:

1) Christian Chua – How to Make a Fortune Sipping Coffee:

Acquire a special skill to increase your net worth. The more you learn, the more you earn!

2) Karen Leong – Influential Networking

Be a catalyst – bring people to your party.

I especially loved this: *Wallflowers: the people who are the lonely ones at networking events; often spotted with a mobile phone in hand and looking up “every 5 seconds or so”

3) Benjamin Cheng – The Corporate World: A Jungle or A Zoo?

Don’t be provocative – even if you particularly dislike someone. The people you meet on the way up could well be the same people you meet on the way down!

4) Eric Feng – Speak to Influence, Persuade and Win

Attended seminars but haven’t actually changed your life? Just find ONE thing that you can change today, repeat it for 21 days and it becomes a habit!

5) Bob Feldman – Timeless Management

The mindful leader slows things down at times -> shapeshift in the office by shutting the office door to give yourself space for thinking, reflecting and planning. Even 10 minutes for relaxation or a nap will be more effective than an additional 2 hours of sleep before the day begins.

6) Heather Hansen – Getting Ahead with Global English

Distinguish between long and short vowels, e.g. “sit” and “seat”.

7) Deborah Torres-Patel – Voice of a Leader

Tell your audience What’s In It For Them – what can they get, be, have, etc.

8) Thaddeus Lawrence- How to be a Runaway Success

Be gentle with yourself – take smaller, lighter steps, and stay away from negative chatter.

Thaddeus blew the audience away with his sharing about ultra-endurance racing in the hottest, coldest, windiest and driest deserts on earth, including the Sahara, Gobi, Atacama and Antarctica.  He ended his presentation with a standing ovation from the audience!

He did a run through Chilean salt flats (which are, apparently, not quite flat)

Certainly, with Thaddeus and all the other speakers, Raise Your Game 2012 was nothing short of a runaway success! Congratulations to all who planned for and executed today’s program with such finesse! Kudos to Shirley Taylor and her wonderful team!

I highly recommend that YOU get a copy of APSS’s book which was launched today, titled ’88 Essential Secrets for Achieving Greater Success at Work!’ It’s out in bookstores in Singapore, and will soon be in Malaysia, Thailand, the UK and US. The e-version will be released shortly.

Here’s my copy of the book – can’t wait to read it! The book was put together by 22 Professional Speakers and Trainers from APSS and edited by their President, Shirley Taylor. I want to extend a big THANK YOU to Andrew Chow, who invited me to this event. It was both a pleasure and an honor to be in the company of such distinguished speakers and trainers.

*To find out more about the Asia Professional Speakers – Singapore, or to join the APSS, click here.

*To find out more about the individual speakers, just click on their names above and you’ll be directed to their websites. Also, come back again soon as I’ll be interviewing them individually.

Learn-A-Thon 2011 – The Best From 14 Of Asia’s Top Wealth Creation Experts

If you’ve missed Monday’s Learn-A-Thon at Kallang Theatre and did not get to hear from the 14 Wealth Creation experts, you’re in luck.

Here’s what I took away from their presentations of 3-minutes each:

Adam Khoo: get yourself to take action; buy that stock or start that business!

Wendy Kwek: There’s no great success by focusing on making a living; only way to create sustainable success is by making a difference in other people’s lives.

Jerome Tan: Have faith. The more you give, the more you receive.

Jim Khoo: Learn to give. Give of your time, talent, thoughts. Live your life for others.

Boyd Au: Be diligent and skillful. Persevere to achieve your objectives, be passionate and believe in what you are doing. No shortcuts. The more you sow, the more you reap. Sow into your brand. Make yourself known – What you stand for; Your brand promise. Sow into society.

Dave Rogers: Stillness will guide you. Listen. The heart, the ear, the honor of being able to give.

Ken Sapp: 1)Passion; find what you love; what you are created for. 2)Knowledge, expertise. 3)Market- find out what people want; their desires.

Andrew Chow: Social Capital. HAM. Hand – hold other people’s hands and work with them. Attitude – be genuinely interested in people. Mindset- be creative.

Jaz Lai – take action. The more you do; the easier it becomes. Perseverance.

Arthur camazzi – Outsourcing with odesk, elance, etc

Tan Yang Po- ‘Cash Your Passion’ written in 7 days. You don’t have to know everything. You just need the willpower to want to do it. Put your mind and soul into doing. Focus and make it happen.

Ken Chee- Buy good assets undervalued.

KC See – Discover and follow your passion. Rich people don’t work hard for money; they make money work hard for them.

Mike Handcock – Have a “playground” instead of a network; where friends like to turn up and play games. Great questions lead to great answers, which provide great information and lead to great decisions. Know what questions to ask. Know why you are doing what you are doing.

*Disclaimer: These notes were taken by me and based on what I heard. I take no responsibility for their accuracy though, as I was seated right at the back of the room! XD

Learn-A-Thon managed to raise $132,850 for the victims of the recent floods in Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines. It is the brainchild of Patrick Liew, CEO of HSR International Realtors Pte Ltd. The Guest-Of-Honour was Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and National Development and Mayor of the South-East District.

Please contact Mercy Relief (www.mercyrelief.org) if you’d like to do your part in helping the flood victims.

Here are some of the wishes that participants of Learn-A-Thon put up on a board, including mine

Interview with W. Bruce Cameron, author of the bestselling books ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ and ‘Emory’s Gift’ www.BruceCameron.com

W. Bruce Cameron and his dog Tucker

Author, Speaker, Columnist, Animal Lover

(Photo credit: Ute Ville)

1) You’re an award-winning humor columnist and you wrote the book ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ which made many grownups cry. How is it that you can evoke emotions from almost opposite ends of the spectrum so well? 

It’s a lot harder to make people laugh, which I do deliberately, than to make them cry, which I do accidentally.  What I mean by that is the point of my humor is to elicit a laugh, but when I write something that touches on the human experience in a profound way, I’m not trying to elicit tears.  People just often react that way.  I’ve been writing humor and serious fiction my whole life, and practice hasn’t made it any easier–they are both still difficult to do, at least for me.

2) Why the preoccupation with reincarnation? 

You asked me the exact same question in our former lives!  Well, in ‘A Dog’s Purpose’, the central story concerns a dog who lives several lives, learning new lessons in each one, on his way to fulfilling his ultimate purpose.  Reincarnation also figures in ‘Emory’s Gift’, though in a much different way.  I have always been intrigued by the notion that there is more to life that just what our senses report, and reincarnation is just one aspect of that notion.

3) What memorable experiences have you had with your dogs (both past and present) which inspired you to write ‘A Dog’s Purpose’?

I got the idea because I was riding my mountain bike in Colorado one day and met a dog along the way who reminded me so very much of my first dog Cammie, whom I met when I was just eight years old. I was struck with the odd sense that I had just interacted with my long dead friend. Ever since that day, I have wondered if it really was Cammie, and if so, what did that look like from the dog’s perspective? These questions ultimately led me to writing the novel A Dog’s Purpose.

4) What prompted you to write ‘Emory’s Gift’? What sort of effect are you expecting it’ll have on your readers, especially those who’ve read ‘A Dog’s Purpose’? 

I wanted to write a novel that dared to touch on some of the issues that are personally profound for me.  As with ‘A Dog’s Purpose’, there is a spiritual element, and I pose questions and use allegorical elements to get my readers thinking about these issues.  I even deliberately use the word “God!”  And thus far reaction from my readers has been exactly what I’d hoped:  they’ve embraced the central message of ‘Emory’s Gift’, just as they’ve so enthusiastically supported ‘A Dog’s Purpose’.

5) What’s next for your readers to look forward to? Any more books in the pipeline? 

I am currently writing the sequel to ‘A Dog’s Purpose’, tentatively slated for release summer/fall  2012.  After that, I’ve got another dog-themed novel planned (what can I say, I like ‘em) and then we’ll see what happens after that.

Grace says: I have never owned a pet dog. I’ve kept hamsters, fish, a crayfish(!), prawns… yet, Bruce’s book ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ reduced me to tears. Definitely a book that I’ll want to read again!

You can purchase it here. It’s a great Christmas gift for animal lovers!

Here’s what Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Color Purple had to say about the book:

“An amazing book. I laughed and smiled and cried. Wise… and sure to open the hearts of all who read it.”

Bruce’s newest book, ‘Emory’s Gift‘, is as intriguing as it is insightful. Bruce shows once again that he is a master at evoking emotions.

Get a copy now. Click here.

You can also check out Bruce’s blog. :)

Interview with Dato’ Palan, author of Creating Your Own Rainbow

Dato’ Palan

Director, Human Resources Development Corporation, Ministry of Human Resources, Government of Malaysia

Chairman and CEO, SMR Technologies Bhd

Founder, Asia HRDCongress

Trainer, Speaker, Consultant, Author of Creating Your Own Rainbow 

www.palan.org

I got to meet Dato’ Palan in August and had the privilege of attending a workshop he conducted that can be described as enriching, entertaining and enlightening.  I was very impressed by how humble and approachable he is despite his social status, and it was indeed a memorable evening of learning from this professional speaker on how to be a Rainbow Creator.

From amazon.com: “There are two types of people: Rainbow Creators and Rainbow Chasers. Rainbow Creators know that the treasure lies within them. They focus their desire and sharpen their skills without putting any constraint on their own imagination. Since the Rainbow as a totality is a vision, Rainbow Creators focus on the seven steps essential for life management to achieve their vision. On the other hand, Rainbow Chasers make their mistakes in assuming that pots of gold are out there somewhere waiting to be found.”

Here are Dato Palan’s answers to my questions:

1. Who are the rainbow creators in your life?

There are several Rainbow Creators. Just to name a few:

• Martin Luther King for promoting non violent approaches to end segregation between whites and blacks in a violent world.
• President John F Kennedy for articulating what is it to be a visionary – ‘putting a man on the moon within this decade’ statement.
• Tenzing Norgay who scaled Mount Everest
• President Nelson Mandela for his persistence in freeing South Africa of apartheid
• Prime Minister LKY for his vision for Singapore
• Aung Syu Ki, the Myanmar leader for not giving up despite all tribulations
• Mahatma Gandhi for pursuing Indian Independence through non violence
• Mohd Yunus, Bangladeshi Economist for sparking a micro credit revolution and trusting people will pay back loans
• My father who never allowed us to give up on ourselves
• My mentor Sam Abishegam who gave me numerous opportunities and one who shaped the world of human resources in Malaysia
• My teachers George Maliekal S.J.  and Father Leonard Paul S.J. for helping me grow my self esteem
• My mother for educating me and my siblings even though she has only attended until Primary Six.

It is important to remember that none of the famous people I mention were great when they embarked on their journey. They were ordinary people who did extraordinary things to become great and recognised by the world.

2. How did you become such an accomplished speaker? What are some tips that you can share with us?

Ken Blanchard said – ‘your game is only as good as your practice.’  I am not sure what you mean by accomplished but I have spoken thousands of times. I have observed hundreds of great speakers and learned so much from them. I strongly believe that if you are passionate about a message and you learn the tools of speaking, you can be a great speaker. Eloquence + Expertise + Passion always results in great speakers. Participating at the National Speakers Association (NSA) Conference, USA has also helped me a great deal. I have learned so much from the friendly community there. Obviously I was elated when I received the highest award that can be earned from NSA – the Certified Speaking Professional award.

My suggestions – join a local community of speakers, there is APSS in Singapore, MAPS in Malaysia. Be passionate about what you speak. Always think of the audience. Remember there are no short cuts to success. It is plain old hard work – learn and practice.

3. What are some of Life’s most important lessons that you’d want to share with your children?

They are all simple common sense principles.

• Find out what you want
• Believe in yourself.
• Respect people
• Do not forget your culture but change with changing times yet with unchanging principles as President Carter once said.
• Honesty is the best policy.
• Practice lifelong learning to stay relevant.
• Find your lane and stay in the lane – do not switch all the time as the pasture is always greener on the other side,
• Say NO, one important quality I could never do and that has caused me lots of money and heart ache
• The simple Rainbow Acronym
• Recognise you can make a difference
• Authentic Change
• Invoke your determination
• Never give up on yourself
• Believe in desire and Enthusiasm
• Optimal Leadership and Adventure
• Willing Love

4. What success habits do you practise daily?

• Daily personal hygiene
• Daily exercise
• Daily prayer
• Daily time planning
• Daily reading and learning
• Healthy diet
• Live in the moment: NOW

5. What does “Happiness” mean to you?

Being able to do what I want to do and making a contribution to humanity in my own way.

Being healthy and spending time with the people I love and cherish.

Recognising I am making a contribution to the world.

Grace says: Get a copy of Dato’ Palan’s book Creating Your Own Rainbow. It’s the next best thing to learning from him in person. The rainbow principles have helped me achieve many of my dreams and I think you will benefit from learning about them too! Create your own rainbow now.

Interview with Marty Wilson – MartyWilson.com.au & whatiwishiknew.com *Skype-d*

Marty Wilson

Author of the ‘What I Wish I Knew’ book series, professional speaker, stand-up comic

1) What do you wish you knew at 18?

I get asked that a lot. I wish I had learnt to meditate. I didn’t learn till I was 29. Back then, I felt like the whole world was entitled to my opinion, if you know what I mean. Meditation helps calm my mind and lose the urge to tell people how to lead their lives. Things are a lot more peaceful now.

2) You were once a chemist, then a copywriter, and a stand-up comic, an author, and finally a professional speaker. Were you perhaps searching for your life’s purpose, maybe?

I was searching for what the Buddhist call the right livelihood. One which totally engages me and also brings something positive to the world.

I find we realise things only with hindsight. The advertising stuff I did taught me how to write. Being a stand-up comic gave me the confidence to talk in front of a room full of people.

Whenever I got a change of career, I went to look for mentors to give me the wisdom of their hindsight. When I wanted to be a stand-up comic, I went to look for the guys who’ve been doing that for over 20 years and bought them a coffee or beer. I asked them to download that knowledge into me. And that has helped me progress.

It’s an attitude to life. In one of my books, Christina says “When people tell me they don’t like their jobs, I ask them – You think you’re gonna live forever?”

A friend told me that the only thing in Life to fear is regrets on your deathbed.

3) How can we make our speeches funny?

You have to keep trying and not care about failing in public. The people whom we think are “naturally funny” have likely started as a kid, and didn’t care then what people thought of them. Like, if people don’t laugh, you tell it again. If people don’t laugh, you tell it again. Then they laugh so you’ll go away.

Keep trying, don’t care about failing in public. Prepare to not be funny. You won’t get it straightaway. To me, the best comedian is the one who made the audience tonight laugh the most. So keep trying out in front of people.

4) As an inspirational speaker, what sort of topics/material do you use for your speeches?

I have interviewed over 600 people for my series of books. And when I asked them what they’d do differently if they could live their lives all over again, certain themes keep popping up. For example, one would be that your thoughts create your life. What you think about determines your experience. And, take more risks. Listen to that little voice and do what it tells you to do. For example, openly state your opinion in the workplace. And wear clothes you like rather than clothes your friends like.

5) Tell us more about the ‘What I Wish I Knew About Love’ book. Any tips on how to identify whether a guy is the right one to marry?

Most people think they are in love, but you can KNOW you’re in love when you want to compromise and want to make it work. Things will never go smoothly. But you must love the person enough to work through the difficulties.

Before you think about getting married, sit down with that person, and ask what he/she wants from that relationship.

We assume that the other person wants what we want. But that is NEVER the case. We must have the patience to sit there and get them to tell us exactly what they want. And then make a rock-solid commitment to give them what they want.

I like the confrontational look when I get something wrong so I know I should rectify it. But not my wife – she wants cuddles and to talk things through. So I have to give her what she wants.

Grace says: I chanced upon a copy of Marty’s ‘What I Wish I Knew at 18′ book and was hooked on it – the wisdom of so many individuals was overwhelming. What struck me most was what one lady shared about self-love, that your nose is not too big, your thighs not too fat, etc. The basic message was to love myself for who I am and what I look like at whichever stage of my life I’m at. Powerful stuff, yes?

Now, what do I wish I knew at 18? That heartbreak ceases at some point – the end of a relationship signals the beginning of something even better. Any course in University will do – most people don’t end up in fields related to what they studied anyway.  Take more pictures! You’re only so naturally wrinkle-free once in your life! XD

To purchase Marty’s books, head over to the What I Wish I Knew store here.