marketing expenses, kids comics, insomnia, information

Stop Paying Your Business expenses
Jay Conrad Levinson, the father of GuerrillaMarketing, has created a report called
“The Guerrilla Balance Sheet”
which claims that businesses can turn their expenses into profit centers.
The idea is that if you profit at everything you do you’ll never run out of cash again…

David Fickling to Launch Weekly Comic

“In my own experience, the link between reading a comic and reading a book is wonderful and exciting,” says publisher David Fickling,

Curing Insomnia Without the Pills
Dreaming of better sleep? (Rahav Segev/The New York Times)
Better sleep doesn’t have to come in a pill.
For people with chronic insomnia, studies show that simple behavioral and psychological treatments work just as well, and sometimes better, than popular medications,

School librarian: We’re on information overload
A school librarian suspects that the tipping point in information overload has tipped…

Library Stars, simplicity, picture books

Creating Picture Books
with Margaret Hamilton & Dee Huxley
Join us for a day focused on creating children’s picture books

Simplicity Patterns

The MIT Media Lab's John Maeda lives at the intersection of technology and art -- a place that can get very complicated. Here, he talks about paring down to basics, and how he creates clean, elegant art, websites and web tools.

Library Stars: best of the best 2008
Call for Submissions
The Library Stars forum, hosted by ALIA’s Public Libraries Advisory Committee (PLAC), will showcase public libraries, their projects, and successes on 2 September 2008 at a satellite event as part of the ALIA 2008 Biennial Conference in Alice Springs

fear of public speaking, goals for 2008, boys in the library, abundance, kids fiction

Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking
This interview with Mike Aguilera is a nice capsule on overcoming the fear of public speaking.
Click on the picture to get to the video

Making 2008 a better year
There are many blog posts around at the moment about new Years resolutions, goal setting and generally making 2008 a better year. this one is just a ittle bit different. I really liked Sri Chinmoy’s way of looking at things, and his simple but powerful list …

Boys night in
A few years back Manukau Libraries ran some “Boys night in” events. Wehad a great turnout and the libraries were jam packed.
Some of the things we did:

A Simple Technique to Get into Abundance - NOW
It happens to everyone. It’s one of those days where everything feels blocked, you’re frustrated and the dread creeps in because your financial flow feels like it is stuck. You desperately search high and low for any ways to get the cash flow up but it seems to have disappeared. What do you do now?

Travel team.
Lupica, Mike.

Danny is short, but one of the best basketball players in town and his father was also short who became a basketball celebrity until a car accident. When Danny reaches 7th grade he tries out for the travel team and he (along with others) is shocked when he does not make the team.

kids book, snacking, boys in the library

Come Juneteenth

by Ann Rinaldi

FROM THE BOOK JACKET:

For as long as Luli can remember, the Confederate states have been at war with the Union. But the fighting has been far from the Texas plantation where she lives with her parents, brothers, and her "almost" sister, Sis Goose, who although born a slave has been raised as a beloved family member. Or so it seems.

Feel-Good Gene May Spur Snacking
Do you crave a favorite snack food so badly that you would go out of your way to get it? Scientists have a new clue about why that happens.

Boys night in
A few years back Manukau Libraries ran some “Boys night in” events. Wehad a great turnout and the libraries were jam packed.

The Power of Your Speech, Libraries, Heroes, Comics, Donald Trump, Commitment, change

The Power of Your Speech
Language expert Wilfred Funk was one of the first to study highly successful men and women to determine what they have in common. What he discovered was that they all have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
http://pivotalpublicspeaking.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/the-power-of-your-speech/

Libraries and Immersive Learning in 3D Virtual Environments
The Graduate School of Library and Information Science, at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, is pleased to offer a new non-credit, continuing education course this fall. http://liblogger.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/libraries-and-immersive-learning-in-3d-virtual-environments/

Heroes
An inspirational read
http://pivotalpersonalbest.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/heroes/

Comics - trash or treasure?
Comics were seen during my childhood as trash - not serious reading or art at all. Now in the libraries where I work and live, "graphic novels" are all the buzz and comics are being taken seriously again.
http://communicationedge.blogspot.com/2007/09/comics-trash-or-treasure.html

Six Sanity-Saving Scenarios to Turn a Massive Breakdown into a Powerful Business Breakthrough
I’ve learned over the years that a breakdown means that something very valuable is happening – I have new insight into how I can improve my process, my attitude, or my belief so that problem never happens again.
Let’s look at a few examples of how breakdowns can occur in our business or life.
http://groworganisation.blogspot.com/2007/09/six-sanity-saving-scenarios-to-turn.html

Ten Questions with Donald Trump
http://pivotalpersonalbest.blogspot.com/2007/09/ten-questions-with-donald-trump.html


What are you committed to?
What do you think of when you hear the word commitment?
http://pivotalbusinesssuccess.blogspot.com/2007/09/what-are-you-committed-to.html

Change or die
What if you were given that choice? For real. What if it weren't just the hyperbolic rhetoric that conflates corporate performance with life and death?
http://pivotalchangeinnovationandcreativity.blogspot.com/2007/09/change-or-die.html

Powerpoint, Library, Creativity, publicity for non-profits, gestures in public speaking, gender in employment, boys and education, leadership, shynes

Doonesbury on Powerpoint
http://pivotalpublicspeaking.wordpress.com/2007/09/23/doonesbury-on-powerpoint/

No Cookies in the Library
New library video - classic Sesame Street
http://liblogger.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/no-cookies-in-the-library/


Book of the Week

Imagination Engineering: Your Toolkit for Business Creativity (Paperback)
by Paul Birch

One of the most difficult questions facing managers and executives today is how to manage creativity. They must constantly re-create the fundamental nature of their businesses. This book provides an excellent review of some of the best cutting edge creativity technologies, as well as many useful new tools.

http://pivotalpersonalbest.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/imagination-engineering-your-toolkit-for-business-creativity/

For Families ... My wonderful World

The “My Wonderful World” site is intended for young people, but anyone will benefit from the numerous interactive activities, quizzes, and such offered here. http://resourcesforfamilies.wordpress.com/2007/09/26/my-wonderful-world-macromedia-flash-player/

Publicity Strategy for your organisation
I have taken this strategy from a suggestion made by John Stanley, a conference speaker and retail consultant. He was writing to encourage publicity for libraries, but the idea would work just as well for many organisations. http://groworganisation.wordpress.com/2007/09/26/publicity-strategy-for-your-organisation-2/

Seven Key Ways to Gesture Effectively
Gestures are reflections of every speaker's individual personality. What's right for one speaker might not necessarily be righ for another ...
http://pivotalpublicspeaking.blogspot.com/2007/09/seven-key-ways-to-gesture-effectively.html

Exploiting the Gender Gap
By WARREN FARRELL

Carlsbad, Calif. — Nothing disturbs working women more than the statistics often mentioned on Labor Day showing that they are paid only 76 cents to men's dollar for the same work.
http://pivotalpersonalbest.blogspot.com/2007/09/exploiting-gender-gap.html

Boys learning
... If a boy prefers to sit on the floor, he can lower his desk to accommodate that preference as well. Stahler told me that the performance of her boys improved “200 percent” when she eliminated the requirement that students sit quietly in the classroom.
http://ednewsbytes.blogspot.com/2007/09/if-boy-prefers-to-sit-on-floor-he-can.html

Create That Winning Feeling
by Bob ProctorI believe we would all agree that having a winning feeling is prerequisite to achieving outstanding results
http://pivotalinspirationmotivation.blogspot.com/2007/09/create-that-winning-feeling.html

Three things to improve your writing rhythm
By Michele Pariza Wacek
As a professional copywriter, not only do I do a lot of writing but I also look at a lot of writing. One of the things I've noticed that sets the good/great writers from the so so is rhythm.
http://communicationedge.blogspot.com/2007/09/three-tips-to-improve-your-writing.html

Overcoming shyness to become an excellent leader
"Don't let timidity stop you from being an excellent leader. Get over your shyness and get your company on the path to success." http://groworganisation.blogspot.com/2007/09/overcoming-shyness-to-become-excellent.html

Coaching, business, public speaking nerves, kids health, bookmarking, speech closes

Public Speaking: How to close a speech
One of the worst mistakes you can make as a public speaker is talking too long.
http://pivotalpublicspeaking.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/public-speaking-how-to-close-a-speech/


Tags Help Make Libraries Del.icio.us
Sponsored Traditional library web products, whether online public access catalogs, library databases, or even library web sites, have long been rigidly controlled and difficult to use. Patrons regularly prefer Google’s simple interface. Now social bookmarking and tagging tools help librarians bridge the gap

http://liblogger.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/social-bookmarking-and-tagging-boost-participation/


Kids health for Parents

http://resourcesforfamilies.wordpress.com/2007/09/18/kids-health-for-parents/


Preparing yourself physically to overcome the fear of public speaking


Physical symptoms are one of the major sources of fear of public speaking. Who wants to stand in front of an audience with dry mouth sweaty palms and limbs that shake despite out best efforts?
If we can deal with those symptoms, then we will be well on the way to dealing with our fear.


http://pivotalpublicspeaking.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/preparing-yourself-physically-to-overcome-the-fear-of-public-speaking/

Book of the Week
Coaching Millions

Some coaches are making millions.

You can make more too.

"Coaching Millions" shows you step by step how to leverage your business growth.

:http://CoachingBestSeller.com/

Libraries and IT, branding, baby computer programmes, book sales, powerpoint, reporting, phobias

Slideshare adds audio
Slideshare, the site that allows us to upload our powerpoint slides presentations has added the capacity to add sound to you slides. http://pivotalpublicspeaking.wordpress.com/2007/08/05/slideshare-adds-audio/

Integration of IT Departments and Libraries
IT departments and LIS departments are increasingly becoming the same thing. Integrating the two services have drawbacks and benefits ... http://liblogger.wordpress.com/2007/08/06/convergence-counselling-integration-of-it-departments-and-libraries/

Study: food in McDonald's wrapper tastes better for kids
Anything made by McDonald’s tastes better, preschoolers said in a study that powerfully demonstrates how advertising can trick the taste buds of young children.
http://resourcesforfamilies.wordpress.com/2007/08/08/study-food-in-mcdonalds-wrapper-tastes-better-to-kids/

Parents tricked by Baby Einstein
A new study says baby development DVDs could actually slow a toddler’s language learning.
http://resourcesforfamilies.wordpress.com/2007/08/09/parents-tricked-by-baby-einstein/

Book town Momentum builds
Plans for a book town in Australia are gathering momentum after a successful Booktown for a Day event was held in the Victorian town of Clunes. http://pivotal.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/book-town-momentum-builds/

8 Steps to a good Powerpoint Presentation
Excellently practical tips on layout here http://pivotalpublicspeaking.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/8-steps-to-a-good-powerpoint-presentation/

Guide to Improving NFP Annual Reporting
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) has released a report aimed at helping charitable and sporting Not for Profits improve their annual reporting standards http://groworganisation.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/guide-to-improving-nfp-annual-reporting/

Conquer Your Phobia
Do you have a fear or phobia?

The Conquer Your Phobia audio program guarantees that your fear can be gone and stay gone so you can begin enjoying your life again. I highly recommend it - the method is simple and easy and it only takes about an hour.

Here’s the website where you can get more information and purchase the program: http://bmritchie.conqphob.hop.clickbank.net

public speaking, careers, harry potter, speech technology, myths and legends, debt, business

I have just sent out Pivotal Public Speaking - the ezine.

You can read it online, or subscribe here and now.

And I've added a new item to the Just for Fun page ...

Seems I’m definitely not going to be an air hostess, according to the Exciting Game for Career Girls. Shame I’m not going to be a doctor or a vet, or even a librarian – maybe those are reserved for the guys in “What shall I be – for boys”

Writers and Readers: The Trouble with Harry
By Ilene Cooper

Not everyone gets to live through a cultural phenomenon, but if you do, it is something you never forget, the sort of experience that bonds a generation. For baby boomers, lightning-in-a-bottle came in the form of the Beatles, who changed music and just about everything else.

Another British phenomenon began in 1997, when the first Harry Potter book was published in the UK

Read on
...http://pivotal.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/writers-and-readers-the-trouble-with-harry/

Malcolm Gladwell of "Blink" and "the Tipping Point" will be presenting Speech Technology at the Tipping Point http://pivotalpublicspeaking.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/malcolm-gladwell-on-speech-technology/

Animated versions of folk tales, myths and leglends - useful in the classroom or just for a browse http://ednewsbytes.blogspot.com/2007/08/world-tales.html

The Internet Librarian Conference is on again. http://liblogger.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/internet-librarian-conference-for-2007/

and finally Managing Business debt http://groworganisation.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/cutting-back-smart-advice-on-managing-business-debt/

I have added a new video to the website .

The Myth Movie

Build the business and life
of your dreams

Library video, anger, attitude, meetings

Yes!! Viral marketing for libraries ....

Super Librarian

Some useful tips here ...
How to control anger in a relationship
http://pivotalpersonalbest.wordpress.com/2007/06/23/learn-how-to-control-anger-in-a-relationship/

and here - well some inspiration least..
Attitude is everything
http://groworganisation.wordpress.com/2007/06/25/attitude-is-everything/

and finally the latest free set of tips is

How to keep your meetings efficient and effective, and still let everyone have their say

Enrol here

I'm back from a fifteenth birthday dinner. Was great and he's a lovely big thing - learning (what am I saying - has learnt!) charm.

Speaking of communication, I have an interesting article on email communication for you ....

Are you kidding me? This is serious! Or, what psychologists have to say about writing e-mail

including ..." a list of writing tips for non-professionals, which I’d highly recommend for professionals and non-professionals alike... One of his most unusual suggestions is to “speak what you write” — literally, to read your writing out loud before publishing, whether in a blog post or just an e-mail to friends.....Read on ...

and while we're on the subject of communication ....


Babies can 'see' language

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have shown that babies can tell when a person switches to a different language just by watching the speaker’s face.

Researchers showed infants videos of three bilingual speakers reciting sentences. After being trained to become comfortable with a speaker reciting a sentence in one language, babies aged 4 and 6 months spent more time looking at a speaker reciting a sentence in a different language — demonstrating that they could tell the difference.

Read on ...

and to grow your businss

"Your Front Line Business Guide Book"

Award winning author Brian Hazelgren once again puts his expertise into the hands of the Entrepreneur. In his first books “Your First Business Plan” and “The Big Book of Business Plans” Brian instructed his readers in writing winning business plans.

Now in “Tactical Entrepreneur” Brian discusses topics such as

• How to make it in the brutal world of business ownership
• Acquire the TACTICAL abilities needed to be successful
• Creating the FREEDOM needed to reach your goals
• Establishing Calculated Risks
• Learning from others mistakes
• Do you have what it takes?
• Targeting your market
• How to build a successful marketing plan
• Business Planning
• Plus Much More!

The book also contains worksheets, brainstorming techniques, the nine signs of an entrepreneur and a sample business plan. This book is a must for anyone who is just starting out or the seasoned professional who needs a refresher course.

get your own copy of Tactical Entrepreneur visit http://www.tacticalentrepreneur.com/?afid=2215

and on the library side ...

Building a library website on the pillars of Web 2.0

Here's a great explanation of what Web 2.0 actually is and how you can implement it in your library.

Read the whole article

Do you wish you were 15 again? I don't, but it's nice to mix with them occasionally!