A Note from Ruby Read More Special Offer: Ruby in the Raw! Read More Feature Article: "Speak in Public or Have a Root Canal - Which would you choose?" Read More End of Year Special Discount Read More Ruby's Schedule Read More	October 30, 2007 Volume 4, Issue 5 Sign up for this Newsletter or Read Past Issues
"Helping organizations make exceptional customer service a way of life through consulting, training and keynotes."

I know it has been a while but I have a good excuse...I have been focusing on speaking, playing with the new puppy and losing weight and I am happy to report that over the last 8 months I lost 80 lbs. I finally found the diet that works for me. And believe me I have tried them all. No supplements, no drugs, just plain ole lean meat, fruits and vegetables. It all started when I heard Leah Remini talking about her weight loss on Entertainment Tonight. She mentioned this web site and I had to check it out!

So now I am busy buying a new wardrobe and showing it off at all the conferences this fall. How fun it is to be called "Skinny." I never thought that would happen in this lifetime! I hope to see you soon so I can tell you all about the journey. In the meantime, check out my fall schedule so perhaps our paths can cross. Your fan,

Ruby Newell-Legner, CSP

Ruby in the Raw! What??!! Sorry, folks, but despite her svelte new figure, we're talking about her audio tapes! We're selling Ruby in the Raw – her inspiring, motivational and educational audio tape series entitled "Supervisor-in-a-Box" without the box and offering you some svelte prices! Order now and get a single program for the thin, thin price of $6.97 or the whole set for $20.08 since 2008 is just around the corner. That is incredible savings off the original price of $37 per program and $137 for the whole set.
The Supervisor in a Box Series is a powerful resource divided into 4 tape albums. Each album has two cassette tapes packed with information that will help you lead others and build strong teams. Included with each program is a web address for a downloadable workbook that guides you through all the elements covered in the tapes. The Four Two-Hour Audio Cassette Tape Series includes: Supervisory Skills for Success How to Attract and Select Great Employees How to Develop an Effective Employee Training Program Encouraging Staff Development: The Performance Appraisal Process Click here to purchase Ruby in the Raw! Act now – supplies are limited! Sale Ends Nov. 13.

Dry mouth, queasy stomach, loss of breath, shaking hands...all are symptoms of an anxiety reported to be stronger than the fear of dying - speaking in front of a group. Jerry Seinfeld once said that at a funeral, most people would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy.

No one wants to look foolish or inept and as the group turns their gaze your way you can feel the nervousness take over your body and suddenly you have trouble remembering your own name.

Has this ever happened to you? It used to happen to me before every speech but I now know the secrets to successful speaking. But it took quite a while to overcome all thesse symptoms and take control of the impression I was about to leave the audience.

After presenting 1700 programs I am often asked if I still get nervous. My reply? Of course, but I have learned to control it by doing the following things:

1. Instead of concentrating on delivering a speech - pretend you are having a conversation with one person. If it helps, imagine just telling your best friend what you came to tell the audience.
2. Dress professionally. Choose your attire based on being dressed just a little better thans the audience is dressed. If you overdress you lose rapport with the audience. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
3. Use confident posture and mannerisms. Stand tall and use your hands for gestures - not so big that they take away from your message, but use them to complement your delivery. Watch the newscasters; they keep their hands out of their pockets.
4. Be yourself. Congruency is the hallmark of a great speaker. Do you see the same kind of behavior on the platform as you do in "off stage" life? A speaker can't preach wisdom they aren't living themselves.
5. Use a formula for your talk. Focus on 3-5 points and then enhance those points with stories, statistics and examples. Or use the "Past, Present, Future" Approach to identify where you have been, where you are and where you are going with a specific plan.
6. Open it up for questions 3/4 through your talk so you can control the ending of your program. Don't save Q & A until the end. There is nothing worse than having some naysayer offer his two cents and that is what the audience goes home remembering.
7. The most important 60 seconds of your presentation is the first 30 seconds and the last 30 seconds. Memorize those lines and practice them so you can say them even when you are the most nervous. Own the stage before you start and then end with the point you want them to remember most.
8. Remember -- Air is your friend. It took me two years to learn how to breathe while I was on stage. You need air to process thoughts effectively so take it in and let it help you think better. It's ok to pause if you need a breath. The audience wants to hear your message so make sure you have enough air so they can hear you.
9. Use stories to illustrate your points. Don't use inappropriate humor. I have seen many speakers fall on their face by starting with a joke that was not politically correct. You want your audience to respect you as an expert from the start.
10. Be prepared. Don't wing it. The amount of time and effort you invest in preparing your presentation will do two things:
1. give you the experience to hone in on exactly what you want to say and give you plenty of time to practice saying it
2. help you gain the confidence to present a polished presentation

The confidence to speak in front of a group is the greatest impediment to an individual's professional growth. Is your fear of speaking in front of a group holding you back from your next promotion or job opportunity?

If so, plan to attend my full-day workshop at the Athletic Business Conference Nov. 28 in Orlando, FL. To register click here. Here is a sampling of what I plan to cover.

8:30am-Noon Presentation Skills: How to Stand Out and Get Your Message Across in Any Situation

Tips to overcome the fear of speaking in public
Mistakes presenters make and how to avoid them
How to create a polished first impression
Steps for creating a presentation
How to plan your approach, opening remarks and closing statements
Guidelines for a great delivery
Keys to avoid talking too fast
Using visuals to enhance your presentation
Ruby's basic rules for using PowerPoint
Hints for the best way to answer questions
How to keep the audience interested in what you have to say

1:30-5:00pm Building Leaders through Training: Enhancing Your Orientation and Staff Development Programs

Understanding how adults learn
Creating a positive learning environment
Motivating employees to learn new skills
Creative techniques to increase the effectiveness of new employee orientation programs
Designing training sessions to promote staff development
Keeping the training interactive
Handling difficult participants
Techniques to enhance recall and retention
Key elements of an employee orientation program
5 critical errors on how training is usually delivered

Remember - click here to read more about my sessions and register for the Athletic Business Conference in Orlando, FL.

© 2007 RubySpeaks, Inc. You are free to reprint or share this article providing you include Ruby's copyright information, leave it unaltered and include Ruby's contact information on the page.

End of Year Special Discount $1000 Off training and No Travel Costs Book Ruby for training in Nov. or Dec. 2007 for $1000 off her regular rates and Ruby covers her own travel expenses. She is available these dates. Nov. 18, 19, 20, 21, 26 and Dec. 11-18, 20-21. Call 303-933-9291 or email Michele@RubySpeaks.com today!

Nov. 1, 2007	Keynote Presenter, Texas Civic Center Association Galveston, TX
Nov. 7, 2007	Trainer, West Shore Parks and Recreation and the Greater Victoria Recreation Departments Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Nov. 12 - 15, 2007	Presenter - International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo 2007 Orlando, FL Nov. 12 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm Understanding and Dealing with Change Nov. 15 8:30am - 5:45 pm Guest Relations for the Attractions Industry
Nov. 28 - Dec. 1, 2007	Presenter, Athletic Business Conference & Expo Orlando, FL Nov. 28 8:30 - Noon Presentation Skills: How to Stand Out and Get Your Message Across in Any Situation Nov. 28 1:30-5:00pm Building Leaders through Training: Enhancing Your Orientation and Staff Development Programs Nov. 29 8:00 - 9:30am How to Select Great Employees Nov. 30 10:15 - 11:45am How Effective Leaders Communicate Nov. 30 3:30 - 5:00pm Dealing with Upset Customers
Dec. 3 - 7, 2007	Leadership Strategies for Success, a Workshop hosted by New York State Recreation and Park Society Event open to the public Buffalo (12/3/07) Rochester (12/4/07) Syracuse (12/5/07) Capital Region (12/6/07) Hudson Valley (12/7/07)
Dec. 19, 2007	Trainer, Supervisory Skills for Success, Sky Ridge Medical Center Lone Tree, CO

Recognized as a leading provider of staff development programs for the Leisure Industry, Ruby Newell-Legner has designed and presented more than 1700 programs in nine countries.

Ruby offers customized learning programs, targeted to supervisors and front line staff. As an award-winning, international speaker, Ruby works with organizations to build better relationships: from front-line employees to customers, from co-worker to co-worker, and from supervisors to the employees they supervise. She helps participants refine skills that make relationships work.

Whether you are building a new team, or looking to rejuvenate your existing staff ... Ruby can help. To check Ruby's availability, call today at 303-933-9291 or send us e-mail Info@RubySpeaks.com

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Copyright © 2003-2007 Ruby Newell-Legner, CSP All rights reserved.