http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/index.php/blog-azine en dbrooks@texas.net Copyright 2008 2008-04-15T11:56:00-06:00 http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/affect_or_effect/ http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/affect_or_effect/#When:11:56:00Z Most of the time, affect is a verb and effect is a noun. However, this is only a “most-of-the-time” guide, since affect can at times be a noun and effect can at times be a verb. But, instead of confusing the issue with exceptions that are rarely used, I’ll concentrate on the most common uses. Affect is almost always a verb meaning “to influence or change.” Use it this way: “Will this affect my performance review?” Effect is almost always a noun meaning “result.” Use it this way: “We need to address the effect of your behavior.” Want to learn more? Consider my two writing seminars: Business Writing in Plain English and Goof-Proof Grammar. The Written Word 2008-04-15T11:56:00-06:00 http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/now_in_toastmaster_magazine/ http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/now_in_toastmaster_magazine/#When:02:01:00Z An article that you may have already seen here on my website, originally titled The Competitive Spirit, has been published in the April, 2008, issue of Toastmaster magazine (p.7). Now titled Don’t Wake Up Too Soon, the article explains that Toastmasters’ speech contests are not about titles or trophies. Instead, they are the fastest route to the greatest improvement. This article was one of nine on my Resources page available for reprint with my compliments. After the magazine has been circulated, I will re-post it on that page. But in the meantime, watch your mailbox for the April issue. Remember, you saw it here first. In The News 2008-04-15T02:01:00-06:00 http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/get_paid_like_bill_clinton/ http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/get_paid_like_bill_clinton/#When:17:01:00Z In an article titled Be Like Bill Clinton--Make Big Money Giving Speeches, posted this morning on Mainstreet.com, I’m quoted twice, along with fellow professional speakers Tom Antion and NSA Vice President Philip van Hooser. Though we can’t tell you how to make $52 million as President Clinton did since 2000, we do provide insights into how you can make money as a professional speaker.  In The News 2008-04-08T17:01:00-06:00 http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/can_it_be_truly_unique/ http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/can_it_be_truly_unique/#When:00:59:00Z A blog-azine subscriber, Jerry Dunn, politely and correctly called to my attention a usage error I had posted in my entry that is now titled “Now, this is unique.” Originally, the item was titled “Now, this is truly unique.” (Don’t look for the mistake--I’ve already corrected it.) Jerry wrote ”unique can’t be modified--it’s either unique or it isn’t.” He further explained, “so-called ‘incomparables’ are words that express absolutes and therefore can’t be used with comparatives (such as more) and superlatives (such as most).” Jerry added, “other examples of absolutes are eternal, equal, and fatal.” He’s absolutely right, and I wish I had caught it, except for the fact that my error gave me another teaching point. Jerry is the author of The National Geographic Traveler: San Francisco. I can’t say it’s truly unique...but I bet it’s worth a look. The Written Word 2008-04-05T00:59:00-06:00 http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/4_fundamentals_of_speaking/ http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/4_fundamentals_of_speaking/#When:22:41:00Z In a previous post (1-11-08) I said you must determine what you want your audience to think, feel, or do as a result of your presentation and be able to write that desired outcome on the back of a business card. So once you’ve succinctly defined your desired outcome, you must decide what techniques you’ll use. There are hundreds of techniques, but they all fall under an umbrella of four fundamentals: you speak to 1) inform, 2) persuade, 3) inspire, or 4) entertain. It can be any one, or a combination of two, three, or all four of these, but it must be at least one. Therefore, your business card statement of purpose will read: “I will persuade the audience to (complete the sentence),” or “I will entertain the audience by (complete the sentence),” or “I will inform the audience of (complete the sentence),” or “I will inspire the audience by (complete the sentence). Want to learn more? Consider Connect With Any Audience and my speaking skills seminars Elements of Eloquence and Eight Essentials of Effective Speaking. The Spoken Word 2008-03-31T22:41:00-06:00 http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/now_this_is_truly_unique/ http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/now_this_is_truly_unique/#When:02:38:00Z Everybody has a story according to one of my audio programs. But some have better stories than others. I had the privilege this week of spending time with a young man whose story is unique. His name is Sean Aiken and he’s almost finished with a year-long project in which he has held a different job every week for the past year. Actually, he just completed week 50 as an association executive in Austin, Texas. Next week he “enlists” in the Canadian Air Force and in his concluding week he will be Mayor of his hometown, Port Moody, British Columbia. I encourage you to read about his grand year-long adventure at OneWeekJob.com. To read about his experience in Austin with my family and me, read his March 20, 2008 blog entry titled Discovering the Land of Associations. If you’re like me, you will be impressed and inspired. Dave's Raves 2008-03-22T02:38:00-06:00 http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/featured_on_reuters/ http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/featured_on_reuters/#When:02:22:00Z The day following the Clinton-Obama debate in Ohio, several international news services, including Reuters, distributed an article by Toastmaster Magazine Editor Suzanne Frey that featured my commentary and analysis. Also featured in the article are past International Director Ann Hastings and fellow World Champion Lance Miller. Carried by numerous publications around the world, the article, A Slugfest of Speaking Skills: Toastmasters Declare Obama Winner of Debate can be read here. In The News 2008-03-17T02:22:00-06:00 http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/comma_before_and/ http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/comma_before_and/#When:14:15:00Z Which is correct: “The flag is red, white, and blue” or “The flag is red, white and blue”? Actually, both are acceptable. However, as a general practice the recommended business style is to use the comma before “and.” This comes straight from the Gregg Reference Manual, my favorite grammar dispute settler. According to Gregg: “When three or more items are listed in a series and the last item is preceded by and, or, or nor, place a comma before the conjunction.” However, many newspapers and magazines prefer the “non-comma” style, and that is also acceptable. But what is not acceptable is to use both styles intermittently. Pick one style and stick with it. Otherwise, you look careless. Want to learn more? Consider my two writing seminars: Business Writing in Plain English and Goof-Proof Grammar. The Written Word 2008-03-16T14:15:00-06:00 http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/whats_your_reason_for_speaking/ http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/whats_your_reason_for_speaking/#When:18:27:00Z Before you speak or write a single word, you must determine what you want your audience to think, feel, or do as a result of your presentation. You may think this is common sense. It is, but it is not common practice. Most speakers skip this critical step, assuming “I know my material. I’ll say it and the audience will hear it; if they hear it, they’ll figure out the message.” Wrong. Your purpose will never be clearer to a listener than it is to you. That’s why I recommend you apply the “business card test.” As noted in a posting below (1-11-2008) you should write on the back of your business card exactly what you want the audience to think, feel, or do as a result of your presentation. Why use the back of a business card? See “The Business Card Test” entry below. Want to learn more? Consider Connect With Any Audience and my speaking skills seminars Elements of Eloquence and Eight Essentials of Effective Speaking. The Spoken Word 2008-03-15T18:27:00-06:00 http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/ending_a_sentence_with_at/ http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/blog-azine/entry/ending_a_sentence_with_at/#When:18:13:00Z We’ve all been admonished, “Never end a sentence with at.” True, there are times when you definitely should not; but there are also times when you should. It’s common to hear “Where is he at?” That’s simply wrong, but not for the reason most think. You may think it’s because “at” is a preposition and “you shouldn’t end a sentence with a preposition*.” But that’s not the reason. It’s merely because “at” in the sentence above is a redundancy. “Where is he?” says exactly the same thing, so adding “at” is simply superfluous. And your goal should be to have no unnecessary words. However, there are times when “at” is desirable at the end of a sentence. If you see someone looking at you, snickering, what are you going to say: “What are you laughing at?” Or, would you say “At what are you laughing?” I’d choose “What are you laughing at?” any day. *If you still believe “you shouldn’t end a sentence with a preposition,” see the entry dated 3-8-2008 below. Want to learn more? Consider my two writing seminars: Business Writing in Plain English and Goof-Proof Grammar. The Written Word 2008-03-15T18:13:00-06:00