6th Annual ASTD RMC Showcase Program

Join us for the 6th Annual ASTD Rocky Mountain Chapter Learning Showcase event as we recognize exemplary training programs completed by our local training community in 2011. This meeting provides an opportunity to see exceptional projects other Rocky Mountain training professionals are creating and their associated business results  You will learn how these projects address the challenges we all face such as: Working with limited resources Gaining executive support Identifying and implementing learning technology Utilizing new learning tools such as social media, mobile learning Demonstrating business results

What’s new this year:

This year we will not use a competitive format with winners and not winners. Our goal is to showcase training projects to our professional learning community that recognize and communicate creative and effective solutions to the learning challenges we all share. Due to time constraints, all participants may not be able to present but will receive recognition for their participation.

The benefits of participating:

• Receive a framed certificate recognizing your participation.
• Attend a festive dinner to honor your work and organization
• Recognition for your organization and program on the ASTD-RMC website.
• Receive visibility that demonstrates to your executive leadership the business contribution of your organization.
• Participate in the workplace learning community

Why would I or my organization want to participate?

• Training Professionals: We encourage you to submit your best work so we can all see how training is making a “difference” in your organization’s success. We all get better by sharing our work and getting ideas and inspiration from our professional peers.
• Training and Organization Managers: I know we are all trying to more with less and having our already overworked staff do “one more thing. What better way to show your support for your team than this kind of recognition. Your team will grow professionally, meet their peers, get new ideas, and bring all this back to your organization.

Don’t miss this opportunity to both recognize the achievements of other local training professionals as well as learn how others are successfully addressing the challenges we all face.

Event details:

Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Agenda:
5:30 Networking and registration
6:00 – 6:30 Dinner
6:30 – 8:30 Presentations and Recognition

Place:
Courtyard Denver Cherry Creek
1475 South Colorado Boulevard
Denver, CO 80222
(303) 757-8797

Investment: $40 members and $50 nonmembers

Presenter: Master of Ceremonies: Mark Bower


To participate, contact Mark Bower at 303-475-2332 or mbower@edgeinteractive.com

Lutze’s Findability Group Featured on OWN Network

NSA Colorado professional member Heather Lutze is moving in rarefied air these days! Denver Post columnist Penny Parker recently featured a story about Heather and her company The Findability Group’s upcoming appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN television network. To top off her fall speaking schedule, Heather’s been booked to speak in London with motivational speaker Tony Robbins. Click Here to read the Post’s blurb under the headline “Second Shot”.

26 Essential Items for a Professional Speaker’s Carry-On Bag ~ Orvel Ray Wilson, CSP

After 30 years as a Professional Speaker, I presented a two-day Guerrilla Selling seminar recently in Nairobi, Kenya, where I was reminded of the importance of being self-sufficient on the road.  Africa is like a whole other country, and it’s hard to find stuff.  The same could be said of Lincoln, Nebraska.  Every Professional speaker should take responsibility for their own comfort and equipment, and always be prepared for the inevitable catastrophe.

The Professional Speaker’s Gig bag should contain:

1. Your laptop computer
2. A dedicated power supply that stays in your bag.  (I recommend the universal Targus AC70U.)  Leave the factory version at your desk.   That way you’ll never make the mistake of forgetting to pack it. And you won’t be too disappointed when you leave the universal one behind at a venue.  You can always get another at Staples.
3. Your own PowerPoint controller (I highly recommend the Logitech Professional Presenter R800, which includes a green laser and a cool timer that vibrates to tell you when to shut the hell up.)
4. A small portable mouse (a cheap one works fine; you won’t be using it that much.)
5. Copy of your install disk for Microsoft Office for when you’re sitting in a FedEx Kinko’s at 2:00 AM and need that obscure printer driver.
6. A 4 gig flash drive for backing up your presentation, and another for using sneakernet to transport it between platforms. Better still, carry an extra backup in your pocket or purse. It will save your show when your laptop dies or is stolen out of the meeting room while you pee.
7. Portable travel alarm clock with a display that you can read from across the stage.  (Try the free iPhone app NightTime for its big red-number display.)
8. Portable digital thermometer, to settle the argument between the hotel engineer and the whining guest who insists it’s too cold.
9. Fully loaded iPod, with royalty-free music that you can play during walk-in and breaks in your program, plus news podcasts, a movie and a favorite TV show or two.
10. iPod/iPhone USB connector cord and AC adapter/charger
11. A spare pair of Apple earbuds so you can listen on the plane
12. A stereo 1/8″ (mini) phone to 2 mono 1/4″ phone send return (insert) cable so you can plug the iPod directly into the sound system (write it down and ask the geek at Radio Shack).
13. Noise canceling headphones (I highly recommend the Bose Quiet Comfort 15′s.  They sound great, and are a great comfort when stuck on a plane next to the inconsolably crying baby.)
14. Three or four spare AAA batteries to power your remote and headphones.
15. Package of 2 spare Duracell 12V batteries for the wireless mics, even when the hotel supplies them. When they go dead, it’s always in the middle of your show.
16. Package of Halls Honey Lemon Cough Drops (the Cherry ones make your tongue look weird)
17. Pack of chewable Pepto Bismo tablets
18. Package of Imodium AD (for when the Pepto Bismo doesn’t help)
19. Melatonin tablets. The absolute best herbal remedy for jet lag. Take two an hour or two before sleepytime.
20. Blindfold (for airplane sleepytime. Also handy for terminating unwanted conversations with annoying seatmates.) You can buy them in most airport shops, but they hand these out free in first class, so ask the cabin crew for one on your next long haul.
21. Copy of your room setup instructions. The hotel will have lost the one you sent ahead. Trust me on this. And carry a version in Spanish, for when you’re working in a Latin American city like Los Angeles or Miami.
22. Copy of your standard introduction, printed in 24 point type. Your introducer will have forgotten the one you sent ahead. Trust me on this too.
23. Color copy of your passport (and applicable visas)
24. Color copy of your drivers license (enlarged 2x)
25. A crisp $100 bill (series 2000 or later; some overseas hotels won’t accept the older ones). Hide it in a zippered pocket of your computer bag. This can bail you out of a lot of trouble almost anywhere in the world.
26. $100 in 20s for tipping the hotel housemen when you have ask them to reset the whole meeting room classroom style instead of rounds.

All this, and more, fits neatly in my IBM Thinkpad’s little backback. Not only has it saved my skin, but it’s rescued more than my share of other speakers as well.

Support Kids as they Shine in the Spotlight!

Come join NSA Colorado for the 5th Annual NSA/CO Tennyson Center Speech Contest on February 1st. It’s an incredible experience you’ll never forget!

Please come and support the NSA/CO Tennyson Center Speech Contest on Tuesday, February 1st, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Be sure to arrive at the Tennyson Center for Children at least ten minutes early for seating purposes.) This is an annual event that NSA Colorado sponsors to help raise money for abused and neglected children in need and to give the kids a chance to shine as speakers. It’s a heartwarming morning that makes a big difference in the lives of these children. The address and phone number for the Tennyson Center is: 2950 Tennyson Street, Denver, CO 80212-3029; (720) 855-3200. To get directions visit their website at www.tennysoncenter.org. See you there!

NSA Colorado’s February Event means More Money in your Pocket!

NSA Colorado hosts world-renowned large company sales expert Jill Konrath at the next monthly event on Friday morning, February 11, 2011 at the Denver Athletic Club. Whether you’re a professional speaker, trainer, coach or consultant, you will profit from Jill’s mastery of the techniques that result in more prospects, faster sales and more profits. Simply put, if you’re in business, you need to attend! Members, affiliates and honored guests can register today for this fantastic morning session at http://www.nsacolorado.org/meetings-events/nsas-next-monthly-meeting/ Register before February 7^th for special discounted attendance pricing. The Denver Athletic Club is located at 1325 Glenarm Place, Denver 80204. The NSA Colorado meeting begins at 7:45am in the fourth floor ballroom with our new member/first-timer’s orientation. Networking begins at 8am and the main program runs from 8:30am-Noon. See you there!

NSA Colorado returns to the Denver Athletic Club!

NSA Colorado goes Back to the Future & returns to the Denver Athletic Club for our 2011 winter and spring events, starting with the January 8th meeting. The DAC has been a downtown Denver institution for more than a century, helping members stay in “peak” condition with a vast array of athletic offerings. Covered parking is available for NSA Colorado members, affiliates and guests, along with light snacks to get your morning off on the right foot. Make a mental note, or jot it on your palm, about our “new” location at 1325 Glenarm Place, Denver 80204.  Here’s a map link to make the trip enjoyable!

Small Talk makes Big News at the Holidays

Millions of people look to NSA Colorado professional member Debra Fine to help them navigate the perils of small talk. Deb’s award-winning series of books started with “The Fine Art of Small Talk” and she’s earned an international reputation as an entertaining and informative speaker. In a Denver Post column leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, Deb shared her Top Ten Conversation Land Mines! Click Here to read more in Penny Parker’s column in the Denver Post.

How NSA Colorado Got Its Start as Told by Joe Sabah & Judy Sabah

Joe began working with the American Motivational Association in 1973 and continued until 1977. His involvement was booking Cavett Robert, Zig Ziglar, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and Dr. Morris Massey for motivational programs and filling the seats for those programs.

He began noticing that wherever he went, people were asking him about the subjects of speaking and booking speakers. Joe had been in the habit of collecting business cards and in 1979 decided to find out how many people were actually interested in the subject of Speaking.

Using his collected business cards, Joe invited 20 people to his first class, “How To Speak for Fun and Profit” in the fall of 1979. One of the people he invited was Judy. They began dating and were married in 1981.

We now know the answer to the question Joe had as he wondered if people were actually interested in speaking. The class has been taught for over 30 years.

After attending their first NSA National Convention in New Orleans the summer of 1980, Joe and Judy began hearing about local chapters being started. They learned that the 1982 Chicago convention would include meetings giving information on forming a chapter. The thought of learning more about how to start a chapter was very exciting.  Joe and Judy had made a decision and felt ready to start a chapter in Denver. After the Chicago convention they came home and began organizing their first meeting.

Using the database of “How to Speak for Fun and Profit” attendees, and others interested in Speaking, which had grown since 1979, they invited them to the kick-off meeting at the American Motel in Wheat Ridge.  55 people showed up.  The date was July 31, 1982. Even better, since Joe had booked Cavett Robert to speak in Grand Junction the day before the meeting, Cavett came to Denver to speak and kick off the first meeting and give his blessing to the new chapter.

Joe was elected as Founding President and Judy Sabah served as Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Program Chair. Together they worked to build a strong chapter in Colorado.

In 1984 the chapter, Colorado Speakers Association, was chartered and elected its first officers. Bill Kuehn was the first elected President.

Some years later the name was changed to NSA/CO, as NSA wanted all the chapters names to be uniform.
The seminar from which NSA Colorado was born, “How to Speak for Fun and Profit” first drew 20 people for three hours.  The next week the seminar drew 20 more and has continued for more than 30 years, now being presented two times per month.

www.JoeSabah.com 303-722-7200
www.JudySabah.com 303-777-1765

Colorado NSA Member Garners Fame on the Field & Platform

NSA Colorado Members reflect a diverse cross-section of expertise & experience. One of the chapter’s professional members distinguishes himself on the platform these days, but distinguished himself on the field of play for many years as a member of the NFL’s Denver Broncos. Karl Mecklenburg was a defensive standout for the team for more than a decade, and is one of only 20 ex-Broncos to be honored with a spot in the team’s Ring of Fame. This photo shows Karl (brown leather jacket, just to left of center) returning from the coin flip before 2010’s home game with the Kansas City Chiefs after he served as a ceremonial captain. Karl’s an inspiration from the platform, and apparently still an inspiration on the field as Denver beat Kansas City 49-29 that day!

NSA CO Holiday Celebration

Click Here to register now!

Where is Book Publishing Going & How Can You Profit from the Changes?

Find out August 20-21 in Denver

­

Three Masters in Independent Publishing have put together an all day course:

Book Marketing with the Masters Summit

PLUS a bonus Dinner (only 27 can attend) designed to take published authors to the next, next level in their book marketing and selling achievements.

You will have access to Brian Jud (Beyond the Bookstore—Eliane Dumler’s #1 source in kick-starting her book success), Judith Briles (Show Me About Book Publishing—available in Nov and known as The Book Shepherd) and Dan Poynter (The Self-Publishing Manual).

Events are scheduled for August 20^th and August 21^st in Denver – 3 Powerhouses for publishing and marketing success!

For details, see www.MastersOfBookMarketing.com

***NSA Members get Author U Rate of $129.  This price increases to $149 on August 7^th (www.Meetup.com/author-books-colorado)

NSA Colorado’s Julia Hubbel in the Wall Street Journal on Effective Networking

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704717004575268763773483060.html?KEYWORDS=julia+hubbel

Speaking of Products!

The creation of simple, profitable products not only gives you an additional stream of income when you are booking speeches; it gives you much needed copyright and trademark protection. You may be thinking about creating products that carry your message. How do you start? Which products will best showcase your business? How much will it cost? Do you need to trademark them and, if so, how do you go about it?

I can’t teach you the whole process here, but let’s start at the beginning. Think of it as mining for gold. First, sift through key words, phrases, memorable concepts and signature stories that relate to your business. Sort through these valuable intellectual properties until you are left with only THE BEST, the shiny nuggets which are distinctive and memorable. Use your audience, clients and friends to help you identify the most creative and memorable material.

Next, see if your words or phrases are available. I recommend three methods. First, go to www.uspto.gov (US Patent and Trademark online site) and do a quick trademark search (TESS). You can see if any of your phrases have already been trademarked or are pending trademark status. Second, Google the phrase (use quotes around your entry) and see if anything similar or matching comes up. Finally, go to www.dogpile.com for a broader search. These steps will give you an 80 – 90% accurate idea about whether you should proceed with your keywords. In order to be completely sure that your keywords/phrases are not already in use, hire an attorney who specializes in intellectual property.

Take the first, simple step to protect your properties, if you haven’t already done so, by placing a very small TM (the abbreviation for trademark) to the right of the word or phrase. This puts others on notice that you are staking your claim. At a later date, you may want to consider filing for a registered trademark.

Now that you’ve targeted potential phrases, what products should you choose to showcase them? I recommend a simple first step. Design a bookmark—a content driven, artistic and inspirational piece that captures the essence of what you have to share with people. This simple and powerful product will protect and test your concept and can generate revenue without a lot of investment. Bookmarks make a nice revenue add-on when you book your next speech. They are a great way to remind your audience about you and encourage them to visit your web site or contact you down the line.

For example, your bookmark might read, “Five Hot Tips to Turn Your Cold Calls into Hot Leads!” Put a TM to the right of it. List your five tips in an attractive way on the front and, on the back, put your contact info, copyright and logo. The sales will follow.

There are over twenty-five great product categories and hundreds of product ideas to maximize your speaking impact, create a revenue stream and drive business.

Come to the Colorado Chapter of the National Speakers Association www.nsacolorado.org, May 7, 2010 at the Denver Athletic Club from 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. for the full story on products, trademarks and licensing.

Ilan Shamir
Your True Nature, Inc.
www.yourtruenature.com

How To Beat Writer’s Block — Every time! By Dan Janal

Every article in the world has already been written – not! Ever had trouble thinking up an idea for an article? Hasn’t everyone?

My coaching clients are always pulling their hair out asking me to brainstorm ideas with them.

Truth is, I was pulling my hair out as well when it came time for me to write articles. Did the world really need another article about how to write a press release or talk to a reporter? Those ideas have been done to death.

I was wracking my brains trying to think of a new idea, a cutting edge theme, a story that hadn’t been told that would inspire others. I wanted to write articles that would position me as the thought leader in publicity and internet marketing so I could get hired to give more speeches. You don’t get to be a thought leader by covering the same ground as everyone else.

And I’d give up in frustration because the ideas weren’t coming. Then the truth dawned on me.

While a topic might have been done before, it wasn’t done from my perspective. And that means the article needs to be written. Let me explain.

My perspective on a topic is different than yours. Not better, but different. My ideas have been shaped by my background, my experiences, books I’ve read, clients I’ve coached, companies I’ve worked for, people I’ve met and so on. So have yours. If we were both assigned to write an article on the same topic, you and I would write completely different articles because of our different backgrounds.

Best yet, there is no competition here. I wouldn’t say my article is better than yours, or that yours is better than mine. They are different. And the reader benefits in that difference.

For example, I might write an article on a marketing topic and i would base it on my experience working with small businesses. You might write about that same topic, but with your Fortune 1000 background, you’d have a completely different perspective. Both articles would be great and they’d be great for each audience. The audience would decide which article to read, which website to peruse and which consultant to hire. That would be perfect, because the reader would choose the person who was the best fit. No consultant I know wants to work in a relationship that would be a bad fit.

Search article directories for ideas for articles and write those articles from your own perspective, filled with your own case studies, your own stories, your own solutions and your own jokes. Make the articles uniquely you.

If you do, you’ll build a library of worthwhile reading and you just might find that perfect client who wants to work with someone exactly like you.

Do you want your press release picked up in major media? Read my special report “How to Get Your Business-Oriented Press Release Printed on Top Tier Media Sites – Guaranteed,” by visiting http://www.prleadsplus.com/toptiermedia/. Publicity thought leader Dan Janal is Founder and President of PR LEADS PLUS which offers a variety of do-it-yourself tools to help small businesses get publicity, including media lists, press release writing and targeted article marketing services and press release distribution.

Need NSACO Volunteers for Social Media Team!

Calling anyone who is addicted to Twitter, YouTube, Facebook or LinkedIn!

This is Heather Lutze, I am currently helping with the NSA Colorado web site and the Chapter’s social media efforts.

I need help in building a stronger social media presence to spread the word for NSA Colorado.
I am looking for the following people to spend one hour per week or less tweeting or posting on the following SMM sites:

• Twitter (Need 1 -2 people) – (http://twitter.com/nsacolorado)  Responsible for helping  tweeting 1-2 time per day for NSACO event and or interesting speaking topics. We can automate this as well to keep it easy.
• Facebook - (Need 1 person) (Visit NSA Colorado Facebook Page) - Updating Wall posts and events to promote on the NSA CO Facebook Fan Page.
• Linkedin - (Need anyone who has account) – Posting events for upcoming NSACO meetings.
• YouTube - (Need 1 -3 People) This role would be taking Flip camera style video at events and posting them to YouTube Channel for NSACO.

Just contact Heather Lutze at 3036-841-3111 and we can start the journey together. As a give back to you for your help, I will coach you personally on these portals and instruct you on how to optimize each tweet, wall post or Linked-In profile to rank in the search engine ranking. As you contribute to the Chapter, you’ll also get actionable benefit for your own speaking business! This invitation applies to NSA Members and Affiliates.

Thank to everyone who can help volunteer for this group. As a group we can divide the work and everyone can learn some great skills to apply to their own businesses. PLEASE EMAIL HEATHER LUTZE at hlutze@FindabilityGroup.com or call 303-841-3111 to sign up! We will schedule a coaching session and get started right away.

TOP THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GETTING STARTED WITH A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT By Brad Montgomery & Renee Blanchard

With today’s technology, it is easier and more practical than ever to hire a Virtual Assistant to keep you organized and help you run your business. Here, Brad Montgomery from Brad Montgomery Productions and his Virtual Assistant, Renee Blanchard, share their top three keys to success:

Collaborate on your work
> Brad and Renee set up a Google Docs site where they share their work including to-do lists, project planners, final versions of documents, etc. Using this system, each of them can edit and view the others’ work at any time. Don’t reinvent the wheel – many templates are available in whatever collaboration system you choose.

Communicate
> Establish a way to communicate with each other about current and upcoming projects. Use the tools you are both comfortable with: Instant Messaging, Email, Phone Meetings. Save all communication for future reference. If you have a phone meeting, jot down your notes and save as a document or email so can make sure you are both on the same page about projects.

Track your time
> One of the great things about having a Virtual Assistant is that you can use a pay-per-project model. In order to track time spent on any given project, it’s helpful to set up an online tracking system. Brad and Renee are successfully using FreshBooks online system for tracking and invoicing.

Once you get these three key pieces in place you will have set the tone and the groundwork for a successful working relationship with a Virtual Assistant.

Have you used a Virtual Assistant for your business? What other advice would you give to a colleague considering hiring a Virtual Assistant? Leave your ideas and comments below.

This information was provided by Renee Blanchard on behalf of Brad Montgomery Productions – if you haven’t already done so, be sure to check out Brad’s website and Brad’s blog.

http://www.bradmontgomery.com/
http://www.bradlaughs.com/

NSA Colorado’s Virtual Assistant is Heather Gilmore at heather@invis-assist.com

I’m baaaaack! Here’s the second installment of Telling Stories That Connect.

Step number two in the Three Step Story Process is to Connect. In this step you begin to draw parallels between what you have experienced and the lesson(s) learned.

Connect: What’s important about the list of times, places and words or phrases that you see before you? One way to jump-start the connecting process is to think about the values or ethics you learned at each stop along the way. What I learned that dark night in January of 1974 is that material things mean nothing when you have your family. I also learned to keep a pair of shoes next to my bed. Crunching through the hard-pack snow in your bare feet is no picnic!

Lessons don’t always come from happy, sad or the most significant events. A 10-second conversation with a stranger in Boston during the summer of 1981 taught me to follow my passion when it comes to my profession. The stranger was the NHL Bruin’s play-by-play man at the time, and I recall asking him what his secret to broadcasting longevity was. He pulled my Windsor-knotted tie close to his face, and breathed “You have to love what you do, unconditionally and with all the passion you can muster!” Like many twenty year-olds, I quickly forgot that lesson, and had to re-learn it the hard way in the years since.

Once you have connected moments, events and places from your past to the lessons you learned along the way, it’s time for the third and most critical phase of the Three Step Story Process. As a sales coach asked me many years ago, “Who cares?” It’s time to Apply.

Apply: I’ve written some great stories over the years, but more of them end up in the wastebasket because of Step Three. You must be able to apply the learning from your story to a present-day challenge or situation. Stories are great for helping yourself and others adapt to change. Take the house fire that forced my brother, sister, Mom, Dad and me to flee into that January night. That event didn’t happen gradually, it happened in a matter of seconds. The application of the story is that no matter how entrenched we feel in our habits, ways or thoughts, we can be moved to action instantly by crisis. Crisis can break us, or it can clarify our thinking with searing insight. Answer the Application question by asking yourself “Why does this matter to me? What can others gain from hearing this story?”

Perhaps you don’t have a house fire in your past. Frankly, that’s not a bad thing. No doubt you have a funny story about a sibling, or your first job, a crazy third-grade teacher or a boss with whom you couldn’t communicate. The important thing about your stories is to tell them. Not everyone in the business world can relate to bar graphs, spread sheets or revenue projections. Everyone can relate to a well-crafted story that comes from your authentic ability to Reflect, Connect and Apply.

Telling Stories That Connect (Part One) By Mike Faber

Think back to the most memorable lessons of your life. Perhaps you learned about the value of respect from a favorite teacher, or a grandparent. A mentor or coach may have given you a kind word of encouragement during a tough time; you then passed along that wisdom later to a child or young adult in similar straits. Sometimes we learn our values from others, and sometimes we learn our values from stories. Aesop’s Fables, the Bible, Cat in the Hat or Harry Potter all hold secrets and stories that edify and illuminate.

I used to think that stories had to be dramatic and filled with heroism to be beneficial to an audience. Hearing other professional speakers talk about rock climbing or hang gliding or other daring feats made me want to seek out a mountain-top and go on a fantastic spiritual journey to discover my own death-defying lessons. Then I’d remember the two young boys who expect Daddy to deliver macaroni and cheese on a nightly basis, or my darling wife who needs to be saved from bath-tub spiders. With expectations around the house as lofty as those, who has time to scale Everest?

Stories have a mythic hold on us from our very first moments of cognition. “Good Night Moon” lulls us to sleep when we’re very young. Heck, reading that simple tale to a child lulls the reader to sleep as well! Our connection to stories lasts a lifetime, and while children’s books may not hold much instructive value as we age, stories themselves can help us make lasting connections as adults.

So what do the non-mountain climbers and non-space explorers among us do for great stories? First, you must plumb the depths of your own experience. Follow what I’ve identified as the Three Step Story Process. There is tremendous value in what you have experienced in your lifetime, and the first step is to Reflect.

Reflect: Find a quiet spot where you can think, and bring along a notepad and a pen. Start by listing all the places you’ve ever lived and the years you lived in each one. Addresses are not nearly as important as cities, towns and countries. As you reflect on locations, start to jot down some words and phrases that you associate with those places. For instance, from September 1970 until January 1974, I lived in Brighton New York. The word I associate with that time is “fire”; a house fire at 4:00am on January 16, 1974 forced my family from our home and through the frigid night to a neighbor’s house. I can “recover” the sights, sounds and smells from that night in an instant!

Steps Two and Three come your way next week in the NSA Blog!

Mike Faber is NSA Colorado’s Marketing Director for 2009-2010, and a story-teller at heart. To learn more about Mike please visit www.mikefaber.com or call him at 720.851.5208.

Get your message out and make money with booklets!

Attention:  Speakers, Consultants, Coaches,
Authors, and Solopreneurs

Imagine having thousands of dollars of passive income both online and offline by putting your great ideas into a simple tips booklet, and having companies and associations promote your product and your work. One powerful afternoon shows you how.

And whether you’ve already written a whole book or are still thinking one day you’ll get around to it, this is the perfect solution for you.

Learn More:  http://www.tipsbooklets.com/denver.htm

Are you one of those speakers, consultants, coaches, or any other business person who delights in selling single copies of a single information product you’ve created? If so, then you are painfully aware of what a slow and tedious way it is to make any real money, much less have a ton of fun doing it. Yet you may be among the many people who go that exact route every day. You sell from your web site, you sell at speaking engagements, you sell at trade show booths, and you are thrilled when you see one less carton of hard copy product sitting in your office or garage.

Instead, imagine selling hundreds of thousands of copies of one or more of those products to a single buyer, in probably less time, and not personally do another bit of product fulfillment at all. It’s easier than you may think. You’ll never want to sell one hard copy of anything by itself again to an end-user or a retail store. Amaze yourself by the shift in your attitude the class is sure to prompt. This is so do-able you’ll definitely want to be at this exciting event.

“I certainly believe in the power of booklets. To date, I’ve written several customized booklets that have been translated into four different languages and sold over 250,000 copies. My clients are looking for quick, simple, how-to information that they can easily implement. Booklets are one of my all-time favorite recipes for success.”
- Susan Friedmann, CSP
- www.TheTradeshowCoach.com
- Lake Placid, NY

Information Products:
Today’s Secret Marketing Tool

How to Sell a Million Copies to Corporations

This interactive, fun session gives you the jump-start to:

1.    Generate your first product in a day if you don’t already have one.
2.    Leverage one product into at least three amazingly easy ones.
3.    Learn why having three products is magical.
4.    Find dozens of new product ideas all around you.
5.    Spend no out-of-pocket money (zero!) on product development.
6.    Pre-sell thousands of copies of a product before you create it.
7.    Identify hundreds of bulk buyers right under your nose.
8.    View all of your incoming mail through completely new filters.
9.    Have a ‘yes’ answer whenever someone wants to buy.
10.    Incorporate ‘bulk sales’ into every speech or interview you give.
11.    Promote your overall business with products
12.    Get paid handsomely for others to market you.
13.    Help customers buy more from you in each sale.
14.    Offload all hard copy product fulfillment completely.
15.    Make multiple sales a year to individual accounts.
16.    Have clients do all the production work and pay you for it.

This is only some of what you’ll experience in our personalized session together. Wherever you are on your info product journey, you’ll discover your next best step to take.

Even if you have attended this session before, you are sure to learn new information and create new colleagues who understand your journey and can contribute to your success.

“Paulette is a very accomplished workshop leader. She delivers tons of information concisely, clearly, and enthusiastically. Down-to-earth, she allows plenty of time for Q and A, and makes sure everyone gets what they need, in a timely manner. She also deftly manages all the different energies in the room!”
- Carolyn Bercovitz, Partner
- www.EinsteinAlive.com
- California

But wait, there’s more! You think that’s all?? In addition to exploring how to
develop hard copy products, a portion of the event is reserved for:

Creating an Entire E-published Product Line
from a Single E-booklet Manuscript

That’s right, we’ll look at how you can expand and contract a single manuscript into a whole range of products to be published and delivered as downloadable sales from the Internet.

You’ll discover:
o    How everything you create is actually at least two products in one.
o    Simple technology perfect for even the technologically challenged.
o    Why corporations also love downloadable versions of your products.
o    Ways to fatten out every sale you make without creating new products.

At the end of the day –
my personal promise and
guarantee to you

When you walk out the door at the end of the day, you will not only have a gigantic stash of immediately do-able ideas and new contacts for cross-marketing your business. You will also have your booklet manuscript and marketing plan started.

And you’ll have new people to contribute to your success. You won’t be left hanging to fend for yourself, to sort through it all. You’ll be able to continue your momentum and enthusiasm as you get your products and your message out into the world. If, for any reason, you are not satisfied with this workshop by the end of our time together, just let me know before you leave and we’ll refund your money.

You’ll be exploring directions for your booklet and your business you never would have considered, no matter how creative you are.

Move from “someday/maybe” to having your booklet and your marketing plan started, no matter how long you’ve had it all on the back-burner or sitting in your to-do list. And that’s a promise!

“I had no idea what one could do with a booklet. Now that I know, I am planning my strategy. My forthcoming book lends itself nicely to a series of booklets. I admired your presentation at the Small Publishers Association of North America (SPAN) Conference. It was engaging, humorous, and impeccably timed. I have also visited your website and was very impressed with the way you have it all set up.”
- Lisa Martin
- www.BriefcaseMoms.com
- British Columbia, Canada

Your registration includes:

•    Personalized attention to your booklet and your business

•    “How to Promote Your Business with Booklets”
100-page digital manual – receive the newly revised 4th edition
($47 value)
•    Reserved spot to sell one of your booklets on the ebooklet catalog at
at www.tipsbooklets.com
($97 value)
•    A 60-minute follow-up group teleconference session one month later
($47 value)
•    Two content-rich Special Reports delivered digitally after the class
($18 value)
•    Opportunity to meet new marketing partners

It would be at least 5 times the cost of this afternoon
if you were to invest in these things separately.

“I wanted to say thanks for the insights and information you provided in your recent seminar on marketing booklets for cash. I though the information was very straightforward and usable, without a lot of hype or unrealistic “potential” rewards. As a speaker, I am certain that I will put this information to use in the near future in order to further my own speaking business with my own products and subsequent discussions of them. Thanks again.”
- Ken Budka, Speaker
- Chicago, IL

Register for this class now!

Reserve Your Space with Your $177 Payment Here

(while there’s still a seat for you)

The conveniently central Cherry Creek location limits how many people can attend.
More importantly, I want you to be assured of personalized attention.

Our time together Thursday, October 8 will be at:

The Board Room at Cherry Creek
3773 Cherry Creek Drive North, Ste 575
Denver, CO 80209
Onsite Phone   303-331-9100
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

“Paulette manages to give very focused suggestions to each participant in her conference “get-togethers.” She answers all questions and makes sure to respond to the needs and problems of each individual participant. As an added bonus she schedules a follow-up teleconference, handling anything needing further amplification after review of the conference notes – an added value to a valuable experience.”
- Dan Davis, Author & Lawyer
- Santa Maria, CA

Who IS Paulette Ensign and why should you listen to what she has to say?

Paulette Ensign, Expert Facilitator and Tour Guide
Paulette Ensign has personally sold over a million copies in four
languages and various formats of her 16-page booklet, ’110 Ideas
for Organizing Your Business Life,’ without spending a penny on
advertising. Her direct no-nonsense approach means the session
will be full of great ideas for you, just ONE of which could help INCREASE
YOUR BOTTOM LINE SIGNIFICANTLY, and give your message a longer
reach . And we’re certain you’ll get many great ideas from our time
together.

Paulette holds the attention of audiences from beginning to end, using
wit, warmth, sensitivity, and a small bit of natural irreverence. She has
been a performing violinist, radio talk show host, workshop facilitator,
keynote speaker, consultant, and guest on radio, television and airline
in-flight audio. Paulette is a past national president of the National
Association of Professional Organizers, and current vice-president of
the Publishers & Writers of San Diego.

She is the sole author of one tips booklet, three home study courses,
several manuals, and hundreds of articles. Paulette is the founder and
Chief Visionary of the San Diego, California-based Tips Products
International, serving a world-wide clientele for several decades.
Formerly a lifelong resident of the Northeast USA, Paulette moved
cross-country and loves living a stone’s throw from the Pacific Ocean
during the past dozen+ years.

“Our speaker, Paulette Ensign , is sculpting her own niche as one of the country’s few authorities on creating and marketing booklets by spending nothing on advertising and very little on promotion. She speaks from experience, not from book learning (though she obviously has read a few of those in the process). I imagine that most of us came away from the meeting with our mind hamsters running fast.”
- Robert Goodman
- www.Silvercat.com
- Past President,      Publishers & Writers of San Diego

Yes! I definitely want to attend this exciting session!

Use your VISA, MasterCard, AMEX
Reserve Your Space with Your $177 Payment Here

(while there’s still a seat for you)

See you soon!
Paulette

P.S. – Be sure to pass this on to invite your colleagues to attend with you. They’ll thank you and so will I.

P.P.S. – If you wait until the last minute there is a very high likelihood you’ll be shut out and miss this event. And there’s no telling when I’ll be back to the Denver area to do another one of these!

How to Speak Fun and Profit

Have you ever wondered how NSA/CO, Scott Friedman, Ruby Newell Legner and others got started?

Since 1979 Joe Sabah has been presenting: How to Speak for Fun and Profit

In this 4 hour seminar you will
* learn how to Book 10 Talks In 10 Days
* discover how to Go from Free to FEE
* receive 700+ Contacts • Totally updated
* 390+ Clubs and Organizations who need speakers every week, every month
* 310+ Colorado Associations & Corporations
Training Directors & Meeting Planners (many with $$$) on CD for PC or Mac PLUS printed copy of all contacts – totally updated May 15th!

All the above Only $150 – Visa/MC/AX or check
To choose a date and to register, simply go to: www.JoeSabah.com/Speak.html

And pick the date best for you (ususally 2-3 choices per month).

Tabor House Apts Baby Doe Room
2512 S University Blvd Denver, CO 80210

JOE SABAH
Co-Founder and Founding President, NSA/CO
303-722-7200
Joe@JoeSabah.com
www.JoeSabah.com

The Power of Your Words

Watching the confluence of celebration these past two days, I have been reminded of the humility and power of the spoken word. Like a lot of speakers, I’ll listen to members of our professional community and marvel at how true word-smiths can bring language alive. Smugly, I place myself on the fringes of that talented group, knowing that, once in awhile, I’ll strike a resonant chord with the people who hear me speak.

That smug bubble was been shattered and repaired again, all within a 24 hour span of time. With twilight settling in over the mountains on the evening of January 19th, in the parking lot of my fitness club, I sat mesmerized by the voice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., floating forward from 45 years ago, speaking at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. How he could make words soar and pitch, flowing like a brook over rough branches and smooth stones. From the “Curvaceous slopes of California” to “Lookout Mountain” and beyond, his words still bear their message of timeless truth in the generations beyond.

Feeling appropriately humbled, I settled in the following day to watch Barack Obama’s inauguration speech. No, it wasn’t a shadow of King’s words, but then again, no amount of diction or floridity could re-capture that sweltering moment in August of 1963. What would you have said on those steps, to honor the past and hold forth the promise of the future?

As speakers, we have a high standard to bear, and it can be easy at times to treat our place in the world as “just another job”. With the “perks” of late-night travel, strange hotel rooms and stranger buffet tables, this work can take on a surreal sense of normalcy. As if it’s perfectly normal to stand up in front of a group of strangers and bare our souls about what we’re most passionate about personally and professionally. That’s really what President Obama and Dr. King did, both recently and two generations ago. Their world-view isn’t that much different from ours, and their commitment to their audience and a mission are models of what speaking can and should be.

Submitted by Mike Faber -Professional Member

Check Your Preconceptions at the Door

It’s amazing how many people you get to meet over the course of a lifetime. All shapes, sizes, colors and backgrounds. Most of those people make an impact, somehow, in the time that you interact with them. Some make a lasting impact. I met one of those “lasting impact” types at a National Speaker’s Association educational conference in Denver. In fact, he stood out. Literally.

Mark Eaton is a 7-foot-4-inch former NBA player. He played his entire professional career with the Utah Jazz, and his number 53 hangs from the rafters in the arena where the team plays. Mark is now a professional speaker, and so I introduced myself. Since he towers a full 18 inches above me, I craned my neck back to speak to him, and he arched his neck down to speak to me. At that moment, I couldn’t help wonder about the physical impediments that stand in the way of meaningful communication. When we see a blind person, it’s easy to understand that they can’t experience visual aspects of communication that many of us take for granted. A person with total hearing loss will miss the auditory element of speech. We’re told that nature can “make up” for the loss of one sense by strengthening another; perhaps that’s true. But what if we’re not aware that one sense has been weakened?

While talking to Mark, my physical inability to maintain that posture meant that I cut our conversation short. I said something tactful like “Gee, I’m hungry; I’m going to grab a cookie before they’re all gone!” A smooth exit, but rude nonetheless. I also lost the opportunity to find our more about another person’s fascinating life!

Later on that same day, I recognized Mark from the back (he’s hard to miss). I felt somewhat sheepish about my abrupt exit, and as I circled him to say hello again, I saw a fellow speaker of normal stature standing on a chair so he could look Mark in the eye. No discomfort, no sore neck, no “lure of the cookie” to stop him from interacting meaningfully. He sought out a creative way to reach the same level as his conversation partner.

Talking up, or down, to someone, creates emotional barriers not unlike the physical barriers that Mark and I faced that day when we met. Check your preconceptions and biases about a person before you speak to them. It’s easy to be lazy when we’re communicating, to make assumptions and take shortcuts. Preface your questions with phrases like “Tell me about…” or “What’s been your experience with…” to ensure that you’re giving your conversation partner enough room to let their voice be heard.

Submitted by Mike Faber-Professional Member

Colorado Speaker’s Academy

NSA Colorado is fortunate to have one of the premiere programs for developing speaking careers. The program is called the Colorado Speaker’s Academy and is an intensive 3 weekend Boot-Camp style.

We limit the number of participants so you can get personal and individual coaching. You will learn from the best and we stress the four competencies of professional speaking:

• Enterprise
• Expertise
• Eloquence
• Ethics

Our goal is to launch your speaking career and move you from free to fee for your speaking, training and consulting efforts.

It’s only a month until the first weekend of the Colorado Speaker’s Academy, November 14-16th! This is a golden opportunity to launch your business and fast-track yourself to speaking success with experts who take you through the competencies of professional speaking. If you tried  to pay for this coaching individually, it would cost many times more.

You can find additional information on our website for the Colorado Speaker’s Academy. Call today to reserve your spot. Call Heather Gilmore 303-736-8833

Article submitted by Steve Mertz, Professional Member.