In less time than it takes to fly from New York to Chicago, readers of Make Your Point! will know exactly what to do to master the spoken word. The authors, two seasoned and streetwise corporate communication coaches, have written a book that's lively, witty and gives down-to-earth advice for every businessperson and college student who wants to be a first-rate communicator. So whether you have to give a presentation, sell, write a paper, or interview for a job, this book will help you get your message across.
A practical and empowering guide to public speaking and becoming a more effective, persuasive communicator in all areas of life. The world is full of brilliant people whose ideas are never heard. This book is designed to make sure that you’re not one of them. Even for the most self-confident among us, public speaking can be a nerve-racking ordeal. Whether you are speaking to a large audience, within a group, or in a oneon- one conversation, the way in which you communicate ideas, as much as the ideas themselves, can determine success or failure. In this invaluable guide from two of today’s most sought-after communication experts, you’ll learn to master three core principles that you can apply in a wide variety of situations: Content: Construct a clear and lucid architecture of ideas that will lead your listener through a memorable emotional experience. Delivery: Use your voice and body in ways that engage your audience and naturally support your message. State: Bring yourself into peak performance condition. The way you feel when you perform is the most frequently overlooked component of communication. Accessible, inspiring, and laden with useful tips, As We Speak will help you discover your authentic voice and learn to convey your ideas in the most powerful and unforgettable way possible.
Learn how to get your listener’s attention, keep her interest, and make your point—all in thirty seconds! Milo Frank, America’s foremost business communications consultant, shows you how to focus your objectives, utilize the “hook” technique, use the secrets of TV and advertising writers, tell terrific anecdotes that make your point, shine in meetings and question-and-answer sessions, and more! These proven techniques give you the edge that successful people share—the art of communicating quickly, precisely, and powerfully!
In this indispensable guide for anyone who must communicate in speech or writing, Schwartzberg shows that most of us fail to convince because we don't have a point-a concrete contention that we can argue, defend, illustrate, and prove. He lays out, step-by-step, how to develop one. In Joel's Schwartzberg's ten-plus years as a strategic communications trainer, the biggest obstacle he's come across-one that connects directly to nervousness, stammering, rambling, and epic fail-is that most speakers and writers don't have a point. They typically have just a title, a theme, a topic, an idea, an assertion, a catchphrase, or even something much less. A point is something more. It's a contention you can propose, argue, defend, illustrate, and prove. A point offers a position of potential value. Global warming is real is not a point. Scientific evidence shows that global warming is a real, human-generated problem that will have a devastating environmental and financial impact is a point. When we have a point, our influence snaps into place. We communicate belief, conviction, and urgency. This book shows you how to identify your point, leverage it, stick to it, and sell it and how to train others to identify and successfully make their own points.
The triumphant concluding volume in David Crystal's classic trilogy on the English language combines the first history of English punctuation with a complete guide on how to use it. Behind every punctuation mark lies a thousand stories. The punctuation of English, marked with occasional rationality, is founded on arbitrariness and littered with oddities. For a system of a few dozen marks it generates a disproportionate degree of uncertainty and passion, inspiring organizations like the Apostrophe Protection Society and sending enthusiasts, correction-pens in hand, in a crusade against error across the United States. Professor Crystal leads us through this minefield with characteristic wit, clarity, and commonsense. In David Crystal's Making a Point, he gives a fascinating account of the origin and progress of every kind of punctuation mark over one and a half millennia and offers sound advice on how punctuation may be used to meet the needs of every occasion and context.
From the Master of Horror comes the first gripping book in the twelve book New York Times bestselling Saga of Darren Shan. Start the tale from the beginning in the book that inspired the feature film The Vampire's Assistant and petrified devoted fans worldwide. A young boy named Darren Shan and his best friend, Steve, get tickets to the Cirque Du Freak, a wonderfully gothic freak show featuring weird, frightening half human/half animals who interact terrifyingly with the audience. In the midst of the excitement, true terror raises its head when Steve recognizes that one of the performers-- Mr. Crepsley-- is a vampire! Stever remains after the show finishes to confront the vampire-- but his motives are surprising! In the shadows of a crumbling theater, a horrified Darren eavesdrops on his friend and the vampire, and is witness to a monstrous, disturbing plea. As if by destiny, Darren is pulled to Mr. Crepsley and what follows is his horrifying descent into the dark and bloody world of vampires. This is the beginning of Darren's story.
Discover the "must-listen for every smart, capable woman who wants to succeed"-a guide on how to communicate with maximum impact in the workplace that's the new book in the New York Times bestselling Nice Girls Don't series (Anne Fisher, Fortune.com). How many times have you asked yourself why you didn't speak up in a meeting? Or pushed for the raise you deserved? Or agreed to take on someone else's task because you didn't want to rock the boat? Whether the answer is once or ten times or more, the reason is the same: It's because you're a nice girl who goes along to get along. But staying quiet and being ignored are not paths to achievement. Now, in Nice Girls Don't Speak Up or Stand Out, Dr. Lois Frankel shows you how to be an effective communicator and advocate for yourself. From the basics of speaking up to navigating sticky situations and mastering the art of influencing others, this audiobook provides step-by-step advice using real-life examples and powerful tools such as: Be a broken record Choose powerful word Never say no Enlist advocates And many more -- in bonus materials for extra tools in your pocket Dr. Frankel chose the format of this new audio-first work carefully, with the mission of creating an interactive and impactful listen, interweaved with actionable recommendations, real-life anecdotes, and concrete examples of not only what to say in various scenarios, but how to say it. Nice Girls Don't Speak Up or Stand Out dives deeply into nearly one hundred everyday challenges women face related to communication. With Dr. Lois Frankel as your guide, you can learn how to express yourself confidently, courageously, and clearly -- and start taking charge of your career.
This valuable workbook and downloadable audio can turn any ESL student into an accomplished debater! Make Your Point! opens the world of formal debate to the English learner. Debate fundamentals are taught form the first chapter in a student-centered format suitable for large and small classes alike. Each of the ten chapters offers a "language focus" and a "debatable focus." As students learn new debate skills, they also build important language skills. All task chains integrate speaking, listening, reading and writing activities. Most activities are intended for pairs and small groups. Neither the learners nor the teacher needs any prior debate experience to use this text successfully. This debate course promotes other forms of oral communication—such as discussion, recitation and speech-making—as well as more general activities, such as summarizing and taking notes.
From New Jersey's rough and competitive world of playground basket-ball to the unforgiving, sleep-deprived reality of surgical training, Bruce Rosenfeld offers a gripping account of how a young boy with an overwhelming passion for basketball repeatedly utilizes lessons learned on the court to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. Often hilarious and at times heart wrenching, this captivating and honest narrative leaves the reader mesmerized by a unique perspective on two very different worlds and how they ultimately fused to shape a life and a successful career in medicine. A book for the underdog, the author's lessons of teamwork, discipline and never-ending practice is motivating and inspiring and effortlessly demonstrates the importance of believing in your own potential while trusting your instincts to do what is right. About the Author Dr. Bruce Rosenfeld has been the chief of urology at the Fallon Clinic in Worcester, Massachusetts, and an assistant professor of urology at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine. Currently he is in private practice in Tucson, Arizona, where he enjoys caring for patients and never forgets his basketball roots. Endorsement ...what youth sports are supposed to be about. This book strengthens my faith in that ideal. --Steve Kerr, five-time NBA Champion, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs
Five years and more than 100,000 copies after it was first published, it's hard to imagine anyone working in Web design who hasn't read Steve Krug's "instant classic" on Web usability, but people are still discovering it every day. In this second edition, Steve adds three new chapters in the same style as the original: wry and entertaining, yet loaded with insights and practical advice for novice and veteran alike. Don't be surprised if it completely changes the way you think about Web design. Three New Chapters! Usability as common courtesy -- Why people really leave Web sites Web Accessibility, CSS, and you -- Making sites usable and accessible Help! My boss wants me to ______. -- Surviving executive design whims "I thought usability was the enemy of design until I read the first edition of this book. Don't Make Me Think! showed me how to put myself in the position of the person who uses my site. After reading it over a couple of hours and putting its ideas to work for the past five years, I can say it has done more to improve my abilities as a Web designer than any other book. In this second edition, Steve Krug adds essential ammunition for those whose bosses, clients, stakeholders, and marketing managers insist on doing the wrong thing. If you design, write, program, own, or manage Web sites, you must read this book." -- Jeffrey Zeldman, author of Designing with Web Standards
