The Seminar Source Objectives:
· To encourage readers to offer seminars as part of their businesses.
· To increase awareness of ready-made seminars available..
· To provide tips on how to earn money giving seminars.
· To provide samples of available books and seminars you can use. Month/Year
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Greetings! On the train ride from Charlottesville, VA to Washington, DC on Monday, I met a delightful young gal who is a lawyer in DC and was returning from a weekend visit with her parents.
We talked about her great job working for the government, but I discerned a lack of enthusiasm for what she was doing. In contrast, when she talked about DC or her travels, her face lit up when she described the architectural structures she observed. Aha!
When I told my husband about her reaction, he immediately thought I was recommending she become an architect. Not so. A passion could be observing and loving something you had nothing to do with constructing, but perhaps could be the basis of how you earn money doing what you love. One way to find out how strongly you feel about a subject is to rate yourself.
Think about a subject you enjoy and rate yourself on the following: "1" poor; "10" mastery
1. KNOWLEDGE 1 3 5 7 10
2. ENTHUSIASM 1 3 5 7 10
3. ATTITUDE 1 3 5 7 10
4. PASSION 1 3 5 7 10
5. SENSE OF PURPOSE 1 3 5 7 10
6. RISK TAKER 1 3 5 7 10
7. PEOPLE SKILLS 1 3 5 7 10
8. COMMUNICATION SKILLS 1 3 5 7 10
9. PERSISTENCE 1 3 5 7 10
10. FLEXIBILITY 1 3 5 7 10
I included this chart a few months ago, but with a different intent.
You may be a dentist, but when history is discussed, you light up. Think about what you read about that is unrelated to your work. Maybe it's nutrition or fitness, maybe decorating or new marketing techniques. Whatever it is, rate yourself in the ten areas and perhaps you will find happiness in another area than where you are now.
If architecture is your primary interest, step one would be to subscribe to Architect Magazine and Architect News. Attend an AAMA Conference. Decide which areas are of greatest interest: architectural art, culture, history, materials, green design, period design, licensing, artistic design consulting. Teaching the area of greatest interest or considering the legal aspects of building and/or maintaining historical architectural facades may be of interest.
Sandra Schrift, CoachU Graduate and entrepreneur (http://www.schrift.com) wrote The Ten Habits of Highly Effective Speakers. Change the word "speakers" and insert the subject area which most intrigues you, e.g., "architecture," then look at the Ten Habits.
1. Have a passion for your subject.
2. Be persistent in your quest for excellence.
3. Have the patience to succeed.
4. Speak from your heart.
5. Connect quickly with your audience.
6. Prepare thoroughly.
7. Speak to the ways people learn: auditory, visual and kinesthetic.
8. Support your main points with stories. People love stories and they remember them.
9. Make it fun, even if it's a serious topic.
10. Have a reverence for the work you do.
Who knows--perhaps you can use your current training to pursue a career that creates excitement every time you think about it!
I remember Oprah's comment to a viewer who told her, "I'm passionate about cooking, but my parents have spent nearly $100,000 on my education. For me to now announce that I want to cook....How can I change my mind?" to which Oprah replied: "Is $100,000 worth a life not fulfilled? How much of your life will you have to consume before you can please you?"
Happy, happy,
Gail
P.S. Check out my bookstore on amazon.com.
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Feature Article:
LOCATION
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LOCATION: You can find listings in the Yellow Pages for hotels that participate in the seminar market. Most hotels will host seminars. Also consider Caribbean cruise ships and retreat centers.
Information about locations can be found in the library, under Conference Centers. To contact them directly write or call The International Association of Conference Centers, 900 South Highway Drive, Fenton, MO 63026, (314) 349-5579.
Two other resources are excellent sources for information on new sites and on developments in the meeting industry. Meeting Planners International, 1950 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75207, (214) 746-5248. The other one is Successful Meetings, 633 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, and (212) 983-6930.
Whatever location you select, there are certain criteria you should consider.
1) Population--too small a town may yield too small a crowd. Large cities are good because of the advantage of having
2) mass transportation as well as taxicabs or private cars. Most participants travel 100 miles or less.
Be aware of
3) distance from the airport,
4) transportation available from the airport and in the town,
5) sleeping accommodations,
6) recreational facilities,
7) room service,
8) cleanliness,
9) elevators,
10) front desk and bellhops courteousness,
11) sales and banquet office service oriented,
12) heating and cooling efficiency,
13) high ceilings,
14) technology available or at least hookups,
15) food and beverages for meals and breaks,
16) restaurant on site or nearby,
17) meeting room tables and chairs to be arranged as desired.
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Quote of the Day
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"If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning 'Good Morning' at total strangers."
Maya Angelou
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Civility does matter, even in television programming. Did you watch The Celebrity Apprentice finale Sunday night? Here is my reaction.
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Gail Cassidy
gail@coachability.com; (908) 654-5216
http://www.Coachability.com
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