Be Productive One Bite at a Time

When I decided to start my own business nearly 5 years ago, I didn't know where to even begin.

One day I sat down and made a list of everything I needed to do. I wrote everything from deciding what to call my company, open a checking account, website, logo, email, and the list went on and on. In fact, I had 4 pages of things that I needed to do.

Talk about feeling overwhelmed! I took a deep breath (okay, truth be told I took several and had a mild panic attack) and remembered an old saying "How do you eat an elephant...one small bite at a time". I started to formulate a plan.

The plan was to do what needed to be done first. It would be fun to design my first business card, look at logos but first I needed a name for my company. Before I even came up with a name I had to make an appointment with my accountant and lawyer to decide how my company would be structured.

I grouped the tasks into groups: needs done now, needs done in first three months, needs done in first six months, and eventually will have to do. I went through those four pages of the to do list and moved them into the specific group. Once I looked at what really needed done ASAP, the list was not that intimidating. I crossed everything off that list and moved to the first three months category. I felt successful and continued my journey until the list was complete within the first year of business.

Remember, a journey is going from one place to another. There are many steps (or bites) before you get to your destination. Treat your to do lists the same way. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

 

Don’t forget to check out my limited time free online masterclass: Present like a Pro: Keep your Audience Engaged from Start to Finish. Visit my website for details and to register at https://www.dgtrainingsolutionsinc.com/products/

 

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Network Without Networking

Recently I taught a networking class. I asked the question “Where can you network that really isn’t a networking group or event”? The class was confused by my question. The answer is anywhere and everywhere!

At networking events, people are sometimes hesitant to talk to others. If you are in a more casual setting, a conversation is easier to start, and you can gather more information. If the person already knows you or sees you frequently, you are half way there to having a great networking connection.

I could tell my class was still skeptical, so I asked them to brainstorm some ideas. The list was so long I was running out of white board space to list all the ideas.

I always suggest joining groups with likeminded people, it’s easier to forge a relationship without the stress of “networking”. Do you like to read? Join a book club and meet people while discussing the book. Enjoy golf? Join a new golf league and just watch all the new people you meet. Do you belong to an organization, play bingo, attend a child’s sporting event? The possibilities are endless!

Try unconventional networking. Chances are there will be people you see on a regular basis that may want to get to know you better as well. 

 
Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Don’t forget to check out my limited time free online masterclass: Present like a Pro: Keep your Audience Engaged from Start to Finish. Visit my website for details and to register at
https://www.dgtrainingsolutionsinc.com/products/

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

 
Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Freshen Up Your Social Media

Autumn is here and before you realize it, the new year will be here! Now is a great time to update your social media profiles and freshen them up for 2019.

Each social media platform could have its own blog because there is so much to talk about. Today I just want to focus on LinkedIn.

If something happened and you lost your employment, would your LinkedIn profile be ready to go and get you the job you want? Is your information current? Do you keep adding to your connections? Was your photo taken within the last two years? Did you add all your accomplishments or any new skills you learned?

If you answered no to any of these questions, it is time to freshen up that profile. I know you are thinking it is too much work, too much time, and you don’t want the hassle. But what if you lost your job today? With everything you would need to focus on tomorrow such as signing up for unemployment, working on your resume, recalculating your budget, start calling your connections, why add updating your LinkedIn to your to do list?

The best way to keep your profile updated is to look at it monthly and add new things as they occur. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1.   Make sure you have an updated professional looking picture

2.   Add your current job and responsibilities

3.   Change your heading to something catchy such as experienced ____ or proven ______

4.   Keep adding connections and follow up with the important ones whenever you receive a notification that they have a work anniversary, birthday, or new status

5.   Continuously add your new skills and any achievements

These five things should not take very long, and your profile will be ready for 2019. Don’t forget to look at other profiles in any associations you belong to and your other social media platforms. A few minutes today will save you time in the future.

Don’t forget to check out my limited time free online masterclass: Present like a Pro: Keep your Audience Engaged from Start to Finish. Visit my website for details and to register at https://www.dgtrainingsolutionsinc.com

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Death by PowerPoint, Oh It’s Real!

Death by PowerPoint, oh yes, it is a real thing and not as uncommon as you would think. It happens. While you are reading this blog, somewhere someone is dying while sitting through a PowerPoint presentation. Okay, they may not be literally dying, but figuratively they are. This is such an issue you can find books all over Amazon describing how it happens and how to stop it.

Speakers need to realize, if you use PowerPoint slides, the slides are for your audience not you. They are not to be used to remind you of what you are going to say. The slides should provide additional information to the audience. Additional information, not you reading the bullet points for them. If you are using bullet points, remember these things: one, the audience is reading ahead of what you are saying, two, they are not focusing on you. If you want your presentation to be successful, you do not want either of these things to happen.

If you ask me if I still use bullet points in my presentations, I would say yes occasionally. I do have a number of corporate clients that expect this when I am speaking in a staff meeting to their employees. You have to give the clients what they want but I always try to add other things in my slides such as pictures, cartoons or quotes to break up the slides. Adding these “non-bullet point slides” also makes my presentations more memorable.  At times you may want your audience to feel some type of emotion: sad, happy, outraged, etc. A picture is worth a thousand words, this saying has been around a long time for a reason.

Consider adding media clips to your presentations, pictures, even personal pictures if they fit your theme of the presentation. Your audience will appreciate it and they will be more engaged. The audience will look at the slide then turn their attention back to you, the speaker.

Until the next blog or video blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President
DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Answer a Question? That’s a Good Question.

One of the most popular questions I get asked about presenting pertains to…questions. Seriously, the questions range from how do you handle questions during your presentation, do you even take questions, or do you wait until the end to answer them.

The answer depends on the situation. If I am doing a training and it is several hours long, I will stop to answer questions as they come up. My main goal is to ensure the audience leaves with an understanding of the material, that is why the company paid me to be there.

If I am doing a presentation that is short, under an hour, I usually take questions at the end. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. While going over the agenda at the beginning of the presentation I may say, “In order to cover all the material I am asking you to jot down your questions and I will answer them at the end”. 

If I am delivering a speech which is more motivational or inspirational than informative, questions from the audience should not be an issue. Although I will try to answer as many questions as I can at the end of all my presentations.

Another tip would be to incorporate some of the frequently asked questions into your presentations. It becomes tricky to answer questions during your presentations. Sometimes a question will take you away from where you want to be in your talk. At times, the question will spark the other attendees to ask a question unrelated to your presentation but related to the question that took you off topic. Once a question is asked, others may feel they want to ask questions at that moment. This may cause you to run out of time.

To take a question or not? That is a good question. What are your thoughts on questions?


Until the next blog or video blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Your Introduction is Key

Your Introduction is Key!

You’re ready to step on the stage in the front of the room and begin your presentation. You may be the last speaker of the day, and the audience is tired. You take a few breaths as your introduction is being read.

Don’t underestimate the importance of a good introduction. A great introduction will excite the audience and cause them to look forward to your talk. While you need to show credibility in your introduction, there are ways to do this without your intro reading like a resume or laundry list of all your accomplishments.

Here is a quick example. Denise Galloni is the owner of DG Training Solutions Inc. and has been in business for four years. She has delivered over 500 career presentations and is the creator, producer and host of a TV show called Empowering Women. Okay, while this intro does give me credibility, is it really that exciting? Will the audience be excited to hear what I have to say as soon as I walk out on the stage?

Let’s use the same biographical information and add to it and make it memorable while still providing credibility.

Voted the quietest girl in her senior class, Denise never had much to say. Today she will tell us how she went from that young quiet girl to starting her own business four years ago called DG Training Solutions Inc. She is the creator, producer and host of a monthly TV show called Empowering Women and has delivered over 500 career presentations.

Basically, both intros have the same information. Which one sounds more intriguing to you? Did I have the same credibility in both? Which one make you want to hear what I have to say?

Tailor your introduction to the audience you are speaking to. Always give the person introducing you your typed introduction. Ask your introducer to read it as written because you will refer to it in your presentation. You can even add some details about your presentation or questions for the audience.

These tips will have the audience anticipating your presentation before you even open your mouth.

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Would you prefer Handouts or Slides?

It never fails, when I do a presentation someone in the audience asks me for a copy of my slide deck. Does this happen to you?

Most of the time I do not give out my slides. There are a few reasons why. Reason #1, I prefer to give out handouts with the important material on the pages. Sometimes if it is a long presentation and people want the slides, it is too many pages to give out at the event. Reason #2, even if I print them out and email to the attendees afterwards, they may not know or remember what the slide signifies. I try to use less words but more pictures or symbols to achieve my message. Unless I am explaining why they are there, someone will not understand my intent. And reason #3, the slides are my intellectual property that I designed and created. I don't want to share them and have someone share them as their own.

For the reasons above, this is why I rarely provide my slides to an audience. Handouts or slides, which if any do you give out?

Until the next blog or vlog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Narrow Down Your Topic

Last month I wrote about making sure you know exactly how long you will be speaking when doing a presentation. I also explained why you should have extra information if your time is extended or how to cut out information if your time runs out.

If you are preparing to speak, you most likely already have your topic. Hopefully it is a topic you know a lot about. Here lies the problem, how much information do you provide to the audience? Sometimes we want to give so much value we overwhelm the audience or confuse them with too many details. How do you narrow down all the information you know about the subject to fit into those time limits?

In most cases, you should be able to pick three main points and build your presentation from there. You can add as much detail as your audience needs or time allows. Choosing only three main points allows you to tell the audience during your introduction what they will hear. An example would be "Today I am going to tell you how to prepare a room to paint, pick a color for the walls, and the most efficient way to get the room painted". The audience knows in advance what they will learn.

Once you have your main points, you can add the details. In our example, the first main point would be preparing the room.  You can then add any supporting information such as supplies you will need, how to properly prepare, why it is so important, etc. You would continue with each point and keep building on those main points. How much detail do you need? It really depends how on how much you want to add to your presentation to fill the time and educate your audience.

Next month I will give you suggestions to polish your presentation.


Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Timing is Everything

You have been asked to give a presentation. You are excited because you have so much information to share. This is a big moment for you. Then the thought enters your mind, how do I narrow this down?

Before you start working on your presentation, here are a few tips to keep you from stressing out the day of the event. First, make sure you ask how long you will have to speak. Have them be specific about the layout of the program.  People may say the presentation is an hour, but often they conduct some business before you speak, wait until most people have arrived, give a longer introduction or want to have time to wrap up the event. After all this is done, your speaking time may be forty-five minutes. Fifteen minutes may not sound like a big deal, but if you timed your presentation for sixty minutes and after forty minutes you are getting the sign to wrap it up, it is very stressful, and the audience will see you struggling.

Have you ever been listening to a speaker and they fast forward through the end of the presentation and you can’t even keep up? Guess what happened? They either ran out of time, or thought they had more time to speak.

Since we are talking about timing, after your presentation is written, practice your timing so you can fit your presentation into the allotted time you have to speak. Go slowly when practicing and allow time for laughter (if your presentation is humorous), questions, etc. You can fill time easier at the end than struggling to get all your information in before you run out of time. Remember if you tell them you are going to tell them something, you better have time to tell them. If you are a few minutes early, it shouldn’t be a problem. Overtime, big problem and the audience will let you know by their body language.

Only after you have all the details of the presentation, can you start to prepare your presentation. Tips on narrowing your topic and planning your presentation will be next month.

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise
Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President
DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com
Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc7d1KUEIqZTUBlSzMSm9eA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc
LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Thinking Outside the Box

Sitting down reflecting on my goals I had in the beginning of 2017 and how far I have progressed made me take a few moments and wonder what could I have done differently. Some of my goals I have met, some are on pace to be met by the end of the year, and some fell short. Was I too ambitious in setting some of these goals? Did I try hard enough? What could I have done differently?

In keeping some of the goals for 2018 and planning to crush them next year, I knew it was time to think outside the box. I am moving forward but not at the rate I would like to see my business grow. I’m excited to think outside the box and look at things in a new way. Sometimes you just need to step back as an observer and watch what you are doing. Don’t we all have great advice for everyone else? It is time to give yourself that great advice.

One of my goals for 2017 was to blog consistently every month. I have had this blog, Denise Speaks, since 2014 and until this year the blog posts were sporadic. This blog is my eleventh for the year. Goal accomplished! But I must tell you this is the last blog that I am writing. Beginning next month, I will do a video blog or a vlog in its place. My company focuses on communication and speaking, and video taping my vlog is the next logical step.

I am also incorporating some out of the box ideas starting in 2018 for my business. Stay tuned to see what I do!

What part of your business or career do you need to refocus on for 2018 and think outside the box? If you don’t have any idea, step back and observe what you are doing or ask someone who you respect their business expertise to help. 2018 is fast approaching, what a great time to try to be creative and think outside the box to help build your business or get your career moving in the right direction.

Until the next blog or soon to be vlog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Meetup:  https://www.meetup.com/DG-Training-Solutions-Professional-Development-Meetup/

Give Yourself Credit

Have you ever had someone compliment you and you reply, “It was no big deal” or “It was nothing” or any other comment that diminishes what you did?

Why do we do this? We devalue ourselves or what we accomplished. Not only do we do this when other people compliment us, we do it with ourselves. How many times have you not given yourself credit for something you accomplished?

Instead of being happy we accomplished something, we beat ourselves up over the things we did not finish or did not work as we expected. Do you say to yourself, “Yes, I finished half of my to do list” or do you say to yourself, “I didn’t get hardly anything done from my to do list”? I find myself doing this and try to stop myself, but it is a hard habit to break.

We need to give ourselves more credit when we accomplish something we have worked on. I remember working for a company that had a luncheon for the employees because they completed a long-term project from start to finish. The project wasn’t as successful as we projected, and it was hard work, but we finished the project! We celebrated that the team worked together and finished a project, which was rare because we were always switching gears and putting projects on the “back burner”.

Do you give yourself enough credit? How about extra credit when you exceed what you were aiming for and surpass that goal? Do you mentally say to yourself, “I did better than I anticipated”?

Make today the first day to start the new habit of praising yourself when something is completed. If you can’t start there, try to accept a compliment instead of brushing it off like it was not a big deal and anyone could have done it. Maybe anyone could have done it, but you were the one who did! Now that is worth celebrating!


Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Meetup:  https://www.meetup.com/DG-Training-Solutions-Professional-Development-Meetup/

Keep it in Perspective

As I reflect on the horrible events that took place 16 years ago on 9-11, I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard about the plane hitting the twin towers in New York.

I was a manager at a jewelry store in the mall. Normally when we would close the store at night it would take up to an hour to count all the expensive pieces, pull them out of the cases, and lock them in the safe. This was the nightly procedure and we would follow the same procedure in reverse in the morning.

While huddled around the radio listening to the news reports on that terrible day, mall security came into the store and told us to lock up and vacate the mall. They had credible information that shopping malls were targeted in this terrorist plot. I was in charge in the owner’s absence and in ten minutes we were walking out of the mall front doors. All the merchandise was left in the cases, it seemed unimportant at the time considering the crisis occurring.

As we were walking outside an impatient woman was pulling and banging on the locked doors to enter the mall. She started to shout because the mall was not open. I assumed she had not heard the radio or television reports. I told her there was an attack in New York and thousands were feared dead, they suspected terrorists were involved and closed all shopping malls. Imagine my surprise when she kept screaming she had to return something today at the mall. She had no feelings at all for what the country was experiencing.

I tell this story on September 11^th to show how some people are so focused on their own lives they lose perspective on what is happening all around them. There is a major difference in being focused on you and your business and keeping negativity out, then being self-centered and not keeping small things in perspective.

As entrepreneurs, we are always walking that fine line. Being a woman entrepreneur makes it even more difficult at times. Do you keep things in perspective? Does one thing that happens in your morning cause you to have a ruined day and not get anything accomplished? Do you then take it out on other people all day? As important as things are, let’s try to focus on what is important and keep the rest in perspective.


Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Meetup:  https://www.meetup.com/DG-Training-Solutions-Professional-Development-Meetup/

Stop Networking Now!

If you read this title you probably think I lost my mind. That is what some of my fellow members of a networking group I belong to thought when I told them I was not rejoining. “But you have to network” people keep telling me.

Let me clarify, I still network but now I network smart. The problem I find with networking is everyone goes to networking events and joins groups to keep making connections. Some people treat it like a game to collect as many business cards as they can. Is that really networking?

For the past three years I have joined free networking groups and fee paid networking groups. I have even collected my fair share of business cards. I realized that in my eternal search for the “perfect” connection, I am missing out on developing relationships with people I have met previously. The only way people will refer business to you is if they know what you do and that can’t be accomplished by listening to someone’s sixty second commercial in a networking setting.

My new focus is reconnecting with people I have met and building those relationships. Isn’t this the true definition of networking, building mutually beneficial relationships?


Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube - Empowering Women TV Show: 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Meetup:  https://www.meetup.com/DG-Training-Solutions-Professional-Development-Meetup/

Just Do IT!

Did you just picture a Nike commercial when you read the title of this month’s blog? Did you ask yourself “do what”?

What is "IT"? Although this sounds like a jeopardy question, it can be a question that may change your life. And only you know what “IT” is.

In December, I was honored to be interviewed about my business on a television show for a community cable channel. While the camera man was setting up the lights and camera, I couldn’t help but think how cool this would be to do this all the time. “Who can I talk to about getting my own TV show?” I asked the question before I had a chance to think about the possible responses. It turned out that the camera man was the same person who creates the shows for the station. “Me, what type of show do you want to do?” he asked.

I could have said I would get back to him when I had an idea, but this was my chance.  Just Do IT! I told him I wanted my own interview show, but was unclear in what direction I wanted my show to go. He told me to get back to him with a proposal. I had to submit a proposal, including the name and logo.  Six months later my show Empowering Women aired.

A year ago, I would have never imagined that I would be hosting as well as producing a TV show. In the moment, I jumped in without looking back. It paid off, as of this blog, I have been the host and producer of four episodes so far. The feedback has all been positive!

What are you holding back on? Sometimes you need to Just Do IT and see what happens. “What if I fail?” You may ask yourself this question. What if you don’t fail? What if you never Do IT and always wonder what could or would have been. “Just Do IT”. You may be surprised at the outcome.


Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Meetup:  https://www.meetup.com/DG-Training-Solutions-Professional-Development-Meetup/

Smile, You're on YouTube!

Back in 1947 there was a radio show called “The Candid Microphone”. Never heard of it? I have never heard of it either until I did some research recently. This radio show led to a television show most of you have heard of Candid Camera.  The original Candid Camera debuted on television in 1948 and was on until the 1970’s. It even made other appearances through the years with different hosts.

If you never watched Candid Camera, I can describe the show for you. Something would happen to a person (an intentional prank usually), the person would be shocked or embarrassed. After the audience would laugh, the host would say the famous words, “Smile, you’re on Candid Camera”, then the person who was embarrassed would laugh and know it was a joke.

If you think about the premise of the show, someone doing something funny, recording it, and showing it later to get laughs, does this sound familiar? Hello, this is YouTube, the Candid Camera of today!

While many of us have watched or recorded a YouTube video, we can probably agree they can be a time waster. Once you start watching the baby doing something silly or the dogs opening the front door, you find that they are entertaining and you end up watching a few more.  Everyday people can become a celebrity overnight when a YouTube video goes viral. Suddenly, they are an internet sensation.

Can YouTube help your business? Absolutely! You can record short videos about your business, training videos, or speeches. Once you have the material, you can create your very own YouTube channel, and upload the material. Unlike Facebook where it becomes difficult to find a video you once recorded, everything is listed on your YouTube channel. Viewers can like, share and post comments on your videos. If they like your videos, viewers can subscribe to your channel to get notifications of your new material.

If you are giving a presentation or doing a webinar, why not record it and add it to your channel? YouTube is the second most popular social media platform behind Facebook. This can be a great addition to your social media marketing plan.

Lights, Camera, Action!

 
Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Meetup:  https://www.meetup.com/DG-Training-Solutions-Professional-Development-Meetup/


 

 

 

It Is Good to Be Different!

I have a confession to make…I am a serial networker. I love networking and meeting new people. I love to be able to refer them to others I know and help build beneficial relationships.

I started networking in 2007 while trying to find an opportunity in the training and development industry. I had just finished my master’s degree and was ready to get my dream job. But changing careers and especially industries, isn’t easy. You have to get out there and meet people. That is why in 2007, I started networking and have never stopped.

One thing I notice when I network is certain industries have many people networking and trying to obtain clients. Recently at a networking event, I noticed a few real estate agents, insurance agents and financial advisors. And this was all in one room! As they each gave me their “60 second commercial” I had the same thought, I would not remember one from the other tomorrow morning.

A mistake I see is people not taking the time to show how they are different from others in the same industries. Don’t just say, I can help you plan for your financial future. Mention something that will get their attention. “Wouldn’t it be nice to visit your children and grandchildren across the country without having to worry about the additional expenses on your tight budget after retirement”? This would stand out in my mind more than “I can help you plan for your financial future”. Draw a picture they can see, and remember. This will distinguish you from the others in the room.

It is good to be different! Tell your prospective clients why you are different and what you can do for them. Once you get into the habit of reframing your commercial to include this strategy, you will be surprised at the reactions you receive.

Coco Chanel once said, “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different”.


Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Meetup:  https://www.meetup.com/DG-Training-Solutions-Professional-Development-Meetup/

What are you telling yourself?

I recently started to read Napoleon Hill’s book “Think and Grow Rich” which was written in 1937. I have had this book for a few years and never read it. When I saw a local mastermind group forming dedicated to Think and Grow Rich, I knew it was a sign for me to join the group and finally read the book.

While only a few chapters into the book, one chapter resonated with me…autosuggestion. If you have never heard of this term, think of the law of attraction. Positive thoughts cause possible outcomes. Your autosuggestion will go into your subconscious mind and you will become what you believe you are.

Wow, how many times in the past did I think to myself, “I am not ready to give this presentation”, “I did not study enough and will not do well on this test”, and my favorite…”I will never get my bills paid off”?

Why do we put these negative thoughts into our minds? As a woman, I think it is easier for us to think we don’t deserve success or we are not good enough. Why are we defeating ourselves every day?

The next time you have a negative thought about yourself, your business, or your ability…stop yourself. Focus on autosuggestion by telling yourself you will be successful or will do a great job or will get out of debt.

Start today. Instead of being upset because you only crossed off half of your to do list, be happy you got 50% of your list done. Focus on the positives and you will notice your outlook will not be the only thing to improve!

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Meetup:  https://www.meetup.com/DG-Training-Solutions-Professional-Development-Meetup/

Of course it makes perfect sense!

I remember it as it happened yesterday.  I was sitting in the audience at a Toastmasters function listening to the 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking, Darren LaCroix, presenting a workshop.  Darren was speaking about trying to break into the business of stand-up comedy. His mentor told him never pass up an opportunity to perform.

Darren calls this “Stage Time, Stage Time, Stage Time” and this is his mantra in which he strongly believes. 

Of course, this makes perfect sense.  If you want to be great, you need to practice, practice, and practice.  If you want to be great in public speaking, you need stage time.

I never pass up an opportunity to speak in public.  It may be at my Toastmasters club when they ask if anyone can fill in and do an impromptu speech, or it may only be at a board meeting when I have to address my fellow board of directors.  It may be reading the past minutes from a meeting in a business networking group that I am a member.  This is all stage time.

To be an effective public speaker, you need to be a great communicator.  Hence…stage time, stage time, stage time as fellow Toastmaster Darren tells everyone.

Public Speaking means a variety of things to different people.  You may not have any aspirations to stand up in front of an audience of 1,000 people.  Public Speaking to you may mean teaching a workshop, giving a presentation during a staff meeting in your organization, or standing up in front of your congregation and reading scripture.  This is all public speaking!

Practice, practice, practice and you will see improvement.  But better yet, others will see your improvement.

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Meetup:  https://www.meetup.com/DG-Training-Solutions-Professional-Development-Meetup/

I Was Ready With a Plan B

I am a firm believer of always double checking everything before a presentation and having a Plan B in case something goes wrong.

That is exactly what I did last summer while preparing for a workshop I was presenting for 65 people. I saved my slides on a USB in case my computer didn’t want to work. I was ready! I made sure my computer was fully charged as well as brought my adapter, just in case. I was ready! I tried my projector, had extra batteries for my presenter and wrote down all my passwords I needed for the presentation in case I became logged out. I was ready! I even went out the day before and bought a 15-foot extension cord just in case I needed one. I was ready!

The day of the workshop I showed up an hour early to setup. The outlet was far from where my laptop and projector would be placed. Whew, I thought, good thing I brought an extension cord. When I went to plug my projector into the extension cord I couldn’t. My extension cord was 2- prong and the projector needed a 3-prong extension cord. What? Are you kidding me? These were the questions running through my head. I just kept holding the extension cord and the projector cord willing it to fit. It didn’t. Who would have thought to plug everything into the extension cord to see if it worked? Not me.

Always have a Plan B or C. No matter how much you double and triple check, something always seems to happen. Lesson learned.

Oh, my Plan C, the presenter scheduled after me had an extension cord and I used hers.

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Be Like Batman: Be Recognizable

I was at a celebrity autograph convention a few years ago, and was lucky enough to meet Adam West (aka Batman from the 60’s television show).  He was very funny and entertaining while answering the audience questions. When he walked into the room everyone yelled Batman.

A year or so later, I was watching The Big Bang Theory and Adam West was a guest star.  The guys on the show were driving Adam West somewhere when they started to discuss the various actors who have played Batman.  When they asked him what he thought about the actors he replied, “They walk into a room and say:  I am Batman. I never had to do that. I walked into a room and everyone knew I was Batman”.

What happens when you walk into a room? Do people say there’s Denise she does something with training and talks to people or do they say she works with organizations training their employees and teaches workshops to help people grow their skills?  Do people know what you do?  Do you know what you do?  Okay, you know what you do, but do you explain it to the people you meet so they can understand what you do?

If you have more than one business, do you confuse people by giving them too much information about all your businesses and they can’t remember what you do at all? Or do you customize what you say when you meet someone anticipating their needs? When you meet a potential client, only give the information you think they will need or want to hear that is applicable to them.

When we think about Batman, we can visualize what he looks like and what he can do.  Be like Batman, make yourself clear and concise when you are explaining your business and you will be remembered.  “Look up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane” …okay just kidding!

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni