Editor's Corner Excerpted from the April 2003 Newsletter Making it through the interview No, it's still not about you, even in a job interview–whether you're interviewing or being interviewed. Or in a performance appraisal, or when you've been asked to tell the company how you continue to be such an outstanding salesperson. Oh, you can always come up with several reasons why it IS about you, but it's much more effective to come up with reasons why it isn't. For instance: A job interview goes two ways; you're both looking for a good fit. You don't want to be there if it's not the right place for you. You're looking for a way to contribute. The interviewer has more to lose than you do. If they hire the wrong person it's expensive and makes them look bad. When you look at it as the search that it is, you stand taller and speak more confidently. You'll be looking to solve a problem rather than trying to impress. A performance appraisal (also a two-way street) is a time for both people to look for ways to make their department and company more productive and profitable. Bonus tip: If they've asked you to tell why your sales are so consistently great, it's all abut helping others be the best they can be. So start your own list. For every situation where it feels like it is about you, begin looking for the bigger picture and why it's not. Focus on those things and enjoy your freedom. Dear teach Tulin Karabuk, Chief Marketing Officer, Turkcell, Istanbul: "I made the presentation in Cannes that you and I worked on together and got very good feedback from the audience. "As you know, it was a large audience (more than 1000) and I was apprehensive about it both because of the size of the audience and because of the importance to my company. "The audience said it was simple, the message was clear and the emotional part of it was impressive. "Thank you very much for your help!" First person "I'm so pleased you were able to come work with Ericsson and Turkcell in January. As you know, Tulin was to give a speech in Cannes. In addition, Turkcell was also invited for a short, follow-up speech, but they did not have anybody, so I was asked to make the speech. I actually "was glad to accept it" and was looking forward to it, but later we did find someone from Turkcell for it. In short, I was happy to find out that I would be happy to give a speech in front of 1000+ people! "As for Tulin's speech, she was fantastic. Her presentation starts with a video but it did not START! Something was wrong with the technology. Anyway, the moderator kept asking her to "just describe the video and get started," but she did not. Finally the issue was resolved and the presentation started with the right impact. "She did a great pause, and did all the right things. The presentation itself was also very impactful - -clear and uncluttered. She did stand out, and I was so proud to have been associated with Turkcell." Remedies for speeding How do I regain an even pace when I start to feel myself "speeding" through a portion of my presentation? I hear my voice start to shake. Count it as good news that you can hear your voice starting to shake. If you are aware enough to know that's what you're hearing, you can get control. This is yet another reason why it's so important to be comfortable with silence. Because our instinct is to feel out of control and keep going–usually at a faster pace. And the feeling gets worse. Now, it's doubtful the audience can hear your voice shake, but it begins to be the only thing you can focus on. The solution: just stop talking for a moment and let your mind refocus. You probably lost your focus for a moment, didn't let yourself be "in the moment" and that's all it takes to start the downhill process. So pause. Allow your audience to think about the last point you made while you do the same. That act of getting back into your topic will take care of the voice, the speeding and the sense of being out of control. Trust yourself and the idea. You'll love the results. Eleanor Roosevelt wrote: Many people will walk in and out of your life, But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. To handle yourself, use your head; To handle others, use your heart. Anger is only one letter short of danger. If someone betrays you once, it is his fault; if he betrays you twice, it is your fault. Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. He who loses money, loses much; He, who loses a friend, loses much more; He, who loses faith, loses all. Beautiful young people are accidents of nature Beautiful old people are works of art. Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

Our search for surprise successes I'm looking for stories about people who have used the principles from our book and seminars to conquer a limitation in some other area than speaking. If you, or someone you know fits this description, please send an e-mail that briefly describes the person and the accomplishment to Barbara@BarbaraRocha.com. Orders Think gifts. Someone you know is going to be giving more presentations soon. Give them a practical gift that will make those presentations easier and more effective. Learn more or Order Online. Book "Getting Over Yourself: A Guide to Painless Public Speaking...and More" by Barbara Rocha 208 pages, illustrated, cartoons $19.95 Audiotape or CD ROM The "Getting Over Yourself" book on audiotape read by the author ($17.95) or CD ROM ($19.95). Booklets by Barbara Rocha: $9.95 each (+$1.50 Shipping and Handling) "Pocket Guide for Presenters" 103 pages "60 Ways to Spark Your Speaking: Just in time answers to frequently asked questions" 154 pages "Love to Talk/Hate to Speak: Selected articles by Barbara Rocha" 121 pages Speeches on Tape: "From Bored Room to Board Room" $10.95 "Stand Up and Stand Out" $10.95 Video "Getting Over Yourself: A Guide to Painless Public Speaking" featuring Barbara Rocha in excerpts from her book, seminar classes and interactive coaching. VHS $99.95 Learn more Order Online Call (888) 800-2001 E-mail: BouldinHil@aol.com Write: Bouldin Hill Press at 17-555 Bubbling Wells Rd., Desert Hot Springs, CA 92241 Seminars **How to Overcome the Stress of Public Speaking Pasadena: 3-day workshop October 29, 30, and 31, 2008. We have two public seminars each year: May and November (adjusted to October this year for the election). If you have several people who could use this training, contact us regarding an in-house seminar. As a refresher, workshop graduates (from any of our 3-day workshops) may attend for half price at any time. People tell us they get as much or more out of the workshop the second time around. Visit our seminars section for details or call (888)800-2001 For more information, contact: Barbara Rocha and Associates PO Box 60521, Pasadena, California 91116 (626) 792-8075 or toll free at (888) 800-2001