Category Archives: Speaking

Zoe Presenter Spotlight: Debra Fine

Posted by on March 28, 2011 Comments Off
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Debra Fineby Zoe Training staff

A sought-after expert on conversation skills and business social networking techniques for use at networking events and social functions, Debra Fine’s media appearances include: the Today Show, the Early Show, NPR, CNN, Fox Business News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Men’s Health Magazine.

The formerly shy, tongue-tied “enginerd” is the author of the best-selling book, “The Fine Art of Small Talk.”

What’s your favorite topic(s) to present on? Why?

“The Fine Art of Building Relationships: Face to Face Interactions in an Online World.” Every individual and organization is looking to enhance relationships with potential as well as current clients/customers and gain increased visibility in the marketplace. This may mean making the most of out of networking occasions or simply turning every conversation into an opportunity. In addition, skills offered during my presentations benefit internal relationships with teams, mentors, C-Suite, staff and colleagues. This program is my favorite because it supplies tools that can be instantaneously implemented with immediate rewards. Read more »

Zoe Presenter Spotlight: Mike Faber

Posted by on March 14, 2011 Comments Off
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Mike Faberby Zoe Training staff

Perhaps Mike Faber’s face is familiar to you. Maybe it’s because Mike has been a regular pledge drive host for PBS television stations across the country since the mid ’90s and has been in television broadcasting since the late ’70s.

In this interview, Mike opens up about his personal philosophies and what motivates him to positively impact others.

What’s your favorite topic(s) to present on? Why?

My focus is on leadership, and how we “show up” as leaders in our business, community and personal lives. It’s my favorite topic because we can all remember a leader who made a life-time impact for us in our growth – what better legacy to leave than helping others make the same impact? Read more »

Zoe Presenter Spotlight: D.J. Vanas

Posted by on February 28, 2011 Comments Off
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D.J. Vanasby Zoe Training staff

With a name like D.J. “Eagle Bear” Vanas, it’s no surprise to learn he’s an extraordinary speaker that entertains audiences with his Native American wisdom and traditional storytelling, and also motivates and empowers participants with timeless lessons originating from his tribal leadership experiences.

And remaining true to form, D.J. enlightens us with accounts of his experiences, professional and personal background, and choices that define his role as a professional speaker.

What’s your favorite topic(s) to present on? Why?

Warrior Leadership – developing leaders who are resilient, confident and willing to fight for a greater purpose in their lives and organizations. Leadership is one of the most powerful forces on Earth and has changed the planet dramatically throughout history and continues to do so today! Read more »

Knock It Out of the Park!

Posted by on February 21, 2011 Comments Off
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Avish Parasharby Avish Parashar

I don’t much like baseball, but I really like baseball metaphors. So today, I am going to encourage you to do your best to “knock it out of the park.”

This idea came to me while watching “Comedian,” a documentary that follows Jerry Seinfeld after the end of his show, “Seinfeld,” as he starts his stand-up act over completely from scratch. It’s a very cool movie, and if you have any interest in stand-up comedy (as a performer or observer), I would highly recommend it.

Towards the end of the movie, Seinfeld meets Bill Cosby (which is pretty cool, since Cosby is one of Jerry’s idols), and Cosby points out to Jerry that he has already accomplished something great.

Then Cosby says: Read more »

Zoe Presenter Spotlight: Diane Sieg

Posted by on December 20, 2010 Comments Off
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Diane Siegby Zoe Training staff

As part of our Zoe Spotlight interview series with our Zoe Associates, Diane Sieg – an emergency room nurse turned speaker, author, coach, and yoga instructor – reveals some of her pivotal background and reasons why she chose her current path in life.

Why did you become a speaker/trainer? After working for over 20 years as a nurse in emergency rooms across the country, I wanted to help people get out of the “emergency room of life” by empowering them to make better choices.  I wanted to help people be more proactive in their lives instead of putting them back together after the less-than-ideal decisions were already made.  Of course we teach what we need to learn most, so as I have recovered from my own adrenaline junkie and crisis caretaking tendencies, I can give practical tools and action steps that I know work with myself, my clients, and my patients. Read more »

Zoe Presenter Spotlight: Polly Letofsky

Posted by on December 6, 2010 Comments Off
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Polly Letofskyby Zoe Training staff

Polly Letofsky, the only woman to walk around the world, shares with audiences the details of her daunting journey started in 1999 to raise breast cancer awareness, and she provides inspiration and clarity on how each of us can make it through our own private daunting journeys.

Through a series of interview questions, Polly shares some of her most enlightening moments, insights into her life as a speaker, or personal quirks just for the fun of it.

What’s your favorite topic to present on, and why? My favorite topic to present on is “Little Steps, Big Feat,” because everyone can relate. Sure, not everyone has to — or wants to — take on a daunting journey like a walk around the world, yet we’re all going through our own individual journeys: getting out of debt, losing weight, raising teen-agers, starting a business. And they all have the similarity to a walk around the world in that you take one, small, manageable step at a time. Read more »

Motivational Listening

Posted by on May 10, 2010 Comments Off
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Avish Parasharby Avish Parashar

Is it possible to motivate someone just by being a really good listener? I think so, and I’d like to share an experience that backs this up…

I was talking to a friend yesterday who was having problems with her boss at work. Her boss happened to be one of those managers who a) thought he knew everything b) didn’t and c) refused to listen or take any advice from anyone (sadly, it probably comes as no surprise that managers like this exist in the world. Probably in much higher quantities than they should).

After a particularly annoying and frustrating interaction with him, she called me on the phone to vent about it. After listening to her vent for a bit and asking a few questions, I gave her a little advice on what she could do next.

At the end of the call she said, “Thanks, you are a very good motivational speaker. Although you didn’t say much, you mostly listened. So I guess you are a very good motivational listener!”

“Motivational Listener”? I had never heard that before, but the phrase resonated with me. Sure, there are plenty of motivational speakers in the world – the people who get up on stage and talk to you about how to make your life better (by quite a few definitions, I am one too). But motivational listening? To be able to motivate people to action by simply (or mostly) just listening to them…hmm… Read more »

Tips For Making Small Talk Success

Posted by on January 6, 2010 Comments Off
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Debra Fineby Debra Fine

Stanford University School of Business conducted a study that monitored a group of MBAs 10 years after graduation. What did they learn? That their ability to converse had a huge impact on their success and grade point averages had no bearing whatsoever.

The ability to connect with others through small talk can lead to big things, according to Debra Fine, author of The Fine Art of Small Talk (Hyperion 2005). A former engineer, Fine recalls being so ill at ease at networking events and even the 10 minute coffee break during a meeting that she would hide in the restroom. Now a motivational speaker, Fine believes the ability to develop relationships with people through small talk is an acquired skill.

Fine offers the following tips for starting − and ending conversations:

  • Come up with three things to talk when preparing for a function along with a couple generic questions that will get others talking. If you’ve met the client before, remind yourself of things about her, such as a vacation she was headed to or specifics about her family. Read more »

Lend an Ear to Get Great Returns

Posted by on October 11, 2009 Comments Off
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Don Cooperby Don Cooper, The Sales Heretic™

Most of us believe we’re good listeners, when in fact, most of us are lousy. (If you don’t believe me, ask your spouse.) Yet listening is a critical skill that we all need to be better at. Listening allows you to relax, compose your thoughts and gather valuable information. And truly effective listening builds rapport, respect and trust.

Whether you’re networking, selling, negotiating or simply having a casual conversation, keep these principles in mind:

See Eye to Eye

When someone is speaking to you it is imperative that you maintain good eye contact with them. Looking at something else sends the non-verbal message that whatever you are looking at is more important than the speaker is. An additional benefit for you is that by looking at the speaker, you can pick up on their non-verbal signals, which will help you better understand what they really are (and are not) saying.
Read more »

Wisdom of the White Van

Posted by on June 8, 2009 Comments Off
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D.J. Vanasby D.J. Vanas

With the mountains of the Front Range watching over me like guardian soldiers, I began my journey from Colorado Springs up to Rocky Mountain National Park, about three hours away, for a speaking engagement. I put a book on CD in the stereo, the sun was shining, the weather was perfect and thankfully, the traffic was moving quickly and smoothly on the highway. All seemed right and good… and then it appeared.

Out of nowhere, a decrepit white van with mismatched hubcaps shoved its way into traffic and began a battle of epic proportions. It dodged, weaved, cut several people off and tailgated others, receiving blaring horns and a few one-finger salutes from fellow travelers. I’d watch the van accelerate to find an opening and then suddenly its tail end would lift as the driver slammed on the brakes. This impatient driver wasn’t just a pain to endure; he seemed to be an outright menace. The mysterious white van went through this agonizing routine for almost the entire hour it took to reach Denver, suffering his own obvious frustrations but also attempting to force everyone around him on the highway to suffer them as well. All this and here’s what the van accomplished – he was a mere three cars ahead of me after an hour! Read more »

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