Podium Coaching Blog

A friend of ours was asked to say grace at a large business function. She was surprised by the request because – in her words – she’s not ‘religious’. She couldn’t say no to the request, so she sat down and thought about what she really wanted to say.

What she delivered was a Reflection on Gratitude. It made me realize, as this year ends, how much we have to be grateful for. I’d like to share it with you… and thank you most sincerely for reading our blog.

Reflection on Gratitude

Shall we pause for a moment of reflection and gratitude:

May our time together be enriched by an awareness of the many blessings that are ours.

In a world where many walk alone, we are thankful for friends.

In a world where many live in fear and despair, we are blessed with hope and love.

In a world where many live in hunger, we are thankful for food.

May each of us be mindful of the rich heritage that is ours.

May we be challenged to live with integrity, and to seek justice.

Amen.

Members of the Nova Scotia synchro squad train for the Canada Games

Most of our media skills clients tend to be executives, politicans or administrators. So it was a real delight to have someone different walk through the door the other day.

Members of a synchronised swim team.

The Nova Scotia squad is training hard for February’s Canada Games in Halifax. But coach Colleen Aird decided the team needed some skills beyond their swimming, athletic and artistic abilities. Because they are based in the host city for the Games, Colleen decided they needed to feel comfortable acting as ambassadors for their sport. (more…)

You’d never think a Speakers’ Convention could be dangerous. Well – as you can see from my picture, it was. I came home from the CAPS convention in Montreal looking like a boxer with a big fat blue lip.

We were dancing up a storm at the final dinner. Kristen Arnold, the president of the National Speakers’ Association in the USA, was next to me. (more…)

Halina St James reports from the CAPS conference in Montreal

Back from the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers convention, with plenty to  chew over from all the amazing speakers I heard and met – like Dr. Graeme Codrington, Warren MacDonald and Dr. Sue Morter.

Dr. Graeme Codrington is an international speaker on future trends and the new world of work. His theme is the T.I.D.E.S. of change -  5 forces that will disrupt and change our world.

T – Technology-driven change. He says the biggest technological advances of the next decade will be how we deal with information.

I - Institutional change. Our institutions will be sponges for change. As Graeme said, “It doesn’t matter what you do different, as long as you do something different.”

D – Demography. With an increasingly aging population, change is inevitable.

E - Environment. Graeme says we only have to look at climate change to see the profound impact it has already.

S – Shifting Social Values.  With everything that’s happening in our world, our values are changing fast. According to Graeme, yesterday’s logic won’t work today. He says we are the first generation who haven’t been handed a script for our lives.

Dr Graeme Codrington (left), Halina and Warren MacDonald

Warren MacDonald, from Australia, was forced to change. Warren was an avid climber. In a freak accident, he was trapped under a one ton-boulder up a mountain for 2 days. He lost both legs.

His choices were feeling sorry for himself, or carving out a new life. He chose not only to live to his fullest potential but also to help other do the same. (more…)

Halina St James reports from the CAPS Convention in Montreal

What do 300 professional speakers do at a speakers’ convention? Well they certainly talk a lot. But they also share their best ideas and practices. The annual Canadian Association of Professional Speakers’ convention opened today in Montreal.

First up, Lou Heckler, a well known American speaker. He gave strategies to increase your creativity. For example, learn to turn around and look behind you.

Halina St James and Lou Heckler

Heckler told the story of DeWitt Jones, the renown National Geographic photographer. DeWitt would go to great lengths to set up the perfect shot. When it was done he forced himself to turn around and look behind him. He inevitably found a better shot that way.

Heckler also told us: “Don’t just do something. Sit there.” It’s hard for creativity to flourish when you’re always active. Give yourself some time to just drift and see what happens.

Acrobazia in action

Besides speaking, speakers at a convention love entertainment. This convention started with an amazing balancing act called Acrobazia. Christian Paquet and Jean-Francois Martel performed breathtaking acts that defied gravity. (more…)