How To Present November 2012

NOVEMBER 2012

www.michellebowden.com.au

IN THIS ISSUE Yvonne Godfrey

shares her tips for professional presenting at work 8 Things GREAT Leaders do TOP influencing Tips Communication Excellence Prepare your teenager for 2013 Success starts from within Enjoy the little things

PLUS

Tips for

PRODUCTIVITY

Success Stories www.michellebowden.com.au

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DIARY DATE INFLUENTIAL PRESENTATION SKILLS (2-day Public Program) Join Michelle at her next public program IN SYDNEY: • December 3-4 • February 26-27 • March 12-13 • April 8-9 • May 14-15 • June 25-26 IN BRISBANE • May 21-22 To register or chat about your

Who is Michelle Bowden?

Michelle is an expert in influential presentation skills in business. She has run her 2-day Influential Presentation Skills program over 600 times with many thousands of people and she’s been nominated for Educator of the Year 4 years running. Michelle is one of only 25 Australian females who is a Certified Speaking Professional the highest designation for speakers in the world. For a list of Michelle’s clients please go to: www.michellebowden.com.au www.michellebowden.com.au

Michelle’s Update Welcome to the November issue of How to Present! This issue is packed with articles that will assist you to present with greater confidence and influence at work.

One of my favourite people in the whole world is Yvonne Godfrey.

As a mother of three little girls I constantly read her wise words and articles to remind myself of what’s important as a parent.

Yvonne runs an amazing organistion in New Zealand called Making It On My Own to help teenagers and their parents prepare for the wider world on their own. She is a regular contributor to our How to Present Parent’s Corner. Yvonne is also a celebrated keynote speaker. It is with great excitement that I feature Yvonne for you this month. She shares her tips for presenting in business PLUS how to Prepare your Youngster for 2013.

PLUS I’ve shared some of my 5 Tips for Communication Excellence, Top Influencing TIps, Robin Powis shares how Success Starts from Within, Ken Warren reminds us of the 8 Things Great Leaders Do, Nina Sunday gives us her top Tips for Productivity, Lorna Patten explains why we need to Tell the Truth, plus read some inspiring success stories and much, much more!

I’m so excited to tell you that due to my public programs filling so quickly these days, I’ve scheduled some extra Influential Presentation Skills public programs in 2013. If you’re still keen to attend in the first quarter of 2013 let us know.

So grab yourself a ’cuppa’, put your feet up and have a read!

And most importantly, make sure you put the invaluable advice into immediate action so you see some fast results.

Happy Presenting!

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5 TIPS FOR COMMUNICATION EXCELLENCE

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN There seems to be no respite from budget cuts and salary freezes for most companies. Yet, we are all still expected to work as hard if not harder to meet our customer’s needs. Whether your customer is an internal stakeholder, or external to your actual company it’s wise to remember a few points that will enhance your communication excellence.

Successful influencers take the opportunity to interpret the clues that stakeholders provide about their personality filter preferences.! They then match their own communication style to the stakeholder.! For instance: •

•

Introvert/extrovert – when dealing with an introvert ‘cut to the chase’, reduce the small talk, give them time to process their thoughts and don’t talk over the top of their thinking! If the stakeholder is an extrovert allocate more time for them to talk about whatever they want and manage them by gently moving them back to the topic.

Internal/external frame of reference – if your stakeholder has an internal frame of reference it means they have an internal barometer that tells them what is right, and they have a strong need to reach their own conclusions. Don’t sell too hard to this type of person. Instead, provide information to help them make up their own mind. Don’t push them, ask them what they think. If the stakeholder has an external frame of reference this means they have no internal barometer that tells them what’s right so you need to help them come to a decision by building credibility with customer testimonials and product reviews.

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•

Matcher/mismatcher – if your stakeholder has a matching preference they tend to be easier to sell ideas to because they more naturally want to agree with your proposition. If your stakeholder has a mismatcher preference then it is more important to be clever with your language patterns so they can’t disagree with your point of view.

Steps to take 1. Learn a bit more about these personality preferences.

2. Get to know yourself.

3. Take the time to really get to know the people around you.

This way you’ll find you have a better chance of influencing those around you to achieve your own needs. Good luck!

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SUCCESS STORIES! skills. In this setting I am talking with groups of “at risk” young people so I use a casual style to get the message across. I’m aiming specifically at the target group so I maximise engagement, interest and desired outcomes. As well as presenting to these young people, there are a range of other settings and audiences where I present including parents, schools, service providers and my personal favourite - the politicians and philanthropic funding organisations!

BERNIE SHAKESHAFT CEO, BACKTRACK

What prompted you to attend Michelle's Influential Presentation Skills program?

The deciding factor to get me over the line and into the course was as simple as this “if you keep on doing what you’re doing in presentations – you’re going to keep on getting what you’re getting in presentations”. What I was getting was just not up to scratch. It was time to take a risk.

That said, thank God I took the risk!!! The difference is extraordinary..........

In his 25 years of youth work, Bernie Shakeshaft’s unrelenting desire has been to show the community that the young people they consider most marginalised or ‘difficult’ have skills, aspirations and they want to feel a sense of belonging just like us. In 2006 Bernie founded BackTrack Youthworks and has been delivering life changing outcomes for young people ever since. BackTrack pushes the boundaries on how to work along side young people in this generation and redefines what is possible for them. BackTrack uses a unique process of engagement and connection.

Bernie believes that when you change the life outcomes for these youth you improve the overall quality of community life too.

What kind of presenting do you do at work?

Presenting on a daily basis at BackTrack Youth Works is just one area where I use presentation www.michellebowden.com.au

How did Michelle's program change your attitude to presenting in business?

There is a saying Attitude is Everything. Having a well planned, thorough and clear system for delivering a message has made a world of difference to me and my audiences. Being prepared, confident and well rehearsed are the fundamental changes to my attitude.

In general, what positive outcomes have you achieved from improving your presentation skills?

While the positive outcomes I’ve achieved are in the early stages, the difference is still mind shattering. Rather than avoiding opportunities to present I am now looking for every chance. My level of confidence has improved beyond comprehension and it has really been noticed by many people who had heard me present on previous occasions. Michelle’s course made me realise that I have rarely had a “call to action”.

Makes me wonder just what it was I was trying to get across – bet a lot of people listening used to wonder the same thing! Not any more....

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SUCCESS STORIES! (CONT.) course. And guess what? The flow on from being able to remember the structure is where it gets really interesting. You see, gaining personal confidence was a big hill for me to climb and so learning how to give direct, connected eye contact, projecting my voice, and focusing on my audience instead of always focusing on myself have had an immediate impact on my delivery.

And you know what else? What used to take me hours in preparation time has dissolved into less than half an hour from start to finish– think of the extra time I now have to practice my delivery – oh that’s another thing – now I practice.

What were your top three take aways from Michelle's program?

In what specific ways have your presentation skills improved since completing Michelle's training?!

Having a structure to my presentations that I can remember would be one of the most valuable tools that I have taken from Michelle’s training

1.Have a call to action. Or don’t bother even starting.

2. Preparation – 3 weeks before presentation 3. 13 steps – follow them all....in that order.!

FREE GIVEAWAY** Leading Through Values - Linking company culture to business strategy.

Michael Henderson, Dougal Thompson and Shar Henderson This book is the follow up to the hugely popular Values At Work and takes you to the next level of values alignment within an organisation.

A must-read for all business leaders who have an intent to create great places for people and organisations to grow and who want to develop employee engagement and understand the relationship between leadership, strategy and culture.

Be one of the first ten readers to email michelle@michellebowden.com.au with the words ‘Values at Work and win your own copy of this excellent business book. Please include your postal address in your email. www.michellebowden.com.au

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TOP INFLUENCING TIPS

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN

1. Build your credibility over time Your personal credibility has a significant impact on your degree of influence. Your credibility is determined by such things as your self confidence, your presence, your charisma, your experience, your work networks and your skill level. Solid credibility gives you a solid foundation on which to plan an influential communication strategy.

2. Be connected Be clear in your mind about the basis on which there is the potential for a connection between www.michellebowden.com.au

you and the people you would like to persuade.

In other words, why do others need what you have to offer or why should they change in the way you would like? What is the strategic value you have to offer? Apart from anything else, if you are really clear about this you will have more success in matching your influencing style to the situation.

3. Build rapport Zig Ziglar famously said: “They don’t care what you know until they know how much you care”.

Work on your rapport-building skills because

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TOP INFLUENCING TIPS (CONT.) others cannot be persuaded unless they feel an affinity with you. Rapport is about, trust, a common connection, mutual understanding and a functional relationship in which both parties feel at ease. Rapport-building is a science and there is much to learn for those to whom it does not come naturally.

4. Be assertive Powerful influencing requires a high degree of assertiveness. In the 21st century people are much less likely to allow people with authority to dictate. Yet an unassertive person will not be heard in our increasingly competitive world. So, communicate your needs or position in a clear, direct and concise way whilst being sure to show respect for the position and feelings of others.

5. Develop persuasive language: Language is a powerful tool in your influence toolkit. Learn how to use linguistic devices such as: alliteration; anaphora; tricolon; epistrophe; power words; and joining words to increase your influence.

6. Use social Influence Take time to understand and apply Cialdini’s six principles of social influence.

1.

Social Proof – we look to what others do to guide our behaviour.

2.

Reciprocity – we feel obligated to return favours performed for us.

3.

Commitment and Consistency – we want to act consistently with our commitments and values.

4.

Authority – we look to experts to show us the way.

5.

Scarcity – the less available the resource, the more we want it.

6.

Liking – the more we like people the more we want to say yes to them.

There are a variety of approaches to influencing worth learning and trying throughout your day at work. Remember, it doesn’t matter how good your company is, how good your products or service are, how good your ideas are or how good your message is, if no one’s listening.

Influencing techniques will help you ensure your message is heard and will increase your chances you hear the word ‘yes’ more often in your life.

TESTIMONIAL FROM JACYL SHAW, STRATEGIC ADVISOR TO VICE CHANCELLOR, MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY “Michelle,!I wanted to let you know your 13 Steps are so sound and wonderful.

I had to give a paper at an international conference a fortnight back in Dublin and I re-read your book, did the analysis, the 4MAT and even scripted out how I would deal with the Q & A.!

The presentation went as planned: icebreaker, pace pace pace lead... etc. It was a great success! !And because of this success I had the President of the USA-based organisation ask me to present at a conference in the US next year. !

You are a little gem.! Anyway thank you again.”

For more information on Michelle’s coaching or training go to www.michellebowden.com.au

www.michellebowden.com.au

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8 THINGS GREAT LEADERS DO

BY KEN WARREN What do you think is the number one factor that determines a highperforming workplace? A great coffee machine? High rates of pay? The threat of redundancy hanging over everyone's heads? !

Some recent research by the Australian School of Business, University of New South Wales, found it was simply the quality of the leadership.! !

Certainly this fits with many people's experience - that they have been most happy and performed at their best when they have had a great manager.

It certainly fits with my experience of high-performing workplaces as well.

When I speak to staff from such workplaces, they tend to say to me comments like, "We are so lucky with the manager we have. They are so good to work for ‌" !

But I think the more important question is what are these great leaders doing to create a team of people that are more productive, engaged and innovative? Is it simply they have chosen the right people? Here is what the research found.

1.

Great leaders spend more time speaking with their people. Put simply, great leaders are 'good people people'.

They find time for their staff, they are approachable, and take a genuine interest in how staff are travelling. They treat staff well on a consistent basis and support team members with challenges they may be having at home or work. People who work for such leaders often say they feel genuinely cared for. Compare this to stories I sometimes hear of managers who go missing in action, are unapproachable,

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2.

3.

or who seem to have a closed-door policy.! !

Great leaders have clear values and practise what they preach. Here there is a match between what those in management say is important and what they actually do. We love to see leaders who set the example for the behaviour they want to see - those who find time for people when they say relationships are important,!those who are creative when they are wanting to encourage innovation,!and those model the respectful behaviour they want to see throughout the organisation. If you are in a leadership role, what are the key values you want to encourage? And would staff say there is a strong match with your own behaviour?

Great leaders give employees opportunity to lead work assignments and activities. Strangely enough, as busy as what people are, there are many people who love the opportunity to take on more responsibility. Whenever I run team

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8 THINGS GREAT LEADERS DO (CONT.) development programs, I often ask those present who, if given the opportunity, would be open to taking on an additional challenge. Typically, at least 60% of people tend to raise their hand.

Great leaders find out which team members would like more responsibility, what type of challenge or project they would like to take on, and support them in doing so.!Team members are also encouraged to contribute to decisionmaking whenever possible. In high-performing workplaces, you often see collaborative decision-making, where many decisions are made by consensus. This is a very powerful way to encourage team members to take greater ownership and leadership over solutions. !

4. Great leaders encourage employee development and learning. Often the very high-performing workplaces who book me to run training for their staff, not those which are struggling. But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that great leaders are investing in their people. Such leaders tend to say to me, "Yes, I know we are doing well, but we can always do things better/" They also know that most people want to grow and excel at what they do.

Supporting staff in developing their skills also sends to them a clear message that they are valued. !

5. Great leaders welcome criticism and feedback as opportunities to learn.

They make it easy for team members to raise concerns, often asking for feedback informally and also putting in place processes that make it easy for team members to speak up - regular two-way discussions and staff surveys being two examples. Importantly, great leaders respond in a positive way, often thanking people when they have raised their concerns. Making it easy for people to raise concerns and give feedback has benefits at a number of levels. Firstly, it helps challenges to be identified so www.michellebowden.com.au

6.

appropriate action can be taken sooner.

Feedback also results in issues being addressed before they escalate into major concerns. A team leader's openness to feedback from their team also makes team members more open to feedback themselves. !

Great leaders give increased recognition and acknowledgement to employees. They genuinely appreciate their people and the efforts they put in and make a point of letting them know. Sadly, only about a third of people say they receive sufficient recognition for what they do. People in leadership roles should be concerned about this. The absence of sufficient recognition can be tremendously demotivating for people. Great leaders acknowledge effort and notice how team members best like their recognition. For many, a genuine and simple thanks is well-received. Others feel valued when they get to initiate a particular change.

Some liked to be left alone and trusted to do their work.!

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8 THINGS GREAT LEADERS DO (CONT.) 7.

8.

Great leaders have a clear vision and goals for the future. People gain a lot of certainty from knowing the overall direction the workplace is heading and specific goals that indicate progress in this direction. Importantly, people are clear as to their part in helping make these goals happen. One of the interesting things about vision is that team members' ability to engage with the vision is largely up to their leader's ability to communicate it well. If the team leader can communicate their vision with genuine enthusiasm, this certainly becomes more engaging for their team.! !

Great leaders are innovative and encourage team members to think about problems in new ways. Because high-performing teams are always wanting to improve, new ways of thinking and working are actively sought out. Team members are actively encouraged to contribute, to experiment with new approaches, and failure, when it occurs, is seen as a positive thing - as a sign that innovation is taking place. One of the additional benefits of innovation is that it encourages a culture where people are more receptive to change.

Questions to ask yourself How you going with the above at present?

If you are in a leadership role, you may well be in a !position to influence change.

At the very least, rate yourself on a scale of 0 to 10 with each of the above strategies and set yourself a goal to lift your performance in one or two areas.

I assure you that your team members will notice the difference.

Source: Boedker, Dr. C. et al.!Australian School of Business, University of New South Wales.!Leadership, Culture and Management Practices of High Performing Workplaces in Australia: The High Performing Workplaces

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Index.!Published by Society for Knowledge Economics: October, 2011.

Ken Warren is a Relationships Specialist who helps teams to perform at their very best.!

Through his positive, interactive and engaging speaking programs, Ken helps people to: Build even stronger, more positive and productive teams.

Cope well with the stress and challenges of their work.

Produce better outcomes with very difficult clients.

Check out all of his FREE resources at!www.positivepeoplesolutions.com.au

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SHOULD I REHEARSE?

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN If you are nervous about going blank or waffling on or getting pulled ‘off track’ by strong audience members, and if you’re keen to come across as a confident, engaging and compelling presenter, it’s a good idea to warm up your mind or rehearse prior to presenting.

In my experience, exceptional presenters rehearse!

A typical executive who engages me to coach them would rehearse (especially their opening and close) between 50 and 100 times for important events. Seriously! The more you run through your presentation, the clearer and more seamless your delivery and the more you will embed your message.

Rehearsing is where you run through the key messages over and over again, so you embed the general ‘gist’ of your message (and sometimes the result is that you will end up, almost accidentally, committing some of the parts of your message to memory).

Whilst you may inadvertently memorise some of your content, you’ll find with rehearsal that you will deliver most of your message in a different way each time and the result is that you will sound more natural. I am guessing that you are too busy in your life to try and completely rote learn your presentations prior to delivery.

How should I rehearse?

I suggest you find a variety of places to practice your presentations. The greater number of locations you rehearse in, the more comfortable you will feel presenting in the actual location of your presentation — no matter where it is.

Book a variety of meeting rooms over the course of a week at work; have a few turns in front of your bathroom mirror at home; go out into the garden for a practice if you can; and then try delivering your message in a variety of other rooms in your home. I know, it sounds a bit crazy, doesn’t it? Well, it works!

TIPS FOR PRODUCTIVITY

BY NINA SUNDAY, CSP Don't eat lunch at your desk. Take yourself away for at least a 30-minute break. During this break, allow your 'big picture' brain kick in, so you can rise above the detail. You may find what comes to mind is an important (and not yet urgent) task.

Every 55 minutes take a micro-break.

Physically get up from your desk, stretch your legs; this refreshes you, helps you gain clarity.

Any time you feel anxious about having too much on your plate, stop, take a short break. You will come back to things feeling calm and in control. www.michellebowden.com.au

Brainpower Training is a growing people development company offering a range of soft skills programs in Productivity, Communication, Customer Service, People Skills, Emotional Intelligence, Knowledge capture and Leadership. www.BrainpowerTraining.com.au

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YOU

IS IT TIME IMPROVED YOUR PRESENTATION SKILLS? PLEASE JOIN ME! Dramatically improve the way you present and influence.

Attend one of my Influential Presentation Skills programs.

It’s a life changing experience!

Risk free - 100% moneyback guarantee.

Endorsed by thousands of people from over a hundred corporations around Australia.

Interactive and personalised.

Facilitated by Michelle Bowden who has over 18 years

experience running her programs and who has been nominated for Educator of the Year for the last 3 years.

Absorb yourself in a generative and experiential approach. Learn something then practice, then learn something then practice…

Group sizes are limited to only 10 people per program.

Learning with lots of laughter.

Techniques are embedded so you remember them decades later.

SYDNEY DATES: December 3-4 February 26-27 March 12-13 April 8-9 May 14-15 June 25-26

Risk free approach to a subject most people find ‘daunting’!

BRISBANE DATES: November 7-8

Plenty of time for you to get personal one-on-one time with Michelle’s during the program.

To chat about your specific needs or receive more information please email Michelle directly:

michelle@michellebowden.com.au

Address your specific, personal needs.

TESTIMONIAL FROM DR MATT CAHILL, ANZ RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LEADER, DOW AGROSCIENCES Michelle is thoughtful and insightful and her energy is wonderful.!!I loved the structure, content, rules and formula for constructing presentations. It is excellent that the teachings are based on solid theory and years of practical application.

For more information on Michelle’s coaching or training go to www.michellebowden.com.au

www.michellebowden.com.au

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SUCCESS STARTS FROM WITHIN

BY ROBIN POWIS Successful people look and feel the part.

Intrinsically they have a strong belief system and actively seek out what they want.

Five Success Steps to Discover Your Best 1.Look, speak, act and dress like a Professional 2.Walk with energy and enthusiasm 3.Be confident and relaxed 4.Smile easily 5.Invest in your Image Five Stylish Steps to Look the Part 1.Only wear clothes you love 2.Dress appropriately for the occasion and environment 3.Regularly maintain your clothes and accessories

4.Don’t be a slave to fashion 5.Plan ahead your outfit for every occasion.

Must have Item in your Wardrobe Full length mirror to view yourself from top to toe.

ENJOY THE LITTLE THINGS

BY DOMONIQUE BERTOLUCCI Do you sometimes feel that you are working so hard towards the big things in life, that you never have any time to enjoy the little things.!!

Of course achieving your goals is important, but enjoying the here-and-now, is just as important. !

When you’re head-down, tail-up working towards your goals; whether it’s a promotion at work, saving for a deposit for a house or getting back to your healthy body weight, it’s important you don’t let these desires overtake your life. !

This week, if you find yourself racing through your day, not thinking about anyone or anything other than the next thing you need get done to get where your going - stop!! Stop, look around you and find one thing to take simple pleasure in. Do this every day this week, and not only will you be closer to your goals, you will have www.michellebowden.com.au

enjoyed the life you already have so much more. www.domoniquebertolucci.com

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TIPS FROM A PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER you to properly time your talk and pace yourself when delivering.

YVONNE GODFREY SPEAKER/AUTHOR/CEO

Speakers are judged on their Credibility (the right to speak as an expert), Content and Charisma (ability to engage the audience).

Possessing 2 qualities will make you good and mastering all 3 will make you a great speaker!

Have two talks - the one that takes the time you were given to speak and the bare bones version in case the event runs short on time.

Know which stories and examples you can leave out if need be.

Only tell sad or painful stories if you can bring your audience back into a positive mindset. You are like a tour guide and you don’t want to lose anyone in the valley of despair on the way.

Say your message succinctly and powerfully.

Well thought out phrases that are rich with meaning are easier to listen to and have a far greater impact than lots of words with no point.

Yvonne Godfrey is the founder and Executive Director of Miomo (Making it on my Own) - a 10-day live-in experience equipping 17 - 24 year olds with life and work skills to create an independent and successful adult life.!She is passionate about Empowering the next Generation to Lead! www.miomo.co.nz Here are Yvonne’s top 10 tips for presenting in business: Give your talk a title and a bi-line as you would a book. This will keep your content on track and sharp.

Package your talk into named sections – up to say 5 in a 45-minute speech. Sections will allow

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Leave the ‘off colour’ jokes and blasphemy out. You may know whom you have impressed with your teenage tongue but you may never know whom you have offended.

Don’t let your dress or accessories become a distraction. If they are too busy judging your getup, your audience won’t be focusing on your speech.

If appropriate, acknowledge the leader/ organiser of the event – it is their stage and you are merely a guest who has been invited to add value.

Decide what outcomes you want your audience to leave with? e.g inspired, motivated, empowered? This will keep your content and delivery focused and gives you a natural way to wrap up and a ‘call to action’ at the end.

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PARENTS CORNER PREPARE YOUR WORLD FOR 2013!

BY YVONNE GODFREY

Leaving school is filled with excitement, celebration and anticipation for some but disappointment and apprehension for others.

Either way – it is a time of great change for young people as one world closes – and another much bigger world opens up.

Going from dependence on parents to successfully embracing independence takes www.michellebowden.com.au

preparation and new thinking. Leaving school and a new calendar year are good ‘lines in the sand’ indicating that it’s time to go up a level.

So, what will change and what should you focus on?

First things first – as a young person, you need to know what to aim for.

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PREPARE YOUR WORLD FOR 2013!

Defining Adulthood – What makes an adult?

1. Financial Mastery (paying your way).

2. Physical Capability (running a household and taking care of your living needs).

3. Emotional Maturity (creating boundaries and growing your leadership).

Here are 7 areas for you to focus on: 1. Redefine structure & purpose into your day Unless you go straight from school to a job, you will no longer have a routine. You will be in holiday mode, which is great, but it should have a time limit, otherwise you may become resistant to routines and self-discipline. There will be no structure in your day, and without something to look forward to – you will have little or no purpose, which will lead to boredom and possibly depression.

contributing. If you are teachable with a good work ethic the organisation you are helping will end up employing you or they will network you to a friend.

3. Friendships will come and go You or some of your friends may move away to tertiary colleges while others will get jobs with anti-social hours. The dynamics will change and the school crew will never be the same. Stay connected to the friends who are important to you, allowing others to fade away naturally. Be prepared to make new friends, just make sure that you choose carefully. Look for friends who will encourage you and bring out the best in you. Search for a mentor – someone who is at least 20 years your senior but is not your parent.

This mentor will have wisdom, advice and help that they will be happy to share with you. Don’t get caught up in a group that doesn’t share your morals. If your behaviour starts feeling weird, on the edge or wrong and you hide it from your parents – it is wrong and you are on a pathway leading to a bad destination.

2. Work Experience If you are job hunting without luck - I recommend getting into unpaid work experience or volunteer work.

This will get you connected to the working world; you will learn transferable skills, enrich your CV and feel good about www.michellebowden.com.au

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PREPARE YOUR WORLD FOR 2013!

(CONT.)

Society and the law will expect more from you now. If you stuff up, be prepared to take the consequences and don’t ask to be bailed out by peers, parents or other adults. Your attitude will clearly define whether you are a boy or a man, a girl or a woman.

5. Get smart with money Whatever you respect you attract – whatever you do not respect you repel. Money, opportunities and people – it’s all the same. If you want to be good with money – then respect it. Learn to live within your budget – no matter how modest.

Having things will not bring you long-term happiness. ‘The borrower is servant to the lender’, the proverb says. Don’t get a loan for anything that is purely entertainment and that includes a modified car!

6. Learn how to be a great flatmate 4. You will have new freedoms and new responsibilities Until now you may have submitted to ‘the rules’ and exercised ‘your rights’. But it is better to focus on respect and responsibility. This is true freedom based on love for your fellow man, not legalism. Learn self-control (which is different to self discipline). While self-discipline drives us to do what is right – self-control holds us back from doing what will harm others and ourselves.

Each of us knows our weaknesses and it takes real emotional maturity to protect oneself from self- destruction. But, as you practice selfcontrol, respect and responsibility – you will suffer less temptation and peer pressure.

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Start morphing your relationship with Mum and Dad from parent to child into adult to adult. If you don’t already know, learn how a household runs. Read the power bill and your rates bill if your family owns their home – know what the weekly food bill is. Plan the family’s meals, food shop on a budget and cook at least two meals a week. Mow the lawn, wash the windows, and do some weeding and any other job that may have escaped you in the past.

If you have moved away to study – when you come home don’t treat the home like a hotel.

Resume your involvement in family life and responsibilities.

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PREPARE YOUR WORLD FOR 2013!

(CONT.)

Finally, I have a passion, commitment and strong belief in young adults. You are or have the potential to be a future leader. I am counting on YOU!

7. Look after YOU! • You may be thrilled to put down the schoolbooks, but don’t let your brain become lazy. Read great books, articles and autobiographies to keep you in the habit of reading. Be careful what you watch and listen to.

Everything builds or damages your character.

• Keep exercising – you don’t need to belong to the gym. For a fitness regime you can do with no equipment – see Vilisini Lisipeki’s workouts on our Miomo website – www.miomo.co.nz • Learn to cook so that you will eat right and save money. You will also be a very popular flatmate and friend.

• Get enough rest – and not 24 hours straight from Sunday morning to Monday morning!

• Put boundaries around yourself. Don’t let people intrude into your personal space or take your stuff! That means your money, time and energy, affection, trust, or future opportunities.

www.michellebowden.com.au

Yvonne Godfrey is the 2009 & 2010 NZ Corporate Awards People’s Choice Professional Speaker of the Year. She began leading at the age of 10 when she went dairy farming with her father and brother, learning to work in a team and to think for herself. At ! 22 she began her journey into business leadership and quickly began sharing her success with others.

Through Seminars, workshops and mentoring, Yvonne has impacted over 100,000 people!in 24 countries. ! In 2009 Yvonne founded!Miomo!(Making it on my Own) to equip 17 – 24 year olds to set-up for adult life. To date 160 young people have successfully completed the program. www.miomo.co.nz

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NOVEMBER 2012

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BEAUTY

CD OF THE MONTH

CHARITY

Napoleon Blush Patrol has a swirl of rich pigments in this baked blush to create a natural flush that lasts all day. Suitable for all skin types. Blush Patrol is enriched with Vitamins A and C.

Thinking of improving your presentation skills but don’t want to go on a training program? You need to grab a copy of How to Present - Tips from the Master. Tips from 14 of Australia’s top public speakers.

Go to my website

AIDS is a condition resulting from damage done to the human immune system by HIV. It affects tens of millions of people around the world. World AIDS Day is held on December 1 each year to honor the victims of the AIDS pandemic and focus attention on the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS related conditions.

BEAUTY

BOOK OF THE MONTH

NEW Even Better Eyes has the power to brighten the appearance of the entire eye area. Plumping hydration makes thin eye-area skin appear less transparent and the cooling massage tip refreshes tiredlooking eyes. I use it all the time and love it!

Here are some of my favourite things for you

BEAUTY

YUM!

GREAT HAIR

Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Super Shimmer has a smooth, creamy texture blends easily, is long-wearing and crease-resistant.

Well,Naturally Sugar Free Mint Crisp Rich Dark Chocolate is a premium low carb dark block chocolate and mint crisp. Yum!

Do you dream of voluminous thick hair that’s luscious and healthy? Well stop dreaming and make it a reality with Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray.

www.michellebowden.com.au

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Photo Gallery

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