Today I have included an article by my colleague Lenny Laskowski on how public speaking can improve every aspect of our lives. He says, "Whether you are having a casual telephone conversation, teaching a Sunday school class, having a conversation with your boss, or giving a formal presentation, your are involved in public speaking." Does this resonate with you?

You probably know by now that I am producing an event March 3, 4 & 5 in Los Angeles called the Speakers' Summit & Marketplace: www.speakerssummit.com. The theme is Position, Present and Package: Increase your business and income through speaking. Might I remind you that this event is not just for speakers it is for all professionals, coaches, experts and entrepreneurs. I have lined up the best speakers to educate you. You will learn how to get booked in the college market, how to gain sponsorship, trends in the industry and where the money is as well as how to develop information products to three hours of interactive training on putting your talks together and much more. Plus I have organized a Marketplace with many of the resources that will help you move forward in reaching your goals. Take a look at the marketplace: http://www.speakerssummit.com/marketplace.html and see for yourself.

By the way did you see the 90 second movie spot that my friend Rob Schultz created for the Summit? Check it out at http://www.speakerssummit.com/flash - it's way cool.

Will you join me?

Do any of you need a one camera or three camera video demo? Please contact me to make arrangements. I have a very openings for March 6 for a one camera shoot and March 12, three camera showcase.

If you want to get more speaking engagements and are wondering how the event planners can find you look no further. www.speakerservices.com is an online directory since '94 which speakers and audiences together. We are not a bureau nor an agent but a listing service. Want to learn more? Read how to get listed at http://speakerservices.com/adv_pkt.html and then scroll down to the advertising packet. Please feel free to call me so that I can assist you and answer all your questions 310-822-4922 PST.

Looking forward to hearing from you or seeing you at the Summit.

Susan Levin
Speaker Services
http://www.speakerservices.com
310-822-4922, 877-773-2800

New and Renewing Speakers & Authors- 2/06
View all speakers: http://speakerservices.com

Click on the links to see the complete speaker listings and contact info

Tom Dailey -- Chicago, Illinois, Nationwide
ASuccessful founding member of Discover card inspires you to tap the infinite power of your true self and cast your light upon the universe.
Ethics, Leadership, Spirituality, Work/Life Balance
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/209

Dr. Beth Halbert -- N. California, Nationwide
Child psychologist teaches parents and teens how to close the gap that divides them and open themselves to a happier, healthier relationship.
Communication, Parenting and Children, Teens
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/212

David Hayes, Southeastern United States, Nationwide
Top management consultant shares his "Values-Based System" that addresses critical workplace issues, from customer service, team building and leadership to diversity management and workplace violence.
Customer Service, Diversity, Leadership, Team Building
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/208

Dr. Joan Hangarter, Author -- N. California, Nationwide
Author/coach inspires you to manifest miracles of sustenance and success in all areas of your life.
Motivational, Prosperity, Self Improvement
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/210

Tony Mulkern - S. California
Entrepreneurs, CEOs, and owners of privately held companies: Meet the challenge of your growing company with new strategies to manage top-level talent and powerful action plans that turn goals into realities.
Business Solutions, Entrepreneurship, Leadership
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/166

Tips and Advice
Send tips to: tips@speakerservices.com

Last Complimentary Teleclass with Bart Smith, faculty of Speakers' Summit
Design and Develop Information Products, Q & A with Bart Smith
Wednesday, Feb. 8, 4-5pm PST
Register: http://speakerservices.com/teleclasses/detail/59 _________________

Turn your speeches into books and products you can sell Donna Beech, info@words2sell.com

Discover the fastest, most efficient way to turn your speeches into books and products you can sell. Award-winning editorial and ghostwriting services for books, articles, web content and more. FREE consultation. 866.547.7508 (US toll free), info@words2sell.com, http://www.words2sell.com
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If you missed the teleclasson Be a Radio Host using AudioAcrobat with Dave Barrett and Pat Lynch here's the link to listen to the call. http://www.speakerssummit.com/complimentary_teleclasses.html To try out audioacrobat- you can sign up at http://speakerservices.audioacrobat.com
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Merchant account through QuickBooks
Dan Poynter, DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com

To increase sales and size of sales, speakers who sell product (books, audios, etc.) must accept credit card payments. Getting merchant status used to be difficult. Local banks were told not to accept merchants who engaged in telephone/Web site sales or who operated from home rather than a storefront. Some speakers have found that getting merchant status through Costco is a good deal. Others have been conned by Independent Sales/Service Organizations (ISOs). ISOs make their money when they sell or lease you the terminal and printer, often at exorbitant rates with a long-term contract. ISOs do not process your charges. They find a bank and get a commission on all your sales.

We made a deal with QuickBooks (the processor we have used for ten years) to qualify speakers and save you nearly $100 in fees. There are no set-up fees, no application fees and no service fees for two months. The credit-card feature works with the QuickBooks accounting program. You will process the credit card numbers when you cut the invoice.

To get Merchant Status, call toll-free 888/335-4541. To get this deal, mention "Dan Poynter, Para Publishing, 805/968-7277."

We have been accepting credit card payments for more than 20 years. We used hand-operated imprinters, Miniterminals with printers, credit-card software and now QuickBooks. QuickBooks saves us a lot of time and desk space.
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Change-maker's Career Tips, is authored by Life Coach/Career Strategist, Laurie Sheppard, of Creating At Willl. It's a short, powerful read that will update you monthly with "Recent Career Trends," "Under the Wire" business issues, "Career-Life Symmetry" topics on health maintenance and work balance and offer "Career Tools, Resources and Services." A personal note and coach question for you to consider is included in each issue. Sign up at www.CreatingAtWill.com or email info@creatingatwill.com and you'll receive the newsletter PLUS a Motivation Guide and complete Career Industries checklist.

Orange County Business Opportunity Series And Expo, February 4, 2006 10am-5pm, Atrium Hotel at Orange County Airport, Explore many new business ideas and options, Discover Home-Based, E-Business and Franchise, and MLM opportunities, Meet like-minded people in your community, Awaken your entrepreneurial spirit, or showcase your business with our Exhibitor and Sponsorship opportunities. Click here to go to the www.bizoppseries.com site. Sign up now and you could win FREE tickets and FREE publicity on our website. Just call 949-727-1211

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AP Radio News * AP Radio News is interested in the latest news, and covers everything that has to do with the economy, entertainment, industry leaders. This includes company news, consumer news, and news of financial markets. They need their news as soon as it happens since they are always putting new information out on the airways. Their information should be of interest to consumers who are financially savvy and want to keep up with the latest in business, personal finance, the entertainment industry, health and medicine, major trends and policies, human interest, and the week in review. Brad Kalbfeld is the managing editor; with Ed Tobias the news editor. They prefer E-mail, and their formula is: firstinitiallastname@ap.org. View them at: www.apbroadcast.com

CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED FORTHCOMING BOOK: Heart of A Mother

Contributions welcome...all about MOTHERS! Poems, prose, quotations and short stories up to 1,500 words. Tributes should be: positive, humorous, inspirational, spiritual, reflective, light-hearted, supportive, insightful, introspective, touching, empowering....

Submissions due before March 1, 2006. Original submissions are credited with your Name, and your Website! If you are an author, name the title of your book the quote is from....Book will be released before this Mother's Day!

For more information and/or to submit, email to Sheryl Roush: Sheryl@SparklePresentations.com Subject Line: Heart of A Mother Book

Article: Eight Ways Public Speaking Improves Every Area of Your Life
By Lenny Laskowski
copyright 2005 LJL Seminars

Whether you are having a casual telephone conversation, teaching a Sunday school class, having a conversation with your boss, or giving a formal presentation, your are involved in public speaking. Following are examples of how public speaking can positively influence your everyday life, your career, your relationships, your communication style, and much more. Let's get started on the path to successful public speaking.

1. Build success in your professional life. - Most presidents and CEOs of companies possess strong speaking skills. I work with many high-level executives in the business world, and when I ask them why they feel they need coaching to improve their speaking skills, they all indicate that they know their success and their companies' future business ventures rely on their ability to speak well. Their promotions to the top were related directly to their ability to communicate effectively.

2. Communicate with others more clearly. - Many mistakes or misinterpretations are a result of not properly communicating your ideas. Good public speaking skills help you articulate ideas well and make them come alive for the listener. This was one of the most critical skills I needed to develop as an engineer, because I often had to speak to audiences that didn't know the first thing about my area of engineering expertise, which was materials engineering, but had the authority and the money to fund my next project. If I was ineffective in conveying why they should invest more money, I might have been out of a job.

3. Build overall confidence. - As you become better at organizing and communicating your ideas effectively, you will start to exhibit more confidence. People with this ability have a "glow" of confidence when they speak in public. (Let's not confuse this with the red glow of terror on the face of someone scared to death.)

4. Increase your comfort level in social situations. - How many of you have ever been invited to a party and are afraid to strike up a conversation? (Don't be shy, no one can see you.) Social situations are, in fact, the perfect opportunity to practice your public speaking skills. Here's a little bonus: It is a known fact that people who speak well are perceived as better looking. Thank God, now I know why I worked so hard at it, and it wasn't just my cute smile that made me popular with the girls.

5. Speak more confidently on the telephone. - Whether you call to request information, make a cold call at work, communicate with a client, or just leave a phone message, others can hear your confidence level in the tone of your voice. Did you know that over 86 percent of your telephone message is communicated through the tone of your voice?

6. Run meetings or present new ideas more effectively- I remember running my son's Cub Scout pack. Having the ability to conduct a Cub Scout meeting with six to eight screaming, energetic boys definitely challenged my public speaking skills (and required a lot of aspirin). Organizing and running a meeting with adults is more difficult, I think, because you can't bribe them with candy. 7. Become an effective member or volunteer. - At some point in your life, you may volunteer or even be affectionately coerced to lead or participate in a professional or social organization. Your success within the organization depends significantly on your ability to speak to a group and keep their attention engaged in order to achieve common goals and objectives.

8. Establish trust and respect from others with greater ease. - Your success in dealing with clients - or even your own children -depends a great deal on your speaking skills. The ability to convince people with words is key to establishing trust and respect. This can include not only what you say, but how you say it.

If these examples describe characteristics you want to possess, then congratulations - you have the desire to succeed as a public speaker.

Lenny Laskowski is an international professional speaker and the author of the National Best Selling Book, 10 Days to More Confident Public Speaking and several other publications. http://www.ljlseminars.com/catalog.htm, E-mail him at: Sales@LJLSeminars.com.