Business Quick Tips April 2009 Vol 5 No# 42

1. Are you a leader or follower?

2. What people really want

3. Computer tips: removing duplicates in Excel; control is the key

4. Can you name the new book?

5. Travel Schedule

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1. Are you a leader or follower?

You know the world has gone more visual. If Susan Boyle the Britians Got Talent Welsh singer got over 100 million views of her Idol song (vs. only 20 million for Obama's inaugural speech), does a paper brochure still stand the test of time?

I made the move this week. But decided to do something very different. Give me five seconds, well in honesty, 3 minutes and take a look because it leads into the next article on using humour to be more successful.

Get to the video via the image at right or see the unique way it displays on the www.debbiespeaks.co.nz website

By the way, if you like it (or don't) let me know please Video feedback

2. What people really want

I guarantee that if you add a bit of humour into a presentation. a report, memo or conversation, it will make you more memorable and persuasive. In this modern age of information overload, instant gratification and Twitter humour works wonders.

Humor to fit your persona.
If you are not naturally funny, you’ll crumble at the thought of adding humor. I’ve read umpteen books on the how-to but as my daughter Samantha said in an exasperated breath (as I stopped to look through just one more book) “What’s the point mom”?
You can know the how to – but if it’s not naturally in you, the how-to still won’t put ideas in your head.

Easy Humor Adds
Funny graphics. Laughing at yourself works, poking fun at your oddities or shortcomings. Highlight the things your kids tease you about. Another area to exploit is problems in common with your listening or audience. Throw in something (unexpected) about the partner, pets, teens….
I used to show a picture of our six children, then launch in straight to the business point of not treating customers the same. Now I ask first “why did I show you this picture” After a pregnant pause I answer my question with “To make you feel real sorry for me.” Instant laughter. Then I launch into the business point.
When giving examples, work in threes. Have the third one unexpected and funny. One that I use is “Have you ever heard something life changing? Will you marry me, the job is yours. Shoes, 50% off”. I use this last line when there are a lot of females in the audience and it always gets a laugh.

Google Images are great for humor
Unexpected funny graphics are an easy way to add a laugh. Go directly to Google images  www.google.com/images. You can hone your search by content and image size. When you find the image you want, don’t select it from the thumbnails you see. Click to go to the original source where you’ll get the proper image itself (vs. the Google small thumbnail).
Adding the word cartoon to your search in images will give you exactly that – only the cartoons.

Tip: Larger sized images are better for print and presentations.

3. Two great computer tips

Removing duplicates in Excel
One of the great pains of a dbase in Excel is getting rid of doubles. It can take hours and hours - or if you watch this video it's one click (Excel 2007; or just a few more in Excel 2003 and prior) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET9Y8sJRH0I

Control is the key
Did you know that simply by holding down the control key you can click and select from different parts of a document, file, worksheet and make changes to them all at once? Have a look. http://www.hp.com/aquarius/taw/downloads/non_adj_selection.wmv

By the way, This link will take you to 26 Hewlett Packard Videos (as well as Chinese and Korean versions).
http://h30458.www3.hp.com/au/en/smb/786357.html

4. Can you help name a new book?
I'm 7/10ths thought completing the manuscript for a new d atabase m arketing book. The first half is strategy. The second is screen shot computer tips on how to automate the cleaning, fixing, adding and merging of your customer information for use.

Help me come up with a great title - Please!!!! I'm hopeless.
Superb Tips and Tricks For Managing Your Customer Information.

The person that comes up with a great title will get five copies of the book upon printing by Penguin.

name Debbie's book

5. Debbie's travels
Would you like to meet? Do you require staff training or have a networking event? Look below for when I'm in your area.

Simply contact me now by email or fill in the speaking quote form The topic and presentation page has been updated for 2009 if you 're interested. Topic page on the website

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Published by SuccessIS. Debbie Mayo-Smith International Motivational Business Speaker and Author, 35 Chelmsford Ave, Glendowie, Auckland NZ. Phone 64 9 575 5359. Copyright 2009 SuccesslS. All rights reserved. SuccessIS is committed to protecting your privacy. We do not sell, trade, rent or otherwise disclose any personal information you provide to us.

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