“Handwriting is civilization’s casual encephalogram.”
–Lance Morrow (American journalist and essayist, b. 1939)

Jennifer and Kevin rarely see eye-to-eye on anything.

Marsha has a tough time holding down a job.

Alice’s emotions are all over the place – all the time!

Sam is not easily influenced and unwilling to compromise.

Would you believe that these personalities are revealed in the person’s handwriting?

Graphology, or handwriting analysis, applies universally to men and women from teen-age to old age; from people of all social and financial and intellectual areas. It is a fascinating way to understand yourself and others. Graphology is the study of the formations of handwriting to diagnose the personality traits. Each person writes in a manner that is unconsciously expressive of his or her individual personality.

The handwriting analyst examines each handwriting in the same way a fingerprint expert does his work, realizing that each person has his or her own unique characteristics.

Graphology has a definite place in personality testing; it is of valuable use in the fields of psychology, personnel selection, and other aspects of personal counseling.

But for the lay person, handwriting analysis can point out the basic traits in order to have better self-understanding.

Consider these examples:

• When the writing is done with angular formations, the person is more critical and less gullible than the one whose writing is rounded.
• When the rounded writing is very small and clearly legible it is a sign of a rare combination of a personality that is not aggressive plus a mind that is keen and searching. The heart is sympathetic and cooperative, but the mind is careful and individualistic.
• The one who writes with a medium pressure of the pen or pencil is usually able to adapt with ease to each situation as it occurs; such a person is neither completely introverted nor extroverted but combines much of each and can be called the ambivert.
• If the writing pressure is heavier on the horizontal strokes, this is a sign of much will power and a desire for good living. Such writers usually have vital personalities to which other people quickly respond, and so it is good for them to do work when they can deal with people.
• The mood of the writing is shown in the way the handwriting runs uphill or downhill on the paper.
• When there is a sudden drop at the end of the line of writing, it reveals the person who is greatly inhibited, unhappy because of temperamental depression, and difficult to understand. Such people generally bring misery to themselves as well as others.
• When there is an ascending baseline it reveals an optimistic attitude, a “looking up” toward happy times. This person does not become discouraged over each little disappointment which may occur.

I could go on and on. The point is much can be revealed through handwriting analysis.

Would you like to unlock the mystery of your true inner self? Would you like to understand those around you?

Then why not check out my latest edited e-book titled: Handwriting Analysis: Who Are You? Unlock the Mystery of Your True Inner Self. Understand Yourself and Reach Inside the Minds of Those Around You: Your Mate, Family, Friends, Co-Workers, Bosses, and Others

Find it at http://www.HandwritingAnalysisUnlockTheMystery.com

“Do not wish to be anything but what you are and try to be that perfectly.”
–St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

Over my career, I have had several jobs where I was absolutely miserable. Has this been your situation? How many times have you struggled to overcome a weakness related to areas where you simply don’t have an interest or don’t have the natural talent to do?

How much satisfaction would you experience if you worked in a position where you focus on your strengths and actually do what you do best every day?

How much satisfaction would you experience if your workplace was a perfect match to your core values?

How much satisfaction would you experience on the job if it fit perfectly your personality and temperament?

Then let me offer three ideas you should use immediately.

Discover your strengths

To do this, I recommend StrengthsFinder2.0, the New York Times bestseller by Tom Rath. Here is one quote from his book: “Studies indicate that people who do have the opportunity to focus on their strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs and more than three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general.”

Rath’s premise is you build on your natural talents or those areas where you have greatest potential to develop strengths.

Rath’s formula: Talent (a natural way of thinking, feeling, or behaving) x Investment (time spent practicing, developing your skills and building your knowledge base) = Strength (the ability to consistently provide near perfect performance).

I purchased the book and went online to take the 30-minute assessment. As a result I discovered what makes me stand out and I received a strength-based action plan.

Find the assessment tools at: https://www.strengthsfinder.com

Determine your core values

You must understand your core values in order to identify a new career path and to know if a particular job really suits you. What are your core values? These could include:

• Family-oriented
• Close friendships
• Hardworking
• Religious/spiritual life
• Honesty & integrity
• Helping others
• Decision-maker
• Lifelong learning
• Self-improvement
• Physical health

Thus, a job that conflicts with family and personal relationships, for instance, may be less satisfying to you. Take your time and dig deep to uncover your core values; those you cannot live without; those important values that motivate you to do your best work.

Determine your workplace values

What suits your personality and temperament? Workplace values could include:

• Fairness
• Time flexibility
• Financial rewards
• Stability and security
• Honesty & integrity
• Recognition
• Respect
• Autonomy
• Teamwork over competition
• Change and variety
• Creative expression
• Clear path to advancement/personal growth

Your core values and workplace values should form the basis of your career-planning decisions.

Summary

Do not waste your valuable time and energy trying to succeed in a job that isn’t congruent or in harmony with your natural talents and strengths. Remember that Talent x Investment = Strength.

Then you must determine your core values and workplace values to find out if the job really suits you – if it will be a good fit. You must search for employment in areas you are most likely to be more effective and successful.

Finally, take to heart these words of Elsie Lincoln Benedict (1921):
“No person achieves success or happiness when compelled to do what he naturally dislikes to do. Since these likes and dislikes stay with him to the grave, one of the biggest modern problems is that of helping men and women to discover and to capitalize best those things which permit him to act in accordance with his natural bents.”

A new survey by Right Management found that 84 percent of employees are planning to look for new and brighter opportunities elsewhere in 2012. Are you?

If so, be sure to use the ideas in this article for job-hunting success!!

Want more job-hunting ideas?

Check out my e-book What Every Unemployed Woman Over 50 Should Know: 17 Success Strategies to Land Your Next Job
http://www.WomenOver50JobSearchStrategies.com

STOP! Don’t put this article down! You know what might happen. You might put it down and say: That’s an interesting title, but I don’t have time to read it now. I’ll get to it later.” But later may never come.

Don’t procrastinate about reading an article on procrastination! Time yourself. Likely you’ll be able to read this article in about five minutes. Look at your watch and start timing now.

Is it procrastination?
If you put it off—postpone what you could or should do now—then you procrastinate. In other words, you put off for tomorrow what you can do now, today. A procrastinator delays action when it is action that is needed.

A supervisor asks an employee for a report; parents ask their child to clean his room; a wife asks her husband to fix the faucet. “I got too busy” or, “I forgot” or, I didn’t have time” are excuses given for not getting around to it. The reality is few of us like to do reports or clean rooms or fix plumbing when there are more enjoyable things to do. So we put off, we delay doing it.

Understand why you procrastinate.
Take a look at the following reasons, and see if you can identify which one fits a current project you haven’t started or finished:

Habit:

• If I wait until the last minute, I’ll have more motivation to finish it.
• I enjoy the excitement I get by doing it at the very last moment.
• I’ll wait until the boss reminds me a couple of times, then I’ll know it’s something he really wants done.
• I have so much to do that only the crisis things get my attention.

Attitude:

• I don’t have the desire or the drive to do the assignment.
• I just get to things when I feel up to doing them.
• I want to do something else.
• I lack self-discipline.

Fear:

• I’m not sure I can do it.
• I don’t have enough time to do it.
• It’s too big a project. I need help.
• What if I don’t succeed or finish?
• I’m afraid I’ll be criticized or embarrassed.

If you are uncertain why you procrastinate, make a list of your activities for a week by half-hour intervals. Determine how you’re spending your time. It can be a real eye-opener to see how much time we spend on relatively unimportant things between tasks. But then what?

What can I do?
Make a list. Do this the night before. Put on paper the things you want to accomplish the next day. This way you won’t forget something and you’ll see your progress as you check off the completed items.

Tell time. If you are always running late, literally running because you’re late, learn to tell time. This is, make an accurate assessment of how long you’ll need to do a task. Add a few extra minutes to the task for the “disaster” that may happen.

Delegate. We often try to do everything ourselves although we may not always need to. Another person may be able to drop off a package for us if we know he is going to the post office.

Slice it. Sometimes we don’t start a new project because of its size. Why not slice the large task into small ones. As we complete the small tasks, we’ll see our progress and be encouraged to complete the next phase.

Plan for interruptions. There are always interruptions in our workday—phone calls, visitors, problems, email messages. Therefore, plan for interruptions. Allow time daily for unplanned developments. When these arise, you can take care of them, knowing that you’ve allowed some time for them.

Reward. When you do your scheduling, you should plan for intense concentrated performance for about 90 minutes. After about an hour and a half, you may need to take a short break. Pause, stretch, and reflect. Get some refreshment. Reward yourself for your work.

Just think, you’ve completed this article in about five minutes after you read the title. You may be on your way to recovery!
***** *****

Want more information about this topic? Check out my e-book:
College Students: Time Is on Your Side—Time Management Strategies for School, Work, and Play can be found at http://www.timemanagement9to5.com

Congratulations! You just got an offer for a wonderful new job.

Your dreams have finally come true!

No more standing in the shower for 20 extra minutes every morning because you dread going to work – and then running late. No more feelings of anxiety as you arrive to your office and slowly walk to your desk. And no more days spent watching the clock as the seconds, minutes, and hours drag by.

You are getting out!

There is just one catch. How to say good-bye to your boss. You’re nervous—even though for the past year you have hated every minute working for her.

Nonetheless, you want to resign gracefully. You want to protect your long-term career interests.

You want to be smart about this.

You are right.

Here are 8 ideas to leave your current employer and move on to your next position with class.

1. Give the correct amount of notice required by your company’s written policy.
   Some employers will escort employees off the premises the day of resignation. Others ask one or two week’s notice. Keep in mind that usually workers who have resigned begin to feel like a fifth wheel if they hang around longer than necessary.
2. Resign to your boss in person, it at all possible.
   Phone is second best. And tell the boss before you tell anyone else—even your best friend or exercise buddy.
3. Expect your boss to be professional.
   Do not be afraid of the boss’s reaction. Smile. Be respectful. Thank her for the opportunity to learn and grow, which has led to your newest and most wonderful career move.
4. Thank your boss and your coworkers.
   Even if you hate them all and can’t wait to leave, don’t annoy your coworkers. Don’t talk about what a great time you will have on the outside. And who knows? You may need them as a reference. Or you may run into them at conventions and networking groups in the future. You will benefit from strong references and goodwill.
5. Decline a counter-offer.
   Some studies show that 60% of those who accept a counter-offer are gone in six months. Once you give notice, your relationship with your boss has entered a new phase. Things won’t get better; likely they’ll get worse. If you decide to stay, get a written contract.
6. Treat the exit interview as a business formality, not a therapy session.
   When a human resources professional asks why you’re leaving, be upbeat and positive. Talk about how much you loved the company and your job. You never know where your comments will turn up, mangled and misinterpreted.
7. Resist requests to share the details of your future position with anyone.
   Occasionally colleagues will press you for salary or other information. Details of your future employment should remain confidential even from you close friends in the company.
8. Focus on your new opportunity—not your past experience.
   Once you’re gone, you’re history. The very same folks who loved meeting you for lunch will barely remember you name a week later.

Sad but true . . .

Quitting a job can be hard work. Follow these 8 suggestions to avoid missteps that could end up hurting your career. Resign your job with class!

At an online university, I recently listened to a professor present on the topic of natural science.

Not a particularly exciting subject to begin with.

But couple this potentially dull topic with the fact the professor gave the presentation from an Adobe Acrobat Pro Meeting room, which meant no video of the professor, just his voice could be heard and the PowerPoint slides were visible.

He began by giving an overview on scientific concepts and methodologies; forces, energy, and motion waves and the electromagnetic spectrum; earth’s structure, earth processes; ecosystems and environment, and so forth.

Following the lecture the professor suggested students gather in small study groups of 4 or 5 members online and begin discussing their science project based on the lecture.

But nothing happened.

The students logged out of the meeting and did absolutely nothing.

Why?

The lecture bored them.

They weren’t motivated to act.

Lectures presented by university professors frequently induce sleep!

So what can teachers do to help students not only to listen to them with pleasure, but also convince students to act – quickly?

It comes down to the quality of the speaking voice.

Yes, relevant content is important. The information must stimulate thinking. Students must leave the presentation believing that they not only learned something, but also understand how the information will benefit them now.

But connecting to students in a meaningful way mostly requires strong speaking skills.
If teachers after presenting a lecture are not able to receive the actions they seek, then why bother.

Well, there is hope!

According to Dr. Albert Mehrabian’s Silent Messages: 7% the words we use; 38% how we say words, tone of voice, style, and 55% facial expressions, body language.

In online presentations without video and therefore no facial expressions or body language, we are left to communicate – to connect with listeners – by “how we say words, tone of voice, style.”

Thus here are the top 3 ways teachers can engage students mentally throughout the presentation and inspire them to take immediate action at its conclusion:

Speak clearly: Do not slur or run your words together. Some people have problems with articulation because of a speech defect or to dental issues. However, for most of us, poor articulation is due to sloppy speech habits.

And for the sake of fluency, avoid word whiskers and fillers. These include sounds and words such as “and-uh,” “ah,” “um,” “er,” “you know,” “like” and so forth. The professor had 140 such distractions in his hour-long presentation. (Yes, I counted them!)

If you use them, students may perceive you as ill-prepared or even untruthful. Be silent if nothing else.

Use modulation: Vary the sound of your voice. Nothing can be more boring than to listen to someone who speaks in monotone. The human voice can be articulated, trained, and fine-tuned like a delicate instrument.

When you use vocal color and vocal variety, people will be attentive to what you have to say. Vocal color and vocal variety gives life to your presentation, stirs emotions, and motivates to action!

Show enthusiasm: Suppose you visit a department store. One salesperson approaches you in a matter-of-fact way and offers to sell you the product. Then a second salesperson approaches at almost the same time and is smiling and excited about the same product. From whom would you buy?

Of course – the one showing enthusiasm for what he is selling; he “believes” in the product. If the salesperson believes, then “you” believe. He motivates you to buy! Similarly, to get results, teachers must speak with feeling.

In summary, when next you present a lecture, do not bore your students. Use the three simple methods described in this article and develop in your students the motivations to act on what they have learned. Use the three simple methods described in this article, and you will be a more effective speaker and teacher. You will be a more successful speaker and teacher. And your students will be the beneficiaries.

Want to change the way you sound? Check out my e-book Your Voice Is Your Image: Four Ways to Improve Your Speaking Voice
Find it at: http://www.communicationmarketplace.com

“He, who every morning plans the transactions of the day and follows that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through a labyrinth of the most busy life.”
–Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

Don’t be like most people who look for a job without a plan. A well-designed and executed plan will ensure a successful job search. You must be just as passionate and enthusiastic about your plan as you are about finding a job; and be totally committed to working your plan every day until you get a job.

Follow these steps to effective planning:

• Build a schedule
• Make a to-do list
• Post weekly, monthly, and yearly calendars

A few additional tips:

• Keep your goals in mind.
• Write a weekly and daily plan.
• Use only one planner to keep track of your appointments, both personal and business-related to avoid confusion.
• Prioritize your tasks and focus on your most important goals, even if you find them hard to achieve.
• Check off items as you complete them as this will give you a sense of accomplishment and make you feel great!
• Plan down time; meaning you will include family, exercise, relaxation, spiritual activities, and so forth.
• Allow time to think and to make adjustments or changes to your plan as necessary.
• Leave time for unforeseen occurrences and emergencies.

Most critical of all, once you’ve made a plan, stick with it. Make adjustments where necessary, but never give up.

One of the best definitions of perseverance I’ve come upon is one I found on the Academy of Achievement Web site:

“No great achievement comes without obstacles: physical limitations, the vagaries of nature or resistance from the outside world. Although our achievers sometimes met with failure, they never abandoned their dreams, but doggedly persevered until they succeeded against the odds.” http://www.achievement.org/

Is your plan working? To ensure success, you must plan your job search day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month.

Want more ideas to plan a job search? Check out my e-book. Find it at:
http://www.womenover50jobsearchstrategies.com

“Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.”
–Plato (ca. 427-347 B.C)

Nonverbal messages speak much louder than words

Verbal communication means the words we use (spoken words and written words); nonverbal communication means everything else. For instance, non-word vocalizations would include sighs, grunts, moans, and groans, tone of voice, pitch, and loudness. Non-vocal would include gestures, movement, appearance, facial expression, touch, and so forth. And, of course, silence.

Scholars estimate that nonverbal behaviors account for 65% to 93% of our total meaning when we communicate.

Here are some ways to improve your nonverbal skills and therefore ensure your success at the job interview:

Do . . .

1. Plan the image you want to project. Dress according to the position and corporate culture.
2. Stand erect. Walk with confidence. Sit with a relaxed posture. These body positions announce self-assurance.
3. Look at the eyes of others. People often focus on the eyes to judge others’ honesty, intelligence and attitude.
4. Gesture appropriately. Use your hands expressively, but don’t overdo it as this can be distracting and signals nervousness.
5. Listen carefully; listen actively. Focus your mind on the ideas and signal your interest and understanding. Ask questions.
6. Use a strong handshake that communicates confidence.




Do not . .

7. Show up late. How you handle time can indicate if you take time seriously and could be an important nonverbal cue as to how committed you would be to the job.
8. Overlook the power of a good first impression (artifacts such as jewelry, hairstyle, cosmetics, shoes, glasses, and so forth tell others the sort of person you believe you are).
9. Slouch in your chair or shuffle your feet; bounce or kick your leg. These give a poor impression.
10. Sit with crossed arms, shrug your shoulders, lower your eyes, frown, look away, yawn, look at your watch, or show irritation. These indicate a mood of indifference.
11. Scowl or stare as these show disapproval and resistance (poets call the eyes “mirror of the soul”).

People will evaluate your professional credibility and potential job performance within a mere 3-30 seconds. Communication often occurs without words; thus, nonverbal messages often say much more about you than you realize.

But take heart! If you follow these 11 tips you will ace your next job interview!

Want to change the way you sound?
Check out my e-book Your Voice Is Your Image: Four Ways to Improve the Speaking Voice. Find it at: http://www.communicationmarketplace.com

“Some workers turn losing a job into the best time in their lives.”
–a CBS news reporter

There are numerous self-employment opportunities available to you. Try these Web sites for more information:

http://www.franchiseopportunities.com
This site is the largest directory of available franchise and business opportunities, and has a special link: “Women’s Franchises.”

http://job.franchisesolutions.com/
This site also includes hundreds of franchise opportunities and businesses for sale.

Caution:
Be wary of so-called work-at-home opportunities, many of which are scams. Do your due diligence!

However, here is one resource you can trust; this book tells you how to find many legitimate work-from-home jobs:

Will Work From Home: Earn the Cash Without the Commute
By Tory Johnson and Robyn Freedman Spizman

Tory Johnson is the workplace contributor on ABC News Good Morning America; Robyn Freedman Spizman is a nationally recognized television and radio personality and consumer advocate that appears weekly on NBC’s affiliate in Atlanta, GA.

Purchase their book on Amazon.com.

If you decide on self-employment, be sure to take advantage of FREE and confidential business advice from SCORE: Counselors of America’s Small Business. There are offices in every state. Reach them here: http://www.score.org

Want to learn more about this career tip?

I recommend the book The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss, a “serial entrepreneur and ultra-vagabond.” In this #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, you will find a wealth of useful ideas for the entrepreneur who chooses not to go from working a 40-hour workweek for someone else to working 80 hours for herself.

My favorite tip from the book: “How to outsource your life to overseas virtual assistants for $5 per hour and do whatever you want.” (As a business owner, I outsource everything I am unable to do well.)

The Way You Talk Can Hurt You: 3 Tips to Better Communication

By Rosa Chillis

Joseph worked hard. As a customer service telephone representative, he showed respect and courtesy to everyone who called the company. But he wanted to get ahead. He wanted an outside sales job. He applied for open positions over and over again; his manager turned him down each time. Finally, Joseph went to his boss and demanded to know why.

“Joseph,” he said, “Your enunciation is so lousy, I wouldn’t dare send you out to meet my customers face to face.” Joseph felt crushed. He resigned the next day.

Are you getting the career results you want in the workplace? If not, take a few minutes to assess your vocal habits.

Why? Because your voice is your image; people will always judge you based on how you talk. They will listen to the way you speak – how you say what you say – and evaluate your credibility, professionalism and competence.

For example, an office worker who constantly drops his or her word endings will be viewed as lacking intelligence, or at best, a sloppy speaker – no job promotion. A female manager who has a high-pitched, squeaky voice will be viewed as uncertain or unsure of herself – no control over her team. Or a college instructor who lectures in a monotone voice will be viewed as dull and boring; and will put his students to sleep – no learning occurs.

But there is hope . . .

Tip #1: Tape-record your voice. This is important because when you’re speaking your voice sounds different to you than to others. Ask yourself: is my voice crisp and clear? Does my voice have a pleasing and pleasant pitch level? If you answered no to these two questions . . .

Tip #2: Begin a self-improvement program at once! To help you speak crisply and distinctly, say your words to the end.

For instance, say ‘subject’ not ‘subjeck’; ‘bend’ not ‘ben’; ‘reading’ not ‘readin’ and so forth. To control your pitch level, breathe from the diaphragm; learn to relax. When you’re tense, you’re self-conscious, and the tension reveals itself in a strained, high-pitched voice. Speak slowly. This will lower the pitch of your voice.

Watch your posture! If you slouch, sag and hunch over, you can’t breathe efficiently and this will show in your voice. In fact, these postures will actually restrict the sounds you produce in you voice box.

Finally, some believe the effective speaking voice is like a musical instrument. Thus, to practice vocal variety (and not sound monotonous and boring), move your pitch around by singing up and down the musical scale: do (doe), re (ray), me (mee), fa (fah), sol (soul), la (lah) ti (tee), do (doe).

Tip #3: Practice, practice, practice. Habits are difficult things to change, and bad voice habits that have persisted for twenty of more years can not be replaced with better ones in a few short weeks. However, if you are willing to work to learn a new way of speaking you can overcome the obstacles.

Conclusion: This article suggested 3 tips to improve your communication skills. Through clear, distinct speech you can change perceptions, improve your credibility, and project a more competent and professional image. Your goal should be to develop a voice that is intelligible, flexible, vital and expressive. Why not get started today!

“Speech is a mirror of the soul: as a man speaks, so is he.” – Publilius Syrus

Article excerpted from The 7-Day System for Gaining Self-Confidence, Popularity, and Financial Success by Dexter Davis, 1955

You sell your ideas with words, but the actual vehicle that you use is usually your voice. Have you ever checked up on your voice appeal?

Your voice has powerful emotional effect on your listener. If it is pleasant, your listener instinctively feels a certain amount of goodwill toward you. If your voice is disagreeable, the listener has a tendency to want to get away from you.

This is simply human nature. We don’t like squeaking, rasping, nasal, indistinct, monotonous, or otherwise irritating speech. We put up with it only when we have to.

Advertisers know that a soothing, buoyant radio voice can sell much more of a product than a monotonous, dull voice. And of course, a radio voice that is squeaky, rasping, nasal, or indistinct would be lucky to sell anything.

Yes, your voice has dollars and cents value in your career. It is a success factor in all of your human relations.

Don’t think that your voice is unimportant simply because no one has ever criticized it. The effect of voice is a subtle thing, often specifically unrecognized by the hearer. And even when it is noticeably faulty, “your best friends won’t tell you.”

What can you do about it? First of all, hear a recording of your voice. Notice your speech habits for several days. Then ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I speak at a pleasant volume, or too loudly or softly?
2. Do I vary my tone or speed, or are they even and monotonous?
3. Do I articulate my words clearly, or do I have “lazy” lips, tongue, and jaw?
4. Do I slur my words when I am enthused, or do I retain clear articulation?
5. Do I make use of effective pauses?
6. Do I have a clear, pleasing tone, or is it nasal, hoarse, squeaky, or otherwise unpleasant?
7. Is my voice expressive or do I talk about everything in almost the same mood?
8. Does my voice always radiate confidence, or does it give me away when I don’t feel sure of myself?

Be honest and searching in answering these questions. You have accomplished something when you know and admit your faults. Then correct them. Anyone can do it with determination. However, it may be necessary to consult a voice teacher or book for helpful exercises.
**** ****
Do these ideas from Dexter Davis actually work?

A True Story:

I recently had a job interview by phone. Do you know what the corporate recruiter said to me over and over? “You speak with such great confidence. I know you can do this job.”

I later spoke with the associate provost. My interview skills (ability to provide cogent and succinct responses to questions) along with my vocal quality impressed him also.

What happened?

I got the job!

I didn’t meet with the corporate recruiter or the associate provost face-to-face. All interaction was by telephone. Yes—I submitted a strong resume and professional references; but without dress appearance, eye contact, body language, and firm handshake, how else could they make a decision?

They made their decision based on the quality of my speaking voice: clarity, pitch, loudness and projection, color and variety.

They said yes!

Thus, I was able to “sell” my experiences, skills, and accomplishments based on the strength of my vocal quality.

“There is no index of character so sure as the human voice.”
–Benjamin Disraeli

What does your voice reveal about you?

To find out, play a recording of your voice and answer the questions suggested by Dexter Davis.

And then . . .

Follow this link for instant download of my new e-book Your Voice Is Your Image: Four Ways to Improve Your Speaking Voice.

What are the rewards of an effective speaking voice?

1. Credibility. Change perceptions. Project a more competent and professional image through clear, distinct speech.
2. Confidence. Express your ideas, feelings and opinions with boldness.
3. Control. Gain power over two of the most important tools of interpersonal communication—your voice and articulation.

Through practical, easy-to-use exercises and techniques, you’ll discover how to develop a voice that is intelligible, flexible, vital, and expressive.

No question, a pleasing, expressive, confident voice adds valuable emotional impact to your words. Add it to your assets!