Items in italics are direct quotes from the articles below
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-stop-using-filler-words-speech-presentation-2016-12
Americans are famous for using filler words like “um”, “uh”, “like” and “y’know”. On average, we utter two to three filler words for every 100 words we speak. One method to stop using filler words is the clap method. Ask someone to listen to you speak and clap whenever you use a filler word. It will seem weird at first, but you’ll be able to determine how many filler words you use in your daily conversation. The self-recording method involves setting up a camera or cell phone device to record yourself during conversation. The best way to correct yourself from using filler words is by pausing in between each thought. “It is a matter of training yourself to tolerate a long pause and telling yourself that you will not lose people’s attention or respect.” – Paula Statman. People will also use filler words when experiencing anxiety. A good way to manage this anxiety is to shift your focus to helping the audience. Finally, it’s important to practice giving speeches, so you will build your confidence. The best way to communicate your spirit is through your words, and in my opinion the most efficient and effective way to communicate your words is through speaking. Your spoken words can communicate tone in a way that written words can’t. Remember that words are powerful. Words can become flesh.
“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”
―Margaret Fuller
Want to know one of the “secrets” to becoming a better leader? Become a more voracious reader. One of the best ways to “stand on the shoulders of giants” is to read. We hear it all the time–that the most successful people, our greatest leaders, are people who read constantly (including Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Warren Buffett). Reading for leaders is a way to broaden their knowledge, to expand their world view, to gain insight and widen their perspectives. But the secret is knowing what to read. Not every book will get you where you need to be. Here is my list of the top five books you must read if you want to become a more successful, well-rounded leader. The five books are: The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness, Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders, Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success, The 48 Laws of Power, and Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization. Each book is worth reading, however I’ve selected a direct quote from the article regarding the 48 Laws of Power. “When you show yourself to the world and display your talents, you naturally stir all kinds of resentment, envy, and other manifestations of insecurity. … You cannot spend your life worrying about the petty feelings of others.” A contrast to the usual “feel-good” tone of most leadership books, The 48 Laws of Power brings a hard-edged ruthless grit based on the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and stories of politicians and other manipulators throughout history. Robert Greene’s “48 laws” focus on making yourself look good, building your own confidence, self-preservation, and winning. Even if it’s a message you’re not entirely comfortable with, it’s one you need to know. It’s important to listen to different points of view even if you may not agree with the point of view. Each of these books, I believe will help draw out the leader in you. Be a servant leader and serve for the greater good of eternity and legacy. Just remember that when you lead you can be the target that gets hit first, so be true to the values you believe in.
If you are interested in creating a budget, then contact me for a financial checkup in the contact me section. Also, learn more about the self-lending principle in the mustard seed section.
For this week, I’ve included SINK OR SWIM – Motivational Video | You don’t have to face yourself on Friday from Fight it or Accept it YouTube channel.
“If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.”
Proverbs 28:26 MSG
Pursuit of Excellence 
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