Comments for Um Er YouKnow ... http://umeryouknow.com A blog on speaking - Toastmasters and "the outside world" Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:09:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Toastmasters club Website of The Month award… by George http://umeryouknow.com/?p=215&cpage=1#comment-361 George Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:09:26 +0000 http://umeryouknow.com/?p=215#comment-361 I'll go along. Here's my home club website: www.starsearchtm.org I’ll go along. Here’s my home club website:
http://www.starsearchtm.org

]]> Comment on A Better Contestant Interview by Jessica http://umeryouknow.com/?p=162&cpage=1#comment-346 Jessica Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:21:09 +0000 http://umeryouknow.com/?p=162#comment-346 Great idea. The last contest I went to (and my first time competing) had more interesting interviews. I wished I'd filled out my form better after hearing some of the questions. :) Great idea. The last contest I went to (and my first time competing) had more interesting interviews. I wished I’d filled out my form better after hearing some of the questions. :)

]]> Comment on No Laughing Matter … by joke teller http://umeryouknow.com/?p=61&cpage=1#comment-284 joke teller Fri, 02 Apr 2010 05:12:22 +0000 http://umeryouknow.com/?p=61#comment-284 [...] told one that fell flat or they are afraid of appearing silly or of offending someone. Jokes areUm Er YouKnow ... No Laughing Matter ...Many clubs include a JokeMaster or Humor Master or have the timer or Toaster give a Toast, tip or [...] [...] told one that fell flat or they are afraid of appearing silly or of offending someone. Jokes areUm Er YouKnow … No Laughing Matter …Many clubs include a JokeMaster or Humor Master or have the timer or Toaster give a Toast, tip or [...]

]]> Comment on a DTM is a DTM … by Yenni http://umeryouknow.com/?p=135&cpage=1#comment-122 Yenni Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:27:17 +0000 http://umeryouknow.com/?p=135#comment-122 Wow, it's new to me. I didn't know we can achieve several DTMs...??? Very interesting! Is it for real? Wow, it’s new to me. I didn’t know we can achieve several DTMs…???
Very interesting! Is it for real?

]]> Comment on 7 Habits of Frequently Failing People by Steve Smart http://umeryouknow.com/?p=137&cpage=1#comment-40 Steve Smart Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:22:40 +0000 http://umeryouknow.com/?p=137#comment-40 Good Point!! Life is like water flowing from a tap! Imagine how much is wasted by turning the fawcet on to full, it goes by so fast we do not even see how and what we are doing let alone failing or achieving. Try to run your life slower and if you cannot see why you are failing turn it down to a drip - chill out. In taking time to reflect sometimes we see failures are really achievements and vice versa! Context is important and being cool and calm enough to chose a path is surely success? Good Point!!
Life is like water flowing from a tap! Imagine how much is wasted by turning the fawcet on to full, it goes by so fast we do not even see how and what we are doing let alone failing or achieving. Try to run your life slower and if you cannot see why you are failing turn it down to a drip – chill out. In taking time to reflect sometimes we see failures are really achievements and vice versa! Context is important and being cool and calm enough to chose a path is surely success?

]]> Comment on Thank You (for not thanking me) … by Jessica http://umeryouknow.com/?p=65&cpage=1#comment-31 Jessica Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:13:17 +0000 http://umeryouknow.com/?p=65#comment-31 I'm guilty of "turning it over" on occasion. I flip the meeting like a pancake, don't ya know! I’m guilty of “turning it over” on occasion. I flip the meeting like a pancake, don’t ya know!

]]> Comment on SAY MY NAME!!!! … Rethinking Toastmasters WOTD by Joy Gaylord, ATM-S, CL http://umeryouknow.com/?p=3&cpage=1#comment-9 Joy Gaylord, ATM-S, CL Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:25:32 +0000 http://umeryouknow.com/wordpress/?p=3#comment-9 I agree with most of what you say about the WOTD. However, In my opinion, the ideal WOTD is one that is frequently heard (on the news, for instance) but not understood by a lot of people. I feel that obscure or silly words defeat the purpose, as do familiar words. However, another good WOTD would be a familiar word that is often misused, with credit give only if the word is used properly. I agree with most of what you say about the WOTD. However, In my opinion, the ideal WOTD is one that is frequently heard (on the news, for instance) but not understood by a lot of people. I feel that obscure or silly words defeat the purpose, as do familiar words. However, another good WOTD would be a familiar word that is often misused, with credit give only if the word is used properly.

]]> Comment on Heeeeeeeere’s Johnny! by Heeeeeeeeeeere's Bobby! http://umeryouknow.com/?p=33&cpage=1#comment-8 Heeeeeeeeeeere's Bobby! Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:37:28 +0000 http://umeryouknow.com/?p=33#comment-8 Boy, did you hit the nail on the head! This should be required reading for every TM alive, especially the newbies. Although I have tried many variations on the theme, I still enjoy the famous "3 Whys" approach to drafting an effective speaker intro. 1. Why are you speaking on this subject? And don't tell me because it's the next project in the manual. I mean why did you select this topic? What does it mean to you? 2. Why are you an expert (or at least have experience) on this topic? What will make us believe you are in a position to talk about his subject? 3. Why will his audience be intertested in hearing about this topic? Yes there are add-ons to this very basic formula, but I honestly believe many speakers either don't know about these basics, could care less about them even after they are trained in them, or just find it easier to drop the old "Bio" on the TMOD. To me a solid, exciting, you got my attention intro is as basic as the speech itself! Boy, did you hit the nail on the head! This should be required reading for every TM alive, especially the newbies. Although I have tried many variations on the theme, I still enjoy the famous “3 Whys” approach to drafting an effective speaker intro.

1. Why are you speaking on this subject? And don’t tell me because it’s the next project in the manual. I mean why did you select this topic? What does it mean to you?

2. Why are you an expert (or at least have experience) on this topic? What will make us believe you are in a position to talk about his subject?

3. Why will his audience be intertested in hearing about this topic?

Yes there are add-ons to this very basic formula, but I honestly believe many speakers either don’t know about these basics, could care less about them even after they are trained in them, or just find it easier to drop the old “Bio” on the TMOD. To me a solid, exciting, you got my attention intro is as basic as the speech itself!

]]> Comment on Come Over to the Dark Side … by POTM http://umeryouknow.com/?p=15&cpage=1#comment-7 POTM Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:31:10 +0000 http://umeryouknow.com/?p=15#comment-7 Agree totally with the "Whitewasher" remedial steps! I feel the same way about TMs who give only two-part evals, instead of the true sandwich! They bunch up all the good stuff in the first part of their eval, and then say things like, "now for the improvements...". C'mon sports fans. We can do better as Evaluators. Break up the good stuff into two parts, deliver part 1, then sandwich in 1 or 2 improvement-centered comments, then transition back to a solid one or two positives. The "Sandwich". It tastes good and is less filling! Agree totally with the “Whitewasher” remedial steps! I feel the same way about TMs who give only two-part evals, instead of the true sandwich! They bunch up all the good stuff in the first part of their eval, and then say things like, “now for the improvements…”.
C’mon sports fans. We can do better as Evaluators. Break up the good stuff into two parts, deliver part 1, then sandwich in 1 or 2 improvement-centered comments, then transition back to a solid one or two positives. The “Sandwich”. It tastes good and is less filling!

]]> Comment on But they meant well by admin http://umeryouknow.com/?p=24&cpage=1#comment-6 admin Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:10:54 +0000 http://umeryouknow.com/?p=24#comment-6 <a href="#comment-4" rel="nofollow">@Jamie MacDonald</a> Yes, very good points. I thought of it as a "teaching opportunity" for the entire membership present and figured it actually might be easier for me to say" than for a club officer. Easier for me to be the "bad guy" than any club officer present. @Jamie MacDonald

Yes, very good points. I thought of it as a “teaching opportunity” for the entire membership present and figured it actually might be easier for me to say” than for a club officer. Easier for me to be the “bad guy” than any club officer present.

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