The Bailey Blog

Surprising as it may seem, studies have shown that some people are more afraid of public speaking than of death. 

But, I have a solution for you of how delivering a public speech can be mastered.  I always say it is up to each one of us to become “the best we can be.” 

Here are 10 basic tips that can get you started toward being “the best YOU can be”. 

1.   Know your audience and what they want to hear. 

2.   Be brief and simple, no longer than 20/25 minutes.

3.   Prepare a powerful intro and close and memorize them.

4.   State your key messages in the first two minutes.

5.   Focus on your key messages throughout.

6.   Your conclusion should restate your key messages.  

7.   Any visuals used should be very simple and easy to read.

8.   Use your nervous energy to your benefit because the audience wants to hear from you. 

9.   Practice your full speech at least three times; be able to paraphrase in case your time is cut.   

10. Anticipate and prepare well for questions.  Ask and answer the toughest question yourself.   

     This shows you are not hiding any question.   

This list is a start to easing you in to public speaking, and here at JB&A we have a full program entitled: Powerful Presentations - Executive Training Program.

In regards to death, unfortunately I don’t have a solution, you are on your own. 

State of Michigan employees are now eligible and are in line to receive something that not many people in Michigan have received in a long time…

A salary increase.

Sure it says somewhere that they are supposed to get one this year.  But, what is missing is a total dose of reality.  MICHIGAN AIN’T GOT NO MONEY! 

The reality is that the state should cut the number of employees, just like businesses in Michigan have had to cut, and they should cut the salaries of those that remain, just like many businesses in Michigan have had to do.  And while they are at it, they also need to reduce their benefits, just like most businesses in Michigan have had to do… 

This must happen folks, as the State must reinvent itself, again, just like most businesses in Michigan. 

Have you noticed your property assessment for 2010?  They have gone down, which means even less money is coming to local governments and our great state.  So, state of Michigan employees, please don’t make matters worse, cut your salaries, don’t increase them. 

Tiger Woods made his almost ”100 percent predictable” confession last Friday.  At times during the confession he seemed really sorry and said the right things.  At other times, not so much.  But he had to make his confession and draw a line in the sand that said, from this day forward things will be different – even though it was almost three months late.

Tiger is one of - if not THE - greatest golfers ever. But I have never liked him and I always have had the darndest time figuring out why.  Some say it is because I did not like the “new guy” kicking out my older and favorite golfers like Jack (Nicklaus) and Arnie (Palmer).  Could it be that I questioned myself?  

I’ve always just thought that Tiger was an arrogant punk.  He felt he could do no wrong and treated people and even golf with a lack of respect.  He would not “connect” with those interviewing him, only answering the questions he wanted to.  He smacked clubs into the ground and swore when he hit a bad shot.  This seemingly disrespected the game itself, in my mind. 

His actions and even his admissions last week proved that he did think of himself as above others and living to another standard.  But he was not a good husband, father or human being and did treat people differently and threw disrespect around.  And now he has admitted it.   

In a way, I personally am ready to say, okay Tiger, I am with you -  IF you live your life the way you say you will.   

It does not look good though when his caddie, Steve Williams, comes out a day or two after the confession and threatens those who might heckle Tiger once he returns to golf.  If that happens, shouldn’t Tiger say to his caddie, “That’s okay.  I deserved that.”  If this is his new attitude and he is humble and even talks about it, people will respect him.  Especially if he is a good husband, father and human being. 

A letter appeared in last Sunday’s Detroit Free Press entitled, “Serve the people, not party.”  It was sent in by Robert J. Shoens of Northville. 

What he said in the editorial is what I have been saying for a long time.  And it isn’t getting better in any unit of government including Lansing and Washington.  Everyone seems to be so worried about their party designation.  We must stop this folks!  The party is not most important, as Mr. Shoens points out.  Do a good job for all the people that you are working for.  And those in government seem to - for the most part - hate each other.  They seem to say, “how could that idea be right, a Democrat…or Republican…presented it?”

So, please listen government leaders and officials - and you can write this in the palm of your hand – “We don’t care where the ideas come from.”  What we do care about is if they are good ideas.  If they’re good, then let’s consider them, and furthermore, let’s work together to come up with the best ways to execute them.   

Oh my gosh!  Here it comes.  Tiger Wood’s announced today that he will make a public statement on Friday.  Crazy how it’s just in time for him to enter the Masters (April 4-12) at Augusta National in Georgia.  I’m anxious to see how well he was media-trained and what his key messages will be.  I also sure hope his wife, Élin, is not standing by his side unless she has a nine-iron in her hands. 

Let’s see, what he will say.  Here’s my hunch: 

“I am so sorry to have brought so much sadness to my family, my fans, the golfing world, my sponsors and myself.  My actions were reprehensible and inexcusable.  Elin (my lovely wife) and I are working hard to overcome this terrible time in our lives.  I have promised to do everything in my power to never do anything like that again in my life.”

Also, do you think that he will say, “I will take no personal questions and will only talk about golf at this time?”   I tend to believe that he will say: 

“My private life is private…I will only talk about golf.  Please honor this request.” 

Then I believe, over the course of time, he will sign more sponsor agreements and expect us all to purchase the products he is being paid to sponsor.  He will expect us to honor his privacy, but will not respect our privacy, just the money he will get. 

I hope I am wrong on this but, we will see.  Now who’s next, John Edwards?   

So yesterday we had some snow.  It is Michigan you know.  Six to 10 I heard the local news stations say about a 100-million times, six to 10.  Well folks, I suppose you could find 10 inches somewhere, but not in my neighborhood in Oakland County, nor on my way to a meeting in downtown Detroit.  My official total estimate was four to five inches.  How many times in history have we had four to five inches snow falls?  That would be about 100-million times… 

You talk about over reaction.  Each one of our local TV stations had all of its reporters and some anchors traveling around town saying how bad it was.  They all reported throughout the entire newscast about the treacherous weather and conditions.  One reporter said we would not be back to normal for 48 hours after the final snow flake fell.  I guess she would be right if normal means no snow. 

I loved the one TV reporter who took his shoe off and stuck it into a snow bank to show us how deep the snow bank was…I laughed knowing he had to put the shoe back on his wet foot. 

So, for the 100-millionth time, please TV stations, leave the reporting to the weather professionals and do not over react to an event that happens 100-million times in Michigan.  Imagine how you would stand out amongst your competition if you did not over react. 

If you think it is a necessity to report on the snow then at least talk about the East coast…that is what a major snowstorm is and that is what causes treacherous driving conditions and inconveniences from our normal lives.

I have attended many “States of” (State, County, City, etc.) addresses and have watched most if not all of the State of the Country speeches that have occurred in my lifetime.  Some ask me what are these speeches worth?  As I see it, at the very least, we can say that they give us something to judge the politicians on during the year.   I’ve noticed that there is always a lot of rah rah and “look at how good I am” words.   And sometimes, there is even something worthwhile said. 

Earlier this week, Governor Granholm delivered her eighth and final State of the State.  I was not there, but have listened and read many comments. From what I hear and read, she was great again and pushed plans to build jobs and the economy.  She reiterated her proposal to cut costs by reducing benefits to state employees and indicated that her budget for 2010 would be presented to the legislature next week and should be approved by July 1.  

This makes me wonder, how can any organization be six months into its budget year and not have a budget?  My response is, “come on Lansing, get it done”.   

In regards to the State of the County speech for Oakland County, I was there and listed to L. Brooks Patterson.  During his speech, he seemed to be talking about results, not just hopes.  One thing, for sure, is that Oakland County’s budgets for 2010, 2011 and 2012 are done and balanced and they are working on the 2013 budget.  They may have their 2013 budget done before the state has its budget done for this year which is remarkable.  

So, make a note of what each said and let’s judge them at year’s end.