As a web designer, I mostly update webpages.
Sometimes I’m asked to redesign a website.
One thing I’ve found is, no matter how outdated, clunky, or ugly the existing website, the new website you replace it with will be met with plenty of complaints.
People hate change!
"Where is my stuff?" "I can't find anything!" "I can't login." "I hate the colors." "The organization is horrible." "Bring back the old website! Why'd you have to change anything?!"
For the past ten years I've been writing speeches, about once every other month. I've also helped others write speeches, usually in the context of Toastmasters but sometimes for TED talks, speeches for work, and other presentations.
Today I want to talk about how to pick a topic, make a title and introduction, build and practice your speech, and following up after you complete a speech.
I know we're all busy so I'll make this quick.
Sometimes the hardest thing is to just get started.
Over the years I've mentored nearly 20 students and members.
I hadn’t been in the habit of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance since elementary school, and unless you are a politician, a teacher, or a scout leader, you probably haven’t either.
But a few years ago, I joined the ABQ Speaks Up Toastmasters club and was surprised to find the club says the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of every meeting.
Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance on a regular basis again had me wondering about this peculiar political ritual.
Forty percent of Americans over the age of 12 have listened to a podcast at least once, according to podcast research from this year. Last year I joined this group by buying a tiny mp3 player.
I thought it would encourage me to work out more often. Actually, I didn't end up going to the gym more often, but it did change my life for the better, and I want to explain how, as well as talk about how it seems to be a good fit with what we do in Toastmasters.
Doesn’t it feel like summer? Summer actually doesn’t start til the 20th but it’s sunny in Albuquerque and has felt like summer for several weeks now.
What kind of things do you like to do in summer? Go on vacation? Swimming? Play video games?
When I was a kid, I looked forward to summer so much. I can remember sitting in 6th grade class and looking out the door to the California grass bordering the school yard, wanting to escape and for the school year to end.
Once upon a time, my partner John was married to a woman named Sonia. They set up housekeeping in a small house in Austin. Sonia was a full blown hippie, and John noticed she was not that good with the dishes. The way she did it was kind of chaotic.
If you're looking for a job, setting up a business, or just looking to express your opinion, a website or a blog is a good place to start. But many people start with great energy and enthusiasm, only to find ideas and web posts petering out until months or years have gone by and you have a stale website.
Has this happened to you?
As a web designer, the most frequent question I get is "How can I make my website show up in Google"?
How can being a good listener help you be happier, make others happy, maybe even contribute to world peace?
Psychologists have long understood that people are terrible at predicting what will make them happy. If you say, “I will be happy if I … win the lottery, become famous, buy a fancy car”. Even if you achieve that goal, when you look back to assess, most people find they are not as happy as they thought they would be.
Race is in the news often these days with the Black Lives Matter movement, the Abigail Fisher UT Austin Supreme Court case, and protests against racism at colleges and universities across the country this fall.
Many people are reluctant to talk about race, but it’s a perennial subject because it is so relevant, and also always changing.
