Ephesians 4:29 charges us to ”Let no corrupt communication proceed from your mouth”.  What exactly does that mean?  Certainly slander, venomous words come to mind, as well as cursing and foul language.  Other possibilities include speaking words of worry or fear. 

Why does Paul warn us about our speech?  The power of speech, is truly a powerful force.  Throughout the Old and New Testaments we are told how what we say impacts us.  Proverbs 12:14 says we are satisfied by the fruit of our mouth.  Proverbs 13:3 instructs us to guard our mouth to preserve our life.  Proverbs 21:23 tells us to guard our mouth to keep our soul from trouble. 

Have you ever noticed how strongly you feel about speaking words of doubt, fear, worry?  But on the other hand, when you think a positive thought the inclination to speak it isn’t as strong?  God’s spoken word created the universe.  Jesus spoke to the fig tree and it dried up.  It wasn’t enough for them to think the thought, they had to speak it.   Romans 4:17 demonstrates this ”God calls things that are not as though they were”.  He calls things, not thinks things.

Today’s challenge - guarding your tongue.  Boldly proclaim life with your tongue, rather than fear, lack, sickness, worry or even death.  Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Practice the speech, memorizing the opening and closing lines.    Know up front if you are going to use your vocal cords or a microphone to project your voice.  If it is up to your vocal cords, practice projecting.  Watch yourself present the speech in a mirror.  Video tape yourself to watch for distracting behaviors like jingling change in the pocket, pacing back and forth without purpose, poor posture.  What should you do with your hands?  Sometimes out of nervous habit, people will hold their hands in front.  Simply keep your hands at your sides until it is appropriate to gesture. 

When you speak find people in the audience to establish eye contact with.  Smile and they will smile back.  Exude confidence and sincerity.

If you choose to use notes make sure you print them using a large font with line spacing that easily allows your eye to see where you are.  DON’T READ YOUR NOTES WITH YOUR HEAD DOWN LOOKING AT NOTES.  Practice skimming your notes while speaking so you maintain eye contact.  Another tip for using notes is to print them on one side and slide them across the lectern rather than flip them.

Many people use an electronic presentation.  Don’t read it word for word and certainly don’t announce that you will read it to them word for word!  Don’t turn your back to the audience.  Do consider the graphics that you use that they are visible and the color will be appropriate.  One time my presentation included a red tulip that unfortunately turned out black on the projector.  That was unpleasant.  If you are going to use technology be prepared for glitches and have a backup presentation that you can do without the bells and whistles. 

Use gestures appropriate to the size of the audience, the larger the audience the larger the gestures.  Prepare an introduction and carry it with you.  Invariably the person who is to have introduced you will not have their copy or not even be there.  It should set the tone for why you are speaking but not be excessively long.  A one minute introduction is actually rather lengthy.  A two minute introduction is boorish. 

What about presentation handouts?  I adhere to the school that believes people remember more when they take notes for themselves.  I do make presentations available at my website which people can print out if they so choose.  I do provide marketing materials for those who attend my seminars, but presentation handouts are done online, unless the client specifically requests them.

Know you’re fundamentals – who is your audience and the purpose of your speech, how much time are you allotted?  Your opening and closing should preface and summarize what you are going to say.  To capture their attention open with a rhetorical question, a quote, a joke or something shocking.  Close with a challenge, a thought provoking statement or a rhetorical question.

Keep the sentence structure short so it is easy to listen to, less than 20 words per sentence.  Avoid using jargon the audience may not be familiar with.  Organize the speech in a logical fashion.  For a community service project a possible format is identify the problem, the steps needed and conclude with the bright future the project will provide.

I start with an outline of the basic concepts I want to communicate and put in my major thoughts accordingly.  If there are specific statistics I am using that are difficult to remember I will write those out in my notes.

If you are representing a company keep in mind the brand they want to project and protect.  You might consider having the PR office review the presentation.  Recently I saw a presentation by a car manufacturer engineer talking about how they were becoming more environmentally friendly.  The last slide was terrible, showing a toxic waste area.  It left the audience with a terrible message that they created a huge waste site.  Her words didn’t match the slide.  She should have concluded with a before and after picture, or omitted it all together.

Keep in mind when you are speaking as a representative of the company that you are in fact a representative of the company.  Your personal opinions are not to be mentioned, unless you are speaking as an individual rather than as a company representative.

Above all, eliminate the filler words like uh.  Listen to yourself.  Count the filler words that you use like so or and.  Pause when you want to use them.  You can train yourself to not say them.

According to Ephesians 6:2 the secret to longevity isn’t a complicated process of exercising 30 minutes every day balancing aerobic with strength training.  Instead it is pretty straightforward - honor your parents.

We read in Ephesains that children are to honor their parents, which is the first command with a promise.  The important word here is commandment.  This is one of the 10 commandments, not the 10 suggestions as some would claim, but the 10 commandments.  Isn’t it interesting that the key to longevity, the billion dollar industry, is found in something that society wants to erase - the 10 commandments?!

By honoring our parents we will be blessed with long life. 

Entrepreneurs Learn How to Maximize Their Publicity

Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to learn how to make their marketing dollars go further by learning the secrets of how to receive free publicity. Julia-Isabel Davenport, MBA, specializes in equipping business owners with the skills they need to successfully launch their own PR campaigns. With 14 years of PR experience, the owner of the Glendale-based firm of Maximize Your Publicity, LLC hosts the Business Strategy Lunch. The lunch, held at the Arrowhead Country Club May 21^st, is from 11 – 12 and is open to the business community. The topic for May is “How to Maximize Your Publicity”. The lunch is $50 and reservations are required. Call 623-572-8201, or email Julia-Isabel@Maximize YourPublicity.com.

“Entrepreneurs are wearing numerous hats and they often overlook the benefits of using free publicity to increase their visibility and credibility,” said Julia-Isabel Davenport, MBA, owner of Maximize Your Publicity.

Maximize Your Publicity equips leaders of non-profits and small businesses to effectively create their own publicity. This is done through seminars, books, articles, consulting and Business Strategy Lunches. Davenport, a professional speaker, teaches churches, non-profits and business groups how to create community outreach opportunities. Davenport is the author of the “2008 Publicity Planner” and “How to Maximize Your Publicity”.  For more information on maximizing your publicity visit www.MaximizeYourPublicity.com, or call 623-572-8201.

Deuteronomy 28 is a chapter outlines what happens when we follow God’s commands or what happens if we ignore them.  If we choose to obey the commands then the promise is that every area of our life is blessed.  God promises to bless us in the city and in the county, bless our body, produce, herds, basket and kneading bowl, as well as our coming in and going out.  He will bless our storehouse and all that we set our hand to do and bless us in the land He has given us. 

Think of how we can translate that to our life today.  Let’s look at the storehouse.  It is talking about your savings, your investments.  It says that God commands the blessing on my storehouse.  That is powerful!   The conditions surrounding this promise are that you obey God’s command.  Seeking His direction, God will give us wisdom to invest wisely so that your storehouse will be blessed.

 I challenge you to analyze this chapter to see how it applies to your life today.  Obey God’s command and see how He will bless every area of your life!

May marks the beginning of summer, at least in Phoenix.  Summer is a time of enjoying swimming in the pool, eating the fruits of a well-planted garden and a chance to see some great thunderstorms. 

In May we have a chance to honor mothers, teachers, police, those in the armed forces and recognize those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  What a great month.  These people are the ones who make such an investment in our society as a whole.  Be sure to thank them.

Maximize Your Publicity, LLC

For Immediate Release May 1, 2008

Contact:    Julia-Isabel Davenport
(623) 572-8201  

Julia-Isabel Davenport, MBA owner of MaximizeYour Publicity, LLC recently received the Advanced Communicator Silver Award from Toastmasters International.  Davenport currently serves as President of the FaithMasters Club which meets in

“I joined Toastmasters to fine tune my speaking skills to grow my professional speaking business.  Toastmasters offers a fantastic opportunity to try new materials,” said Davenport. 

Davenport equips audiences with skills they need to effectively communicate their story to the media.  She is a speaker to international associations and has articles published in international trade journals.  For more information call (623) 572-8201 or visit www.maximizeyourpublicity.com.

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It’s May, what do you have planned for this month’s PR efforts?  Will you do something to recognize a teacher, a police officer, a military person?  Each of those has a special day in May to commemorate their importance and value to society. 

Take time to plan your PR opportunities for the month so you can Maximize Your Publicity!