S2E9: “Season 2 Finale”

S2E9: "Season 2 Finale"--In our final episode of Season 2, I take a few moments to say Thanks. I also encourage you (as I did in S2E1) to Review & Retain for best results. Join me for our goodbye to Season 2.

S2E8: “The True Meaning of Executive Presence”

S2E8: "The True Meaning of Executive Presence"--In the penultimate episode of Season 2, we explore the often slippery concept of Executive Presence. What does it really mean? How can we engage it more intentionally? Check out the video. Also: please like, share, and subscribe. For more content, scroll through S2 and S1 content right here.

S2E7: “Personal Brand: You are the Grocery Store”

S2E7: "Personal Brand: You are the Grocery Store."--How do you create a Personal Brand that makes you stand out, as opposed to blend in? That's our focus today.

S2E6: Having a Gamer’s Mindset

S2E6: "Having a Gamer's Mindset"--We're back from our Vegas Vacay to talk about bringing a Gamer's Mindset to your life and work. What if we could approach every real-life challenge like a video game or puzzle, in which we don't bemoan our fails, but use them to improve and grow?

S2E5: “The 2 Types of Noise”

S2E5: "THE 2 TYPES OF NOISE”—Time for a mid-season trip to Vegas, where we explore the 2 Types of Noise. (1) The first type of Noise gets in the way of our mediated communications and takes 3 forms: Message Noise, Psychological Noise, and Mechanical (or Technical) Noise. (2) The second type of Noise is “Unwanted Variability”, or a lack of consistency in your overall communications. For more on these 2 types of Noise, and to receive Noise Coaching, Message me today!

(P.S. Extra Points for Anyone who can identify the Las Vegas Location where this vid was filmed : )

S2E4: An Inclusion Story

Welcome Back! In last season's video, "Do Like Digby", I shared tips about the best ways to communicate with others on the job, using my former teaching colleague Digby (RIP!) as the exemplar. Today, I pick up where that story left off and share another story from my college professor days. This video focuses on Inclusion & Exclusion on the job. Thanks for watching! Please share with others and pass it on!

S2E3: What IS Inclusive Communication?

This episode, and the next, focuses on Inclusive Communication, deliberately bringing people in to our stories, projects, presentations, and moments of engagement. Are we truly doing everything we can to include others in the work, in the fun, in the conversation, in the decisions? Doing so can improve work, relationships, and your overall work environment, whether it's F2F, Virtual, or Hybrid. 

S2E2: What Leaders Forget

Some leaders are great at hiring, big ideas, strategy, and planning. Sometimes, however, they can overlook one key aspect of Leadership. In this video, we talk about the key thing that leaders often forget and what they can do about it. Thanks for watching & Pass it On!

S2E1: Intro to Season 2

Welcome to Season 2 of videos for A Speaker Prepares! For the next two months, I’ll be releasing more videos that focus on Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Leadership Skills, Personal Branding, and much more! Thanks for visiting and please share these videos. For more classes, coaching, or content, contact me at gene@aspeakerprepares.com!

Celebrate Black History.

Celebrate Black History Month Every Day.

Season 2 Videos: Coming Soon!

Season 2 Videos are Coming Your Way! Catch up with Season 1 right here on our ASP Videos Page.

Keep the Dream Alive

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year from A Speaker Prepares!

Videos Return in 2022!

What’s the Difference Between Wanted & Unwanted Variability?

What’s the difference between WANTED variability & UNWANTED variability, or Noise? This brief video breaks down some of the differences and offers a way to improve: Noise Coaching with A Speaker Prepares. Contact me at gene@aspeakerprepares.com for more information on how to get started!

Following ASP on Instagram is a Snap!

Just Point & Click for Exclusive Memes, Posts, and Updates from A Speaker Prepares!

“Noise Coaching” Now Available!

A Speaker Prepares now offers “Noise Coaching”!

Increase the overall effectiveness of your presentations and communications with Noise Coaching from A Speaker Prepares.

Contact Gene or Visit aspeakerprepares.com to get started!

ASP is now on IG!

Visit A Speaker Prepares today @aspeakerprepares on Instagram!

Coaching as Easy as 1,2,3…(Ad)

Tuning Up Your Communication Skills is as Easy as 1,2,3.

Simply visit aspeakerprepares.com, select the communications course that works best for you, email Gene your preferences & available dates, and set up payment. That's it.

Get started today at aspeakerprepares.com

Thanks for watching,

Gene

gene@aspeakerprepares.com

Single-Subject Coaching Now Available!

A Speaker Prepares announces Single-Subject Coaching! Over a dozen topics now available for affordable 30, 60, and 120+ minute coaching sessions. 

Getting started is easy:

(1) Visit aspeakerprepares.com or email gene@aspeakerprepares.com for Course Descriptions and Rates.

(2) Send Gene an email with your dates and selection(s).

(3) Gene Confirms, Sends over payment info, and Your  Appointment is Set!

Thanks for following, watching, sharing, and learning!

Talk Soon,

Gene

gene@aspeakerprepares.com

Special: Facebook Intro 2

Welcome back, Friends!

Today’s video is a second ASP-FB announcement.

In the short clip, “Animated Gene” welcomes you to the ASP-FB page & shows off some the new features and clips. Enjoy! And visit often!

Talk Soon,

Gene

aspeakerprepares.com

A Speaker Prepares is now on Facebook!

Welcome Back, Friends!

Today’s post is a short video announcement: ASP is on Facebook!

The ASP page, which takes a “behind-the-scenes” approach to making Season 1, features over 40 new and unseen posts, including:

Deleted and Alternate Posts

Bloopers and Goofs

Previously Unreleased Images

…and more.

Visit Today! https://www.facebook.com/aspeakerprepares

Thanks for your time and

Talk Soon,

Gene

aspeakerprepares.com

Season One Announcement!

All 12 Videos of A Speaker Prepares Season 1 are Now Available to Watch!

Have you seen them all?

Video 12: “Season One Finale”

Welcome Back, Friends!

Today’s video is the finale of our first series of videos. In it, we’ll discuss what’s happening now with A Speaker Prepares and what’s coming next in season 2.

I also extend an invitation to check out all 12 videos in Season One, from “Intro to Gene” to “Do Like Digby”… and everything in between.

Thanks for watching and Pass it On!

Talk Soon,

Gene

aspeakerprepares.com

Linkedin: Gene Douglas

Video 11: “Do Like Digby”

Welcome Back, Friends!

As the world slowly re-opens, now seems like a good moment to share my latest animation, “Do Like Digby”.

It’s the penultimate video in our first “series” of vids for A Speaker Prepares. Hope it inspires you the way Digby Wolfe inspired me.

Thanks for watching and Pass it On!

Talk Soon,

Gene Douglas

aspeakerprepares.com

LinkedIn: Gene Douglas

Video 10: “Wrap Up & Next Steps”

Welcome Back, Friends!

Today’s video, “Wrap Up & Next Steps” is Part 4 in our 4-Part series on Virtual Upskilling. Congratulations, You made it to the final step!

In this video, we’ll focus on Low-Risk and No-Risk Practice Environments and the need for Focus, Urgency, and Repetition when we’re working to make our lessons reflexive, or second nature.

Thanks for watching and Pass it On!

Talk Soon,

Gene Douglas

gene@aspeakerprepares.com

LinkedIn: Gene Douglas

Video 9: “Connecting Through the Tech”

Welcome Back, Friends!

Our latest video, “Connecting Through the Tech”, is Part 3 of our 4-Part series on Virtual Upskilling.

In this session, we’ll focus on the connective power of Eye Contact, the importance of Knowing Your Audience to increase engagement, setting an Interpersonal Goal to keep ourselves mindful of the human element of our virtual calls, and we’ll also remember to Know What We’re Working With and to Work with What We’ve Got, in terms of our on-camera presence and charisma.

Thanks for watching and Pass it On!

Talk Soon,

Gene Douglas

gene@aspeakerprepares.com

LinkedIn: Gene Douglas

Video 8: “The Feedback Loop”

Welcome Back, Friends!

Today’s video is a special one: it’s my second animated short! Our topic? The importance of the Feedback Loop to mediated communications—and that includes texts, emails, and… oh, yes… your video calls, meets, and events.

This one’s two minutes long and ready to share. Enjoy!

Take Care and

Talk Soon,

Gene

gene@aspeakerprepares.com

LinkedIn: Gene Douglas

Video 7: “Camera & Microphone Skills”

Welcome Back, Friends!

This week’s video, “Camera & Microphone Skills” is Part 2 of our 4-Part series on Virtual Upskilling.

There are three distinct areas to focus on this week, regarding our topic: (1) Camera Framing & Placement; (2) Audio Flexibility; and (3) Managing the Background for Connection & Clarity.

Thanks for watching and if you enjoy what you see, Pass it On!

Talk Soon,

Gene

gene@aspeakerprepares.com

LinkedIn: Gene Douglas

Video 6: “What It’s Like When You Turn Your Camera Off for a Video Call”

Welcome Back, Friends!

This week’s video is an original cartoon short that fits right in with our Virtual Upskilling series.

It’s a silly sixty seconds that gives a visual interpretation of what it feels like to our counterparts when we turn off our cameras when using video calling apps like Zoom, WebEx, FaceTime, WhatsApp, and all the rest.

Hope it gives you a chuckle & Pass it on!

Talk Soon,

Gene

gene@aspeakerprepares.com

LinkedIn: Gene Douglas

Video 5: “Managing the Tech”

Welcome Back, Friends!

This week’s video, “Managing the Tech”, is Part 1 in our 4-Part series on Virtual Upskilling.

In it, we focus on 3 essential preparatory steps for our video calls, meets, and events: “Inventory & Download,” “Familiarize”, and “Optimize”.

Thanks for watching and Pass it on!

Talk Soon,

Gene

LinkedIn: Gene Douglas

Video 4: Why Virtual Upskilling is More Essential Now Than Ever Before…

Welcome Back, Friends!

This Video Introduces our upcoming series on Virtual Presentation Skills.

In it, I define Virtual Upskilling, Discuss the Business and Cultural/Interpersonal Imperatives behind it, and set up the quartet of videos to come.

Thanks for watching!

Take Care and

Talk Soon,

Gene

LinkedIn: Gene Douglas

Video 3: My Black History Month Hero

For our inaugural edition, we focus on Eugene B. Douglas, my Dad.

Video Two: What IS a Presentation (and Why Does it Matter)?

Welcome, Friends!

Our second video plunges us headlong into our topic: Presentation & Communication Skills.

This lesson, "What IS a Presentation (and Why Does it Matter)?" updates our definition of what constitutes a Presentation, while laying out 3 Presentation Essentials.

Take Care and

Talk Soon,

Gene

LinkedIn: Gene Douglas

Video One: Intro to Gene

Hi, Everyone!

Thanks for Visiting A Speaker Prepares, the channel that shares Top Tips, Opinions, and New Ideas on Presentation and Communication Skills. 

For my first vid, it seemed proper to introduce myself and share the goals for this channel. This introduction also contains a personal invitation to You. I hope you'll join me on this journey. I also hope you'll try some of these ideas and share them with others, too.

Take Care and

Talk Soon,

Gene Douglas

gene@aspeakerprepares.com

LinkedIn: Gene Douglas