Leadership Development Program

REALTORS’ Leadership Development Program: A Quote to Remember

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I know Jim Tunney.

 

So, imagine my surprise to see him quoted on the mirror of the women’s restroom!

 

Jim and I go back 20 years to my early days of membership in the National Speakers Association. He is an esteemed leader in the speaking profession, and to this day, he is one of the most excellent professional storytellers I’ve heard.

 

The location was Malvern, Pennsylvania, where I was facilitating No-Panic Presentation Skills for Tri-County Suburban REALTORS’ Leadership Development Program. And yes, I did pull my phone out in the restroom to snap a photo of this quotation: “It’s the will, not the skill.” This is a truth I’ve been able to share with my son, who has been training for the upcoming cross-country season in this extreme heat. “It’s the will, not the skill” on days like these. Thanks, Jim Tunney.

 

And, by the way, Jim was in good company. On the other mirror was a quotation from Pablo Picasso!

 

To customize a keynote or professional development session that will have your audience laughing and learning, contact Mandi Stanley.

Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works with business leaders who want to boost their professional image by becoming better speakers and writers through interactive high-content keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, technical writing seminars, and fun proofreading classes. 

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Mandi Stanely CSP

Celebrating 20 Years as a Certified Speaking Professional

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It was 20 years ago this week that I received my CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation through the National Speakers Association at the summer annual meeting and convention in New Orleans, LA.

 

I’m swooning over this photo my dear friend and fellow professional speaker Marilyn Sherman just sent me. I had never seen it before; apparently, she snapped it without my knowing, and she captured a moment of pure unadulterated joy. I mean, just look at that sweet baby about to slobber on his mom’s medallion!

 

Yet, when I see the young woman in that photo, I am flooded with emotions. I remember all the doubt and uncertainty and big decisions swirling in my mind even as I celebrated with my husband and four-month-old son.

 

Professionally, I had just received the highest earned designation in the profession, becoming the first Mississippian to receive the CSP. I was traveling throughout North America and speaking at more than a dozen events each month and absolutely loving it. But in New Orleans, I came face to face with the decision millions of professional women and mothers make every single day. Is it possible to do both well? How in the world do I balance motherhood with a profession that requires A LOT of travel? And, what does “balance” really mean? I’ve never even liked that word.

 

Ultimately, I made a decision that was right for my family, and I prayerfully mapped out a one-year, five-year, and 10-year plan at that convention. I wish I still had the original notepad. But, that was 20 years ago, and I’m still sticking with the plan. Someone told me a long time ago that the older our children get, the MORE they actually need us. I don’t think I believed it at the time, but it is, oh, so true.

 

And time flies. The sweet four-month-old baby in that photo is now entering his junior year of college. 

 

Oddly enough, Bob and I haven’t aged a bit!

 

To customize a keynote or professional development session that will have your audience laughing and learning, contact Mandi Stanley.

Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works with business leaders who want to boost their professional image by becoming better speakers and writers through interactive high-content keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, technical writing seminars, and fun proofreading classes. 

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Certified Speaking Professional Circle of Influencers

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This is what it looks like to be surrounded by BRILLIANCE. Read more

speaker stance

The Four Steps of Speaker Stance

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What an incredible honor to conduct a leadership-level presentation skills training to this select group of Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol officers! Read more

This Is NOT My “First Annual” Blog Post of the Year

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Is it ever okay to refer to something as being the first annual meeting? Read more

Grammar Grappler #33:  We Arrived at the Seminar Wearing the Exact Same Jacket

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This actually happened to me when I was facilitating a continuing education class for 200 accountants in Charlotte, North Carolina, a few years back. An audience member and I were wearing identical outfits.  Read more

Grammar Grappler #32: We Completely Eliminated the Problem

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This is another example of language we can send to the Redundancy Department of Redundancy. Yet, we do hear people say:

“We completely eliminated the problem.” Read more

Grammar Grappler #31: Really, Mom, I Was Out Studying Until 3 a.m., in the Morning

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Grammar Grappler #30: Combine Together the Following Ingredients

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Following graduation from Mississippi State University, I moved back to my hometown and worked that summer and fall at my hometown newspaper. One of the most fun projects I contributed to during that time was the Thanksgiving recipe publication. Read more

Grammar Grappler #29: Postpone Reading This Until Later

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“Larry decided to postpone sending the email until later that afternoon.”

“I’m going postpone doing my geometry homework until later.”

 

Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “postpone until later”? It kind of just rolls off the tongue, but it’s poor usage.

Postpone automatically indicates later. If you postpone studying, it means you’re not going to study until later.

So, the practical grammar tip here is to always eliminate “until later.” Just say postpone.

After all, you’ve never heard someone decide to postpone studying until earlier.

 

 

To customize a keynote or professional development session that will have your audience laughing and learning, contact Mandi Stanley.

Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works with business leaders who want to boost their professional image by becoming better speakers and writers through interactive high-content keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, technical writing seminars, and fun proofreading classes. 

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