Friday, 12 of March of 2010

Tag » communication

Riddle Me This…Time!

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I scour YouTube for funny videos and keep all kinds of funny “miss steaks” so I can share them all with you each Friday for Friday Funnies.  Well, this week my son was reading a book and ran up to show me this line:

“One week from the day before the day after the yesterday that comes three weeks before six months from six weeks from now minus 49 days plus five tomorrows and a next week.”

Just to have a little fun with language/communication…who can figure out this riddle…when would this be?  Post your answers here as a comment.  Show this to your smartie pants kidlings and see if they can figure it out.

Another humor-filled Communication FUN Friday from your friends at Art of Eloquence.com!


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February’s MailBag!

The last Monday of each month here at Communication FUNdamentals is MailBag Monday!  I like to share some of our mail as our customers, readers and subscribers have some very good questions and comments which are of benefit to all my blog readers.  This month we received an incredible amount of feedback!  Thank you all for taking the time to write in!

Here are some of the questions we were asked this month:

1. Patty S. heard me talking about my Communication Assessment Quiz during my seminar at the Say What You Mean Convention and asked exactly where she could find it.  In case you were wondering too or you would like to take a fun quiz that will help you assess your family’s communication skills, you can find the article here.

2. Tracy C. wrote in asking who authored one of the statements I used in my article, “The Influence of Texting on Communication Skills” as she wanted to give proper credit to the author.  As she suspected, this quote, “You might be able to get through your entire life without having to give a speech, but you won’t get through one day without communicating something to someone” is my own.  In fact, several of you wrote in asking who authored that quote along with several others I have posted on Facebook and Twitter lately.  Several of these quotes are also my own.  You can find the more popular ones of mine along with many other quotes about effective communication on our Communication Quotes page over on the Art of Eloquence website.  And, yes, please feel free to quote me as long as you include my name and/or link back to Art of Eloquence.com.

3. Sally J. wrote in asking if there was one study that would work best to use as a co-op speech class for age group 7-16.  Actually this is a question we are often asked.  You see, her co-op had been using another curriculum, but they had been frustrated by the amount of work the mom’s needed to do in order to run the class.  Say What You Mean: A Creative Speech Course is an excellent study for anyone who would like to teach a speech course without having to do any planning or preparing!   First, the course is perfect for young children through teens because it is FUN.  The course uses creative and unique topics student’s love that require very little, if any, research–so the bulk of the lessons are reserved for learning speech skills.  Additionally, the lessons are very easy to teach requiring no prep time at all.  Parent/teachers simply read as students read along and follow the activity instructions.  We’ve even included a handy chart to help grade the speeches!  Finally, we have a sample lesson at the bottom of the product page where you can ‘try before you buy’.

If you’ve been considering our newest products or wondering if our events were of benefit, we have some great feedback for you on them that can help you decide.  Much of the feedback was from those who purchased our newly revised and updated Say What You Mean for Preschoolers and others were excited about our new Preschool Value Package!  Feedback on these were similar to this: “I am just excited to get the curricula as I have four children under the age of 9!” -Katrina M.

Other comments we received this month were about my various articles, seminars and our free gift for Valentine’s Day this month.  There were several comments from newsletter subscribers who loved my new exclusive monthly articles like the one in February’s newsletter on the Influence of Texting on Communication.  And we had some great feedback on the ‘Three Flavors of Communication’ article I wrote which appeared this month in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Most said essentially: “I just wanted to thank you for your very informative article, ‘The Three Flavors of Speech Communication’, in the latest issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Awesome!” –Jennifer R.  Still others were about the Say What You Mean Convention: “I am catching the recordings on Talk Shoe. They are amazing! Thank you for putting this together for us.” -Kristen F.

Lastly, I wanted to share another unexpected surprise with you this month. I write a lot of articles for various publications both on and off the net.  I must have written hundreds over the last seven years, but sometimes finding a link to an article I’ve written surprises me. Earlier this month I found that an article I had written for Homeschool Enrichment Magazine had been republished on www.Christianity.com!  The article was from 2007, but had been uploaded on to their website in November of 2009.  It’s a strange feeling to see your words on a big site like this.  I didn’t even remember writing the article until I read it most of the way through! LOL  I posted it up on the articles page over at Art of Eloquence.com for you as well!

Well, I pray this has helped answer some of your questions this month, but if you have questions or comments of your own, please feel free to send them to me at jojo @ artofeloquence.com!


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Fri Funnies Picture: Out of Control!

Sometimes just a single word can make all the difference in your communication.

Another great Friday Funny from your friends at Art of Eloquence.com!


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Homeschool Leadership Seminar Coming March 10th!

Homeschool Group Leader Workshop
03/10/2010 12:30 pm PST/3:30pm EST

Join JoJo Tabares author of “Say What You Mean: The Language of Leadership” and her co-hosts Kristen Fagala and Denise Hyde authors of “One By One: A Homeschool Group Leader’s Guide to Motivating Your Members” as we discuss how homeschool group leaders can lead more effectively with less stress and get more participation!

  • Why motivation is a huge part of successful leadership
  • What leadership is . . . (relationship)
  • Three burning questions every leader must ask
  • Questions leaders have asked us: how to avoid burnout, how to get people to show up, how to get more volunteers
  • Tips on motivating teens
  • Why we need leadership skills
  • What a leader isn’t
  • 16 Biblical qualities of a leader
  • Why a leader needs: effective communication skills

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 10th, at 3:30pm EST/12:30pm PST.  Here’s how to join in the call:

Listen via your computer: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19736
Or call in via phone: (724) 444-7444  Call ID: 19736

Or you can sign up for a free TalkShoe account so you can join the chatroom while you listen in!

Do mark your calendars to attend because space is limited and this session will NOT be available to the general public as an audio afterward!


Personal Responsibility Video

This video uses all the elements of a great speech.  I love the way this woman communicates!  She’s funny, energetic and gets her point across well.  Check her out!

What you can accomplish for your cause with some communication training.

Check out Art of Eloquence today!


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21 Accents in 2 1/2 Minutes!

When I had my internet show, The Communication Comedy Network, I had to play several different people in a span of an hour.  I played a New York Newscaster, a Southern Roving Reporter, a British Professor and myself with a sort of California accent.  I found it difficult to switch back and forth between the accents and the accents I was doing were very different from each other.

The woman in this video is absolutely amazing!  She does 21 different accents in a span of just two minutes and 36 seconds and some of the accents present only very subtle changes.  I don’t know if the accents are 100% accurate, but I’ll tell you one thing, this lady is talented!!!  I can’t do it.  Can you?

More communication fun brought to you by your friends at Art of Eloquence.com!


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It’s Convention Day!

What are you doing here at Communication FUNdamentals?!  You should be over at the Say What You Mean Convention today having fun and learning from all our fabulous speakers! lol

Have Fun!  And don’t forget to enter our contests for a chance to win a prize package worth $200!

Here is the talkcast where the live events will take place and where you can access all the pre-recorded audios!  ENJOY!


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The Say What You Mean Convention is Coming! Feb. 3rd!

Extra!  Extra!! Read all about it!

The 5th Annual Say What You Mean Convention is coming to a computer near you!

Say What?

Dateline ABC…DEFG…Mark your calendars for this amazingly FUN and FREE event!

When? February 3rd beginning at 8am PST/11am EST

Where? Right from the comfort of YOUR OWN HOME…COMPUTER! http://www.SayWhatYouMeanConvention.com

What…to expect? LOTS!

Keynote Speakers: Christian Comedian, Micheal Jr. interview on Faith and Humor! AND…Talk-A-Latte’s Cindy Rushton’s seminar on Marriage!

Live Seminars:
Most of the live seminars will also be recorded for later, but if you’re listening in live, you can win bonus gifts. Plus, you won’t want to miss the Michael Jr. live interview, which will NOT be recorded at all.

•    8am PST/11am EST – Interview with Christian comedian Michael Jr. on Faith and Humor
•    10am PST/1pm EST  – JoJo Tabares  of Art of Eloquence “The Three Flavors of Communication: Writing, Speech, and Conversation”
•    12pm PST/3pm EST – Cindy Rushton of Talk-a-Latte ”Building a Passionate, Forever, Happier, and Happier-Ever-After Marriage”
•    2pm PST/5pm EST Joan Rudder-Ward of Girl Nurture “The Heat is On: Techniques to Protect You and Your Daughter from Becoming Culture War Casualties.”
•    4pm PST/7pm EST Kim Kautzer of WriteShop “Writing Skills: More Important than Ever!”
•    6pm PST/9pm EST Prayer Chat

Pre-recorded Audios:
Read the descriptions of each talk here.

•    How to Tailor Your Writing for Effectiveness
•    The Lazy Student: What’s a Mom to Do?
•    What Good Is a Speech Course If Your Kids Won’t Use It?
•    How to Write a Speech
•    Conversation: The Most Important Communication
•    Speak the Truth in Love
•    What Most Apologetics Courses Don’t Teach You
•    Talking vs. Communicating
•    Listening: THE Most Important Communication Skill
•    Humor: A Powerful Communication Tool
•    Avoiding, Reducing and Healing Conflicts
•    What It Takes to Be a Great Communicator

Even More FUN!
•    Contests
•    Freebies
•    Free Admission
•    Visit the Say What You Mean Convention for more details.

Don’t forget to sign up for our drawings on the home page of the convention site!  We will draw a name to win a prize at EACH LIVE event!  You don’t have to be present to win, but you do have to enter by signing up!  If you are present in the live event and your name is called, you will win TWO PRIZES!

Have FUN!  And bring a friend!


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Word to the e-Wise

I came across two true stories about miscommunication over email that ended up leaving the writers with egg on their faces.  Be careful not to inadvertently (or on purpose) send a private email to a list.

According to snopes.com, in June of 2003, an intern at a prestigious law firm inadvertently sent a fairly unprofessional email intended for one party to about 40 employees including 20 partners.  The email in question used foul language and seemed to indicate that the intern was intentionally goofing off at work.  His mistake was immediately noticed which necessitated a formal apology.  He apparently was eloquent enough in his apology to remain gainfully employed at the firm.

Snopes.com confirms another email mishap which occurred in June of 2005.  It seems a secretary in a law firm in England somehow got ketchup on her boss’s pants.  The day she returned to work after her mother’s funeral she found an email from her boss asking for four pounds in cash, the cost of his dry cleaning.  As her salary was about a fourth of his lawyer’s salary, she sent a sarcastic reply suggesting that the office take up a collection for him.  Apparently she copied several people in the office in on the correspondence when someone leaked it to the newspapers who demonized the lawyer and made the two of them a household name.  The attorney had planned to leave the firm just prior to the publicity and the secretary was said to be thinking over her employment after feeling isolated her former boss’s supporters who felt he was unfairly victimized.

These two incidents give us a glimpse into how important it is to be careful about even our informal communication.  Take care to choose your words wisely, respectfully and carefully.  You  never know who might be reading.

A word of communication caution from your friends at Art of Eloquence.com!


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Reading helps communication

My dd was practically born with a book in her hand.  She LOVED reading and was reading on a college level when she was in 3rd grade.  My son actually taught himself to read using the computer and DVD subtitles when he was about 2yrs old.  So I was shocked that he didn’t want to read anything that wasn’t computer game instructions!

It was like pulling teeth to get Chris to read back then.  I tried covering up most of the page so he could only see a line at a time.  He knew words that were well beyond his years but he just didn’t want to read.  Then we found a series of books that were well below his reading level, but that he really thought were fun!  I allowed him to read them to his heart’s content because I was sure he would blossom as a reader if I could just get him to understand how much fun reading really was.

It worked wonders!  He is now reading things much higher than his grade level IN HIS SPARE TIME and loving it!  He just finished reading a book that is almost 400 pages and is asking for more! I always knew that reading equals a larger vocabulary, but you know what else?  I noticed that his spelling has improved dramatically as well!  In fact, I have noticed that his ability to describe things and to understand things has also drastically increased.

Get your kids into reading even if they don’t like reading. Find something they do–even if you don’t.  That’s another reason to check out Foot in Mouth Man.  My 10 y/o son loves reading FIMM!  If you don’t know FIMM, he’s the Art of Eloquence mascot and resident MIScommunicator.  Each month is a funny story many kids love to read!  Reading helps communication and communication skills are powerful!


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