Body language is a huge part of advertising, marketing, presentations, one on one contact, and much more. In fact, for an in depth view I suggest reading "Winning Body Language" by Mark Bowden. I personally have read other books on the subject and many more business books that touch on that subject, but this book is very detailed. I mean VERY detailed.
Body language is something we usually take for granted and is also something we do on, pretty much, an uncontentious level. That means, if we don't feel confident in our product or even just anxious speaking to people about it, we send off negative waves of body lingo to our audience. That is bad.
We need to think of body language as something we can harness and use to our advantage. We need to send out positive signals. We should, instead of letting our bodies speak to others subconsciously, use our minds to think about how we are using our bodies in situations when we need it most. It is so important to do this because 55% of how other perceive us is all in how we present our physical postures and movements.
So what are some ways we can make sure we are sending positive signals. First, bring people in. Use inviting hand and arm gestures w/ in the waist line area of the body. This invites people in and it also creates a truthful feeling to what we are saying and doing. Also a plus, is that it also makes us FEEL more confident just by doing it. While doing that, keep a nice erect posture and center your gravity into your core. Remember to break using your stomach w/ your diaphragm muscle to get air into the deepest part of the lungs. This will help you think much clearer and lower any nerves you may have.
Now, to really emphasize a point while speaking to someone, raise your hands between your waist and shoulder area. This projects to the audience that you are about to say something exciting and worth hearing. Don't do this a lot, but do it during special points you wish to make. Also, always try to use your body symmetrically so if you move from using your hands and so on in the waist area to the above the waist area move them together. People like symmetry. It makes them feel better and as if they can trust you more. It gives their minds less to think about to so you can be sure they hear you instead of blocking you out trying to make sense of what your body is doing. Remember, your body is 55% of your projection, perception, and message.
Whatever you do, do NOT keep your arms straight at your sides or cover your mouth. Keeping your arms at your sides creates tension and makes people feel like what your saying may not be truthful. Covering your mouth does about the same and it also makes people think you are concealing something from them. Those things, are of course, the last things you want people subconsciously thinking about you or your products.
Now, these are just basics. To get even more I really suggest you get a copy of the book I listed above. It will explain the different body lingo planes and how to make people feel they have status when they are speaking w/ you and much more.
Note: Body language can be used to lie to people. I do NOT do that or agree w/ that. It should only be used to help you w/ honest situations and products that are genuine in quality and remember, there are exceptions to every rule and every person so if you find something not working w/ one person try something else. Think holistically. Think outside the box. This message goes for anything I may write on the subject of marketing.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
And the Winner Was and More
Ok, so I had my Official Business opening and Gallery Showing on Jan 7th. It went great. At least 40 people made it out. The was chocolates supplied by the Ocala Chocaholic and Confectionery folks, cheese, and wine and punch.
Also, of course there was a door prize raffle drawing at 7:45pm. The prize, which remained a secrete until the showing, was a very nice digital picture frame with 13 of my own photo-art pic's on it and an SD card inputer. It could be hung on a wall or placed on a table. The winner, who I would like to congradualate, was Carolyne Biddle. I thank everyone who entered. Next time I show my work in this kind of setting I will have another door prize raffle so there will be more chances to win in the future, though the prizes may change!
To my astonishment, I sold two framed pieces too. Not bad for my first time out in that kind of setting. The hair stylists at Enve wished they could hold a gallery showing for me every month. I told them maybe ever 6 months, because man, that was a lot of work. I'd never even thrown a party, let alone a business opening/gallery showing.
My helpers where my mom, Melody Allison, who flew in from Illinois just for this event. Also, my bf Kent Spieker. Mom was at the door welcoming people and Kent was serving wine and punch.
I want to thank everyone who made it out. I do apologize for this being late. I had to spend time with mom before she left and take her to the airport. After long visits it takes a couple days to get yourself back in order.
Now I am planning my next move business wise for Bevin's Digital Wonderland and AboveParr Equestrian. For AboveParr Equestrian I am entering an open show with AAH Miracle, my black Arabian mare. She is 6 and will be shown in Training 1 and 2 in February at the Canterbury Showplace. It will be my first USEF show in years.
See, I got very sick and was misdiagnosed. I had several surgeries and almost dies, before they finally found out what I had. A fungal infection called Histoplasmosis. It is not contagious, but it required open chest surgery and over a year of very expensive medications. I wont ever be totally rid of it, but I am in remission. Due to that, I now have chronic pain, which thank God, is now under control thanks to a great pain specialist, Dr. Sharma, and my right diaphragm is paralyzed meaning one lung doesn't inflate when I breath making it harder for me to catch my breath and be as physical as I used to be.
Between all of that and the broken tibia/shattered leg break I had one year exactly before the chest surgery, but while I was being misdiagnosed, I have had little time or been in too much pain to ride, train, or show. However, I did go back to school during that time to get my business degree and graduate a member of Phi-Theta-Kappa with a 3.49 out of a 4.0 GPA during that time. Now, thanks to a team of people getting me back into something a bit closer to what I was before all that stuff happened to me, and believe me, it still takes a team, I have started training (not just instructing others how to ride) my horses AAH Miracle and No Rhyme or Reason again at some point I hope others horses too. I also plan to show a lot this year.
In fact, the reason I started these businesses was because once I got sick no one ever hired me again. I worked for Manpower as a temp, before, and I got awards and everything I was so good. I got sick and wasn't able to work as long during the day or I'd have to call in a lot, I mean I had 3 surgeries in 3 years and all the tests and blah blah blah. Once I got well enough to work I couldn't find work.
I did find work at AIB, my college for a summer. I also worked volunteer w/ Althiemers patience and as a photographer for the Old Peoples Home and helped them develop a MySpace page as part of my school work program that I had to complete. I loved doing that and I miss it so much. I tried to work as a foal sitter in Ocala last spring and explained that I had pain killers in my blood so it would test in my urine when they did the drug test. They told me that was fine since it was prescribed, but only worked one day for them. Once they got the tests back I never worked for them again. Other jobs would find out, because you have to tell them for insurance reasons, and I'd never get called back and that had never happened to me before. I'd never not gotten a job in my life tell I got sick.
That is why I started these businesses. They are two things I am really good at and I can work in a way that my body needs me to work now, since I do have a lot more limitations now(however that doesn't mean I can't do anything at all). I still want to be productive and learn and help people and if the only way I can do that is to do it by running my own businesses than so be it so I hope when you think of purchasing art or getting photos done by a competitor or of getting riding lessons or horse training by a competitor, that you remember that by hiring me instead, your hiring someone who is working against the odds and who is trying really hard to make things happen despite the hill she has to clime everyday. If you hire me, I will be 10 million times more grateful and do that much a of a better job for you because of that.
My dream is to be an independent business woman. To be a woman who helps people in ways that she can help them. To be a woman woman who who doesn't lay down and give up when things get hard.
I am woman that understands adversity and looks it in the eye. I know how lucky I am to be able to still help people fulfill their goals and dreams. I don't see obstacles I see learning experiences and by hiring me you'll be getting the best, most caring, and most understanding person for the job.
Also, of course there was a door prize raffle drawing at 7:45pm. The prize, which remained a secrete until the showing, was a very nice digital picture frame with 13 of my own photo-art pic's on it and an SD card inputer. It could be hung on a wall or placed on a table. The winner, who I would like to congradualate, was Carolyne Biddle. I thank everyone who entered. Next time I show my work in this kind of setting I will have another door prize raffle so there will be more chances to win in the future, though the prizes may change!
To my astonishment, I sold two framed pieces too. Not bad for my first time out in that kind of setting. The hair stylists at Enve wished they could hold a gallery showing for me every month. I told them maybe ever 6 months, because man, that was a lot of work. I'd never even thrown a party, let alone a business opening/gallery showing.
My helpers where my mom, Melody Allison, who flew in from Illinois just for this event. Also, my bf Kent Spieker. Mom was at the door welcoming people and Kent was serving wine and punch.
I want to thank everyone who made it out. I do apologize for this being late. I had to spend time with mom before she left and take her to the airport. After long visits it takes a couple days to get yourself back in order.
Now I am planning my next move business wise for Bevin's Digital Wonderland and AboveParr Equestrian. For AboveParr Equestrian I am entering an open show with AAH Miracle, my black Arabian mare. She is 6 and will be shown in Training 1 and 2 in February at the Canterbury Showplace. It will be my first USEF show in years.
See, I got very sick and was misdiagnosed. I had several surgeries and almost dies, before they finally found out what I had. A fungal infection called Histoplasmosis. It is not contagious, but it required open chest surgery and over a year of very expensive medications. I wont ever be totally rid of it, but I am in remission. Due to that, I now have chronic pain, which thank God, is now under control thanks to a great pain specialist, Dr. Sharma, and my right diaphragm is paralyzed meaning one lung doesn't inflate when I breath making it harder for me to catch my breath and be as physical as I used to be.
Between all of that and the broken tibia/shattered leg break I had one year exactly before the chest surgery, but while I was being misdiagnosed, I have had little time or been in too much pain to ride, train, or show. However, I did go back to school during that time to get my business degree and graduate a member of Phi-Theta-Kappa with a 3.49 out of a 4.0 GPA during that time. Now, thanks to a team of people getting me back into something a bit closer to what I was before all that stuff happened to me, and believe me, it still takes a team, I have started training (not just instructing others how to ride) my horses AAH Miracle and No Rhyme or Reason again at some point I hope others horses too. I also plan to show a lot this year.
In fact, the reason I started these businesses was because once I got sick no one ever hired me again. I worked for Manpower as a temp, before, and I got awards and everything I was so good. I got sick and wasn't able to work as long during the day or I'd have to call in a lot, I mean I had 3 surgeries in 3 years and all the tests and blah blah blah. Once I got well enough to work I couldn't find work.
I did find work at AIB, my college for a summer. I also worked volunteer w/ Althiemers patience and as a photographer for the Old Peoples Home and helped them develop a MySpace page as part of my school work program that I had to complete. I loved doing that and I miss it so much. I tried to work as a foal sitter in Ocala last spring and explained that I had pain killers in my blood so it would test in my urine when they did the drug test. They told me that was fine since it was prescribed, but only worked one day for them. Once they got the tests back I never worked for them again. Other jobs would find out, because you have to tell them for insurance reasons, and I'd never get called back and that had never happened to me before. I'd never not gotten a job in my life tell I got sick.
That is why I started these businesses. They are two things I am really good at and I can work in a way that my body needs me to work now, since I do have a lot more limitations now(however that doesn't mean I can't do anything at all). I still want to be productive and learn and help people and if the only way I can do that is to do it by running my own businesses than so be it so I hope when you think of purchasing art or getting photos done by a competitor or of getting riding lessons or horse training by a competitor, that you remember that by hiring me instead, your hiring someone who is working against the odds and who is trying really hard to make things happen despite the hill she has to clime everyday. If you hire me, I will be 10 million times more grateful and do that much a of a better job for you because of that.
My dream is to be an independent business woman. To be a woman who helps people in ways that she can help them. To be a woman woman who who doesn't lay down and give up when things get hard.
I am woman that understands adversity and looks it in the eye. I know how lucky I am to be able to still help people fulfill their goals and dreams. I don't see obstacles I see learning experiences and by hiring me you'll be getting the best, most caring, and most understanding person for the job.
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