THE ACHIEVEMENT DIGEST "TAD" Issue No. 46
A Unique Publication for Leaders     Gene Griessman, Ph.D. Editor
404-256-5927 www.achievementdigest.com  
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WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE?
QUOTABLE QUOTES
LEADERSHIP LESSONS
LINCOLN'S LOG
FEEDBACK
TRAVEL NOTES FROM A ROAD WARRIOR  
VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH

QUOTABLE QUOTES
***Credibility
“The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously.”  --U.S. Senator Hubert Humphrey

***Foolish Consistency
“Bad promises are better broken than kept.”  --A. Lincoln

 ***Exhilaration
“Life is not measured by the amounts of breath we take but rather by the moments that take our breath away.”  --anonymous

***Unexpected Kindness
“Life is funny that way.  It always is funny that way, the ones that naturally should offer do not, and those who have no reason to offer it, do, you never know, you never do know where your good-fortune is to come from.”  —Gertrude Stein (reflecting on the kindness of a French neighbor who helped her financially during WWII.)

***Action
“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”  --Will Rogers

***Communication
“It’s not what you tell them that’s important.  It’s what they hear.”  --an old saying that the legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach was fond of quoting

***Prejudice and Bias
“Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences.  No one can eliminate prejudices—just recognize them.   --Edward R. Murrow
***One may no more live in the world without picking up the moral prejudices of the world than one will be able to go to hell without perspiring.”  H.L. Mencken
 
LEADERSHIP LESSONS
How To Make A Presentation Sparkle   
Using images—word pictures—is a powerful communication technique.  They can be easy to understand, can make a point subtly but powerfully, and can be memorable.  Let’s start with the story.  One of the best—and easiest—ways to become an effective communicator is to learn to tell stories well.  If you’re making a speech or presentation, one of the best ways to get over initial stage fright is to tell a story.
 
Stories, especially if they are short, allow space between blocks of information.  And a strong story is also a powerful way to end a presentation. 

Similes and metaphors are brief but often vivid comparisons.  Lincoln regularly used similes and metaphors.  A simile, which is based on the same root word as our word “similar”, uses the word “like” to make a comparison.  A metaphor makes a comparison too, but the comparison is implied, as in “all the world’s a stage.”

In telling a story, find the core idea and make sure that it is congruent with the message.  Develop your ideas logically, and, most important, ruthlessly edit out unessential details.  –Adapted from The Trainer’s Manual, LINCOLN ON COMMUNICATION
Special for TAD readers:  If you purchase the DVD/CD “Lincoln On Communication” (which includes the Trainer’s Manual free) before February 15, we will include free a set of MemCards plus the DVD “Lincoln Live: An Evening With Abraham Lincoln.”   Click here to order http://www.achievementdigest.com/lincoln%20on%20communication.html

How To Use Humor In A Presentation 
Many effective communicators never tell jokes—that is structured humor with punch lines; but most effective communicators use humor.  They are good at witty remarks or they tell funny stories.  It is not difficult to learn to tell a humorous story that can illustrate an important point that you want to make. 

Lincoln was a master at this.  One of his favorite stories, which he told in various settings, was about two men who went hunting.  Suddenly a big boar charged one of the men, who managed to catch hold of the boar’s ears.  He cried out to his friend, “For God’s sake, come help me turn loose of this thing.”  He used this story to describe how difficult it was to decide on a strategy that would bring the Civil War to a close.

Here are some ways that humor can be used strategically:  1)to wake up or revive an audience; 2) to create a friendly atmosphere; 3) to disarm a hostile audience member; 4) to relieve tension; 5)to attack an idea or an opponent; 6) to illustrate a point or idea; 7) to deflect prying questions or protect confidential information.  –Adapted from The Trainer’s Manual, LINCOLN ON COMMUNICATION

LINCOLN'S LOG
If You’re Wrong, Admit It
There’s a widespread but wrong-headed belief that leaders should never admit they are wrong.  But that is not what Lincoln believed.  Here’s an excerpt from his letter of congratulations to General Grant after Grant’s stunning victory at Vicksburg: “My dear General:   I do not remember that you and I ever met personally. I write this now as a grateful acknowledgment for the almost inestimable service you have done the country.   I wish to say a word further…When you got below and took Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, and vicinity, I thought you should go down the river and join General Banks; and when you turned northward, east of the Big Black, I feared it was a mistake.   I now wish to make the personal acknowledgment that you were right and I was wrong.  Yours very truly, A. Lincoln”

Don’t Steal The Credit
Some leaders think they have to take credit for every good thing that happens, including the work of subordinates to which they contributed little or nothing.  Not Lincoln.    After General Wm. Tecumseh Sherman’s dramatic March to the Sea, Lincoln wrote the general this personal letter.   “My dear General Sherman.   Many, many, thanks for your Christmas gift—the capture of Savannah.  When you were about leaving Atlanta for the Atlantic coast, I was anxious, if not fearful; but feeling that you were the better judge, and remembering that ‘nothing risked, nothing gained’ I did not interfere.   Now, the undertaking being a success, the honor is all yours; for I believe none of us went farther than to acquiesce….”

FEEDBACK
From the Evaluations:
*** “Really great!  I will keep you in mind for my next leadership/motivational occasion for my whole management team.”  Karen Wright, CEO
 
***The mix of historical content and parallels of more recent events make the presentation interesting and enjoyable…Excellent pace, tone, and delivery.”  Frank Scotti, President/CEO

Letters and Emails:
*** “I enjoy your restaurant reviews.  If you haven't tried the buffets at Wynn and Paris in Las Vegas, I recommend them.  --John Kinde  (John is a professional speaker who does presentations on humor, teambuilding, and customer service.  Check out his website, which includes 79 resources to improve your humor and presentation skills: http://www.humorpower.com/blog/resources-favorite-links-page
 
*** “Eliot and I read it (The Achievement Digest) all year long, with great enjoyment.  Your personality comes through on every page, even in the quotes you’ve selected from other people.  And we never fail to learn something from it.  For example, I was astounded to learn that, before the Civil War, most American ministers tolerated slavery—even thought of it as divinely sanctioned.  I had assumed that the U.S. clergy, like their British counterparts, were constantly railing against the evils of slavery.  Was I ever wrong!”   --Sandy Disner, Ph.D. (Sandy is a specialist in the area of general phonetics and forensic voice identification.  She lectures at USC and at UCLA.  Eliot is an internationally known anti-trust attorney with McGuire Woods, LLP.) 

*** “I am having a ‘recovery day’ after a long road trip by automobile.  Slow going.   Then TAD arrived and I have just had a refreshing visit with you and a host of amazing human beings.  I have been informed, inspired and entertained.   Not bad for a Tuesday morning.”   --Max Howard  (Max is an Emmy Award-winning actor who leads seminars on team building and does individual coaching on communication skills.  His website is http://www.maxhowardonline.com/

*** David Skjaerlund, former executive director of the Rural Development Council of Michigan, who as quoted in a previous issue of TAD, has accepted the position of President and CEO, Liberty Renewable Fuels, LLC, Owosso, MI  (989-743-1042) Congratulations!
 
TRAVEL NOTES FROM A ROAD WARRIOR
CRUISING
I love cruises.  This section of this issue is devoted to the concept. 
It’s a pleasure to unpack and pack just once and be able to enjoy what is in effect a first-class hotel that travels to exotic places while passengers are dining, enjoying a show or sleeping. 
Just before Christmas I decided to take a last-minute cruise.  In fact, that’s what I typed into Google: “last-minute cruises.”   The ship I chose was the Norwegian Sun, a beautifully graceful, scrupulously maintained ship that was completely renovated two years ago.  Its itinerary includes pleasant ports of call:  Cozumel, Mexico; Santo Thomas, Guatamala;  Belize City, and Costa Maya (on the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula).  The trip afforded me an opportunity to snorkel twice on the barrier reef plus make two trips to important Maya ruins. 
This particular cruise departs from New Orleans, which is a dramatic place to start and end a cruise.  The Norwegian Sun docks just beneath the bridge that connects New Orleans with Gretna, La. and is adjacent to the Convention Center and just a few blocks from the French Quarter.  (Plan to stay an extra day, enjoy yourself, and contribute to this great city’s recovery.)

The price was stunning.  Just $695 (plus taxes) per person for a seven-night cruise!  Imagine being able to stay in a first-class hotel with meals included for $100 per day!  (On-board drinks are expensive, however. Excursion prices are reasonable.)  That’s the price for an interior stateroom, but I was able to get an upgrade at no additional cost.  The Norwegian Cruise Line is a mid-range line, with Carnival Lines at the lower end, Costa and Royal Caribbean in the mid-range,  and Celebrity, Crystal, and Seabourn at the high end.  

If you choose a last-minute cruise, there’s one big problem: the air fare.  The price for a plane ticket on short notice can be so high that it outweighs the savings on the cruise.  I used frequent-flyer miles.
Norwegian Cruise Lines is promoting a concept they call Free Style cruising.  Passengers aren’t assigned tables and partners for meals.  You can eat at virtually any hour, and if you prefer, alone. 

There are several high-end restaurants where for a modest surcharge of $12-$20 per meal, you can enjoy a seven-course meal at a French restaurant, an Italian restaurant, a sushi bar, or a fine steak house.  The main dining room is a no-extra charge option, and it’s no slouch.  It displays the Chaine Des Rotisseurs symbol; I learned long ago that this symbol is a guarantee that the food that’s served in a member restaurant will be exceptional.

A small but nice touch.   The ship has a library that is well-stocked with recent titles.
Finally, the entertainment troupe of 12 dancers and singers—The Jean Ann Ryan Company—was exceptional.  Their production “Hey Mr. Producer”, with excerpts from CATS, Les Mis and other productions of Sir Cameron Mackintosh, was the best show I have ever seen at sea. 

I used www.onetravel.com and was pleased with their ability to negotiate an attractive price.   
 
IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN PLANNING AN UPCOMING MEETING, SALES CONFERENCE, CUSTOMER-APPRECIATION EVENT OR SEMINAR, PLEASE TYPE "YES" BESIDE THE ITEM/S BELOW AND RETURN THIS EMAIL IN ORDER TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:
___Lincoln-Leadership
___Personal Productivity-Time Management
___Macroforces and Trends in American Society
___Keynote Presentation LESSONS FROM LEGENDS (Powerful stories from interview with famous high achievers)
___Executive Coaching (For a description of the program, click here. http://www.theamericans.us/Executive%20Coaching.html

YOU MAY ALSO CONTACT US BY CALLING 800-749-4625 OR CLICKING HERE: www.theamericans.us/ContactGene.html
Click here to watch excerpts from the Lincoln presentation in streaming video.
www.presidentlincoln.com/1.html

VALUABLE RESOURCES
***THE WORDS LINCOLN LIVED BY www.achievementdigest.com/thewordslincolnlivedby.html

***TIME TACTICS OF VERY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE www.achievementdigest.com/timetacticsofverysuccessfulpeople.html

***99 WAYS TO GET MORE OUT OF EVERY DAY: www.achievementdigest.com/99waystogetmorecd.html

***"AN EVENING WITH ABRAHAM LINCOLN" VIDEO www.achievementdigest.com/aneveningwithabraham.html

***"LESSONS FROM LEGENDS" CD AUDIOBOOK www.achievementdigest.com/ProductOrderForm.html

***"LINCOLN ON COMMUNICATION" DVD-CD www.achievementdigest.com/lincoln%20on%20communication.html

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