Mon Aug 03, 2009

On Today's Show: www.crntalk.com

Saskia Shakin "More Than Words Can Say"
In l979, I struck out on my own with an MA from Columbia University Teachers College in Linguistics, and several years of teaching & consulting under my belt. When I started my own consulting business, Plain English, Please!, I had no idea where it would take me. But never did I dream it would take me into the inner circles of corporate America (American Express, Marsh & McLennan Co.); or to the premier economic consulting firms (Nera, Cambridge Economics); and least of all to some of the oldest and largest law firms in the country (Milbank Tweed; Ropes & Gray). Then came the artists: Theatre people, authors, performing artists and others who needed to use words to convey their vision, whose art needed to be talked about -- whose ideas need to be as effective as their art. Often, an Expert is too close to his material to be able to see the proverbial forest for the trees. In the words of a favorite client, "We're now so embroiled in the trees, we can't even see the leaves!" Keeping an open mind and open ears, I've come to understand which traits can serve and which can derail a speaker; I've come to appreciate that listening between the lines is as vital as listening to the words; and, most of all, I've come to value silence and attention -- for we convey far more through our presence than through our words alone. Having worked both as a Consultant and as a Communications Coach for many years now, I have come to appreciate the subtle distinction between the two. A good consultant will often tell you what you need and help you acquire it; a good coach will elicit from you what you desire and help you achieve it. My clients have referred to me as their coach . . . long before coaching became the vogue. And so, I've adopted the title, The Keynote Coach.

Grant Hallstrom "Emotional Black Holes"
Shhhh, Listen! Do you hear that vacuum sucking people down? A severely depressed 16-year-old youth broadcasts his suicide on a webcam via the internet, in front of hundreds of horrified onlookers; a third grade elementary school child shoots a parent in cold blood; a public servant is arrested for lewd conduct and solicitation of a gay sexual encounter in a public restroom; a sports legend is found dead of an overdose; political and entertainment celebrities, as well as private citizens are booking themselves into rehab centers in record numbers. Despite a collapsing economy, the neon signs of gambling casinos and parlors still glare brightly over the boulevards across our nation as people, desperate for a ‘kiss from Lady Luck,’ gamble away their paychecks. Each one is another life once full of promise, hopes, and dreams falling into another voracious and soul-devouring emotional black hole. Have you ever said any of the following to yourself? No one loves me. I can do it all myself. I’m all alone. I can’t do it all by myself. I hate him. I am so frustrated. I hate myself. I wouldn’t even be missed. I want to hide. Somebody help me. I’m trapped. If people knew who I really was. No one appreciates me. People are so incompetent. I’m disgusting. I never do anything right. I need a drink NOW. I want to run away. No one understands. It’s useless. People are so stupid. I could hit someone. I’m stupid. I just have to have it. I don’t trust anyone. If they’d only notice me. I don’t trust myself. Don’t bother me. I’m worthless. I’m ugly. I can’t stand the pain. I deserve to be unhappy. I want to die. I’m ruined if they find out. I’m so exhausted. I just want to sleep forever. I don’t feel anything. I’m invisible. No one knows my pain. I’ll never measure up. If you said yes to any of these, then you need to read this book. Emotional black holes like these impact the lives of at least five people you know. Individuals seek to fill their emotional emptiness with everything from drug abuse to an excess of even so called good things, like work, exercise, and yes, even religion. These temporary distractions do not avoid the devastation that awaits us while we continue to be drawn even faster into deeper emotional black holes. There is hope. There is a way to heal the wounds. Emotional Black Holes is one author’s very personal experience and invitation to step, as he did, out of the emotional blackness of deep and painful holes that snuff out life and move back towards the light and a life of fulfillment, love, and joy that we were all meant to experience. Step through the doors of these pages, and you too will share in the author’s journey as you also discover the TRUE way to escape from your emotional black holes.