Pilgrim’s Theme

I visited the blog of a beautiful face I saw in one site this morning. It was a blessing to find a song which I haven’t heard for a long time. I started singing.  And got inspired. Let me share with you the lyrics of the music, and the comment I left in her blog.

PILGRIM’S THEME (Jesuit Music)

Tired of weaving dreams too loose for me to wear.
Tired of watching clouds repeat their dance on air.
Tired of getting tied to doing what’s required
Is life a mere routine in the greater scheme of things?
Through with taking roads someone else designed.
Through with chasing stars that soon forget to shine.
Through with going through one more day, what’s new?
Does my life still mean a thing in the greater scheme of things?

Each must go his way. But how can I decide?
Which path I should take, who will be my guide?
I need some kind of star to lead me somewhere far.
To find a higher dream in the greater scheme of things.

The road before me bends, I don’t know what I’ll find.
Will I meet a friend or ghosts I left behind?
Should I even be surprised that you’re with me in disguise
For it’s your hand I have seen in the greater scheme of things.

I think I’ll follow the voice that calls within
Dance to the silent song it sings.
I hope to find my place so my life will fall in place
I know in time I’ll find my place…

For yours is the voice in my deepest dreams
You are the heart, the very heart of the greater scheme of things.
So here I think I?ll follow the voice that calls within
Dance to the silent song it sings.
I hope to find my place, so my life will fall in place
I know in time I’ll find my place…
One day we’ll find our place
For all things fall in place.
For all things have a place
in the greater scheme of things

My comment:

I first heard of this song when I bough a Bukas Palad cassette tape from SM Centerpoint. At once, I fell in love with the lyrics. I felt it was the themesong of my life.

I was still a teacher then in Jubilee Christian Academy. I still remember that I even played the song for my 4th year class. They liked it too. During the same time, I created a website where I posted the collection of my poems and favorite songs. The site is no longer existing. I forgot the title but not the lyrics. Haven’t heard the song for some time now for my cassette is now dead. But I do remember the song… especially the part the says,

“I think I’ll follow the voice that calls within
Dance to the silent song it sings.
I hope to find my place so my life will fall in place
I know in time I’ll find my place… “

I am no longer teaching in a school. I think I found my place, and everything now falls in place. It is great to see the greater scheme of things.

Sin of Monotony

Monotony is Sin

Monotony, the most common sin of the public speaker, is not a transgression—it is rather a sin of omission, for it consists in living up to the confession of the Prayer Book: “We have left undone those things we ought to have done.”

Emerson says, “The virtue of art lies in detachment, in sequestering one object from the embarrassing variety.“ That is just what the monotonous speaker fails to do—he does not detach one thought or phrase from another, they are all expressed in the same manner.

Monotony is deadly. The worst punishment ever invented by the mind of man is extreme monotony—solitary confinement. Lie on a floor, and let droplets of water fall on your forehead for an hour or two, and you will know what torture means. Lay a marble on the table and do nothing eighteen hours of the day but change that marble from one point to another and back again, and you will go insane if you continue long enough.

Most people do earn a living by doing monotonous jobs. But nature did not say that they must also be monotonous before and after that. In fact, monotonous jobs do not order us to do monotonous jobs.

Monotony shortens life, used as the most cruel of punishments in our prisons, also destroys all the life and force of a speech. Avoid it as you would shun a deadly dull bore.

Monotony is poverty, whether in speech or in life. Strive to increase the variety of your speech as the business man strive to create wealth.

Bird-songs, forest glens, and mountains are not monotonous. Nature in her wealth gives us endless variety; man with his preoccupation invents monotony. To communicate better, we must get back to nature when we make speeches.

Variety brings pleasure. The great truths of the world have often been couched in fascinating stories—”Les Miserables,” for instance. If you wish to teach or influence people, you must please them, first and last.

Jef Menguin facilitates people skills seminars and teambuilding and leadership workshops in Metro Manila, Philippines. Visit his website at http://jefmenguin.com to learn more about his seminars.

Friends will push you to edge

You don’t need our sympathy. I have no doubt that if you have always felt that it is risky to speak before a crowd and that your knees will shake (I will not be surprised to experience that again!), and that you may forget your lines–for most people do. But then sympathizing and coddling will only magnify your weakness.

You will win when we help you to edge.

You want to swim. Either you jump to the water, or we your friends will push you. Get wet. You will not die. You will learn how to swim.

You want to fly. Either you jump, or we push you to edge. Buth then fly you must. Feel the air beneath you and your paraglider. Fly.

You want to speak. We know that you are afraid. We’ve been there. We are no children. Children don’t fear doing something for the first time. Adults do. But you have a world to share. Don’t let your fear cheat us. Speak. Push yourelf to the edge!

Jef Menguin

Jef Menguin facilitates people skills seminars and teambuilding and leadership workshops in Metro Manila, Philippines. Visit his website at http://jefmenguin.com to learn more about his seminars.

How to Conquer Monotony of Speech

We avoid monotony in speech by multiplying our powers of speech. We multiply our powers of speech by increasing our tools.

The carpenter has special implements with which to construct the several parts of a building. The organist has certain keys and stops which he manipulates to produce his harmonies and effects. In like manner the speaker has certain instruments and tools at his command by which he builds his argument, plays on the feelings, and guides the beliefs of his audience.

Many speakers still use ox-cart methods in their speech instead of employing automobile or jet-engine powered methods. They are ignorant of laws that make for efficiency in speaking.

Increase your tools, but make sure you use the right ones.

I met a veteran trainer last month. His curriculum vitae indicated that he had been training people for three decades now. And yes, he was very much proud of his achievements. He claimed that he was mentored by one of the best speakers in the Philippines. And he has trained thousands of executives on power presentations. Then, he “shared” with me principles of powerful presentations. He thought I was impressed. I was, after all, a listener.

He started his speech with a joke. Yes, everyone laughed. Then he discussed the topic: How to Present with Power. He shared that we must use vivid and descriptive words, and metaphors, and American idiomatic expressions. That when we utter those descriptive words like “as high as Mount Everest”, we must raise our hand, our fingers pointing upward, and our eyes fixed on the tip of our point finger. That when you say that you are very angry, you face must really show that you are angry. And yes, your face must look sad when you say the word sad. Your body must show power when you say the word energy,power, and endurance. While I was listening there at the back of the room, I thought the man should have entitled his presentation: How to Declaim Like An Amateur Actor.

Well, he said many other things which I thought would be of help to the audience. However, given the examples he had shown to everyone on that day, I believed that many of those thousands of executives who attended his seminars before either followed him or decided that speaking was not for them.

Tools are not just for embellishments. Tools must help you become natural. Tools must kill the monotony out of your speech. So, when tools make a robot out of you, or a Barbie doll, throw them.

It is useless to shoe a dead horse, and all the sound principles in all the world will never make a live speech out of a dead one. Public speaking is not a matter of mastering a few dead rules; the most important law of public speech is the necessity for truth, force, feeling, and life. Forget all else, but not this.
practical ideas to enhance your communication styles so that you can meet even the most challenging presentation goals.

Jef Menguin

Jef Menguin facilitates people skills seminars and teambuilding and leadership workshops in Metro Manila, Philippines. Visit his website at http://jefmenguin.com to learn more about his seminars.

Presenting and Training

Yesterday was my last coachig session for the trainers of Agusan del Sur. I think I still be back there. When that happens, I will watching them deliver their designed training programs for the province.

Yesterday was one highlight. The group presented to the Chiefs of Offices of the province to get their support. I thought that was fine learning moment for everyone– it takes courage to tell your bosses that something must be changed, and one of the solutions are in your hands.

There are times that people seem to contradict everything that you say, or not even interested at all. But really, the fact that they sit in your presentations is evident enough that they care. The fact that they ask questions, show that they want something to happen. So, after the presentatations and the proposed training programs and manual approved, we debriefed. They still need to face the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the Governor. They better get ready for it. Let me share with you some of the tips and principles I shared with the group.

You should know when you are training and when you are presenting. Some trainers are so delighted with their methods that they like to place activities in every activity. Nothing is really wrong with that. We have to think outside of the box. There is no single way of presentation. But the first two considerations should be the objectives and the audience.

Yesterday was not a training event. It was a presentation asking for the chiefs of office to support the program. Given such, the participants are not there to witness how the trainers will train. They are here first and foremost to know what could be the impact of having the provincial pool of trainers. Sure, they would be interested to know that they will use expreriential approach. Lecture is boring. But the bottom line question is: What are the impacts of this program to the provincial employees and to the people of Agusan del Sur. We sell the trainer. We sell the advantages. But most importantly, we must first sell the benefits to them.

Even intelligent people often times missed the point. I noticed the most trainers, even the veterans, like to sell themselves more than the benefits people get from their training. I observed that there are those who are passionate about their training method that they forget about the ultimate objectives of their programs. I think they will all fully understand this when they already conduct their trainings. They have the whole province to train anyway.

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I will fly to Manila tonight. I am in Davao now, here in an Internet Cafe near Jollibee. I’ve learned so much from the fifteen trainers, from my co-coach Dinah, and our course leader Surie. I am also thankful to Gay and Mimi for taking care of all of us and giving me the opportunity to work together with IL.

I am thinking of creating my own train the trainer program. I do train the trainer for 3 to 5 days. And I say that the program is really great. But given the opportunity to train people for almost three months, I think I can make them create training programs faster, cheaper, and better. I am excited to do that. I am pretty sure it can help more provinces.

I will be conduct Stress Management workshops for students on December 14, and for Call Center agents on December 15.

Let’s see each other one of these days. God bless.

Jef