Saturday, November 21, 2009

Know They are More Scared than You by Max Garcia

I recently attended a celebration of the Marine Corps Birthday. Somehow during conversation the subject of personal confidence and people approaching strangers came up. Oh, I remember now...I had a couple VIPs as my guest and at first only a few people approached and asked us for pictures. The VIPs and my wife were wondering why? I instantly said people were still building self confidence with a couple drinks to walk over. I told the VIPs and my wife that they were intimidating to the personal confidence of others. Of course I got the crazy look. So I went on to explain that despite the appearance of most people, they severely need to improve confidence. For most people this comes from previous programming. Everyone has things happen during their lifetime (usually childhood) that wound their personal confidence. The sad part is that people neglect to improve confidence despite their major accomplishments in life. I told the VIPs that people were in the process of debating and building self confidence in their own minds and that we should probably break up our little circle and move around to make us more approachable.


Most people will not feel comfortable approaching a group of due to the fear of being rejected and or humiliated, especially alone. If a guy walks past a group of girls and hears a few of them laugh what is the first thing that goes through the guy's mind? You guessed it! ARE THEY LAUGHING AT ME??? Folks, if this is you start building self confidence today! Do what ever you need to improve confidence. I have lots of free things on my web site www.themaxgarcia.com to help you get started.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Higher Self Esteem Through Better Posture by Max Garcia

It probably has never occurred to you that you could improve confidence through your body posture. When building self confidence just making some simple body changes will create dramatic results. Most people want to improve confidence but most people don't actually take action to do so.

When trying to improve confidence instantly on the spot (say on a date, job interview ect) follow these rules for your body. First do not play with your feet by rubbing your shoes on the ground, lightly kicking something or anything similar (no cracking knuckles, tapping fist in to your palm ect). These will only hurt personal confidence despite what ever you think about biting your nails ect. Those things may have helped your personal confidence as a kid because someone else did it but you are well past that now.

Instead, when building self confidence practice planting both feet shoulder width apart equal weight on each leg. You want to be as tall as possible. Raise your chin to the point where you are almost looking at the ceiling. Smile as often as possible, smile like you know something great that no one else knows. This will telegraph to others that you have something great going on in your life and you will naturally improve personal confidence. Make it a point to stop dragging your arms along and instead exaggerate swinging your arms in a powerful manner. This will make you look and feel unstoppable.

Remember, building self confidence is easy for anyone if you just know what to do. Like I said, most people want to improve confidence but most do nothing. I'll give it to you straight, no salt or lemon. If you are really serious about feeling better about yourself take a leap of faith and purchase my download called "have confidence" at http://www.themaxgarcia.com/ . It has many tactics that you can start using today. Or you can just continue down the same path you have been on since childhood. The choice is yours.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Think Positive by Max Garcia

I once bought a series of motivational speeches by a Christian speaker named Norman Vincent Peale. The series was called "The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. Since listening to the motivational speeches on the CD set I have become a big fan of the Christian Speaker. I have even quoted many of his sayings when I need a motivational leadership line.

One particular story that sticks with me is when the Christian speaker said he was playing golf and got his ball in to the rough (forgive me if I miss use the golf jargon as I am not a golfer). Like most people Norman started to complain that he was "in the rough". His friend who is also a Christian speaker instantly asked him "didn't I see something about positive thinking in your book?" Of course Norman grumbled back while his friend gave him a motivational leadership lecture from his own book. The friend stated that the "rough", "is only as rough as you make it" (along with some other motivational speeches). The friend then gave him some motivational leadership in golf by pointing out what club he should use, why he should use it and how he should swing it.

Norman Vincent Peal managed to get out of the rough with ease. The moral of the story is that the "rough" is only as rough as you make it out to be. Many of us in life make our challenges worse than they actually are, especially when we don't seek mentorship from others. If you think positive things then your brain will lead you to the answer. People will appear in your life just to help you.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Prioritizing Tasks by Max Garcia

It doesn't matter if you are a realtor or a sales speaker, prioritizing is the key to time management. Let's say you have a sales motivation speech or some type of business speaking engagement in the next couple weeks. You may be tempted to do your easier tasks first in preparation for your event. I learned from a gentleman by the name of Marshall Sylver a rule of thumb he called worst things first.

If you are a sales speaker some of your easier tasks may be to check your e mails, pick out what you will wear and invite your friends to the event. You may be tempted to put off the harder tasks such as researching information on business speaking for this type of event or creating an invitation to invite another sales speaker. If you are doing a power point you may not feel like working on it as those are not too much fun. Before you know it, the day has come for you to give a sales motivation pitch and you are nervous because you didn't prep enough. We all know by now in business speaking prep is everything, especially in sales motivation or any kind of public speaking.

Marshall at sylver.com suggest in his teachings to do your worst things first because you are always more productive during the first part of the day. This is the reason so many professional athletes and military members start so early in the morning. Have you ever noticed that if you don't get to the gym in the morning, no matter what happens you won't make it in the afternoon? Since learning this I reply to e mail from friends and family in the afternoon when I am not under the time gun. In the morning I always seem to be on top of things but in the afternoon I get burned out. For this, I tackle my hardest tasks in the morning.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Preparation is Key by Max Garcia

You may have seen my recent post about how important it is for business speakers and inspirational speakers to thoroughly rehearse several times before actually speaking in front of others. I recently also realized that even if a business speaker is just reading in front of people he should still rehearse what he or she is reading. I recently experienced the benefits of pre reading the other day. In the Marine Corps, every month I have to read promotion warrants out loud in front of everyone in a formal manner for those who are getting promoted.

Every month I have to read the same thing and execute the same routine with my Commanding Officer. I must say though, regardless of how repetitive it gets if I don't read the warrant at least once out loud in my office by myself I will not sound as good live and in color. I also make it a point to rehearse with the Commanding Officer to ensure we look proficient as leaders in front of the company.

The same should apply for business speakers and inspirational speakers. If a business speaker sounds like he is hooked on phonics then he or she will instantly lose credibility. Inspirational speakers must be able to inspire by first acting like they themselves are on top of the world. Business speakers or leaders in any capacity must display competence in the area of expertise so people will want to follow them anywhere. A business speaker will be much more confident after rehearsing his or her speech out loud so that they can hear what they sound like and make adjustments. For more ways to become confident in any area of your life listen to some of my free pod casts at http://www.themaxgarcia.com/

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Conduct Off Work by Max Garcia

As a leadership speaker, your conduct off work can and will affect your success in any business. Many people only think ethics and leadership characteristics apply while they are at work. The reality is that today is the information age. Your followers will know what kind of person you are off work. Word gets around fast. Don't be surprised if someone in your company sees you during your off time with out you knowing it. If you are acting outside the same leadership characteristics you preach and expect during the day your motivational leadership will lose credibility. People talk, I'm not saying it's fair but it's fact. It would be nothing in today's world for someone to e mail all their co-workers if they saw a leadership speaker acting like a fool outside the work place.

I once remember a work function we had where the senior man in the company sitting at the head table clearly had too much to drink. He kept making so much noise with his laughing and loud talking. It was a sight, it was funny. This is the same guy who preached leadership characteristics and ethics to us in such a motivational leadership style. He eventually had to be escorted by his staff away to avoid further embarrassment for everyone. I ran in to this guy several years later and that was the first thing that came to mind when I saw him. I couldn't help but to tell the people I was with. How is that for motivational leadership?

A leadership speaker of any kind must lead by example both on and off work.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Confidence Through Gratitude

Gratitude is the quickest way to anything you want in life. Personal confidence is no exception to the rule. When you feel the butterflies in your stomach and you want to improve confidence because you are about to give a presentation, go on a date, ask for a date, ect., start by saying thank you to your God for giving you powerful personal confidence. Give thanks to the universe or what ever works for you, just say thank you while you are building self confidence for any occasion.

You may start by being grateful and giving thanks for how much you have been able to improve confidence from your past, acknowledging you have come a long way. Then directly after that say thanks for what ever you are about to need personal confidence for ("thank you, thank you for building self confidence in me so I can deliver a presentation that improves lives", "I am so happy and grateful for my ability to improve confidence and rise to the occasion"). Regardless of how the presentation, date, test, ect. goes ensure you express gratitude, this will put in motion your success at what ever is next while bringing more good your way.

These are just a few examples of what you can do when building self confidence. For more ways to instantly improve your confidence in a big way check out my web site at www.themaxgarcia.com

Monday, November 2, 2009

The Right Music for Your Business by Max Garcia

I once heard a Christian speaker give motivational speeches about how listening to the right music can improve your life. He pointed out that when you listen to songs that talk about how "the wife left me, the dog died, my truck broke down" ect. something happens in your brain. The Christian speaker (sure wish I could remember his name) went on to explain how your subconscious mind hears those things and can put you in the same pattern. If anything you are at least going to feel similar to the artist that wrote the song. The not so good part is that like attracts like, so you surely are not going to attract the love of your life if you are listening to broken heart type love songs.


The Christian speaker later mentioned that positive songs could also do the same for you. Often when I am running and feel tired I start singing the song "I feel good, da da, da da, da da, da". If I feel myself getting bummed out for no reason I start singing "And I'm feeling... good da dat da dum da dat". Instantly I feel better.


If you are in a position where using motivational leadership is the key to your business you should always be pumping something positive in to your brain because your people will feed off of you! When you feel powerful your motivational speeches will come out of your mouth naturally and seem more genuine. If you have ever watched a movie with a killer soundtrack like "Rocky" and felt like you can conquer the world afterword know your motivational leadership style and motivational speeches can do the same. You may even want to consider playing up beat music in your work place, chances are it will increase production.