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Chicago Bulls Farm Team

September 21, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Is it possible that the Chicago Bulls Basketball Team has a secret farm team in Mississippi?  That was the question I asked myself as I stepped out of the truck with my son-in-law’s dad in Mississippi.  We went to a friend’s house to pick okra.  His friend and choir member Mr. Ware had a group of bulls in the yard.

They seemed very friendly and were gathered together in a group grazing.  Directly behind them was a basketball court.  And like a flash it hit me.  The Chicago Bulls might have a secret farm team right here in Mississippi.  I took out my flip camera and started to shoot a video.  Holding the flip video camera in one hand I started to shoot the video and this is where the fun began.

I wanted to make sure that I captured the bulls in the background as well as the basketball court.  Not exactly sure what I would say I started talking and capturing the video. Almost on cue when I paused, the bulls started to make noise.  It was like they knew I was taking a video and speaking about them.   They started to walk toward the camera as if they were being introduced to go out on the basketball court.

Why share this story and video with you?  Well first of all it is really funny and I thought you would enjoy it.  But more importantly, I wanted to bring to your attention the a few presentation points:

  1. Be Prepared – I had my flip camera in my pocket and was ready to take a video of any topic that I found interesting and that others would enjoy.
  2. Be Observant – There are probably things in your life that are of interest to others or that you could use to illustrate a point.  Keep your mind open to the possibilities and you will be amazed what new things you will see.
  3. Extend, Aim, Shoot – Before starting the video I extended my arm folding the flip camera as far away as possible.  Then I leveled it with my face and then started the video.  This made it appear that someone else was shooting the video but it was all done alone.
  4. Slow Movements – The best way to transition from one subject (me) to another (the bulls) is to do it slowly.  This way the person viewing the video does not feel like they are being rushed and can change their focus from one subject to another in transition.
  5. Expect the Unexpected – There was no way to predict how the bulls would respond. When the bulls stared making noise I did not laugh (I wanted to but did not), I acknowledged the fact and added it in the narrative of my video.
  6. Smile and Enjoy – Remember that your personality will show through on video so do not forget to smile and be pleasant during your presentation.

I am interested in your remarks on this video and the presentation skills that I have added here for your review.   Remember to have fun and share your creativity with others.

Filed Under: Humor, Speaking, Video Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Do Smart Phones Increase Your Intelligence

July 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Smart phone are the latest and greatest thing and a must have for every business owner, progressive leader, or professional speaker as a tool to stay in connected with clients and customers.  But how smart do you have to be to use one.  I just purchased a Palm Pre Plus smart phone and was so excited because it offers a 3G hot spot as part of the phone design.  This means that I can connect 5 different devices with my new phone at the same time.

Before I selected a smart phone I went to the store to examine the various phones and ask questions.   The salesman informed me that I needed a data plan which starts at $30 and an additional $30 for Wifi access.  This was an additional $60 a month that I was not expecting to spend. When I asked about the Palm Pre Plus I was told that I would still incur the $30 data plan cost but the Wifi and hotspot were free with the phone.  I figured it would be smart to save the additional $30 and selected the Palm Pre plus.

My service provider offers a new every two plan and this new phone which lists for over $500.00 was free, what a bargain.  My contract was up and all I had to do was sign up for two years.  This is where the fun begins.  I purchased a touchstone charger for my phone.  It looks like a hockey puck that was sliced on an angle so the phone can lay on it.  Connecting it to an electrical outlet allows makes it a magnetic electrical charger. You feel the magnetic pull between the phone and the charger as they approach each other.  Well to make a long story short, I thought I was charging the phone while it was on the touchstone. Conventional phones charge when they are off.  This smart phone needs to be on to charge. Who knew?  Not me. (smile)

Needless to say I charged it overnight and it did not do a thing.  I thought I did not know how to turn the phone on and had to take it to the store (I received the phone by fedex in an effort to save money in my mind.  This was the smartest thing for me to do.  I found that this phone had its own backup system and the transfer of data needed to be done in the store.  Who knew? No me.

Well it is day 3 of me using my new phone and I can say that I have learned to master it. I must tell you that calling the special number for help with the palm phone was very helpful.  I have connected my laptop computer to my new free hotspot phone and it works like magic.  I am preparing to go to a conference and need to have computer access.   Now I have the ability to do so without additional expense.  To answer the question, do smart phones make you more intelligent?  I have to say yes.  I am better educated about the use of my new smart phone and have saved the additional fees by selecting a phone with its own hotspot inside.

Filed Under: Business, Humor Tagged With: , , ,

Who Ate Chicken Little

June 29, 2010 by 7 Comments

While reading a fellow blog challenge member’s blog a memory came back to me that I would like to share.  The blogger Rob of “The Mid Life Opportunity” blog posted an article on “Leaving the Rat Race – The Mid Life Devil’s Advocate View” which spoke about raising livestock, chickens and pigs, for meals as a cost saving measure.
The entire concept brought me back to a story that my mother shared with me.  She told me she received a chick for Easter when she was a little girl.  This was a customary practice for a number of people to do at Easter for their children.   My mother named the chick, Chicken Little. Usually the chick would run around the house for a little while and then die.  But Chicken Little did not die but grew up to become a chicken. When it was large enough to eat her grandmother killed it and had it for dinner.

My mother’s aunt who lived with my mother and her grandmother could not bring herself to eat Chicken Little.  The fact that was Chicken Little was considered a pet by my mother’s aunt and an animal rose to serve as a meal by the rest of the family. It is a mindset and it is your mindset that will determine what you will do.

So I ask you if this was the situation today in your family and you were raising an animal who some people in your family considered as a pet, would you kill and eat it.  Just to finish the story my mother and everyone else in the family, except her aunt, ate Chicken Little.  Her grandmother said that “Chicken Little was smooth like butter”, when she was eating it.  Not everyone could eat Chicken Little but when you are hungry there is not much choice.  So I ask you again would you eat Chicken Little?  Please share your comments below.

Filed Under: Humor, Relationship, Video Tagged With: , , ,