Tag Archives: tips

February 25, 2010 · 5:45 am

Timeless Shopping Tips

With one ongoing summer sales everywhere, here are some tried and tested tips to get the most out of your shopping experience.

1.                  Know What You Want – Get Your Wish-List Done Up

  • Make a list of what you want way before the great sale. Be specific. State store locations and exact pieces of clothing that you wish to have. Try on those clothes that you fancy, so you’ll know exactly what size fits you and what look good on you. Come sales time, you wouldn’t need to waste precious time deciding on what you want.  Instead you could just zero in on your dream items.
  • This way, you could also avoid buying items that you don’t need.

 

 2.         Budget

  • You don’t want to break the bank, don’t you? Set a budget and stick to it. That way you’ll feel better about yourself too. No more guilt about shopping. Hurray!
  •  Remember not to buy things that you don’t really need. They would only end up sitting in your wardrobe for the next 6months or in the donation bin later on.

 

 3.                  The Surprise Bargains

Even though you’ve made a detailed list of what you want, be on the look out for unexpected bargains. These are the pleasant surprises that will put a smile on your face – the ‘bonus’ buys. That’s what makes shopping so addictive!

 4.                  How To Snatch that Dress You’ve Been Eyeing For From Right Under The Nose Of  The Other Person

Aim, Target, Shoot. That’s right, it’s that simple. Aim well, then target the object of your desire and zoom in on your ‘goal’ straight away. Regular stretching exercises and practice sessions at home helps. Practise makes perfect!

 5.                  Shop on a Weekday

Yes, trust me. It’s definitely worth sacrificing one day of your annual leave. You fight with fewer crowds (though not entirely as great minds think alike. Sigh!)

 6.                  Dress comfortably – Don’t Wear Stilettos

  • Wear something cooling, comfortable and easy to slip out of for fitting.
  •  Wear comfortable slip-ons/sandals/shoes. The last thing you want is for your feet to hurt and ache. Leave those stilettos at home.

 

 7.                  Don’t go on an empty stomach

You need energy to shop…HEAPS of it, in fact. So be sure to have a full stomach before going on a shopping spree. Don’t worry, all that walking can burn off those calories!

 8.                  Do rest your tired feet

Don’t torture those poor soles. Remember to rest them. What better way than to stop for a spot of afternoon tea? You refill your stomach and rest your tired feet at the same time.

 9.                  How to re-energize

Toss a banana or an apple into your bag before you head out for a day of splurging. Raisins, dried fruits or nuts (no added salt, non-roasted), sunflower seeds, crisp bread are alternative healthy snacks that would pick-you-up without piling on those pounds. Don’t forget that bottle of water too.

 10.              Get someone to carry your shopping bags

  • Get your boyfriend or long-suffering husband to tag along. If not, train up those biceps of yours. Hauling all those shopping bags is no joke. Or get a friend who drives to go along. Then you could dump your bags into the car boot once they get too much to handle. Okay, I know this isn’t exactly ethical but if they are willing parties and your chosen company enjoys shopping too; well, it’s a win-win for both of you. 
  •  Better yet, get your best shopping buddy to enjoy this annual shopping pilgrimage.

 

Are you ready to shop till you drop?

Note: First published on buzzle.com on 4 July 2008

Link: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/timeless-shopping-tips.html

Leave a comment

Filed under Bites & Brews/Blings & Wraps/Chill

Tagged as , ,

February 25, 2010 · 4:57 am

7 Easy Tips to Be an Effective Speaker

Proven Tips for Public-speaking and effective presentation skills

 What do people fear most? Nope, it’s not ghosts or the dark. It’s public-speaking. Some people would rather jump out of a building than to speak in front of a crowd. They just freeze at the lectern.

 Public-speaking need not be the death knell you imagine it to be. I would like to share some tips on effective public-speaking that I’ve gathered from my Toastmasters days. They would not turn you into a charismatic orator overnight but they would make you a more confident and effective communicator.

 1. Make eye contact

Look at someone in the front, left, right, centre and back of the room. Do a sweeping glance at the whole audience from time to time too. And I mean really look them in the eye. Yes, making eye contact with your audience sitting in different parts of the room is crucial. You could really connect with your listeners, this way.

2. P.E.P

How do you make your audience register what you say better? Always state your point first followed by elaboration before re-iterating your point for emphasis – P.E.P.

 3. Appeal to the Heart, not the mind

Yes, this applies even to fact-based presentations. Don’t just dish out the numbers, the statistics and the facts. The truth is; compelling case studies, persuasive storytelling and stories with a human angle; speaks to the audience and unlocks the key to their heart. In short, arouse their emotions.

 Show how it relates to them. If your audience can identify with what you are saying, chances are they would more likely be convinced.

 4.         Conviction

Honest emotions shows – if you don’t believe in what you are saying, chances are your audience won’t either. You need to put in emotional investment before you can convince your audience.

 Be sincere and earnest – speak about something that you feel strongly about.

 5. Vocal Variety

You don’t want to put your audience to sleep, don’t you? Do not drone on in a monotone. Vary your vocal variety – change the tone, volume, speed and pitch of your voice.

 Specifically, this is how to make it work for you:

  •  Tone – As we know, the same sentence expressed in different tones could convey vastly different meanings. Do you wish to show anger, disappointment, sarcasm, happiness or excitement?
  • Volume – Speak louder when you wish to emphasize something or for dramatic effect. Drop your voice to a whisper when you wish to sound secretive.
  • Speed – Speak faster to convey different emotions like excitement; speak slower to build up climax. Don’t forget the power of dramatic pauses. Silence is a powerful tool.  Stressing on different words conveys different shades of meanings.
  • Pitch – High pitch generally denotes excitement or anger while a lower pitch indicates sadness or poignancy.

 These are magical keys that unlock the door to an impactful speech.

 6. Body Language

Use gestures to help your audience understand you better but careful not to let them distract from your speech. Be natural, do not exaggerate. Make your gesture just large enough to be seen by everyone in your audience but not draw attention to itself.

 So when do you use gestures?

  •  To express size, weight, shape, direction, location – These physical characteristics call for the shaping of hands or pointing.
  • To emphasize importance or urgency – Punch your fist into open air to punctuate your point. You could also pounce on the lectern (but done with care so as not to seem affected)
  • To show comparison and contrast – Move both your hands in unison to show similarities, move them in opposition to show differences.

 7. Mind Your Language

Use simple words, bombastic words put people off. Leave out jargons – they only serve to alienate your audience. Run through your speech to ensure that it is free from grammatical errors – they are not only jarring on the ears but distract from your message.

Keep these few tips in mind and see the difference it makes, the next time you’re called upon to speak. Be sure to nail that presentation in front of your boss too!

Note: First published on buzzle.com on : 19 July 2008.

Link: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/easy-tips-to-be-an-effective-speaker.html

5 Comments

Filed under Serious Stuff

Tagged as ,