The Beginning, Muddle, and End
There is a common perception that all we attempt in life has a beginning, a middle, and an end—relationships, careers, projects, chores. The books we read, the movies we see, the music we listen to—everything. Life itself has a beginning, a middle, and end. However, that's not the entire story. The beginning, middle, and end is merely an outline, we have to fill in some details and deal with other details along the way.
If we see the beginning, middle, and end as an outline:
I. Beginning
II. Middle
III. End
It suggests, to me, the stages of a plan. What we plan in life will have a beginning, middle and an end. And anything we attempt in life without a plan will have a beginning, a muddle, and an end; the more complex the undertaking the more disastrous the muddle.
Plans do not give you complete control over your destiny. As John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” Still, plans do allow us to control that which can be controlled in our lives.
Without a plan you’ll start a project, muddle through, and it will eventually end.
How much better would it be to identify something you want to accomplish this year and focus on how you begin, define the middle phases of the project, and establish the end results you want to achieve. It will improve your chances of getting what you desire, and it will get you there faster.
If we see the beginning, middle, and end as an outline:
I. Beginning
II. Middle
III. End
It suggests, to me, the stages of a plan. What we plan in life will have a beginning, middle and an end. And anything we attempt in life without a plan will have a beginning, a muddle, and an end; the more complex the undertaking the more disastrous the muddle.
Plans do not give you complete control over your destiny. As John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” Still, plans do allow us to control that which can be controlled in our lives.
Without a plan you’ll start a project, muddle through, and it will eventually end.
How much better would it be to identify something you want to accomplish this year and focus on how you begin, define the middle phases of the project, and establish the end results you want to achieve. It will improve your chances of getting what you desire, and it will get you there faster.
Mining text for graphic gems
At a training session my presentation coach asked me to give my elevator speech for the engineering and architectural firm I work for. I was happy to oblige and described "...a full service international engineering and architectural firm with 305 professional and support staff..."
"Is that a big number or small number?" asked my coach.
"What do you mean?" I thought the question was a bit odd, after all 305 is 305. "Many firms are much larger, " I explained "but fewer than 5% of engineering and architectural firms have more than 100 employees…"
"That's not exactly what I mean." said the coach. "There is information in that number that you are leaving out. So I ask you, is it 305 professional and support staff (he said this softly while yawning) or is it: THREE-HUNDRED AND FIVE PROFESSIONAL AND SUPPORT STAFF (said enthusiastically and emphatically)."
Immediately I understood his point. I was being precise, but precision alone did not provide meaning. The words alone did not convey the full meaning of my message. I want my firm to be known for having THREE-HUNDRED AND FIVE PROFESSIONAL AND SUPPORT STAFF.
"Remember," said my coach, "speaking is visual." Yikes, I had thought it was the written word, spoken.
He was right, and the visual power of speeches is in the ordinary everyday words we use. I now mine the words in my speeches for their visual potential. Today, if I use the word tall in a speech I will raise one arm to illustrate how tall. If I describe something as heavy, I will act as if it is heavy.
You get the idea. Read your speeches with this thought in mind: 'How will I visually illustrate this word as I speak.' Don't go overboard, the idea is to use the visual to enhance meaning, not distract the audience. But a few choice words acted out at the lectern at important points will add meaning to all you say.
"Is that a big number or small number?" asked my coach.
"What do you mean?" I thought the question was a bit odd, after all 305 is 305. "Many firms are much larger, " I explained "but fewer than 5% of engineering and architectural firms have more than 100 employees…"
"That's not exactly what I mean." said the coach. "There is information in that number that you are leaving out. So I ask you, is it 305 professional and support staff (he said this softly while yawning) or is it: THREE-HUNDRED AND FIVE PROFESSIONAL AND SUPPORT STAFF (said enthusiastically and emphatically)."
Immediately I understood his point. I was being precise, but precision alone did not provide meaning. The words alone did not convey the full meaning of my message. I want my firm to be known for having THREE-HUNDRED AND FIVE PROFESSIONAL AND SUPPORT STAFF.
"Remember," said my coach, "speaking is visual." Yikes, I had thought it was the written word, spoken.
He was right, and the visual power of speeches is in the ordinary everyday words we use. I now mine the words in my speeches for their visual potential. Today, if I use the word tall in a speech I will raise one arm to illustrate how tall. If I describe something as heavy, I will act as if it is heavy.
You get the idea. Read your speeches with this thought in mind: 'How will I visually illustrate this word as I speak.' Don't go overboard, the idea is to use the visual to enhance meaning, not distract the audience. But a few choice words acted out at the lectern at important points will add meaning to all you say.
Confession of a speech content fundamentalist
At a training session my presentation coach asked me to give my elevator speech for the engineering and architectural firm I work for. I was happy to oblige and described "...a full service international engineering and architectural firm with 305 professional and support staff..."
"Is that a big number or small number?" asked my coach.
"What do you mean?" I thought the question was a bit odd, after all 305 is 305. "Many firms are much larger, " I explained "but fewer than 5% of engineering and architectural firms have more than 100 employees…"
"That's not exactly what I mean." said the coach. "There is information in that number that you are leaving out. So I ask you, is it 305 professional and support staff (he said this softly while yawning) or is it: THREE-HUNDRED AND FIVE PROFESSIONAL AND SUPPORT STAFF (said enthusiastically and emphatically)."
Immediately I understood his point. I was being precise, but precision alone did not provide meaning. The words alone did not convey the full meaning of my message. I want my firm to be known for having THREE-HUNDRED AND FIVE PROFESSIONAL AND SUPPORT STAFF.
"Remember," said my coach, "speaking is visual." Yikes, I had thought it was the written word, spoken.
He was right, and the visual power of speeches is in the ordinary everyday words we use. I now mine the words in my speeches for their visual potential. Today, if I use the word tall in a speech I will raise one arm to illustrate how tall. If I describe something as heavy, I will act as if it is heavy.
You get the idea. Read your speeches with this thought in mind: 'How will I visually illustrate this word as I speak.' Don't go overboard, the idea is to use the visual to enhance meaning, not distract the audience. But a few choice words acted out at the lectern at important points will add meaning to all you say.
"Is that a big number or small number?" asked my coach.
"What do you mean?" I thought the question was a bit odd, after all 305 is 305. "Many firms are much larger, " I explained "but fewer than 5% of engineering and architectural firms have more than 100 employees…"
"That's not exactly what I mean." said the coach. "There is information in that number that you are leaving out. So I ask you, is it 305 professional and support staff (he said this softly while yawning) or is it: THREE-HUNDRED AND FIVE PROFESSIONAL AND SUPPORT STAFF (said enthusiastically and emphatically)."
Immediately I understood his point. I was being precise, but precision alone did not provide meaning. The words alone did not convey the full meaning of my message. I want my firm to be known for having THREE-HUNDRED AND FIVE PROFESSIONAL AND SUPPORT STAFF.
"Remember," said my coach, "speaking is visual." Yikes, I had thought it was the written word, spoken.
He was right, and the visual power of speeches is in the ordinary everyday words we use. I now mine the words in my speeches for their visual potential. Today, if I use the word tall in a speech I will raise one arm to illustrate how tall. If I describe something as heavy, I will act as if it is heavy.
You get the idea. Read your speeches with this thought in mind: 'How will I visually illustrate this word as I speak.' Don't go overboard, the idea is to use the visual to enhance meaning, not distract the audience. But a few choice words acted out at the lectern at important points will add meaning to all you say.