I attended a talk
recently by Dr. John
Izzo, author of the
books Speaking from
the Inside Out and
Awakening the
Corporate Soul.

He was presenting to the
members of the Canadian
Association of Professional
Speakers and discussing the
fact that the reason most
people who attempt to
make a career of speaking
fail is that they are making
speeches they think people
wish to hear or speeches
they wish to give regardless
of whether it fits the audi-
ence.

He suggested that the
best speakers identify and
convey their own unique
message to the needs of an
audience to which they are
qualified to speak.

Aside from the personal
development in speaking
skills which I accrued in lis-
tening to him, he gave me
considerable food for
thought in the area of my
unique message, not just
professionally, but as a par-
ent.

He told the story of how
his dad had died at 36 years
of age, when he was just
cight, but due to his par-
ents’ separation, he had not
known his dad well enough
to feel the need to grieve.

In his mind, his dad had
not left a legacy.

While it may seem
tedious to live under this

Centre
addresses
suicide

ACCORDING to the
Vancouver-based Crisis
Centre, suicide is the
second leading cause of
death among youth.

The centre advises that
when external changes in a
person are a good indicator of
internal changes.

* Major changes to look for
include:
@ Change in situation: rela-
tionship losses, disharmony at
home, loss of social status,
loss of employment, impend-
ing discipline, trauma (per-
haps from assault or illness).
@ Changes in feelings:
depression, feelings of worth-
lessness, hopelessness, feel-
ings of being overwhelmed,
even elation.
@ Changes in action:
increased use of drugs, self-
neglect, risky behavior,
aggressive behaviour, with-
drawal, concentration diffi-
culties.

Anyone can call the Crisis
Centre distress line at 872-
1811, 24 hours a day, seven
days a week.

ture, it is not unrealistic to
sit occasionally and ask
ourselves what unique
Message we will have lett
behind, as parents, should
we not return home one
night.

What will our childrea
remember, ¥ i
passing, about the
person we were, the values
we had, the joys we gave

the most significant
influence in our children's
lives, is it not possible for us
to think, each evening,
abour what we passed on to
them that day, in our
thoughts, words and
actions?

Even better, is it not pos-
sible to think, in the morn-
ing, about the message we
would like them to remem-
ber that day, and then take
clear steps to get that mes-

mplest way to leave

a positive message each day
is to start or end the day
with a compliment, an
expression of appreciation or
a simple gesture of loving
affection.

Focusing these comments

north shore ne

ON issues Vou tre trying to
teach them simply paints a
picture in ther mund of
where vou are trying to go
with them.

Great speakers know
what they have to say and
spend a great deal or ume
preparing to put that
Message in terms that will
meet the needs of the audi-
ence ta whom they are
speaking.

For every one minute of
speaking, there has been 10
minutes of preparation,

When they have done
their job well, they will leave
the audience with a legacy, a
lasting message that will at
the very least touch them,
and might, with some inspi-
ration, change their lives
forever.

Great parents know what
they want to teach their
children and spend a great
deal of ume getting tho:
ideas across to their children
i that will meet their

When they have done
their job well, they will leave
children with a legacy,
sting message and
impresston that will, at the
very least, form the core of
a family’s love.

With same inspiration
the message will change
their children’s lives for the
better.

— Graham Hookey is the
author of Parenting Is A
Team Sport and teaches par-
enting courses. (209-8784 or
ShovkeyEdowco.com)

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