ic st

property

lines

THE art of oration and
teaching was once a
noble and necessary
profession.

People would gather from
miles around to attend, hear
and learn from an eloquent
and effective public speaker
who delivered a knowledge-
able discourse in a formal,
orderly and entertaining
manner. Attendees of such
events normally enjoyed the
presentation and went home
with useful and applicable
information.

In 1979, } took a five-vear
sabbatical trom real estate to
learn this stately art. My
teachers and mentors put me
through the most extensive
and demanding training I
have ever encountered. It was
only after six months, of
seven-days-a-week training,
that they permitted me to
actually stand on the public
stage, in front of a live audi-
ence, to deliver my first brief
dissertation. ft was another
18 months before they actu-
ally permitted me to do a
stand alone presentation.
That training was probably
the most imporrant growth
period of my life.

Public speaking and teach-
ing. at that time, was a true
profession. For every hour |
iaught [was expected to do
20 hours of preparation. The
ideas and thoughts that E did
present had to be carefully
researched — for the greatest
sin of a platform presenter
was to deliver false or mis-

leading information. The
privilege of informing peaple
was just thac ~~ 3 prvilene.
People inherently placed a
great deal of trust with pre
tessional presenters — after
all, they were the experts ---
and honcuring and respect:
ing that trust was the tund.-
menta: axiom behind the suc-
cess Of these events.

Oh, how times have
changed. Today, | scem to be
in a perpetual state of disgust
as T watch, what once was an
honourable profession being
pillaged and despoiled by
many self proclaimed
“experts” as they promote
and deliver, all soo often,
misieading and self serving
sales pitches under the guise
of educational seminars.

I suppose it was inevitable.
Marketing peopl: were
amazed at the large turnout
we were able to draw te our
events, and it was not long
before marketing hand-books
started telling sales people to
hold their own seminars —
on topics of interest — to
build their mailing lists and
thus produce increased sales.

Oration has now become
just another sales gimmick.
The integrity, honesty, and
quality that thes presenta-
tons delivered in the past, is
today, seldom addressed.

“Attend my free lecture,”
the ads cried, “and vou will
learn everything vou need to
know about creating wealth
in this denamic 90-minute
session.” And the people
came only to find the “free”
event was nothing more than
2 90-minute commercial for
some product or service. Was
there value? Nor often. Was it
professionally presented?
Rarely, Did it even begin to
address the information the
ads promised vou would
learn? Intrequently. Yer the
public attended and they
“gor sold” what was being
promoted. It was only ar the

nly talking the ta

conclusion of the seminars
and workshops — they paid
high fees to attend — or atter
thev had bought a
product/investment, did they
find out that what they had
paid te learn or acquire was
in the most part. a load of
hay.

Tn the carly 1990s thie
financial industry joined the

fray, Their come-on was new
Using whatas called poveha
logical hedontsny -~ the theo
rv that behaviour is motivat
ed by either the pursuit of
pleasure or the avoidance of
pain — their battle ory
became: “He vou don’t invest
now vou will end up in the
peor house.” of, "You can be
vourg and poor but you

Friday. November 20. 1998 ~ North Shore News - 55

eam't be old and poor.” Or
on the opposite side we saw,
“You too can bea milPonsire
in jast.a few short montis by
following ox:
imvestment
crowds came aad in the
Majority of cases went home
with litde of subs

‘ re these
seminars” given? To obtain

vour pame and address -— te
build a mailing list — se their
sales people could follow-up
and sell vou something. The
fundamental principles
behind professional oration
and teach'ng in the public
arena — that of respecting
vour audience and delivering

See ‘Experts’ page 72

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AT A GLANCE ...

CO meee nae nee nusseeceneneererverereenessenne

Signature styie

A new building for the nev: millennium ... Signature, a new development with 85 residential units plus retail at
street level, wil! replace The Avalon on Marine Drive. sometime near January, 2000. Alan De Genova, who is mar-
keting the project, and developer Ken Hutchinson, recently unveiled the plans.

NEVIS photo Brad Ledwidge

Feature Listing
#465-650 Roche Point Dr.

ADDRESS: #46 - 850 Ruch: Point Dr.

LOT SiZE: N/A

DONO Re ere ere me eee seme ser Oe re Oe rn Den ae eEEs

INTERIOR SIZE: 1234 SO. FT.

SO meee rererccacvacwacrrveceseasescesseseees

NUMBER OF BEDROOMS: 2+ den

weeeese ooaae

NUMBER OF FLOOR

Cac ce meserecensne

weveene

ASKING PRICE: $249,900

OPEN HOUSE: Sunday 2 - 4pm

Sv erwrresereccresscenes

Private setting

This charming westerly facing end unit

enjoys an ambiance and location second to

downtown will

Pee ee eee PECECLOUCSOCrereer irri terri rrrry

LISTING AGENT: Carolyn Minchin &
Karen Cameron, 985-9544/926-6011

SPECIAL FEATURES: Great family compiex

in a private setting.

bring you home to
your special place.
Who says you
can’t have it all!

none! Corivenieniiy located to shops and
bistros with skiing, golf & trails on your back
doorstep. A mere 20 minute commute from

A

Karen Cameron/Czrolyn Minchin

Royal LePage

ONE er a EEN BO DEA TPP SSS AAA SOE SES CSA PP