August 2, 2023

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BG’s Positively Speaking

Confidence — An Inside Job

Often, after meeting someone who has achieved some success, we will remark, “I wish I had his/her confidence.” Not realizing we can develop that confidence with practice and discipline. Here are some simple steps that will help you to create the confidence you saw in someone else:

1. Be upfront: Be the first to speak, hold out your hand and introduce yourself – don’t wait for the other person. This may seem hard at first, but after two or three times, you will say, “This isn’t hard at all; I should have done it sooner.”
2. Put on a big smile: A smile breaks down the barriers another person may have put up. Project you as a warm, friendly and sincere person who is happy to be there meeting them. It also sets the stage for the next step.
3. Make eye contact: Your smile will light up your eyes and make it easier to look directly at the person you are speaking to. This reinforces the impression of warmth and friendliness.
4. Speak up: Speak a little louder. A quiet, withdrawn voice portrays someone who lacks confidence in themselves. If you lack confidence in your words, others won’t, either.
5. Walk a little faster: This shows that you are someone who knows where you are going and how to get there.
6. Put others in perspective: They are human beings with the same wants, needs and desires as you. We are all more alike than we are different.

Practice these simple steps every day for the next 30 days, and you will be amazed at the difference in your confidence level.

Confidence comes from the inside

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A Logical Explanation

Paddy and Murphy are having a pint in the pub when some scuba divers come on the TV.  Paddy says, “Murphy, why is it them deep sea divers always sit on the side of the boat with them air tanks on their backs and fall backwards out of the boat?” Murphy thinks for a minute , then says, “That’s easy. It’s ‘cos if they fell forwards, they’d still be in the friggin boat!”

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The Things We Say

We often say things that sound strange until we learn how they originated. Following is an explanation of one such saying.

“Wake up on the wrong side of the bed.”

What it means: To wake up grumpy for no apparent reason.

Its origins: We must go back to the Roman era for this; getting out of bed on the left side was considered bad luck. If you got out of bed on the “wrong” (left) side, The Romans felt you would have a bad day ahead of you.

Usage: “You woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?”  Or, “You got out of bed on the wrong side, this morning.”

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Editors Quote Book

“If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.”

— Margaret Thatcher

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Phone Service

Classmates at college were lamenting the cost of long-distance phone service and debating the relative advantages of AT&T, MCI, and Sprint. “I’ve found CTC to be the cheapest plan around,” offered one. “CTC? Who are they?” “You know,” he responded. “Call Them Collect.”

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Shingles…

A guy entered a doctor’s office, and the receptionist asked him what he had. He said, “shingles.” So she took down his name, address, and medical insurance number and told him to have a seat. Fifteen minutes later, a nurse’s aide asked him what he had. He said, “shingles.” So she took down his height, weight, a complete medical history and told him to wait in the examining room. A half-hour later, a nurse asked him what he had. He said, “shingles.” She gave him a blood test, a blood pressure test, and an electrocardiogram and told him to take off all his clothes and wait for the doctor. An hour later, the doctor asked him what he had. He said, “shingles.” The doctor asked, “Where?”

The guy said, “Outside in the truck. Where do you want them?”

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Trivia Quiz

(Click Question For Answer)

 

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Your Horoscope

For Amusement Only

ARIES Mar. 21-Apr. 19: You have no time for socializing. You must complete what you have already committed to first.

TAURUS Apr. 20-May 20:  Don’t take your personal problems to work. Equally, don’t take your work home with you. Keep the two separate.

GEMINI May 21-June 20:  A quick and impulsive decision will be regretted. Rethink your position and resolve it calmly and logically.

CANCER June 21-July 22: A positive outlook is a healthy one. Don’t let minor problems take over. Look on the bright side.

LEO July 23-Aug 22:   An old friend or co-worker resurfaces. They could prove to be very helpful. Gain whatever information you can.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22:   A non-profit organization could use some of your expertise. Donating some of your time will be beneficial.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22:  A major project has ended, and the rewards are coming. There could be a promotion and more money in it.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21:   You may not win the lottery, but a pleasant surprise is coming your way. Share the joy with others.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21:  Competition is heating up. Sharpen your powers of persuasion if you want to hold on to the lead.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19:   Family problems require you to listen, not talk. Don’t sit in judgment, be fair and don’t hold grudges.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18: You cannot see into the future, don’t try. The past could hold more answers for you at this time.

PISCES Feb. 19-Mar. 20:   Helping others brings you satisfaction, but take care. You could commit more than you can give.

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Beyond The Call Of Duty

“Give me a sentence about a public servant,” said the teacher. The small boy wrote: “The fireman came down the ladder pregnant.” The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. “Don’t you know what pregnant means?” she asked. “Sure,” said the young boy confidently. “It means carrying a child.”

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Microsoft Support

A helicopter was flying around above Seattle yesterday when an electrical malfunction disabled all of the aircraft’s electronic navigation and communication equipment. Due to the clouds and haze, the pilot could not determine his position or course to steer to the airport. The pilot saw a tall building, flew toward it, circled, drew a handwritten sign and held it in the helicopter’s window. The sign said “WHERE AM I?” in large letters. People in the tall building quickly responded to the aircraft, drew a large sign and held it in a building window. Their sign said, “YOU ARE IN A HELICOPTER.’

The pilot smiled, waved, looked at his map, determined the course to steer to SEATAC (Seattle/Tacoma) airport, and landed safely. After they were on the ground, the co-pilot asked the pilot how the “YOU ARE IN A HELICOPTER” sign helped determine their position. The pilot responded, “I knew that had to be the MICROSOFT building because they gave me a technically correct but completely useless reply.

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Adding Insult To Injury

Mark Dicara of Lake Barrington, Illinois, allegedly shot himself in the leg in June; while he was, apparently, dreaming of a home invasion. Dicara grabbed his .357 Magnum and fired, bringing him out of sleep. Police found him in bed with a “significant wound” but found no intruder. He was charged with possession of a firearm without a valid Firearm Owners Identification card and reckless discharge of a firearm.

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The Last Word

The purpose of education is to take a closed, empty mind and open it.

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