by Norma Thatcher | Nov 4, 2017 | Inspirational, Public speaking, Thought provoking
Have you ever given any thought as to why an image of a light bulb (usually lit) is a visual metaphor or graphic symbol of a great idea or a spark of creativity? Some experts turn to Edison’s 1879 patent of the first electric bulb. Citing the incandescent bulb as one...
by Norma Thatcher | Oct 10, 2017 | Inspirational, Leadership, Public speaking, Thought provoking
When’s the last time you were afraid? Actually and truly afraid. I don’t mean when you felt anxiety or nervousness. I’m talking about the heart-racing, I-can’t-think-or-breathe kind of fear that makes you feel sick to your stomach. When I ask that question of my...
by Norma Thatcher | Oct 3, 2017 | Public speaking, Thought provoking
Being a strongly visual person, I like to sit near the front of any event, whether that’s a church service, a motivational talk, or other presentation. Sitting close to the speaker doesn’t necessarily enable me to hear better, especially if the speaker is using a...
by Norma Thatcher | Sep 30, 2017 | Inspirational, Public speaking, Thought provoking
When new friends see a photo of my daughter for the first time, a typical response is, “Oh my gosh, she’s beautiful.” Yes, she is. Yet that’s due to a fortunate melding of good genes and nothing I did or didn’t do on purpose. Because I try to avoid superficiality, I...
by Norma Thatcher | Sep 5, 2017 | Inspirational, Leadership, Marketing, Public speaking, Thought provoking
In a recent training class, the instructor asked students how we deal with stress; what coping mechanisms do we apply? Part of my response was asking for help when I need it. That portion was mostly targeted toward my entrepreneurial career. Although Lifted Up...
by Norma Thatcher | Sep 2, 2017 | Inspirational, Leadership, Public speaking, Thought provoking
When teaching my students ways to open a presentation with a good “hook” to gain immediate audience interest, I tell them that using a quote is not at the top of my list. Not that quotes are inherently bad, of course, but I’ve listened to many lazy speakers who...
