Public Speaking - Brick Wall

TOASTMASTERS SPEECH 7

BRICK WALL

OBJECTIVES (5 -7 minutes)

- Collect information about the topic from numerous sources.

- Support each point and opinion with specific facts, examples and illustrations gathered through research.

SPEECH

What do you think of when you hear the words BRICK WALL?

What do you feel and what do you sense?

For me it's nurturing and stability but I questioned my network group to find out their optinions.

In my industry research isn't always facts and figures - it's also people's perceptions with what's around them.

There were 4 main thoughts:

1) CONCEPTUAL & CREATIVE

- "Hitting a brick wall" to describe a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. When two people are encased behind their respective walls, one person needs to take the first step and step out from behind their defenses. (http://www.innerself.com/html/relationships/intimacy

- "Thick as a brick" to describe a less able person

- "He's a brick" to describe a solid, true and reliable friend

There was the odd case of surrealism with "Follow the yellow brick road" - very interesting.

2) PHYSIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

A brick wall is a boundary that can provide a sense of security, safety and stability because, for example, it's more permanent than a see-through wooden fence.

Let's look at a prison where the walls give outsiders a sense of security and a sense of safety by containing prisoners.

I remember watching a TV programme years ago that suggested the prison structure itself provides the inmates with a sense of security because they have clear boudaries and, for repeat offenders, it becomes a second home - a safe sanctuary where they know how to react and are with like-minded people. It's their sanctuary, their norm!

Walls are often used as boundaries, from your front garden to the farmers' field to the Great Wall Of China.

Great Wall Of China = 4 million visitors each year. (www.chinahighlights.com/greatwall)

(Some people have claimed that it's the only man-made object visible to the naked eye from space)

When we look at the aspect of containment we also need to remember the horrific stories of people being blocked into a wall and left to die.

There was a ghost reported in a pub in Lancashire and when they came to undertake the renovations the developers found the body of a woman and her baby encased behind the chimney breast.

I even found a story of a car that has been entombed: (http://celebrific.com/gossip/Entombed-car-unearthed-after-40-years-2150956.html)

"A 1958 Buick has been unearthed almost 40 years after three young men walled it up in the basement of an illinois house."

3) A BEAUTIFUL & AESTHETIC MATERIAL

- Battersea Powerstation (London http://www.batterseapowerstation.org.uk/) - the largest traditional brick built building in the world.

- Tate Modern (London http://www.tate.org.uk/) - the planned extension was changed from glass to brick when brick was declared "the new cool".

4) THE TECHNICAL STUFF

Here are some sites to expand your knowledge on the technical stuff:

The Brick Development Association

http://www.brick.org.uk/

The British Brick Society

http://www.britishbricksoc.free-online.co.uk/

How To Build A Brick Wall

http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Brick-Wall

Ibstock Brick Limited

http://www.ibstock.com/

For now, I'll show you how building a brick wall is like making a sandwich:

a) Start with a piece of bread + butter - build a few courses at one side of the wall and make sure it's level

b) Add a second piece of bread + butter - build a few courses at the other side of the wall and make sure it's level

c) Add the filling between the two slices - join the brick courses together with a plumb line to make sure it's level

If it's not level then the filling in your sandwich will end up on your lap and your brick wall will fall down.

It needs to be remembered that today brick is not generally used as a structural element such as to "support my designer home" and is actualy a veneer or facade with the structural wall behind it.

It's a timeless material that's available in virtually limitless sizes, shapes and colours.

It can be laid in many different ways with running or stacked bond, soldier and rowlock courses.

You could have a single vertical plane or it could be corvelled to create depth with self-supporting arches.

You can use brick for many things such as flooring, roads, ceilings, chimneys, sewers, aqueducts, planters and seating.

However you use brick, it needs to be remembered:

A brick is not just a brick

A wall is not just a wall

A house is not just a house.

I'll leave you with a quote by architect Louis Kahn:

"I asked a brick what it wanted to be and it responded - an arch."

Here are the comments that I received:

- A fascinating and very varied talk which also showed us something of your own interests.

- Good internal linking around teh sue of the word "boundaries".

- An unusual topic providing food for thought and confidently delivered. You embodied exuberance.

- This was an imaginative topic. Good fluidity between movement free delivery and referring to notes. Watch use of "now" when starting senences.

- You always bring any topic you choose to life. You have great style and presence.

- You are surreal! You took us nowhere so pleasantly! You are such a pleasure to watch.

Top Lighting Tips

Lighting is much more than choosing a lamp and plugging it in!

There are several factors we should firstly consider:

- Why is lighting required?
- Where is light required in the room?
- What style should I choose?
- How can I co-ordinate the lights from room to room?
- What safety features should I think about?

Let's look at each one in turn:

PURPOSE

Lighting can be broken down into the following categories:

- General lighting
- Task lighting
- Accent or Display lighting
- Safety lighting

General lighting gives an overall light in the room. It's required for general movement within the room and would include natural light and central pendant lights.

Task lighting is as its name implies, it's required for undertaking a task such as reading, knitting, playing games and completing homework.

Accent or Display lighting adds interest to a particular item or feature in the room. It may include a picture light or lighting within a display cabinet or on a shelf.

Safety lighting is as the name implies, it's required to provide safety such as with under-cupboard strip lighting in a kitchen to help see better when using sharp utensils.

When you start to think about lighting in a room, it's a good idea to make a list of all the activities that are going to be undertaken within the space and then you can assess what type of lighting will be required.

LIGHT LEVELS

Once you've decided what type of lighting is required you can assess the level or strength of lighting required.

For example, task lighting would need a strong light but general lighting may only require soft lighting. Rem,ember that you can alter lighting through the selected bulb and also through a dimmer switch.

When you assess light levels you should also look for any dark spots in a room or property. Which areas are gloomy and how can you best light them?

It's also imperative when selling a property to adequately light the front aspect so that potential buyers can clearly identify the property from the roadside and easily find the front door.

STYLE

Lighting products fall into the following categories:

- Central pendant light
- Wall light
- Table lamp
- Floor lamp
- Safety light

Once you've decided the purpose and light levels you're in a position to determine the most suitable style. For example, task lighting would be a strong light and could be accommodated within a desk table lamp. You then know that a socket is required for a desk lamp near to the desk.

There are so many lighting options around today that the selection is truly breathtaking.

Rather than looking at the selection as a whole and being in total awe or confusion, break down the options into appropriate material types. For example, a country cottage would be more suited to natural wood and fabric lamp shades whereas a contemporary pad would be more suited to chrome and crystal.

This is also a top tip when co-ordinating lighting within a total property - focus on matching material and shapes. For example: a contemporary property may feature lighting that focuses on square crystal drops.

SAFETY FEATURES

Quite often we forget or dismiss the boring safety features of lighting but it's so important for a designer home as well as keeping you safe and sound.

Safety lighting ensure that our property and our lifestyle come together in a workable solution that also looks fabulous.

Most of us are already aware of safety lighting, for example: specialist bathroom sealed units because mixing electricity with water is not the safest of activities.

Safety includes many elements around the home and in any corporate environment, for example: lighting staircases to prevent falls and slippage, lighting front doors to make it easier and quicker when searching for keys, highlighting Fire Exits to make a quick getaway, and providing additional lighting when chopping vegetables in the kitchen.

Once you've assess all of these aspects, from the purpose to the light levels and from the style to the safety features, you should have a cohesive and co-ordinated lighting design that not only showcases the property's features but is also a workable and enjoyable space to be in.

Of course, we're always here to help out if you get a little stuck or overwhelmed.

Call us today to see how we can help you.
Gwendoline
Creative Director
GA Interiors

Tel: 07841 519802
E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

Website: http://www.ga-interiors.co.uk/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors

My Mother's Day Out

This year, as a mother myself, I'm taking some time out for luxury treats and special events that enrich my life.

Of course there's the fabulous facial and healing hot stone massage but I also want to learn more and see more. I find it fascinating and invigorating to experience new events, as long as it's not jumping off anything with a bungee rope tied around my legs - I'm too scared for extreme sports!

New events always make me more creative which is great for my work - they take me out of my box, widen my scope and broaden my horizons!

With this in mind, I contemplated how I could bring you a special treat for Mother's Day. What would make your day special, bring you fun and a new experience?

Just for you we've put together not one but two special Mother's Day offers:

MY MOTHER'S DAY and MY MOTHER'S DAY OUT.

With our individual attention, these special offers are designed to pamper you. They're designed to give you that thrill and excitement under our expert guidance.

It's your time!

MY MOTHER'S DAY OUT

We're often told by our clients that they wish we were sat on their shoulder or tucked away in their pocket for when they go shopping. They want our individual and expert advice there and then to make those snap decisions.

We've thought one step better for you because, although Gwendoline is only 5'1", she won't fit into your pocket no matter how many yoga positions she can get her legs into!

So why doesn't she take you shopping!

Your individual shopping spree with our creative expert will guide you on what to buy and where to buy it.

It's your time!

Of course, as a mother our time is precious, so we show you how to maximise any shopping trips and give you confidence in putting items together quickly and efficiently. Great skills for anyone who hates shopping or is time poor.

Gwendoline will take the time to teach you how to look for those special items to finish off any room, or maybe there's something you're already on the hunt for?

We can help you make those special purchases now or just give you the advice and skills for the future. Either way, it's going to be fun!

Contact us today to book your pamper shopping experience:

Tel: 07841 519802

E-Mail;: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

'My Mother's Day Out' sessions are £99, for a maximum of 2 hours and must be taken before Easter (04Apr2010).

My Mother's Day

This year, as a mother myself, I'm taking some time out for those luxury treats and special events that enrich my life.

Of course there's the fabulous facial and healing hot stone massage but I also want to learn more and see more. I find it fascinating and invigorating to experience new events, as long as it's not jumping off anything with a bungee rope tied around my legs - I'm too scared for extreme sports!

New events always make me more creative which is great for my work - they take me out of my box, widen my scope and broaden my horizons!

With this in mind, I contemplated how I could bring you a special treat for Mother's Day. What would make your day special, bring you fun and a new experience!

Just for you we've put together not one but two special Mother's Day offers:
My Mother's Day and My Mother's Day Out.

With our individual attention, these special offers are designed to pamper you. They're designed to give you that thrill and excitement under our expert guidance.

It's your time!

MY MOTHER'S DAY

How many times have you walked into a room to be filled with misery - the decor is dated, the layout's all wring or you just can't see past the clutter?

Maybe you long for 'your own space' in your bustling home. Your own space to display your precious things and unwind after a long and taxing day.

As busy mums we give our energy and our time to our family, often putting ourselves last or just making do!

This year though, we're making time for you!

Our creative director Gwendoline will pop into your home and wave her magic to make your space and your home more appealing for you.

She'll offer you lots of guidance and practical advice to sort out those annoying and nagging worries about your home. She can create you a haven to unwind and relax or sort out that miserable room once and for all.

When we live in our homes we can become sanitised to what's around us. We live in the same way day in and day out.

This year we want to help you fall in love with your home again. We'll give it a new lease of life which in turn will invigorate you and your family.

No more miserable rooms and no more making do. Make time for yourself by contacting us today to book your pamper session with Gwendoline.

Tel: 07841 519802

E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

'My Mothers Day' sessions are £99, for a maximum of 2 hours and must be taken before Easter (0Apr2010).

Radio Verulam - Maximise Any Room

The last Tuesday of every month is our creative director Gwendoline's slot with Danny Smith of Radio Verulam (92.6FM www.radioverulam.com).

It's an informal session where Gwendoline will share with you design top tips for the hot topic of the month.

For February she'll be talking about awkward rooms - from the dining room to the bedroom, from the cellar to the loft - she'll share with you her industry knowledge and vast experience into what makes a room awkward and how to remedy the problems.

So, crank up your ears to Radio Verulam.

Don't worry if we're not in your geography because you can always listen online at www.radioverulam.com.

Enjoy,
Gwendoline
Creative Director
GA Interiors

Tel: +44 (0) 7841 519802
E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

Workshop...Social Networking Made Easy

As highlighted in today's blog, 'If I Show You, Will You Look', social networking has many positive aspects to help strengthen your company, your brand and your public profile.

But how does it fit into your daily life? How does it link to other aspects of your business?

I love to use the analogy of a horse race where you are the Horse and your customer is the Golden Cup, the First Prize.

Of course the horse has the ability to take part in the race and reach the winning post on its own but it's more likely to achieve first place, the golden cup and first prize, with a jockey and a trainer.

The jockey ensures that the horse is focused throughout the race and the trainer prepares the horse for the race, ensuring it's muscles are toned and flexed with sufficient nutrients for optimum fitness.

Social networking is the jockey. It helps you in your marketplace (the race) to position yourself against your competitors (the other horses).

Social networking works alongside other marketing tools (the trainer), such as your website, blogs, newsletters and personal face-to-face interactions, to make a strong connection with your customers.

Like any new technology it always take a while to work out best practices.

With over 20 years business expertise, our creative director Gwendoline is now bringing you our top tips on how to make it easy.

• We'll share with you our industry insights and how to take the slog out of social networking.
• We'll show you how to make it structured with clear objectives and goals.
• We'll teach you how to keep it simple but effective, maximizing those precious hours of your day.

Here's what one of our previous students had to say,

" A big thank you for all your valuable advice and help.

You made it fun and interesting."

We create all of our workshops individually for you.

As well as teaching you industry theory and best practices, we make our workshops practical and create a relaxed environment so that you go home with useful skills that can be applied straight away.

Contact us today to reserve your place on our limited workshops.

DATE: Tuesday 2nd March 2010

TIME: 10:00 - 12:00 am

PLACE: Saint Albans, Hertfordshire

PRICE: £35

TELEPHONE: 07841 519802

E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

If I Show You, WIll You Look?

If I show you, will you look, will you take note, will you listen?

Of course you will, but only when you're ready. When the time is appropriate for you, you'll remember what I said and then be ready to take action.

That's what's so great about social networking, this global connectivity. I provide you with information and then you can use it when You want to, when You have a need and You have a purpose.

So, take a seat, have a read, make notes and use this information then You are ready.

***

I was reading articles on social networking this week (http://www.economist.com/) and it just blows your mind looking at the statistics and thinking of the global reach from the Internet today.

Even if you're not a fan of Facebook it is impressive to note that it has over 350 million users who post 55 million updates a day and share more than 3.5 billion pieces of information with each other every week. A staggering connection of knowledge and information!

Are you one of the 350 million? I am!

So, why is everyone jumping on the band wagon?

Just look at Facebook that took almost 5 years to reach its first 150 million users, but then only took 8 months to double that number! And LinkedIn has over 58 million members with its last million members joining within 11 days!

What's the rush? Why has there been this explosion in social networking over the last year?

Sure social networking started out as a medium for the youth to chat with their friends, share photos of their holidays and have their most embarrassing videos put on the Internet for total embarrassment.

Nowadays though, social networking users have an average age of 40. Should these people know better or are they onto something that you're not aware of? Are these 'Twitfaced' (Twitter and Facebook) people using social networking for purely personal purposes or have they brought it into the corporate arena?

How are we using social networking today compared to a year ago?

THE URL STRATEGY

URL usually stands for Uniform Resource Locator and is the unique address of any file that is accessible via the Internet. End of tecky talk because in the world of the Internet today URL has another meaning: Ubiquity first, Revenue later.

Over the past few years companies have focused on building lists of users rather than worrying about profits. Of course they've built huge followings but it's raised a question over their ability to make money from the audiences they've accumulated.

As with any good marketing strategy, the importance is not just focused on having a list but having a qualified list of potential clients and a list of people that can recommend you, your services and your brand.

People using social networking are more likely to engage with brands than sceptics think. It's a powerful viral marketing effect because friends spread the word about things they have discovered. Such recommendations are hugely important in purchase decisions.

It's street credibility without the street!

Instead of social networking I love to refer to it as social marketing! It's an informal way of letting people know what you do and an opportunity to showcase your work in the form of text, visual aids and audio.

O2 found that 17% of British small businesses were using Twitter to attract new customers and some believe they have saved around £5,000 ($8,000) a year from other forms of marketing by doing so.

The sceptics say that social marketing is an Internet bubble in the making but others say that it's the world's biggest, fastest and most dynamic focus groups.

Social marketing is a superb tool for mass communication, a way of connecting and sharing whether on a personal of a business level. Connections made possible by social networks are helping to create new businesses as well as promote and strengthen existing ones.

As with any new technology there are always pitfalls and words of warning.

As social networking and blogs weave their way into the workplace, offering huge opportunities for businesses, they also leave lines open for abuse and mistrust.

It's estimated that personal use of social networks during the working day have cost British economy almost £1.4 million a year in lost productivity.

An American firm, Nucleus Research, concluded that if companies banned employees from using Facebook while at work, their productivity would improve by 1.5%

But this is nothing new. Before computers even came along people were taking time out from work with cigarette breaks and coffee stops! When computers were introduced life became more varied with PC games for a quick brain refresh. There will always be people that abuse the system and there will always be a need to restrict access to some form of technology during the working day. It's just standard business practices to maximise your workforce.

Another concern for companies is the leaking of sensitive information through social networking, but again, this should be considered within standard business practices.

Social networking is a marketing tool and as such should be within your business plan and should have structure and form, ie: you should be clear what you want to say and how you want to say it. From a corporate perspective it's more appropriate for select individuals to blog, tweet and post about the company. The individuals send out a common message in a similar language that showcases the company and the brand, eg: a law firm might have a very formal structure with legal wording whereas a builder could be more informal with everyday wording.

For any company, standard business practices would currently include contractual elements for non-disclosure of sensitive information; therefore, the passing of information through social networking should be incorporated into this. Social networking is no different to chatting to a friend down the pub and giving away company secrets. Company policy needs to be in place to protect those secrets, innovations and sensitive tit bits.

So, how are people using social networking to build their business?

We've already said that it's a marketing tool building street credibility and strengthening your brand, eg: Barack Obama victory campaign.

We've already highlighted that it's an excellent channel for news, eg: latest natural or freak accident.

What we haven't touched upon is how simple and cost effective it is to implement. How quickly you can get your message out to hundreds and thousands of people with as little as 140 characters - even in a postal strike or the deepest of snow!

eMarketer estimate that over 600 million people will use their phones to tap into social networking by 2013, a more than four-fold increase on last year's 140 million. Facebook already has 65million mobile users.

Are you one of the 65 million? I am!

A Citibank survey (Oct09) of 500 small businesses in America found most of the companies had not used online networks because they thought they would be a waste of time.

Believe me - I have no time to waste!

Just because I'm having fun whilst I build my corporate identity doesn't make it any less effective.

Just because the information is flowing to me instead of me having to hunt for it doesn't make it any less relevant.

Just because I'm interacting with people through a computer doesn't make me any less sociable.

Through social networking I'm building my brand, I'm building my corporate identity and I'm building my public profile in a very real and interactive environment. It's leading to business and a whole lot of fun.

Why not join me on a social network site today? See your yourself, take a look, and make your own notes:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors

Of course if you'd like a little guidance then just give us a call or sign up today to our business workshop "Social Networking Made Easy" by contacting our creative designer, Gwendoline.

Tel: 07841 519802
E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk