March 2008

It’s the beginning of 2008 and I have discovered something about myself to start off the new year with a surprise.

Actually, you can take that description and apply it to my personality or to my ability to ‘bob’ in copious amounts of H2O. (I’m actually married to a Bob but let’s just leave that out of this for the moment.) I’m referring, for the moment, to the latter.

You may not think this such a great feat, but tell that to a solo world sailor who just tripped over the ship’s cat in the middle of the pacific and landed head first in the ocean without his lifejacket on, and he’d be jealous of this ability, believe you me.

I’ve been down the Gold Coast for a weeks holiday prior to immersing myself in the busy first semester of Mindworks for 2008 and astounded myself with this new found ability.

I can float. I can outfloat a life raft with extra air bags and a tank of helium on tap just in case. I can sit in water, without moving any part of my body and bob for hours. I’ve challenged lesser floaters and watched them slowly sink, only admitting their defeat when the last of their air bubbles broke the surface. I know, I was watching them, standing (floating) upright in the water with my hands in the air to show that I wasn’t cheating.

Of course, just to add insult to injury, I would take an extra large breath as my defeated opponent’s soggy head once more broke the surface for that much needed life saving breath, and watch their eyes pop in astonishment as my shoulders cleared the water and stayed there.

Don’t ask me, I don’t know either. It’s a gift. Either that or I’m even more full of hot air than even I give myself credit for.

I also discovered it’s time I invested in a new swimsuit when a particularly vindictive wave almost stripped me of my swimming togs due to loose shoulder straps. Luckily I was aware of the flaw and managed to keep my dignity intact with some quick thinking and lightning fast reflexes. Unfortunately it was a case of either save the girls from making their first public appearance, or get royally dumped by said vindictive wave. I took the dumping and saved my embarrassment. That can’t be said for that other embarrassing moment in the pool though, and my apologies to the rather rotund, soft bellied man who’s stomach probably still bears the imprint of my face as I swam smack into him with my eyes closed underwater. In my defence, he wasn’t there when I began my underwater adventure but still, it’s a little confronting when you are stopped in mid-stroke by your face disappearing (rather deeply, I have to admit) into a stranger’s mid-section. I nearly drowned laughing, but managed to spit out an embarrassed apology even as my buoyancy kicked in and saved my life. I couldn’t have swum then to save my life, I was choking so much on my mirth.

Laurie, too, is buoyant. No, not because of all that 'seminar food', but in another way. Anyone who has witnessed one of his presentations would readily agree that 'Buoyant' is an excellent word to describe him. 'Enthusiastic' is another. There’s also 'Dynamic' and 'Brilliant' and 'Excellent' and 'The best trainer I’ve ever seen', all gleaned from the wonderful comments our satisfied clients leave behind on their Evaluation forms. We get that last one all the time, I don’t mind boasting about that.

Laurie’s audiences leave in a 'buoyant' state. They are energised, motivated, full of new knowledge and wonderful ideas, their creativity enhanced and their interest in their professional (and yes, personal) potential reawakened and inspired.

I have had a hard time this time, culling the remarks for our feedback section. We have had so many truly wonderful comments over the past few months, I have only included a small proportion of them but would love to have included them all. They tell the story of how effective Laurie’s training is for Trainers, Facilitators, Mangers, Administration Staff…anyone attending one of Laurie’s courses always comes away buoyant and well satisfied.

So next time you are 'sinking' – be it from too much information, too much work and not enough play, too much to learn in too short a time, too much stress, too much to deliver and not enough time to prepare, too little creativity from your staff, - keep Laurie and team in mind to come along and add some 'buoyancy' to your training programmes, your staff moral, your stress levels, your adult study requirements, your creativity and think tank levels.

Be like me – don’t bother to hold your breath, (who needs to when you can outfloat an otter with a gas problem), just give Mindworks a call to give your team that extra boost and keep them buoyant and on top form.

We look forward to hearing from you and working with you all again in 2008. I’ve had my holiday and am ready to tackle the new year head on. 2007 was very busy, and 2008 is already shaping up to be even busier, hence the long delay between newsletters. Welcome to all our new friends who are receiving this for the first time, and please feel free to pass on our fliers and newsletters to anyone that you think might benefit from the Mindworks Magic – we’d love to see lots of new faces along at our Showcases set for 2008 on the 18th March, 25 July and 14 October.

Another one testing his buoyancy soon may well be my new pedigree Ragdoll kitten I got for Xmas - if he continues his current trend of using my new curtains as his thoroughfare to the window ledge - when I kick him into next door’s pool. Oh I’m only KIDDING, I wouldn’t kick him…maybe a gentle toss….

PS: Don’t worry, he’s a pampered puss and I love him to death – pampered enough to have Laurie rolling his eyes at me continuously for the rest of the year at any rate…

P.S.: Did you read the Mindworks Musing last newsletter? If so, you’ll recall my mentioning Jeannie Jones "Stress & Anxiety Workshop" - she's been working continually since October, commuting from Melbourne to present in Brisbane three days every fortnight, and is in great demand. If you're looking for some Wellbeing training for your staff, Jeannie is the lady to engage.

P.P.S. Are you interested in what Mindworks can offer your company, but would like to "try before you buy?" Our next Showcase/Morning Tea is scheduled for 18 March 2008- come along as our guest, bring a friend or colleague to experience Laurie's delivery first hand and get a sample of the Mindworks Magic! We guarantee you will be amazed and entertained!

P.P.P.S: Did you know that there are about 13,500,00 neurons in the human spinal cord and that neurons multiply at a rate of 250,000 neurons/minute during early pregnancy? No wonder pregnant women get so tired!

EVALUATION & RESULTS GRAPH

“Some people spend half a DAY Looking for the shortest way to do a job that could be done in an hour." W.G.P.

"TRY BEFORE YOU BUY" SHOWCASE

Want to know what it's all about?

Come along and join us for a fun morning introducing you to Laurie Kelly and the Mindworks Magic.

18th March 2008

25th July 2008 &

14th October 2008

We have been running these Showcases now for many years, and they are hugely popular and successful. Why?

Because you get to see Laurie doing what Laurie does best - for FREE!

AND, there is always a delicious Devonshire Tea and fruit platter for participants, just to add the icing to the cake.

If you are looking for a Trainer or Conference Speaker, and are unsure as to whether they will deliver what you are seeking for your company, then this is a terrific (and delicious) way to investigate and test out someone new.

You are under no obligation to book Mindworks afterwards - it is a fun morning, our gift to you as well as a chance to check out a new venue you might not have used before.

Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to anyone you know who might benefit from receiving it or who might like to come along to one of our Showcases.

Just call us on 3289 4977 or email: info@mindworksteam.com.au

to book your seat - and bring a friend, the more the merrier.

THE CORPORATE DICTIONARY

BRAIN DUMP: When someone places a foot-high stack of files filled with illegible and incomprehensible notes on your desk, clogs your e-mail in-box with a dozen or so messages, talks to you for 15 minutes about useless information regarding a project they've been working on for six months, and concludes with "So, is that clear? Do you have any questions?"

Taken from The Dictonary of Corporate B.S."

CREATING THE THINKING ENVIRONMENT

"HOW TO THINK CREATIVELY" or "HOW TO BRAINSTORM IN INNOVATIVE WAYS" or "WAYS TO IMPRINT HIGHER LEVEL LEARNING"...

Call it what you will, but this Seminar, run by Eric Frangenheim, is one of the best on offer to provide you with fresh, new, innovative ways to “think outside the square” and ensure your content material is truly understood and absorbed by your audience. Eric has been running these highly successful and much loved seminars for Mindworks for some years now, and participants leave raving about their newly acquired skills and how much they will instantly benefit from them.

Many of you have already benefitted from attending one of Eric Frangenheim’s “Creating The Thinking Environment” seminars, and know just how effective and helpful his creative thinking strategies are – one of our clients even went so far as to prepare a full Powerpoint display based on a number of Eric’s strategies and shared this programme with us. It was truly outstanding and was a fantastic example of how Eric’s strategies can fit any need – be it expanding the creativity of brain storming groups, or enhancing the learning and retention levels of your students. Our clients who have taken Eric’s strategies on board and use them regularly, have nothing but praise for the reaction and improved outcomes they are experiencing in their facilitation roles.

I have included a letter from Michele Phelan of Ergon Energy that we received late 2007 and wanted to share it with you. If you have attended one of Laurie’s ‘Maximise Your Training Impact’ seminars and are looking to further your facilitation skills, then you should seriously consider adding the “Creating The Thinking Environment” seminar to your “To Do” list this year. We run Eric’s programme three times as a public workshop during the year, and regularly book Eric for our client’s for in-house training sessions with staff and teams.

Yesterday Line Services (Ergon) attended a workshop called "Creating the Thinking Environment" facilitated by Eric Frangenheim and I am here to tell you that the response I have had from the attendees has been overwhelming.

As there were many demographics, attitude and ego's in the room it was amazing to see Eric break down these barriers in a little under an hour, and although a few of them were lost at the speed and course content at first, the enthusiasm, vibrance and intellectual delivery by Eric turned them around and opened their minds to the possibilities of success in both their work and personal lives.

Each one us attending the workshop agree that we can take the examples and strategies learnt out of yesterday back to our teams and deliver a meeting that thrusts involvement, ownership and responsibility onto each one our team members. The strategies learnt will aid us to produce a meeting with substance and relevance up to a point where each individual involved, can walk away from the meeting at the end of the day and know that they not only played an important part in the team achieving the objectives or focus areas set out for the day, but can also walk away feeling uplifted with a sense of pride, self worth and satisfaction. Confidence like this is something that cannot be bought!

Eric Abel (Manager Line Services) gave each one of us an action to deliver to our teams and discuss their thoughts and feelings surrounding the new concept and to then provide feedback to the Management team next month. We will then discuss the possibility of having other operational groups both within and out side of Line Services to attend the workshop to broaden their thought pattern and open their minds to new possibilities. Lindel, thank you for your time and effort into arranging the workshop for us, it was a great success!"

Eric is a commanding and entertaining presenter who will soon have you confident of ensuring your audience does all the work, while you sit back and drink coffee and watch them work!

We have a seminar due to be run on the 22nd May 2008 so consider booking your staff (and yourself) in today – you will be glad you availed yourself of Eric’s entertaining day, packed full of techniques and tools that you can instantly incorporate into your own workplace.

(All our public courses are $395 per participant which includes welcome tea/coffee, morning & afternoon teas, lunch and take home workbook covering the days programme.

Babies cannot recognise themselves in the mirror until they are at least 18-24 months old.

Like insulation a

round power lines, myelin protects neurons and quickens their electrical messages.

Beethoven, Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar are all believed to have suffered from epilepsy.

Training and facilitating requires a knowledge of how to target your audience for best reception & understanding of your material. Our "Maximise Your Training Impact" workshop is a proven success. It's a highly popular seminar, aimed at increasing your "toolbox" and ensuring you have an understanding of your audience's learning abilities, and the accompanying techniques to make your presentations worthwhile, effective and enjoyable.

This is a must for Cert. IV holders to "add value" to their existing qualifications, and for anyone who is regularly presenting material to groups of trainees or learners in any capacity.

Laurie has run a number of these courses publicly and in-house again recently and here is what some of our lovely clients had to say:

Thanks for a terrific day of fun and learning; for your generosity of ideas and skills - Christine D. Innerworks

Excellent day. 34 years as a teacher does not mean there is nothing more to learn - Diane Monson, GCIT

This was the most effective session I have participated in for years. Highly energised / fun / rele

vant / useful for engaging learners - Pam Lyon, GCIT

Excellent, fun day – a presenter who lives his message – learnt heaps - Anon

Fantastic course – very fun and insightful - Kate Trenoweth, Royal Childrens’ Hospital

Come along to our Public Workshop on the 11th June 2008 and join us for a fun day of exceptional training - we "train the trainer" to be "even better". Book NOW!!

If you've already experienced this seminar with Laurie, we would love you to pass on your recommendation and comments to your colleagues - as I've said before, 95% of our business is via word of mouth promotion & recommendation!

(All our public courses are $395 per participant which includes welcome tea/coffee, morning & afternoon teas, lunch and take home workbook covering the days programme. Discounts available for group bookings.)

I would like to say a huge thank you for a very successful, entertaining and informative keynote address for the Staff Development Forum on Wednesday.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive as I expected and I have attached a copy of the summary for your information.

Thank you to Lindel for all of your assistance, always being so helpful and pleasant each time I needed assistance. It has been a pleasure to work with the team indeed and look forward to the possibility of working with you all in the future also. Thanks again,

Peruse our “Menu for the Mind” - developed for those that organise national (and international – Laurie LOVES flying) conferences and who are looking for a dynamic speaker that can really make an audience sit up and take notice.

Consider booking Laurie to open your conference, or to provide a break-out workshop guaranteed to make a difference and capture your delegates’ motivation and enthusiasm. Laurie is an experienced Keynote speaker and will captivate and enthral your attendees.

Book him for 2008 now and make sure you don’t miss out on making your conference “even better”. Want to know how good he is? Come along to one of our Showcases and find out for yourself....

Here’s proof that Laurie can make a difference from a recent VET Teaching conference organiser:

On behalf of the Conference Committee I would like to extend our thanks for your contribution to the success of the conference. Your presentation, Possibility Thinking was a highlight for many delegates. We would also like to thank you for chairing the Quiz sessions at the end of Day 2.

Laurie was informative and fun – a great combination. I can start using these ideas today. – Mary Ryan, Eight Carat Coaching

Laurie is very engaging. He holds your interest the whole time. - Siobhan McCarville, IPAA

Excellent, entertaining, insightful – thought provoking. - Paul Murphy, Holy Spirit Care Services

Fantastic opportunity to open myself to new and innovative ways of assisting people to think or learn. - Di Enright, QEII Community Health

Thank you Laurie – fun, practical, engaging, thought provoking! - Mellesa Lee-Smith, Holy Spirit Care Services

Gave me a few ideas I can’t wait to share with the team! Thank you. - Tanya Grimshaw, Natural Resources and Water

Thanks for a great stimulating morning! You’d be every teachers’ nightmare, thank goodness!! - Christine Douglas, Innerworks

Excellent session – Laurie certainly knows how to keep energy and attentive levels (up). - Robert Kowald, Qld Health

Revitalising, refreshing and energising! Made me feel alive!- Kylie McCoist, Harvest Freshcuts Pty Ltd

Very interesting – should be taught to all teachers (life changing stuff). - Wally.

Looking for fun ways to split up your groups? Then check out these fantastic new cards developed by Bellmetrics. Designed to offer you a myriad of ways to break up your groups throughout the day, this box set comes complete with a set of cards and detailed instructions on how to use them, along with a layout of all the groupings for various sized teams that are possible and ideas for games and energisers. A handy tool for Facilitators, Trainers and Teachers - this has been developed using technology designed to ensure your groups are well mixed, every time. The mix of symbols, patterns and pictures provide you with a tool to develop your own games and educational activities.

Interested? Then just call Mindworks 07) 3289 4977 or email: info@mindworksteam.com.au and we will place your order for you - These retail at $60.00 (plus p&h) and work with all four learning styles : Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic & Tactile.