Welcome to your August newsletter from Mindworks

Mindworks, seeing things from a different perspective...

Which rectangle is on top at "x"?  Which at "y"?

MEET US AT THE CHIFLEY AT LENNONS 20 OCTOBER 2006 FOR AN ENTERTAINING MORNING INTRODUCING YOU TO LAURIE KELLY & THE MINDWORKS MAGIC -  BOOK NOW!

What did participants think of our last Showcase?  You be the judge...

• The showcase was an excellent way to show the potential training programmes available. We are very impressed.  - Elise Nicholas, Mission Australia
• Very powerful and thought provoking to open mind to possibilities. - Helen Eager, Mission Australia
• I am looking forward to getting out and practising some strategies - Chistine Donsky, The Sarina Russo Group
• Inspirational - easy to understand - credible.  Highly recommend. - Janet Vallino, Sarina Russo Group
• A good snapshot of Laurie's skills and techniques.  A fun way to learn new ways and new skills. -  Shirley Watters, Pamela Spall & Assoc.
• Loved it!  Got some great ideas on how to lift the energy in our courses! - Antonia Medhurst, Griffith Uni.
• Remotivates and re-enthuses, promotes positive thinking.  Has helped during a time of change. -  Penny Greene, Centrelink
• Laurie is an excellent presenter who is able to help you to understand yourself better with many practical examples.  - Marion Raahauge, Centrelink
• I always love an opportunity to learn and be stretched in my thinking - thank you so much!!  - Jane Barr-Thompson, Ingenius coaching.
• Laurie's energy level and knowledge level never cease to amaze me. - Carole Vacher, Qld Transport
• Fast paced but very entertaining.  I did not look at my watch once during the morning. -  Barry McGrath, Corrective Services

STOP PRESS:       2.    MACKAY & DISTRICT TEACHER/AIDE WORKSHOPS IN OCTOBER!!       

Mindworks will be presenting a series of workshops for Mackay and District based teachers and teacher aides beginning 23rd October - "Exciting Kids to Learn" with Laurie Kelly & "Switching Kids on to Learning" with Shez Wright.

Don't miss out on this opportunity while we are in the area - call us for more details.

These workshops are being sponsored by the Mackay & District Education Group.

STOP PRESS:     3.      COMING EVENTS

• MAXIMIZING THE TRAINING IMPACT - 8 SEPTEMBER 2006.
• SHOW CASE - 20 OCTOBER 2006
• CREATING THE THINKING ENVIRONMENT - 4 DECEMBER 2006
• "ANXIETY IN THE WORKPLACE" SHOWCASE - “Underachievers don’t suffer from Anxiety”-  Understanding the distress signals from your top achievers & Keeping your Best from Drowning” - coming soon!
• MINDWORKS IN-HOUSE and TEAM PROGRAMMES - anytime - just call!

THE MINDWORKS MUSINGS

 Lindel Smedley trying to be serious!

Greetings Everyone,

Let's start off with a little challenge to get the old grey matter working...

Question:  If you take a bottle, put a coin inside and seal the bottle with a cork - how do you get the coin OUT of the bottle without damaging the bottle in any way or removing the cork from the bottle?

Interesting challenge isn't it?  Am I going to give you the answer?  Well, of course not.  Not yet anyway (stop moaning).  The solution is extremely simple - a real "d'oh" moment when the answer is supplied after you've wrestled with the problem and lost sleep over it.  I recently put this question to a group of participants at our last "Creating the Thinking Environment" seminar at morning tea, just for a bit of fun (and to see if they'd all been learning their lesson to "think outside the square").  Only one of our guests came up with the correct answer (it was only early in the workshop after all...), but only after exploring the meaning of each word in the riddle and questioning me in depth.  Each week, I pen a little column in my son's school newsletter, full of fun things and weird words, along with a riddle that the children and adults can attempt to solve and win a little prize.  It's extremely popular and I get a variety of interesting and insightful answers as people approach these problems with vastly different thought processes.  The riddle above was finally solved after six days by two eleven year old girls working together - it was interesting that no adult managed to answer it correctly.  WHY?

Because the children were working with their right brains, and were not hampered by adult thinking that is so often limited to thinking only "inside the square".  I decided to explore this concept further, by putting the riddle to the most right-brained person I know.  My friend John lives his entire life outside the "norms" of accepted regulated behaviour, a free spirit, an artist, a funny man that sees the world in a way that few of us do. I asked the question, and without missing a beat he gave me the correct answer.  His entire life is defined by lateral thinking and his thought processes have no invisible rules or boundaries that we so frequently restrict ourselves with.

At the beginning of Laurie's workshops he explains how little of our brain power we actually use and how much potential we have to increase our capacity to think and create by tapping into that vast amount of unused grey stuff pulsing away in our craniums - "use it or lose it" was never more applicable.

Do you remember I wrote in an earlier newsletter about Laurie's "WOW" factor?  Well, Laurie taught me how to do his "WOW" factor last year, which has been a great party trick and impressed my friends and family no end.  But I wanted to take it further so decided to increase my ability by stretching the "WOW" factor even more (that sound you can hear is Laurie gnashing his teeth! I'm currently working on increasing it even further and will soon be up to 40...but I digress).  I took the time to do this whilst driving in my car on a 45 minute road trip, with my 10 year old son helping me.  The outcome was that he, too, learned what I was doing by default and now has his very own "WOW" factor to impress his friends.  I decided to challenge him some more and gave him a list of ten items to remember which he did so very easily.  So what is impressive about this?  Well, two months later I decided to test him on the original work we had done in the car, having long ago forgotten the list we'd worked on later.  He had no problem at all coming up with the original work AND the second list (of which I was only able to remember 3 items).  This was two months later with no revision inbetween.  I was astounded - proof of how spongelike our brains are in our early years, and how easy it is for us to access our brains full potential if we exercise it.  And if a ten year old boy can do it, why can't we?  Well, of course we can, but we need to understand HOW to programme our minds to do this and that is what we help you with at Mindworks....by opening your mind up to realise its full potential and to pass on tools and techniques to help you get there.

And the answer to the riddle?  Well, how about you have a ponder on that one and email me if you think you have the correct answer - the prize will be your own sense of personal victory when you realise you figured it out!  I wonder how many of you will get it?  A few I hope, but I promise to put you out of your misery next newsletter.....if I remember!

Until then,

Keep smiling and challenging yourself,

Thanks to my friend John for this cartoon!

What we teach you is real.  It’s proven.  It works.   

And people keep coming back for more…

Lindel Smedley - Office Manager

VISIT THE MINDWORKS HOMEPAGE

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 20 October 2006 - 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!  

VIEW OUR SHOWCASES  

P.P.S. Did you know that the adult human brain weighs between 1300 g and 1400 g (approximately 3 lbs). A newborn human brain weighs between 350 and 400 g. For comparison:

elephant brain = 6,000 g
chimpanzee brain = 420 g
rhesus monkey brain = 95 g
beagle dog brain = 72 g
cat brain = 30 g
rat brain = 2 g

QUINTESSENTIAL QUOTES

"Minds are like parachutes.  They work best when open."

Lord Thomas Dewar

(We can show you how to open your mind to accept new thinking and rekindle your enthusiasm to learn)

MAXIMISE YOUR TRAINING IMPACT - Public Workshop

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.  Come along to our Public Workshop on the 8th September at the Chifley at Lennons and join us for a fun day of exceptional training - we "train the trainer" to be "even better"  Book NOW!!

Here are some comments from recent attendees at our Australian MTI & New Zealand training courses directed at the Educational sector:

• Great energy and humour in presentation style – Greg C., DLGPS&R

• Fantastic to learn simple ways of improving your mindset!  Excellent time spent away from the office. - Mona Pedersen, DLGPS&R 20.7.06 -

• Course was excellent.  Didn't nod off after lunch.  Loved the interaction. – Sue Hart.
• A useful, hands-on day that gets you DOING things that you can apply in your classroom.  Lots of fun - I'm excited to apply what I've learned. - Jessica Huber
• Excellent, really good to practise what we learned, interact with trainer and fellow teachers. - M. Boyle
• Laurie practises what he preaches - a stimulating presentation with interesting ideas. - Kubi Witken-Hannah, Waitakere College
• It was easy to remain fully engaged throughout the day and retain everything due to catering to VAKT learners. - Trina Sellers, Western Springs College
• Awesome fun, invigorating.  Has reenergised me and reminded me that school/learning SHOULD be fun! - Arihia Kingi, Kaitao Middle School
• Fun techniques that made a lot of sense to help kids learn. - Nicky Brell, Mokoia Intermedi
• I wish I had had access to this course 20 years ago.  It's freed up my brain!  I feel I can help students learn much more efficiently. - W. Presland-Cox, Sacred Heart Girls' College
• This should be a one week course!  Should have learned a lot of this at training college.  Lessons can easily be made better! - Martin Weren, Hillcrest High School
• Awesome, interesting day!  Thanks. Great presentation of info. - Jo Putt, Bethlehem College
• This has been the most worthwhile Professional Development I have attended! - Troy Landrebe, Te Kuiti Primary
• The whole content was awesome!  I'm enthused and eager to try all the ideas back at school.  What  a neat way to end term 2. - Anon.
• Excellent use of media incorporated with great group exercises.  Very enthusiastic teacher with great communication skills.  Thanks Laurie. - W. Mace
• I think you have opened the door to new ways of thinking, the options are limitless.  Thank you. - Warwick Richardson, Hamilton City Council

(All our courses are $350 per participant which includes welcome tea/coffee, morning & afternoon teas, lunch and take home workbook covering the days programme.  Discounts available for group bookings.)                                                                                                      

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!  

And if you can't make the 8th September, we have one more "Maximise Your Training Impact" workshop scheduled for 2006 on the 17th November.  We'd love to see you there - Book now!

Laurie Kelly, Mindworks

LOOKING FOR A CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKER? 

Then look no further - Laurie has been a much loved Conference speaker for years and is perfect to either:

•  Open your Conference and Open your delegates minds at the same time to accept

    what is to come

•   Deliver a Key Note address
•   Provide interactive Workshops to really get your participants thinking
•   Be the "After Lunch Energizer" - Laurie will get your delegates focused and back into

    the swing of things immediately following the refreshment break

We are now booking 2007 conferences - if you're planning your next Conference and you want the best speaker - get in early and book Laurie Kelly.

VIEW CONFERENCE INFORMATION

LETTERS THAT WE LOVED

Thank you all so much...it was our pleasure doing business with you ...

Hi Lindel, It's been a hectic few weeks, but I've finally had the chance to sit down and write a thankyou email. The mindworks session with Laurie that I attended on the 14th of June was absolutely fantastic and I gained a number of new skills from the session. So thankyou for your excellent and efficient organisation of the day, and thankyou to Laurie for the time, effort and passing on of information. - Kind regards, all the best, Sandi Dawson, Australian Youth Development Program

Moyne Shire was abuzz recently after two days of Flexing the Mental Muscle with Laurie Kelly.  The majority of staff attended one of the two one-day workshops and returned to work full of energy and ideas, both mentally and physically re-charged.  There has been a conspicuous increase in the consumption of water; lots of questions are asked about who has “hooked up” recently and there are some who can still proudly recite the twenty items in their memory list.  On a more serious note, the energy of the staff has significantly increased, concentration and focus are more easily achieved and creative thinking is far more the norm.  Many individuals have stories of how specific parts of the course have positively impacted both their working and personal lives and there is something in the day to inspire everyone.  Laurie’s training is invaluable:  high energy, high impact training that is relevant to every organisation and its staff. Lyndal Osbourne, Moyne Shire Council, Melbourne

Hi! Thank you Laurie and Lindel for a wonderful Showcase last Friday. It was very insightful and I certainly walked away with tools which are simple yet so mind blowing!  Many thanks! Odile HBH Williams, Professional Coach, Ingenius Coaching

RETENTION TIPS

HEY YOU!!!!  Want to get your participants attention?  Do you need to get them focused on your presentation but want to have some fun too?

By using this simple technique, you can draw their attention to you and get them thinking, challenge them and get the creative juices flowing.  Make them forget the traffic snarl they navigated that morning, the bills that are due for paying, the work they have piling up on their desks, the shopping they need to do that afternoon and get your group focused in on the matter at hand - and let them enjoy it at the same time.

Use a simple tool like a word puzzle and get them laughing, interacting, thinking....before moving on to more serious content.

          Can you figure these out? Answers at the end.

A HINT OF THINGS TO COME

At Mindworks, we are constantly looking for new ways of doing things, ways to help make you "even better".  One of the areas we are very interested in is the ever increasing problem of Stress and Anxiety in the workplace.

To this end we are developing an exciting and educational look at WHAT is Anxiety, WHY this happens, WHO this happens to, clues that IDENTIFY who is at risk and WAYS to nurture those that are suffering.

We will be organising a Showcase for company Human Resource personnel and Managers to introduce you to a colleague of ours, Jeannie Jones. 

Jeannie has been doing wonderful things with Melbourne organisations in managing stress in the workplace, and we'd like to introduce her to our Brisbane clients.  She has 28 years of training and experience in welfare, youth work, social work, teaching, training and counselling,   Jeannie has trained internationally in Provocative Therapy (use of humour and paradox in therapy) and has a Masters in Counselling;  Advanced Diploma in Hypnotherapy and is a certified External Supervisor.

This future Showcase will highlight ways that Managers & HR personnel can help prevent losing their "GEMS" - the staff that give 150% and sometimes end up paying the price.  Remember - Underachievers NEVER suffer from Stress! 

Don't lose valuable and key staff when you can so easily prevent it.                        Jeannie Jones

We'll keep you posted - this will be a Showcase NOT TO BE MISSED.  Watch this space....

CREATING THE THINKING ENVIRONMENT

Our 2006 final "Creating the Thinking Environment" seminar with Eric Frangemheim

will be the 4th December - our last workshop was considered extremely worthwhile by all who attended, judging by their comments:

• Everything was great for adding variety to my training.  Awesome course.  Very different to MTI so helpful in its own way for meetings, facilitating and training.  Thank you.
• Good to take the opportunity to explore work ideas. – Rachael Uhr, Local Government
• Great tools and tactics that I can use every day at work and home. – Leiza Wood, Metro South Institute of TAFE
• This is a great course to engender excitement and new ideas when you are stuck and
• your work issues need to be looked at differently.  It will help our team to succeed.
• All of the strategies were great to experience and participate in.                                         Eric Frangenheim
• I'd like to be able to practice more but time is limited - would love 2 days! 
• I'm a slow learner!  Excellent idea generating tools for trainers - Fabulous trainer, you've inspired me Eric! – Paula Maxwell, trainer.
• Time flew, Eric, you kept me engaged all day.  Well done and thank you.
• Great and innovative tools which will help me facilitate training & meetings. – Kay O’Connell, Dept. Immigration.

Make sure you don't miss out on this incredible workshop, packed full of innovative and inspirational tools to get your participants thinking creatively.  Call us to book your seat.

EXCITING NEWS & FEEDBACK

After the hugely successful June tour this year, Mindworks has been invited back to New Zealand in August 2007 for a series of workshops all over the North Island - tell your Kiwi friends and colleagues that we're coming their way and to take the opportunity to book Laurie while he's in their area. 

We're also in Cairns early September if you would like to book Laurie for an in-house session while he's in Northern Queensland.  Please forward on this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested, or may benefit, from the Mindworks Magic.  We appreciate you talking about us as much as you like!

Comments

Thank you for your feedback. Below are comments received in June & July from some happy Mindworks participants:

• Education sector August comments:

• The whole session was fantastic!  Thank you Laurie.  This is something that is so valuable.  Everyone should experience this type of training.
• Really engaged and I wish there were more courses - advanced etc.
• Brilliant!  Informative! Fun! Entertaining! Inspirational!
• First memory activity - awesome!!  Empowering.
• Excellent value whether you are a beginner or an old fart.
• Great session - fast, covered a lot, much to think about.
• Very engaging and entertaining session using a variety of tools and techniques for learning.
• Laurie, once again you hit the spot with the group.  A great help to focus on the big and little things to make them better with minimal stress.
• I arrived annoyed with my teenage daughter's behaviour and am leaving with strategies to positively address some issues tonight.

• Government sector – August comments:

• The enthusiasm of Laurie was infectious.
• As I quietly said before, it's the best training workshop I've had in the department.
• Refreshingly good.  I wish our leaders had this training!!!
• This has been a great insight to human behaviours and the reasons behind them.
• A stimulating and interactive experience in a non-threatening environment; trainer's skills entertaining and instructive.

VIEW OUR COURSES  

Results

An Evaluation of our programmes from your response forms:

ANSWERS TO WORD PUZZLES:  (1)  DOMINO   (2)  EYE CHART -   How did you go?

DID YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER? - WHY NOT SHARE IT!

If you have enjoyed reading this newsletter and have a friend or colleague that might benefit from the "Mindworks Magic", please forward it on to them for their perusal. 

After all, most of our business comes via word of mouth and that fact that we're still here after 20 years means we must be doing something right!

This monthly email is our only regular form of contact with our clients and we've emailed this to you as someone who has participated in training with us or shown an interest in enhancing your skills - however, if you no longer wish to receive the Mindworks Newsletter, please advise us via the "unsubscribe" link below and we will remove you from our database.

Mindworks is committed to compliance with Australian privacy laws.

Thank You.

MINDWORKS - Helping to make you "EVEN BETTER"

407 Cedar Creek Road, Samford  Qld  4520   Ph: (07) 3289 4977  Fax:  (07) 3289 4992 

Email:  Info@mindworksteam.com.au    ABN:  52 086 503 960       Website: www.mindworksteam.com.au