Happy Valentine's Day! I wish everyone of you a happy, fun and romance filled day with your family and loved ones.

As you can see from this month's newsletter, I've done a complete makeover of my marketing materials, including the web site. To see the new look, just go to www.leepound.com and check it out. Let me know what you think.

As with all changes, this took a lot of time, effort and thought about my business to accomplish.

And, as with all things worth doing, it has given me a new perspective on what I do for my clients, which is to help them grow in their use of speaking and writing skills.

I hope you will take to heart this truth: Often, in order to truly understand ourselves and where we are going in life, we have to take a tough look at where we are and ask ourselves if that is truly who we are.

Does your web site truly reflect who you are today? Mine didn't. It was more about what I did then than what I do now. Are your marketing materials up to date? Are you skills up to date?

My redo was not easy and forced me to rethink a lot of my assumptions, a lot of the stories I told myself. You can take this big step toward success as well.

Story Magic Weekend, March 24, 25, 2007

If one of your goals for the new year is to upgrade your speaking skills, consider taking my next Story Magic Intensive. Stories are fundamental to all speaking, selling and personal relations skills. Here you will learn to use them in ways that will change your life.

The first Story Magic Intensive held last December was a great success. My next one will be held the weekend of March 24 and 25 and will be limited to a maximum of ten participants.

Story Magic teaches you story creation techniques in a small group setting. These techniques can be used to create stories you can use in speeches, writing or promotional materials. During the event, you will discover where stories come from, you will write your own story and you will practice delivering it orally. Go to www.storyseminars.com for details.

Tell Yourself a Different Story
By Lee Pound

I've said month after month that stories are the single most powerful way we can affect audiences and customers. They've been used by speakers, politicians, religious leaders and salespeople to influence people, gain adherents and clients and affect the way people believe and act.

A powerful and little know fact is that we as individuals also use stories to shape our lives. I call these the stories we tell ourselves. Mostly we don't recognize them for what they are, instead calling them habits, beliefs, and assumptions. They are more than self-talk, which is the running conscious commentary we hear in our heads most of the time.

These stories we tell ourselves are a web of unconscious beliefs and habits we have built up over the years and which function mostly with no conscious control.

I've hears too many people say that they can't change, that's the way they are, that they have a certain personality type, they are introverts or extroverts, they are addicted, and so forth.

I've said all these things at one time or another as well. We all have. However, I discovered over the past year that I can change these habits and beliefs about myself by first becoming conscious of my own belief and habit systems and consciously deciding which ones I want to change.

When you find yourself acting out habits and beliefs that no longer serve you, start catching them as they happen and start creating new habits and beliefs that do serve you.

The transformation will be amazing.

News From Speak Your Way to Wealth

For the next two days, you can sign up for next August's Speak Your Way to Wealth event for just $197. How much? That's right, just $197. My business partner and I decided to reward all our loyal subscribers with this special low price just for Valentine's Day, and that's when it ends, midnight Valentine's Day. Prices for this year's even will go as high as $597 so this is a great time to lock in a low price and guarantee your seat . Just go to www.speakyourwaytowealth.com/Valentine.htm.

Arvee and I are very excited about this year's event. We'll have three days instead of two and twelve expert speakers instead of eight to teach your all the ways you can build your business and attract clients thorough speaking and writing. Watch for another email shortly with more details.

The Vibrant Communication
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Where Is Lee Speaking?

Saturday, Sunday, March 24, 25, 2007 Lee's Story Magic Intensive Weekend, location to be determined.

South Orange County Genealogical Society, Saturday, April 21, 2007. Topic to be determined.

ASTD San Fernando Valley October 2007
 

New Books

Fifty-Seven Steps to Better Writing is my personal look at the writing and publishing business. You will learn how to choose a genre, how to select a publishing method and how to use the craft of writing to make your work sparkle.

Order this book now

Do you need help with your writing?

Lee Pound  helps writers and speakers strengthen their communication skills by teaching them to write clear, concise prose that all readers can understand.

Learn more about coaching here

Do you need a speaker?

Lee is an inspirational and motivational speaker who presents to organizations, conferences, businesses and clubs interested in learning more about skills used to communicate in writing and speaking and how to apply those skills in our daily lives.

Learn more about my presentations

Toastmasters

Learning to speak well requires practice. The best forum to practice is at a local Toastmasters Club. You can go to www.toastmasters.org for more information. You are invited to visit my clubs at any time. Call or e-mail for further information.

Possibilities Unlimited
Carrows Restaurant on Marguerite Parkway north of Avery Parkway in Mission Viejo, CA, Monday evening 7:15 p.m.

Performance Unlimited
Executive Career Services Conf. Room
2955 Main St., # 110, street level
Irvine, California, 92614, Wednesday evening, 7:00 p.m.