Other
Focus on Doing
Do you have the right life work balance?
Are you killing yourself with work? If so, why?
These are the questions that our founder, Barbara Moynihan and the lovely Amy Rowlinson of Focus on Why talk about in a recent podcast. Barbara also explains why the ‘perfect’ presentation is an impossible goal!
You can listen to the talk below…
...
Are you killing yourself with work? If so, why?
These are the questions that our founder, Barbara Moynihan and the lovely Amy Rowlinson of Focus on Why talk about in a recent podcast. Barbara also explains why the ‘perfect’ presentation is an impossible goal!
You can listen to the talk below…
...
A Month Out – How, Why and What I Learned
Feb 28, 2023 |
Other
This January I took a full month away from the business. While I love my clients and delivering communication skills coaching, it was total bliss to go a full month without:
A single email.
A single client call.
A single minute of facilitation.
While I have taken several breaks of two to three weeks, this was the first time in 13 years that I switched off completely. Full confession, I did have a few WhatsApp calls with Sharon (my Operations Coordinator), but they were short – I promise!
In this blog, I want to share why I decided to take the full month off, how I was able to, and what I learnt.
1. Why?
Since I set up On Your Feet in 2010, I had not switched off entirely for more than a couple of days. Maybe some of you can relate to this? I may, dare I say it, have been a bit of a control freak! On top of this, I do think being “on” becomes a bit of a habit … well, it did for me anyway.
Also, last year, we sadly lost our Mum in early March. She was 90 and ha...
A single email.
A single client call.
A single minute of facilitation.
While I have taken several breaks of two to three weeks, this was the first time in 13 years that I switched off completely. Full confession, I did have a few WhatsApp calls with Sharon (my Operations Coordinator), but they were short – I promise!
In this blog, I want to share why I decided to take the full month off, how I was able to, and what I learnt.
1. Why?
Since I set up On Your Feet in 2010, I had not switched off entirely for more than a couple of days. Maybe some of you can relate to this? I may, dare I say it, have been a bit of a control freak! On top of this, I do think being “on” becomes a bit of a habit … well, it did for me anyway.
Also, last year, we sadly lost our Mum in early March. She was 90 and ha...
Top Keyboard Shortcuts to Save You Time!
Aug 18, 2022 |
Other
This month we are delighted to do something a bit different. Sharon, who is our operations coordinator, also runs her own business Sharon’s Tutorials.
She is an absolute whizz at all things tech relative to small business owners. For example, Gmail, Google Apps, MS Office, Canva, Zoom, and any other software that helps small businesses to run smoothly.
Lots of her tips are relevant to people in larger businesses too. So, she has kindly volunteered to share some of her wisdom with us. When you have finished enjoying this blog, why don’t you Subscribe to her YouTube Channel by clicking here.
Enjoy!
Having run my own admin business since 2010, I have come across a LOT of time-saving tips and tricks on various platforms and software. I share a few of them below on 5 different platforms that most businesses either use on a regular basis or may use in the future.
Windows Magnifier
If you’re a Windows user, then you might like to know about Windows...
She is an absolute whizz at all things tech relative to small business owners. For example, Gmail, Google Apps, MS Office, Canva, Zoom, and any other software that helps small businesses to run smoothly.
Lots of her tips are relevant to people in larger businesses too. So, she has kindly volunteered to share some of her wisdom with us. When you have finished enjoying this blog, why don’t you Subscribe to her YouTube Channel by clicking here.
Enjoy!
Having run my own admin business since 2010, I have come across a LOT of time-saving tips and tricks on various platforms and software. I share a few of them below on 5 different platforms that most businesses either use on a regular basis or may use in the future.
Windows Magnifier
If you’re a Windows user, then you might like to know about Windows...
From Spongebob to Beckett – an Irish actor’s insights on vocal impact and diversity
Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing the actor and voice-over artist Marcus Lamb.
Marcus has extensive experience of screen, theatre and voice-over work in both English and Irish. So, when it comes to using voice – Marcus is a bit of a guru.
From the voice of Spongebob (in the Irish version) to Terence Andrews in ‘The Dublin Murders’, to Dessie O’Malley, whom he played in the historical drama broadcast on RTÉ Television in 2015 and numerous Beckett plays – Marcus has an incredibly wide range of vocal diversity he has had to utilise for his characters. Believe me when I tell you – he knows a lot about the voice and can do amazing things with his own voice!
In this blog I share just a few of the many insights he shared, that can help anyone who needs to add more diversity and texture to their vocal impact.
Preparing your Voice
I asked Marcus how he prepares his own voice. He shared a technique that originates from Stewart Pearce. Stewart is associated...
Marcus has extensive experience of screen, theatre and voice-over work in both English and Irish. So, when it comes to using voice – Marcus is a bit of a guru.
From the voice of Spongebob (in the Irish version) to Terence Andrews in ‘The Dublin Murders’, to Dessie O’Malley, whom he played in the historical drama broadcast on RTÉ Television in 2015 and numerous Beckett plays – Marcus has an incredibly wide range of vocal diversity he has had to utilise for his characters. Believe me when I tell you – he knows a lot about the voice and can do amazing things with his own voice!
In this blog I share just a few of the many insights he shared, that can help anyone who needs to add more diversity and texture to their vocal impact.
Preparing your Voice
I asked Marcus how he prepares his own voice. He shared a technique that originates from Stewart Pearce. Stewart is associated...
Leo, leading by example, staying calm under pressure!
Mar 25, 2020 |
Other, Presenting tips
|communication tips, Presenting tips, PUBLIC SPEAKING TIPS, speech, St Patrick's Day Speech |
On 17th March at 9pm, like many other Irish families we sat, with more than a touch of trepidation as we waited for a speech from our Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.
As the Taoiseach himself noted, this was a St Patrick’s Day we would all remember, with no parties and no parades. However, his speech was also a part of this St Patrick’s Day that we shall always remember.
So, what made this speech so memorable?
1. Opening and immediately connecting
Being St Patrick’s Day – it was appropriate to open with a greeting in Irish to wish everyone a Happy St Patrick’s Day – Lá Fhéile Pádraig shona daoibh.
However, he immediately connected by moving swiftly on to what was on all of our minds. Namely, it is St Patrick’s Day, and here we were sitting in front of the TV watching him, as opposed to either partying ourselves, or watching highlights of the parades and other people partying.
So, from the start, he had us hooked in to what he had to say.
Takeaway: When we have to de...
As the Taoiseach himself noted, this was a St Patrick’s Day we would all remember, with no parties and no parades. However, his speech was also a part of this St Patrick’s Day that we shall always remember.
So, what made this speech so memorable?
1. Opening and immediately connecting
Being St Patrick’s Day – it was appropriate to open with a greeting in Irish to wish everyone a Happy St Patrick’s Day – Lá Fhéile Pádraig shona daoibh.
However, he immediately connected by moving swiftly on to what was on all of our minds. Namely, it is St Patrick’s Day, and here we were sitting in front of the TV watching him, as opposed to either partying ourselves, or watching highlights of the parades and other people partying.
So, from the start, he had us hooked in to what he had to say.
Takeaway: When we have to de...
10 TEDx tips from idea to delivery
Mar 04, 2020 |
Other, Presenting tips
|PRESENTATION TIPS, Presenting tips, PUBLIC SPEAKING TIPS, TEDX |
Many people have an ambition to deliver a TEDx talk – it is a wonderful ambition to have! It was an ambition I had, and managed to fulfill in October 2016. I was thrilled to be able to share my message that “you probably are more intelligent than you think you are” in my talk. This is a personal topic that is about my eldest daughter Katie. She struggled academically and yet was super intelligent in other ways.
You would think that, as a TEDx speaker coach since 2014 and a high impact presentations facilitator since 2001 I would have found it super easy to put together my own talk.
Not so! I have to confess, I did struggle to hone my talk – typical of the shoemaker and shoes! This talk is so different to training or speaking at an event, areas in which I am totally within my comfort zone. Many of the speakers I coach say the same thing, it really is a different type of talk altogether.
Recently I did a Live Stream with Lottie Hearn of #LIVEWithLottie ConfidenceO...
You would think that, as a TEDx speaker coach since 2014 and a high impact presentations facilitator since 2001 I would have found it super easy to put together my own talk.
Not so! I have to confess, I did struggle to hone my talk – typical of the shoemaker and shoes! This talk is so different to training or speaking at an event, areas in which I am totally within my comfort zone. Many of the speakers I coach say the same thing, it really is a different type of talk altogether.
Recently I did a Live Stream with Lottie Hearn of #LIVEWithLottie ConfidenceO...
Tips on remembering names to help eliminate the 50 shades…of red!
Have you ever been in a situation where you have forgotten someone’s name?
Isn’t it even worse, when they have obviously remembered your name and use it several times?
You are left scrambling in your memory banks, hoping that it will suddenly come to you! Sometimes you might even go through every letter in the alphabet, in your head – hoping against hopes that it will jump into your mind.
It can be very embarrassing, you could even find yourself turning “50 shades of red”!
A few years ago I was visiting Kilmuckridge in Co Wexford and I met a 3 year old whom I hadn’t met since the previous year.
I was really surprised (and flattered!) when she shouted over “Hi Barbara”.
I commented to her mother that she had a child who was gifted with a fantastic memory for names, either that or I had made an amazing impression on her the previous year! Her mother burst my bubble by replying “her playschool teacher’s name is Barbara”. Therein, lies th...
Isn’t it even worse, when they have obviously remembered your name and use it several times?
You are left scrambling in your memory banks, hoping that it will suddenly come to you! Sometimes you might even go through every letter in the alphabet, in your head – hoping against hopes that it will jump into your mind.
It can be very embarrassing, you could even find yourself turning “50 shades of red”!
A few years ago I was visiting Kilmuckridge in Co Wexford and I met a 3 year old whom I hadn’t met since the previous year.
I was really surprised (and flattered!) when she shouted over “Hi Barbara”.
I commented to her mother that she had a child who was gifted with a fantastic memory for names, either that or I had made an amazing impression on her the previous year! Her mother burst my bubble by replying “her playschool teacher’s name is Barbara”. Therein, lies th...
And now for something … a bit different!
Mar 21, 2018 |
Other
Below is an interview that Barbara Moynihan, the founder of On Your Feet, did on South Dublin FM with Joe Dalton of Breakthrough Brands. It gives you an insight into the journey Barbara took to get On Your Feet to where it is now.
Press Play below to listen to the podcast:
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Press Play below to listen to the podcast:
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Oscars 2018 – who wins the best speech award?
Mar 05, 2018 |
Other, Presenting tips
|communication tips, Oscars, PUBLIC SPEAKING TIPS, speech, Thank You Speech |
USA today described last night’s Oscars as a “relatively tame and predictable night”. Is that a fair description?
Maybe it was.
Maybe it wasn’t.
For me, I am always curious about the speeches.
Interestingly, in his monologue, Jimmy Kimmel referred to said upcoming speeches. He tried to encourage the winners to keep their speeches short, by promising a prize of a jet ski to the shortest speech.
So, I am sure Mark Bridges, who won the Costume Design Oscar for Phantom Thread, is whizzing in his brand new jet ski, somewhere off the coast of LA! He managed to get through his thank you’s in a mere 32 seconds.
But, the good thing about the lure of the jet ski prize, was that it gave several of the winners an opportunity to throw in a bit of humour early on in their speeches, by making throw back references to the infamous prize.
Overall, from what I can glean, the 2018 Oscars were nothing particularly special. In 2017, at least we had something to talk about, with the excitement...
Maybe it was.
Maybe it wasn’t.
For me, I am always curious about the speeches.
Interestingly, in his monologue, Jimmy Kimmel referred to said upcoming speeches. He tried to encourage the winners to keep their speeches short, by promising a prize of a jet ski to the shortest speech.
So, I am sure Mark Bridges, who won the Costume Design Oscar for Phantom Thread, is whizzing in his brand new jet ski, somewhere off the coast of LA! He managed to get through his thank you’s in a mere 32 seconds.
But, the good thing about the lure of the jet ski prize, was that it gave several of the winners an opportunity to throw in a bit of humour early on in their speeches, by making throw back references to the infamous prize.
Overall, from what I can glean, the 2018 Oscars were nothing particularly special. In 2017, at least we had something to talk about, with the excitement...
Oscar acceptance speeches – and why Liam Neeson may be glad he never won!
Mar 03, 2018 |
Other, Presenting tips
|communicating with confidence, Oscars, PublicSpeaking, Thank You Speech |
The Oscars are just a day away. I’m sure the question on everyone’s’ lips is – Who will be the winners?
But there are others who are more interested in 2 other questions:
What will they wear?
What will they say?
Whatever about the outfits – of particular focus this year, will be how many will wear black, in support of the #MeToo campaign.
My particular fascination is with wondering what the winners will say. Will we have speeches along the line of Oprah’s one at The Golden Globes, delivered with eloquence and passion?
While I am not a major movie buff, I do watch with fascination as actors and actresses step to the stage as “themselves”. It is quite amazing how we assume that they are as confident playing “themselves”, as they seem to be in the roles they play.
But that is not always the case, and for some making a speech is something they really fear.
Take for example, Liam Neeson. Neeson has played really strong powerful roles, including Oskar Schindle...
But there are others who are more interested in 2 other questions:
What will they wear?
What will they say?
Whatever about the outfits – of particular focus this year, will be how many will wear black, in support of the #MeToo campaign.
My particular fascination is with wondering what the winners will say. Will we have speeches along the line of Oprah’s one at The Golden Globes, delivered with eloquence and passion?
While I am not a major movie buff, I do watch with fascination as actors and actresses step to the stage as “themselves”. It is quite amazing how we assume that they are as confident playing “themselves”, as they seem to be in the roles they play.
But that is not always the case, and for some making a speech is something they really fear.
Take for example, Liam Neeson. Neeson has played really strong powerful roles, including Oskar Schindle...