How to gain the advantage during your next presentation

How to gain the advantage during yur next presentationHow to gain the advantage during your next presentationThere was a time when classes in public speaking, leadership, and other so-called soft skills were considered a nuisance or something to be tolerated. Thankfully, such attitudes have shifted.To cite one example, a recent study shows that when companiesconnect emotionallywith their customers, sale growth accelerates. But we dont need a study to prove that connecting on a human level is the cornerstone of successful geschftlicher umgang communication and a skill to be cultivated.Today, most business professionals binnensee the value in connecting with a purpose. After working with business leaders to accomplish specific goals like acquiring the next piece of big business or persuading legislators to work on a specific policy change, I decided to compile (almost) everything Ive learned throughout my career into a goal-oriented, strategy-focused book.In the following blog post, I present the CliffsNotes - or StephaniesNotes - version of my bookTalk on Water Attaining the Mindset for Powerhouse Presentations.These highlights will give you a head start in preparing for your next big communication moment. Ultimately though, if youre looking for a real competitive edge and to gain an unfair competitive advantage, I do suggest reading the whole book. Are you ready to talk on water?Connection and opportunityOur heads are often so filled with the dos and donts of giving a business presentation that we can easily forget we are speaking to real people. Once weve lost our bearings, you can bet weve lost the connection to ourselves, our message or our audience.The power of connection is vital to business communication. Indeed, its the foundation for every lasting professional or customer relationship you create. Connection is so vital, in fact, that Ive seen missed opportunities to connect result inLost business when the sales team overwhelmed a client with details o f features and benefits and services and capabilities andShallow bench strength because the new vice president hadnt found her voice and the manager couldnt figure out how to move beyond his subject-matter expertise.Money wasted on town-hall meetings that didnt increase employee understanding, engagement or buy-in.If you could improve business presentations, what might be possible? Increased sales? Better financial standing? Deeper bench strength? More motivated and confident employees? All of this and mora is possible when you discover how to connect and communicate on a higher level.The Talk on Water mindsetConnecting with your audience, whether during a one-on-one sales call, presenting market research to a group of eight stakeholders seated around a conference table or speaking to hundreds on a TEDx stage, starts with mindset. You simply cant connect with an audience of any size if you are plagued by self-doubt or putting on a facade that obscures your authenticity. Your audienc e will pick up on the subtle cues you are giving and respond accordingly.Rather than focusing on getting through a presentation, the best thinkers focus on developing a rapport with their audiences. They achieve this by keeping several foundational beliefs in mindYour audience is your biggest fan.A presentation is an enlarged conversation.Your audience wants connection, not perfection.There are enough ways for everyone to have their own.Ahead of your next powerhouse presentation, do your best to instill these foundational beliefs in your mind. This will put you well on your way to connecting with your audience. But dont forget that to get the results you are after, you also need to connect with yourself and with your message.Connect with yourself by knowing what you need to succeed.What will make you feel most confident in this presentation? How much time do you need to prepare? Who can you depend on for support as you prepare?Connect with your message by empathizing with your audie nce.You have one job while you are presenting to help your audience get it.Depending on your presenter profile, the it could be effectively communicating facts and sharing information about a new safety protocol (The Expert). Or the it could be sharing your startups business model and influencing venture capitalists to invest (The Interpreter). Or the it could be disrupting the status quo in the minds of your audience members and igniting change on a grand scale (The Catalyst).To achieve the results youre after, you must put yourself in your audiences shoes.The Presentation C.O.D.E.Once youve become aware of the Talk on Water mindset (Part 1) and figured out your presenter profile (Part 2), youre ready to start building your powerhouse presentation. The book presents a simple four-step process called the Presentation C.O.D.E (Part 3) to help with the nuts and bolts. Heres a quick overviewStep 1 Clarify your core message.Its important to keep your message simple. I recommend asking y ourself, If my audience takes away one key message, what does it need to be? Your goal will be for each person hearing your presentation to be able to repeat whatever your core message was at the end of your presentation.Step 2 Organize your content.Organization is key to helping your audience get it. Ask yourself how you can best segment your important content with a logical structure that maps back and supports your core message.Step 3 Develop your audio-visuals.Many presenters make the mistake of using audio-visuals in a distracting or overwhelming way. It can sometimes appear as if presenters are trying to hide behind their media. This impression is not the way to win over your audience Instead, consider how you can use audio-visuals to help your audience quickly grasp whats being discussed.Step 4 Express yourself and engage your audience.Never forget that you are best at being yourself. Rather than trying to imitate others or their captivating presentation styles, work to expre ss yourself with ease, energy, and enthusiasm. If you can do this well, you will succeed in speaking with confidence. Skillful authenticity always results in a memorable presentation.Prepare for primetimeIn the fast-paced business world where everyone seems to want everything yesterday, preparing and rehearsing a presentation can seem like a luxury. But to achieve results in high-stakes presentations, practice is absolutely a necessity.What do I mean by practice? I want you to think of your presentation as a performance. Now, elsewhere Ive pushed back againstthe comparison between delivering a business presentation and giving a stage performance. But please allow me to explain.Theres no way an actress in a Broadway play would go out on stage without rehearsing adequately. To be stage-ready there are table read-throughs, off- and on-site rehearsals, partial and full rehearsals, dress rehearsals and technical rehearsals. If you are as prepared as an actress on Broadway, you are going to be your most confident and ready to achieve the results you desire.On average, it takes a business leader five focused practice sessions to be ready to seal the deal when it comes to high-stakes, career-defining presentations. I promise that, if you take the time to prepare, you will deliver a powerhouse presentation. You dont want to skimp on practice timeThe truth is, all business leaders are capable of giving a powerhouse presentation. All it takes is the right mindset, a well-crafted presentation with a strong core message and thorough preparation. These are all definitely within your graspBy far, the greatest key to success in any presentation is making connections that count. When you show up as your authentic self, the audience will respond positively and your message will have the lasting impact youre after. What strategies do you rely on when you want to talk on water?Stephanie Scotti is a strategic communication advisor specializing in high-stakes presentations. She has 25-plus years experience of coaching experience and eight years teaching presentation skills for Duke University. She has provided presentation coaching to over 3,000 individuals in professional practices, Fortune 500 companies, high-level government officials and international business executives. Learn more atProfessionallySpeaking.netandProfessionallySpeakingBlog.com.This article first appeared on SmartBrief. 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Can Where I Choose to Sit Affect my Professional Success

Can Where I Choose to Sit Affect my Professional Success Can Where I Choose to Sit Affect my Professional Success With so many different tips and tricks, sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to master the perfect formula and approach for interviewing success.We all know the universal rules of arriving at least 15 minutes early and following up after an interview just to reiterate yur interest (along with thanking the interviewer for his/her time). And were all aware of how our appearance and body language can leave positive or negative impressions with hiring managers, ultimately affecting our employment success.But, did you know that besides the research, and showing up on time, and speaking with confidence, there is another area that could affect how successful you are during an interview- something most of us wouldnt even consider?According to furniture manufacturer Seats and Stools, candidates should consider this before their next interview Where should you sit?The company has created an infographic, Suits and Seats Where to Sit for Professional Success, which explains the relation between seats and professional business outcomes. And Seats and Stools even broke it down into four different business sitting scenarios.Lets take a look at how your seat can affect your professional lifeInterviews One-on-one interviewsIn a one-on-one interview scenario, the infographic advises you to sit opposite of the interviewer, which could make him/her feel intimidated. Candidates should wait to be asked to sit, and when they are seated, dont forget to sit up straight. The infographic advises to move your chair to be at eye level with the interviewer.Group interviewsIf you are interviewing with a group or panel, sit across from the group of interviewers. The infographic shows the best seat is directly in the middle if there are three people on the interview panel.The visual says to introduce yourself by giving your full name to everyone on the panel, make eye contact with the group, smile and show enthusiasm. Also, place your belongings on the floor, not the table.I agree with the point about introducing yourself to everyone. Once when I interviewed with a panel of three, I made it a point to introduce myself and shake each interviewers hand when I walked into the room. I could tell each person was impressed with this gesture.Brainstorming SessionWhen your team in brainstorming, the infographic believes you should keep groups small for spontaneous thinking.The infographic has seats in a circle, advising to try creating a brainstorming circle of seats without a table for an informal group discussion that facilitates lively discussion. And dont forget to separate strong personalities by distance when placing chairs in this type of seating scenario.PresentationsOne-to-manyPresentations are a form of business communication that many of us will encounter. The infographic says to arrange seats in theater style with rows facing the speaker in a semi-ci rcular pattern or herringbone pattern. Make sure you stagger the seats for maximum viewing.This setup, the infographic explains, is best for the presenter because there are fewer distractions and allows the audience to pay more attention. The best seat to sit in during a one-to-many presentation is toward the middle of the row and close to the front (typical best seat when going to an actual movie theater).Sales MeetingDuring a sales meeting, the presenter should be at the front while the audience is at small tables. This banquet style approach to a sales meeting will help foster communication and keep the attention of the attendees.Business LunchNow, business lunches are extremely common- but according to the infographic- most of us who give no thought to where we or our clients sit may be missing out on the opportunity for maximum communication success. The best seating for a business lunch is a 4-top table in the quiet area of a restaurant with minimal noise and distractions, the infographic explains.If you and a colleague are hosting the lunch, sit next to each other on the corner of the table rather than across from each other. This way, according to the visual, both of you can have a client seated on the other corner next to you, allowing for intimate conversation. The infographic advises to subtly direct your client to the chair next to you once he or she arrives.I must admit, where I choose to sit affecting my professional life is an idea that never occurred to me before seeing this infographic. Yet, after viewing it, I can understand how ones seat can either hurt or help him/her in different business communication settings.What do you think? Is your choice of seat really a factor in professional business communication success?

Alabama Retail Corporate Headquarters

Alabama Retail Corporate HeadquartersAlabama Retail Corporate HeadquartersEven though Alabama isnt considered to be a state that is a thriving hub for the U.S. retail industry, there are some well known national retail chains like Books-a-Million, Hibbets Sports, and Just for Feet with headquarters in Alabama cities. The HQ level management jobs for regional restaurant chains like Miloss, Jacks Family Restaurants, and Sneaky Petes are also located in Alabama. Automotive retailing companies Toyota, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz all have major facilities in Alabama cities as well, although retail-related jobs for these auto companiesmay not be headquartered specifically in these Alabama facilities. A few of the worlds most valuable retail brands have their home offices in the state of Alabama, which is good news for those seeking professional-level jobs in the state of Alabama in general, and those seeking management positions in specific retail companies which call an Alabama city their home. Job hunters who are looking for professional home office management jobs in the state of Alabama with the largest U.S. retail companies will need to know the Alabama cities where those retail headquarters buildings are located. The retail career path still allows retail employees to climb the retail, corporate ladder from an entry-level retail store job to a retail management position. But these days, most retail headquarters jobs require specific retail education and experience, and most upper-level retail executives today start their retail careers in headquarters positions, not as a retail store cashier. So for retail job seekers who want to live and work in Alabama, its best to look for retail companies that are headquartered in Alabama first, and then search for job opportunities in their home office, rather than trolling malls for entry-level jobs which may not offer appropriate advancement opportunity. What follows is a list of the Alabama Retail Company Headquarters li st, arranged alphabetically, according to the name of the retail company. Alabama Headquarters for U.S. Retailing and Restaurant Companies Baumhowers Restaurants - Loxley, ALBooks-A-Million Headquarters - Birmingham, ALChesters InternationalHeadquarters- Birmingham, ALDreamland BarbecueHeadquarters- Tuscaloosa, ALFoosacklysHeadquarters- Mobile, ALGus MayerHeadquarters- Birmingham, ALHibbett Sports Headquarters - Birmingham, ALHyundai - Montgomery, ALJacksHeadquarters- Homewood, ALJust for FeetHeadquarters- Birmingham, ALMercedes-Benz USAHeadquarters- Vance, ALMilos HamburgersHeadquarters- Birmingham, ALSneaky PetesHeadquarters- Birmingham, AL Toyota - Huntsville, AL

How Product Pricing Really Works

How Product Pricing Really WorksHow Product Pricing Really WorksMost people think of prices as an extension of a companys greed. In other words, the common perception is that when a given product is expensive, its because the companies that make it want to get as much profit as they can. In reality, geschftliches miteinanderes dont have full control over the prices they dienstgrad. Prices in a capitalist economy are based on supply and demand, not greed. Why the Price? An items high price is a symptom, not a disease. The real culprit is cost. A company that makes and sells hairbrushes cant arbitrarily platzset its price at $1000 a brush because no one would buy them dozens of other hairbrush manufacturers have already set prices lower than that. So an items price cant exceed the price set by other companies that make that item. A company can only set its price higher than average if it can come up with an explanation- luxury materials, for example, or a product that works faster or more reliably than others. To stay in business, a company must have a price that is higher than its costs to make that product. Otherwise, it will lose money on every unit it sells. A company is bound to use a price thats similar to its competitors. The only thing that it can control is its costs. So companies use the most efficient and cheapest ways to manufacture and sell their products, to make enough of a profit to thrive. A company that comes up with a cheaper way to make its product has the option of either keeping the price at the same level or else passing the savings on to consumers by dropping its prices. In practice, companies almost always choose to lower prices. The reason is that lower-than-normal prices without a drop in quality will attract huge numbers of customers who normally buy from competitors. By increasing its market share (the percentage of consumers who buy from one company in particular), it can make much higher profits than it would by leaving the pric e the same. Price and Competition Of course, the companys lower prices and increasing market share will immediately goad its competitors into lowering their prices in response. Same with penetration pricing. Some of those competitors will find ways to lower their costs and stay in business, while others wont be able to do so and will end up bankrupt. The final result is a lower price overall. So while any one company would love to charge a higher price, as a group the businesses in a given industry force each other to offer the lowest possible prices. On rare occasions, a group of competitors in the same industry will agree to all charge the same (high) price. This arrangement is called a cartel and is illegal in many countries, the USA included. Not only do cartels put businesses at risk by opening them up to prosecution for breaking anti-trust laws, but they are also inherently unstable. Sooner or later one of the members will cheat and offer a lower price to entice customers , forcing its competitors to do the same. Sometimes a government or other legal group will intervene by setting an artificially low price on a certain product, as the USA did in the 1970s on gasoline. The result is always a shortage of that product that causes more pain for consumers than the price increase ever could. The artificially low prices cause companies to shift their inventory to other markets where they legally can charge higher prices. Again, this is not because of greed, but because in many cases the companies simply cant stay in business at those prices, so they have no choice but to find a new market or perish. The only way to truly lower prices is by lowering the cost to make that product. Trying to fix the problem by setting a low price is like dunking a thermometer in ice water and declaring the fever cured.

10 interviewing tips that lead to high job offers

10 interviewing tips that lead to high job offers10 interviewing tips that lead to high job offersThe best interviewees use these mental tips to garner job offers.Go into every interview with the end-goal of receiving a job offer. Make it your decision as to whether you want to work for the company rather than letting the company determine whether you are a fit.While interviewing is not always easy, there are certain interview tips which can be implemented to increase ones odds of getting the offer and making the hiring manager confident that you are the right applicant. Here are 10 ways to do so1. Positive energyPeople are attracted to those who display positive energy, are upbeat and who are optimistic about their career outlook.One of the biggest tricks to interviewing is sounding enthusiastic about the position and, by do so ensuring the interviewer that you are interested in the job and are ready to contribute to their team effort.2. Set firm goalsThe best companies set firm goa ls and do everything possible to obtain them. As a job seeker, you should be no different.Prior to interviewing, take the time to write down where you want to be in 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. Be specific and map out a step by step plan to ensure that you get there. If we dont know where we are going, our overall achievements are going to end up a fraction of what they could be. Be focused and tenacious in your goals and let those ambitions be heard by the hiring company.3. Remember its what you can do for the employerThe best way to sell is to talk in terms of what the other person wants.Take the time to think about what benefits and skills you bring to the table. Read over the job description and envision the concerns and needs of that employer.By speaking about how you can deliver the desired results, you are more likely to get an offer and, when you do you have more leverage negotiating the salary you want. In essence, give the employer what they want and you will get everythin g you need.4. Be approachable and likableWhen interviewing, the hiring manager is going to look for intangibles such as whether you are going to fit in with the corporate culture a.k.a. will you get along with the employees and enjoy working there.The best way to make the interviewer confident that youll fit in is to be approachable and likable throughout the interviewing process. Dont play hard to get, remain easy going and connect with the individual on a personal basis. Remember to smile.5. FocusIf we are focused 100% on an interview, psychologically we cant be nervous, tense or judgmental of ourselves. The best conversations occur when both parties are fully engaged and this happens when everyone is focused on only the interview and nothing else.Leave everything unrelated outside of the room and if you find yourself distracted or getting nervous the simple remedy is to put your mind at ease listening only to what the interviewer is saying rather than what you are telling yoursel f.6. Strong mentalityRemember to always approach the interview with fearlessness, optimism and confidence. Dont be afraid of failure. Rather be honest and authentic its the most anyone can ask of you.7. Never get discouraged during tough interviewsThe best interviewers are going to ask you tough questions. Never take it personally, rather consider it due diligence on the end of the interviewer and be thank you that you are speaking with a hiring manager who knows what they are doing.When we think upbeat thoughts, the positive energy allows us to focus and come across more upbeat and engaging. If you find your answers slipping, quickly pick yourself up. Everyone gets discouraged though, when we begin to take difficult interviewing questions as due diligence as opposed to a personal knock, we are more apt to be successful.8. Be determined to get the jobLuck favors those who are determined to reach a specific goal. As a job seeker, you should have a focus and drive to ace every intervi ew that you go on making sure to leave multiple positive impressions on employees throughout the company.You should expect to win. When we are focused, driven and expecting success, it comes.9. Ask the right questions in the right mannerWhen you ask questions, dont come across as skeptical or prying, rather ask the questions because you want the information. People dont like hidden agendas and interviewers are no different. Prior to interviewing, formulate some interviewing questions that you are comfortable with and deliver those inquiries in a non-assuming, intelligent manner.10. Focus on the positive aspects of the positionRegardless of pay, title or industry, there are both positive and negative aspects to any position. Its your choice what you focus your attention on and its a lot more productive to hone in on the things you enjoy about the job rather than letting the downsides cloud your judgement and outlook.Take the time to write the benefits of working at the company on a s heet of paper. Everyone likes a sincere compliment and it never hurts to convey those points of interest to the hiring manager.In the end, you should look at the interviewing process as enjoyable rather than considering it a chore. Think positively, stay focused, follow your intuition and youre bound to get the position that you want.

The Key to Successful Simple Resume Examples

The Key to Successful Simple Resume Examples Nevertheless, theres a difference and its helpful to understand when to compose a CV vs resume. Numbers, percentages, and supporting facts go a very long way in showing that you own a history of success. Besides what you have accomplished as career objectives, consider what you have learned in the past calendar year. Take time to comprehend the way the page was laid out and apply what youve learned to your resume. You can also locate different references for the design of your house about Decorating here. Developing a good resume isnt simple. When you format your resume you need to ensure your leave enough margin space to permit for printing. Youre searching for simple resume templates. Characteristics of Simple Resume Examples In case youre seeking to compose a new resume and you want some fantastic painter resume examples, youre in the proper spot. The very last thing you wish to do is receive a job that you cant do. Ensure you didnt miss whatever could cost you the job that you dream about Based on your degree of experience and the jobs youre applying for, what you decide to concentrate on in your resume summary might vary. You also have to speak about past experience. Capitalize on their experience and youre guaranteed to benefit. Its not essential to incorporate all your experience in your CV. Your easy cv examples canreklonecco is among the most crucial parts of your job application. This advice will be able to help you land your next position in the present job industry. Even if your information is in bullet format, it may still be tough to quickly recognize the pertinent abilities and accomplishments which are important to the possible employer. By using the examples of resumes, you wont only be in a position to add correct and precise data in your resume but will likewise be able to impress your prospective employer. For instance, a current high school graduate applying for a nursing program might need to include things like a resume objective, while an expert registered nurse should decide on a summary statement. Resume is not just a document. however, it defines you and is the very first important key that ensures your prospective employer takes interest in you. Basic resumes typically have an extremely classic and conventional tone. Getting the Best Simple Resume Examples Now look at your information technology resume. The area of information technology grows more important each day. Make sure that you get the info youre looking for. Make certain you list your relevant abilities and any certifications you might have, like your easy resume examples Handlers card. The 5-Minute Rule for Simple Resume Examples To start with, youve got to tell the truth about what youve got to offer to prospective employers. Job seekers deserve to come across decent content quickly. Volunteer experience is also a great add-on to healthcare resumes since it shows the hi ring manager which you have compassion off the work too. Your jobs might be varied, your experience and abilities vast, and it can be hard getting it all on paper. Consequently, job seekers have to understand how to sell their abilities and qualifications with the aid of their principal advertising document. Possessing a perfectly written resume with all the qualifications necessary for the job may be enough if there are just a couple of applicants for work. Below, you will locate a list of resume examples that may assist you with your work search. Sad but true, some people dont even realize they do not enjoy their jobs anymore. What Simple Resume Examples Is - and What it Is Not Some websites dont only offer titelbild letter examples but also excellent methods and strategies about how to compose an impressive cover letter. Writing resume with the assistance of resume templates readily available on the world wide web is easily the most effective means of writing resumes that ensure that youre using the suitable format and correct information thats proper for the job youre applying for. On some websites, you would come across samples that precisely contain the info that you may want to set in your cover letter. Perhaps while trying to find examples you noticed poor samples all around the internet.

Sonya Hartnett - Award-winning Australian Author

Sonya Hartnett - Award-winning Australian Author Sonya Hartnett Award-Winning AuthorPosted October 13, 2011, by Jordan Huidekoper Just because you can put one word in front of the next, doesnt mean that they are going to be the right words. You have to be able to have an ear, eye and feeling for it. Sonya took her first steps to becoming an author when she decided at the age of nine she welchesnt good at much else besides writing. Her initial forays into the world of fiction included tales about killer ants, but her stories soon evolved and she had her first book, Trouble all the Way, published when she was 15. Sonya has been described as the finest Australian writer of her generation, a claim strengthened when she took out the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in early 2008. This Swedish award is the worlds biggest prize for childrens and youth literature. Its named after the creator of Pippi Longstocking and worth a whopping five million Swedish kroner (A$880 687) a fine accompanim ent to Sonyas raft of other awards. Sonya has recently published Midnight Zoo. What inspired you to write at such a young age? I was the sort of kid who wasnt very good at doing things. I wasnt good at sport or maths the only thing I was good at was art. I was about nine when I realised I could write a story and I think I fell into it because it was one of the rare things I could actually do reasonably well. As the years went by and I became a teenager, writing gave me some sort of control in my life. I was one of six kids they were all outgoing, boisterous and friendly, whereas I was pretty shy but my ability to write gave me a bit of ground to stand on. In my stories I was able to create the world how I wanted it to be, leid the way it actually was. What did you originally write about? When I was a little kid I used to write about the attack of the killer ants and children being kidnapped and dumped in the desert before finding wild ponies and riding them home. As I became a te enager, I abfluged to write more about the kind of world that I knew. I was reading a lot of American stuff and enjoying it, but it wasnt Australia and it wasnt what I knew. My first book, Trouble All the Way, was about a teenager living in a suburb with his family, going to school, fighting with his little sister and doing that sort of thing. I still write about the suburbs quite often, but I do range around. I hope the things my books look at now are a bit more interesting than wagging school and fighting with your little sister. What is the process you go through when you write a book? I tend to write only one book a year, so I spend a lot of time thinking about what Im going to write. I generally start with a very basic core idea, an abstract of a plot, character or idea that Im interested in. Gradually, as Im outside playing in the garden or painting the house, I start to come up with ideas that can attach to that original idea until I have enough of them to form the basic skel eton of the book. I then put them up on storyboards and flesh out the ideas. I used to start writing straight away, work like a demon and get the book finished in about six weeks, but Im getting lazy in my old age and it takes me a little bit longer now. Do you have a good work-life balance? I work from home so I am so used to not having to get up in the morning and catch a tram. I find it very difficult to imagine people are living these serious important lives I slouch around the house on an eternal weekend. But in exchange for that sort of nice life, I am constantly plagued by a niggling terror that if I dont sit down and write something soon, I am in trouble. That does tend to take the gloss off most lying-in-bed mornings. What did winning the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award mean to you? It means that some of the terror in my life is damped down a little bit. People write books for a lot of reasons and there are a lot of pressures, including publishers who are always wanting ano ther book. For me, that pressure is focused around issues about whos going to pay the mortgage if I dont write. This award at least solves those sorts of financial problems and it means that eventually I might be able to retire. Awards have always been pretty important to win for the money since writers, particularly in Australia, dont make very much. I also like winning them because I just hate to lose. I have been on lots and lots of short lists in my time and I find it quite depressing if Im on a short list and I dont win. What gives you the most pleasure when you write a book? I enjoy the creative process and having the ability to conjure something up out of nothing. I like that the book I am working on at the moment didnt exist in the world this time last year its a completely whole thing brought out of empty space. Making a sentence read exactly right also gives me pleasure. I know a lot of writers would say they enjoy the responses from readers, but I find that my first loya lty is to the book, and what makes me happiest is if Im happy with it. Is writing something that comes naturally or a skill that can be taught? I definitely think you need an innate skill to be able to write well. Its like swimming you can teach somebody how to swim, but they are not going to necessarily be Ian Thorpe. Just because you can put one word in front of the next, doesnt mean that they are going to be the right words. You have to be able to have an ear, eye and feeling for it just like any of the arts. Do you think creative writing courses create good Australian authors? A lot of people go through these courses but not many people get published at the end. I have nothing against anybody sitting down and trying to churn out a book, but I do have something against the people who make a lot of money out of telling people they can do just that. Mostly what annoys me is the cheapening of the craft they seem to suggest that anybody can write, whereas in fact, not everybody ca n do it. I learnt through blood, sweat and tears, not by paying a fee. What do you need to be a good writer? Its good to have a place where you can work, although I started writing my book lying on my bed sharing my bedroom with my little sister. You also need a laptop and a surface to work on, as well as coffee and chocolate. What advice do you have for a young person thinking about a career in writing? Mostly what I remember from back when I was young was how many mistakes I made, how many manuscripts I started but never finished, and how many pages of work I threw away because it didnt lead anywhere. I think kids tend to think if they cant do things right the first time, then they cant do it at all. However, you learn how to write just like you learn how to do anything through practice, practice, practice. Prepare to unleash your creative mind when you enquire about a Course in Writing.Bachelor of Communication (Journalism)Study modeOn CampusOnlinePayment optionsHECS-HELPUpfron t paymentEnquire Online Enquire OnlineWriting ResourcesPublishing assistant sample resumePublishing assistant sample cover letterInterested in becoming a?WriterJournalistCopywriterEditorAuthorPopular Career Searchesbest journalism course in australiacreative writing courses perth tafehow to become a journalist in australiagov funded writing coursesaccredited certificates verbunden in journalismWriting CoursesBachelor of Creative WritingEnquire Online Enquire Online Jordan HuidekoperJordan is a writer and photographer with a keen interest in personal growth and development.Related ArticlesBrowse moreCAREER INSPIRATIONFemale entrepreneursSandra Reynolds - Author and Blogger, The $120 Food ChallengeI am passionate about teaching people not so much how to cook but how to eat, how to plan a menu for the week, how to stock up their pantry, how to use seasonal produce.CAREER ADVICECreative careersHow To Become A Writer 10 Modern Writing CareersAlways wanted to be a professional writer? Fro m copywriting to screenwriting, we list 10 day-jobs for the modern wordsmith.WritingThe Write StuffTheres no more valuable skill in the workplace than the ability to write professionally, and well. Find out why everyone needs to hone their writing skills.