White-knuckled and gripping onto the lectern, I remember one of my 1^st speech presentation classes in college. Although I had performed as both a musician and an actor, this presentation was a bit different: all I had was a piece of paper, my personality and what little courage I could muster up to maintain the interest of 40-odd freshmen at 9:00 a.m. in the morning. I’d always considered myself fairly well-spoken and confident, but my merciless professor eagerly pointed out every ‘uhh’, ‘umm’ and ‘like’ during my presentation to the point where I was ready to call it a day & high-tail it out of the lecture hall.

Looking back on that moment, I realize that a lot of the success or failure of your presentation-giving abilities has to do with self-confidence, which is often a characteristic you can build only through time and life experiences. When working within a business capacity, whether in a corporate environment or a non-profit setting, speaking in front of a group can often be a daunting task that many adults dread. Nevertheless, it’s a known fact that presentations are indeed a valuable marketing technique, allowing companies to actively promote and pitch their products in an immeasurably effective and dynamic way. What other opportunity do you have to make such a personalized or targeted impression on a potential client or customer?

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Picture this: a pyramid of 1,200 Styrofoam cups sitting atop 600 plastic water bottles, thousands of plastic utensils, stacks upon stacks of printed brochures and a truckload of promotional gizmos such as pens, key chains, mousepads and magnets.

Now multiply that by a million and ship it out to landfills nationwide.

This is just a quick exercise to illuminate a growing problem: the impact of America’s convention & meeting industry, a $107 billion industry that serves 136.5 million people attending 1.2 million business events annually.

Many of us in the corporate world attend annual tradeshows hosting thousands of vendors, clients and potential business associates within our industries. So you can only begin to conceive of the waste such events produce – imagine each event as the building and deconstruction of a small city, consuming a vast array of disposable products within just a matter of days. The country’s 1.2 million business meetings, trade shows and conventions affect the environment in a number of ways - through the greenhouse gases emitted during travel, the electricity and water consumed during events and hotel stays, the exhibit booths built from scratch and then dismantled, and the countless brochures, PowerPoint handouts, promotional giveaways, meals & bottled beverages that are consumed and disposed of. Read the rest of this entry »

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So, you’re thinking about converting your office or small business to an eco-friendly environment, but maybe you’re not sure where to begin. Well, for starters, there are many alternatives to traditional office supplies. Contrary to popular to belief, it’s much easier (and less costly) to switch over to earth-conscious products. While many people think that green items are more expensive, they are typically available at equal price with no less functionality. Simple changes – such as converting your regular light bulbs to the new low-energy fluorescent CFL bulbs – are green alternatives that make sense, both planet and dollar-wise: on average, one compact fluorescent light bulb saves an average of $35 in the energy costs over the life of the bulb, compared to a standard bulb.

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Planning meetings and seminars. Booking your flight. Reminding you of your itinerary. Even re-ordering your office supplies! These are just a few of the daily responsibilities your secretary or administrative assistant performs on a daily basis, multitasking his or her little heart out. Without them, your office would probably not function as the well-oiled machine your staff has become familiar with – who would make sure the water coolers were full, the fax machine was using recycled paper, or your luncheon was catered to accommodate your vegan guest?

Never a dull moment, an admin’s calendar is filled with multiple tasks, wearing many hats, and constantly maintaining the equilibrium of office activities. While you and your staff are aware of the valuable contributions assistants offer to your company, Secretary’s Day, also known as Administrative Professionals Day (celebrated this year throughout the U.S. and Canada on Wednesday, April 23, 2008) is the perfect opportunity to show your appreciation & gratitude. With its history dating back to 1952, Secretary’s Day is still just as relevant today, reinforcing the morale of your assistants and acknowledging their hard work and dedication.

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President Bush was asked whether he believed global warming was a “real and significant threat to the planet.” Bush claimed there is still a real debate over the cause of global warming. Watch it and judge for yourself.

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