You may be asking yourself....Should I do this? Am I really going to take the time and energy to commit to taking action? Sometimes in life you have to take a leap of faith. You have to dive into unknown waters to see the brilliance on the other side. Here's my story. Are you ready to create yours?

Let's make sure you are starting off on the right foot, shall we? I know it may be tempting to clear your schedule, grab a hot cup of coffee and tear into this course from start to finish, but you will simply not get the best results if you do. This course is designed to be implemented in everyday life, one section at a time. Here are some additional guidelines to insure your success. You deserve it!

For your convenience, I have included the complete workbook for this course! There's no need to fill it out in advance. It's simply the full collection of exercises that go with each of the lectures included in this course. In addition, inside each of the lectures, you'll find the PDF worksheets in the resource folder next to the video. Feel free to follow along and keep it as a reference for the future.  Let's get started!

Before we start your journey on personal growth and development, it's a good idea to see where you are right now. Every trip has a starting point and a destination. Before we jump in the car and go, let's review some simple guidelines to help you along the way.

In the following lectures, complete the exercises as you go along. Enjoy!

A positive attitude and a winning mental game are the foundation for building confidence. We begin this program by examining your habitual thoughts. When was the last time you thought about your thoughts? Hmmmm....

Now it's time to take your mind to the gym. It is my great pleasure to introduce you to Daphna Slonim, MD, author of the groundbreaking book, "The First Key: How to Remove Subconscious Sabotage". She will be teaching you energy psychology techniques to release limited beliefs that have likely been holding you back. Our thoughts are our fuel to success, so let's train our minds to achieve all we desire.

To learn more about her work, please visit her blog:http://www.thefirstkey.com/blog/

Or you are welcome to watch her in action on her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/daphnaslonim

Enjoy!

Cognitive Psychotherapy is based on the idea that how we think (cognition), affects how we feel. Our thoughts determine our feelings. If our mental representations are inaccurate or our ways of reasoning are inadequate then our emotions and behavior may become disordered.

This lesson is from the course, How To Release Your Fear of Public Speaking, with Daphna Slonim, MD

When was the last time you listened to your own voice? Are you aware of any vocal habits including fillers, intonations, pitch and range? You voice is an instrument. When you know how to use it effectively, you make it easy for your listener to hear what you have to say. With time and practice, your voice can become fluid and free. Your audience will thank you later.

Once you have recorded your voice, you can now begin to identify particular vocal qualities. With a few simple exercises, you can improve your clarity, eliminate those pesky fillers like "ums" and "likes" and speak definitively so you command attention wherever you go. You deserve to be heard.

This lesson first appeared in my online course, Speak Up! Stand Out. It's my pleasure to share it with you. Exercising your voice is the best way to gain flexibility and strength. While you may never considered the importance of vocal training, do not underestimate it's power. When your audience can hear you effortlessly, they will likely hear what you have to say!

Finally, we bring your attention to your body, specifically the inner and outer aspect. Your emotional state of being is reflected in the way you carry yourself. Your outer aspect, such as your clothing, tells another part of your story. When you bring your attention to how you feel about both aspects, you can clearly see areas you wish to grow and expand your personal expression.

Our body is our vehicle. If you want to get to your desired destination, it's best to make sure you care for your body along the way. Here are some suggestions to stay healthy, relaxed, balanced and calm. Life can be rough sometimes. You want a strong car to help you navigate the bumps.

Here is another bonus video from my course, Speak Up! Stand Out. I am thrilled to introduce you to Carlos Requejo of Core Response Pilates in Santa Monica, CA. He has personally helped me re-connect to my body after having two children. I hope you enjoy his expertise.

http://www.coreresponsepilates.com/

Ellen Lubin-Sherman write the book on being fabulous. Seriously. She is the author of the incredible book, The Essentials of Fabulous: Because Whatever Doesn't Work Here Anymore. You can sign up for her blog at essentialsoffabulous.com

In this lesson she shares her wit and wisdom about style. As an added bonus, I have included a few other resources for inspiration and guidance. Let your inner fashionista out. It's time.

What does confidence mean to you? For me, it's the ability to be calm, grounded, curious, and humble. It's the energy of success and the cornerstone of happiness. It's a quiet knowing that you are saying YES to life. Happiness is your birthright. Let's get started.

Most people know that positive thoughts are better than negative thoughts, but did you know just how much they affect your entire being? Here is one technique that will leave you hungry to learn more. Energy Muscle Testing is your highway to your body's inner knowledge. Profound and true.

Curious to see Energy Muscle Testing in Action? Here is a demonstration I did at a recent workshop. I have also attached detailed instructions for you to try it yourself. Grab a partner and start pulling their fingers. You'll be amazed by the experience.

I’ve said it once and I’m going to say it again, you’re awesome. You were born awesome and you are awesome right now. Got it? I know, sometime you don’t feel so awesome and in those moments I invite you to use a few simple tools to get you back in that winning headspace so you can re-connect to your inner light. Here are two of my favorite tricks to turn my blues into bursts of sunshine.

Everyone loves a great story and this one is no exception. Sometimes you just have to dream big. Your wish may very well come true.

Now it's time to train your mind. Using the material from our previous exercises, you will transform habitual negative thoughts into new more positive affirmations. Next, you will implement your power post-its. Remember, what you focus on, you become. It’s time to start tuning into your awesomeness. One post-it at a time.

The world is a prettier place when you wear “rose-colored glasses”. In other words, if you were to focus on the beauty of life instead of the chaos, uncertainty and fear that is swirling around you on any given day, you would feel better. Period. It’s not that you would not be aware of the stresses and challenges in life, it’s simply that you would not be plugged into the emotional current of negativity that drains your energy and stops you from doing your great work. Here's how to cultivate gratitude.

In this Section, we will be examining the components of making a great first impression as well as the best practices to delight everyone you meet. I am amazed by how basic these principles are and yet so many people overlook how important it is to be present to the people you interact with, to give them the gift of your attention, to avoid toxic conversations and to seek opportunities to meet new people. Mastering the art of casual conversation is your gateway skill to creating new, meaningful relationships. It’s time to get in the game.

Remember life before cell phones? I know, it’s hard to do, right? We have become so addicted to these little devices, we simply cannot imagine life without them. They are beckoning for our attention throughout the day, allowing virtually anyone to reach us at any given hour. It can be oppressive at times. I am amazed how acceptable it has become to be perpetually interrupted by a call, a text or an email alert. But, what is the cost of this tethered life?

Who doesn’t want to make a great first impression? One of the primary goals of this course is to give you the tools you need to feel empowered walking into a room, knowing that you are presenting yourself and your message with confidence and enthusiasm. If you are interested in hitting it out of the park right from the start, then follow these simple guidelines to impressing everyone you meet.

Gossip, harsh criticism and bad mouthing are all socially acceptable behaviors, but they are stopping you from experiencing deep happiness and peace. I’m not suggesting that you need to become a saint, forever refraining from uttering a negative phrase, but I encourage you to become aware that negativity is contagious and if you wish to get on the positive train then you better unpack the negative baggage.

All day, every day we talk to people - about business, client work, family, friends, their weekend, their commute, and the Breaking Bad finale. By the law of averages some of those conversations are going to be less-than-amazing. The people we're talking to might like gossiping, tearing others down, or focusing on the negative.

But just because your conversation partner wants to steer things in that direction doesn't mean you have to go there. Here are eight ways you can deal with challenging conversations.

I am a big believer in the power of practice. It takes the same skills to present a TED talk as it does to have an engaging conversation with a stranger. People respond to someone who is confident, open, engaged and present. Notice how I didn’t say perfect...there is simply no such thing. I adore seeing someone who is authentic and unique and utterly human, meaning they may fumble, but they are confident enough to gracefully handle the flub and keep going. These skills take practice so you need to exercise these muscles in real-life situations.

In my work, I spend a lot of time teaching you how to present and express yourself. But I would be absolutely remiss if I didn't point out the power of being a great listener.

Giving someone your undivided attention is a tremendous gift.

Not only do you make a person feel appreciated, you learn invaluable insights into their needs, concerns, and desires. If you're interested in successful sales + meaningful relationships (which I'm sure you are) learning to listen will give you insights into truly helping others.

Let’s face it, we are really selling all the time, and yet when most people think of the word “sales” they cringe just a bit. Why? It’s not a bad thing to be compensated for your great work or to be rewarded for a job well done. You deserve to be successful so it’s high time you learned how to sell with ease.

There are certain activities in life when you allow yourself in get in the zone. Hours slip by easily and effortlessly while you blissfully engage in your favorite task. In those moments your body and mind transcend. You may experience a sense of calm, or a twinge of excitement, a rush of energy or a peaceful stillness. When you are there, you know it. When you find your spark, you connect to your inner light.

How many times in your life have you answered the question, “So, what do you do?” It’s such a boring question and yet we find ourselves asking and responding to this very question hundreds of times in our adult life. If you have struggled to find a compelling and authentic way to describe who you are and what you do in 60 seconds, then you are not alone. Again, preparation pays off and when you take the time to craft a message that reflects your awesome sauce, you will get people curious to learn more about you, once that proverbial elevator ride is over.

In this course, there is quite a bit of attention paid to how you present and express yourself. Since you are in-service of others in your work, I would be remiss if I did not point out the power of being a great listener. Giving someone your undivided attention is a tremendous gift. Not only do you make a person feel appreciated, you also learn invaluable insights into their needs, concerns and desires. If you are interested in successful sales and meaningful relationships, then learning to listen will give you the insights into truly helping others.

Life is simply too short to work with people you do not like working with, right? Instead of coming from a place of desperation where you are hungry for your next paycheck, understand that there are specific clients that are perfect for you. When you serve them, extraordinary things happen.

I can guarantee that you will be rejected along the way. It’s a given. Once you have come to terms with that one fact, you can begin to get over the fear of rejection once-and-for-all. It simply comes with the territory. The real question is, how do you deal with it? I have a few tools that I learned from my early days of being a professional actress. You needed to have pretty thick skin to deal with the inevitable rejection that came with the job. So, here are my tidbits of wisdom that kept me happy and in the game.

From where you stand right now, you may not believe that you will have an opportunity to officially present yourself and your work in the near future. The truth is, you never know when that opportunity may arise. When it does, you want to be prepared.

The idea of being interviewed makes most people nervous. That’s perfectly normal. The best way to beat those jitters is by being prepared. Here are my favorite tools.

No more boring presentations, please. If I could distill this lesson into three words, it would be LESS IS MORE. Since I do not foresee this type of business tool going away anytime soon, here are some critical guidelines to making a meaningful impact the next time you create those signature slides.

Wouldn't it be great to have a quick overview of your best reminders right before you take the stage? Viola!

Being nervous before giving a presentation or speech is perfectly normal. The question is, do you let your nerves stop you or do you have tools at the ready to help you release the stress? In the attached supplementary materials, I review some of my best techniques for letting the butterflies out. Anxiousness is the wall between you and your audience. Practice these simple exercises and you will have more fun than you ever imagined.

It is perfectly normal to get excited or nervous before a presentation. It’s human nature. I’m thrilled to share with you another lesson from the course I co-created with Daphna Slonim, MD about releasing the fear of public speaking. In this video we address a critical tool to get you calm when the anxiety surfaces.

Video is everywhere. If you have never considered yourself as someone who would end up in front of a camera, then think again. The use of video is growing rapidly and the sooner you can embrace it, the better. After all, people love to see the individuals behind the brand. If you want to build a tribe of fans or simply connect with your team virtually, then it’s time to get comfortable on camera. It’s not as scary as it seems.

Here is a quick snapshot of my story. When I started my company in 2011, I knew video would play an impart part of my business. What began as a single course and weekly video blog evolved into a comprehensive online video content strategy. It has been a joy and pleasure sharing my work with individuals from around the world.

Take a moment and consider all the types of video you use right now. Video conferencing, Google hangouts, Skype, video blogs, YouTube, in addition to all the streamed video content for entertainment and gaming. It’s simply everywhere. While you may not envision yourself appearing on camera in the immediate future, the key is start practicing now in “low-stakes” situations. Where do you see yourself leveraging video in your life?

Your iPhone or iPad can be your one stop production studio. With a few simple tools, you can create professional quality videos using devices you likely already own. Here is a quick guide to creating incredible videos on your own. PLEASE NOTE! The course that I mention in this lecture, Web Video 101 is no longer offered. I have made a NEW COURSE which covers all that and more: Confidence on Camera: Make Amazing Videos, Easily. (Just check my Udemy listings!) 

Join me as I do a quick demonstration about how I use my iPad mini to create videos on the go. With a few simple devices, you can become a video production pro. Watch and see just how easy it really is.

Time to get your creative juices flowing. On the attached worksheet there are plenty of ideas of videos you can see all over the web.  It's a good idea to start your own research as well.  What types of videos do you think will work for your business?

If you're curious about Wistia, then go ahead and explore their learning center: https://wistia.com/learn

It's a wealth of information! Enjoy.

To see the videos, just head over to my blog: http://www.alexafischer.com/5-easy-tips-to-make-engaging-videos/

Enjoy!

Want to know why I do what I do? Look no further! I have had a very interesting journey from television actress to video instructor extraordinaire. I love teaching. You are also welcome to feast your eyes on over 100 video blog posts at my website: alexafischer.com

Sign up for my newsletter and I will happily send you my course, Public Speaking 101 for free. Everyone deserves a present now and then... Enjoy.

Just a few words to boost your spirit. Here’s a new visualization exercise to help you stay calm + healthy. Happy to have you here… take care!

Activate your immune system and calm your mind. Close your eyes, relax your body and listen often. This guided visualization is yours to enjoy on-demand.