To My Friends and Family,

Honestly, I'm not certain which emotion I should have right now.  Today, I've had them all.  Joy, excitement, frustration, relief, gratitude, alone, popular - it's been an interesting day.

This is the 1st official day of my business/ministry - Speak Through Me Communications.

Before I go any further, allow me to thank my friends and family for their support and encouragement.  Thank you for buying my books.  Thanks for allowing me to coach you, as well.  Most of all I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Without Him, I am nothing.

The name:
The reason I chose Speak Through Me Communications is because my heart's desire is to be a cleaned out vessel, void of my own personal junk, ready, so the Holy Spirit can Speak Through Me unhindered.

Purpose:
The purpose of Speak Through Me Communications is to Educate, Communicate, and Motivate.

One request:
I would be so appreciative if you would stop by my fan page and "LIKE" me on Facebook @ Dell Self - Speak Through Me Communications.

Okay, two requests...
If you have the time, please take a look at my site.  It's totally redesigned!  Check out each page and spread the word. 

Thanks so much.

Dell

Remember to "LIKE" me on Facebook @ Dell Self - Speak Through Me Communications.

mixed with lots of crazy praise!

Any way you slice it, it was crazy good!

My life will never be the same!  If God has called you to be a speaker and you have the opportunity to attend, do it.  There's no way you'll be disappointed.  It's crazy amazing!

Take a look at some candids from the conference.

Your business card may be the first impression people have of you.  Make it a good one.

The video below will give you the tools you need to make a great first impression with a card that says you mean business.


Update May 2015:
This video was done a few years ago.  Things have changed. I haven't completely redesigned the new card, but I know a few things that will be different.

• I have already switched to a Google number (no more extension) 901.300.0453 (something I can remember that looks like a real phone number)
• What I do will be displayed more prominently (at the top where the name of the business was) - "Communications Expert"
• The name of the business is less important. I can move that towards the bottom
• My primary services are currently listed on the back of the card (will be on the new card as well) - bullet points, easy to read
• FREE offer on the back with a QR code
• When I finish the next card, I will be certain to upload it and talk about the improvements

If you like these tips, you can get more detailed How-To's on taking your business to the next level from my book, "The Speaker's Handbook on Personal Branding."   Click the STMC Store page for more information.

A poorly designed website will drive potential clients away in a hurry.  A well designed website will draw them to you. 

What does your website do?

Be certain to put your name and title/position, etc. on your website.  I've updated the website since the time of this video.  The website is now corrected.

If you like these tips, you can get more detailed How-To's on taking your business to the next level from my book, "The Speaker's Handbook on Personal Branding."   Click the STMC Store page for more information.

The smartest thing I ever did with my phone:
Set the alarm for mid-day devotions with my Lord.

We set the alarm for anything and everything else, don't we?  No longer, "Oops, I forgot." or "Is it that time, already?"

Time with God is the most important appointment I'll ever have.  Technology helps me keep that appointment.

What are you practicing?  It’s been said more times than anyone can count, “Practice makes perfect.”  If this is true, then what we practice can either make us or break us.

While eating lunch with a friend, I was asked if I always ate in that manner.  Baffled, I asked what she meant.  “Do you always eat so properly?  You’re at home, you can relax,” she answered.  Still a bit perplexed, I responded, “Yes, I always eat this way, even when I’m alone.  If I practice eating this way on a regular basis, it becomes a habit, and then a way of life.  I don’t have to think about which fork to use or anything else when in a formal setting.  It’s all ‘normal’ to me.  It’s automatic.”

So, what are you practicing in your spiritual walk?  Do you have to ‘catch’ yourself when you are with a certain group of friends to make sure those more colorful words don’t come out your mouth?  Do you have to remind yourself about the TV shows you watch or the movies you go to with one group versus another group of people?

Do you practice giving a soft answer so that when the hard questions and comments come, it is automatic for you to respond with a soft answer?  Do you practice having a quiet time with God each day, praying and reading your Bible or do you have to dust off rour Bible when company comes.  Do you practice thanking God for His goodness each day or do you stumble and stutter when asked to bless the food.

What do you practice?  What are you trying to perfect?  My goal is to live a life that is pleasing to God, a life that is Christ-centered.  Do you desire to live a life that demonstrates right living and thinking?  If so, then that’s what you should be practicing.  If you practice Godliness when you’re all alone, when you get before others, you won’t have to scramble to figure out what to do.  Simple conduct yourself the way you’ve been practicing.

What are you practicing, today?

Thursday had all the makings of a great day.  I shorted myself $65.  Additionally, I was way over budget at the grocery store.  To make matters worse, I bought two weeks’ worth of the wrong yogurt, the wrong deodorant, scented candles with VERY little scent, and a useless piece of technology - then I threw away the receipt.  Hence, these worthless items belonged to me.
I discovered I had done one absent-minded thing after another from the time I left the house.  However, at the close of the day, I came to the firm conclusion that it had been a great day and I was looking forward to either a great day or an amazing day tomorrow.

In my mind, the following elements are how we should define our days: 

• A good day is any day we awake with breath in our bodies.

• A great day is any day that we take that breath and use it to give honor to God.
  
• An amazing day is when we awake on the other side of Glory in the arms our Savior and are forever worshipping at the Throne of God in total awe and amazement.
  
  

In spite of the less-than-desirable events of the day, I can still describe it no other way than to say it was a great day.  When I came out the grocery store, shaking my head in disbelief that I was that far over budget, the thought came to me that it was time to praise God. 

As Christians, we tend to “call down all of Heaven” when we have problems and then offer the obligatory, half-hearted “Thank you” when God delivers us from the situation.  I told God I wanted to learn to praise and thank Him just as fervently as when seeking His deliverance.  I wanted to thank Him when my little world is falling apart just as much as I do when all is well. 

Time to put Operation Crazy Praise into effect. 

I sat in the car and began to thank Him. 

•  “Lord, I thank you that my going over budget doesn’t mean the mortgage won’t get paid or the utilities.” 
• “I thank you that You’ve given me a sound mind to know that I am over budget.”
• “I thank You that you gave me a husband with enough sense to know we needed to have some sort of budget.”
•  “Thank You for giving me a man with wisdom as a husband and some oversized boy.”
• “I thank You that I have the health and strength to lift my own groceries into this car.”
•  “I thank You for this car
•  “I thank You that I have a house to bring this items to.”
•  “Thank You for the refrigerator and pantry to store these items until we need them.”
• “I thank You for the hedge of protection that you have placed around me that no hurt, harm, or danger has come to me this day as I am out and about.”
•  “Lord, I thank You for watching over my family while I’m gone.”
• “I thank You for keeping my husband.”
• “I thank You that my husband has a sound mind to be able to work his job and provide for us.”
• “Laaaawd… Jeeeesus!!!  Thank Ya’…”  By this time, my head was rocking, my feet were tapping, and my hands were waving!  I had some loud-I-don’t-care-who-sees-me-crazy-praise going on in my car.

So, how’s your day going?  If you’re a believer, it should be either a good day or a great; and one day, it will be an amazing day.  Until then, have a great day.