“Like college, you’ve taught me how to think, and given me the vocabulary to evaluate myself and other speakers. I’m now more effective and have taken my speaking to a new level.”
Dennis A. Tito
CEO Wilshire Associates
1st Civilian Space Tourist
“All the techniques worked great… What set it apart, however, is the conference organizer and a few others said my keynote was the best of the entire conference! This was a real honor.
Now I know I can do bigger-time keynotes, and greatly improve my usual run-of-the-mill presentations. Our time together was invaluable to making this happen!”
Brian Underhill
Founder and CEO
CoachSource
“I have always been comfortable with my public communication ability. But, I wanted to be great; not just good. Eloqui taught me to stretch my boundaries, use my talents more completely and not be a talking head. The results were immediate and clear. What was once a strength is now a talent.”
Don St. Clair
Vice President
Woodbury University
“So there I was at Deborah and David’s. I couldn’t resist telling the ‘doctors’ what was ailing me. They gave me a great prescription for a very difficult meeting I was facing the next day. They advised me to be authentic and vulnerable and admit my errors of leadership. Their advice was well taken, the meeting went well and I received many positive comments about how it was handled.”
Beverly Kaye
Founder/CEO
Career Systems International
“I just returned from my Rotary presentation and my greatest critic, my wife said it went very well… There were about 100 people; they gave me a standing ovation… The best part is they donated a wheelchair to someone in our community that needs one–in my name!”
OR/
“… what I have learned from both of you is how to structure a speech; how to read, understand and command an audience; and how to establish a speaking presence. After your ‘Power of Five’ training I find myself much more relaxed and confident than ever before.”
David Yudovin
International Hall of Fame Channel Swimmer
“Just gave the talk at Hawaii Tax Institute. 50-60 attendees. Was HUGELY successful. Well, at least it was very well received…But this was the last day of a 4 day conference, so you know people are dragging. I was in quite a few of the other presentations, and I can safely say that the response to mine was as good or better than any other I saw. Plus I had a 100% stay-awake ratio! Thanks SO much.”
Glen Janken, CFP – CLU
Estate and Financial Planning
“I enjoy public speaking and have worked up to a point where I needed professional coaching to sharpen my skills. I chose Eloqui’s Power of Five as my next step. Deborah and David provided an amazing coaching experience and an opportunity to test myself in a controlled environment. We established my strengths and weaknesses and what was important to accomplish. They focused their considerable experience on my issues, and we anatomized them one by one.
Each two hour segment honed in on specific skill sets. We would practice these, and then reflect on what was and was not working. What I enjoyed most was their intense passion for public speaking and willingness to engage that passion within me. This program is a winner.”
Ernie Gilbert
President
Safer Systems
“My wife has always been my toughest public speaking critic, and I was a little upset when her Fathers’ Day gift to me was Eloqui’s Power of Five.
Amazingly, I enjoyed this experience from beginning to end. I quickly realized I needed a total overhaul in my approach to presenting. Deborah and David always encouraged me by education and example. They are the perfect mentors for anyone interested in improving his/her skills.
The final exam occurred when my wife observed one of my presentations. She was so impressed that now she wants her own lessons. My new skills have empowered me to deal with a variety of situations, from public presentations to business meetings to media encounters. I now know how to tell my story. They’ve taught me to speak with ease and to have fun doing it. This is The Power of Five.”
Richard G. Just, M.D.
Managing Partner
San Diego Pacific Oncology and Hematology Assoc, Inc.
Director of Clinical Research, Premiere Oncology of San Diego
“The presentation went wonderfully. Thank you for all of your wisdom and training. I studied the handouts on PowerPoint and used them as a tool to accentuate and highlight my talk. The audience loved the slides… Then going to black with me on stage was perfect.
The energy in the room was electric, I maintained eye contact, engaged the audience and all I saw was a sea of smiles. Great feedback…”
Diana Crudeli
D Crudeli & Associates
“Thanks to you, I am now on the speaking circuit and really enjoying getting up in front of crowds and talking about a subject that is near and dear to my heart. Before meeting with you, I had such a fear of public speaking. You guys are terrific!”
Samantha Parent
Author of “Torn”
“I just wanted to let you know that the skills Eloqui helped me to develop and refine are still serving me well years later.”
Caryn Siebert
CEO
Carl Warren and Company
“Good thing we worked on my speaking on Tuesday. I gave a speech tonight at the San Fernando Valley Business awarded—which was unexpected when I won the Business Executive of the Year. (You would think they would give you advance notice to speak)
I felt good about the presentation. It was a very long walk to the podium. It seemed as though it took forever for me to get to the mike. Loved working with you and given 10 more times to stand up in front of 200 people, it will be perfect.”
Sheryl Mazirow
President
Mazirow Commercial
“I used so much of what you taught me today. My talk went very well, and I got lots of positive feedback. I felt comfortable and spoke with enthusiasm and good body language. I told the Power of the Pedal, and the Blink stories, and both were well received. I cannot thank you enough for all of your help and support. You are so good at what you do, and helped me develop much better speaking skills.”
Sondra Goldstein
Clinical Psychologist
“I did a presentation this morning on harassment issues. I worked hard on my opening and opened with my story, instead of random filler statements. I had the room’s attention from the get-go, and got a laugh. It was more effective than any other program I’ve started.
I still need to work on my anecdotes (turning my usual case stories into what I did for the client with use of my action verbs) and a better closing, but in the meantime…at the end of the program, an audience member asked me to come into his workplace and train the rest of his staff. Woo hoo!!! Now THAT’s value added.”
Karen Gabler
Employment Attorney
Light Gabler
“The services David and Deborah provide are critical for anyone who earns a living by communicating their ideas. Working on my elevator speech for just one hour nearly doubled the volume of my referrals!
I sat with them in 2005 and I can still hear Deborah’s voice as I work on my presentations and elevator speeches. She made clear the importance of using empowering, action-oriented language – the phrase “I help my clients to grow” was quickly replaced with “My clients annual growth rate is 25-200% greater than last year, and their quality of life is dramatically increased.”
Jeff Hayes
Principal, The Vector Group
“As a forensic consultant, educator and synagogue president, my career depends greatly upon my ability to communicate effectively in court, at professional conferences and seminars. Deborah Shames and David Booth of Eloqui have enabled me to take my presentations from merely excellent to beyond incredible. They clearly provide the magical ingredient.”
Michael G. Kaplan, CPA, CVA, CFFA
Kaplan Abraham Burkert & Company
“Thanks to Deborah and David…. you two are the greatest! I will always be glad to give testimonials on how your customized training helped me to grow my business through “speaking”. As a former banker, I know firsthand the value of your services for the banking community and your names are on the top of my list for referrals.”
Kay Barzon
DMR Business Solutions, Inc.
“I do a lot of networking. At these meetings people give their elevator speech introduction—the one to which nobody listens or pays attention. Using the Eloqui method, I got a standing ovation. Three people I didn’t know buttonholed me after the meeting and made appointments with me to discuss their insurance. Now that’s results.”
Mike Altman
Partner
SAK Financial
“Thanks – my conference was phenomenal. I spoke at 4 sessions. I had a set of “groopies” that followed me to the other 3 after the first one, so I guess I was good.”
Andrea Gallagher
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®
Rethinking Your Future™
“At my last ProVisor meeting, instead of getting up and telling everyone that I am a CPA that does business management, I told the group a story about a client problem and how I solved it. After the end of the meeting a couple of the members approached me to tell me that my elevator speech was “night and day” and “1,000%” better than how I spoke about my work in the past. Another member said that she has a potential client for me.
Thank you very much for giving me the tools to describe my business in a more interesting and memorable manner. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Mark Pariser
CPA
Dunn, Green and Pariser
“I want to thank you again for all the guidance you’ve provided me through Eloqui training. It has had very positive results. I spoke to approximately 200 people on March 24, 2011, as the keynote speaker at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Centennial Vigil.
I spoke for about 20 minutes at a podium without any visual aids.
The organizers had place a card at each place setting with the name and age of one of the 146 fire victims. You will be proud to know that because of your training, I elicited tears from my audience during some of the more moving passages of my speech and the rousing ending of the speech earned me a standing ovation. The speech was a collaborative effort, but the delivery was all Eloqui.”
Terrie S. Norris, CSP, ARM, CPSI
Manager, Risk Control Services
Bickmore Risk Services
“The skills I developed working with you are serving me extremely well! Our tradeshow was phenomenal and I received accolades from all corners. Our team loved your book and concepts, I gave them out and there were requests from other departments. I had wished I had ordered more. You really helped make this tradeshow mine. Thanks so much.
Luciana Perri
Solutions Consultant Supervisor
ADP
“Once again, the two of you have reinforced my belief that you are the greatest. As you know, I was concerned that reading a prepared statement to a legislative subcommittee about our Risk Management Audit findings would be boring. Following your advice, I outlined the script in my own words, putting that information into margin notes, read through the text– putting the emphasis on the wrong words so it would be fresh when I read it correctly, and I practiced with the mental model that what I had to say was important. I even rehearsed making eye contact.
It worked. The margin notes were especially helpful when they asked that we speed things along with a quick summary. When I finished the Committee Chair responded with “Wow…” Wow works for me!
Chuck Gray
Bickmore Risk Services
“My Eloqui training provided the framework and confidence to tell my story in a way that engaged the audience and allowed me to connect on a personal level. But I didn’t expect that my hours of preparation would lead to being voted the 2nd best presentation of the entire conference.”
Jonathan Fitzgarrald
Director of Marketing
Greenberg Glusker Law Firm
“Can I just tell you how HIGH my son was last night. To quote: Mom, that was literally the best experience I have ever had. They blew us away. The group was so pumped after we left. Thank you Soooooooo much! I am going to recommend that MTV hire them! They are unbelievable.
L-I-P-P-I-T- – B-I-P-I-T-Y!
ah….. does my heart good! (Pray for them…) xo you amaze and I am so grateful for you both! Thank you a thousand times over.
Amy K. Commans
General Manager
Westlake Village Inn
“Well, I didn’t throw up, but I was close. Actually, the speaking itself was fun. I spoke clearly and not too fast. People told me it was really good and that they really liked it. One guy asked me to speak on a panel with him. One guy emailed me later and said ‘Good job Caren. You really weave in stories well…’ That’s cuz I had my 3 buckets. Meeting with you two was really helpful. THANK YOU.”
Caren Nielsen
Estate Planning and Elder Care Attorney
“My entire perspective on professional business presentations and public speaking has changed after working with Deborah and David, the Principals of Eloqui. Colleagues questioned why I enrolled in Eloqui’s Power of Five program, since I’m a veteran radio host, TV commentator and had my share of keynote speeches and master of ceremony appearances.
The answer is that I have improved significantly in my focus, stage presentation, movement and ability to identify my audience– whether it’s extremely large or a one-on-one conversation.
Before working with Eloqui, I found myself exhausted after producing and moderating a panel about social networking. Through Deborah and David, I learned that I wore too many hats.
What I didn’t expect was that Deborah and David are both extremely connected and provide the added value of business coaching. They are adamant about ensuring that all of their clients succeed.”
Cindy Rakowitz
BR Public Relations
“My biggest observation/application since my session is your comment to trust my instincts. I’ve really started to notice how often I second guess myself. And how persuasive I become when I move out of my own way.
There is also the power of choosing a role and reading my audience, using the 4 personality types. Both have tremendously simplified my approach and given me confidence that even if I haven’t prepared to speak to someone, when the time comes, I will know how to show up and what to say.”
Julie Maloney
Executive Coach and Leadership Trainer
“Zillions of thanks for the help with the presentation I did at Cal State San Bernardino Friday. Turned out there were 230 people at the lunch – biggest group I’ve spoken to. The exercises worked very well – got everyone talking.
One man told me that I really reached people – that they were eating but paying attention. Nice compliment. The organizers were happy because many people signed up for their mentorship program and he thought my talk made that happen (that was my call to action at the end!)”
Lanie Denslow
World Wise Intercultural Training & Resources
Author of World Wise
“The lunch itself went very well… Specifically, I noticed that while people have often had to ask me to repeat something I said (because I was likely speaking too fast), that did not happen once during any of my interactions. I felt a lot more confident and prepared going into my meeting, and I actually enjoyed myself. The Managing Director also made a comment that he liked my attitude, which I am sure is in large part reflective of the application of your principles.”
Zachary Friedman
Recent college graduate and job seeker
“I recently joined a networking group; similar to the Chamber of Commerce. I volunteered at the meeting to do what they call a craft talk-5 minutes, to tell about what you do and your personal life. I used the Eloqui OSB/client story format and after the meeting several people came up to me and told me they enjoyed the stories. Thank you.”
Douglas K. Schreiber, Esq.
Anker, Reed, Hymes, Schreiber & Cohen
“THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! I killed today.”
Marc Hankin, IP Attorney
Hankin Patent Law
“I enjoyed meeting you and David and found you both very warm and easy to work with. I felt fortunate enough to have found your book (Own the Room) through the maze of others in the first place, but to then be coached by the authors is over the top. Only in a country like ours can businesses be built from scratch and opportunities flourish from a vision. I feel that we now have the tools to bring forth a bullet proof presentation.”
Robert Paul Curtis
CEO, Jungle Tech Group Inc.
“There is still more work I need to do on my presentations but I have already seen the benefits. I am so grateful that you have been so gracious to provide us with your two-on-two personal coaching. The skills you shared have already made a huge difference. Renee and I work together to encourage each other to grow and expand.”
Joanne S. Van Kampen
Owner, JVC Consultants
“I just want to thank you so much for your amazing help with my Keynote Speech. I had done some public speaking, but not for 45 minutes in front of over 200 people. You both helped me in all aspects of my speech. I was so prepared after you worked with me and took me out of my comfort zone, and helped me know in advance what my weak and strong points were. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with you both again, or refer anyone to also work with both of you!”
Steve M. Brooks, CIC,CPIA
President, B & B Premier Insurance Solutions Inc.
“I reviewed my DVD the same day it arrived in the mail. It was really fun watching it, and it also helped me remember specific portions of the training.
The most poignant moment for me came during my last session when following my 5-minute presentation you asked me to repeat it without using my notes. I could physically feel that the presentation was better when I used my own thoughts, words, and energy, as opposed to the well-prepared talk I had planned. It was a great ending to great training.”
Kathy Fitzgarrald
Graduate of the Eloqui Power of Five program
Retired Executive at General Motors
“I’m back from Bahrain. Everything worked just as you predicted. The connection was incredible. So many men came up to me to tell me that they liked my unusual style of presenting. My host was incredibly pleased…You can probably appreciate the large chance he took in putting me first. In the entire 4 day conference only one other woman spoke.
We could not have predicted that in Saudi Arabia people do not admit humble beginnings. Telling the story of my mother and my rise from poverty was considered a bomb shell of the positive variety… So many people thanked me for it that I feel I made a small difference in people’s lives at least for a while. You gave me the support I needed to discover my voice. I am ever so grateful!
Rosa Carrillo
Cross-Cultural Organization and Leadership Development
Carrillo & Associates
“I just got back from Korea yesterday. My presentation to the President of Samsung Telecommunications went brilliantly, if I do say so myself… Because I told myself beforehand that it was ok to be nervous, I ended up not being nervous at all. In fact, I was really enjoying myself. I was able to interact personally with Mr. Lee as I demonstrated each of our prototype cell phones. The best part is that they agreed to do a deal with us! So, I guess that was the most successful sales presentation of my life! Thanks again, Deb and David, for being my coaches.”
Portia LaTouche
Business Development Consultant
Dyna Corp.
“Some things get better with time and effort. Like my presentations for one, and my confidence for another. Then, there is my appreciation and respect for Deb Shames and David Booth without whom life would be less profitable and certainly my speaking more boring.
…My recent featured speaking engagement at the E Marketing Convention in San Francisco could not have happened without Eloqui and what they have taught me.
If you are thinking of making that pitch, or giving that all important public presentation, pick up the phone now and call Eloqui. There’s no one better to have alongside, whispering in your ear as the listeners are blown away by what you have to say.”
Cheryl Hodgson
Attorney
Hodgson Law Group
“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights. Muhammad Ali understood that there is no substitute for preparation; I learned it firsthand recently when asked to speak at an international convention of legal marketers.
My Eloqui training provided me with the framework and confidence necessary to tell my story in a way that engaged the audience and allowed me to connect on a personal level. What I didn’t expect was that my hours of preparation would lead to being voted the second best presentation of the entire conference.”
Jonathan Fitzgarrald
Director of Marketing
Greenberg Glusker Law Firm
“I can’t thank you enough for your excellent coaching last week. I presented my show to our CEO and two other key, influential EVPs. All went exceptionally well. The Dusty Baker/GC store manager analogy worked well. Additionally, the three key points (not your lingo) was valuable. I felt incredibly confident and recognized that my speaking was smooth and well paced…but I wasn’t thinking about it during the shows.
The show prompted our CEO to request me to make a 60 to 120 minute tactical presentation to a group of execs in two weeks.”
Nick Shauer
VP Human Resources
Guitar Center, Inc
“It was February 14th, 2005, Stan and I were working with a group of colleagues preparing as panelists for a seminar. One of the colleagues suggested we all retain Deborah Shames and David Booth to help us; as they are well known in the LA Community and always receive rave reviews from their clients. I remember thinking, “What are they kidding? Dr. Stan Stahl was a professor for over 15 years, he is a national and international speaker and author. And me? I had been training computer classes since the mid 80’s and giving presentations at seminars, industry conferences, and client retreats throughout my career. Clearly, we didn’t need any direction on how to present or participate in a panel!”
I later came to discover we missed a wonderful and valuable opportunity!
Then, in December 2005, Stan and I were looking for a “new look and feel” for Citadel and we had been hearing positive comments about a company named Eloqui. Lo and behold, we crossed paths a second time with Deborah and David. This time we acted on the opportunity. At our request, they spent 20 minutes with us to discuss our needs and in those 20 minutes provided us with several valuable tips. So, we retained Deborah and David and after the first 2 hour meeting, I remember saying “Why didn’t we retain them earlier?!”
Not only was it a very different experience (we were videotaped at the first meeting and it was awful), they provided Stan and I with a variety of different perspectives on presentations, including how to present together instead of separately; which is what we had been doing for years.
The training focused on body language, voice inflections, stage positions, as well as the use of props to engage the audience and how to tell the best stories. But most of all, the lesson for me was to remember to “say it, like you feel it”. I am very passionate about my industry and Deborah and David taught me how to “strategically and constructively” share that energy with the audience. To get the audience engulfed in my story, put themselves in my story and get them to act.
I am psyched about the new insight, tips and techniques Eloqui has taught me. I will continue to polish these new skills to help me increase sales, communicate more effectively with my clients, business colleagues, family and friends and tell better stories throughout my life.”
Kimberly Pease, CISSP
Citadel Information Group
“As a forensic consultant, educator and synagogue president, my career depends greatly upon my ability to communicate effectively in court, at professional conferences and seminars. Deborah Shames and David Booth of Eloqui have enabled me to take the impact of my presentations from merely excellent to beyond incredible. They clearly provide the magical ingredient.”
Michael G. Kaplan, CPA, CVA, CFFA
Kaplan Abraham Burkert & Company
“The talk went fantastic – I had several people approach me afterwards and stated it was the best speech of the week. During my first session with you Deborah mentioned the difference between an educational versus a persuasion speech. This was a real “ah ha” form me. It was great to have some of those who heard my speech ask for more information from me on regarding the topic I spoke on.”
Tom Mauss
President
Louis and Company