Rules of the Game Read Online Free PDF

down every pauser you say, then read them out loud (unless the sheet is blank, in which case you should apply for work as a newscaster immediately). Repeat them until they’re imprinted in your mind so that you’ll be conscious of them during future conversations. From now on, slow down and consciously choose each word when speaking.
    The secret to eliminating pausers—and to breaking most other bad habits—is to become self-correcting. In other words, listen to yourself when you speak. If you notice a brain fart, stop, correct yourself, and repeat the sentence without the pauser. It may also help to carry your list of pausers with you, as a reminder to monitor your speech for these small signifiers of insecurity.
    PROBLEM: Monotone Voice
    SOLUTION: If you drone like an old geography teacher when you speak; if your friends close their eyes when you tell a story; if your colleagues tune out halfway through your presentations, you just may have a monotone voice.
    Here’s an excerpt from a children’s short story. Read it out loud into your audio recorder now:
    Leopold Elfin had a problem: His nose whistled. He couldn’t help it. Every time he breathed through his nose, out came a note. Not the quiet hiss that occasionally issues from the hoary nostrils of men three times his age, but a loud, shrill shriek like a crossing guard blowing for traffic to stop. Leopold was well aware of this problem, but he’d never been to see a doctor, figuring it was more a matter of anatomy than medicine. Maybe it was his pinched septum, his narrow oval nostrils, or the crook at the bridge of his nose that was responsible for his one social impropriety .
    Now play back the recording. If possible, listen to it with a friend or family member to get a more objective opinion.
    Do you have a dynamic storytelling voice, the kind that sucks listeners into the world you’re describing? Or do you have a monotone voice, the kind that listeners tend to tune out?
    If it’s the latter, then turn on the television. Find a male host, comedian, or other broadcaster with a dynamic voice that you like. Listen to him speak. Pay attention to every detail and nuance that make his voice compelling. Notice how he is present in the material, how his voice rings with energy, warmth, and immediacy.
    Next, try repeating what he says, using exactly his words, tone, and style.
    When you feel you’re able to convey a few of his engaging qualities, go back to the story excerpt. Read it again into the recorder, using the techniques you just learned. Experiment with changing the volume, pitch, speed, timbre, rhythm, and flow of your voice as you read. Try emphasizing different words; creating pauses where they don’t normally belong; shortening or elongating words; and speaking in different voices and accents. Read the excerpt several times, and don’t be afraid to get silly if it helps you break through your limitations.
    When you’re finished, read the paragraph once more. This time, imagine you’re recording a book on tape for children. Compare this new version to your original version—and discover the great storyteller lurking inside you.
    PROBLEM: Statements that Sound like Questions
    SOLUTION: Sit down, pull out your trusty recorder, and place it in front of you.
    For your final vocal exercise, imagine that the audio recorder is your friend. And this friend of yours doesn’t like fish. Your goal is to convince him to try sushi with you tonight.
    When you’re finished, play back the recording. Listen carefully. Does your voice rise in pitch at the end of any declarative sentences?
    If it does, you’ll notice that your statements sound like questions. And that makes you seem unsure of yourself.
    Persuasive speakers end their sentences—and their argument—conclusively.
    If your statements end in a higher pitch than they started, record the same speech again. This time, be firm. Instead of