What's Your Instrument?

Do you play an instrument? Have you ever watched anyone play an instrument? Whether you're a musician, play for fun, or just like watching from the audience, you can appreciate how important it is for a musician to have a quality instrument to play. Top quality instruments like Stradivarius violins sell for enormous prices because of the sound they can produce when played by a great musician.

An actor's instruments are his body and his voice. Great actors take voice lessons -- not singing lessons, but lessons about how to speak clearly -- in order to enhance their ability to play different characters. They take dance and movement classes to increase their ability to move like the character they're playing would move.

What are you doing in your life to learn to speak with authority and walk with more confidence? There are several inexpensive ways to improve your skills in these areas. If you want to learn to speak better, join a local Toastmasters club. Toastmasters clubs exist to improve their members public speaking abilities. As a long time toastmaster myself I have seen countless members, including myself, improve tremendously after only a few months. Go to www.toastmasters.org to search for a club near you.

If you already are a member of a YMCA or gym, you might find that they offer yoga, dance, or other movement classes as part of their membership. Try one. You will find yourself more flexible after just one class. If you can't find a free class there, try your local community or senior center. Very often they offer similar classes.

Improve your flexibility to stand up straighter, and get the confidence to speak with more authority. Those are two steps you can take immediately to help you become a star in your own life. Keep your instrument in tune!