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Government Executives speak about Jeff Davidson's programs on
Breathing SpaceŽ: Living and Working
at a Comfortable Pace in a Sped-Up Society
Thank you so much for the forum on Breathing Space! You have inspired
me! I created more space by cleaning out my glove compartment that same
day, 20% of one filing cabinet the next, and I left my office on Friday
with no paper clutter on my desk! As I entered my clutter free office
on Monday morning, I felt I had taken the first step on the path to
recovery from packratism! Thanks!
Margie DeWoskin, Director Employment and Training
Triangle J Council of Governments, Research Triangle Park, NC
"Excellent!" "Fantastic!" "Best SGMP meeting yet!" These are just a
few of the comments from the meeting planners and suppliers who attended
your presentation at the July Society of Government Meeting Planners
meeting. Scheduling a speaker is often a hit or miss affair; in your
case, it was a big hit. We were all impressed with your speaking style
and the substance of your speech.
The best compliment that can be paid to a speaker is to act on his
advice, and I can tell you that several SGMP members began implementing
your ideas within days after your speech. Again, "Kudos" for a very
successful presentation. In closing, I'll share a comment from one of
the SGMP members, "Mr. Davidson was by far the most effective speaker
I've ever heard!"
Beverly D. Wilson, Sales Manager
Pinehurst Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Southern Pines, NC
Thank you for presenting an excellent seminar on Friday to the Women in
Government Relations. Feedback was uniformly positive, with many
attendees expressing the desire for another presentation along the same
theme. We are very appreciative of your fine program.
Patricia Aiken-O'Neill, Co-Chair, Professional Development Committee
Women in Government Relations, McLean, VA
Thank you for mailing copies of the evaluation sheets from our "Handling
the Information Overload" seminar. Response from our end--especially
the Board members who attended--has been very positive. Chairman-elect
Diana Seas sometimes relates to me about her office situation --"I did
this...just like Jeff told us!" Thank you for providing the most
informative and exciting seminar our Chamber has ever had.
Marcy Fryday, SW Houston Chamber of Commerce, Bellaire, TX
I enjoyed your presentation very much, and it provided me with an
opportunity to look at how I deal with many things in my life, both work
related and personal.
I believe the knowledge I acquired will help me in the future.
Joseph A. Ciaramitaro, Chief, EP/EO Division, IRS Central Region,
Cincinnati, OH
Thank you for bringing to my attention the Mega-Realities of our times
and the dilemmas of information and choice. Your seminar and your book
on "Breathing Space" have certainly helped me to refocus on how best to
use my time to accomplish real priorities on the job and in my personal
life, to discard clutter and to face the reality of closure. I
recommend them both as a survival kit for work and beyond. In fact, I
have given a copy of your book to my son, who is an electrical engineer
and a manager, with the hope that it will give him some pointers on
coping with the information glut.
Again, please accept my thanks for sharing your thoughts,
observations and approaches.
Vito Gualario, Assistant Area Director, U.S. Customs Service, New York,
NY
I really enjoyed the workshop. You have a very energizing and enjoyable
presentation style. You are articulate, able to remember tons of facts,
and most of all, seem to walk your talk. You did your homework to know
all about the OCC.
Thanks again for your inspiring presentation. It was a positive
experience for me and a great shot in the arm!
Andrea Goodman, EOE Manager, Administrator of National Banks, San
Francisco, CA
It is with great enthusiasm that I write this letter of confirmation
regarding seven programs to be conducted for the Treasury Executive
Institute at our field locations. Through speakers like yourself who
are willing to give to others, the government can be exposed to some of
the new and current issues of motivation, management and leadership.
Danity M. Little, Executive Programs, Treasury Executive Institute,
Washington, DC
I found your "Living and Working at a Comfortable Pace in a Sped-Up
Society" presentation to be very practical and informative. I was
especially pleased to find that it included many useful tips that I was
able to put into practice my first day back on the job.
Craig W. Hackett, Director, Applications Development Division
Comptroller of the Currency, Washington, DC
I found yesterday's workshop enjoyable and a useful reminder of our
power over our lives. I particularly appreciated the reinforcement of
the idea of self-talk about being "complete" or, as I say, "letting go"
of things that are over.
Bonnie Y. Holloway, Training Director, Office of Thrift Supervision,
San Francisco, CA
My wife, Cherie Wells, with the Food and Drug Administration, attended
your lecture at Rockville. She loved it and asked for your book for
Christmas.
Tim Wells, Poolesville, MD
Following an extremely well received presentation he made for TEI in
Washington, we decided to take him "on the road" in 1993, going to
Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, and San Francisco.
Below are comments from participants:
"A subject all busy executives need presented by a high-energy and
effective speaker."
"Good topic, new concepts, practical approach, good examples."
"Excellent presentation -- well organized, knowledgeable,
thought-provoking."
"Good topics, fresh ideas, excellent speaker."
"Great pragmatic advice, stimulating concepts and insights."
"Fresh innovative approach with an emphasis on accuracy. An
effective presenter who held our attention!"
U.S. Treasury
Executive Institute, Annual Report, Washington, DC
Thank you for courageously completing your excellent presentation for
our group; our staff is a tough group. Many individuals commented to me
that they really enjoyed the training and took many good ideas away with
them.
...It is becoming more clear that I need to act now to make my
environment better fit my nature. I appreciate you carrying this
important message to me. I really liked your presentation and your
presence. Your insights related closely to my own personal
experiences. Thank you for sharing them. Thanks again for your energy
and enthusiasm.
Sally Klein, Program Officer, IRS Internal Security Group, Silver
Springs, MD
In my profession, I find myself extremely preoccupied with work
twenty-four hours a day. I knew that I was losing my "time" and had
made some changes in my life to correct that problem. Your presentation
gave me more incentive to continue in that direction. In addition, you
managed to give me more options/avenues to help me grow as a person,
both spiritually and emotionally.
Judy Cavazos Reyes, Investigator, Internal Revenue Service, Washington,
DC
Thoroughly enjoyed your TEI session on Breathing Space. Clean sweep;
has been done at home in both garage and house. Next step is my desk
and credenza. Both will be completed by Thanksgiving.
Frances Hallihan, Chief, Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations
Division,Internal Revenue Service, Atlanta, GA
The information you shared at your recent lecture in Cincinnati has
helped me with a perspective on the lack of breathing space I begin to
feel each year around the holidays. I've shared the concepts garnered
from your lecture with many acquaintances. Today, my mother has been
skimming Breathing Space and has found some familiar concerns and
helpful hints.
I enjoyed the day spent with you and profited in ways not yet fully
employed from your suggestions. Thanks, and best wishes to you.
Charles L. Nickels, Special Assistant to the Regional Commissioner
IRS Central Region, Cincinnati, OH
I have carried your Breathing Space thoughts with me since the seminar.
While I am not yet as organized as I'd like to be, I am doing a much
better job of "closing things up" at the end of the day. The end result
has been less confusion at the start-up of the next workday. I'm also
holding onto fewer pieces of paper than in the past. Your presentation
was excellent.
Theresa Hoog, Public Health Service, Dept. of Health & Human Services,
Rockville, MD
What a pleasure it was to have you speak to our group! I must say that
you touched on several items that are issues in my life, and you have
forced me to make a few choices that I was trying to ignore. Thanks to
you, I can make those choices and keep a positive attitude at the same
time.
In addition, your organizational skills are a great tip for other
people. As soon as I return home, I will take the extra time to tackle
those things that I've been neglecting in order to have a more effective
household. With a ten-month old child, there is hardly any time to
organize a household. You were an inspiration to many who may not take
the time to confer with you.
Yvonne Faulk, Secretary, Training Section, IRS Internal Security,
Glynco, GA
I really enjoyed your presentation on "Breathing Space," and I share
many of your ideas. I've told a number of people in my office about
your presentation as well as my husband. I had already begun cleaning
out my office (and my home) before your presentation, but you gave me
the motivation to do even more.
As Director for Administration with responsibility for our training
program, I am interested in receiving information about your speaking
fees. We hold quarterly management meetings, and I believe our managers
could benefit from a presentation similar to the one I attended.
Jane P. Seleznow, Director for Administration, Comptroller of the
Currency
San Francisco, CA
I am writing to express my sincere thanks to you for sharing such timely
information on "How To Find Breathing Space." As you know, the IRS is
currently experiencing the trauma that comes with reorganization,
downsizing and redefining roles and responsibilities. Managers are
faced with numerous requests for input, choices and other decision
making processes.
The information and dialogue we exchanged during your workshop
definitely provided an opportunity for us to refocus on an individual
basis, as well as on a corporate basis, the untapped choices we are
empowered to make regarding the people in our organization, the type of
information we disseminate, the amount of paper documents we still have
in a supposedly paperless society, and the impact the media has on the
decisions we make. I left the workshop motivated and re-energized. I
admire your energy and your enthusiasm and believe it will have a
permanent impact on decisions and choices I will make in the future.
Roberta T. Bolton, Regional Quality Manager, IRS, Cincinnati, OH
Fantastic presentation to the HCAT members today! I've experienced many
sessions of this general type, but yours was truly unique. You covered
a surprising variety of issues with ease and made them relavent. The
day was most weel spent for me.
Thanks for a great session! You've helped me set some goals which
will bear fruit soon, especially in the writing arena.
Captain Charles Anderson, Department of the Navy, Officer in Charge
Naval School of Health Sciences, Portsmouth VA
(Fax, two weeks later:) Again, a superb talk which has has already made
a positive difference!
I would like to order your book, "Breathing Space." I heard your talk
at the Parklawn Building and enjoyed it very much.
Rosalind Franke, Office of International Health, Department of Health
and Human Services, Rockville, MD
I appreciated your lecture on Breathing Space at the Parklawn Building
last December. Since then, I have found it to be useful in many ways.
I keep your card on breathing space principles on my dresser top. The
principles about choosing breathing space, limiting intake, conditioning
your environment, and not being overglutted are helpful reminders.
Several helpful things have ensued as I pursue this process of creating
breathing space. First, I accept that there are more people,
information, and choices. So, I accept that there are going to be
crowds on the beltway. Or I don't even try to read everything, if I
choose not to or do not have the time. Ironically, by doing less, I am
accomplishing more by working smarter, not harder. This breathing space
is actually productive, in the same way that sleep or thinking and
planning time are. That is, they are restorative and rejuvenative.
Stuart Weiss, Program Manager, NIH, Rockville, MD
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