Words and environment impact your life. In this speech from the Toastmasters manual, The Entertaining Speaker, I outline a musical anthology of my life starting in childhood with weekly immersion in Soul Train, moving to age 11 and the purchase of Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder.
(All song links go to iTunes)
In 1979 it was Rapper's Delight by Sugar Hill Gang then in the 90's it was People's Instinctive Travels and Paths of Rhythm by A Tribe Called Quest.
In between was a lot of fun in the punk rock scene. Songs mentioned and sung in this speech: California Uberalles and Police Truck by The Dead Kennedys and New Dreams by Naked Raygun. I finished up with my theme song: Galvanize by The Chemical Brothers with Q-Tip on vocals.
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If you like music that pumps you up and makes you feel strong, get the free Songs to Galvanize Your Mind PDF.
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Use your mind to Create the Life You Want with my free hypnosis audio at icreatehabits.com
Posts Tagged ‘leadership’
I Used Punk Rock and Hip Hop Lyrics in My Toastmasters Speech
Sunday, April 11th, 2010How to Start a Movement, A Three Minute Lesson from Derek Sivers on TED
Sunday, April 4th, 2010
This three minute lesson on how to start a movement shows what happens when one "weird" person is willing to stand out from the crowd and stick to his (or her) guns despite potential ridicule. It also demonstrates the importance of embracing and encouraging your first followers. I have seen it happen many, many times. Haven't you?
Toastmaster Persuades New School Power to Stand Up
Saturday, June 13th, 2009
Today I delivered my tenth speech at Agape Toastmasters and completed the requirements for a Competent Communication award. The speech is titled, "Stand In Your New School Power and Dare to Make a Difference" (if you don't see a video above, click here to watch it on YouTube). I joined Toastmasters just over a year ago because I've always enjoyed public speaking and wanted to improve my skills and break out of my comfort zone.
I've been speaking to groups of people for about 16 years. However, most of my speaking has been somewhat informal, (i.e. leading small, intimate groups), or it's been structured but based on a cirruculm (i.e. instructing classes at Long Beach City College). Although teaching, leading and speaking have always been rewarding to me, I felt like I was holding back on presenting passionately and daring to create my own presentations.
In my past year or so at Agape Toastmasters I feel like I've really broken out of the mold I was in and this presentation in particular was one of the most exhilarating, honest and enjoyable pieces of work I've ever had the privledge of delivering to a live audience.
In my mind, this is the beginning of my speaking career and I hope to have the opportunity to deliver this presentation and others like it to groups of leaders in various locations. Specifically I would like to speak to teachers, therapists, social workers, ministers and organizations who provide service to the community. My hope is to get paid as a presenter and to have the opportunity to sell my book, From Sabotage to Success.
Over the past 16 years I've worked at numerous non-profit agencies and I've met many educated, dedicated and warm-hearted people who yearn to make a difference in the world yet seem to be confined and stifled, not to mention overwhelmed. My hope is that I can help these leaders feel strong and powerful so they can do the work they've always dreamed of. In so doing, I will be fulfilling a dream of my own: to use my skills to make a positive difference in the world for those who need it most.
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If you have a saboteur like Puleza who's stealing your power, purchase my book From Sabotage to Success and learn how to take your power back.
If you would like to book me to speak at your next event, please contact me at sherizampelli [at] gmail.com.
If you have a saboteur like Puleza who's stealing your power, purchase my book From Sabotage to Success and learn how to take your power back.
If you would like to book me to speak at your next event, please contact me at sherizampelli [at] gmail.com. Choosing Love Even When He Doesn’t
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
Lately I've had a few separate conversations with women about the man in their lives. In one way or another, each woman said something to the effect of, "why is it always me that has to change first? Why doesn't he ever have to do anything?"
I know the answer to both of those questions based on lots of experience and trial and error and I've asked these same questions to my female companions along the way. The easiest answer I can give is this: If you want to be happy and you're not, it's up to you to do something to change it. If that sounds harsh, try this: take all the emotional history out of the equation. Read each of the following words very slowly and let it sink in. Avoid the tendency to get defensive.
If-YOU-want-to-be-happy-and-you're-not-it's-up-to-YOU-to-do-something-to-change-it. This is simply a routine statement like, if you want a tuna sandwich, you'll have to do something to get it. If you want to go to the movies, you'll have to take steps to make it happen.
For some reason in relationships we want the other person to change first. If you have two stubborn, inmature people both refusing to change first, your relationship will be in a stinky stalemate for way too long (trust me, I know). Here are a few different ways to look at it.
1. Going first is cool. Being the leader can kick ass sometimes.
2. Maybe he is the one choosing love and you should follow his lead.
3. If the stuff about the law of attraction is true and Joy and Love are attracters but hate and anger are repellents, why on earth would you want to stay in hate and anger when all it does is keep you from what you want and you and only you can change it?
It took a really long time for me to get this. I guess I'll have to raise my hand for the category of stubborn and immature.
After watching the Presidential Inauguration and the We Are One concert, after hearing powerful speeches and inspiring songs about "doing your part" I figure the least I can do is love the ones I'm with. Seems pretty minute in comparison to running the country in turbulent times.


Michael Beckwith to be Honored with the 2009 Outstanding Communicator Award by Agape Toastmasters
Sunday, December 7th, 2008
Spiritual Leader Michael Beckwith, founder of Agape International Spiritual Center and featured expert on the movie The Secret will be honored by the Agape Toastmasters club on December 13th with the 2009 Outstanding Communicator Award.
Agape Toastmasters is a unique Toastmasters club whose purpose is to "foster an unconditionally loving, mutually supportive and highly inspirational environment that will empower its members to become excellent communicators and leaders ready to serve our community and the world with joy, authenticity, wisdom and integrity."
Through Michael Beckwith’s leadership Agape International Spiritual Center has become a trans-denominational movement and community of 9,000 local members and 1,000,000 friends worldwide. He is the author of many books including his most recent work “Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling your Soul’s Potential” and has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live multiple times.
"Beckwith’s vision and outstanding communication skills have contributed greatly to the expansion of consciousness on our planet” said club president Jesus Nebot. “He serves as a perfect role model to all our members and we are delighted to honor him with our first Outstanding Communicator Award”. In addition Beckwith will also receive a cash donation to support the humanitarian work of the Agape International Spiritual Center in the world.
During this annual meeting the Agape Toastmasters club will also recognize outstanding member of the year, Bruce Gordon for his great contribution to the club in many leadership positions.
This celebratory breakfast meeting is open to the general public at no charge and will be held on Saturday December 13, 2008 from 8:30-11:00 a.m. at Agape International Spiritual Center located at 5700 Buckingham Place Culver City, CA. For more information or to RSVP for the event contact Sheri Zampelli at 562-305-3434 or visit Agape Toastmasters on the web at http://agape.freetoasthost.info/
Through Michael Beckwith’s leadership Agape International Spiritual Center has become a trans-denominational movement and community of 9,000 local members and 1,000,000 friends worldwide. He is the author of many books including his most recent work “Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling your Soul’s Potential” and has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live multiple times.
"Beckwith’s vision and outstanding communication skills have contributed greatly to the expansion of consciousness on our planet” said club president Jesus Nebot. “He serves as a perfect role model to all our members and we are delighted to honor him with our first Outstanding Communicator Award”. In addition Beckwith will also receive a cash donation to support the humanitarian work of the Agape International Spiritual Center in the world.
During this annual meeting the Agape Toastmasters club will also recognize outstanding member of the year, Bruce Gordon for his great contribution to the club in many leadership positions.
This celebratory breakfast meeting is open to the general public at no charge and will be held on Saturday December 13, 2008 from 8:30-11:00 a.m. at Agape International Spiritual Center located at 5700 Buckingham Place Culver City, CA. For more information or to RSVP for the event contact Sheri Zampelli at 562-305-3434 or visit Agape Toastmasters on the web at http://agape.freetoasthost.info/
Somewhere along the line I got the message loud and clear, it's better to be cool than uncool and somehow, my concept of cool was equated with a James Dean type character - rebel without a cause. My life choices and relationships reflected this value. I thought the rebels were cool and I wanted to be like them more than I wanted to be like the "uncool" people. This had it's upside and it's downside.
On the upside, I got to be at the cutting edge with some very cool, creative, unique people. I never tried to fit in to the mainstream and as such, I sort of got to form my own identity (although I was partially influenced by the desire to be "cool" so maybe I wasn't entirely true to my own individuality).
The downside is, I did all those self-destructive things associated with the rebel, including smoking, drinking, drugs and generally disregarding the rules and defying authority whenever possible...sometimes to my own detriment.
Many years ago I quit the drugs, the drinking and the smoking and it's been a bit of an inner struggle at times. I don't feel very "cool" anymore and the part of me that doesn't want to be known as an "old 





