Peter Urs Bender died in 2005 after he lost his battle with cancer. During his lifetime, he became one of North America’s top speakers and wrote five famous books. (Guffey, Rhodes, Rogin, n.d.)These included Secrets of Power Presentations, Leadership from Within, Secrets of Power Marketing, Secrets of Face-to-Face Communication and Gutfeeling. 

      So what is Peter’s legacy? ““… to everything there is a system. If you learn the system, even a mediocre person can be successful.”” (Guffey, Rhodes, Rogin, n.d., p. 485) His work continues to leave a positive footprint on those who have listened to him speak and on those who have used his system to deliver their own presentations. Peter’s message: plan what you want to say carefully, say it in a way that relates to the audience, and practise it over and over again until you are confident on how to deliver it.  (Guffey, Rhodes, Rogin, n.d.)

Peter has inspired me because I too have a learning disability like many people in the world, and I do need to overcome my fear of public speaking as well. I know it isn’t easy, but this great man took opportunities in his life to learn more about himself and how he could improve his communication skills, even though it was difficult for him because of his dyslexia.  If Peter had not taken the Dale Carnegie course, joined a speakers’ club, or became a university professor, he probably wouldn’t have become the man he was. (Guffey, Rhodes, Rogin, n.d.)   It is amazing and uplifting for me to hear about someone like this who triumphed as a leader and a teacher. I know it is difficult, but if we take Peter’s advice and put a system in place, we too can take better control of our lives, and achieve great success.   Come on, isn’t it worth a try? What do you have to lose? I’m going to try it. What’s stopping you?

Picture Source: http://www.screwlife.com/2011/05/09/the-difference-between-a-successful-person-the-others/

References:

Guffey, M., Rhodes, K., Rogin, P. (2011). Business Communication: Process and Product. (Canadian 6th ed.)  Toronto, ON: Nelson. Chapter 14.

Moore, S. (n.d.). Peter Urs Bender: Biography of a self-taught leader. Retrieved from http://www.peterursbender.com/fullbio.html