I had the pleasure of going to Robers restaurant located in the Hunter Valley for a special event last week - http://www.robertsrestaurant.com/

When I read the menu the head chef's comment was "Our passion is on your plate''. This made me pretty excited about the meal ahead.  And it was to match.  Everything was beautifully prepared and presented.  Being a foodie, I was in heaven!

It made me reflect on the most amazing meals I can recount in my life to date.  I have a good catalogue for and the memories went back as far as I was 7 years old.  My first meal of passion on a plate was a lunch my my grandma (nani) had prepared of Indian rotis and potato and fenugreek curry - passion and love.

Every memory was related to a similar experience such as nani Roberts where a care for who ate the meal was evident and passion and love of food was combined on a plate.

My view is that when food such as this is eaten, it is more satisfying and hence a smaller amounts fills you rather than a larger amount of food not as good in taste.  This is better for our health as well.

Eat a passionate meal in the next week!

Shivani

I got to do a whole day workshop with Michael Grinder last week and here are the key learnings I had which you may want to apply for you to have more impact when talking and presenting to people and coming across as more passionate.

1. If you pause between what you have to say, you will appear more intelligent
    
2. There are many mistakes (6 common ones to be precise) people make when communicating.
   
    
3. People with low pitched voice appear more credible than high pitched ones.  For example a pilot comes across as more credible (sending voice) compared to the flight attendant (seeking voice).
    
4. Use pictures and words when presenting.  I realised that when I have powerpoint, perhaps I can use pictures as well better on my slides. Michael spoke about the right brain that loves pictures being bigger so have a bigger picture and words if you need to.
    
5. The non verbals are up to 93% of what you communicate so get that bit right.  For more information on Michael and the programs he runs, please click for his site

Become a passionate presenter!

Shivani

Today I went to a cafe today where I met my nanny and 2 children for a coffee in the middle of a busy day.  The waitress we had treated my 2 and 8 month old as if they were adults (a principle we try and have for our kids at home also) and everyone had a great experience as a result.

I could tell that this waitress - Lucy was passionate about what she did.  When I asked her for a small change in my coffee, it was no problem.  When my 2 year old daughter made a little mess, she came and cleaned it up without us having to ask and smiled at her wanting her to know it was no problem. My daughter in reply said ''Mummy, I like her''.

An experience such as this, although only a small part of my day left me questioning what made her passionate.  When staff are passionate, they create an amazing experience for the customer.  In this case, it could result in them making close to $500 from us each year.

Have you recently had a passionate waitress or a dispassionate waitress (or waiter)?

Passion Queen

Yesterday I got to meet and hear speak one of the best selling authors in the world - Stephen Lundin.  Fish which is now being used by corporations around the world is more than a book - it is a philosophy.

I got to ask Stephen a couple of questions - one was whether a book should be researched knowing its going to sell or be written from the heart not knowing its going to hit a market.  Stephen was quick to answer - he said his belief was from the heart.  He had gone to the woods to take time out a write a book.  This book (which became Fish) was something he had to get written out before he could start on his other book so he got it out of his system!

The basic philosophies of Fish (which is a must read) made me reflect that the part of the 4 philosophies that I am not currently doing is Play at work.  This means like the world famous fish markets the book is based on, have more fun playing at work and not being so serious.  That I can also go back to principles 101 for getting back in what I am passionate about in my business.

As a result, I am going to do a 1 month trial at work by not reading my emails as the first thing I do and making it the last.  I am going to have a laugh at work more often, dress a little differently and have more fun!  As my business has got so busy in the last 2 years, I have been taking my work seriously - a bit too much.

If you have read Fish, have you made any changes in your life as a result?  Have you got more passionate about something as a result?

The Passion Chic