The Issues

This week we tackle two issues:

• Avoid blocking visibility and creating hazarous conditions in your parking lot.
• Why many women need voice lessons, and what they can do about it.

What I Think

What’s the connection? None really. Except that it’s better to know sooner than later about potential problems—or things that are keeping people we care about from reaching their full potential (ourselves included)—in time to do something about them. Here’s the deal:

We have the new type of shopping center here in Clearwater: The Al Fresco Mall! Home to several standalone “anchor” stores (Lowes, Costco, Super Target, Borders), and 50 or more smaller businesses in connected buildings positioned throughout the 20-acre complex (actually, a big, old “under-roof” mall was torn down in favor of this new design). So far so good, except for some potentially hazardous landscaping decisions. Plants at each end of the many parking lot “islands”—and only at the ends–have grown so tall and wide that they’re obstructing the view of oncoming traffic for drivers negotiating the huge parking lot.

In theory, the overgrown foliage should induce drivers to slow down; in practice, it doesn’t work that way, and poor visibility results in more than a few near misses. Better for management to keep those plants trimmed or to have selected plants that grow closer to the ground. The same advice goes for homes and businesses at intersections in town, and for the same reason. A word to the wise.

Clearwater Mall management was unavailable for comment.

Ever notice how many otherwise razor-sharp women in and out of business—newscasters and commentators included–have annoyingly immature voices? You know, a lot of nasally, teenybopper tones and squeaky consonants? They need to work on that, because whatever they have to say loses its impact coming from someone who sounds 12 years old!  Men too you say? Nope, this one’s women only. Besides, any man talking like that has issues beyond the scope of this humble blog.

The first step in preventing vocal hari-kari is awareness (when in doubt, gals, ASK!). Like most things, catching this early has to be best, so an unassertive speaking voice is probably easier to correct in girls and young women. But here are some tips adults can put to the test from Dr. Sadhana Nayak, a vocal arts medicine specialist and voice performance consultant. According to Dr. Nayak, who is based in India, a nasal, shrill, weak, squeaky, high pitched or harsh voice is not something you have to live with.

Dr. Nayak: “Our approach to voice training is based on the principle that any voice which is used for performance or communication has to be first worked on at a physical level to unleash its full natural potential. We work scientifically on the vocal system [which includes the breath, body and emotions] providing techniques, exercises and philosophies, designed to cultivate the power, range, flexibility and full potential of your voice, and apply it to various styles and mediums of communication.”

Want more? Visit Dr. Nayak at http://www.drsadhananayak.com/index.htm. Or find a voice coach closer to home!

What Do You Think?

Do you have high-hazard parking lots in your town? How about right outside your front door?  And do you know women whose voices could use the type of reinforcement Dr. Kayak suggests? Are they aware of it? Shouldn’t they be?  We’d like to hear from you. Have you registered?

Bill Willard is a commercial freelance writer in Clearwater FL. A high-impact writer and editor for over 30 years, in addition to his byline pieces, Bill’s beat includes ghostwriting and editing for businesses of all types and sizes, professional practitioners and individuals. He is a www.thefreestyleentrepreneur.com Contributing Author.

Visit his Website: www.writergazette.com/WillardAssociates.shtml. Or contact him at billw15@tampabay.rr.com to sign up for his popular e-blog, Daily Grin.

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