*Goals Magic System* FREE GIFT Home Marketing for Coaches and Consultants Resources Wealth Coach Relationships Write a Book Bus Networking Alicia Fortinberry Anca Ramsden Charmaine Saunders Dale Beaumont David Wood Evelyn Lundström Francesco Gilio Hans Jakobi Jeff Bean Jenny Cartwright Julie Marie Zaoui Leigh St John Lorraine Pirihi Loran Able Mandi Rafsendjani Margaret Munoz Nicola Cairncross Patsy Rowe Peta Heskell Rick Otton Rod Moore Sandra Quiggin Silvia Wright-Davies Wendy Buckingham 10 Super Coaches How to Write a Book	Listening for Success (or The Untied Tongue) (c) Sonya Maybury 2007 - Sydney The sign read ‘Waters Lane Café’ but most knew it simply as ‘Dieter’s’. The charm was well disguised and like escargot and passion fruit yogurt was an optionally acquired taste. Décor it had not. There was a slightly interesting collection of different styles of furniture commencing circa 1953. One group of tables matched each other as did their chairs, from a different collection. A leaning tower of once glossy magazines sat tiredly waiting for company in an open cubby hole. One could not sit nor stand at what was planned to be a bar so it assumed the role of ordering and bill settlement area. Were Dieter to generate a logo it would be a folded coaster for they were much in evidence, haplessly attempting to steady the circa ’53 rocking tables on a wooden floor that could be kindly said to ‘add charm’. Clearly ‘Dieter’s’ was not hip, young or stylish but somehow attracted an interesting band of misfits and itinerants otherwise known as the self-employed or ‘working from homers’. This caffeine den had its human epicenter, host Dieter who spent most of his time with his friendly customers who, by a process of familiarity and osmosis, became friends. Dieter spent some time supervising kitchen activities, greeting deliveries and much time contemplating and discussing the poetry of the cosmic universe in relation to overdrafts. For most habitués, ‘Dieter’s’ proved to be an oasis from the gloomy presence of rent, work and other realities blood-related to income. The sippers and thinkers were mature, at least in years, their life passports stamped by love, bereavement, disappointment and surprisingly often, success. Most told their story willingly, sometimes aura tinged with therapy but nearly always with concealed sadness. Make no mistake, ‘Dieter’s’ was not a full gallery of Runyonesque characters although habitués did include: German head John, jump to conclusions Claire, the full bloom beguiling brave Kim and J. Depp Double, there was also the sun high lady drunk with total disregard for the yardarm, who probably had her reasons for seeking refuge so early in the morning. At ‘Dieter’s’ it was usual to meet through laughter with chairs being pulled closer. Stories and anecdotes were strung together to flap like a traditional washing line, multi-coloured, on display and not always as clean as they could have been. Sonya was a contributor to stories and like most good conversationalists, a good listener. Unsurprisingly she had had much practice for she made her living with her ears. Small of stature and past the age when most wines have been drunk, her CV would say ‘vastly experienced’. Sonya daily tackles fear. Other people’s fear. Sonya it turned out is a speech coach or as her business name specifically states ‘The’ SpeechCoach. Few people relish public speaking; fewer still are compelled to face the perceived ordeal. Enter Sonya. It is unlikely she will tell you of her broadcasting, British, N.Z. heritage or how she diligently extended her formative years with solid academic achievements in English and linguistics as well as international diplomas in speech and drama from Trinity College, London. She spent time as an antipodean wanderer filling her scrapbook through Europe and the United States leaving the rest as memories. It is lore that great teachers change lives and Sonya has changed many. She firmly deals with a full gamut of clients from corporate groups, confidential one on one sessions with CEOs and executive types honing their presentation skills, through to highly qualified academics bringing their spoken English parallel to their intellect. All are savvy enough to understand they need professional help and Sonya is professional help in the nicest sense. Sonya offers a service to facilitate the dying art of speaking well in public. Most of her successes are marked ‘Confidential’. Public speaking is an acquired skill but few clients speak openly of being re-taught to speak. Like many, Sonya believes she has much to offer but finds herself in a conundrum familiar to many self-employed. Whilst she is doing her real work she cannot generate future work. Work, generate work, work, generate work. After too many coffees at ‘Dieter’s’ it seemed action outrated hand wringing and the solution to Sonya’s conundrum was to let you meet her. Sonya, The SpeechCoach who unties tongues, teaches people to open their mouth feet free but needed someone to speak publicly on her behalf. Ironic uh? For further information: Sonya Maybury The SpeechCoach Tel: 02 9909 3532 Mob: 0418 457 497 Email: sonya@thespeechcoach.com.au Web: www.thespeechcoach.com.au E.P.N ENAM (EPPIE) No fee for publication. No business consideration for writing or publication of this article. Contact writer through The SpeechCoach.