You sell your ideas with words, but the actual vehicle that you use is usually your voice.

Have you ever checked up on your voice appeal?

Your voice has a powerful emotional effect on your listener. If it is pleasant, your listener instinctively feels a certain amount of good-will toward you. If your voice is disagreeable, the listener has a tendency to want to get away from you.

This is simply human nature. We don't like squeaking, rasping, nasal, indistinct, monotonous, or otherwise irritating speech. We put up with it only when we have to.

Advertisers know that a soothing, buoyant radio voice can sell much more of a product than a monotonous, dull voice. And, of course, a radio voice that is squeaky, rasping, nasal, or indistinct would be lucky to sell anything.

Yes, your voice has a dollars and cents value in your career. It is a success factor in all of your human relations.

Don't think that your voice is unimportant simply because no one has ever criticized it. The effect of voice is a subtle thing, often specifically unrecognized by the hearer. And even when it is noticeably faulty, "your best friends won't tell you."

What can you do about it? First of all, hear a recording of your voice. Notice your speech habits for several days.

Then ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I speak at a pleasant volume, or too loudly or softly?

2. Do I vary my tone or speed, or are they even and monotonous?

3. Do I articulate my words clearly, or do I have "lazy" lips, tongue and jaw?

4. Do I slur my words when I am enthused, or do I retain clear articulation?

5. Do I make use of effective pauses?

6. Do I have a clear, pleasing tone, or is it nasal, hoarse, squeaky, or otherwise unpleasant?

7. Is my voice expressive or do I talk about everything in almost the same mood?

8. Does my voice always radiate confidence, or does it give me away when I don't feel sure of myself?

Be honest and searching in answering these questions. You have accomplished something when you know and admit your voice faults. Then correct them. Anyone can do it with determination.

However, it may be necessary to consult a voice teacher or book for helpful exercises. A pleasing, expressive, confident voice adds valuable emotional impact to your words. Add it to your assets.

To make it as easy as possible for you to master not just read about the "Words that Win Success and Popularity", we have used the most successful teaching methods of the colleges, high schools, and adult education schools that teach vocabulary building. Each chapter includes several word games, plus a discussion of the words. These games are fun, and they carry out the prime discovery of modern education: that you learn best by doing.

To learn more about "Words that Win Success and Popularity" click HERE