Barringer Consultants LLC

  Education's purpose is to replace and empty mind with an open one.                                                                              - Malcolm S. Forbes Reading will increase your knowledge of the world, expand your vocabulary, and improve your ability to express yourself. Reading will help you become more comfortable and confident speaking with others. Read something that stretches you, your mind, your understanding of the world. Read a book that requires a dictionary by your side. Read to not only learn new words but also when, where, and how to use those new words in sentences, in conversation. Reading is a simple, efficient way to learn new words and improve your vocabulary and communication skills. The more words you know, the better you can explain, discuss,...

  I was waiting to meet a friend for coffee. And waiting. And waiting. After 20 minutes, I called. No answer. While sitting there, I checked my email on my phone. There it was - an email  message from my friend saying he had an emergency at work and couldn't make it.  He sent an email. I  would have expected a phone call or text to cancel  Using email for a last-minute cancellation would never have occurred to me. In the past, we had Emily Post, Miss Manners, and Letitia Baldridge to guide us with sage advice on social protocols from which fork to use at an elegant dinner, when to send a thank you note, how to introduce your boss to your children, how to appropriately call off a wedding, how to eat an artichoke, to what to tip your hairdresser or what color gloves to wear. There were rules. These rules were helpful. Now, we have technology, multiple ways to communicate, and a lot fewer rules. Actually, we all have our own set of rules. We make them up. A te...

"The real fate worse than death is the probability that what we are now, we'll remain the rest of our lives." Don Aslett, Author Time to make those changes and become the person you always wanted to be. Time to change your life, your direction - finish that project, go on that trip, take that class, start that diet, write that book, eliminate that bad habit, declutter that room, or meet that special person. A friend of mine once asked how did I get into flying. My answer, I made a phone call. Sometimes the first step is very simple, very small. A small step leads to another step and then another. Not all of the following steps will be easy. You may even find you are going in the wrong direction. Remember, you can always change direction. Getting started is the hard part. A while ago, I enrolled in a yoga class at a local gym. I am sort of a remedial beginner. By the time I lurched into Down Dog, which looked more like Sick Puppy, the rest of the class was three pose...

  Dave Barringer, my son and prolific writer, wrote this poem a while ago. Pretty much says it all. .. There is a day with your name on it There is a stone for your years There is space in the earth for you There is silence for your fears. There is nothing that’s given There is life, there is luck There is the time that you live in So don’t waste it, you f*ck.

  Merry Christmas to All! This is a wonderful time of year but don't let It become too stressful and overwhelming. Sometimes, stress comes from not knowing what gift to get someone. Whether it's for a family member, a friend, someone at the office, or a hostess gift, we can place a lot of pressure on ourselves to get the perfect gift. Some of our thoughts may run like this - I like the gift but will they like it? Is it appropriate? Tasteful? Unique? Memorable? Clever? Affordable? Gift giving is a kind of communication. By giving a gift, you are letting someone know that you are thinking of them, that you care. So, that what you select may reflect on you. A few times I was more than a little nervous opening a gift from a particular gift-giver. Often, the gift was better left unopened. The lovely wrapping and over-sized bow, guarding the mystery of what was inside. Once I opened it, the mystery was over. There I was, facing the reality. A surprise is one thing. A shock is ano...

  Whether you are an actor, or toying with the idea of trying out for community theatre, or maybe you are a business person with an upcoming presentation and need more confidence when speaking, this FREE ebook will start you on the right path! A few simple, helpful, DIY strategies cover some of the prep work actors need to do to improve their speech and take of their vocal image so necessary for their careers, and may be necessary for you. Although, I wrote this mainly for actors, the strategies can be helpful for anyone who wants some simple DIY tips for improving their speech - right now! To get your FREE digital copy of Top 7 Strategies for a Dynamic Voice - for Actors!, send your request to: Info@barringerconsultants.com or text 248.561.9520

My son, David Barringer, won the prestigious Black List Literary Prize for 2025 Unpublished Novel Award in the Horror category. T he Black List ,(not to be confused with the television series), recently announced the winners of its Unpublished Novel Award. They previously have focused on screenplays and scripts. The winners in each of the seven novel categories will be awarded $10,000. The following is from The Literary Hub : "We created the Unpublished Novel Award to do what the Black List has always done: Find exceptional work and tell people about it,” said Black List founder Franklin Leonard in a statement. “The range and quality of these seven manuscripts is a reminder of just how much great work there is in the world that hasn’t yet been discovered. I look forward to seeing these novels on bookshelves and in book readers’ hands imminently.” "HORROR A Box Came for You by David Barringer A Box Came for You is a 65,000-word horror novel about Mitch Siebold, a naïve...