MARCH 2004

chaldeans gaining
confidence
Designing a Dale Carnegie Training ®
course for the Chaldean community
BY CHALDEAN NEWS STAFF
Sabah Hermiz (Summa), Pleasant
Ridge, signed up for Dale Carnegie
Training in 1978, but two weeks
before he was to start the 12-week course, he
injured his right vocal cord during a soccer
game and, for more than a year, wasn’t able to
talk. Even though the injury caused permanent
damage to his voice, he never lost interest
in the course and was determined to
enroll. Hermiz graduated 23 years
later.
“I wish I had taken it sooner,”
said Hermiz in a scratchy, whisper-like
tone. “I was afraid because
of my voice and people’s perception
of me; it’s such a challenge to
speak.”
The course he feared to enroll in,
at some level, helped him overcome
that same fear - of talking. Hermiz
was so impressed by the course that
he is organizing a tailored-made
program for the Chaldean community
through the Chaldean
American Chamber of Commerce.
In fact, the engineer’s passion for
Dale Carnegie Training is so strong
that he plans to be a teacher’s assistant
during the course.
Dale Carnegie organizers will offer a free
introductory session at the Southfield Manor.
To entice attendants, the 12-week course
organized by the Chaldean Chamber will be
offered at a discounted rate.
Developed more than 90 years ago by Dale
Carnegie, a farmer by trade, the training helps
people hone skills in leadership, communication,
management, sales, customer service,
team building and adapting to change.
“Studies have shown that public speaking is
rated as the number one fear,” said Kathy
Tosoian, a certified instructor of Dale Carnegie
Training. “Death is the number seven fear, and
that is why they say, ‘I would rather die than
speak in public.’”
Helping students to be confident public
speakers is a focal point of the course and one
of Carnegie’s original concepts almost a century
ago. Tosoian customizes her workshops for
corporations on such topics as customer service,
stress management, networking, business
etiquette, presentation skills and relationship
building. She will teach the course offered to
“Studies have shown that public speaking is rated
as the number one fear.” — KATHY TOSOIAN
Sabah Hermiz and Kathy Tosoian
the Chaldean community.
“Mr. Carnegie believed that in order to get
ahead in life, people needed to be able to talk
out their issues,” said Tosoian. “He wanted to
give them the tools they needed - self-confidence
- to go out on their own in the world and
overcome their fears.”
Not all fears are created equally.
“The classes teach you to fine-tune your talents,”
said Hermiz. “You will learn to work on
your weaknesses and enhance your strengths,
whatever they may be.” People of all ages, all
levels of education and from all over the world
have graduated from Dale Carnegie Training.
There are more than 160 training locations in
80 countries. More than 400 of the FORTUNE
500 companies have offered the training to
their employees.
Whether participants deal with people oneon-one
or in groups, both Hermiz and Tosoian
say everyone benefits from the philosophies
taught in Dale Carnegie Training. “I lose my
train of thought often,” said Hermiz, “and I am
a very timid speaker; the course helped me deal
with those issues, as well.”
Most classes include approximately 40 students,
and by the end of the three months, the
students share a close bond. “It’s like we are a big
family,” said Hermiz. “We helped each other
overcome our fears.” If anyone is interested in the
Dale Carnegie Class call: 248-478-5318.
MARCH 2004 CHALDEAN NEWS 21