Laurie Smale Archives - Laurie Smale Inspirational Speaker and Author

A Bird Man's Leap of Trust Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute A Bird Man’s Leap of Trust

Achievement, Advice, Books, Cleverness, Co-operation, Communication, Conversation, Courage, Curiosity, Fear, Generosity, Goodwill, Hindsight, Humanity, Inspiration, Italians, Kindness, Laurie Smale, Learning, Life Principles, Listening, Love, Magic Minute, Mind Expanding, New Language, Podcasts, Respect, Self Acceptance, Self Confidence, Setbacks, Shame, Speaking, Teamwork, Temptation, Video, Wisdom / Laurie Smale / November 5, 2025

My quirky loveable mother was something else!

Widowed when she was 23 with three little boys under 4 in far away Donald, she battled through thick and thin to keep us together.

When I was around 3, something remarkable happened while my mum was boiling the washing in the copper in the back yard.

In the 1940s, most homes had a humble copper; a big fire-heated recepticle with a copper insert in which the washing would be boiled and moved around with a big stick.

Magic Minute A Bird Man’s Leap of Trust Read More »

A Lifetime of Being Bullied By Laurie Smale

Article A Lifetime of Being Bullied

Achievement, Articles, Courage, Inspiration, Public Speaking, Self Confidence, Speaking / Laurie Smale / October 31, 2025

Article A Lifetime of Being Bullied By Laurie Smale I once helped a young man (28) overcome his public speaking fears, and his story might help you. I’ll call him Bill. As Bill’s story unfolded, I learnt that as a kid, he had been systematically bullied by a bunch of, for want of a better

Article A Lifetime of Being Bullied Read More »

Where English Comes From Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute Where English Comes From

My quirky loveable mother was something else!

Widowed when she was 23 with three little boys under 4 in far away Donald, she battled through thick and thin to keep us together.

When I was around 3, something remarkable happened while my mum was boiling the washing in the copper in the back yard.

In the 1940s, most homes had a humble copper; a big fire-heated recepticle with a copper insert in which the washing would be boiled and moved around with a big stick.

Magic Minute Where English Comes From Read More »

Magic Minute My Quirky Loveable Mum

My quirky loveable mother was something else!

Widowed when she was 23 with three little boys under 4 in far away Donald, she battled through thick and thin to keep us together.

When I was around 3, something remarkable happened while my mum was boiling the washing in the copper in the back yard.

In the 1940s, most homes had a humble copper; a big fire-heated recepticle with a copper insert in which the washing would be boiled and moved around with a big stick.

Magic Minute My Quirky Loveable Mum Read More »

From Terror to Wonder Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute From Terror to Wonder

Magic Minute From Terror to Wonder By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // “So there we were, comfortably chatting by the fire in the wilds of the Bogong High Plains, completely oblivious to what was about to happen … I do remember the comforting red glow of the fire reflecting on our faces; the pitch blackness

Magic Minute From Terror to Wonder Read More »

A Universal Angel Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute A Universal Angel

Magic Minute A Universal Angel By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // “Ever been on the verge of your world crashing down around you when some Angel of The Universe appears and shields you from danger? That happened to me in the form of big, lovable,Pancho the Kiwi. We were on a rigorous training trip around

Magic Minute A Universal Angel Read More »

A Good Listener Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute A Good Listener

Magic Minute A Good Listener By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // “Three thousand times a day we’d do it! My Italian boss Lino would be fed a blob of molten glass and press it into a pancake of mosaic tiles, then I would ‘paddle’ these cakes into the cooling oven over and over again. But

Magic Minute A Good Listener Read More »

Article From Fame to Shame By Laurie Smale Author Finding Me, Finding You

Article From Shame to Fame

Achievement, Articles, Courage, Inspiration, Self Confidence / Laurie Smale / September 30, 2025

Article From Shame to Fame By Laurie Smale A real champion. ”There’s no doubt about it, you’re a real champion,” my school teacher and coach, Mr Wilson, would say with conviction. These encouraging words reinforced my belief that I was doing something extra special as captain of the under-nine Seaford State School Australian Rules Football team.

Article From Shame to Fame Read More »

Magic Minute Meaning of Words

Magic Minute Meaning of Words By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // A young German couple sat uneasily in their English class wondering why their teacher had asked them to write down all they know about a working bee. “What a strange question!” They thought, and began wracking their brains for all the things that came

Magic Minute Meaning of Words Read More »

Quirky Aussie Custom Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute Quirky Aussie Custom

Magic Minute Quirky Aussie Custom By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // Just about every Australian newcomer I’ve met has been thrown by the perplexing Aussie request to ‘bring a plate’ when invited to an informal gathering among friends. Too polite to question why, these newcomers are left to navigate this quirky Australian custom as best

Magic Minute Quirky Aussie Custom Read More »