One of my fondest childhood memories is sitting at the kitchen table doing my homework, which meant reluctantly struggling through three-digit subtraction problems. Do you remember the problems where you had to borrow from the column to the left? There are two reasons that this experience is forever etched in my memory: (1) it was… read more
A Good Reason Why the Best Speakers Come out Swinging
You are sitting front row center in a large hotel ballroom filled with 1500 people. Everyone has gathered to learn about what is being touted as a medical miracle . . . a new pill that whittles you down to your desired weight in 24 hours or less. (I know. I know. Stay with me.)… read more
Why the Best Presentations Are Plain and Simple
One of the questions most frequently asked by aspiring speakers is, “What action can I immediately take to improve my skills?” What they don’t know is, asking that question is like asking which exercise will help you become more physically fit. Depending on your ultimate goal, there can be several right answers. About three or… read more
Proof That the Best Speeches Begin with the End
Last week, I found myself engaged in a tug-o-war with Kylie, a relatively new client, because I refused to accept her haphazard approach to speech development. Her method largely consisted of cobbling together a list of “hot topics” and spontaneously riffing on each one in random order. Although she oozed enthusiasm, the presentation in front… read more
7 Proven Ways to Make Sure Your Speaking Evidence Is in the Bag
A few days ago, I had the good fortune to have afternoon tea with Jon, a legendary speaker who was instrumental in helping me enter the field. Although I’m far from the afternoon tea type, his sage advice was worth suffering through every swallow. We crisscrossed every speaking topic under the sun, from content to… read more
3 Easy Ways To Shut Down A Heckler
If the number one fear of most speakers is drawing a blank in front of their audience, without question, being heckled is a close second. I’ve had the privilege of working with many speakers who know their subject inside out and even they worry ― “what if someone asks me a question that I don’t… read more
3 Reasons Why Adding Humor to Your Presentation Is No Joke
While sitting in a coffee shop last Thursday, I couldn’t help but overhear two college kids nonchalantly discussing how unprepared they were for an upcoming presentation. One casually said to the other, “let’s just make them laugh and it won’t matter what we say.” Hearing that statement made the hair stand up on the… read more
2 Reasons Why I Wish You Wood
Let me begin by assuring you that the title of this article is not meant to challenge or double-dog dare you in the way you might think. In fact, if you look closely at the last word in the title, you’ll see that I’m actually just wishing you a piece of timber. This writing is… read more
3 Reasons Why the Best Thing for Your Speech Is an Autopsy
If you’re anything like most people, when you hear the word, “autopsy”, your thoughts immediately turn morbid. If you don’t mind removing your grim reaper hat for just a moment, you might be surprised to learn that autopsy, in the broader sense, means an analysis of something after it has been completed. Of course,… read more
What Speakers Should Do When Things Go Really Wrong
One of the benefits of growing up in Norfolk, Virginia, next to the world’s largest naval base, was watching the Blue Angels practice for their annual air show. In case you don’t know, the Blue Angels is a kick-ass group of highly skilled Navy fighter pilots who travel across the country performing high-precision, death-defying maneuvers…. read more
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