Who first said, “There is no such thing as a free lunch”?
How often do we repeat a well-known quote without knowing who first said it?
Most of us never even wonder!
Read More...This Premier Learning Event in the Speaking Industry Only Happens Once a Year… February 22-23, 2014 Las Vegas
Lady and the Champs How to Speaking Conference 2014
February 22-23, 2014 at the Palms Hotel, Las Vegas
Presentations will include Executive Speech Coach and Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker, Patricia Fripp sharing her expertise.
Keynote – Under the Magnifying Glass: From Good to Great on Steroids
In this entertaining, thought-provoking keynote speech you will learn four specific techniques that will guarantee both you and your presentations are memorable. You will understand how to:
- Present in a way that your audience can better visualize what you are saying
- Understand how to review past presentations to improve them
- Add clarity and comprehension to benefit your audience.
How to Keep Your Audience From Going to Sleep
Read More...What to do when you’re losing your audience…
Are there a lot of yawns and sleepy eyes in your audience? Use these tactics to pep up your talk and keep your listeners’ attention.
Audience members’ attention will fade over time unless you take specific steps to keep them engaged.
How to Follow Up with Potential Clients – Give Benefits to Earn Business
We all have to discover the best way to follow up with our leads.
- “What is your sales process?”
- “How do your leads come in?”
- “What do you do with your leads?”
- “How do you follow with prospects?”
- “What process do you use to get to a formal presentation?”
An example of my process with a potential client who is in need of executive speech coaching:
Read More...How to Be Creative in Our Modern World
On Wednesday, August 21, 2013 the members of the Golden Gate Breakfast Club in San Francisco will host Alfonso Montuori speaking about how to be creative in the modern world. Alfonso is one of my friends, first introduced to me by my brother Robert Fripp. In you live in San Francisco and like to get up early to have your mind stimulated we will be at the Marines Memorial Club on the 21st at 7:10am. Breakfast is 7:30am program at 8:00am.
Enjoy this preview:
Read More...EXPLORING CREATIVITY IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM
Leonardo. Newton. Einstein. Van Gogh. Picasso. The lone genius used to represent the epitome of human creativity. In the 21st century, things have changed.
Giving a Speech? What is Your Main Point?
If you follow my blog you probably have heard me mention before that I have spoken at the Ragan Speechwriters Conference in past years. Ragan Communications publications are a wonderful source of information on communication – both in writing and speaking. The first time I spoke at their conference the opening speakers were Bill Clinton’s speechwriters. As you can imagine, these people write for history! The opening video introducing them featured Bill Clinton saying, “I have these three guys who write my speeches. I told them, ‘When I was Governor of Arkansas I gave four speeches a day and wrote them all myself. Why do I need you?’ They tell me now that I am the President if I say the wrong thing I can start a war.” Here is some advice from White House speechwriters reminding us that – a speech should focus on ONE topic!
Read More...Former White House Speechwriter: Focus on Just One Thing
Clinton speechwriter Jeff Shesol tells how to focus your speech, become educator-in-chief, and write like Hemingway, not like Faulkner.
by Russell Working
Former White House adviser Rahm Emanuel, now mayor of Chicago, was a demanding message cop for President Bill Clinton’s speechwriters.
How Do You Get People to Read Your Messages? 10 Tips for Writing Outstanding Email Subject Lines
Many of my readers know I am a great fan of Ragan Communications newsletter, which provides great information on speaking and writing more effectively. Email is often overlooked as an area in which we can demonstrate excellence in our business communications. I hope you find this as helpful as I do:
Read More...10 Tips for Writing Outstanding Subject Lines
by Teresa Dankowski
They’ll never read what they don’t open.
Brevity, clarity, and honesty are just three essentials for inducing your readers to actively receive the brilliance you’ve sent their way.
If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then subject lines are the path to successful email marketing.
Romantic, huh?
Writing a high-quality subject line takes practice and know-how.
1.) Make it brief.
Writing a subject line that is 50 characters or fewer is generally recommended, as some email clients might cut off longer subject lines. According to MailChimp, subject lines of 28–39 characters have the highest open rate. The exception is for highly targeted audiences.2.) Say what’s in the email.
Don’t worry about being funny or catchy; being direct with your recipients is far more effective. One study found that a clear subject line gets 541 percent more clicks than one that’s clever.
What do National Speakers Association Awards Mean?
This week I will be attending the National Speakers Association’s National Convention in Philadelphia. As a Past President of the National Speakers Association and Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker I am sometimes asked, “What do National Speakers Association awards mean?” These awards and designations give meetings planners confidence. Here is a brief explanation:
The CSP designation is conferred by the National Speakers Association (NSA) and the Global Speakers Federation (GSF) only on accomplished professional speakers who have earned it by meeting strict criteria. CSPs must document a proven track record of continuing speaking experience and expertise as well as a commitment to ongoing education, outstanding client service and ethical behavior.
The Cavett Award is NSA’s most cherished award. It is presented annually to the member whose accomplishments over the years have reflected outstanding credit, respect, honor and admiration in the Association and the speaking profession, and whose actions (in terms of sharing, guiding and inspiring other members) most closely parallel the illustrious career of NSA’s Founder Cavett Robert.
Read More...Public Speaking Tip from Patricia Fripp and President Obama
Don’t you love it when your public speaking seminar and coaching camp students so internalize a message that they continue to send you specific examples that can be used in blogs, talks, and seminars? Coaching Camp alumna, Roxann Andersen shares this observation on the effective use of concrete language in public speaking:
Read More...Dear Patricia,
I read an article in the paper yesterday and thought of you. You often teach on using words that are specific rather than general. This is a related topic: using words that are concrete rather than abstract. I think politicians are especially guilty of floating away on their abstractions, but I give President Obama kudos for this quote.
Improve Your Writing & Speaking – Be Aware of These 7 Errors
Whether you own a business, report to a boss, or are searching for a job, it is important to sound intelligent in all your business communications. Never underestimate the power of your words. I share this article from Ragan Communications by Shanna Mallon describing seven errors you should avoid in your writing; many of these are errors you should also avoid in your presentations. As Shanna points out “By becoming alert to typical mistakes, you become less likely to make them.”
7 Errors Even Good Writers Miss
Read More...When your job entails putting words together at a breakneck pace, the odds are good that your devious fingers will try to put one over on your brilliant mind. Caveat scriptor!Listen, even good writers make mistakes, from obvious repeats to subtle misspellings. It means we’re human.
If you’re like most writers, you’re probably making common blunders on a regular basis. Don’t lose heart. Awareness is half the battle: By becoming alert to typical mistakes, you become less likely to make them.
Before you publish your next blog post or submit another magazine article, do yourself a favor and check it against this list. Below are seven mistakes that even good writers miss:
