On most Sundays, you will find me sipping coffee and watching my favorite news shows. I enjoy listening to intelligent and educated experts share their perspectives on the state of the world. As an executive speech coach, I find these programs an endless source of inspiration—and, occasionally, frustration. One recurring irritant? The phrase I hear […]
Read More...Behind the Scenes with a Presidential Speechwriter: Insights from Terry Szuplat
Recently, at the Professional Speechwriters World Conference, I had the pleasure of attending a half-day seminar delivered by Terry Szuplat, author of Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience. As a speechwriter for President Obama, Terry brought a wealth of experience and an insider’s perspective that was both fascinating and inspiring. […]
Read More...As a Speaker Do You Enjoy the Luxury of Being Remembered and Repeated?
Your Soundbite Statement, AKA Your Foundational Phrase Within your stories is a foundational phrase. This short sentence gets your point across or summarizes your story. It adds clarity so that your audience grasps your message easily. These phrases are both memorable and easy for you and your audience to remember.
Read More...Want to Drive More Sales? Nobody Can Resist a Good Story Well Told
Want to Drive More Sales? Nobody Can Resist a Good Story Well Told Please do not overlook one of the most powerful tools in sales—storytelling. If you’re in sales, you might have noticed that it often feels like our prospects are trained to resist our presentations. I promise you that a well-told story can break […]
Read More...Let Us Set the Record Straight: Clarifying the 7-38-55 Rule
The famous 7-38-55 Rule from Albert Mehrabian’s research is often misquoted, especially when people try to apply it to public speaking or keynote addresses. Let’s set the record straight. What the 7-38-55 Rule Really Means Mehrabian’s research, from which the 7-38-55 Rule is derived, was actually about a particular kind of communication: situations where a […]
Read More...Want to Know the Secrets of How to Become a Speaking Superstar?
Want to Know the Secrets of How to Become a Speaking Superstar? If you want to become a speaking superstar, control your pace and embrace the power of the pause. Think of a pause as a tool, not a sign of forgetting what to say next. A well-placed pause gives your audience a moment to […]
Read More...How to Connect with an International Audience: Secrets of Working Effectively with Interpreters
The dictionary tells us that “translate” is a verb and means to change from one language into another or form or medium into another, essentially making sense of a language. On the other hand, “interpret” is similar yet different. The primary definition is to make sense of, assign meaning to, or explain something. Understanding this […]
Read More...Want Great Speeches? Mine Your Lessons Learned in Everyday Life
Have you often noticed how the most profound lessons usually come from the most straightforward everyday experiences? You might hear a funny or profound speaker seemingly talking about mundane situations, and you think, “Nothing like that ever happens to me.” Of course, it does, or you wouldn’t relate to it. That speaker has attributes meaning […]
Read More...Never Make the Mistake and Overlook the Power of Moments to Reflect
Alan Alda says, “The space between the lines makes a great performance.” Yes, you guessed it. That means you must never underestimate the power of the pause. This is true in acting, speaking, and music. My brother Robert Fripp, the legendary guitarist and one of Rolling Stone magazine’s “100 Greatest Guitarists,” explains, “The music is […]
Read More...Secrets to Help Your Audiences Remember Your Message: Your Phrase That Pays
Every day, we are bombarded with more information than we can remember. Whatever your role, you want your message to be remembered and repeated to others. When we do that, we are speaking to the audience of our audience. In selling, managing, inspiring, leading, training, copywriting, and, in fact, all forms of communication, we must […]
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