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...If It Were Not a Thing, What Would It Be?
Are you guilty of using lazy language? In my speech coaching sessions, one of the most frequent questions I ask is, “If it were not a thing, what would it be?” For example, one brilliant engineer preparing for his company’s User meeting said, “There are two things people love about…” You guessed it; I asked, […]
Read More...Add Historical References to Add Interest to Your Modern Day Speeches
When you give a speech and use a reference from the past, do you research it? For instance, one of my executive coaching clients asked for help with his Father of the Bride speech. He wanted to use the phrase tying the knot. I asked, “Do you know the historical reference?” We researched it and […]
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...Want to Become Confident in Your Public Speaking Skills? This is How
As a professional speaker and speech coach, I am frequently asked, “Were you always this confident?” The answer is, “No.” Confidence in public speaking doesn’t come naturally to everyone. It’s built over time through a commitment to learn, improve, get coached, review your presentations, and continuously stive to hone your skills. Even those with natural […]
Read More...Why Is an Act of Quality Important?
My brother Robert Fripp played guitar on David Bowie’s Heroes. When my brother and I delivered our presentation, How to Be a Hero for More than One Day, I asked him, “How can we become heroes?” He replies, “By performing acts of quality.” The next logical question is, “Why is an act of quality important?”
Read More...Did You Know the Best Stories for Your Speeches Come from Entertaining Your Friends?
When crafting unforgettable presentations, the best stories often come from your life experiences—the stories you tell your friends. What captivates your friends will also captivate your audience. Think about the last time you shared a story with a friend. Perhaps it was a funny memory from your childhood, a lesson learned from a challenging project, […]
Read More...The #1 Skill to Increase Your Business, Career, and Reputation
It never ceases to amaze me that intelligent, well-educated, and ambitious professionals frequently overlook developing the number-one skill guaranteed to position them ahead of the crowd: the ability to stand up and speak eloquently in public, or at least stagger to their feet and say anything at all. What terrifies so many about public speaking? […]
Read More...What You Are is As Important As What You Do
A short simple story heard while jogging with my friend Bobby Lewis decades ago influences my actions every day. Ralph Waldo Emerson is well known for a phrase very similar to this “What you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say.” Great advice for leaders and parents. Honesty, Ethics, Parenting If you […]
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