As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet: “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Brevity makes strong structure. The punchline is the payoff. Traditional wisdom is that the shortest distance between the setup and the payoff is best. When a story has a long set up before getting to the joke, it’s said that the punchline is carrying […]
Read More...Your Image, What Is It Saying About You?
My friend Diane Parente is a certified Image and Wardrobe Professional with over twenty years experience in all areas of image development and management. She is also co-author of Mastering Your Professional Image-Dressing to Enhance Your Credibility. Do not overlook your image as part of your overall communications strategy. Enjoy these helpful insights from Diane: […]
Read More...In Marketing, Emphasize Empathy!
If you want your marketing to make money for you, focus on your customers’ feelings and beliefs. Unless you can convince them that you understand them and their problems — that you’re empathetic — they’re probably not going to buy from you. The headline on one of my marketing pieces says, “Hiring a Speaker is […]
Read More...Why Do People Say “Yes?” The “6 Weapons of Influence”
Why do people say ‘yes’? How can we get them to comply with our requests? I asked my Fripp Associate David Palmer, PhD, MBA, CPA, an expert on negotiations and marketing. David Palmer has read more business books and management books than any other person I have ever met; without hesitation, he always refers to […]
Read More...Observational Humor from John Kinde: Fripp is Recycled!
My definition of Observational Humor does not exclude recycling previously used Observational Humor lines. Nor does it mean you can’t use old jokes that are adapted to the present moment. What makes Observational Humor special that it is inspired in the moment, not pre-meditated…although some pre-planned humor can certainly create the illusion of spontaneity. Our goal is to become more skilled at in-the-moment humor and not solely relying on prepared lines. Although a good monologue may contain some of both elements.
Read More...Executive Presentations: Build Yourself A Trumpet
Montaigne (1533 –1592), a wise and entertaining Frenchman, wrote this as he contemplated the education of children. As we contemplate our education as speakers, let’s follow his advice. The disciplined forms of argument can make us rich, powerful, and persuasive.
Read More...Say It With Fewer Words
Reducing Your Hour-Long Speech You’ve got a great, major presentation, and suddenly you’re asked if you can get your message across in five minutes! Don’t panic. For today’s television generation, sound bites can be more powerful than lengthy dissertations. Here’s how to compress your speech without losing impact.
Read More...5 Sure-Fire Tips for Great Speeches
1. Come out punching! Grab your audience’s attention. One way is to make a startling statement. For a recent speech to the National Speakers Association, I walked out and immediately started building a word picture: “Columbus, Ohio, December, zero degrees, 2,000 people trudging through the snow to hear four speakers…” Don’t waste your audience’s time […]
Read More...Scoring with Overseas Audiences
How to “Speak Their Language” Even When It Isn’t English Now I finally know why my friends are so interested in speaking abroad. It is a wonderful, rewarding, exhilarating, ego-building experience, even when the audience doesn’t speak your language. Why forego local engagements to fly half-way around the world, suffer terrible jet lag, and put […]
Read More...Acting Techniques for Speakers
This article was written by my pal Ed Brodow. It will be featured in Professional Speaker magazine, the publication of the National Speakers Assn. As Ed interviewed me for this, and I found it very interesting, I asked if I could offer it to my friends and visitors to my website. He granted his permission and I […]
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