If there’s one thing I’ve learned in 30 years of studying humor, it’s this. You CAN learn to be funny. Some people think you need to be born funny, the class clown. I’m a laid-back, serious, Norwegian from North Dakota and I’ve won humorous speech contests at the Toastmasters District level four times and three […]
Read More...Creating a More Powerful Speech
If you want to improve a speech, you need to record it so you can analyze it. This means making an audio recording, or better yet a video recording. And also making a manuscript of what you actually delivered to a live audience. Then you’re able to do an in-depth review of your speech content, […]
Read More...Less is More
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...Public Speaking Tips for Webinars
Add Impact When You Present Through Webinars No matter what you level of public speaking experience, whenever you open your mouth, whether you’re talking to one person or a thousand, you usually want to get a specific message across. Anyone who sets out to present, persuade, and propel with the spoken word faces pitfalls. And, […]
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...How to Turn a Service Club Talk into a Marketing Opportunity
Speaking before a group about your business is definitely the lowest cost and best way to market your product or service and expand your customer base. From first hand experience I learned this important marketing lesson. I started talking about my hair styling business at local service organizations, such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Optimists. At the time I didn’t have much public speaking experience beyond Dale Carnegie courses and Toastmasters. Little did I know it would lead to a rewarding career as an executive speech coach and keynote speaker. Here are some key points I learned that helped me build my business.
Read More...How to Add Value as a Speaker: Make Meetings Fun and Exciting
“OSCARS” – A Pacific Bell meeting was held around the time of the Academy Awards. The creative meeting planner set up an awards ceremony and asked the managers to wear formal evening dress. This sounded so creative to me that, even though my speech was later in the day, I wanted to be part of it (at no extra cost to the client). “Oscars” were given out in categories like customer service, sales, and money-making ideas. Wearing an evening gown, I sashayed across the stage to deliver the envelopes containing the names of the winners. As the nominees in each category were announced, a giant video screen showed their photos. The first two were always famous movie stars, the third an employee. Would you believe it? Pacific Bell employees beat out the movie stars every time! Everyone who accepted an Academy Award had to give a short speech. It was innovative, memorable, and fun.
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...Emotional Connection with Eye Contact
We need to connect with our audiences emotionally and intellectually.
There are three ways to emotionally connect with your audience not matter how large or small your audience is.
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