Frippicism: It is difficult to be creative in isolation. Collaboration is beneficial in much of what we do. Collaboration works for speakers, especially when we are trying to come up with new or improved speech ideas. I often brainstorm with copywriting genius David Garfinkel and the two of us used to collaborate with the San Francisco […]
Read More...Are You Making Any of These 12 Biggest Mistakes Commonly Made in Sales Presentations?
Sales professionals put themselves and their companies on the line with every word. Here are the 12 most common sales presentation mistakes I see when companies hired me to help them get better results from their important conversations and presentations and how to avoid them. 1. Unclear thinking. Want clarity? Imagine that a busy executive […]
Read More...The #1 Best way to Make An Impact With Your Speech – Customize
If you are looking for the number one best way to make an impact with your speech – the answer is simple. Customize! Be aware of your audience’s needs and concerns as you develop every aspect of your speech. Here is an overview of top techniques to customize your presentations. These techniques are used by […]
Read More...Do You Thank Your Prospects for Their Time? Are You Making This Mistake?
Don’t make predictable sales mistakes – like this one: At the close of a sales presentation when thanking your prospect for their time, you might say, “Thank you for your time today,” and then you might think, “That was nice and simple. I was polite.” If I have described you, think again. This is a […]
Read More...Are You Clear on Your Own Message?
Legendary Hollywood producer Sam Goldwyn said, “If I want to send a message, I’ll use a telegram.” Yet, all great films – and good speeches – have a message. Some recent movies go on and on with explosions and car chases. They’re exciting, but at the end, the audience is often left with a big, […]
Read More...Ten Pitfalls to Avoid in Public Speaking
Whenever you open your mouth – whether your audience is one person or a thousand – you usually want to get a message across. Maybe you want your opinions heard at meetings, or you’re giving a formal presentation. Possibly, you’re even in a position to advise your sales team or CEO on an important presentation. […]
Read More...Your Presentation – Remember the Three S’s of Dynamic Stories
As an executive speech coach I’ve had corporate speakers bring me sheets of statistics and say, “Here’s what I want to talk about.” “Why should your audience care about all this?,” I ask. “Where is the excitement? Where is the story?” Then we set about turning the numbing data into stimulating descriptions of what it […]
Read More...Robert Fripp & Toyah Willcox on All Star Mr & Mrs
My brother, legendary guitarist Robert Fripp and my sister-in-law, British singer and actress Toyah Willcox recently appeared on ITV’s All Star Mr & Mrs hosted by Phillip Schofield. Brother is well known within the music industry for being erudite and very considered in his views. However, from Mr & Mrs his sense of play and […]
Read More...Want to Become an Effective Public Speaker? Ten Intriguing Rhetorical Devices
Ragan Communications is a great source of information for communicators. They hold various conferences including the Ragan Speechwriters Conference that I have been honored to keynote. The more you study writing and public speaking the more you realize there is to learn. This list is challenging me and certainly teaches me new information. Hope you enjoy!
Read More...Powerful Sales Presentations Focus on Client’s Problems
Powerful sales presentations are always focused on your client’s problem, goal or challenge – not on your product or the service you provide. If a client’s needs are not seen, or not of interest to you, the client will not want to talk to you. Remember, there is an underlying reason you’ve gotten an initial […]
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