What makes a Hollywood movie great? Exactly the same principles that will make a good keynote speech great. A great story with a message. Screenwriter Robert McKee says, “Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience.” We all love stories because when told well,  have larger-than-life characters, […]

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Technique: Open Your Speech in the Middle of a Conversation Most presenters who know what they are talking about aren’t bad once they get started. Very few of the professionals I have worked with, however, know how to open and close their presentations effectively. No matter what opening option you use, good presentations begin comfortably. […]

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Do you captivate your audience with captivating characters in your presentations? The late comedy impresario John Cantu knew that speakers must not be the heroes of all their stories. Once, we sat down together to deconstruct one of his speeches and found 62 different people mentioned! Learn from great books, plays, and films. Fill your […]

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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 […]

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Jacqueline Male, Commercial Director, Top Sales Associates wrote Patricia Fripp’s “What Hollywood Taught Me” details now appear on Top 10 Sales Articles including links back to both your site, and the publishing site. You will also notice that we have a public poll, which allows our readers to select their favorit nomination – votes account for […]

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Write your own personal definition of success. My friend the late John Cantu was a humor writer and was co-producer at the legendary Holy City Zoo comedy club in San Francisco. Many great comedy stars got their start there. When he counseled young comedians and new speakers about their success, he always says “Don’t compare […]

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