The Secret of Conversation is to Ask Questions Your prospects and customers can give you important feedback, both directly and indirectly, but perhaps there is another great way to find out how you are doing. This is a blast from my past. After addressing a group of sales contest winners in Hawaii, I was on […]

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Lessons from Everyday Heroes My brother, the legendary guitarist Robert Fripp, played on David Bowie’s Heroes. In our presentations Robert says, “There are three kinds of heroes. The occasional hero, the everyday hero, and the superhero. “The occasional hero may perform a heroic act; however, it is not repeatable. “The superhero knows what happens in […]

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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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Want to Write Great Speeches?  I was invited to deliver the opening keynote speech at the Toastmasters International Convention in 2001. In this 10-segment series, you view the anatomy of a keynote presentation. 7 of 10 “I was working with a company in Petaluma that had hired me to work with all its marketing managers, […]

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This Episode Includes a Lesson from Great Comedians “In 2001, I was invited to deliver the opening keynote speech at the Toastmasters International Convention. In this 10-segment series, you will view the anatomy of a keynote presentation. Enjoy segment 6. “Now, think about that. That was a speech called ‘Opportunity Does Not Knock Once.’ “I […]

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Back in 2001, at the Toastmasters International Convention, I was invited to deliver the opening keynote speech. In this 10-segment series, you will view the anatomy of a keynote presentation. Segment 4 of 10. You will notice I have made comments on how I would give advice to the 2001 speaker, me! “You’re Toastmasters; you […]

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