Do you want your audience to lean in from your very first sentence? One technique that works with many presentations is to begin with a surprising statistic or a little-known fact that makes your audience think, “Really? Tell me more.” Many of my speech coaching clients are leaders, engineers, and technical experts. Buried deep in […]
Read More...Memories of a Motivational Speaker
Perhaps you can relate? After forty years in the same home, I finally decided it was time to tackle my office. Yes… the drawers, the boxes, the files I promised myself I would “get to one day.” That day has arrived, and with it comes a mixture of nostalgia, discovery, and a surprising sense of […]
Read More...Where Words Come to Life
Last week, I attended the Professional Speechwriters Association World Conference. What truly made it unforgettable was the setting: Planet Word in Washington, D.C. If you’ve never been, Planet Word isn’t just a museum—it’s an experience. It’s a living, breathing celebration of words, ideas, and human connection. From the moment you step through its doors, you […]
Read More...Want to Know Why Your Weak Words Are Taking Away Your Power?
My speech coaching clients frequently hear me say, “Are you going to do it, or kind of do it? Remember, you do not ‘kind of’ or ‘sort of’ do anything.” Even seasoned executives who should know better use these weak words and phrases. Often, they’re trying to sound modest or approachable. Unfortunately, what actually happens […]
Read More...The Phrase That Pays: How to Be Remembered and Repeated
Every day, we are bombarded with more information than we can remember. Whatever your role—executive, manager, salesperson, or team leader—you want your message to be remembered and repeated. When your words travel beyond the room, you are speaking not only to your audience but to the audience of your audience. That’s how ideas grow, reputations […]
Read More...Executive Presence: What It Really Means and How to Strengthen Yours
The phrase executive presence first appeared in leadership circles in the late 20th century. It quickly became a buzzword in boardrooms, performance reviews, and coaching sessions. Yet for all the talk, it remained elusive. Many ambitious professionals were told, “You need more executive presence”, but few could explain what that meant or how to achieve […]
Read More...A New Market for Me – Who Knew?
For years, I have tracked who followed me on YouTube. The numbers were consistent: 99% were men, and the largest group was ages 55–64. Then I checked my stats for the last 28 days. Imagine my surprise—today, 75% of my viewers are 25–34, 25% are 55–64, and 58% are women. Quite a shift! Even more […]
Read More...Why Your Audience Connection Determines Your Presentation Success
When preparing for a presentation, most speakers focus on their content and slides. That’s important—but it’s not enough. The real question you must ask yourself is: Who is my audience, and why should they care? Your content may be brilliant, but your impact depends on the relationship you build with your listeners. Do they feel […]
Read More...Do You Want to Inspire Action and Commitment? Use More Active Verbs
At an all-day event, my client asked me to speak briefly to promote my afternoon session. I said, “I know your morning is full, just give me three minutes.” I only took two and a half. I began with an amusing story about a request for an interview, which made the point that your message must be of […]
Read More...Are You Missing Out on a Great Way to Improve Your Presentations?
From Good to World-Class: How to Improve Your Presentations Socrates said, “Know thyself.” I say, “Put your words under the magnifying glass.” If you want to improve all of your presentations, here’s a simple process that works for seasoned professionals as well as ambitious beginners. Step 1: Watch Yourself Like a Coach Take a video […]
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