Can a speech really change the world?
I began my first book, Working the Room, with the line, “The only reason to give a speech is to change the world.” Since that book came out in 2003, many people have asked me, can a speech really...
View ArticleBasic Principles of Persuasive Rhetoric – 4
Principle IV: Persuasive rhetoric deals in stories, facts, and tropes Stories, facts, and tropes are your tools for building effective, emotionally convincing communications. Used properly — stories...
View ArticleWhat you don’t know about President Kennedy’s inaugural address
It was fifty years ago today that President John F. Kennedy delivered one of the shortest and most memorable inaugural addresses by a U.S. president. As most people know, the speech was the product...
View ArticleA Comparison of Two Inaugurals: Kennedy v Obama
President Kennedy gave 3 State of the Union addresses, and they are almost completely forgotten today. His Inaugural Address, on the other hand, is cited frequently, and whenever great political...
View ArticleWhat’s Wrong with TED?
What’s wrong with TED? There’s no question it has been an extraordinarily successful venture. It has transformed the world of public speaking in a number of ways, most of them obviously for the...
View ArticleTen Questions Public Speakers Should Ask Themselves Before They Speak
My favorite quote about public speaking is “the only reason to give a speech is to change the world.” I began my first book, Working the Room, with it — and it got re-titled in honor of the quote as...
View ArticleThe Only Reason to Give a Speech
“What exactly do you mean, ‘the only reason to give a speech is to change the world?’” That comment greeted me recently from a reader of this blog who was interested in our upcoming conference and...
View ArticleTen Questions Public Speakers Should Ask Themselves Before They Speak
My favorite quote about public speaking is “the only reason to give a speech is to change the world.” I began my first book, Working the Room, with it — and it got re-titled in honor of the quote as...
View ArticleAn Analysis of President Trump’s Inaugural Address
What was uppermost in the mind of Mr. Trump on the day of his swearing-in? Apparently, our new president deeply resented all those contributions he talked of making to politicians when he was...
View ArticleWhy Speakers Must Deal in Fear
The only people who like change are wet babies. I forget who originally told me that wonderful saying – I’m afraid it has been lost in the mists of time. So if it was you, then please remind me and...
View ArticleCounter-intuitive speaking lessons from the road
I was inspired by some recent client stories of successes and failures to create a short list of counter-intuitive speaking lessons that most people learn the hard way. Here you go: I hope this list...
View ArticleAn Analysis of President Trump’s Inaugural Address
What was uppermost in the mind of Mr. Trump on the day of his swearing-in? Apparently, our new president deeply resented all those contributions he talked of making to politicians when he was...
View ArticleWhy Speakers Must Deal in Fear
The only people who like change are wet babies. I forget who originally told me that wonderful saying – I’m afraid it has been lost in the mists of time. So if it was you, then please remind me and...
View ArticleCounter-intuitive speaking lessons from the road
I was inspired by some recent client stories of successes and failures to create a short list of counter-intuitive speaking lessons that most people learn the hard way. Here you go: I hope this list...
View ArticleCan a speech really change the world?
I began my first book, Working the Room, with the line, “The only reason to give a speech is to change the world.” Since that book came out in 2003, many people have asked me, can a speech really...
View ArticleBasic Principles of Persuasive Rhetoric – 4
Principle IV: Persuasive rhetoric deals in stories, facts, and tropes Stories, facts, and tropes are your tools for building effective, emotionally convincing communications. Used properly — stories...
View ArticleWhat you don’t know about President Kennedy’s inaugural address
It was fifty years ago today that President John F. Kennedy delivered one of the shortest and most memorable inaugural addresses by a U.S. president. As most people know, the speech was the product...
View ArticleA Comparison of Two Inaugurals: Kennedy v Obama
President Kennedy gave 3 State of the Union addresses, and they are almost completely forgotten today. His Inaugural Address, on the other hand, is cited frequently, and whenever great political...
View ArticleWhat’s Wrong with TED?
What’s wrong with TED? There’s no question it has been an extraordinarily successful venture. It has transformed the world of public speaking in a number of ways, most of them obviously for the...
View ArticleTen Questions Public Speakers Should Ask Themselves Before They Speak
My favorite quote about public speaking is “the only reason to give a speech is to change the world.” I began my first book, Working the Room, with it — and it got re-titled in honor of the quote as...
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