Narrowing the Subject

Much need be made of the danger of trying to say too much. Speakers run against this wall about as often as politicians lie and doctors get sued. The core of the problem lies in ones inability to narrow the scope of what they are talking about enough to shoot verbal arrows instead of shotgun [...]

Seven Ways to Screw Up a Speech

7. Be introduced poorly – You’re not Elvis, but you are there for a reason. Write down for the person introducing you exactly what you want them to say. Otherwise, they will either give your life story or try out a short speech of their own.
6.  Monkey with the microphone – Arrive early and insist [...]

Death by PowerPoint – Part II

Until you can tell me what you are talking about in one simple sentence you are not ready to talk.
Imagine yourself an expert in poultry production who is asked to address an audience not involved in the industry. A temptation would be to tell me that you are going to talk about the chicken [...]

Death by PowerPoint

Each Wednesday finds me dutifully seated among friends at the weekly meeting of our local Rotary club. The food is good, the networking is nice but the speakers are typically… …you get the point. I’ve heard speeches on topics running the sprectrum – from prostate health to poultry farming. Most have decent content but the [...]

“Save the World – Don’t Save Seats”

Do you know what started the whole process of this country having problems? It wasn’t when prayer was taken out of schools. It wasn’t when we began depending on foreign oil. It was when people started saving seats for others. That’s right, saving seats have proven to be the beginning of a welfare state.
Here is [...]