Storytelling is probably one of the most powerful components you can add to any talk or presentation. It is entertaining. It helps your message stick. And if the stories are from your own life or experience, they minimize the need for memorization. 
Reading an article about a keynote address I had delivered was my first strong awareness of how important it is to get the quote right. The year was 1998, and I delivered a closing keynote address to wrap up the … Continue reading
Last week I was sorely reminded that despite the fact I’ve been speaking for 30 years – I will never be done with the need to practice. You are Never Done With Continuous Practice I served as the master of ceremony (Toastmaster) … Continue reading
Master Communicator President Ronald Reagan kept note cards of quotes and words of wit and wisdom he later incorporated into his speeches. We recently took a trip to the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Southern California. The library is … Continue reading
They say home made gifts are the best gifts to receive. I agree! Especially the ultimate Mother’s Day gift video testimonial of your love. When I was going through my mom’s things after she passed away, I was moved to tears … Continue reading
When it comes to good public speaking topics, I think quotes about public speaking by the CEO of Stew Leonards hits the nail on the head: Never give a speech on something unless it is something you like yourself. In … Continue reading
Quotations are powerful tools for speaking – and living! I believe in the power of quotes. Quotes are an extremely effective tool to enhance one’s talk. So much so that I have a web site devoted to quotes. For fun I looked … Continue reading
I recently witnessed two presentations that reminded me of the importance of clarity when speaking. One of the definitions of clarity on Dictionary.com is: “Clearness or lucidity as to perception or understanding; freedom from indistinctness or ambiguity.” This is what you want to achieve when practicing and delivering your speech. You want … Continue reading
Strong speech organization is a way to put your ideas together in an orderly manner, which helps the audience to understand and follow your thoughts. A few days ago I was purging stuff from closets in my garage and I … Continue reading
I think a eulogy has to be the most difficult speech to write because there is not much time to write one and is often written while in shock or grieving. I recently attended a memorial service for a Toastmaster friend. He was … Continue reading
This post clarifies exactly what the “boast” is when roasting a person. Most posts on this topic have focused on how to ROAST someone. BUT, every roast should be sandwiched with BOASTS. That is praising the person who is being … Continue reading
Quotes About Public Speaking – John Ford – the creator of famous movies with heart You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart. -John Ford I vividly recall becoming acutely aware of who John … Continue reading
I recommend collecting a few premade images and tweaking them for the roast. We’ll talk about some examples in this post. In a previous post, I shared some examples and resources for creating your own images for a roast. But … Continue reading
In this post I’ll share with you ideas for creating visuals for your roast. There are so many ways to incorporate visuals I hardly know where to begin. There are TONS of funny images of Arnold. Just Google “Funny images of Arnold Schwarzenegger. … Continue reading
Quotes about Public Speaking – Michael Mescon – master teacher about business success The best way to conquer stage fright is to know what you’re talking about. – Michael H. Mescon I so resonate with this quote. I’ve devoted … Continue reading
Find jokes about the facts of the roastee! Remember the Myth about Roasts – we are taking a kernel of truth and greatly exaggerating them primarily through the use of jokes. Above are truths about me. How about Arnold? Drawing … Continue reading
