Tomorrow I conduct my first webinar. I’ve attended them before but never starred in one. Yesterday was the final dress rehearsal, and while we’ve managed to master the technology (this particular platform is new to the hosts, too, so we’ve been learning together), it’s still an odd and disconcerting experience. I’m looking forward to advances … Read more
Tonight I deliver my first speech based on the book. Being acutely aware of the importance of practicing what I preach, here are 10 rules I’m adhering to in the development and presentation of the material: 1. Dump PowerPoint and templates I did this in KeyNote instead of PowerPoint, which pretty much enforces mediocrity. And … Read more
“Quick, I need a joke for this speech!” No you don’t. The last you thing you need is to shoehorn some tired, contrived quip into your presentation that has no relevance to your material. All for the sake of “breaking the ice.” Better to let the humor flow naturally and organically. And to respect the … Read more
I’m not one of those who considered Ronald Reagan “The Great Communicator” or even a great communicator. He was a good communicator, certainly, but no more so than I would expect from a successful politician and actor. His speech in the aftermath of the Challenger disaster was especially moving. He could deliver a well-timed one-liner, … Read more
When Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech, it electrified the audience gathered on Washington’s mall and inspired the nation. Almost 50 years later, it still shines as one of the great pieces of rhetoric from the 20th Century. But you might be surprised to know that on that summer day … Read more
I went to an industry event today where there was a guest speaker. I thinkthere was some value to the substance of his presentation, but it was very hard to tell because I was so turned off by the style, which was forecast by three things he did at the very top: He announced that … Read more
In the book I give some tips for using humor in a business situation — speeches, videos, emails. I talk about the fact that comedy is derived from truth. It should happen naturally and organically — just like it does over the dinner table when you’re out with friends. The #1 Rule for using humor? … Read more