Expert insights. Personalized for you.
While skimming through my Twitter feed the other day, a Tweet caught my eye. It contained the link to a post on Entrepreneur by Jonathan Li entitled 10 Mistakes Successful Speakers Never Make Again. I was intrigued. I thought, I make mistakes; I … Continue reading → Toastmasters John Zimmer practice presentations public speaking MORE
Many of us start the New Year with goals and promises to improve our lives. Of course, old habits die hard, and new ones may not stick. MORE
Communicating your presentation idea alone won’t be enough to convince your audience. You should also have the charismatic appeal to enhance your credibility and complement your central message. A likeable image is what leaves them swayed, in awe, and wanting more. MORE
“It’s a beautiful thing, the Destruction of words. Of course the great wastage is in the verbs and adjectives, but there are hundreds of nouns that can be got rid of as well.”. George Orwell, 1984. George Orwell, public speaking expert? MORE
At last month's Shake Up Your Speaking retreat, I gave the attendees an exercise that involve picking a temporary tattoo out of a bag, applying it to their arm, and then applying the message on the tattoo to where they were in their speaking journey. MORE
On Thursday September 1, members of the Silicon Valley Speechwriters Roundtable hosted a conference call with with renowned author, speechwriter and professor Bob Lehrman. Robert A. MORE
About Gravitas Gravitas is about using your personal power in service to others and giving up the pleasure of asserting your power with a sharp voice tone. contacted me and shared that he is strong technically, reports to the highest leaders in his company and gets great feedback that his expertise is valuable. He has […]. MORE
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Having grown up in the restaurant business I love bringing people together for a traditional Thanksgiving feast. It is a time to celebrate community and share our gratitude for our close-knit family and wonderful friends. Yet even with our mild mannered guests, conversations can get awkward. And while we don’t have “family feuds” per se, tensions can mount when we talk about such topics as politics, social issues or world affairs. MORE
I recently attended an event with a long lineup of speakers. I'm like a kid in a candy store at events with lots of speakers! MORE
Presentation Guru is dedicated to helping professionals communicate with real impact in pursuit of whatever they do. We want designers to design, speakers to speak and teachers to teach to the absolute limit of their imagination. MORE
This post is part of a series on rhetoric and rhetorical devices. For other posts in the series, please click this link. MORE
Malcolm Gladwell is a Canadian journalist author and speaker. He has written five books: The Tipping Point; Blink; Outliers; What the Dog Saw; and David and Goliath. All five made it to the New York Times Bestseller List. I have … Continue reading → Interviews Malcolm Gladwell Niall Ferguson public speaking Tim Ferriss MORE
I recently read an updated statistic about people’s attention span. According to research done at Kaiser Permanente, humans have an average attention span of 8 seconds [one second shorter than a goldfish!]. As presenters, this should be very worrisome. MORE
Introduction. At SlideModel.com we create professional PowerPoint Templates to help our subscribers save time creating professional presentation decks. An important segment of our customers is interested in presenting business data and require professional visualizations for this task. MORE
This is a review of a blog post by Craig Hadden , who blogs about presenting at Remote Possibilities. Craig is an instructional designer living in Sydney, Australia. Currently, the main tool he uses at work is Articulate Storyline. He loves “the way presenting is both a science and an art.” MORE
There would be people who'd disagree with the premise of Michael Parker's new book, It's Not What You Say. I would not be one of them. MORE
Research on how our brain works and how it responds to information gives us a better understanding of human behavior. What is becoming increasingly agreed upon is that images (a.k.a. visual cues) used instead of, or in addition to, words make information clearer, easier to access and more memorable. MORE
Prepare: The more you prepare and the better handle you have on the material you are presenting, the better it will go. Practice: Once you have prepared, you MUST practice, early and often. Rumor has it that Churchill practiced for one hour per one minute of speech content he was delivering. MORE
Here’s an interesting article that I just ran across while researching trends in public speaking. Lisa B. Marshall identifies 7. I paraphrase these in brief but the article is worth reading especially if you’re teaching public speaking. Public speaking in the business world is becoming more casual. MORE
Edward Tufte is a leading expert in the data analysis and data visualization space. His books are classics and required reading for anyone interested in understanding how best to display quantitative information. I read his books just after I left Apple in 2003 to become a college professor in Japan. MORE
The first minute after you start speaking is crucial. Your audience wants you to succeed, but they also judge you pretty quickly. So don’t be boring in that first minute! Don’t… …say “My name is x and my topic is y. Let’s get started.” MORE
Few have the resources to be Renaissance men today, experts say. Jonnelle Marte. "…Jay-Z, MORE
Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was published in 1974. The book has sold more than 5 million copies and is widely considered a modern philosophical classic. In Zen, Pirsig discusses the metaphysics of quality. He explores the subject over the course of … Continue reading → Audience Preparation audience Presentation public speaking Robert Pirsig Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance MORE
It’s universally acknowledged that employers seek applicants with strong speaking and writing abilities. Despite being highly educated and armed with technical skills, many millennials lack the soft skills to compete in the workplace. MORE
Haruki Murakami is best known as the author of “Norwegian Wood”, and the “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle” – and many other books. If you haven’t read his books I highly recommend you check them out. MORE
If you are over 50, you may have noticed your voice growing weaker, or phlegmier, or sounding more tired than it used to. Sorry to say, but the process that makes your knees sag also makes your vocal folds get thinner and lose strength and tone. MORE
Akira Kurosawa was one of the masters of cinema. Below is a six-minute interview where Kurosawa offers advice to aspiring filmmakers, but the advice can be applied more widely to other creative disciplines as well. If you want to make a film today, you don't need expensive equipment necessarily. MORE
Most presentations benefit from a question-and-answer session (Q&A). Audience members appreciate this time to get clarification, share comments or ideas, and get deeper information on key concepts. However, because the Q&A feels less formal than the main presentation, many speakers neglect to prepare for this time. In reality, the Q&A requires just as much preparation as any other section of your talk. Following are seven tips for a successful Q&A. Encourage questions. MORE
Fry-day, Fry-day: Is pop music frying our vocal cords? MORE
RHETORIC–The Public Speaking Game™. Public speaking. The mere thought of it can set hearts pounding! And yet, being able to communicate one’s ideas in public is an important and sought-after skill. MORE
Shortly after he returned to Apple in 1997, Steve Jobs gave an internal presentation to employees from the Town Hall building on the Apple campus (YouTube link below). This was an important presentation to let employees know where the company stood and where it was heading. MORE
In the entrepreneurial world, and especially in the speaking and coaching worlds, we like to say "There is no competition." You see, we all have something unique to offer, we each have a unique voice and message, and no one else can do what we do in exactly the same way we do it. And this is true. MORE
Would you use a soap containing drain cleaner as a key ingredient? If you won’t, then you probably won’t use any soap. One of the best drain cleaners is sodium hydroxide. The reason it is so good at cleaning drains is that it dissolves fat. But what happens when the fat dissolves? MORE
Recently, I worked with a client who was presenting to millennials. He wanted the design to look modern. His designer told him that he should use thin fonts, meaning that the font stroke is thin. He asked me to consult with him on the overall impression of the slides. MORE
Ten years ago this week, I started blogging. My first post was published on October 9, 2006. Since that time, I've published 1,475 posts, I've saved 86 drafts that are still waiting to be finished and published, and I'm turning about 60 of them into a book to be published by the end of this year. MORE
Scary may be a good thing for Halloween decorations and theme park rides but certainly not for presentation slides. MORE
Some people are just more expressive than others. When you listen to an expressive person, you hear lots of pitches and pace changes and even more pauses than someone who is not as expressive. For years, in American business, people were taught to get rid of their vocal variety. MORE
PowerPoint Tips
DECEMBER 4, 2016
Recently, I worked with a client who was presenting to millennials. He wanted the design to look modern. His designer told him that he should use thin fonts, meaning that the font stroke is thin. He asked me to consult with him on the overall impression of the slides.
Manner of Speaking
SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
This post is part of a series on rhetoric and rhetorical devices. For other posts in the series, please click this link.
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Professionally Speaking...
OCTOBER 25, 2016
Scary may be a good thing for Halloween decorations and theme park rides but certainly not for presentation slides.
Matt Eventoff
AUGUST 24, 2016
Prepare: The more you prepare and the better handle you have on the material you are presenting, the better it will go. Practice: Once you have prepared, you MUST practice, early and often. Rumor has it that Churchill practiced for one hour per one minute of speech content he was delivering.
Speak Schmeak
SEPTEMBER 24, 2016
I recently attended an event with a long lineup of speakers. I'm like a kid in a candy store at events with lots of speakers!
Ian Griffin - Professionally Speaking
SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
On Thursday September 1, members of the Silicon Valley Speechwriters Roundtable hosted a conference call with with renowned author, speechwriter and professor Bob Lehrman. Robert A.
Craig Strachan - Keep Talking!
MAY 10, 2016
Communicating your presentation idea alone won’t be enough to convince your audience. You should also have the charismatic appeal to enhance your credibility and complement your central message. A likeable image is what leaves them swayed, in awe, and wanting more.
Speaking Pro Central brings together the best content for professional speakers from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Presentation Guru
DECEMBER 13, 2016
Presentation Guru is dedicated to helping professionals communicate with real impact in pursuit of whatever they do. We want designers to design, speakers to speak and teachers to teach to the absolute limit of their imagination.
Presentation Zen
DECEMBER 7, 2016
Edward Tufte is a leading expert in the data analysis and data visualization space. His books are classics and required reading for anyone interested in understanding how best to display quantitative information. I read his books just after I left Apple in 2003 to become a college professor in Japan.
Speaking Freely
AUGUST 28, 2016
About Gravitas Gravitas is about using your personal power in service to others and giving up the pleasure of asserting your power with a sharp voice tone. contacted me and shared that he is strong technically, reports to the highest leaders in his company and gets great feedback that his expertise is valuable. He has […].
PowerPoint Tips
APRIL 25, 2016
Introduction. At SlideModel.com we create professional PowerPoint Templates to help our subscribers save time creating professional presentation decks. An important segment of our customers is interested in presenting business data and require professional visualizations for this task.
Manner of Speaking
SEPTEMBER 13, 2016
Malcolm Gladwell is a Canadian journalist author and speaker. He has written five books: The Tipping Point; Blink; Outliers; What the Dog Saw; and David and Goliath. All five made it to the New York Times Bestseller List. I have … Continue reading → Interviews Malcolm Gladwell Niall Ferguson public speaking Tim Ferriss
Professionally Speaking...
MARCH 11, 2016
There would be people who'd disagree with the premise of Michael Parker's new book, It's Not What You Say. I would not be one of them.
Matt Eventoff
AUGUST 24, 2016
“It’s a beautiful thing, the Destruction of words. Of course the great wastage is in the verbs and adjectives, but there are hundreds of nouns that can be got rid of as well.”. George Orwell, 1984. George Orwell, public speaking expert?
Speak Schmeak
OCTOBER 15, 2016
Ten years ago this week, I started blogging. My first post was published on October 9, 2006. Since that time, I've published 1,475 posts, I've saved 86 drafts that are still waiting to be finished and published, and I'm turning about 60 of them into a book to be published by the end of this year.
Ian Griffin - Professionally Speaking
NOVEMBER 1, 2016
An interesting post in OZY explains why the next hot job in Silicon Valley is speechwriting.
Craig Strachan - Keep Talking!
MAY 3, 2016
Haruki Murakami is best known as the author of “Norwegian Wood”, and the “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle” – and many other books. If you haven’t read his books I highly recommend you check them out.
Kate's Voice
SEPTEMBER 12, 2016
If you are over 50, you may have noticed your voice growing weaker, or phlegmier, or sounding more tired than it used to. Sorry to say, but the process that makes your knees sag also makes your vocal folds get thinner and lose strength and tone.
Presentation Guru
NOVEMBER 21, 2016
RHETORIC–The Public Speaking Game™. Public speaking. The mere thought of it can set hearts pounding! And yet, being able to communicate one’s ideas in public is an important and sought-after skill.
Presentation Zen
SEPTEMBER 29, 2016
Shortly after he returned to Apple in 1997, Steve Jobs gave an internal presentation to employees from the Town Hall building on the Apple campus (YouTube link below). This was an important presentation to let employees know where the company stood and where it was heading.
DeFinis Communications
NOVEMBER 29, 2016
Most presentations benefit from a question-and-answer session (Q&A). Audience members appreciate this time to get clarification, share comments or ideas, and get deeper information on key concepts. However, because the Q&A feels less formal than the main presentation, many speakers neglect to prepare for this time. In reality, the Q&A requires just as much preparation as any other section of your talk. Following are seven tips for a successful Q&A. Encourage questions.
PowerPoint Tips
NOVEMBER 12, 2016
This is a review of a blog post by Craig Hadden , who blogs about presenting at Remote Possibilities. Craig is an instructional designer living in Sydney, Australia. Currently, the main tool he uses at work is Articulate Storyline. He loves “the way presenting is both a science and an art.”
Manner of Speaking
OCTOBER 17, 2016
Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was published in 1974. The book has sold more than 5 million copies and is widely considered a modern philosophical classic. In Zen, Pirsig discusses the metaphysics of quality. He explores the subject over the course of … Continue reading → Audience Preparation audience Presentation public speaking Robert Pirsig Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Professionally Speaking...
FEBRUARY 19, 2016
Research on how our brain works and how it responds to information gives us a better understanding of human behavior. What is becoming increasingly agreed upon is that images (a.k.a. visual cues) used instead of, or in addition to, words make information clearer, easier to access and more memorable.
Matt Eventoff
AUGUST 24, 2016
Fry-day, Fry-day: Is pop music frying our vocal cords?
Speak Schmeak
APRIL 26, 2016
At last month's Shake Up Your Speaking retreat, I gave the attendees an exercise that involve picking a temporary tattoo out of a bag, applying it to their arm, and then applying the message on the tattoo to where they were in their speaking journey.
Ian Griffin - Professionally Speaking
MAY 4, 2016
It’s universally acknowledged that employers seek applicants with strong speaking and writing abilities. Despite being highly educated and armed with technical skills, many millennials lack the soft skills to compete in the workplace.
Craig Strachan - Keep Talking!
APRIL 25, 2016
Would you use a soap containing drain cleaner as a key ingredient? If you won’t, then you probably won’t use any soap. One of the best drain cleaners is sodium hydroxide. The reason it is so good at cleaning drains is that it dissolves fat. But what happens when the fat dissolves?
Kate's Voice
MARCH 30, 2016
Some people are just more expressive than others. When you listen to an expressive person, you hear lots of pitches and pace changes and even more pauses than someone who is not as expressive. For years, in American business, people were taught to get rid of their vocal variety.
The Communication Blog
APRIL 20, 2016
Here’s an interesting article that I just ran across while researching trends in public speaking. Lisa B. Marshall identifies 7. I paraphrase these in brief but the article is worth reading especially if you’re teaching public speaking. Public speaking in the business world is becoming more casual.
Presentation Zen
SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
Akira Kurosawa was one of the masters of cinema. Below is a six-minute interview where Kurosawa offers advice to aspiring filmmakers, but the advice can be applied more widely to other creative disciplines as well. If you want to make a film today, you don't need expensive equipment necessarily.
DeFinis Communications
NOVEMBER 23, 2016
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Having grown up in the restaurant business I love bringing people together for a traditional Thanksgiving feast. It is a time to celebrate community and share our gratitude for our close-knit family and wonderful friends. Yet even with our mild mannered guests, conversations can get awkward. And while we don’t have “family feuds” per se, tensions can mount when we talk about such topics as politics, social issues or world affairs.
PowerPoint Tips
OCTOBER 30, 2016
The first minute after you start speaking is crucial. Your audience wants you to succeed, but they also judge you pretty quickly. So don’t be boring in that first minute! Don’t… …say “My name is x and my topic is y. Let’s get started.”
Manner of Speaking
NOVEMBER 7, 2016
While skimming through my Twitter feed the other day, a Tweet caught my eye. It contained the link to a post on Entrepreneur by Jonathan Li entitled 10 Mistakes Successful Speakers Never Make Again. I was intrigued. I thought, I make mistakes; I … Continue reading → Toastmasters John Zimmer practice presentations public speaking
Professionally Speaking...
JANUARY 5, 2016
I recently read an updated statistic about people’s attention span. According to research done at Kaiser Permanente, humans have an average attention span of 8 seconds [one second shorter than a goldfish!]. As presenters, this should be very worrisome.
Matt Eventoff
AUGUST 24, 2016
Few have the resources to be Renaissance men today, experts say. Jonnelle Marte. "…Jay-Z,
Speak Schmeak
JULY 28, 2016
In the entrepreneurial world, and especially in the speaking and coaching worlds, we like to say "There is no competition." You see, we all have something unique to offer, we each have a unique voice and message, and no one else can do what we do in exactly the same way we do it. And this is true.
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