Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 329) – James Baldwin
“You have to decide who you are and force the world to deal with you, not with its idea of you.” James Baldwin Photo courtesy of Allan Warren
Authenticity
The temptation to be like others is strong. But if we always try to fit in, we will never stand out. We become just one more slice of bread in one more bland, homogenized loaf. And there are millions of bland loaves of bread out there. Good luck getting noticed while sitting on the same […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 292) – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Analysis of a Speech by Khizr Khan
Of the 204 speeches that were delivered at the 2016 Republican and Democratic Conventions in the United States—71 by Republicans and 133 by Democrats—one has stood out. I refer to the speech by Khizr Khan, the father of a Muslim-American soldier who was killed in Iraq. Mr. Khan spoke on the final day of the Democratic Convention. With his wife standing […]
8 Lessons from a Dutch Fashion Designer
I believe in the power of consistent, focused practice in one’s chosen discipline. As a professional speaker, I spend a lot of time working to improve my skills. I speak, train, read and write. I watch videos of other speakers and I seek feedback on my own speeches. Jan Taminiau However, there is much we can […]
Be an Original, not a Fake: Lessons from the World of Art
There are important insights into authenticity from an expert in the art world. Philip Mould’s are also relevant for many aspects of our daily lives, including public speaking. Here are some questions that speakers should ask themselves that parallel Mould’s observations.
Five Characteristics You Need to Succeed as a Public Speaker
This is a guest post by Arman Sadeghi. Arman is an entrepreneur, professional speaker and founder of Titanium Success. He has a degree in molecular and cell biology from the University of California at Berkeley. Arman has a passion for healthy mind, body, and spirit. He speaks about, and coaches people on, personal development and success. ——— Great public speakers are […]
Kevin Spacey's Three Key Elements to a Compelling Story
“The story is everything, which means that it’s our job to tell better stories.” – Kevin Spacey In 2014, actor Kevin Spacey delivered the final keynote address to over 2,500 participants at the Content Marketing World Conference in Cleveland. The theme of Spacey’s talk was storytelling. Drawing heavily on his experience in the performing arts, but also on […]
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