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 […]
Master the Art of Presenting 2016
I am excited to announce that the third annual Master the Art of Presenting. It will take place on 20-21 October 2016 in Helsinki, Finland. A few years ago, my friend and presentation design expert, Timo Sorri, was staying over at our home in Switzerland. We got to discussing different ways in which we could collaborate. This event was the […]
14 Public Speaking Lessons from the United States Supreme Court
I am a lawyer (both a barrister and solicitor), and a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. I began my legal career with Fasken Martineau, one of Canada’s oldest and largest law firms. There, I specialized in corporate commercial litigation and environmental law. In 1998, I left the private sector in order to […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 231) – Susan Cain
“Some introverts are perfectly comfortable with public speaking; I’m not one of them.” Susan Cain Photo courtesy of Steve Jurvetson
Your Talk is a Gift
Seth Godin is the author of several books about “marketing, the spread of ideas and managing both customers and employees with respect”. They are bestsellers. His blog is one of my favourites and I highly recommend it. This post is part of a series based on original posts by Seth. Your talk is a gift In this blog post […]
What Kurt Vonnegut Can Teach Us About Business Stories
Kurt Vonnegut was a master storyteller and storytelling is powerful. Stories resonate with people on a deep, psychological level. Stories are memorable and help support our messages. Hence the speaker’s maxim: Tell a story, make a point. The best stories contain many elements related to plot, character, dialogue, etc. For some insights into what those elements are, check […]
8 Tips from Kurt Vonnegut to Make You a Better Speaker
Kurt Vonnegut was one of the United States’ most intelligent, witty and beloved authors. His novels such as Slaughterhouse Five, Breakfast of Champions and The Sirens of Titan are still widely read and just as insightful as they were when they were first published. In the 1980s, Vonnegut wrote a short essay entitled “How to Write […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 229) – Lou Holtz
“All you need is something to say and a burning desire to say it. It doesn’t matter where your hands are.” Lou Holtz
11 Steps to a Killer Presentation
Tagged audienceGuy KawasakiPresentationpublic speakingself-developmentsimplicity