Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 120) – Bill Gates

“What I do best is share my enthusiasm.” Bill Gates
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 119) – Pablo Neruda

“All paths lead to the same goal: to convey to others what we are. And we must pass through solitude and difficulty, isolation and silence in order to reach forth to the enchanted place where we can dance our clumsy dance and sing our sorrowful song—but in this dance or in this song there are […]
Good Penmanship for Public Speakers

The pen is mightier than the sword; but when it comes to public speaking, an empty hand is mightier than the pen. Sometimes, a speaker will take the stage holding a pen and deliver the entire speech or presentation without ever writing a single word. Yet all the while, the pen is omnipresent, moving up […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 117) – Conor Neill

“Start strong with a ‘grabber’. A personal story, a quote from an expert or a shocking statistic—something that takes a hold of your audience and gets them hooked and opens their mind to your message. Give the audience a chance to see your personal connection to the topic.” Conor Neill
Reading a Speech

If you can deliver a speech without reading it, that is the best scenario. However, if you must read your speech or use notes, here are some tips to help you out.
"Halftime in America" – An Analysis

One commercial that caught my attention during this year’s Superbowl was Chrysler’s motivational offering entitled “It’s Halftime America”. It featured actor and director Clint Eastwood. The ad has generated some controversy. However, I want to leave aside all commentary about politics and economics, and analyze the speech on its own merits. I found it excellent for many reasons […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 115) – Michelangelo

“If people only knew how hard I work to gain my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.” Michelangelo
What We Can Learn From Josh and Grace

Every once in a while, you come across a simple story that brings a smile to your face and a tear to your eye; a story that makes you realize what is important and gives you hope for the future. Today I discovered once such story about Down Syndrome from two fellow Canadians, Josh and […]
Rhetorical Devices: Hypophora

This post is part of a series on rhetoric and rhetorical devices. For other posts in the series, please click this link. For a comprehensive, step-by-step overview of how to write a speech outline, please see this post. Device: Hypophora Origin: From the Greek ὑπόϕορά (hypofora), meaning “carrying under” or “putting under”. In plain English: Asking […]
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