WORLD CHAMPION SPEAKER
Ever see something that made you stop in your tracks? You weren’t exactly sure what you were seeing, but you knew there was a story behind the image? This weekend I decided to take a drive to Mt. Charleston to get a change of scenery and take a hike in the cooler elevations of Vegas.…
There’s always proof of the value in your message–if you know where to look. Every year in the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking, there are tens of thousands of speech contestants, and each of them has a story behind their journey. This year, one story behind a semi-finals speech blew me away. I was…
Have you ever had a mentor say something to you that shocked you? I was awestruck when I received a letter in the mail recently from Judy Carter — one of my mentors. “You have taught me much on how to teach comedy to speakers. You’ve taught me to slow down and break the process…
Do you want to make a deeper and more lasting impression on your audience? To deepen that connection, you must go deeper within yourself. Doesn’t that just make sense? Everyone has a story; in fact, many stories. Do you ever feel jealous of other presenters who have great stories and wish stories like that would…
Can you hear the old prospector from a spaghetti western saying that? Actually, the well-known line is a misquote from 1849 when Dr. M.F. Stephenson tried to persuade miners to stay around the hills of Dahlonega, GA, instead of heading to California for the Gold Rush. Why does human nature guide us to look…
Is this photo funny? Or not? There’s no direct answer to whether something is ‘funny’ or not. It’s processed inside your brain, so the real question is, “Is that funny to me?” Then, perhaps, will it be funny to an audience? It depends. It depends on audience members. What’s their frame of reference?…their background? An…
How to be funny? Sometimes it is better to say no to stage time. The decision is the event planners, not yours. This video was shot live in another country when I was supposed to do comedy outside for a conference. If you want to be funny, know when to say no. Check out this…
As I drove with my new friend, Shashank, to the Chennai, India, airport, I asked him about his speaking topics. He surprised me when he said, “I teach people to quit.” What? In the motivational world, we’ve heard so much about never quitting and not listening to naysayers. But teaching people to quit? He had…
At this time of year, after the holiday and before the end of the year, you may reflect back and look forward to the New Year fast approaching. I felt that this article, one of my most-read classics from three years ago, was perfect for today. Even if you have read it before, it may…
At this time of year, after the holiday and before the end of the year, you may reflect back and look forward to the New Year fast approaching. I felt that this article, one of my most-read classics from three years ago, was perfect for today. Even if you have read it before, it may…