Do you study the best people in any industry to see how their expertise applies to you? On Mother’s Day, a few years ago, I went to see Neil Diamond in concert. He is an amazing performer, especially considering that he was 74 years old. It is hard for me to take off my presentation…
I can clearly see now that I was very much a dreamer, much more than a doer in my early days. I have to admit I have always been a bit enamored with very famous people who had significant accomplishments. I’m not saying it’s good. In fact, many times, it’s not good at all. It…
Before you jump to conclusions, hear me out. It’s not what you may be thinking. Sometimes little moments from our youth, seemingly random, but the way they strike us, they can really stick. This was one of those moments. One of my mom’s closest friends was Sharon, who lived across the street. Her son Derek…
After my mentor Fitzy passed, I continued my journey. I felt aimless, working hard for an unknown. Though I was earning a meager income from my telemarketing day job, I tithed faithfully, which is, giving back ten percent to God. I was working my day job at Bose, thirty hours a week. I marketed myself…
It was 1998. I had been a Toastmaster for four years and was starting to get paid for my keynote speeches. I was sitting in my seat, eagerly awaiting the announcements of the Division Humorous Speech contest. I had worked hard on my speech. It was completely original, and I had gotten some great laughs.…
LEAST LIKELY: CHAPTER: THE PIPE DREAM It was 1989, and I had graduated from business school. I don’t remember where the idea came from, but I had a secret dream. I wanted to be an actor. Yeah, I’ve always loved movies and put famous actors on a pedestal. Somehow, I thought they were extra special.…
2021 World Championship of Public Speaking Speech Critiques How serious are you about becoming a World-Class presenter? How about online? Whether or not you are a Toastmaster, we can all learn from the best, myself included. I love learning from what other coaches see. Join Mike Davis, Mark Brown, Lance Miller and me as we…
CHAPTER: DR. BOSE; THE TWO MIT STUDENTS It was just another Direct Marketing Group, “Good News” team meeting at Bose. They did make them fun and interesting, and it was a welcome relief from being on the phones all day. I had heard that Dr. Amar Bose, the founder of Bose, would be speaking…
Two questions:First, what’s your really big ‘they’ll think I’m crazy’ dream? I mean the big one. The one that you think about but then listen to the pessimists and surrender your dream to their ‘reality.’ Well, heck, you are busy, aren’t you? You have priorities, and anyway, deep down inside, you don’t think it’s…
If you like this article, check out the other speech critiques: Matthew McConaughey Denzel Washington What would a speech coach say? Jim Carrey’s Commencement Address at the 2014 MIU Graduation First, let me say that Jim Carrey is a movie star and not a professional speaker. He’s a celebrity brought in to give an inspiring…