


Rock star speechwriters: learn to hear the music in your speech
One of my favourite things about Facebook is that Jon Favreau’s community page lists him as “musician/band”. Not just because he’s kind of a rock star (in, you know, speechwriter terms). But because I’ve argued for a long time that...Hi, this is your passion. I’m not available right now, but if you’d like to leave a brief message…
The best 12 words of speaking advice I’ve seen in a long time came from this article: WRITE your speech from the heart. DELIVER your speech from your skill. Your passion is real—but it isn’t always available on command. To convey the passion behind your ideas every time you speak demands skill and practice. Filed … Continue reading →

What makes a speech’s call to action powerful? A theory of change.
Inspiring speeches don’t just persuade people of a point of view; they urge the audience to action, and show them how that action will produce meaningful progress toward a better world. Here’s an example. After I tweeted this column by the Vancouver Sun’s Daphne Bramham (“We need citizens, not just taxpayers and bookkeepers“), Ryan Merkley … Continue reading →
About that presentation…
Originally posted on Key Messenger:
Recently I attended a luncheon speech by a senior executive from one of the world’s leading technology firms. I even sat next to be guest speaker. During lunch, his colleague indicated that the presentation had technological issues: the file wouldn’t speak to the laptop, which was angry at the projector…
The truth, a story and pictures: Dan Roam on powerful presentations
If we tell them the truth, tell them that truth with a story, and tell that story with pictures, our presentations will be extraordinary. ‘Show and Tell’ Author Dan Roam Talks to Marketing Smarts I’m a fan of Dan Roam’s. He delivered a fantastic presentation to the Nonprofit Technology Conference a few years ago (you … Continue reading →