THE 9 WORST WORDS SPEAKERS CAN UTTER. (And what standout speakers do instead.)
BETTER Speaking > Let the world LIVE your message!™
Those horrid words?
“Sorry to ask you to drink with a firehose...”
That apology to an audience — whether in a boardroom, keynote, or funding pitch — smacks of amateurism.
It says to the informed in your (long-suffering) audience that you are ill-prepared, ill-disciplined, and ill-mannered.
(OK, that sounds a bit cranky, doesn’t it?)
But don’t just trust me. Nothing new there. Consider an insight by Samuel Clemens — the highest-paid lecturer of the Victorian Era. He felt the same.
In the 1880s, Clemens (aka, Mark Twain) spoke to thousands a year in hundreds of venues. Worldwide. He once observed:
“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.”
He knew it was better on stage to build tension or release... with a pause.
(Not to overwhelm his audience with a content torrent.)
When you take center stage (or center screen), abandon the firehose. Take the time to build in pause — in pace and words.
Firehoses are for, well... fires.
Pauses are for presentations.
I am DEVIN D. MARKS. I’m writing this newsletter to share what I’ve learned from deep dives into the world of TED Talks and idea spreading. Over the years, I’ve been privileged to serve 100s of authors, executives, and researchers — from million-view TEDsters to CEOs winning 9-figure funding rounds. My public speaking and story training firm, CONNECT to COMPEL helps leaders, just like you, to maximize your message. We can connect via 617.804.6020, or you can DM me here.
THREE THINGS.
I. The Quote.
When thinking about speaking, consider the audience first and this insight, reputedly by Plato:
“A wise man speaks because he has something to say, a fool speaks because he has to say something.”
II. The Bookshelf.
Garry Wills explores how Lincoln, drawing inspiration from the Declaration of Independence, crafted the iconic Gettysburg Address. The author delves into the historical context, breathing new life into familiar words. He unveils the intellectual revolution sparked by Lincoln, demonstrating the enduring power of his transformative speech. Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words that Remade America. Given the power of Lincoln’s few words, this historical perspective is a worthy addition to your bookshelf.
III. The Learning.
Here is Carmine Gallo’s video learning, Simplify Complex Ideas the AMAZON Way:
THE m3 FRAMEWORK.
Three principles make the Marks Maximized Messaging (m3) framework so very, very connecting and compelling. Whether you're working on a keynote or a commencement address; an all-hands preso or a pitch, you will want to be:
[✔] 5Fold-Focused
(5 factors here)
[✔] Story-Wrapped
(3 factors here)
[✔] Action-Igniting
(7 factors here)
To begin a conversation about bringing the m3 framework to your next presentation, click here. After all, it is time to…
Let the world LIVE your message!™
P.S. ARE YOU A HOPEFUL TED TALK SPEAKER? Did you know the m3 framework is the basis for my award-winning, TED Talk coaching method? Many, many million-view TEDsters have benefitted from my coaching — including Harvard's Dr. Robert Waldinger in his 46M view, TOP 10 TED Talk. Let’s connect and consider your steps to center stage.