Have you ever been subjected to listening to a speaker who stacked their speech with so many statistics that you totally disengaged? Most people engage far better with stories, not facts. While stats and research are an important part of backing up your points, think of them like a seasoning you add to a meal. Too many statistics will “kill” your speech the same way that 3 cups of black pepper would ruin most meals. First re-live your story. Then give your statistics to make your point stick! I was driving my brand new 50 year Anniversary Ruby Red Mustang with my husband in the passenger seat on a bright clear sunny day with temperatures in the 40’s on April 18, 2015. We were waiting patiently at a yield sign for the traffic to clear when we felt a heavy jolt on our seats. The SUV behind us had plowed into the back seat of our new Mustang. My husband immediately called the police. I quickly got out of the Mustang and walked behind my Mustang before the dr...
At the end of your speech give your audience “one next step to take.” Tell your audience, before they leave your speech, what you want them to do. Do not confuse them by giving them several things to do! When I tell my story of “Quietly Walking Away”. I’m talking about walking away from a snake or walking away from a bully! When you see a snake, the safest way to survive is to “walk away”. So be observant and listen. If you hear a sizzling sound “walk away”. The snake is making the noise to get you to "walk away". If you see it “walk away”. Don’t get closer to the snake and start poking it with a stick. Just “walk away”! When you are dealing with a bully, like my story of “Negotiating My Life On Top of The World”, you need to "walk away" and not escalate the conflict. The Roofer in the story is trying to throw me off the roof to extort more money for the job. He is deranged and possibly on drugs. I don’t escalate the situation. I let him ran...