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 driver backed up and left the
scene of the accident. I looked at the driver, a young woman around 21, and
noticed she was texting!
I quickly took a picture
of the back of my new Mustang which had her license plate embedded in the
bumper of my car. Her SUV was not damaged other than her missing license plate
stuck in the back of my formerly new now damaged Mustang. The back of it looked
like a folded accordion. At least no one was hurt.
The police and fire
department were there within 10 minutes of the accident. We showed
the policeman her license embedded in our Mustang .The policeman removed it
from the back of the Mustang with great force handing it back to the SUV driver,
instead of impounding the evidence!
The young woman a few
minutes later, told me how sorry she was about damaging my new Mustang. She
said, “I was on my way to College to take my final exam as I have been
sick. My final was postponed until today!”
The young woman’s mother
showed up and didn’t want her daughter to sign the police report admitting her
guilt.
The policeman had both
of us sign the police report. She was given a ticket, charging her with being
at fault.
My damaged new Mustang was driven to the dealership and then to
the local repair shop.
Meanwhile the young woman who ran through my new Mustang with her
SUV while texting had her insurance company representative call me. She said,
“It was your fault and the police do not count as witnesses. Our insurance
company will not pay the claim!”
I told her insurance
agent I had a passenger in my car who was a witness as to what her client had
done to my new 50th Anniversary Mustang and her clients license
was imbedded into the back of my car. I had taken a picture to prove it!
After her call, I called
my insurance agent and told him what she had said and asked him to handle it!
It took 6 months and
over $12,000 to repair my 50th Anniversary Mustang to look like
new! The fire department sent me a bill for $200 and the repair shop gave me a
bill for $200 after the insurance was paid.
My insurance company
paid the claim and eventually forced her insurance company to reimburse them
for their client’s damage to my Mustang.
Most people are conditioned
to respond immediately to the needs, alerts, and messages of other people. Like
a lab rat addicted to drugs, our brains have been rewired to respond.
In the United States,
distracted drivers cause 1 out of 4 traffic accidents. That’s 1.6
million crashes every year causing 330,000 injuries and
deaths each year.
Is your life worth not
being able to wait a few minutes to respond to the ping or alert you've just
received? One thing I've found useful is to switch my cell phone in the
"off" position, and place it out of reach.
If you need your phone
for navigation, disable the alerts from all apps other than your map app.
They'll be there when you arrive at your destination. More importantly...you
will arrive at your destination in one piece!
When you use statistics
in your story to make a point use at most 3 to 4 statistics!
What statistics do you
want to use in your story to make a point for your audience to remember?
When you are tempted to
use a statistic in your story, ask yourself, "So What?" This forces
you to come up with a benefit that the reader or audience member can use.
Please share your thoughts and comments about this blog.
Until next week
remember to use at most three to four well-chosen statistics to make your
stories point memorable and visual.
Madeline Frank, Ph.D., is a 2014 Certified World Class Speaking Coach. She
has been coaching and mentoring business professionals to be champion speakers
for over 5 years. She is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, speaker, business owner, teacher, and
concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations "Tune Up their
Business". Her observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve
and keep your business successful. Her latest book "Leadership On A
Shoestring Budget" is available everywhere books are sold.
Contact Madeline Frank for your booking and
other inquiries at mfrankviola@gmail.com
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