
Here’s One Reason Why Stories Fail To Connect
Have you ever listened to a story that left you feeling…. Meh? There are several reasons why stories don’t create an emotional connection. One of the most common is lack of motivation for your main character. Consider this story: A prospective client wants to give...

Here’s One Surefire Way To Become A Better Speaker, Faster
“Do you want to become a better speaker? Become a better evaluator.” ~ Lance Miller, World Champion Of Public Speaking Early in my speaking career, I was struggling to improve my influence with audiences. I rehearsed, reviewed evaluations, rewrote my talks, and...

How One Encounter Opened My Eyes To Long Term Influence
It’s late summer 1999. My dad and I are standing in the lobby of a crowded restaurant, waiting to be seated. A man in his early 30’s wearing medical scrubs walks toward us and looks at my dad. “Mr. Davis? Dad says, “Yes. Can I help you?” “Mr. Davis, I’m James. You...
Public Speaking Is Your Number One Fear… Or Is It?
Look at any list of fears and phobias. You'll find public speaking listed at or near the top. This makes sense, right? Everybody knows public speaking is a terrifying experience. Why is this activity considered our #1 fear? There are various opinions. For years, I...

Want To Relate To Your Next Audience? Include THIS Key Moment
“I've had it! I can't take any more! Something has to change!” Think about a time in your life when you felt that way. You may have said those words about a business relationship, company or financial challenge. Each of us has at some point felt like this. Now think...
One Simple Rule To Avoid Presenting Too Much Information In Your Speeches
Pick up insights into presenting with more impact and influence. Listen to this engaging and informative clip from the interview between Michael Davis and Captain Jim Palmer of Dream Business Radio. You’ll pick up a simple rule that keeps you from over-stuffing your...

Eliminate This One Dirty Word And Significantly Improve Your Life
I was on a phone call with a friend. She repeated a word several times that is one of the dirtiest words in the English language. It's a word that creates more stress, anxiety, and frustration than any other. If we could eliminate this word, people would be...

Where To Get Ideas When You’re Stuck
Imagine This Scene… You want to write new post, record a video, or create a blog. You sit down to write and your brain… Goes blank. Nada. You can't think of nothin’! How does that feel? Most people feel frustrated when this happens. You know your topic, you have...

How One World Class Athletic Skill Can Help You Speak With More Impact
Have you ever watched a world class athlete or performer, singer, actor, and thought, “Wow, they make it look so easy?” There’s an obvious reason they’re able to do this. They’ve prepared and rehearsed over and over again. But there’s one specific impact of the...

How One Word Can Dramatically Increase The Bond With Your Listener
An Ideal Audience Response Imagine you've completed an energetic and engaging presentation. You're feeling terrific about the interaction with your audience. People approach you to share their appreciation. A common phrase you hear from them is, "I feel like you were...

When Is It OK To Use Filler Words Like “Um” and “Ah”?
When I was a young, wanna-be professional speaker, I had a problem: Every time I spoke, my goal was to give a perfect speech. This was a symptom of my insecurity and inferiority complex. One area where this often reared its ugly head was in the area of filler...

Why You Should Check IN To Keep Your Audience From Checking OUT
Imagine you’re sitting in an auditorium with 150 other people. You’re listening to a speaker who’s talking about one of your favorite topics. The presentation is enlightening and energetic, but, something’s missing. After the presentation, you have a...
How To Fall In Love (Again) With Your Speech Or Story
Are You in Love With Your Speech? I’m driving home after giving a speech at a big conference. I’m feeling down. Have you ever felt frustrated, but not known why? I’m thinking, “I didn’t connect with the audience. They were polite, but something was missing....

One Key To Boost Your Story And Keep Listener Interest
When a rocket takes off from the Launchpad, it needs a major boost of energy to get started. Without it, it never leaves the Earth. The same can be said for your stories. Without energy, they won’t grab and keep the attention of your listeners. Regarding...

One Proven Method To Avoid Annoying, Irritating, And Losing Your Audience
In a recent post, we discussed the most important part of a presentation. There are several key elements, but by far the most important is: The thoughts and feelings of the audience listening to you. If you missed that post, you can read it: CLICK HERE The...