What Makes a Great Speech

I recently worked with a client who had three minutes - only three - to convey a lifetime of experiences and memories. He was returning home to accept a lifetime achievement award from his community. His love for his hometown was obvious from the beginning, and he links nearly every achievement in his life to someone he knew or something he did back then.

As the famous quote says, “If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.” By the way, a search for who actually said that quote originally leads down some interesting rabbit holes, but that would make this post longer than it has to be.

The point is this: speechwriting is not magic. Even great works of art have a process or a structure behind them. It’s what the artist - that’s you - does with that structure that elevates the work from good to great.

I believe that the sum of your knowledge and your experiences enriches this process. It’s important for every speaker, whether it’s your first or your one hundredth time on stage, to know how to make the most of that time.

Download my infographic, 3 Phases to a Successful Speech, and get in touch if you’re interested in learning more.

One Year Later

As we approach the end of another year, I’m feeling reflective. I feel enormous pride and satisfaction for the work that each of my clients has done – and gratitude for allowing me to take part. Last December, the Content Interpreter officially launched. The goal was simple: empowering individuals and professionals to gain mastery of their stories and deliver them with passion and conviction. 

What happened over the next twelve months was beyond my expectations. I am humbled by the influence these anecdotes had over my clients and over me. I was excited whenever we came to that single insight that made them so much richer. I was gratified when I saw the video clips that captured speakers enjoying the storytelling experience even more than I had thought.

The last year has been filled with illuminating conversations, some laughs, and even some struggles to find just the right turn of phrase. But it’s all part of the process. From architecture to Wall Street, from the professional to the personal, you allowed me into your stories. Some businesses launched, and some celebrated milestones of longevity. Some professionals focused on their origin stories, while some focused on what’s next. Some people were expanding skill sets, and some were honoring family members.

Thank you for letting me play a small part in elevating the events that make such an impact on you. They certainly have made an impact on me. I cannot wait to see which will unfold and which will be retold in the next year.

What's Missing is Already There

The best parts of my job are the conversations, which give me the opportunity to hear some great stories. Stories about past work experiences, career aspirations and personal epiphanies are the gems that make what I do not only fun, but necessary.

The key to great content is in listening, not writing. We all have stories to tell, so there should be no problem finding them. Most of our stories, we believe, don't add to the conversation. When talking to others - professionally or personally - we de-emphasize seemingly small details because we assume that no one would care or that they wouldn't matter.

I recently worked on a brand narrative for a client of mine - a multi-talented personal chef and caterer, and an even better person. The near-finished product reflected all the values that we had discussed in conversation, but it felt like something was missing. During our review, she mentioned a detail about her mother safeguarding certain recipes and her very personal relationship with food. This was brought up as a complete aside while we reviewed.

Something clicked. This insight, while not specifically included in the final product, reframed the whole narrative. The client's main objective is to make their culinary experience better, but there's an underlying dichotomy there. How does a chef's quest for personalization also build community, which she clearly had among her most loyal followers? This is a breeding ground for new stories, along with a different dynamic that her clients experience when they visit her site.

These are the stories that you must bring to the page and to the stage. The tattoo on your ankle that no one ever sees, the times when you pretended to sing into your hairbrush, or even that embarrassing flub from your first job interview are all experiences that are the foundation of great storytelling. More importantly, they're all interwoven, creating the tapestry of your complete experience.

The more authenticity you bring to the stage - experiences you can call your own - the more rewarding it will be for you and your audience.