First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 4, 2014

An audience of “one.” Years ago, I heard a radio person say that when you are on the radio, you have to picture one person listening — a specific person. Speak to that specific person… Yesterday, I heard a part of a terrific interview by Terry Gross on Fresh Air. She interviewed Mark Harris, about […]. Randy''s blog entries'

Audience 102

Audience Blog 102

First Friday Book Synopsis

MAY 25, 2012

You should speak to your audience. [.]. I seldom use it (actually, I prefer Keynote), and when I do, it is mostly images, and mostly to introduce my speech/presentation. So, take this as criticism from one who is not a fan). Here is the deal.

Audience 125

Audience Skills Blog 125

First Friday Book Synopsis

OCTOBER 31, 2012

I speak to lots of different audiences. I listen to a fair number of speeches. And I listen to a whole lot of student speeches at the Community College level. There are some wonderful surprises from some unexpected students. (And, And, yes, there are plenty of students that need to refine both their preparation and their [.].

Audience 103

Audience Tips Blog 103

First Friday Book Synopsis

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

This is subtle. But important. Recently, I heard a presentation. It was good – fine – but, something was “missing.” It took me a while, and then I figured it out. It was as though the speaker was saying “Look, and listen to my presentation. I’m giving my presentation now.” Instead of… “I would like […]. Randy''s blog entries'

Audience 107

Audience Blog 107

First Friday Book Synopsis

APRIL 9, 2013

On how to write ‘fast’ “[In high school] I was a subscriber to the Great Lead Theory, which teaches that a story must have an opening paragraph so powerful that it leaves few readers still standing. Grantland Rice’s ‘Four Horsemen’ lead was my ideal.

Rogers 99

Rogers Audience Tips Blog 99

First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 29, 2012

There are some great messages – delivered, unfortunately, to the wrong audiences. Be sure to connect to your audience; this audience, the audience in front of your eyeballs.

Audience 99

Audience Tips Advice Blog 99

First Friday Book Synopsis

JUNE 11, 2015

I’m spending two days of training with seven credit union professionals. The subject — presentation skills. {a a side issue – I am reminded that I cannot do two things at once. For example, I cannot lead a training session and write a blog post at the same time). Here are a couple of observations from […].

Audience 70

Audience Training Blog Skills 70

First Friday Book Synopsis

DECEMBER 7, 2013

Let me start with a couple of analogies. It’s your first day teaching a class at a new campus. As an adjunct, you have no office — you pretty much just show up and teach. You arrive early enough to find your classroom. But as people walk by you in the hall, asking you: “where […]. Randy''s blog entries'

Audience 95

Audience Class Skills Development 95

First Friday Book Synopsis

FEBRUARY 28, 2014

In The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience (McGraw-Hill, 2009), Carmine Gallo cites a few tips early in his narrative. They may seem simple but don’t be fooled. All of the greatest public speakers will tell you that it took them many years (about 10,000 hours) […].

Audience 75

Audience Tips Blog Planning 75

First Friday Book Synopsis

JUNE 1, 2014

He has been commissioned by Fortune 50 companies to write for many CEOs and presidents. He has coached people to give […].

Charisma 80

Charisma Wilde Drucker Audience 80

First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 10, 2014

Recently, I told an audience that Willful Blindness by Margaret Heffernan was the best book I have read in the last few years. I knew I should have used a different word than best. Maybe I should have said the most important book Ive read in the last few years. Anyway, a member of the […]. Randy''s blog entries'

Books 140

Books Audience Blog 140

First Friday Book Synopsis

NOVEMBER 3, 2014

You know, books written by academicians, filled with footnotes, and not having all that wide an audience. Every now and then, I pull out one of already read, or not yet read, “serious” books. I wish I read more of these. But, as always, so many books, so little time… One book that I occasionally […]. Randy''s blog entries'

Audience 114

Audience Blog Books 114

First Friday Book Synopsis

SEPTEMBER 14, 2013

When you get up to speak, you have just a few seconds to “hook,” your audience. And, then, assuming you have them “hooked,” you have to “keep them on the line,” and then “reel them in.” There are two clear parts to this process. Part 1 (Aristotle called this “Invention”) – have something valuable to […]. Randy''s blog entries'

Audience 130

Audience Blog Process 130

First Friday Book Synopsis

APRIL 9, 2014

Martins Press Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World''s Top Minds The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience'

Review 85

Review Audience Books Conference 85

First Friday Book Synopsis

NOVEMBER 3, 2014

Welcome to the world of reality – there is no audience. No one to applaud, to admire. No one to see you. Do you understand? Here is the truth – actual heroism receives no ovation, entertains no one. No one queues up to see it. David Foster Wallace, The Pale King If you come to […]. Randy''s blog entries'

Audience 107

Audience Blog 107

First Friday Book Synopsis

MAY 9, 2013

If each speaker would simply remember, and follow, some simple rules, the audience would be […]. And every poor presentation adds to the frustration – the sense that “this is a waste of time.” There really are some simple fixes. Randy''s blog entries'

Audience 132

Audience Blog Report 132

First Friday Book Synopsis

MAY 26, 2012

The first kind – the far too frequent kind – is the kind that is afraid of the microphone, afraid of the audience, almost afraid of their own shadow. (Yes, There are two kinds of speakers. Yes, I am overstating this to make a point). These speakers are simply too tentative. They approach the microphone slowly, [.].

Audience 148

Audience Tips Blog 148

First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 29, 2016

1240 Persuasion means convincing an audience that the way they currently see the world isn’t quite right. If explanation is building a brand-new idea inside someone’s mind, persuasion is a little more radical. Before construction, it first requires some demolition.

Construction 79

Construction Audience Brand Blog 79

First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 28, 2014

Martins Press Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World''s Top Minds The Apple Experience: Secrets to Building Insanely Great Customer Loyalty The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs: Insanely Different Principles for Breakthrough Success The Power of foursquare: 7 Innovative Ways to Get Your Customers to Check In Wherever They Are The (..)

Customer Loyalty 80

Customer Loyalty Loyalty Audience Innovation 80

First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 19, 2011

Resonate: Present Visual Stories That Transform Audiences Nancy Duarte John Wiley & Sons (2010) How and why to create significant, sincere, and enlightening moments during presentations that “drive the big idea home” Don’t be deterred by the shape of this book (I was) and incorrectly assume that it is heavy on packaging and light on [.].

Books 89

Books Review Audience Cialdini 89

First Friday Book Synopsis

JUNE 6, 2016

Oh, I’ve seen it before, but this time the reality just kind of sunk in Look at any group, at any speech or workshop, and you will see audience members doing a number of different things. I noticed something last Friday.

Books 70

Books Workshop Audience Blog 70

First Friday Book Synopsis

FEBRUARY 19, 2014

I teach speech as an adjunct professor at a local community college, and do plenty of speaking, in front of many different kinds of audiences, as a key part of my professional life. And, I teach presentation skills, provide speech coaching, and some speech writing.

Media 97

Media Audience Tips Blog 97

First Friday Book Synopsis

NOVEMBER 19, 2011

” to gauge audience understanding. But this can convey a speaker’s uncertainty and signals that the audience might not comprehend [.]. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here. Presenters often use the phrase “Does that make sense?”

Newsletter 92

Newsletter Audience Uncertainty Tips 92

First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 18, 2016

I presented my synopsis of Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates yesterday at the Urban Engagement Book Club — to a large audience in an over-flowing room. sponsored by CitySquare). I’ve presented synopses of buseinss books each month for 18 years at the First Friday Book Synsopsis.

Audience 70

Audience Books Blog 70

First Friday Book Synopsis

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

You need to gain the trust of your audience and convey your message clearly. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here. Delivering a successful presentation requires preparation and practice. Here are three mistakes you should [.].

Newsletter 80

Newsletter Audience Tips Review 80

First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 31, 2015

“When a population becomes distracted by trivia, when cultural life is redefined as a perpetual round of entertainments, when serious public conversation becomes a form of baby-talk, when, in short, a people become an audience, and their public business a vaudeville act, then a nation finds itself at risk; culture-death is a clear possibility.” ― […]. (..)

Audience 70

Audience Blog 70

First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 29, 2015

But, let me start with this: A good speaker, an effective speaker, has to get the attention of the audience at the get-go. This is not a post about speaking. To fail at this is to…fail. Dr. Tom Hollihan, Professor at the University of Southern California, reduces effective speaking down to this formula: arouse, then, fulfill. […].

Seminar 70

Seminar Innovation Audience Blog 70

First Friday Book Synopsis

FEBRUARY 27, 2014

I have a 3 hour session that I have presented many times, to many audiences. I call it, simply, “Communicate.” I presented it again today for the Sergeant’s Class for the Dallas Police Department (for the Caruth Police Institute).

Audience 89

Audience Class Blog 89

First Friday Book Synopsis

OCTOBER 4, 2012

and greet your audience [.]. I’ve bolded a key element below — one that one candidate did not seem to have last night. #1 1 comes from my colleague, Karl Krayer. Here are nine keys to effective delivery of your presentations: 1. Plant your feet!,

Audience 106

Audience Blog 106

First Friday Book Synopsis

APRIL 27, 2014

In my opinion, Dan Roam is among the most innovative business thinkers now publishing books and articles that can […].

Books 75

Books Review Audience Creativity 75

First Friday Book Synopsis

NOVEMBER 5, 2011

I hope that all of my presentations are useful for the audiences in attendance. But on Thursday, I participated in a panel that was not only useful, but had a special element of “fun.” It was for the Dallas Estate Planning Council. I was the non-expert on the panel – I was the “book guy.” [.].

Audience 123

Audience Participative Team Planning 123

First Friday Book Synopsis

JANUARY 31, 2015

Here’s one not to ignore – how should I speak in this room, to this audience, in this setting? When you are asked to speak, or make a presentation, then you have to ask some basic questions. First, the assumption: you have something worthwhile to say (otherwise, you would not have been asked to speak). […]. Randy''s blog entries'

Content 70

Content Audience Blog 70

First Friday Book Synopsis

JUNE 5, 2013

Surprise me with unexpectedly terrific value…” This is what every audience member is secretly, or not so secretly, thinking at every presentation they attend. “When you speak, do not waste my time! So, you have a presentation to give. You’ve got a topic. You have studied, prepared, organized.

Tips 90

Tips Audience Blog Organization 90

First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 22, 2013

Whatever the nature and extent of a presentation, be it formal or informal, whatever the objective(s) and audience may be, you will probably have much greater success if you anchor the material in a human context. The best way to do that? Storytelling.

Storytelling 85

Storytelling Audience Objective Information 85

First Friday Book Synopsis

JANUARY 12, 2012

I repeated it to another audience on Tuesday and, I suspect, will do so a number of more times in the weeks/months to come. Last Friday at our First Friday Book Synopsis, I presented my synopsis of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson for the first time. I have found that a book synopsis is a [.].

Audience 100

Audience Books Blog 100

First Friday Book Synopsis

FEBRUARY 27, 2012

Rowling, who penned the widly popular Harry Potter series, has received great enthusiasm about her announcement that she will write a new book for an adult audience. Acclaimed author J.K. She could have a best-seller before she even writes a word. In research conducted by Netbase Solutions, Inc.,

Audience 95

Audience Books 95

First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 2, 2013

The fundamentals were determined centuries ago: o Know what you are talking about o Care deeply about what you are talking about o Establish and then sustain direct eye contact with your audience o Limit yourself to the fewest number of words necessary…but no fewer o Anchor your ideas in a human context Just as […].

Tips 75

Tips Audience 75