Saturday, May 31, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 186


'Washington was a typical American. Napoleon was a typical Frenchman, but Lincoln was a humanitarian as broad as the world. He was bigger than his country — bigger than all the Presidents together.'
- Leo Tolstoy

Friday, May 30, 2014

JUST BEFORE THE BIG SPEECH: 2 of 5 SURE-FIRE POINTERS


Spend some time in the room where you’re to speak well before you’re to speak. Walk the stage, get a feel for the geography. This way the first time you are there is not the first time you have to speak from there. Since your speaking area is now familiar territory you’ll be able to concentrate more on your audience, less on your nerves. 

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 185


'Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Each looked for an easier triumph and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.'
- Abraham Lincoln

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

JUST BEFORE THE BIG SPEECH: 1 OF 5 SURE-FIRE POINTERS


1.             If, say, you’re speaking at a three-day conference resist the temptation to arrive just before your presentation and leave right after it. Instead, show up for the whole thing. There’s no better way to get a feel for the issues the participants are facing, how they relate to their leadership, what they’re already good at, what their major concerns are. These issues ooze out of the pores of every conference. You don’t need to say much of anything: just keep your eyes and ears open. It’s called “servant leadership in action,” right?


Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 184


‘Mr. President, I’m from New York State where we believe that God Almighty and Abraham Lincoln are going to save this country.’ Hearing this remark, Lincoln smiled and nodded. ‘My friend,’ he said, ‘you’re half right.’

Monday, May 26, 2014

CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN [especially if you’re a speaker!]



Let's say you're giving a talk about water conservation so you decide to wear your favorite tie showing a phosphorescent trout leaping dramatically from a phosphorescent mountain stream. The problem: your audience, mesmerized by that tie, will lose completely 3 or 4 of your key sentences.

Instead, follow the lead of Steve Jobs, He introduced Apple gadgets wearing black turtleneck, jeans and sneakers.

Bottom line: they're going to see you before they hear you, so make sure what they see doesn't interfere with what you want them to hear!