Your Important Talk
by David Palmer, PhD

Dear Visitor,

It never ceases to amaze me how often people call saying, "Help! Can you FedEx your video on how to give a talk. My speech is next week."

In July 2001, a gentleman inquired about my speech coaching services. He mentioned he was becoming the President of his Trade Association and would be delivering a minimum of a dozen talks a year all over the country. Just yesterday he called to say he wants help to write and deliver an important talk ... three weeks out.

My advice...if you know you are going to be called on to speak, get the help in advance! Here is some advice from David Palmer, PhD a Fripp Coaching Associate.

Warm regards,

Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE

Do you have an important talk to give in the next 2 to 3 months?

If so, what are you doing about it?

First, ask yourself, what do most people do in this situation?

-They don't do anything, except worry about their talk and dread the approaching day.
- They wait until the last minute to prepare, trying to minimize the discomfort.
- They don't know what to do, so they rationalize that they're an OK presenter and figure they'll just wing it.
- They wonder how and why they got into this situation and vow never to do it again.
- They secretly know that becoming a better presenter will help their career and self-confidence, but they don't know where to start.

Second, you are not "most people." Most people are poor presenters and never do anything about getting better; you decide to definitely not be one of them!

- You decide to do something positive about your important talk because you know that worrying won't help, right action does.
- You decide to begin to prepare now so you'll be well prepared when you deliver your important talk because you know it'll show.
- You decide to discover and learn what to do to give a topnotch presentation because you know you're a good learner.
- You decide that you really do know how and why you got into this situation and choose to turn it into an opportunity to work on your ability to present well.
- You decide to become a much better presenter because it will help both your career and your self-confidence.

Third, since you are not most people (most people are not successful), you get help from the pros. Learn more about speech coaching and Videos, Audios, CDs and CD-ROMs on Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.

Finally, you congratulate yourself on your brilliant insights and excellent decision!

P.S. I'm glad you are NOT among that large group known as "most people" and ARE taking action to be more successful by helping your career and building your self-confidence.

P.P.S. Mastering just a few basics will (1) put you way ahead of your peers and (2) give you a base to build on for the rest of your life.

From Fripp: Hope you enjoyed the way we told you about the seminar. We would love you to come. Even if you can't, we offer you THIS COMPLIMENTARY ARTICLE ON MAKING A SPEECH: "So You're Going to Make a Speech" 1459 words

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This article is part of a series on openings which appears in SpeakerFrippNews. To subscribe to SpeakerFrippNews visit: http://www.fripp.com/newsletter.html Or send an email to Subscribe@Fripp.com

Patricia Fripp CSP, CPAE is a San Francisco-based executive speech coach and award-winnning professional speaker. She is the author of Get What You Want!, Make It, So You Don't Have to Fake It!, and Past-President of the National Speakers Association. She can be reached at: PFripp@Fripp.com, 1-800 634-3035, http://www.fripp.com

We offer this article on a nonexclusive basis. You may reprint or repost this material as long as Patricia Fripp's name and contact information is included. PFripp@Fripp.com, 1-800 634-3035, http://www.fripp.com