I spoke at a conference for proposal managers last week and was reminded of how much business professionals rely on PowerPoint for delivering presentations. The following is an article I wrote forThe Houston Business Journal several years ago.  I have rewritten it to share with you…. Has PowerPoint gone from useful tool to emotional roadblock […]

I just read a great series of articles by Andrew Dlugan of Six Minutes Blog fame.  Andrew has reminded us that Aristotle wrote the definitive work on what it takes to be persuasive over 2300 years ago. He defines the three aspects of persuasion, Ethos, Pathos and Logos. Then he writes an article about each […]

  I enjoy watching Chris Wallace’s show Sunday mornings. He usually stirs up debate on political issues by asking leading questions to guests and panelists from both political major parties.  I usually watch with partial attention while getting dressed for my Sunday meditation group. Once in a while someone on his show speaks with unusual […]

When I see a brilliant article, I have to shine some light on it.  Jessica Swanson of Shoestring Marketing has written a brilliant article called “Creating A Brilliant Marketing Message.” Her three step method for designing a marketing message that sizzles is excellent.  Check it out at http://www.jessicaswanson.com/creating-a-brilliant-marketing-message

  When I am using the law of attraction to open myself to new clients, I look for people who sense that I am the right one to help them with their communication issues. In a meditative moment this morning, I had a thought about persuasion.  Persuasion happens when people sense that you are the […]

  By now you know that I believe in telling stories to make talks interesting, engaging and compelling.  Did you also know that telling your story relaxes and calms you, and it frees your body to express more naturally and creatively?   I used to think that I did not have any stories to tell.  […]

I would love to have been a fly on the wall to have heard what President Clinton said to the North Korean officials that persuaded them to release the two women reporters.  My guess is that he used his ability to connect genuinely and speak from his heart.  I am sure he had a well […]

  Impromptu speaking or thinking on your feet is synthesis thinking not new thought thinking.  You do have to prepare to think on your feet; but then you have to let go and flow.  So it uses structure and flow at the same time.   In impromptu speaking or thinking on your feet, you are […]

When you want to compel attention and help people change their thinking, use the element of mystery in your speaking.  Mystery is a story that takes your listeners on a journey to solve a problem or improve a situation.  The clue to a mystery is  “Huh? Ahh!”  Try saying these two sounds aloud.  Make the sound “Huh?” […]

Andrew Dlugan at Six Minutes Public Speaking Blog has written a brilliant assessment of Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech.  Check it out for excellent ideas on speech writing.  This was the speech that was so persuasive that it has endured for decades.