SEEKING APPLAUSE

03 May SEEKING APPLAUSE

We recently returned from a trip to Patagonia in Chile. The flights took 24+ hours, so we watched movies and David enjoyed Stanley Tucci’s captivating book, What I Ate in One Year.

Tucci—the veteran actor and chef said that he would create a dish that was well-received but then worried he couldn’t replicate it. “It’s like the second performance of a play that’s gone well on opening night. Any attempt to repeat the same performance fails dismally because it’s an idea of a memory.”

The same goes for speakers who have pulled off a successful presentation. They may wish to repeat it, so they memorize their content and deliver it the same as before– expecting the same response. But the presentation can sound memorized, rote or lacking a fresh take. And with a poor response from the audience, it can be disappointing and confusing.

Instead, each time you present, create a new open or close, and/or change up the examples, while retaining the integrity of your structure. When you challenge yourself, you will receive an energy boost– the very thing necessary to succeed. Plus, you’ll be in the moment, not grasping for applause.