Speaking Tips

 

Second Act

Soon we’ll see the finest athletes in the world competing at the Paris Olympics, replete with fanfare, hype and publicity. But what happens to the athletes when it’s over? Win or lose, they have a relatively short career, one that thirsts for a second act....

Take a Dive

Would you stand on a platform in a bathing suit and jump from nine stories high, fall sixty-five miles per hour and land in water three seconds later? Everything in your rational mind screams “NO!” It’s not so different from what most people feel getting...

The Waiting Game

Do you remember the final moments before you competed in an athletic event, or delivered a talk? No doubt you were anxious, thinking, “Come on. Let’s go!” As we watched the Track and Field Olympic trials, the runners loosened up before crouching in the starting blocks....

Sand Through the Glass

Facing an upcoming presidential election with a choice between two elderly men, the issue of age takes center stage. But is it chronological age, or the perception of elderly that concerns voters? Time marches on for all of us, so it’s best to be prepared,...

Road Warriors

This summer, more than 2 million travelers will pass through TSA daily. Nightmarish as that may seem, there are ways to mitigate the pain. Packing: We only take carry-on bags, regardless of the length of stay. (Lost luggage and waiting is lost time.) Shoes take up...

Refined Cut

To all lovers of green, we feel your pain-- and excitement. Anyone who grows plants, bushes or trees knows that with summer coming, it’s time to sharpen your pruners. Our gardens in Santa Fe are in full bloom and growing like monsters in a sci-fi...

Too Personal

The season is here for weddings, graduations, and other festivities. Time to tune up your toasting skills. Recently, we coached a client who wanted to welcome their son’s wedding guests, as well as deliver a meaningful tribute to the bride and groom. We interviewed our client...

Universal Solvent

You probably won’t be surprised that the most well-respected authors at the Santa Fe Literary Festival advocated for the importance of storytelling. But as we listened to their various approaches, we thought of the applications of case studies to our clients’ businesses. For example: “A...

Oh My G-d

The recent Santa Fe International Literary Festival was a hit. The interviewers and authors were on their game. One remarkable thing we heard was the amount of time each writer put into researching their books. David Grann spent eight years writing Flowers of the Killer Moon. It took Anthony...

Reserve Tank

When presenting on a topic, most speakers focus on the content. But that’s not the whole megillah. When you are effective, you will likely get questions after your close. How and what you say at this point can make all the difference. However, when you’ve expended...