I recently worked with a client who had three minutes - only three - to convey a lifetime of experiences and memories. He was returning home to accept a lifetime achievement award from his community. His love for his hometown was obvious from the beginning, and he links nearly every achievement in his life to someone he knew or something he did back then.
As the famous quote says, “If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.” By the way, a search for who actually said that quote originally leads down some interesting rabbit holes, but that would make this post longer than it has to be.
The point is this: speechwriting is not magic. Even great works of art have a process or a structure behind them. It’s what the artist - that’s you - does with that structure that elevates the work from good to great.
I believe that the sum of your knowledge and your experiences enriches this process. It’s important for every speaker, whether it’s your first or your one hundredth time on stage, to know how to make the most of that time.
Download my infographic, 3 Phases to a Successful Speech, and get in touch if you’re interested in learning more.